It’s ‘Get Outside’ Tuesday. Too nice to stay indoors

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Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. Walking On Sunshine, Katrina and the Waves

PA Weather
Friendsville | Sunny, 66
Fannettsburg | Sunny, 71
Fort Allen | Sunny, 67

PA Sports
Flyers (27-30-8) | Tue vs. Ottawa
Penguins (25-31-10) | Tue vs. Vegas
Sixers (22-42) | Atlanta 123-132 | Wed vs. Toronto

Happy Birthday. Cake and candles for Rep. Ben Sanchez. Belated wishes for First Lady Lori Shapiro and Second Lady Blayre Holmes Davis. 

Social Media. Join us on Twitter and Bluesky at @PoliticsPA

Top Story

1. Shapiro Admin Can’t Locate Key Emails In Sexual Harassment Case — “Zero Emails on the Server… Is Preposterous”

“A week’s worth of emails from a former Shapiro administration deputy cabinet secretary no longer exist.

That’s what an attorney conceded in court last month as he represented Gov. Josh Shapiro’s attempt to suppress Broad + Liberty’s legal effort to obtain more documents on the biggest scandal Shapiro has confronted in his first term. The employee in question, a young female who claimed she was sexually harassed by a top Shapiro aide in 2023, no longer works for the commonwealth.

The revelation made in court on February 12th raises the specter that the emails were purposefully deleted because they could shed new light on the scandal. The government’s lawyer seemed to suggest, instead, that they were merely deleted for matters of good digital hygiene.” (Broad + Liberty)

Elsewhere

Initial 2026 House Race Ratings Show More Republicans in Toss-up Seats. “Republicans’ three-seat Senate majority and a dearth of competitive races puts next year’s battle for the Senate on a side stage compared with the House elections. After gaining a seat in 2024, House Democrats need to gain just three seats to claim the majority next year.” (Roll Call)

‘Devastating Political Consequences’: One Error That This Senior Dem Thinks Cost His Party Big. “Rep. Brendan Boyle wants to talk about Medicaid and prices, but he thinks Democrats have to take on the other issues, too — and has thoughts on how.” (POLITICO)

• Pennsylvania Dem: ‘Trump Slump Has Already Begun’. (The Hill)

Independent Colleges in PA Warn Congressmen About Impacts of Funding Cuts. “An organization representing Pennsylvania’s 85 independent colleges and universities is warning the commonwealth’s congressional delegation that cuts to federal research funding could damage the state’s economy, reduce the number of students who come here for higher education and set back American science, among other consequences.” (Penn Capital-Star)

State

2. Proposed Settlement Would End Google’s Illegal Monopoly, PA Attorney General Says

“Search engine giant Google would be barred from paying to make its product the default on popular mobile devices, under a legal settlement proposed in a lawsuit by the Department of Justice and dozens of states, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced.

The proposed resolutions follow a federal judge’s ruling in August that Google maintains an unlawful monopoly on internet searches. The company would also be required to sell off its Chrome internet browser.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Elsewhere

State Politics Has a Sexual Misconduct Problem. “State legislatures craft most of the laws passed in the United States and serve as the main pipeline for higher office. But sexual harassment in state politics “remains a systemic and ongoing issue affecting both parties.”” (19th News)

PA Home Care Groups Say Workers Can Find Better Pay at Sheetz. They Want State Help. “Advocates for workers who offer home-based care to elderly, disabled people in Pennsylvania are expressing frustration about Gov. Josh Shapiro’s new spending plan, which they say does not provide enough money to pay these aides a living wage.” (PhillyBurbs.com)

Who’s Running For County Courts of Common Pleas? “Here is a list of vacancies in those counties along with names of those who have filed petitions with the Pennsylvania Department of State as of 2 p.m. on Monday, March 10.” (PoliticsPA)

Pennsylvania Lottery Wants to Go Big On Scratch-Offs. “The argument is that, if the Lottery dedicates more money to payouts, it will attract more customers and rake in more profits — all of which goes to programs benefiting older Pennsylvanians, such as free bus passes, property tax and rent rebates, and low-cost prescriptions.” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)

Around The Commonwealth

3. 60 U.S. Colleges Threatened With Sanctions Amid Antisemitism Investigations

“Temple, Drexel, Swarthmore, Rutgers, and dozens of other colleges and universities were threatened with sanctions Monday by the U.S. Education Department amid ongoing investigations into antisemitic activity on their campuses.

Education department officials said 60 colleges and universities received letters “warning them of potential enforcement actions if they do not fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students on campus, including uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities.”” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Elsewhere

Allegheny Dems Endorse O’Connor Over Gainey. “For the second consecutive cycle, Democrats in Allegheny County have opted to endorse the challenger versus the incumbent in the chase for mayor of the city of Pittsburgh.” (PoliticsPA)

Montco Breaks Ground On Federally Funded Pottstown Bridge As Trump Administration Funding Cuts Continue. “Fifteen years after the Keim Street Bridge in Pottstown was closed, Montgomery County officials eagerly broke ground Monday on the bridge’s replacement, even as some worried uncertainty over federal funds could delay the project further.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Joe Khan Launches Race For District Attorney in Purple Bucks County After Failed AG Bid. “Former Bucks County Solicitor Joe Khan announced Monday he is running to be the county’s district attorney, launching a race against the Republican incumbent, Jennifer Schorn, that could test the political shifts in the purple county.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Harrisburg’s Faltering Downtown at ‘Inflection Point’ As Mayoral Primary Looms, Business Leaders Say. “A combination of factors – the COVID-19 business shutdowns, incidents of violent crime, parking issues and widespread remote work by state workers – have pushed Harrisburg’s downtown to a make-or-break moment.” (PennLive)

Editorial

4. Speak Your Mind

• Will There Be A Trump Recession? (Wall Street Journal)
• Harrisburg Must Reverse Its Persistent Failure to Protect Children and Older Adults in PA. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Better Air, Less Asthma: Pittsburgh’s Air Is Improving, But It Needs To Be Even Cleaner. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• What If Penn State Sold Naming Rights to Campuses? (Greensburg Tribune-Review)
• Geothermal Might Have the Answer For Pennsylvania’s Clean Energy Needs. (John Walliser and Kevin Sunday)
• Democracy Champions List the Commonsense Election Solutions PA Still Needs. (Ed Rendell, Melissa Hart, Jim Gerlach and Keith McCall)
• America Needs the Energy Pennsylvania Can Supply. (Mike Sommers)

1 Thing

5. Penn State Trustees Approve Renaming Beaver Stadium Field

“Penn State’s football venue will become the West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium in a $50 million, 15-year agreement starting with the 2025 season.

The university’s Board of Trustees voted 22-8 Monday morning to approve the naming, with several trustees wanting to see recognition of former football coach Joe Paterno and more time to consider the proposal.

The gift is the second largest in Penn State history. It comes as Penn State is in the midst of a $700 million overhaul of the stadium.” (WPSU)

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