August 4th Playbook

House Speaker Bryan Cutler announced that the special election for the state House’s 164th District will take place on November 2. Here is the Playbook.

HD164: Special Election Set for November 2: The special election, to fill the open seat previously held by state Rep. Margo Davidson, will take place on the same day as the state’s November election.

‘On board the Jeff Bartos bus, a Senate candidate blends business talk with culture-war rhetoric’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Republican primaries often boil down to choices between candidates loyal to Trump and others trying to chart a different course. Bartos is trying to have a little of both.”

‘High court gives Pa. county OK to delay eviction cases while tenants wait for rental relief’: Spotlight PA reports that “opening the door for local courts across Pennsylvania to protect thousands of tenants still waiting for urgently needed aid, the state Supreme Court on Monday approved a request from Bucks County to pause eviction cases for up to 60 days if someone has applied for rental relief.”

‘Federal Guidance Poses Yet Another Problem For The GOP-Backed Effort To Review The 2020 Election’: WESA reports that “the Department of Justice is advising against the Arizona-style election investigation being called for by state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Adams County).”

‘Pa. GOP leaders ponder Gov. Wolf’s request to extend opioid emergency declaration’: PennLive reports that “discussions will begin later this week to determine whether lawmakers will use their authority for the first time to extend a gubernatorially declared emergency as Gov. Tom Wolf has requested to help stem the opioid addiction crisis.”

‘‘The good Lord’s vaccine is better than any man’s’: Voices from Pa.’s least-vaccinated county’: PennLive talks to residents of Fulton County, which is the least vaccinated county in Pennsylvania. 

‘Pennsylvania Swing District Expresses Concern About Inflation’: NPR reports that “voters in the swing district of Northampton County in the eastern part of the state talk about their concerns over inflation and the job market, and how the Biden White House is tackling the economy.”

‘Amid inflation and staffing shortages, is now the time for Pa.’s minimum wage to increase?’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “the push for an increased minimum wage this summer comes against the backdrop of a faltering economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

‘Pa. Sen. Bob Casey, state legislators rallying in D.C. urge Congress to act on voting rights’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “dozens of legislators traveled to Washington to pressure the Senate to quickly pass S.1, the “For the People Act.””

‘Merged universities could ‘turn the page’ on woes keeping Pennsylvania’s State System from educating more students’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “soon-to-be merged state universities could help “turn the page” on problems that have prevented the State System of Higher Education from broadening its education reach and better training the state’s workforce, Chancellor Daniel Greenstein says. But there are substantial problems ahead, too, he told the state Legislature Tuesday.”

‘Advocates say Pa. redistricting process must prioritize public input, communities’ intactness’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “in public testimony to the panel of leaders who will soon redraw Pennsylvania’s state legislative lines and determine the next 10 years of political territory in Harrisburg, two of the state’s biggest advocates for fair redistricting said the maps should be a result of intensive public input and a keen eye toward keeping communities intact.”

‘Delco forges ahead with its health department’: The Delaware County Daily Times reports that “as COVID delta variant intensifies, Delaware County moves forward to create it own health department and is situated to continue caring for residents as the time with Chester County handling the detail has finished.”

‘Chester County Leadership: Bill McSwain, Former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania’: Bill McSwain, a former U.S. Attorney for PA’s Eastern District who is a potential candidate for Governor, talked with VISTA Today for a Q&A. 

‘New Amtrak routes could be added in N.J. and the Lehigh Valley under infrastructure bill’: Lehigh Valley Live reports that “the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill making its way through the U.S. Senate this week includes more than $60 billion for Amtrak, funding the passenger railroad says will allow it to serve more cities and run more trains, some of them in New Jersey and the Lehigh Valley.”

‘Pa. state universities looking at an 11th consecutive year of enrollment decline’: PennLive reports that “the leader of Pennsylvania’s state university system anticipates systemwide student enrollment will once again show a decline in the coming academic year.”

‘City Council Holds Meeting To Discuss Covid Aid, Many Call For Funding To Address Violence’: WESA reports that “Pittsburgh City Council held the first of four meetings to discuss the city’s plans for $335 million in federal coronavirus aid Monday night.”

‘Reading to consider creating a land bank to fight blight’: The Reading Eagle reports that “The Reading Redevelopment Authority is hoping the city will create a land bank so the authority can get to work remediating blight.”

‘State College Borough Council criticizes PSU, throws support behind students who want mandated vaccine’: The Centre Daily Times reports that “State College’s borough council formally threw its support behind Penn State students urging the university to require the COVID-19 vaccine, with one council member implying the university’s decision-makers must not care about the community.”

‘Penn State strongly encouraging, not mandating covid vaccine’: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “students and faculty at Pennsylvania State University are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against covid-19, but the university is not mandating the vaccine, university officials said during a virtual presentation Tuesday.”

Fitzgerald to Support Lamb for Senate: The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jonathan Tamari reports that Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald will be supporting Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Allegheny) for U.S. Senate. Lamb is scheduled to “make an announcement” on Friday afternoon at IBEW Local #5 in Pittsburgh. Reports surfaced last week that Lamb is expected to announce his candidacy for U.S. Senate on August 6.   

Shapiro to Headline Chester County Dems Chair’s Club Event: Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who is a potential candidate for Governor, will be the special guest for the Chester County Democratic Committee’s Chair’s Club event on Wednesday evening, according to an email from the CCDC. 

Barletta To Host Meet & Greet in Blair County: Former Congressman Lou Barletta, who is seeking the GOP nomination for Governor, will be hosting a meet & greet event in Altoona on Wednesday afternoon, according to a press release from his campaign. 

Marcus Joins Matsui’s Office as Chief of Staff: POLITICO reports that Jeremy Marcus, who previously was deputy chief of staff for Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna), is joining Rep. Doris Matsui’s office (D-CA) as chief of staff.  

Harrisburg & DC   
NPR: Pennsylvania Swing District Expresses Concern About Inflation
Spotlight PA: High court gives Pa. county OK to delay eviction cases while tenants wait for rental relief
AP: Pa. senator hopes to issue election subpoenas within 2 weeks to county that have refused his demands for machines, ballots 
AP: Tom Wolf joins other governors, Democratic leaders in calling for Andrew Cuomo to resign
AP: Roadwork firm to pay $20M in workers’ retirement theft case
Morning Call: Pennsylvania redistricting hearing delves into potential basic building blocks of legislative maps
Inquirer: On board the Jeff Bartos bus, a Senate candidate blends business talk with culture-war rhetoric
Inquirer: Penn State faculty push for mandatory vaccinations days after a second student dies
Patriot News: Pa. GOP leaders ponder Gov. Wolf’s request to extend opioid emergency declaration
Patriot News: ‘The good Lord’s vaccine is better than any man’s’: Voices from Pa.’s least-vaccinated county 
Patriot News: Pa. state universities looking at an 11th consecutive year of enrollment decline
Patriot News: Doctors optimistic Pa.’s high vaccination rate will avert COVID-19 nightmares other states are suffering
Patriot News: Penn State is urging, but not requiring, students and employees to get COVID-19 vaccines. Some aren’t happy.
Patriot News: CDC: 25 Pa. counties, including Dauphin and Lancaster, see ‘substantial’ COVID-19 spread
Patriot News: Pa. sees 1,442 new COVID-19 cases, with 56 more hospitalized: daily update
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Amid inflation and staffing shortages, is now the time for Pa.’s minimum wage to increase?
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. Sen. Bob Casey, state legislators rallying in D.C. urge Congress to act on voting rights
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Glenn O. Hawbaker to pay more than $20 million in restitution to Pa. workers 
Post-Gazette: Merged universities could ‘turn the page’ on woes keeping Pennsylvania’s State System from educating more students
Post-Gazette: Advocates say Pa. redistricting process must prioritize public input, communities’ intactness
City & State PA: Redistricting reformers want changes to how political maps are drawn 
City & State PA: Pittsburgh officials call on new UPMC CEO to better support the region
KDKA: Gov. Tom Wolf Wants Lawmakers To Return To Renew His Opioid Emergency Declaration, But Republican Leaders Are Non-Committal 
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pennsylvania: Health Department Reports 1,442 New Coronavirus Cases Statewide
USA Today: Pa. construction firm to repay nearly $21 million to workers in prevailing wage case
WESA: Federal Guidance Poses Yet Another Problem For The GOP-Backed Effort To Review The 2020 Election
Philadelphia Business Journal: New Pennsylvania tax exemption looks to spur data center development, thousands of jobs
WHYY Newsworks: ‘A war against ourselves’: Why Pa. and N.J. are preparing now for a delta variant surge
Real Clear Policy: Pennsylvania Is a Microcosm of America’s Housing Crisis

Philadelphia
WHYY Newsworks: Bearing caskets, Philadelphians converge at City Hall to demand action against gun violence
Billy Penn: Former MOVE members are speaking out about abusive behavior within the organization
Inquirer: Philly is encouraging face masks as COVID cases rise — but it’s not bringing back restrictions
Inquirer: CDC issues new eviction ban for most of U.S. through Oct. 3; Philly not following NYC on vaccine proof; second Penn State student dies after contracting COVID-19
Philadelphia Tribune: Report offers ways to address inequities among Philly’s minority-owned small businesses
Philadelphia Business Journal: ‘I don’t want to take anything off the table’: Philadelphia, for now, will not follow NYC’s mandate to require vaccination proof for indoor dining
Philly Voice: Kenney decriminalizes fentanyl test strips in Philly through executive order
KYW Newsradio: These Philly restaurants are requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination
KYW Newsradio: New COVID-19 cases in Philadelphia have doubled week after week
KYW Newsradio: CDC says Philly region has ‘substantial’ community spread. Here’s how that affects you

SEPA
Delco Daily Times: Delco forges ahead with its health department
VISTA Today: Chester County Leadership: Bill McSwain, Former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Bucks County Courier Times: CDC: Bucks, Montgomery counties have substantial COVID-19 transmission
Montgomery Media: Montgomery County adds 367 coronavirus cases over 7 days
Bucks Local News: Bucks COVID-19 vaccination pace increases as new cases rise 
Pottstown Mercury: New OJR equity policy spurs ‘Critical Race Theory’ debate

Pittsburgh 
WESA: City Council Holds Meeting To Discuss Covid Aid, Many Call For Funding To Address Violence 
WESA: Mars School Board Wants To Affirm Its Love Of Country, Ban Teacher Use Of Critical Race Theory
WESA: COVID-19 Cases Are Slowly Rising In PA, But So Far, No New Mandates Have Been Made
WESA: Allegheny County Now Seeing A ‘Substantial’ Rate Of Coronavirus Transmission
Post-Gazette: Now we’re sure Rich Fitzgerald and Jeff Daniels are not the same person
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Public Schools, teachers union reach tentative contract agreement
Post-Gazette: Allegheny County breaches CDC threshold for return of face masks
Tribune Review: FitzDaniels? Allegheny County executive meets doppelganger, Jeff Daniels
Tribune Review: Vaccination proof required at 2 Pittsburgh restaurants 
WTAE: Pittsburgh mayor gives ominous warning amid rising COVID-19 cases 
WTAE: Pittsburgh businesses adding mask, COVID-19 vaccination requirements 
WTAE: Mask policies, learning options at Western Pa. schools 
City Paper: Two restaurants on Pittsburgh’s North Side requiring proof of vaccination
KDKA: PPG Paints Arena Recommending Masks Inside
KDKA: 2 North Side Restaurants To Require Proof Of COVID-19 Vaccination
KDKA: CDC: Multiple Local Counties Have ‘Substantial’ COVID-19 Spread

SWPA 
Observer-Reporter: Nomination process begins for government study commission
Beaver County Times: Beaver County’s COVID cases up 247.1%; Pennsylvania cases surge 70%
Beaver County Times: Local Head Start program receives funding from American Rescue Plan
Tribune Review: Westmoreland commissioners mum on mask requirement as county sees substantial virus spread
Tribune Review: Murrysville man, former port authority executive, named Westmoreland chamber director
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: State university system bracing for enrollment decline in fall
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Cambria hits COVID-19 transmission level for indoor mask recommendation, state adds 1,440 new cases
Altoona Mirror: Planners support DeGol project

NEPA
Times-Tribune: Lackawanna County commissioners to meet Thursday in North Abington Twp.
Times-Tribune: Regional COVID-19 death toll rises for first time in two weeks
Citizens Voice: More than 1,400 COVID cases reported in state
The Times Leader: 34 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Luzerne County Tuesday; 1,442 statewide

South Central 
Carlisle Sentinel: Carlisle Borough Council, Truth & Reconciliation Commission plan joint meeting Wednesday
Carlisle Sentinel: DOH: 31 new cases of COVID-19 reported Tuesday in Cumberland County
York Dispatch: Will York County’s top employers mandate vaccines?
York Dispatch: 44 new COVID-19 cases reported in York County
LNP | LancasterOnline: Here’s what Lancaster County looks like amid ‘substantial’ COVID-19 spread
LNP | LancasterOnline: John Bey officially Lancaster city’s new police chief: ‘Public safety is not a spectator sport’ [photos]
LNP | LancasterOnline: Lancaster County now at ‘substantial’ level of COVID-19 transmission: CDC
LNP | LancasterOnline: Here’s how much COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have risen in Lancaster County in the past week

Lehigh Valley      
Express Times: New Amtrak routes could be added in N.J. and the Lehigh Valley under infrastructure bill
Express Times: Pa. launches new COVID testing site in Lehigh Valley as cases continue to rise
Reading Eagle: Reading to consider creating a land bank to fight blight 
Reading Eagle: Pa. posts biggest COVID day of the delta surge as Berks County not running as hot
WFMZ: Pa. lawmakers talking about possible alternatives to the gas tax 
WFMZ: Reading to hold public meetings about parking plans
WFMZ: Local organization, state program aim to help people in danger of foreclosure
Morning Call: Before the eviction moratorium was lifted, utility protections were pulled, too. Here’s how many Lehigh Valley residents it affected
Morning Call: Will Biden’s new moratorium affect Lehigh Valley renters facing eviction?
Morning Call: Pennsylvania coronavirus update: Northampton County at highest transmission level, Lehigh now ‘substantial’

North by Northwest
Patriot News: Election audit supporter condemns death threats received by Tioga County commissioners
Tribune Review: Penn State strongly encouraging, not mandating covid vaccine
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: COVID-19 transmission rate increases as delta variant spreads despite vaccination status
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: State Rep. Owlett pushes for I-99 designation in Tioga County
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Conservation deputy secretary joins students in Brandon Park for tree inventory
Centre Daily Times: State College Borough Council criticizes PSU, throws support behind students who want mandated vaccine

Opinion  
Paul Muschick: ‘What’s next? 8 cents every time you flush?’ Readers react to 8-cent fee per mile driven
Will Bunch Newsletter: How do you handle a problem like Scott Perry? 
Ray E. Landis: Wolf admin.’s proposed nursing home regulations come with costs 
Cassie Miller: A map for whom? Advocate says map makers should engage Pa.’s diverse communities | Wednesday Coffee 
Cassie Miller: Social platforms get graded on efforts to fight hate. Here’s how they ranked. | Tuesday Coffee
Inquirer: Is it time to kill the five-day workweek? | Pro/Con
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Tick population is rising in the state, and so are tick-related illnesses
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: By failing to oversee the former Conestoga View, Lancaster County officials let down this county’s elderly poor 
Michael Coard: Happy birthday, George Edwin Taylor. The first Black presidential candidate 
Kathleen Conn: Why abortion rights should not be decided by states
Tony Norman: Comparing the Tuskegee Experiment to our current COVID crisis
Joyce M. Davis: Paying tribute to a man whose life was a blessing | Social Views
Ernest Owens: If You Won’t Get Vaccinated, You Shouldn’t Be Allowed to Have Fun
Anusha Viswanathan: I was verbally threatened for advocating for my child’s school to follow COVID-19 mitigation strategies 
Ignacio F. Bunster-Ossa: Improving the Ben Franklin Parkway demands smarts and art, not costly engineering 
Bruce Ledewitz: What a Novel Can Teach Us about Religion in America 
Elaine Maimon, PhD: The Higher Ed Opportunity 
Trudy Rubin: U.S. must not betray Afghan female activists on Taliban hit list 
Daniel E. Snowden, D.Ed.: Some ideas for Trump voters to consider if they want a listening ear
Marty Hann: The worst American generation

3 Responses

  1. Jeff Bartos is not a “moderate businessman”. On Nov 10, 2020 (well after it was clear Biden had won the presidency), Bartos funded a PAC out of Bucks County that ran #StopTheSteal buses to DC filled with “tourists”, including to the Jan 6 rally which promised a “march to the Capitol” following Trump’s speech. Bartos is a funder of the Big Lie.

    1. That will be the job of Fetterman should he win the Dem nomination for Senate to define Bartos. But make no mistake Bartos is better than the pitiful lot running for Gov on the R side.

  2. GOP candidates are confused. They think special election is like special education.

Email:
  • Will tonight's U.S. Senate debate affect your decision?


    • No. I've already decided on how to cast my vote. (81%)
    • Yes. Anxious to hear from both candidates (19%)

    Total Voters: 27

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