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What’s Happening Today. Rep. Madeleine Dean is hosting a town hall in Blue Bell at 7 p.m.

Happy Birthday. Cake and candles for Rep. Guy Reschenthaler.

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Top Story

1. Shapiro Gives First Public Comments Since Sunday Attack

“Speaking to the press after the opening of the Hershey Corporation’s new manufacturing plant, Gov. Josh Shapiro made his first public comments since the arson at the Governor’s Residence early Sunday morning.

He began by offering his thoughts, not as the chief executive of the Commonwealth, but as a husband and a parent.” (PoliticsPA)

Elsewhere

Central PA Congressman Condemns Arson But Calls Shapiro’s Anti-Trump Actions ‘Not Helpful’. “After initially condemning Sunday’s firebombing at the Governor’s Residence, U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser blamed Democrats for violent rhetoric and said Gov. Josh Shapiro’s actions opposing President Donald Trump are “not helpful.”” (PennLive)

Fitzpatrick Raises $1.22M in 1st Quarter. “U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-01) raised an eye-opening $1.22 million in the first quarter of 2025, according to official filings to the Federal Election Commission.” (PoliticsPA)

Q1 Congressional Fundraising Report. “The first quarter fundraising numbers are in for the Pennsylvania congressional delegation.” (PoliticsPA)

5 Takeaways From First-Quarter Fundraising Reports. “New federal fundraising disclosures show on the House side, Republicans running in battleground districts, on average, outraised their Democratic counterparts in similarly competitive districts during the first three months of the year.” (Roll Call)

State

2. Financial Delayed

“By October, the scale of the crisis was clear.

State grants that thousands of students were counting on to pay for college were weeks behind schedule. The botched rollout of a new federal financial aid form had already caused serious delays. Then, the new software system the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) was using to run the grant program slowed things down even more.

“I am just sick over the situation we are in with the new system,” Elizabeth McCloud, a top official at PHEAA, emailed a colleague on Oct. 13. The upgrades were intended to make running the program more efficient. But the feedback was clear, McCloud wrote: the new software was “falling short.”” (Spotlight PA)

Elsewhere

Lamb, Powell Call On Fetterman, McCormick to Stand Up For Their Communities, and to Hear Them Out. “Former Congressman Conor Lamb and state Rep. Lindsay Powell were warmly received Wednesday night at a town hall in Swissvale’s Pittsburgh Mennonite Church, but they weren’t really the officials people wanted to see.” (WESA)

Gainey, Lee Call For ‘Unprecedented Unity’ in Battling Trump Administration. “Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and U.S. Rep. Summer Lee vowed Wednesday to do what they can to protect constituents hurt by President Donald Trump’s administration — but warned they can’t go it alone.” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)

Pennsylvania Representative Working to Strengthen State’s Ethnic Intimidation Law. “A Pennsylvania legislator is working to strengthen the state’s ethnic intimidation law, which prosecutors are considering charging Cody Balmer with, the man accused of setting fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.” (CBS Pittsburgh)

Charles Barkley Wants Josh Shapiro to Run For President, Not Stephen A. Smith. “The 2028 presidential election is still more than three years away, but in a surprise to no one, Charles Barkley has some thoughts.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Amid Overtime Budget Concerns, Pittsburgh Officials Announce $62 Million Raised For Infrastructure Projects

“A day after a report from the city controller warned that multiple city departments have already used more than half of their allocated overtime pay budget for the full year, Mayor Ed Gainey and other city officials on Wednesday used a bond announcement to focus on the city’s fiscal health and “momentum.”

The city has raised $62.6 million through bonds to invest in infrastructure and public safety improvement projects outlined in its 2025 budget, the mayor announced Wednesday. Financing will be repaid over 20 years at an interest rate of about 4%.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Elsewhere

Challenger in District Attorney Race Dugan Drops Out of Planned Candidates Forum. “Larry Krasner and former Judge Patrick Dugan were invited to face off in the April 22 debate hosted by the Committee of Seventy, WHYY News and the Philadelphia Bar Association.” (WHYY)

Pittsburghers Fight Looming Transit Cuts. “Pittsburgh could lose 35% of its public transit service — including dozens of bus routes — if the state doesn’t come through with hundreds of millions in funding.” (Axios Pittsburgh)

Two Millbourne Council Members Confessed to Trying to Steal an Election. They Have No Plans to Resign Yet. “Two weeks after two Millbourne officials pleaded guilty to federal charges in a brazen scheme to steal a 2021 mayoral election, they are still sitting on the tiny Delaware County borough’s council and are poised to vote to appoint new members to the board.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

‘Better Than When I Found It’: Northampton County Executive Gives Final State of the County Address. “Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure delivered his final State of the County address in Bethlehem on Wednesday, capping two terms in the office.” (LehighValleyNews)

Editorial

4. Speak Your Mind

• Shapiro Attack and the Alarming Upswing in Political Violence. (Baltimore Sun)
• What the Arson Attack on Josh Shapiro Says About Our Politics in 2025. (Jill Filipovic)
• Personal Memories of the Governor’s Residence. (John Thornburgh)
• More Than 1 Million PA Voters Aren’t Allowed to Vote In Primaries. I’m One of Them. (Chris Brennan) 
• Naval Academy Book Ban Is a Foolish Effort at Censorship. (John Baer)
• Sustaining Pennsylvania’s EMS system. (Sen. Tracy Pennycuick)
• Aspiring Teachers in PA Need Training That Provides Classroom Realities. (Christine Persun)
• Tax Day Nightmare. (Emily Greene)

1 Thing

5. Bethlehem’s Main Street Voted the Best in US in Nationwide Poll

“It’s something that many in the Lehigh Valley already knew, but the secret is out to the rest of the nation: Bethlehem’s historic Main Street was named the “Best Main Street” in USA Today’s 10Best Main Street competition.

“Now the whole country knows what everyone who lives and works here already knows: Bethlehem is the best,” said Kelly Ronalds, director of room sales and guest experience for the historic hotel, which anchors the city’s Main Street shopping district.” (Allentown Morning Call)

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