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🔊 What We’re Hearing. “Pennsylvanians deserve a cannabis policy that works, not just another budget projection with no real path forward.” – Sen. Dan Laughlin

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Top Story

1. Federal Judge Blocks ‘Catastrophic’ Trump Administration Cut to NIH Grant Funding

“A federal judge on Monday prevented the National Institutes of Health from changing the percentage that universities and medical schools pay in facilities and administrative costs in 22 states that filed a lawsuit, blocking a decision that was rebuked by academic institutions throughout the country and members of Congress.” (Penn Capital-Star)

• Pittsburgh Universities Reassure Campus Researchers In Face of Unexpected NIH Funding Cuts. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Trump Wants to Cut Billions in Research Spending. Here’s How Much It Might Cost Your University. (Chronicle of Higher Education)

Elsewhere

Democrats Name Their Battlegrounds For the Next Two Years of State-Level Races. “The list includes 18 legislative chambers across 11 states; 10 of these chambers are in the “battleground” states of Virginia, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Alaska. And in five of these chambers, the balance of power could be decided by a single seat in either the House or Senate (the Virginia House, the Minnesota House and Senate, the Michigan Senate and the Pennsylvania House).” (NOTUS)

2026 House Race Ratings: Another Knife Fight for the Majority. “We rate just 39 seats as currently competitive (those rated Toss Up or Lean), with 29 more seats rated Likely Republican or Democrat. Eighteen seats — 10 held by Democrats and eight held by Republicans — are Toss Ups.” (Cook Political Report)

US Cyber Agency Puts Election Security Staffers Who Worked With the States on Leave. “State election officials of both political parties have defended CISA’s work to help secure election offices from a range of cybersecurity and physical threats.” (AP)

State

2. An Interview With PA GOP Chair Greg Rothman

“Last weekend, Cumberland County state Sen. Greg Rothman was elected Chairman of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania.

PoliticsPA talked with Rothman prior to his election about the position, why he was seeking the job, and what he hoped to do as chair.” (PoliticsPA)

Elsewhere

State Sen. Greg Rothman Wins the PA GOP Chair Race After a ‘Family Feud’. “Rothman, 58, won 248-120 in a vote of Republican state party committee members at a meeting in East Pennsboro on Saturday, defeating Bill Bachenberg, a Lehigh Valley business owner and longtime ally of President Donald Trump.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

PA Department of Corrections Recommends Closure of SCI Rockview and Quehanna Boot Camp. “The report follows the DOC’s participation in the Commonwealth’s Resource Evaluation and Mission Alignment Project (REMAP), a data-driven initiative designed to ensure the Department’s resources are aligned in the best way to achieve its mission.” (PoliticsPA)

• Shapiro’s Prison Closure Plan Draws Mixed Reactions. (Penn Capital-Star)
• Centre County Officials Express Surprise, Concern at Proposal to Close Rockview State Prison. (Centre Daily Times)
• State DOC Recommends Closure of Quehanna Boot Camp. (Clearfield Daily Progress)

Pennsylvania GOP Senator Who Supports Marijuana Legalization Says Governor’s Plan Has ‘No Real Path Forward’. “While Sen. Dan Laughlin (R) has long advocated for legalization, sponsoring bipartisan bills to end prohibition, he said on Wednesday that Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D) budget proposal to enact the policy change is fundamentally flawed.” (Marijuana Moment)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Scranton Mayor Will Seek Reelection, Headlining Ballot Alongside Races For County Judge, DA and Other Row Offices

“Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti will seek another term this year during an election cycle where races for that office, a Lackawanna County judgeship, the position of county district attorney and other county row offices are on the ballot.” (Scranton Times-Tribune)

Elsewhere

O’Connor Starts Year With Money Advantage Over Gainey in Pittsburgh Mayoral Primary Campaign. “With a huge fundraising surge that dwarfed that of his rival last month and a bumper crop of endorsements, County Controller Corey O’Connor proved Monday that he is set to mount a strong challenge to incumbent Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey in May’s Democratic mayoral primary election.” (WESA)

Pittsburgh NAACP Calls For Delay in Confirmation Process For Acting Police Chief. “Local NAACP leaders have asked Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and City Council members to delay any confirmation of Christopher Ragland as police chief until at least one public forum is held on the matter.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Western PA Educators Eye Shapiro’s Proposed Cyber Tuition Rate Caps. “The $8.2 billion education funding proposal sets a flat cyber tuition rate of $8,000 per student annually, capping the cost districts have to pay for students in their area to attend independent public cyber schools.” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)

Former Allentown School Board Director Launches Lehigh County Executive Campaign. “Mike Welsh, owner of AC Thompson Insurance in Allentown, kicked off his candidacy in a news release Monday. Welsh was elected to Allentown School Board in 2013 and resigned in 2017.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Philadelphia Should Look to the Eagles For Inspiration — And Soar. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Why Donald Trump Chose People Like Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard. (John Waters and Adam Ellwanger)
• America Could Go From Being Loved to Being Hated Overnight. (Judy Young)
• Shapiro’s Silent Partners. (David Osborne)

1 Thing

5. No More Pennies For Your Thoughts?

“You might be seeing a lot less of President Lincoln’s right cheekbone after President Trump’s move to nix the penny.

On Sunday, the president issued an executive order directing the treasury to stop minting 1-cent coins, a practice he called “wasteful.”

Trump noted that each penny costs over 2 cents to produce. The US mint said it lost $85.3 million making billions of pennies at 3.7 cents a pop during the last fiscal year.” (Morning Brew)

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