We’ll say it. May The Fourth Be With You. Fallout from Supreme Court Leak. Abortion moves to center stage in PA. Focus on the 8th Congressional. Here is the Playbook.

PA Weather
Windber | Showers Likely, 64
Wormleyburg | Isolated Thunderstorms, 70
Warminster | Showers, 71

PA Sports
76ers (trail 0-1) | tonight at Miami
Penguins (lead 1-0) | won at NY Rangers, 4-3 (3OT); THU at Rangers

Phillies (11-13) | lost vs. Texas, 6-4; tonight vs. Texas
Pirates (9-13) | TUE rained out; today at Detroit (2)

News

PA Governor Race: 1776 Project Does An About-Face on Barletta: The 1776 Project, a political action committee devoted to reforming public education, has done a 360-degree turn on its support of Republican candidate for governor Lou Barletta.

• Spotlight PA: What happens if Roe v. Wade is overturned? In Pa., the answer depends on the November governor’s race.
• Pennsylvania Capital-Star: With court expected to strike down Roe v. Wade, Pa.’s governor race could determine abortion access
• Inquirer: Doug Mastriano embodies a Christian nationalist movement as he runs for governor: ‘We have the power of God’
• Inquirer: Here’s where the candidates for Pennsylvania governor stand on abortion 
• Inquirer: What an anti-abortion ‘heartbeat bill’ backed by GOP candidates for Pa. governor would actually do
• PennLive: GOP gubernatorial candidates oppose PennDOT’s bridge tolling initiative
• ABC27: Corman pushes to stop bridge tolling during gubernatorial campaign tour
• LNP | LancasterOnline: Pa. legislators, officials, candidates react to Supreme Court’s draft ruling on abortion

PA Senate Race: ‘Here’s where the Pennsylvania Senate candidates stand on abortion rights’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “the issue could be one of the most stark contrasts of this fall’s Senate race.”

• Inquirer: The Pa. GOP Senate candidates will debate tonight. Here’s how to watch and what we’re watching for.
• Daily Item: Republican Candidates for U.S. Senate, Pennsylvania Present Their Case at Meeting
• Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Lamb brings Senate campaign to Cambria County
• WLVR: Only woman in Democratic U.S. Senate field used to uphill battles

Focus ON: 8th Congressional District: It is one of the GOP’s big targets this fall and two men are running for the Republican nod for the 8th Congressional District and a shot at Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna).

‘Election fraud claims thrive on Pennsylvania campaign trail’: The Associated Press reports that “with two weeks until Pennsylvania’s primary election, Republican candidates running for U.S. Senate and governor continue to sow doubts about the legitimacy of 2020′s presidential election, showing the extent to which the GOP campaign trail remains in thrall to former President Donald Trump’s extreme and baseless election claims.”

‘If a bill chipping away at abortion rights lands on his desk, Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf has his veto pen ready’: PennLive reports that “Gov. Tom Wolf made it clear that even if the reports are accurate that the U.S. Supreme Court stands ready to overturn abortion rights in this country, it will have no immediate impact on Pennsylvania.”

‘Wolf: In wake of leaked Supreme Court opinion on Roe, ‘abortion is and will remain legal in Pennsylvania’’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “Gov. Tom Wolf says “abortion is and will remain legal in Pennsylvania,” in the wake of an unprecedented leak of a draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion apparently overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that established a constitutional right to abortion in the United States.”

‘Bob Casey is one of the last ‘pro-life’ Democrats. The Supreme Court decision is going to test his views.’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “as Bob Casey followed his party’s leftward pull, abortion still set him apart from most Democrats. The pending Supreme Court decision could now force him into the spotlight on the issue.”

‘What Pennsylvania voters think about abortion, according to polls’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “the majority of Pennsylvanians support some access to abortion. But polling on abortion is nuanced.”

‘Pa. House speaker has said he ‘would personally support’ bill outlawing all abortions’: LNP | LancasterOnline reports that “in two recent interviews conducted before the Supreme Court draft ruling was released, Cutler gave varying answers when asked what would happen if Roe is dismantled.”

‘Trump endorses Bognet in bid for Congressional GOP nomination’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Republican Congressional aspirant Jim Bognet has earned a personal endorsement from the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, in his bid to win the party’s nomination for the 8th District seat.”

‘People in poverty will suffer the most if Roe is overturned, Pennsylvania experts say’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “if Roe v. Wade ends, people in poverty could find themselves in ever-worsening conditions — unable to stabilize their families, destined to augment the miseries and distress that already engulf them, advocates say.”

‘What overturning Roe v. Wade will mean for abortion access in Pennsylvania’: WESA reports that “if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the landmark abortion rights ruling Roe v. Wade — as a recently leaked draft opinion indicates it will — the future of abortion access in Pennsylvania is unclear, but experts say state law would not immediately ban it.”

‘Abortion rights advocates concerned with Pa. referendum proposal, looking past the 2022 election’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “while many politicians have put a renewed urgency on Pennsylvania’s upcoming gubernatorial and U.S. Senate elections, anti- and pro-abortion activists are looking further out to a proposed referendum that could circumvent whoever is elected this year.”

‘Pennsylvania Turnpike annual budget capital spending return to normal’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “with passenger traffic building up again — and the elimination of a $400 million annual payment to the state to support public transit — the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s finances are back to near normal.”

‘How the Supreme Court’s plan to strike down Roe v. Wade could affect Pennsylvania’s 2022 U.S. Senate, governor races’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “as if it wasn’t important enough already, the 2022 midterm election cycle in Pennsylvania — a state whose Democratic governor has vowed for years to veto any bills limiting abortion access — took on new meaning Tuesday as major candidates prepared for the prospect of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.”

‘Abortion might just have moved to center stage in Pennsylvania’s election’: PennLive reports that “strategists on both sides of the political spectrum argued Tuesday, as the dust settled from the Monday night Politico report, that a court decision that overturns Roe could be turned to their advantage.”

‘Abortion-rights activists rally in Harrisburg: ‘This is a moment of history in the making’’: PennLive reports that “about 50 people were still on the Capitol steps around 7 p.m. with signs that read “Save our rights” and “Protect Roe v. Wade”.”

‘Primary Preview 2022: Two Democrats seek party nomination to run against Perry in 10th Congressional District’: The Carlisle Sentinel reports that “Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry will have another challenger for his seat in this year’s election for the 10th Congressional District.”

‘Wild: Draft abortion decision a ‘spit in the face’ of half-century of law’: The Express-Times reports that “the Lehigh Valley’s Democratic congresswoman, who is facing a re-election challenge, called Tuesday for passage of federal legislation codifying a woman’s right to abortion.”

‘State officials launch $10M program to help substance use disorder treatment professionals repay their student loans’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “state officials are currently accepting applications for a program aimed at helping the people who care for individuals with substance use disorder repay their outstanding student loan debt.”

‘Pennsylvania diesel fuel price spikes to a record $6 a gallon; ‘It’s obviously going to affect pricing of everything’’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “the price of diesel fuel has spiked even more dramatically than that of gasoline, and Allentown trucking company director Joe DeFrancisco was “flabbergasted” Tuesday morning to hear it reached $6 a gallon.”

‘Pennsylvania lawmakers consider increased penalties to address ATV and dirt bikes that are ‘terrorizing’ streets’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “at the public policy hearing at the Lehigh County Government Center in Allentown, four people testified about dirt bike and ATV use. About 14 state lawmakers were present, along with Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk.”

Legislative Election Updates

• LNP | LancasterOnline: 98th Legislative District GOP primary candidates: Faith Bucks, Lu Ann Fahndrich and Tom Jones
• LNP | LancasterOnline: In 98th Legislative District GOP primary, 3 local elected officials vie for nomination
• Times-Tribune: House candidate debates set for Monday 

Regional Spotlight: Southwest
WESA: How Pennsylvania politicians are responding to the leaked draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade 
WESA: Your Pennsylvania and Allegheny County voting and elections questions, answered
WTAE: ‘Abortion is and will remain legal in Pennsylvania:’ Wolf, Gainey react to reported Supreme Court leak
Observer-Reporter: Ortitay bill that would create online course database passes House 
Observer-Reporter: Former Secretary of Defense Esper honored in Fayette
Post-Gazette: Abortion rights supporters rally in Downtown Pittsburgh after leaked Supreme Court draft opinion
Post-Gazette: City Council to hear public input on legislation to regulate short-term rentals 
Post-Gazette: Citing mental health, opioid and hunger crises, U.S. lawmakers send some resurrected federal earmarks to Pittsburgh-area hospitals 
Post-Gazette: Assessment fallout: Decree could be a boon for Allegheny County homeowners — and a bust for school districts, municipalities 
Post-Gazette: Tree of Life announces plans for museum, memorial at synagogue shooting site 
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh City Council votes to give URA $1.2 million in funding for programs
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh region could raise millions per year by reaching PILOT agreements with local nonprofits, joint controller report shows 
WESA: In Downtown Pittsburgh, demonstrators rally for abortion rights
WESA: Citing legal doubts, Gainey scraps Pittsburgh’s guaranteed income program
WESA: Southwestern Pennsylvania industry leaders call for a less aggressive energy transition strategy
WESA: Lawyer reprimanded after abandoning case as a protest against Allegheny County DA Zappala
WESA: The race is on to build out a low-carbon hydrogen economy in Appalachia
WESA: Affordable housing zoning arrives in Polish Hill and Bloomfield as Gainey signs bill
WESA: The National Labor Relations Board intervenes in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s 5-year labor fight
KDKA: Judge decides it is time to take a look at ‘newcomer tax’ in Allegheny County
KDKA: Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania reacts to Supreme Court draft opinion
KDKA: City and county joint report details tax-exempt property and its impact on revenue
Tribune Review: Pitt says ‘thousands’ have supported university as debate over funding continues 
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh region could gain $14.5M a year through payments from nonprofits, report says 
Tribune Review: ‘It’s an absolutely seismic event’: Western Pa. legal experts shocked by Supreme Court leak 
Tribune Review: Butler County township backtracks on political sign ordinance after 1st Amendment complaint
City Paper: Abortion rights rally marches through Downtown Pittsburgh following Roe V. Wade leak
City Paper: Get a criminal record expunged with help from Allegheny County
Beaver County Times: Overturning Roe v. Wade could mean big changes for Pa. next year
Observer-Reporter: New city administrator brings experience, familiarity to Washington
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Rally energizes Cambria County Republicans
Altoona Mirror: Biden loan move could relieve millions of Pennsylvanians

Opinion  
Stacy Garrity: What we’re fighting about
Mark Compton: Turnpike commission embraces transparency, works to stop ‘leakage’
Sydney Etheredge, Melissa Reed, and Dayle Steinberg: Planned Parenthood execs: Wolf must act now to protect abortion rights
Tom Ridge: App store owners push security claims to stifle competition
Paul Muschick: Political signs on lawns: Free speech or litter?
Peri Jude Radecic: Lehigh Co. DA’s prosecution threats over drop-boxes could disenfranchise disabled voters
John L. Micek: The GOP’s anti-abortion crusade is not pro-family at all | Wednesday Morning Coffee 
John L. Micek: With record tax collections, not spending would be ‘irresponsible,’ Wolf says | Tuesday Coffee
Johanna G. Byrd, Kristie Jo King, Molly Cowan, and Bradley C. Norford: First, do no harm: Pennsylvania youth deserve protection from conversion therapy
Jenice Armstrong: City Council needs to come out of its ivory tower and hold in-person meetings again
Inquirer Editorial Board: To protect abortion, U.S. Senate needs to take a rare step: listen to the majority of Americans 
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Shakedown of GOP gubernatorial candidates is unethical and bad for democracy 
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Both chambers of the Pa. Legislature need to make lawmakers’ expenses searchable online
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Supreme Court leak further undermines crumbling legitimacy
Lawrence A. Feinberg: Let’s hear it for our local school board members. Thanks for your service
Ayanna Washington: A college degree and trade school shouldn’t be the only two options for students
Troy Vincent: I grew up around domestic violence. It’s time for men to do their part.
Gene Therapy: Don’t thank Trump; this Supreme Court cataclysm is all Mitch
Alexandra Gallagher: Making urban living cleaner, cooler and greener