👋 Hi, Wednesday. Now, about this weather … 

PA Weather
Monaca | Rain showers, 48
Carlisle | Showers, 51
Pottstown | Showers, 53

PA Sports
Pirates (20-10) | Tampa 1-4 | W-Th vs. Tampa Bay
Phillies (15-16) | Dodgers 1-13 | W vs. LA Dodgers
76ers (1-0) | W vs. Boston
Union | LAFC 0-3 | Sat vs. NY Red Bulls

What We’re Hearing
“Too often, China gets away with undermining our markets, undermining our companies. And every time they cheat, we lose jobs in Pennsylvania.” – Sen. Bob Casey

What’s Happening Today
The Senate convenes at 10:30 a.m. The House convenes at 11 a.m.

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Top Story

1. Bill To Broaden LGBTQ+ Protections Passes PA House

“A bill to broaden protections for LGBTQ+ people passed the Pennsylvania state House of Representatives on Tuesday — the first to advance this far after yearslong efforts by Democrats — though it faces strong headwinds in the Republican-controlled Senate.

The bill passed 102-98 in the House where Democrats have a razor-thin majority, becoming the first of its kind to see a floor vote. Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said he supports it.” (AP)

Related

PA House Passes Bill Adding LGBTQ Protections To State Nondiscrimination Law. “After a two-decade effort, a bill that would add sexuality and gender identity to Pennsylvania’s non-discrimination law passed the House of Representatives on Tuesday, a milestone hailed by LGBTQ advocates.” (PennLive)

• Fairness Act Protections For LGBTQ+ People Clears PA House With Bipartisan Support. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

U.S. Rep. Summer Lee Votes Against Resolution Honoring U.S.-Israel Relationship. “The U.S. House passed a resolution last week honoring America’s relationship with Israel on the 75th anniversary of its independence, but U.S. Rep. Summer Lee was part of a small group of representatives to vote against the bill.” (Tribune-Review)

Harrisburg

2. Cross-Filing. Party Affiliation Can Be Misleading In Local PA Elections

“Pennsylvania is one of nine states that has closed primaries, meaning only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote for candidates during partisan spring elections. School board elections are one of the few races in which candidates can appear on both parties’ ballots, a move known as cross-filing.

Many education advocates say this system decreases partisanship because it allows voters to focus on candidates rather than political affiliations.

But the practice has also been criticized by some Democrats and Republicans for decades as confusing for voters.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Shapiro’s Cabinet Picks Advance In Senate. “Lawmakers on a state Senate committee felt so good about the nomination of Mike Carroll to lead the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation that two members called it a “kumbaya moment” Tuesday, as action on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s cabinet choices picked up steam.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

• A Laudatory Confirmation Hearing For PennDOT’s Acting Leader (The Center Square)

Is Nursing Shortage Myth Or Reality? Question Drives PA Staffing Debate. “That’s a central question in the debate over a proposed Pennsylvania law that would require hospitals to provide a minimum number of nurses for every patient.” (PennLive)

• PA Nurses, Lawmakers Rally For Safe Staffing Levels. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Meet The Candidates Running For PA’s 108th District Seat. “The race for the Pennsylvania 108th general assembly seat will be decided on election day due as a special election.” (WOLF-TV)

Around The Commonwealth

3. SEIU Healthcare Union Asked About Influence On Gainey Administration

“Does the SEIU Healthcare union exert too much influence on the administration of Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey? They chaired his election campaign, gave hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions and have taken key positions on his staff. SEIU has enlisted the mayor in its campaign to unionize UPMC.” (CBS News Pittsburgh)

Related

Gainey To Announce His Choice For Pittsburgh Police Chief Today. “Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey is expected to announce his nominee for the city’s next police chief Wednesday, nearly a year after the previous chief announced his plan to retire.” (WESA)

All The Mayoral Candidates Are Wealthier Than The Average Philadelphian. “The top candidates in the mayor’s race are far better off than the average Philadelphian, but there is a significant range in the field of contenders’ personal wealth.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• The Union For Philly Sanitation Workers Is Dumping Mayoral Candidate Jeff Brown Over His ‘Pick Up The Damn Trash’ Comment. (Inquirer)

PA FOP And Delaware County Back Chester Receiver’s Efforts To Strip City Officials Of Duties. “The Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police and Delaware County have formally joined the Chester receiver in saying the city’s elected officials should be stripped of their duties.” (Delco Times)

Who’s Running For Mayor In The Bankrupt City Of Chester? “Philadelphia’s mayoral race might snatch all the headlines with its crowded field of candidates, but another election with far more dire stakes is brewing just a few miles down the I-95 corridor.” (WHYY)

Candidates For Allegheny County Executive Touted Solutions With Few Specifics At Their Latest Forum. “Candidates for Allegheny County executive touched on topics such as air quality, gun violence and diversity in county government Tuesday, during one of the last candidate forums before the May 16 Democratic primary election. ” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Union County Voters Sent Incorrect Mail-In Ballot Instructions. “Incorrect mail-in ballot instructions were sent out to more than 1,600 Union County voters.” (Daily Item)

Voters’ Guides

• PennLive 
• Philadelphia Citizen
• Norristown Times-Herald 
• Pittsburgh City Paper 
• Times-Tribune 
• Morning Call 
• LNP
• Reading Eagle
• Erie News-Times   

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

Editorial

• Legislators Should Approve Pre-Canvassing. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Philadelphia Voters Should Be Wary Of Candidates Who Minimize The Importance Of Effective Policing. (Philadelphia Tribune)
• Can Re:Build Reimagine Manufacturing In Southwestern PA? (Tribune-Review)
• Move Primary, Retool Election Calendars. (Times-Tribune)

Opinion

• Press Freedom Is Your Freedom. (Almar Latour)
• The ‘Woke Mind Virus’ Is Eating Away At Republicans’ Brains. (Jamelle Bouie)
• Off-Year Races Will Shape PA’s Future. (Real Clear Pennsylvania)

1 Thing

5. ‘Mojave Max’ Tortoise Compared To Punxsutawney Phil

“A desert tortoise that is the focus of schoolchild predictions and local lore about the start of spring has emerged from its winter burrow at a nature preserve in Las Vegas, officials said Tuesday.

Mojave Max’s appearance above ground with a burrow-mate at 3:40 p.m. Monday at the Springs Preserve marked the latest date since an annual watch contest began in 2000 for the critter compared locally with Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania. Phil’s handlers said Feb. 2 that their groundhog predicted their spring wouldn’t arrive until April.” (AP)

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