⏩ A New Week. Once I get over wide right … LFG.

PA Weather
🌥️ Aliquippa | Partly Sunny, 36
🌤️ Abbottstown | Mostly Sunny, 34
☁️ Albrightsville | Increasing Clouds, 31

PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (28-13) | Charlotte 97-89 | Mon vs. San Antonio
🏒 Flyers (25-16-6) | Ottawa 3-5 | Tue vs. Tampa Bay
🏒 Penguins (21-16-6) | Vegas 2-3 | Mon vs. Arizona

What We’re Hearing I
Dave McCormick will be in New Hampshire later today for an event on Dartmouth’s campus ahead of the state’s first-in-the-nation primary.

What We’re Hearing II
Chris Dziados, a defense policy advisor, has filed a statement of candidacy to challenge Rep. Guy Reschenthaler in PA-14.

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Top Story

1. In PA’s Senate Race, McCormick Elevates Israel-Hamas War In Bid For Jewish Voters

“A Republican running for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania is escalating criticism of Democrats over the Israel-Hamas war and has traveled to the Israel-Gaza border to make the case that the Biden administration hasn’t backed Israel strongly enough since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.

The criticism by GOP candidate David McCormick reflects the delicate political challenge facing both President Joe Biden and incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in a state Democrats can’t afford to lose in 2024.

Biden, who is seeking a second term as president, has been criticized from the left for being too pro-Israel in his response to its war on Hamas and for not doing enough to address the burgeoning humanitarian crisis among Palestinians in Gaza.” (AP)

Related

Wild Condemns Recent Comments From Netanyahu, Israeli Officials. “Lehigh Valley Congresswoman Susan Wild joined with Democratic Jewish colleagues in Congress Friday to condemn a recent statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposing the creation of a Palestinian state.” (Allentown Morning Call)

‘It’s Whack’: How ‘Big Lie’ Candidates in MI and PA Wreaked Havoc on GOP Politics. “After the 2022 Midterm elections, the Republican parties in the famous swing states of Michigan and Pennsylvania have been in their own versions of “disarray” after Big Lie promoting candidates divided loyalties and ultimately led to defeat. Ali Velshi is joined by Nick Corasaniti and former Rep. Charlie Dent to discuss “the tale of two state primaries.” Pennsylvania is returning to “something closer to normalcy,” Dent says, but still remains closely tied to the outcome of the presidential race.” (MSNBC)

‘The Biggest Election In Terms Of Abortion’: Roe v. Wade Anniversary Highlights An Unprecedented Election Year. “As the 51st anniversary of the passage of Roe v. Wade is marked Monday, just a day before the first presidential primary of the year, one thing is clear: Reproductive rights are poised to be one of the most important, and divisive, issues of the 2024 election.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Mapping The Path Forward: Legislating The Next Stage Of Reproductive Rights In Pennsylvania. “Monday is the 51st anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the landmark abortion case the U.S. Supreme Court overturned in 2022. This year, abortion rights advocates and lawmakers say they are not looking back at what was lost, but are instead seeking the path forward. ” (Penn Capital-Star)

State

2. Pennsylvania’s Primary Is Just Three Months Away. Here’s Who’s On The Statewide Ballot

“With snow blanketing the rooftops and a new mayor and council still measuring for curtains at City Hall, it’s hard to believe, yet true: spring is just around the corner and with it another election.

The primary for a host of state and federal offices — President, U.S. House and Senate, state Attorney General, Treasury, and Auditor, as well as the PA House and half the state Senate — is scheduled for April 23, three months from this Tuesday.” (Billy Penn)

Related

Rep. Perry Introduces Bill to ‘Defund Davos’ as Gathering of ‘Global Elitists’. “The bill sponsored by Perry and five other House Republicans would bar U.S. funding for the global conference of world economic leaders that meets annually in Davos, Switzerland.” (PennLive)

Carlisle Republican Announces Primary Challenge to U.S. Rep. Scott Perry. “John Henry Newman, 68, described himself to PennLive as an “Eisenhower Republican” who hopes to attract the support of other GOP voters dissatisfied with Perry’s brand of arch-conservatism and support of former President Donald Trump.” (PennLive)

Williams Takes Swipe at Rival Copeland in Attorney General Race. “State Rep. Craig Williams tweeted Saturday morning: “U.S. Attorney @McSwainPA said he had evidence of election fraud that DOJ shut down. AG Bill Barr said that was not true. The President called McSwain a coward. Kat Copeland was Criminal Chief under McSwain and was responsible for prosecuting election fraud. She owes us the truth.”” (DV Journal)

Around The Commonwealth

3. PA’s Broadband Authority Reverses Position On Key State Law Before New Federal Funding Arrives

“A state agency recently reversed its position on whether Pennsylvania law could cause problems for an unprecedented surge of federal investment for expanding access to high-speed internet.

In the first draft of the state’s plan for administering more than $1 billion in federal funding, the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority said that to avoid a conflict with federal law it would waive an obscure state statute that restricts when local governments can build their own internet networks.

But in the latest draft of the document, submitted to the federal government last year, the agency reversed course, declaring that there was no conflict.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

PA Unemployment Rate Inches Up; US Rate Holds Steady. “Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was up one-tenth of a percentage point over the month to 3.5% in December. The U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged from November at 3.7 percent.” (PoliticsPA)

‘Rise To Meet The Moment’: New Chester Mayor Says Compromise With The Receiver Is Key To Turning The City Around. “Days after his swearing in, Chester Mayor Stefan Roots set the stage for a “new day” in a city under bankruptcy proceedings and under state receivership.” (Delco Times)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Donald Trump Fails The Test Of Accountability. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Voters Need To Know Where Pennsylvania’s Democratic Candidates For Congress Disagree. (PennLive)
• Senate GOP Should Allow Debate On A Statewide Assault-Weapons Ban. (Scranton Times-Tribune)
• It’s Long Past Time For Pennsylvania To Fund Public Schools Fairly. (LNP)
• Why I’m Letting Go of Roe. (Signe Espinoza)
• Staying The Course On RGGI Holds Promise Of Jobs, Community Investment. (Delaware County Daily Times)
• Is Corporate America Welcoming A Trump Dictatorship? History Says ‘Yes.’ (Will Bunch)
• U.S. Government Paralysis Scares Allies Even More Than Possible Trump Victory. (Trudy Rubin)
• For Dave McCormick, It All Began In Humble Bloomsburg. (Selena Zito)
• Fetterman Shows Dems How It Should Be Done. (Rich Lowry)
• To Keep Money From Dominating Our Politics, Change The Constitution. (Mitchell Hescox)
• Unless Someone Like You Cares, Nothing Is Going To Get Better. (Jill Sunday Bartoli)
• How Good Of A Crystal Ball Are The First Four Presidential Nomination Elections? (John A. Tures)
• Why Evangelical Christians Should Not Vote For Trump. (Mark Kelley)
• Who’s Paying For Those Anti-Burns Ads And Mailers? (Chip Minemyer)

1 Thing

5. The Rubik’s Cube Turns 50

“It took a month of twisting and turning for the first person to solve a Rubik’s Cube. That person was Erno Rubik, now 79, the iconic puzzle toy’s creator.

Conceived as a mathematical tool to help his students understand three-dimensional movement, the magic cube, as it was initially called, was first pieced together with cubes made from wood and paper held together with rubber bands, glue and paperclips.

It was only after the Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture scrambled his completed cube and tried to realign the colored blocks that he realized he’d created a puzzle.” (CNBC)

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