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February 2: Six More Weeks

Punxustawney Phil announces decision

Good Thursday Morning. Phil saw his shadow. Six more weeks of winter says the sage of Punxsutawney

PA Weather
Punxsutawney | Becoming Sunny, 35
Mechanicsburg | Mostly Sunny, 42
Stroudsburg | Becoming Sunny, 38

PA Sports
76ers (33-17) | Orlando, W 105-94 | FRI vs. San Antonio

What We’re Hearing
“And so no matter how you measure, it’s six more weeks of winter weather.”

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Top Story

1. The Philly’s Mayor Chase Is a Money Race, From Thousands of Small Donations to a $5M Check

“Four candidates running for Philadelphia mayor each collected more than $800,000 in campaign contributions last year, but one hopeful has significantly more money in the bank than any other thanks to a check he wrote to himself.

Campaign finance reports filed by eight candidates this week provide the clearest picture yet of who among the large field of Democrats vying for the party’s nomination is best positioned to sustain a campaign through the May 16 primary election. And the filings show who each candidate leaned on over the course of the last calendar year to finance their nascent campaigns.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

Philadelphia Mayoral Candidates Haul In Cash, Finance Reports Show. “Annual campaign finance reports for 2022 gave us a first look at the campaign war chests of those running to become the city’s 100th mayor.” (Axios Philadelphia)

Former Philly Mayor Grilled First-Time Candidate About How Government Works. It Was Awkward. “Do you know what Philadelphia’s sinking fund is? How about the administrative board? Not so sure?” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

 

Harrisburg

2. Shapiro Makes Two More Cabinet Appointments

Lucas Miller, Reggie McNeil

“Before departing for Punxsutawney to celebrate Groundhog’s Day, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced two more cabinet appointments, selecting Lucas Miller to continue serving as State Inspector General and Reggie McNeil to be Secretary of General Services.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Shapiro Appoints Inspector General, Nominates General Services Secretary. “Gov. Josh Shapiro rounded out his Cabinet on Wednesday by appointing Lucas Miller as his inspector general and nominating Reggie McNeil as his Secretary of General Services.(PennLive)

York County Senator Grabs Protester Outside $1K-Per-Plate Fundraiser in Harrisburg. “Sen. Mike Regan of York County grabbed a demonstrator during an environmental protest in Harrisburg on Tuesday and pulled him away from the entrance to a political fundraiser, a video of the encounter shows.” (York Daily Record)

PA Treasury Aims To Return $4B In Unclaimed Property. “Unclaimed property can include physical property, like the contents of a safe deposit box, but most often it refers to uncashed paychecks, stocks or dormant bank accounts that haven’t had any activity for a year or longer. After the dormancy period it becomes “unclaimed” and is turned over to the state.” (WESA)

PA Utility Regulator Investigating Incorrect PPL Bills. “The Public Utility Commissions says it is investigating the accuracy and integrity of PPL Electric Utilities’s billing practices after customers complained of unexpectedly high bills.” (WESA)

 

Around The Commonwealth

3. This Hill Staffer Also Serves In The PA National Guard

DVIDS - News - Pa. National Guard officer candidates earn ...

“In a lot of ways, Aubrey Stuber is your typical Hill staffer. In high school, she was student government president and captained the lacrosse team; in college (American University, natch), she double majored in political science and Latin American studies and was president of her sorority.

Stuber is one of the few National Guardsmen working at the Capitol, where spending “one weekend a month, two weeks a year” away from Washington is inconceivable for some political junkies — let alone the real-time commitment Stuber puts in as a second lieutenant in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.” (Roll Call)

Related

Special Election Preview: State House 32nd District. ““Super Tuesday” in Allegheny County takes place on February 7 with three special Pennsylvania House elections that will determine the majority party in the chamber for the 2023-24 session.” (PoliticsPA)

McAndrew, Walker Face Challenges As They Vie To Succeed DeLuca In Special Election. “Little time and little name recognition are two challenges the Republican candidate for the state House 32nd District sees himself and his Democratic opponent sharing.” (Tribune-Review)

Modernize The Special Election Process? Rabb Says It’s Time. “As Pennsylvania looks back on one special election and prepares for three more, state Rep. Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia) is asking for legislative support for his proposal to modernize the special election process.” (PoliticsPA)

John Weinstein Has a Big Fundraising Lead In Race For Allegheny County Executive. “Mr. Weinstein’s campaign ended 2022 with about $481,000 in the bank, according to financial filings this week. That easily eclipsed the almost $168,000 in cash on hand for Pittsburgh Controller Michael Lamb’s campaign, and about $101,000 for state Rep. Sara Innamorato.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Fitzpatrick Appointed to Ways and Means Committee. “Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy announced this week that U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-01) will sit on the Ways and Means Committee in the 118th Congress.” (Bucks County Herald)

Former U.S. Rep. Keller Returns To Private Sector. “After serving in public office for 12 years, former U.S. Rep. Fred Keller has returned to the private sector working as managing director of a custom cabinet manufacturing business in Lancaster County.(Daily Item)

 

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

 

1 Thing

5. The Sage of Punxsutawney

Punxsutawney Phil 2022 prediction: 6 more weeks of winter - WHYY

“Above all else, I see a shadow on my stage,” the scroll read. “And so no matter how you measure, it’s six more weeks of winter weather.”

 

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2 Responses

  1. Mayor’s race in Philadelphia is not only expensive but becoming clearer to folks who are paying closer attention…
    Its narrowing down to two maybe three folks…
    Each group, insider or general citizen will tell you ckearly who they do not want.

    What’s most telling is the two, three or four that they do want…consistently the running picks has Derek Green on their list. Allan Domb is the next most talked up. Then Maria Quinones-Sanchez.

    So either Green is seen as the least worst option, or the favored and most qualified…equally a good and bad thing for his campaign.

  2. No matter what your politics, we will have at least 6 more months of the stain of disgrace of Donald Trump on this nation.





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