Good Thursday Morning! Good luck finding a tee time in SE PA today. Temps in the 70s

PA Weather
Dubois | Mostly Cloudy, 62
Harrisburg | Partly Sunny, 72
Allentown | Partly Sunny, 57

PA Sports
Flyers (23-26-10) | lost to Edmonton, 4-2 | FRI vs. Montreal
Penguins (27-20-9) | THU vs. Edmonton
76ers (38-19) | THU vs. Memphis

What We’re Hearing
The US DC Circuit Court of Appeals will hold a hearing today to examine how much the Constitution shields the communications of Rep. Scott Perry’s phone.

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. Kathy Rapp.

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Top Story

1. Shapiro Administration Contends Taking Super Bowl Tickets From Group That Gets State Money Didn’t Violate Governor’s Own Gift Ban

“The Shapiro administration insists the governor did not violate his own gift ban when he and top staff went to Arizona for the Super Bowl on the dime of a nonprofit that has received millions of dollars in state money.

Under a policy instituted in January, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and executive branch employees are not allowed to accept tickets to recreational events such as football games.

The ban states these employees cannot accept such a gift from any “person or entity” that “has financial relations with the Commonwealth.”

Team Pennsylvania — a public-private partnership that works to improve the state’s “competitiveness and economic prosperity” – paid for Shapiro and his staff’s flights, lodging, and tickets to the game.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Shapiro Expects Fetterman To ‘Come Back Stronger Than Ever’ After Hospitalization From Clinical Depression. “Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro expressed confidence this week in Sen. John Fetterman’s return to the U.S. Senate and said he wouldn’t entertain outside pressures for him to resign after his second hospitalization this month.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Bob Casey’s Brother Registers To Lobby. “Patrick Casey, the brother of Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. Bob Casey who joined Dentons Global Advisors Government Relations last year as a partner, registered to lobby in the fall, and reported lobbying the Senate on issues ranging from implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act to online travel policies last year, disclosures show.” (POLITICO)

Toomey Joins Former SEC Chair Clayton on Apollo Board. “Former Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Pat Toomey will join the board of Apollo Global Management next month, the $548 billion private equity firm announced Wednesday.” (POLITICO)

Harrisburg

2. Two Proposals, One Goal: Legal Recourse For Victims Of Child Sex Abuse

photo by Laurence Kesterson

“Members of the Pennsylvania House have separate standalone proposals to consider during the special legislative session underway and both share the same objective: Lifting the statute of limitations for two years to allow victims of childhood sexual abuse to sue alleged perpetrators and enablers in court.

A joint resolution containing a single proposed constitutional amendment to open a two-year window was introduced by state Rep. Jim Gregory. House Speaker Mark Rozzi introduced the traditional statute to amend existing law and authorize the two-year temporary window.

Both measures open the possibility for lawsuits against the commonwealth itself.” (Meadville Tribune)

Related

Tension During PA’s Special House Session Threatens Bipartisan Hopes. “The Pennsylvania House is meeting this week for a special session aimed at helping survivors of childhood sexual abuse. So far, the meeting has brought weeks-long tension between Republicans and Democrats to the fore.” (WITF)

Will Speaker Rozzi Step Aside When Priority Bills Pass House? We Asked. “When asked if he plans to step aside after the special session, (Mark) Rozzi did not deny the possibility.” (ABC27)

Democrats Propose Abolishing Death Penalty; Republican Floats Mandatory Sentence For Murdering Cop. “Democrats in the Pennsylvania General Assembly have again proposed abolishing the death penalty. Meanwhile, Sen. Mike Regan announced on Tuesday that he plans to introduce a bill imposing a mandatory death sentence for anyone over 18 convicted of murdering a police officer.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Webster, Kenyatta Propose Legislation to Clarify, Streamline Mail-In Voting Process. “After four statewide elections since 2020, there is one thing that Republicans and Democrats can agree upon when it comes to mail-in voting in Pennsylvania. It needs to be improved.” (PoliticsPA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. How The Ohio Train Derailment Impacted PA’s Air and Water Quality

“Legitimate concerns about the local impacts of pollution remain for residents who live near the derailment site, including several Pennsylvanians who live near the Ohio state line in Beaver County.

But there also remains confusion over how far the impacted area stretches. Should all Beaver County residents be concerned? Should Pittsburghers and Allegheny County residents worry?” (Tribune-Review)

• Could a Toxic Derailment Happen Here? (Times Leader)

Philly Mayoral Candidates Took Tough Questions On Crime, Education and Public Trust From a Tough Crowd: Teens. “Paul Robeson High School seniors didn’t go easy on the candidates for mayor, with one pointedly asking: “How can we trust that you will really do something to benefit our community?”” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Parker Gets Her First Endorsement In Philly Mayoral Race From Building Trades Union. “The Building and Construction Trades Council has given its support to Cherelle Parker in the race for the Democratic primary for Mayor. In accepting the support, Parker said she’s “ready to rumble,” and vowed to crack down on those illegally performing construction work in Philadelphia.” (WHYY)

Building Trades Council Endorses Former Councilmember Parker For Mayor. “Former City Council member and state legislator Cherelle Parker, who hails from the vote-rich Northwest part of Philadelphia, won the prized endorsement of the Building Trades Council, a coalition of 50 unions.” (Philadelphia Tribune)

Lycoming County Judge Reviewing Ballot Images As Challenge to 2020 Results Continues. “The images of the ballots cast in person in Lycoming County in the 2020 general election have been provided to the judge who will decide if they will be made public as requested.” (PennLive)

Audit: Lancaster Took Too Much Pension Aid Again. “Sloppy paperwork concerning its pension fund has again required the City of Lancaster to repay money to the state government.” (The Center Square)

Do MAGA Candidates Get Fair Shake With Bucks GOP? “If the Bucks County GOP establishment sees itself as a big tree, then Andy Meehan sees himself as a small ax.” (Bucks County Courier-Times)

Allegheny County Lawmakers Seek Federal Funding to Complete Mon-Fayette Expressway. “The Mon-Fayette toll road currently stretches 54 miles from Jefferson Hills to Morgantown, W.Va. Construction work has begun to extend the expressway 6 miles north from Jefferson Hills to Duquesne, but that still leaves several miles of the highway planned but unfinished.” (Tribune-Review)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

• Domestic Violence Is An ‘Immense Problem’ In PA. Gov. Shapiro Should Make It A Priority. (Rachel Haynes Pinsker, Philadelphia Inquirer)
• DeSantis, Trump, Biden, ‘Other’: Who Will PA’s Presidential Picks Be a Year From Now? (John Baer, PennLive)
• Hey School Board President! Will You Fight For Real Reform To Help Philly’s Kids? (Lisa Haver, Billy Penn)
• Will The Statute of Limitation Amendment Achieve Its Desired End? (Joe D’Orsie, Broad + Liberty)
• Pass Abuse Reparations Separately. (Times-Tribune)
• The Legislature Should Have Say On Death Penalty. (Williamsport Sun-Gazette)
• Preventing Environmental Disasters Preferable To Cleaning Them Up. (Sharon Herald)
• The Fetterman Dilemma. (Byron York, Washington Examiner)

1 Thing

5. Puppy Training

photo by Suzette Wenger

A few playful golden retriever puppies romped with their siblings last week at the Elizabethtown Borough Office — but they weren’t gathered just to tug on heartstrings.

The puppies were there for a police dog training session. These cute and cuddly 4-month-old golden retrievers are four-legged members of local law enforcement agencies enrolled in the police trauma dog program operated by Alpha Pack Veteran K9s Unleashed. (LNP)

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