It’s a Super Friday Morning.

PA Weather
Birdsboro | Mostly Sunny, Breezy, 55
Eagleville | Mostly Sunny, Breezy, 54
Philadelphia | Mostly Sunny, 57

PA Sports
Eagles | SUN vs. Kansas City (Super Bowl)
76ers (34-19) | FRI vs. New York
Penguins (25-16-9) | FRI vs. Anaheim | SAT vs. Los Angeles
Flyers (22-22-9) | THU vs. Edmonton, W 2-1 (SO) | SAT vs. Nashville

What We’re Hearing
“We don’t want Matt to be mayor of the Lehigh Valley or Willie to be mayor of the Valley. But we do want the Lehigh Valley to address the regional issues that we cannot do effectively and efficiently [on our own].”

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. Jack Rader and U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser. Early wishes for Rep. Kyle Mullins (Sun.)

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Top Story

1. Fetterman Remains In Hospital

John Fetterman, Pennsylvania’s junior senator, remains in the George Washington University hospital this morning, two days after feeling lightheaded.

Tests have ruled out another stroke, but Fetterman continues to be monitored for “signs of seizure”, said a spokesperson.

Related

Fetterman Remains in Hospital, Undergoing Tests. “Fetterman was being monitored with an electroencephalogram (EEG) — an instrument that measures brainwaves — for signs of a seizure, Calvello said.” (AP)

Fetterman Did Not Suffer Stroke, Being Monitored For ‘Signs Of Seizure.’ “U.S. Sen. John Fetterman did not suffer another stroke but he continues to be monitored in a Washington, D.C., hospital for “signs of seizure,” his spokesman said in a statement on Thursday.” (PennLive)

Fetterman’s Health Issues Date Back At Least to 2017. “U.S. Sen. John Fetterman’s health is in the spotlight again after he felt “lightheaded” Wednesday night and was admitted to the hospital for observation.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Harrisburg

2. The Coming Battle Over Public School Funding

All that campaign talk about fairly funding public schools?

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania agrees.

In a lengthy 786-page order issued on Tuesday, President Judge Renee Cohn Jubelirer found the state’s public school funding system to be unconstitutional. (PoliticsPA)

Related

Judge’s Decision in State School Funding Lawsuit Brings Hope, Concerns for Educators. “A judge’s ruling this week that declared the state’s school funding system unconstitutional has educators and advocates in Allegheny County hopeful and concerned about the implications for area districts. ” (Public Source)

Advocates Call For Action To Fund PA Schools After Landmark Court Decision. “The representatives of the statewide PA Schools Work coalition said Tuesday’s Commonwealth Court decision is “a game changer” for children and the parents of Pennsylvania.” (PennLive)

PA Lawmaker Loses Capitol Office, Sees It as Punishment for Role as Caucus Maverick. “If you come to the state Capitol looking for the office of state Rep. Tom Mehaffie, you won’t find it.” (PennLive)

Tracking Shapiro’s Biggest Campaign Promises. “Gov. Josh Shapiro made a lot of promises on the campaign trail. Now, he faces the new challenge of keeping them.” (Spotlight PA)

Rozzi Says House Will Vote on Rules, Reforms on Feb. 21. “State House Speaker Mark Rozzi said Thursday that the chamber will reconvene on Tuesday, Feb. 21 to vote on operating rules and a stalled proposal to give child sex abuse victims a legal window to sue their abusers – a move that could end more than a month of gridlock in the chamber. ” (City & State)

Reader Poll: McClinton Will Be Speaker of the House. Sixty-eight percent of our respondents said that on February 28, Democratic House Leader Joanna McClinton will be Speaker of the Pennsylvania House. Just 27 percent felt that current Speaker Mark Rozzi will still have the gavel, while five percent thought that an unnamed Republican could be in charge. Thank you for participating.

Around The Commonwealth

3. Tri-Valley Coalition of Lehigh Valley Mayors Forms to Tackle Problems Together

“At a joint news conference at Bethlehem City Hall, Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk, Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds and Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. said they’ve been meeting informally the past few months to discuss challenges each of their cities face.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Related

ABE Mayors Form ‘Three-City Coalition’ To Tackle Region’s Biggest Issues From Housing to Climate Change. “The Lehigh Valley’s three largest cities are joining forces to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the region, including housing, homelessness and climate change.” (Morning Call)

Gainey Offers Plan For Downtown Pittsburgh To Increase Safety and Improve Conditions. “Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey vowed Thursday to boost city police presence in Downtown as part of a broader strategy aimed at addressing growing concerns about safety, drug dealing, homelessness, unruly behavior and other issues.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

After a Special Election Landslide in Allegheny County, What’s Next For Democrats and GOP? “It’s tempting sometimes to see special elections as harbingers of races to come — if only because those races often take place when there isn’t much else for pundits to talk about.” (WESA)

Court Won’t Force PA To Release Election Records. “A Pennsylvania appellate court said Thursday that it will not order Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration to produce records on voters and election systems sought by Republican lawmakers in a quest inspired by former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election.” (AP)

Quick Hits

• Former MD Gubernatorial Candidate Dan Cox Joins Mastriano’s Staff. (Baltimore Banner)
• Local 98 Leader Spurns ‘Johnny Doc’ As Union Election Approaches and Legal Tussle Brews. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Crestwood Faces $2.73M Budget Deficit, Board to Consider Suspending Professional Employees. (Standard-Speaker)
• Lycoming County GOP Censures State House Members. (Williamsport Sun-Gazette)
• Political Groups Eye a Key 2023 Battleground: Local School Boards. (York Dispatch)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

• PA’s Richest Man Is Jetting 100 People to Super Bowl – And Betting On Eagles’ Victory. (Joseph N. DiStefano, Philadelphia Inquirer)
• When It Comes to Racism in PA, Not Much Has Changed. (Michael Coard, PA Capital-Star)
• Santos and Fetterman Have a Lot in Common. (Christine Flowers, Broad + Liberty)
• How The Grinch Stole The Power Grid. (Ryan Aument, Tribune-Review)
• Politics, Tribalism, and Rooting For the Philadelphia Eagles. (Lori Falce, Tribune-Review)

1 Thing

5. Fly, Eagles, Fly

“The flag of the Kansas City Chiefs will be raised in the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg if the team wins the Super Bowl, under a wager announced Thursday by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson.

But if the Chiefs somehow lose, the Philadelphia Eagles flag will fly in the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City under the bet made with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat who was born in Kansas City but raised in the Philadelphia suburbs.” (Kansas City Star)

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