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January 29th Playbook

Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball’s initial 2022 ratings lists Pennsylvania’s Senate race as a Toss-Up. Here is the Playbook. 

Sabato’s Crystal Ball Initial 2022 Senate Ratings Lists PA As A Toss-Up: The Senate showdown in Pennsylvania is the lone race that Sabato’s Crystal Ball has listed as a toss-up in their 2022 initial ratings.

Lamb Joins Problem Solvers Caucus: Conor Lamb is the fifth Rep from PA to join the bipartisan House caucus.

Diamond Named Chair of Subcommittee on Government IT and Communication: State Rep. Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon) has been appointed to serve as the chair of the House Subcommittee on Government Information Technology and Communication under the State Government Committee, according to a release from Pennsylvania House Republicans. 

Harrisburg & DC   
New York Times: Why Pennsylvania Republican Leaders Are All-In for Trump More Than Ever
AP: Wolf, now a lame duck, wants billions for workforce aid 
AP: State lawmakers are pushing to curb governors’ virus powers 
AP: A city’s problematic vaccine rollout raises larger questions
FOX43: FOX43 Capitol Beat: Senator Bob Casey talks impeachment, COVID-19 relief
Patriot News: Higher minimum wage, natural gas tax and allowing marijuana sales: Gov. Wolf outlines goals in 2021
Patriot News: Former Rep. Frank Dermody’s soft landing places him in $145K state government post
Patriot News: Lt. Gov. John Fetterman sees marijuana, LGBTQ flags removed from Capitol office
Patriot News: Pa. sees decreasing COVID-19 hospitalizations, nearly 200 more deaths
Patriot News: Get your questions answered about the COVID-19 vaccines Friday at PennLive’s virtual town hall
Spotlight PA: Could a centralized vaccine signup ease Pa.’s rollout pains? Here’s the answer.
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Weed, ethics and a natural gas tax: Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2021 plan for Pennsylvania, explained
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa.’s Toomey leads criticism of Biden’s HUD pick, Marcia Fudge, during Senate hearing
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: New state board kicks off ‘nuts and bolts’ review of Pa.’s election laws
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: In final address, Erie Co. Exec. Dahlkemper applauds local health workers during pandemic, looks ahead
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Biden’s executive orders aren’t the problem. A broken Congress is | Friday Morning Coffee
USA Today: Gov. Tom Wolf just revealed his 2021 priorities. What he wants to do in Pennsylvania.
PLSReporter: Dermody appointed to Pa. Gaming Control Board 
PLSReporter: In second of 14 election hearings, county election officials outline what they need from legislators 
PLSReporter: ‘A modified Restore Pennsylvania’: Wolf revives severance tax proposal, this time for workforce assistance efforts 
PLSReporter: Jan. 28 COVID-19 Update: Case plateau continues as vaccine rollout struggles to meet need
CNHI: Wolf’s new call for drilling tax runs into immediate resistance
Morning Call: Elections officials from Lehigh County, elsewhere tell lawmakers of problems with Pennsylvania’s aging electronic voter system
WESA: Report: Pennsylvania Stands To Gain 243,000 Jobs A Year From Clean Energy Investment
York Dispatch: Pa. National Guard should handle vaccinations, say GOP lawmakers
Inquirer: The pandemic is a tale of smart monetary moves, crucial government spending, official bungling and human resiliency
WFMZ: Gov. Wolf lays out 2021 agenda, calls for COVID relief, higher minimum wage
Tribune Review: Wolf focuses on economic comeback, bipartisan progress, transparency in ’21 agenda
The Hill: UPenn professor retires after facing backlash for using Nazi salute
Morning Call: Safety group gives Pennsylvania middling grade on highway safety laws
Pittsburgh Business Times: Wolf urges multibillion-dollar training program to help workers affected by pandemic
KDKA: Around The Table: Rollout Of Coronavirus Vaccines In Pennsylvania
CNN: Philadelphia severs ties with Covid-19 testing and vaccine organization after losing ‘trust in them’

Philadelphia 
Philly Clout: A sneak peek at the new documentary on Philly DA Larry Krasner: ‘We’re here because we’re different’
Philadelphia Weekly: Undaunted: Martina White 
WHYY Newsworks: ‘It makes my blood boil’: Indignant City Councilmembers call for hearings on Philly Fighting COVID
WHYY Newsworks: Wolf previews budget with ‘billions’ in workforce aid, says Philly vaccine woes ‘not my job’
WHYY Newsworks: Philly Council President Darrell Clarke begins 2021 session with resolution that would give legislators more power over development
WHYY Newsworks: What you need to know about the Philly Fighting COVID scandal
WHYY Newsworks: Philly police chief Outlaw will not resign after report critical of her handling of protests 
Inquirer: ‘We demand answers,’ Council members say as Philly Fighting COVID CEO admits taking vaccine doses
Inquirer: Philly will consider establishing a public bank in an effort to boost Black-owned businesses 
Inquirer: Philly police commissioner defends department’s response to protests following critical report and says she won’t resign
Inquirer: Philadelphia International Airport CEO looks for more pandemic funds on Capitol Hill 
Inquirer: Philadelphia among the most-vaccinated cities in the country; Council members ‘demand answers’ over Philly Fighting COVID fiasco 
Inquirer: Police Commissioner Outlaw’s defense | Morning Newsletter
KYW Newsradio: Police commissioner says she will not resign following controller’s report on unrest
KYW Newsradio: Days after Philly cut ties with COVID-19 vaccine clinic, CEO admits he took doses home for friends
Philly Voice: Philly Fighting COVID head defends decision to give vaccine doses to friends
Philly Voice: Suspended Allentown teacher claims he wasn’t anywhere near U.S. Capitol when the riot occurred

SEPA
Bucks Local News: Corr announces candidacy for Bucks County Court of Common Pleas
Bucks County Courier Times: PA Lawmakers push for PFAS cancer study
Delaware Valley Journal: Montco County Council Opposes Restricting Wolf’s Emergency Declaration Powers
WHYY Newsworks: Environmental justice clash in Upper Darby brings withdrawal of waste-facility application
Daily Local News: Local legislators join call for restoring Pa. child care funding 
Daily Local News: Sen. Comitta honors Lincoln University president at roundtable event
Daily Local News: New president takes over at Chester County Bar Association

Pittsburgh 
Tribune Review: Frank Dermody lost state House election but lands $145,000/year gambling board job
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh leaders encouraged by Biden memo to correct Black housing inequities 
Tribune Review: Allegheny County inks 35-year deal to use hydropower generated in Emsworth for government buildings 
Tribune Review: Allegheny County reports 135 new covid deaths, points to state backlog for large increase
WESA: Gainey Notches First Endorsement, From Activist Group One PA
WESA: Committee Considers Changes To Allegheny County Paid Sick Leave Bill
WESA: Report: Pennsylvania Stands To Gain 243,000 Jobs A Year From Clean Energy Investment
WESA: Unsure When You’ll Get A Vaccine In Allegheny County? Here’s What We Know
Post-Gazette: New hydroelectric facility on Ohio River to power county government operations
Post-Gazette: Prosecutors: Accused Capitol rioter said he would do it again
Post-Gazette: COVID-19 update: Allegheny County reports 135 deaths, blames state backlog
KDKA: Bipartisan Commission Gets Underway To Recommend Changes In Pennsylvania’s Elections
KDKA: Allegheny County Government Facilities To Be Powered By New Hydroplant
KDKA: Kidsburgh: Inauguration Of Vice President Kamala Harris Holds Significant Meaning To Young Women, Girls 
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pittsburgh: Allegheny County Health Department Canceling Vaccine Appointments For Ineligible People
KDKA: COVID-19 In Allegheny County: Computer Illiterate Feel Left Behind During Online Vaccine Appointment Rollout
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pittsburgh: Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Reports 135 Additional Deaths
City Paper: Allegheny County moves to supply its public facilities with renewable hydropower generated locally
Pittsburgh Business Times: Allegheny County commits to renewable energy agreement, building hydropower facility on Ohio River 
Pittsburgh Business Times: Region’s construction market takes a nearly 30% fall off in activity, according to new Dodge Report 

SWPA 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Retired state trooper running for Somerset prothonotary seat
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Somerset, Indiana counties each add 2 COVID-19 deaths
KDKA: COVID-19 In Beaver County: Mass Vaccination Clinic Held At Beaver County Community College 
Tribune Review: Covid cases in Westmoreland County continue to decline
Altoona Mirror: Commission approves strategic planner salary
Observer-Reporter: New COVID-19 deaths reported in Washington, Fayette counties

NEPA
The Times Leader: Toohil: Residents should be removed from Drums nursing home for COVID-19 outbreak, ‘deplorable’ conditions
The Times Leader: Luzerne County Council Election Inquiry Committee releases draft report
The Times Leader: Yudichak, Baker vote in favor of proposed disaster declaration amendment
The Times Leader: Shouting match mars Wilkes-Barre City Council meeting
The Times Leader: Wilkes-Barre reports rental inspection and license revenue increases in 2020
The Times Leader: Luzerne County releases report on coronavirus grant recipients
The Times Leader: 127 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Luzerne County; deaths at 601
Citizens Voice: County election committee issues draft recommendations
Citizens Voice: More than $28 million in COVID-19 grants awarded in Luzerne County
Citizens Voice: County’s COVID-19 daily case count tops 100
Times-Tribune: Long-term COVID-19 case trends looking better for state, region 

South Central 
York Daily Record: York City Councilman Lou Rivera silent after call from county Democratic Party to resign
York Dispatch: COVID-19 kills seven more in York County
York Dispatch: Officials: Neighboring municipalities will contest York City sewer privatization
Carlisle Sentinel: Safronia Perry announces run for Carlisle Borough Council
Carlisle Sentinel: DOH: Delayed test results push Cumberland County to record day of new COVID-19 cases Thursday
LNP | LancasterOnline: Lancaster County gets $16.23 million for rent relief; program expected in several weeks
LNP | LancasterOnline: Lancaster County wants to start a 5,000 dose a day COVID-19 vaccination site, but details sparse
LNP | LancasterOnline: Without fresh layoffs from Wolf, new jobless claims by Lancaster Countians fall again

Lehigh Valley      
WFMZ: Pa. congresswomen address issues affecting Jewish community
WFMZ: Berks commissioners defend positions on election reform
WFMZ: Easton City Council expresses concern over proposed historic conservation district
Morning Call: Elections officials from Lehigh County, elsewhere tell lawmakers of problems with Pennsylvania’s aging electronic voter system
Morning Call: Retired Bethlehem police officer running for city district judge seat in Lehigh County
Express Times: Pa. coronavirus update: 6K new COVID-19 cases; 198 deaths as Lehigh Valley surpasses 50K total cases | Pa. county case map (01/28/21)
Reading Eagle: New COVID cases continue downturn in Berks County but deaths remain high 

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Keller calls on president to reverse climate orders
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Geisinger expert debunks COVID-19 vaccine rumors
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: More than 1/4 of state’s households struggled financially even before pandemic
Erie Times-News: State of Erie County address: ‘We will rebuild’
Erie Times-News: Erie County sheriff reopens office for gun permits
Erie Times-News: Erie food bank feels COVID-19’s impact
Centre Daily Times: Centre County DA directs state police to investigate new allegations in Osaze Osagie case
Centre Daily Times: Jan. 28 update: Centre County reports 77 new COVID-19 cases; Pa. adds 6,036 positives
Centre Daily Times: High school football varsity jacket leads to Capitol riot arrest for State College man
Centre Daily Times: Free COVID-19 testing services in Centre County will continue through February. Here’s what to know

Opinion  
John Baer: Hey, Harrisburg, Washington, think vaccine, vaccine and vaccine! 
Jennifer Storm: I’m leaving as Pa.’s victim advocate, but the work never ends
Michael Helfrich: Mayor sees clear choice in York City: financial freedom or financial catastrophe
Erik Arneson: One more smooth hand-off in Pa. politics
Paul Muschick: Pennsylvania’s vaccination plan needs work. Here’s how to fix it.
Larry Platt: Jim Kenney’s Very Bad Week 
Larry Ceisler: Don’t Abolish The City Commissioners 
Ernest Owens: New Report Makes It Crystal Clear: Kenney and Outlaw Both Need to Resign for Violating Human Rights
York Dispatch Editorial Board: Toomey puts country over party
Inquirer Editorial Board: Mayor Kenney’s silence on Philly Fighting COVID fiasco is damaging and deadly
Joyce M. Davis: Poverty plus poor schools and stressed out parents are fueling Harrisburg’s record homicide rate | Social Views
Renee Chenault Fattah: CBS3 exec’s comments about Ukee Washington don’t surprise me
Chris Norris: Philly is in the national spotlight again, and race is the through line
Becky Bennett: Some at the Capitol on Jan. 6 were church-going, working-class rural people | Across the Divide
James Patterson: The False Symmetry of American Racial Politics 
Alison McCook: As long-term care facilities remain ravaged by COVID-19, staff and residents wait too long for vaccines
Ryan J. Navarro: March for Life is more important than ever as Catholic Biden ignores pro-life policies 
Helen Ubiñas: This Philadelphia filmmaker produced a love letter to her brother, shot and killed in June 
Trudy Rubin: What U.S. can learn from Germany’s response to far-right infiltration of its military 
Inga Saffron: Fed up with mess the Reading Railroad left behind, Callowhill developer seeks oversight of Spring Garden train station

7 Responses

  1. There’s a report tha former Secretary of the Navy Ken Braithwaite is considering a run for the US Senate.

    That would be a game changer for PA politics. A solid low key player who’s been rising quietly for years…

    Republicans would actually have a shot at retaining Toomey’s seat with a highly credible candidate that would make them highly competitive in Southeast PA.

    Question is, will they get it right or back a candidate that puts the Toomey seat at risk??

  2. You build up a war chest right from the get go and your opponents can’t match you—-well, looks good to getting the nomination. It is not about who has the most well thought out theories but rather who can be on tv and internet and radio and stay there the longest.

    1. Think “Steve Forbes” and “Mike Bloomberg.” Money only goes so far. Yes, you need money; but more important are a clear, concise message and a personality that appeals to voters. Even Trump’s “personality” appealed to voters in 2016 because, “He says what he really thinks.” Of course, they ignored the reality that he thinks hogwash most of the time, but that recipe works.

  3. Toss up? Has PA become a salad? LOL. But seriously, PA politicians have degenerated into a bowl of GOP vegetables.

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