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December 24th Playbook

The state Supreme Court released it’s explanation of why it ruled against Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration’s mask mandate in schools. Here is the Playbook. 

News

‘Lack of emergency order or regulation doomed mask mandate’: The Associated Press reports that “the state Supreme Court on Thursday released its rationale for why it ruled that Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration had no legal authority to require masks in Pennsylvania’s schools and child care centers, even amid a pandemic and surging cases of COVID-19.”

‘5 teenagers charged in armed carjacking of US Rep. Scanlon’: The Associated Press reports that “five teenagers were charged Thursday after the vehicle stolen at gunpoint in Philadelphia from U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon was found in neighboring Delaware, police said.”

‘5 takeaways from Pennsylvania’s new state House and Senate maps’: The Philadelphia Inquirer details “some of what we’ve learned reporting on the maps, which will help determine control of Harrisburg.”

‘Pa. Senate staffers to receive a 5% raise in the new year’: PennLive reports that “on the eve of Christmas Eve, all 732 staffers in the state Senate got a welcome and unexpected surprise in their email inbox from Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman. It said they were all getting a 5% raise, effective Jan. 1.”

‘There’s $350 million to help struggling Pennsylvania homeowners — but they can’t apply for it yet’: WESA reports that “Pennsylvania has been allocated more than $350 million in federal funds to help prevent foreclosures that stem from pandemic-related hardships. But it’s unclear when federal regulators will approve the details of the program — or when homeowners will be able to apply for the funds.”

‘Hedge fund CEO draws high-level support in GOP Senate race’: The Associated Press reports that “David McCormick, CEO of one of the world’s largest hedge funds and a former senior official in President George W. Bush’s administration, is accumulating support from longtime party fundraisers and officials in Pennsylvania even before he has formally announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate.”

City & State PA’s Biggest Winners & Losers This Week: City & State PA highlights the three winners and losers in Pennsylvania politics this week.

‘Tom Wolf’s New Year’s Eve wish for the General Assembly’: City & State PA provides “a breakdown of Wolf’s final actions of the 2021 calendar year.”

‘PODCAST: Lou Barletta Says He’s The Trump Guy PA Dems Can Love’: Former Congressman Lou Barletta, who is seeking the GOP nomination for Governor, joined the Delaware Valley Journal podcast to talk to News Editor Linda Stein “about his race for governor and why he believes he’s the best candidate to take on Democratic A.G. Josh Shapiro next year.”

‘Lou Barletta Promises to Bus Illegal Immigrants to Delaware, President Biden’s Home State’: The Delaware Valley Journal reports that “ff he becomes Pennsylvania governor, Lou Barletta says he will bus illegal immigrants to Delaware.”

‘Gov. Wolf declares Santa’s reindeer ‘ready to fly this holiday season’ for Christmas Eve deliveries’: PennLive reports that “Governor Tom Wolf, at a news conference today held at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane’s reindeer stables, announced that Santa’s reindeer are approved for flight and Pennsylvanians can expect Christmas Eve deliveries.”

‘Dorney Park wanted to expand alcohol sales to entire park, but Pa. liquor board denied request. Now state lawmakers are getting involved’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “a Republican-backed bill that would let Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom sell alcohol throughout its South Whitehall Township property advanced in the state House after the Liquor Control Board rejected a park request to expand alcohol sales.”

‘What the preliminary redrawn legislative maps mean for Berks County’: The Reading Eagle reports that “Pennsylvania is in the midst of having its legislative districts redrawn, and the proposed changes would have a big impact on Berks County.”

‘Mariner East pipeline is set to be completed in 2022, after years of environmental damage and delays’: StateImpactPA reports that “troubled Mariner East pipeline construction at Marsh Creek State Park in Chester County has restarted, leading the project’s builder to say it expects to finish the 350-mile-long natural gas liquids line in the first quarter of 2022 — more than two years after its initial planned completion.”

‘Pennsylvania’s 25 highest-paid state employees in 2021’: The Philadelphia Business Journal reports that “most of Pennsylvania’s 25 highest-paid public employees in 2021 have jobs connected to education.”

‘What did Pennsylvanians drink this year? Here’s a look at the best-selling wines and spirits of 2021’: The Philadelphia Business Journal reports that “Pennsylvanians spent record amounts on alcohol during the 2021 fiscal year, buying $2.91 billion worth of spirits and wine.”

‘Philadelphia universities announce new COVID-19 protocols in response to latest surge’: KYW Newsradio reports that “at least two Philadelphia universities have announced they will use online classes for the 2022 spring semester’s first week or longer due to the current spike in COVID-19 cases. Four other major universities in the city are instituting testing or booster protocols.”

‘Peduto looking into discipline for officers who leaked report on Jim Rogers’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “Mayor Bill Peduto on Thursday said his office sought help from “higher legal authorities” to potentially prosecute city police officers who leaked an internal report on a man who died after being tasered in Bloomfield.”

‘Wilkinsburg council severs ties with community-development nonprofit over annexation dispute’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “the Wilkinsburg Borough Council announced Thursday that it voted to sever its relationship with a nonprofit supporting a merger between the borough and the city of Pittsburgh.”

‘Pittsburgh seeks dismissal of challenge to removal of Columbus statue from Schenley Park’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “the city of Pittsburgh says an Italian-American group has no standing to sue to halt the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue in Schenley Park.”

‘City of Pittsburgh says 85.85% of city employees are vaccinated, 278 face discipline due to mandate’: WTAE reports that “the city of Pittsburgh provided an update on its COVID-19 vaccination mandate on Thursday, saying 85.85% of employees are vaccinated and a total of 278 employees are not yet in compliance. According to the mandate, city employees had to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 22, except for circumstances where an employee has an approved or pending exception or extension.”

‘Harrisburg Mayor-Elect Wanda Williams announces dates for inaugural ceremony and ball’: PennLive reports that “Harrisburg Mayor-Elect Wanda Williams has announced the dates for her inaugural ceremony and ball.”

‘Luzerne County Election Board sending ballot survey letters’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Luzerne County’s Election Board is sending letters this week as part of its effort to learn why Nov. 2 mail ballots were not received from by some voters who requested them.”

‘Delaware County Council passes on decreasing taxes despite $100 million in surplus funds’: The Delaware County Daily Times reports that “Delaware County Council passed a $353 million budget with no tax increase but declined a 10% tax decrease, despite having $100 million in reserves.”

‘Delco council forgoes residency requirement for certain positions’: The Delaware County Daily Times reports that “Delaware County Council approved a measure that would allow people in certain positions in county government to live outside of Delaware County.”

‘Cambria County could see up to $15 million from opioid settlement’: The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat reports that “Cambria County may see up to $15 million over the next 20 years to establish new drug and alcohol programs, thanks to a settlement with several opioid manufacturers.”

‘Cambria commissioners approve budget with tax cut for 2022’: The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat reports that “the Cambria County commissioners approved the county’s 2022 budget on Thursday.”

‘Berks commissioners OK, extend bargaining agreements’: WFMZ reports that “the Berks County commissioners held a short year-end meeting Thursday to approve an agenda that primarily dealt with personnel appointments, promotions and salary adjustments for 2022.”

‘Plastic bags and straws banned in West Goshen’: The Daily Local News reports that “the township will celebrate Earth Day, April 22, with that day’s enactment of a ban on single use plastic bags and straws for commercial businesses.”

‘Mummers Parade will go on: Philly officials had no conversations about canceling over rising COVID cases’: Billy Penn reports that “Philadelphia officials will allow the city’s famous New Year’s Day celebration to continue as planned, as COVID-19 case counts continue to surge.”

‘Steelers Legend Franco Harris Presented With Key To Pittsburgh’: KDKA reports that “Steelers legend Franco Harris now has a key to the city of Pittsburgh. Mayor Bill Peduto presented the key to Harris Thursday afternoon, on the 49th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception.”

‘Pennsylvania coronavirus update: 59,270 cases, 865 deaths reported this week as hospitalizations hold steady’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “there have been 59,270 additional coronavirus cases accumulated in the past seven days, according to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The seven-day moving average of newly reported cases was 8,467 cases per day, up 1.2% from a week ago, and up 38.2% over the prior 30 days.”

Opinion  
Deborah R. Gross: ‘Twas the night before Christmas — and Harrisburg was trying to politicize the judiciary 
Paul Muschick: My gift wishes for the naughty (Capitol rioters, Dr. Oz) to the nice (hospital workers)
Salewa Ogunmefun: Pa. Reapportionment: 30 years of racial inequity vs. Pa.’s only growing populations
Larry Platt: Turning The Tide on Gun Violence… Everywhere But Philly 
Ashlee Reick and Fletcher McClellan: Whether at factories, shops, or campuses, labor is on the move this holiday season 
John L. Micek: At Christmas, Wolf, allies call on Legislature to hike minimum wage | Thursday Morning Coffee
Sean McMahon: Why it’s time for Pennsylvania to invest in its power grid
Jean-Paul Benowitz: A tribute to Harrisburg attorney who argued the landmark Yoder v. Wisconsin religious freedoms case 
Tony Norman: An unnecessary death by Taser in Bloomfield
Wall Street Journal Editorial Board: A Larry Krasner Christmas
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Lancaster County elected officials need to condemn the Three Percenter movement and other perilous extremists
Quinn O’Callaghan: Ideas We Should Steal: Institutional Racism Task Force 
Will Bunch: NYC’s Eric Adams, America’s expanding police state signal an end to George Floyd-inspired reforms 
Anne Gemmell: We Must Heal The Trauma 
Corky Goldstein: Be kind to others during the holidays and throughout the year 
Christine Speer Lejeune: Help The Homeless in Philadelphia 
Bea*: Don’t wait until after the holidays to seek treatment

5 Responses

  1. The Pa Supreme Court which has been labeled “Democratic Court” by Pa State Senate Republicans ruled in their favor. Calling into question the authenticity of Pa State Senate Republicans objection to the redistricting a few years back. The Wolf Administration dropped the ball because the Supreme Court is stating the obvious about needing an emergency declaration for a mask mandate. Did the Wolf Administration really need the Pa Supreme Court to tell them this point? The Pa Senate Republicans aren’t much better howling about Supreme Court redistricting years back but strangely silent about the Court when they win a ruling.

  2. Peace and civility be with us all. We all need our democracy to survive. As retired military, I chose to give up some of my freedoms to protect America, its value, ideals and freedoms. I had no choice about vaccinations. Will the Supreme Court agree? Do you agree? Many feel it is his/her right to deny vaccinations and as Alf E Neuman asked, “What me worry?”
    Peace to ALL!

  3. Yo Sy Snder (or whatever useless Monkeyspunk is running this site) – WHERE ARE THE UPS AND DOWNS??????????

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