Hello Thursday. We’re taking time off for the holiday break and will return on December 27. Wishing you and yours a safe, happy and healthy holiday.

PA Weather
Erie | Mostly Cloudy, chance of rain, 43
State College | Snow and rain, 37
Allentown | Wintry mix to rain, 45

PA Sports
Eagles (13-1) | SAT vs. Dallas
Steelers (6-8) | SAT vs. Las Vegas
76ers (18-12) | Detroit, W 113-93
Penguins (19-9-4) | THU vs. Carolina
Flyers (11-15-7) | THU vs. Toronto

What We’re Hearing
“Maybe the Trump campaign should get some actual evidence of fraud and file in court. They’ve been horrible in their court filings. They told us on caucus they have zero evidence.”

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. Patrick J. Harkins.

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Top Story

1. New Transcript Details Show Lengths PA Republicans Went For Trump

Hundreds of pages of deposition transcripts released Wednesday by the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack offered new insights into the roles Pennsylvania Republicans played in aiding President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The committee is expected to issue the full report on its investigation on Thursday. But the newly released transcripts were filled with new details about Trump election adviser Mike Roman; state Sen. Doug Mastriano and a congressional staffer of Rep. Mike Kelly. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

Jan. 6 Panel Prepares To Unveil Final Report On Insurrection. “An 800-page report set to be released Thursday by House investigators will conclude that then-President Donald Trump criminally plotted to overturn his 2020 election defeat and “provoked his supporters to violence” at the Capitol with false claims of widespread voter fraud.” (Associated Press)

Harrisburg

2. Closed Door Talks Fail To Settle State House Control Fight

“A day of closed-door negotiations failed Wednesday to settle a dispute between Republican and Democratic leaders in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives about when to hold three special elections that will determine control of their chamber.

Commonwealth Court Judge Renee Cohn Jubelirer told lawyers for Rep. Bryan Cutler of Lancaster County, the House Republican leader, and his Democratic counterpart, Rep. Joanna McClinton of Philadelphia, that she will speed consideration of the case.” (Associated Press)

Related

New Lawmakers From Allegheny County Enter Harrisburg Storm. “The county’s new representation reflects some of the issues that defined the 2022 elections: abortion access, public health and climate.” (Public Source)

Laughlin Introduces Voter ID Legislation To Amend PA Constitution. “State Senator Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) announced Wednesday that he plans to introduce legislation amending the Pennsylvania Constitution to require voters to provide valid identification in order to vote in an election.” (PoliticsPA)

Akbar Hossain’s American Dream Is Inspiring His Work On Josh Shapiro’s Transition Team. “Hossain’s story is one about an underdog. It’s a story about a brown, Muslim, immigrant family that navigated a new country in an environment rife with anti-Muslim bigotry, discrimination, and violence. But it’s also a story about challenges being turned into opportunities. A story about community being the key to any success. A story of the American Dream.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Who Is Running For Office In 2023? “As 2022 draws to a close, it is time to begin looking ahead to what awaits on the election calendar in 2023.” (PoliticsPA)

• Important Dates For The 2023 Pennsylvania Elections. (PoliticsPA)

PA Democrats Won’t Say If They’ll Return Sam Bankman-Fried Donations – For Now. “Pennsylvania Democrats are keeping silent for now as to what they intend to do with campaign donations received from Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced founder of the cryptocurrency trading company FTX.” (Broad + Liberty)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Completed Fern Hollow Bridge Unveiled In Advance Of Friday Reopening

photo: Shane Dunlap, Tribune-Review

“Less than a year after the Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed in Pittsburgh’s Frick Park, officials unveiled a new span that will open in its place this week.

“This is the best Christmas gift we could give the city of Pittsburgh,” Mayor Ed Gainey said Wednesday as he stood on the newly built bridge.” (Tribune-Review)

Related

Pittsburgh’s Fern Hollow Bridge To Reopen At End Of Month. “All are here to see the ribbon-cutting for the newly built Fern Hollow Bridge, a major connective piece of infrastructure that collapsed on Jan. 28. The bridge is expected to reopen to traffic by the end of December, according to a statement.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

As Impeachment Trial Approaches, Philly DA Larry Krasner Says Charges Against Him Should Be Dismissed. “Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner on Wednesday said the charges on which he is to be tried before the Pennsylvania Senate next month in a Republican-led attempt to impeach and remove him from office are improper, not supported by evidence, and should be dismissed.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

DeFoor Tells Chester Mayor That Recommendations Have Been Given About Pension Expense Problem. “The Pennsylvania auditor general responded to the Chester mayor’s request for an investigation to alleged pension “spiking” and said recommendations were given multiple times in the past.” (Delco Times)

Best Changes Political Parties; Move Leaves Board With Three Republicans. “For what is believed to be a first in Northumberland County history, the board of commissioners is comprised of three people from the same political party.” (Daily-Item)

Harvie, Marseglia Announce Reelection Bid For Bucks County Commissioners Race. “The two Democrats on the Bucks County Board of Commissioners are hoping that their record of bipartisanship and fiscal restraint will help earn them another term in office as they look to build off their party’s wins in this year’s midterm elections.” (City & State)

Reggie Shuford Steps Down As Executive Director Of PA ACLU. “The North Carolina Justice Center announced the appointment of Reginald T. Shuford as its next Executive Director. Shuford is from Wilmington, NC, and is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law. Since 2011, he has been the Executive Director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania.” (N.C. Justice Center)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• Jan. 6 Committee Report Is Clear: Trump Must Be Held Accountable. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• The Best – And Worst Of Times – A Tale Of Two PA Transitions. (Fletcher McClellan, PA Capital-Star)
• Franco Harris And How To Play The Game. (Tribune-Review)
• Balancing Budgets Challenging (Altoona Mirror)
• America Should Finish The Work The Jan. 6 Committee Started. (New York Times)
  

1 Thing

5. Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus

Dear Editor —

I am 8 years old.
Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.”
Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O’Hanlon
115 West Ninety Fifth Street

“VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.” (Newseum)

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