Friday! And we start a holiday weekend. See you back here on Tuesday.

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Erie | Cloudy, temps falling to 25
Selinsgrove | Showers, temps falling to 39
Mount Pocono | Showers, temps falling to 32

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Flyers (22-24-10) | Seattle, L 6-2 | SAT vs. Vancouver
Penguins (27-17-9) | FRI vs. NY Islanders | SAT vs. New Jersey

What We’re Hearing
The NRSC will go live today with a series of digital ads accusing Bob Casey and other Democrats of being the ones “voting to put Medicare and Social Security at risk.”

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Top Story

1. Fetterman Receiving Treatment For Clinical Depression

The calendar year 2023 certainly has had high and low points for Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman.

On Thursday, his chief of staff Adam Jentleson shared news that Fetterman has checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to receive treatment for clinical depression

Jentleson said “While John has experienced depression off and on throughout his life, it only became severe in recent weeks.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Sen. John Fetterman Checks Into Hospital For Depression. “Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, still recovering from a stroke, has checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to seek treatment for clinical depression, his office said Thursday.” (AP)

Fetterman Hospitalized. Here’s What to Know About the Common But Serious Disorder. “Clinical depression is a psychiatric mood disorder that is both common and serious. A major depressive episode is defined as having multiple symptoms of depression for at least two weeks.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

What We Know About Fetterman’s Latest Health Challenge So Far, And What We Don’t. “We don’t know many specifics about U.S. Sen. John Fetterman’s bout with clinical depression, but there are some general facts for all Fetterman fans and constituents to know about this fairly common mental health diagnosis.” (PennLive)

Harrisburg

2. Shapiro Will Not Issue Execution Warrants, Calls On General Assembly to End Capital Punishment in PA

“The Commonwealth shouldn’t be in the business of putting people to death. Period.”

And with those words, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he will not issue any execution warrants during his term.

During a Thursday morning press conference in Philadelphia, Shapiro said he will also call on the General Assembly to work with him to abolish the death penalty in Pennsylvania. (PoliticsPA)

Related

Gov. Josh Shapiro Asks Pennsylvania Lawmakers to Abolish Death Penalty. “Gov. Josh Shapiro called on the state legislature to end the death penalty in Pennsylvania on Thursday, marking the first time a governor has formally asked the General Assembly to abolish the controversial practice.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Shapiro Says He Will Not Sign Death Warrants. “Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Thursday he would continue his predecessor’s practice of not signing death warrants and is “calling on the general assembly to work with me to abolish the death penalty once and for all in Pennsylvania.”” (PennLive)

PA Republicans, Stung By Election Losses, Find New Love For Mail-In Voting. “In the wake of statewide losses last year and with the 2024 election on the horizon, some Pennsylvania Republicans are urging the party to tacitly accept, if not embrace, mail-in voting, recognizing they need that voting option to win elections.” (PennLive)

Milk Marketing Board Wants to Explore Eliminating The State’s Minimum Milk Pricing System. “The Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board is seeking to commission a study of the economic implications of ending the state’s minimum milk pricing structure.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Around The Commonwealth

3. At East Palestine Derailment Site, EPA Chief Urges Residents to ‘Trust the Government’

photo by Gene J. Puskar, AP

“The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency got a first-hand look Thursday at the toll left by a freight train derailment in Ohio, where toxic chemicals spilled or were burned off, leaving the stench of fresh paint nearly two weeks later.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Related

Allegheny County Air Quality Remains Unaffected By Train Derailment, Officials Say. “Officials said emissions would likely disperse before reaching the county, but they will continue to monitor the situation, according to a news release. There are at least 25 miles between the Ohio village and Allegheny County.” (Tribune-Review)

GOP Megadonor Is Funding Far-Right Israeli Think Tank – And Establishment Democrats. “The sole donor to a political action committee created to bolster the Democratic Party’s establishment flank is also funding a conservative Israeli think tank at the helm of the country’s rightward lurch.” (The Intercept)

Appeals Court To Hear Dispute Over Perry’s Phone. “A federal appeals court will hear a dispute over Justice Department investigators accessing Rep. Scott Perry’s cell phone in a case that could affect special counsel Jack Smith’s ability to get information from him and other members of Congress.” (CNN)

Pittsburgh City Politics Could Be Heading For a Sea Change With The May Primary Election. “With a half dozen offices on the ballot this year, Pittsburgh city government could see some big changes in 2024. Pittsburgh City Council will have two — if not three — newer members, the city’s finances will be overseen by a new controller. And all of this would arrive as Mayor Ed Gainey begins the second half of his first term as mayor.” (WESA)

• Pittsburgh’s 2023 City Council Races: What To Know About The Districts And Who’s Running. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

How Will The Ruling In PA’s School Funding Lawsuit Impact Allegheny County’s Districts? “When the Sto-Rox School District ran out of money for paper in February 2020, local businesses and residents poured into a GoFundMe drive to meet the need. That need was just one of many, most of which couldn’t be solved with simple crowdfunding.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Philly’s Building Trades Unions Set To Endorse For Mayor. “Clout spies a spark on the horizon for Cherelle Parker’s campaign for mayor, as the Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council prepares to issue an endorsement next week in the Democratic primary.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• What Should Philly Mayoral Candidates Answer About Public Safety? (Billy Penn)
• Ideas Mayoral Candidates Should Steal. (Philadelphia Citizen)

York City’s Homicide Rate Last Year Topped Philadelphia, New York and Chicago. “May 6, 2022, is a date William Padilla will never forget. That was the day he lost his only child, Roman Padilla, to a gunman.” (York Dispatch)

Lycoming County Judge Made 11 Errors In Vote Records Ruling. “The Pennsylvania Department of State has cited 11 errors it claims a Lycoming County judge made in ruling that cast vote records are public, according to PennLive.com.” (Williamsport Sun-Gazette)

What The Public Can and Can’t Know About Four Diamonds, Beneficiary of Penn State’s THON Fundraising. “For years, thousands of Penn State students have participated in a grueling philanthropic ritual: 46 hours of standing, dancing, and cheering to fundraise for children with cancer and their families.” (Spotlight PA)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

• Circumventing DA Larry Krasner Is Not The Answer To City’s Gun Woes. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Ravening Equalities. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• We Trust Experts to Fix Us. We Should Trust Them to Teach Us. (Adriana E. Ramirez, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Pennsylvanians Deserve Answers About The East Palestine Environmental Disaster. (Doug Mastriano, Broad + Liberty)
• Make Farm Bill Climate Bill. (Times-Tribune)
• Should PA Have a Death Penalty? Yes, Despite Gov. Shapiro’s Objections. (Paul Muschick, Morning Call)
• Philadelphia Could Use a Lesson In School Board Transparency. (Jenny Dehuff, City & State)

1 Thing

5. Fasnacht Time

With the winter holidays behind and spring seemingly so far away, a tasty treat is just the ticket to chase away the winter gloom. For the Pennsylvania Dutch – and many others – that slightly decadent treat is the fasnacht.

Crafted from potato flour, eggs, sugar, and butter or lard, and fried to perfection, cooks in home, church, and bakery kitchens throughout southeastern Pennsylvania churn out this perfect pastry just one day a year.

Why just one day? Read on to learn the origins of this tasty tradition, its continuing popularity, and where you can snag a few of these delicious and authentic PA Dutch delights for your very own.

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