😀 Hi, Monday. It’s Easter Week for those who celebrate and we’re just two weeks away from the Eclipse.

PA Weather
☀️ Canonsburg | Sunny, 63
☀️ Troy | Sunny, 51
☀️ Buckingham | Sunny, 52

PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (39-32) | LA Lakers 94-101 | LA Clippers 121-107 | Mon vs. Sacramento
🏒 Flyers (36-27-9) | Boston 3-2 | Sun vs. Florida 1-4 | Tue vs. NY Rangers
🏒 Penguins (30-30-10) | Dallas 2-4 | Colorado 4-5 (OT) | Tue vs. Carolina
🏀 Duquesne (NCAA MBB) | (3) Illinois 63-89
🏀 Drexel (NCAA WBB) | (1) Texas 42-82

What We’re Hearing
“We really got the ball rolling, and that was all because we were able to compromise Democrats and Republicans,” he said. “Everybody was able to get something. That’s a hard thing to do.” – Gov. Josh Shapiro

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. Jason Dawkins.

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Top Story

1. Casey, McCormick to Appear Alone On Senate Ballots After Courts Boot Off Challengers

“Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Republican David McCormick will be the only eligible names on ballots for the office in Pennsylvania’s April primary after a ruling Friday by the state’s highest court.

The ruling completed the third of three successful court challenges to the paperwork of three relatively unknown candidates, all but guaranteeing uncontested victories for Casey and McCormick in their respective party primary elections on April 23.” (AP)

Related

Donald Trump Has Outraised Joe Biden In Pennsylvania Since 2022, But Biden Taking Early Lead In 2024. “With just months to go before Pennsylvania plays what’s expected to be a pivotal role in the 2024 election, the state’s donors have sent mixed signals to the top two candidates, who are all but assured to face off again in November.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

CNN Poll: Dead Heat in Pennsylvania Presidential Race. “CNN, along with its polling partner SSRS, surveyed 1,132 registered voters in Pennsylvania to find that the presidential race between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump is not only within the margin of error – it’s even.” (PoliticsPA)

Even Some MAGA Republicans Are Wary Of Abortion Bans. That Could Be A Problem For Brian Fitzpatrick’s Challenger. “First-time candidate Mark Houck was supposed to be on friendly turf. The crowd at the Pennridge Area Republican Club had just booed the mention of incumbent U.S. Rep Brian Fitzpatrick, whom Houck is challenging in the GOP primary in the Bucks County-based district. But then the issue of abortion came up.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

New PA Election Task Force Draws Congressional Scrutiny. “The Federalist first reported Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is seeking information on whether Pennsylvania’s new task force, working with the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, will stifle free speech during the 2024 election.” (DV Journal)

State

2. Shapiro Talks About Being PA’s Leading Cheerleader, Sports Fan, Family Man

“Gov. Josh Shapiro’s lobbying to bring the NFL draft to Pittsburgh didn’t start with a letter he sent to Roger Goodell last month. It began last year when he was in Arizona to cheer on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.

He spotted the NFL commissioner at a luncheon and didn’t hesitate to make his pitch.

“Went right over to him and kind of cornered him and said, ‘We got to bring the NFL draft to Pittsburgh,’” Shapiro said.” (PennLive)

Related

Upgrades to PA Governor’s Mansion Bankrolled By Private Group That Won’t Disclose Donors, Full Cost. “Dubbed the “residence reimagining project” by a staffer for the Democratic governor, the work will focus on bringing in new pieces of furniture, art, and other items to the public areas of the historic mansion along the Susquehanna River, according to information obtained by Spotlight PA through a public records request.” (Spotlight PA)

Summer Lee Faces Tough Headwinds In Next Month’s Primary. “Summer Lee has a Summer Lee problem.” (Broad + Liberty)

PA-10: Congressional Candidates Forum To Focus On Voters’ Concerns. “The spotlight will be on voters in the 10th Congressional District in a candidate forum being hosted Monday night by PennLive in partnership with WITF, the York Daily Record and the York Dispatch.” (PennLive)

How History-Making PA Speaker McClinton is Fighting For More Progress In 2024 Session. “Speaker Joanna McClinton never thought she’d be the commonwealth’s first woman to serve in the role when she started her public service career over 10 years ago working as a staffer in State Sen. Tony Williams’ office.” (The Keystone)

State Unemployment Rate Unchanged in February. “Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was unchanged over the month at 3.4% in February. This was the fifth consecutive month at 3.4%.” (PoliticsPA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. PA’s Presidential Vote Won’t Be Decided In Philadelphia Or Pittsburgh

“As a reporter, I have always spent my time on the back roads observing and talking to voters outside the big cities. I noticed eight years ago the people who live 15 minutes outside of any major city had no hesitation placing Trump signs in their yards.

No big deal, right? Well, many of these signs were in places where a Republican rarely won a race, places like here in Cambria and Erie, Northampton and Luzerne counties. All counties Barack Obama had won, many by significant margins.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Related

5 Lancaster GOP Lawmakers Haven’t Endorsed Caucus Leader Bryan Cutler. “What these House members have in common that might explain why they have not publicly endorsed Cutler is that they, along with most House Republicans, opposed Cutler’s effort last year to elect Berks County Democrat Mark Rozzi as House Speaker.” (LNP)

Election 2024: 3 Lehigh Valley Races Part Of Bid For Party Control Of PA House. “Democrats in the 131st and 136th districts will be asked to pick their candidates for the November election, while Republicans head to the polls to choose a candidate in the 183rd district.” (Allentown Morning Call)

Overworked, Underpaid, Under Attack: On The Frontlines In A US Election Office. “Pennsylvania’s Luzerne county has experienced high-profile mistakes exacerbated by high staff turnover that have been seized on by conspiracy theorists.” (The Guardian)

As Sen. Laughlin Presses Libel Suit, Judge Imposes Sanction Over His Missed Deposition. “In dispute over procedure, judge penalizes Republican lawmaker $240 as his suit proceeds against Erie Reader, Democrat Jim Wertz over Trump-related column that alternative newspaper published in ’22.” (Erie Times-News)

Mayor Parker’s Own Office Got The Biggest Funding Boost In Her Budget Proposal. “The 151% spending increase is driven almost entirely by a jump in personnel costs, with the mayor’s direct staff growing from 39 budgeted positions to 113.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Video: The Importance Of Representation In PA Government. (Joanna McClinton)
• New City Hiring Practices Replace Merit With Patronage. (Kyle Sammin)
• Summer Lee, Ed Gainey, Sara Innamorato Put Their Fortunes, And Pittsburgh’s, On The Line. (Brandon McGinley)
• The Case For Reassessment. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Why Gov. Shapiro’s Energy Plan Puts Pennsylvania On The “Renewable” Map. (Mark Schneider)
• An Important Gesture Towards Peace. (Rep. Tarik Khan)
• PA Taxpayers Have Many Problems. A Flat Tax Is One. (Sharon Herald)
• Respecting Pronouns Is Important, Regardless What Rep. Joe D’orsie Says. (York Dispatch)
• If Pennsylvania Is Going To Flood Elections With Mail-In Ballots, We Need A Flood Of Poll Watchers. (Linda A. Kerns)

1 Thing

5. Drag Story Hour At Library Canceled After Suspicious Package And Threats

“A scheduled “Drag Queen Story Hour” at a Pennsylvania library that had drawn opposition was canceled Saturday after a suspicious package was found in the building and two blocks were evacuated after threats were reported, authorities said.

Police evacuated the Lancaster Public Library after the package was found. A state police bomb squad later cleared the library, but police said “additional reported threats” were still being investigated. Residents of the block and another block nearby were told to evacuate, an order lifted several hours later.” (AP)

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