Earth Day 2025. Let’s show some respect

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Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. Walkin’ On The Sun. Smash Mouth to start the day.

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Happy Birthday. Cake and candles for U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan

Top Story

1. Supreme Court Weighs Who Should Decide Public School Curriculum: Judges or School Boards?

“The U.S. Supreme Court jumps back into the culture wars Tuesday, as the justices tackle a clash between two bedrock values in American public schools: On one side is the longstanding tradition of local school boards determining class curriculum for everyone. On the other side is the notion that public schools should accommodate religious objections to some materials by allowing parents to opt their kids out of some classes.

At the center of Tuesday’s case is the school system in Montgomery County, Md., the most religiously diverse county in the United States, with 160,000 students of almost all faiths. The school board approved five storybooks with LGBTQ+ characters for use in elementary school classes. The avowed purpose was to teach students tolerance and respect for LGBTQ+ students and parents. But some parents objected, contending that exposure to the approved materials conflicted with their religious beliefs.” (NPR)

Elsewhere

Are Attacks Like the One on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on the Rise? “Donald Trump has survived two assassination attempts. Paul Pelosi was beaten in his own home with a hammer. Someone just tried to burn down Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s house while he and his family slept inside. And all of that happened in just the past year and a half alone.” (Slate)

The Trump Administration Climate Plan: Red States Get Hydrogen, Blue States Don’t. “Less than a year after announcing plans to establish a hydrogen-based aviation fuel hub at Pittsburgh International Airport, Pennsylvania-based natural gas producer CNX has quietly taken down the website on which it advertised the hub.” (Capital & Main)

U.S. Relationships Will Survive Trade Battle, McCormick Said During Erie Trip. “U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, who visited Erie April 21, compared the nation’s relationships with some of its closest allies to partners in a marriage. Sometimes, he said, even the best marriages go through tough times when one partner asks the other to do a little more.” (Erie Times-News)

How Axing Head Start Would Affect Pennsylvania Kids. “Thousands of Pennsylvania children could lose funding for Head Start, the decades-old federal program that provides free child care, nutrition assistance and other services to low income families.” (Axios Pittsburgh)

State

2. Public Health Officials in PA Won’t Say How They’d Handle a $500M Cut Sought by Trump Admin

“Pennsylvania health officials are facing down a potential $500 million loss of federal funding, but are tight-lipped about which programs and how many people might be affected by the Trump administration’s decision.

The funding helps Pennsylvania purchase and administer vaccines, monitor the spread of infectious diseases like measles and influenza, and contact people who might have been exposed to dangerous pathogens.” (Spotlight PA)

Elsewhere

Pennsylvania Wants to Hire Federal Workers. The State Also Has a Partial Hiring Freeze. “In March, Gov. Josh Shapiro encouraged federal employees to apply to state jobs. Now the state is adding an additional step to some hiring, slowing the process as federal funding cuts take place.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Gov. Josh Shapiro Pushes For Increased State Funding For Firefighters Following Arson Attack. “Shapiro touted his three-part plan laid out in his February budget proposal — create a new $30 million competitive grant program, establish a program to help fire companies better collaborate and cover annual cancer screenings for firefighters.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

• Shapiro Said President Donald Trump Called Him to Offer ‘Warm Regards’ Nearly a Week After Arson Attack. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Rowe Wants to Make It Easier For Sportsmen to Register to Vote. “State Rep. David Rowe (R-Union) represents a lot of sportsmen in the rural 85th state House District, which includes parts of Union, Juniata, and Mifflin counties and all of Snyder County. He wants to see them more engaged with the electoral process and is planning on introducing legislation that aims to make it easier for them to register to vote.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Two Hospitals to Close After PA Officials Provided $40 Million to Help Company Find a Buyer

“A California for-profit health care company said Monday it plans to close its remaining hospitals in Pennsylvania’s fifth most populous county and fire thousands of employees after failing to find a buyer.

Prospect Medical Holdings filed papers Monday in bankruptcy court seeking approval to close the two Crozer Health System hospitals in Delaware County before they run out of cash. The announcement was met with condemnation from state and local officials, who had provided a $40 million lifeline while the company worked to reach a solution to keep them open.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Elsewhere

Gainey Supporters Decry Mailer Advertisement in Support of O’Connor. “Sent to voters in the city, the mailer appeared to tap into previous City Hall controversies and it set off accusations that supporters of Mr. O’Connor had crossed a line.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

PA GOP Chair Rothman Asks U.S. Attorney to Investigate Krasner Over Threats to Trump. “Saying he has “deep concerns,” state Sen. Greg Rothman, chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party, wrote U.S. Attorney David Metcalf asking him to investigate Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner for allegedly threatening President Donald Trump and Trump supporters.” (DV Journal)

Pandemic Effects Are Subsiding in Philly, But Longstanding Challenges Persist, Pew Report Finds. “While violent crime and poverty rates have declined, struggles with overdose deaths and homeless remain, Pew’s annual “State of the City” report found.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Lancaster City Mayoral Candidates to Face Off in Debate This Weekend. “The meeting between Jaime Arroyo and Janet Diaz, who both sit on the City Council, will be hosted by neighborhood group South Ann Concerned Neighbors and the Lancaster chapter of the National Action Network.” (LNP)

Editorial

4. Speak Your Mind

• Pennsylvania Is In Dire Need of More In-Person Early Voting Options. (Deborah Rose Hinchey) 
• At the First Whiff of Power, These Republicans Betrayed the Rule of Law. (Svante Myrick)
• The Pathetic, Slow Motion Downfall of Barack Obama. (Keith Naughton)
• Earth Day Gut Check – How Trump’s Environmental Cuts Hit the Lake Erie Region. (Chris J. Magoc)

1 Thing

5. How Many PA Folks Made Forbes’ Billionaire’s List? A Lot

“Forbes has released its annual list of the world’s billionaires and while most of us did not make the cut there are plenty of Pennsylvanians among the 3,028 names.

According to Forbes and Axios Philadelphia, Pennsylvania can claim bragging rights to at least the following 25 billionaires as of March 1.” (PennLive)

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