🎉 Friday, Let’s Go. Remember to ‘Fall Back’ to standard time on Sunday.

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Top Story

1. Election 2023: PA Supreme Court

It’s one of the most closely-watched races in the country and it takes place in our backyard on November 7.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court open seat has some calling the race between Republican Carolyn Carluccio and Democrat Dan McCaffery about the future of the court and the people of Pennsylvania. Issues such as redistricting, mail ballots, voting rights, and reproductive rights may be revisited and a new direction forthcoming for the state. (PoliticsPA)

Related

Carluccio, McCaffery Speak On PA Supreme Court Race, Abortion And Election Laws. “In Episode 9 of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk speaks with Pennsylvania Supreme Court candidates Carolyn Carluccio and Dan McCaffery about abortion rights, election laws and more.” (NBC Philadelphia)

What To Expect In Pennsylvania’s General Election. “Voters in Tuesday’s general election in Pennsylvania will fill a vacant state Supreme Court seat that could play a significant role on voting-related cases during the 2024 presidential campaign.” (AP)

Chris Deluzio and Summer Lee To Vote Against ‘Unconscionable’ GOP Bill Coupling Israel Aid With IRS Cuts. “When the U.S. House passed legislation Thursday to provide $14 billion in emergency funding for Israel in its war against Hamas, Western Pennsylvania’s two Democrats joined most of their party in voting no. That’s because House Republicans insisted that the bill cut Internal Revenue Service spending by the same amount.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

State

2. Pennsylvania Partners With Natural Gas Driller On Air And Water Monitoring Amid New Regulatory Push

“The state of Pennsylvania will work with a major natural gas producer to collect in-depth data on air emissions and water quality at well sites, enhance public disclosure of drilling chemicals and expand buffer zones, the governor announced Thursday, touting the collaboration as the first of its kind.

CNX Resources Corp., based in Canonsburg, will partner with the state Department of Environmental Protection on intensive environmental monitoring at two future well sites throughout all stages of the drilling and fracking process — a data-collection exercise that could be used to drive future policy changes, according to Gov. Josh Shapiro.” (AP)

Related

Mastriano Championed AZ’s 2020 Election Audit. Its Architects, However, Didn’t Trust Him. “Newly uncovered text messages suggest the team behind the widely discredited audit of Arizona’s 2020 election was suspicious of a supposed ally in Pennsylvania.” (Chambersburg Public Opinion)

Former Executive At A Top PA Republican Consulting Firm Accused Of Sexual Misconduct. “Ryan Reynolds, a former vice president at the firm ColdSpark, is accused of groping another former employee, who says the firm’s leadership retaliated against her after she reported the alleged behavior, according to a lawsuit filed in August.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Making Sure Your Mail Ballot Counts

So, you’re a procrastinator?

That mail ballot has been sitting on your kitchen table since you received it weeks ago. Now, with only days remaining before the election on November 7, what do you do?

You’ve come to the right place, as PoliticsPA has an in-house elections expert to help you make sure that your ballot counts. (PoliticsPA)

• Returned Your Mail Ballot? How Many Bucks County Can Expect And Who’s Casting Them. (Bucks County Courier Times)

Related

A New Poll Sees Close Races For Allegheny County Executive And District Attorney. “Democrat Sara Innamorato entered the final week before Election Day with a statistically insignificant three-point lead over Republican Joe Rockey to be the next county executive, 47% to 44%, according to the new survey.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

GOP’s Rockey Boasts Sizable Fundraising Advantage Over Innamorato In Allegheny County Executive Race. “Financial reports filed at the end of last week show that Joe Rockey amassed a nearly $1 million fundraising advantage over Sara Innamorato since June, raising $1.6 million to her nearly $650,000.” (WESA Politics)

Republicans Are Touting Progressive Delco DA Jack Stollsteimer In Messages Defending GOP Judges Up For Retention Vote. “Progressives who are fighting to oust three Republican Delco judges were angry that text messages to voters featured DA Jack Stollsteimer. Republicans were behind the messages, it turns out.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Bob Brady’s Final Warning To Progressives Backing Working Families Party Candidates. “The chair of Philadelphia’s Democratic Party says he does not trust some South Philly ward leaders in the run-up to Tuesday’s election for City Council at-large.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Election 2023

• Delco GOP Challenges Democrats’ First Council Majority. (WHYY)
• What’s At Stake In Bucks County Commissioners Race? Here’s What The Candidates Say. (Bucks County Courier Times)
• Book Bans Have Reached Greater Pittsburgh’s Boardrooms And Ballots. (Pittsburgh City Paper)
• Control Of Northampton County Council To Be Decided In Tuesday’s Election. (Armchair Lehigh Valley)
• Four Vie For Centre County Commissioner. (Lock Haven Express)
• Commissioner Candidates All Are Familiar Names To Voters. (Meadville Tribune)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• Are We Really Going To Let PA’s Richest Man Buy A State Supreme Court Seat? (Will Bunch)
• Jeff Yass — The Devil … Or Engaged Citizen? (Larry Platt)
• How The Democrats Blew Off Their Base For ‘Cheap Progressivism’ (Pamela Paul)
• Should You Judge A Book Ban By Its Cover? (Natalie Bencivenga)
• They Predicted an Enduring Democratic Majority. What Went Wrong? (Michael Schaffer)
• Women Voted In Force To Protect Abortion In The Midterms. They’ll Do It Again In 2024. (Kathy Spillar)

1 Thing

5. ‘Fall Back’

Daylight saving time ends Sunday. Although nobody seems to like the annual cycle of “springing forward” and “falling back,” there’s no consensus on a better way.

In one corner: Several GOP lawmakers, including state Sen. Scott Martin, want to make daylight saving time — the one with the later sunrise and sunset — permanent.

Congress actually did that in the 1970s — but then changed it back.

In the other corner: Some scientists want to make daylight standard time — the one with the earlier sunrises and sunsets — permanent. They say it’s better aligned with our circadian rhythms. (Axios)

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