Happy Election Day 2021 politicos! For your E-Day reading, PoliticsPA has a new look at the state of congressional redistricting. And allegations of domestic abuse rock the U.S. Senate primary.

News

The Big Redistricting Question: Which Seat Will Go? The scrutiny on redistricting is higher than ever. The U.S. House may hang in the balance. PoliticsPA shares the political and demographic backdrop as the new map takes shape. 

‘Pa. Senate candidate Sean Parnell’s wife testified that he choked her and hit their children’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “the estranged wife of Republican Senate candidate Sean Parnell testified under oath Monday that he choked her until she bit him to escape, that he hit their young children, and that he lashed out at her with obscenities and insults.”

‘State employees who get vaccinated to get 5 paid days off’: The Associated Press reports that “Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration told more than 70,000 state employees on Monday that it is offering five days of paid leave for getting fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of the year, quickly drawing opposition from the state treasurer over the potential cost.”

‘Treasurer denounces $100M ‘backroom deal’ to offer state workers incentive to get COVID-19 vaccine’: PennLive reports that “Pennsylvania’s Treasurer Stacy Garrity wants Gov. Tom Wolf to abandon his just-announced COVID-19 vaccination incentive program for the 72,000 employees under his jurisdiction.”

‘Dangling paid time off as a COVID-19 vaccination incentive draws applause and criticism’: PennLive reports that “Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration’s COVID-19 vaccine incentive program launched on Monday has drawn mixed reactions across state government.”

‘Major cases could come before judges on Pennsylvania ballots’: The Associated Press provides “a look at major cases currently in the courts.”

‘Big money is pouring into Pa. school board elections, proxies in wars over COVID and culture’: WHYY reports that “in the wake of widespread school closures in 2020-2021, interest in school board meetings and elections has surged throughout the country, and candidates are in the last days of what many say are the most intense, acrimonious races they’ve ever seen.”

‘State lawmaker floating privatizing ‘historical recognitions,’ criticizes state diversity efforts’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “State Rep. Parke Wentling, R-Crawford, penned an Op-ed last week featured in City & State Pennsylvania, a website and magazine covering state politics, calling for the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission to be removed from its role as maker of the state’s historical markers and floated the idea of privatizing “historical recognitions.””

‘‘They can do it too’: redistricting groups hope to set examples for lawmakers with publicly-sourced maps’: WITF reports that “two groups that want to change the way Pennsylvania’s political boundaries are drawn took to the Capitol this week to unveil their own sets of publicly-drawn state and Congressional maps.”

‘US cuts deal on steel tariffs with EU, but Sen. Toomey says more is needed’: WESA reports that “Republican Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey offered mild praise Monday for a new deal between the U.S. and European Union that will ease steel and aluminum tariffs on the 27-nation bloc.” 

‘Highlights in Harrisburg this week include gerrymandered pizza (?)’: City & State PA reports on what they’re watching in Harrisburg for this week. 

‘Republicans see strategic voter registration gains across the state, could be impactful in 2022’: WESA reports that “Pennsylvania Republicans made strategic gains in voter registration across the state. While both Republicans and Democrats saw a decrease in voter registration since June, Democrats saw a larger decrease compared to Republicans.”

‘Rep. Glenn Thompson Returns To Washington, D.C. After Recovering From COVID-19’: KDKA reports that “U.S. Representative Glenn Thompson has returned to Washington, D.C. after being treated for and recovering from COVID-19.”

‘Pennsylvania activists, officials decry ‘heinous and blatantly unconstitutional’ Texas abortion ban as arguments go before Supreme Court’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday began hearing arguments that will help the justices decide whether the Texas law, the most restrictive abortion law in the nation, should be blocked while legal challenges continue. In response, local and state officials gathered at Planned Parenthood Keystone Allentown Health Center, in the first block of North Ninth Street, to condemn the law known as Senate Bill 8 as unconstitutional.”

‘Dougherty and Henon’s lawyers push for judge to dismiss charges in federal corruption case’: WHYY reports that “Councilmember Bobby Henon and electricians union boss Johnny “Doc” Dougherty are asking a federal judge to throw out all the charges in their corruption trial and dismiss the case.”

‘Simplifying Philadelphia’s 4 ballot questions — 2021 voter guide’: KYW Newsradio reports that “Philadelphia voters will be asked to answer four ballot questions on Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know about them.”

‘Retired Pa. Superior Court Judge Justin Johnson dies at 88’: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “Retired Judge Justin Morris Johnson, who served on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, has died. He was 88.”

‘Harrisburg’s business administrator resigns on the eve of hotly contested mayor’s race’: PennLive reports that “Marc Woolley, the city’s business administrator since 2017, submitted his resignation Thursday, effective Nov. 15. But he was subsequently told by Papenfuse to leave effective Monday.”

‘Cesar Liriano is looking to make history by becoming the first Hispanic man to become the Mayor of Lebanon’: Q’Hubo News reports that “Cesar Liriano is looking to make history by becoming the first Hispanic man to be elected Mayor of Lebanon.”

‘Lehigh Valley procrastinator’s guide to the 2021 election’: The Allentown Morning Call provides a voters guide for the Lehigh Valley.

‘Allentown mayoral candidate Matt Tuerk misses campaign finance report deadline’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “Matt Tuerk, the Democratic nominee for Allentown mayor, filed his campaign finance reports a week past the county’s deadline.”

‘With a day to go, Lehigh and Northampton counties’ mail-in ballot returns lag compared to 2020’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “around two-thirds of the voters who requested ballots to vote by mail have returned them, elections officials in Lehigh and Northampton counties say. But with a day to go before the deadline, the rate at which voters have mailed back or dropped off their completed ballots is significantly lower than that after polls had closed in the 2020 election when around 90% of ballots provided were returned.”

‘Shusterman bill would give small Pa. growers piece of cannabis market’: The Daily Local News reports that “State Rep. Melissa Shusterman, D-157th of Schuylkill Township, plans to introduce legislation that would allow smaller enterprises and farmers to acquire permits to grow medical marijuana.”

‘Black Clergy of Philadelphia says voting rights at stake in Tuesday’s judicial elections’: WHYY reported on Monday that “the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity have a straightforward message for residents ahead of tomorrow’s election: They want the city to turn out for a full slate of Democrats.”

‘Nearly 200 kids shot in Philly, students tell city leaders they’re ’afraid to come to school’’: KYW Newsradio reports that “for the first time since the spring, Philadelphia’s mayor, police commissioner, and district attorney gathered to address the gun violence crisis.”

‘City of Pittsburgh will require employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19’: WESA reports that “the City of Pittsburgh will require its employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as of Dec. 22, Mayor Bill Peduto’s office announced today.”

‘Eviction protections in Allegheny County Courts will end’: WESA reports that “eviction protections that had been in place will end in Allegheny County courts after Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court denied a request from the county’s President Judge to continue the measures.”

‘City Council changes landlord rental registration fees; recommends new streetlight contract’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “in a marathon afternoon of meetings and votes, Pittsburgh City Council passed a bill that would charge landlords a rental registration fee and heard testimony on the details of a $15 million contract to replace thousands of city street lights.”

‘Voter Turnout Predicted To Be Low, As Party Leaders Push Importance Of Judicial Race’: KDKA reports that “Tuesday is Election Day, but political experts say many people won’t bother to vote.”

‘Officials in Allegheny County expect high voter turnout, thanks to mail-in ballots’: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “​​Allegheny County officials are anticipating voter participation to be higher than usual for a municipal election, thanks to an influx of mail-in ballots.”

‘Ballot error costly as Westmoreland officials scramble to fix 11th-hour mistake’: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “Westmoreland County paid more than $8,100 for postage to correct errors that appeared on 151 mail-in and absentee ballots sent out to voters in two Mt. Pleasant Borough precincts.”

‘Voter turnout projected to hit 30% in Westmoreland County’: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “more than 200,000 Westmoreland County voters — or more than 80% of those registered — cast ballots during last fall’s Presidential Election. A year later, turnout for Tuesday’s election is expected to be just a fraction of that, election officials said.” 

‘Pittsburgh magistrate race turns contentious as Election Day nears’: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “things are heating up between a Democrat and an Independent candidate running on criminal justice reform issues in the election for Magistrate District Judge in Pittsburgh’s West End.”

‘Commitment 2021: Long-time Westmoreland County District Attorney faces challenger’: WTAE reports that “incumbent Democrat John Peck faces Republican Nicole Ziccarelli.”

‘Washington Co. Ballots Will Feature Government Study Question For Voters’: KDKA reports that “as people in Washington County head to the polls to cast their ballots in today’s elections, there’s a yes-or-no question on those ballots that could confuse voters. Washington County leaders say this is an historic opportunity for voters, because they will be able to help decide the future of local government.”

‘Legislation aims to ease permit processes for out-of-state educators’: The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports that “legislation to draw more teachers to Pennsylvania could help solve a decrease in the number of college students in the state choosing education as a career option.”

‘Governor Tom Wolf’s redistricting advisory council brings listening sessions to Centre County’: The Centre Daily Times reports that “members of Governor Tom Wolf’s redistricting advisory council heard Monday from several Centre County residents, Penn State students and others about what they’d like to see taken into consideration as Pennsylvania undergoes the redistricting process.”

‘Pa. Health Dept: More than 7,400 new COVID-19 cases over the weekend; More than 2,700 hospitalized’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “the state Department of Health confirmed 7,480 new cases of COVID-19 in the commonwealth over the three days between Saturday and Monday, for a total of 1.56 million cases since the start of the pandemic.”

Opinion  
Yassmin Gramian: The future of transportation in Pennsylvania demands many solutions 
Kevin Sabet: Philly voters should reject ballot question legalizing marijuana 
George Heitmann: Your View on Build Back Better: We’ll get a lot – and pay a lot
Shaughnessy Naughton: We are facing a looming doctor shortage, likely worsened by COVID-19 
Mindy Isser: Bobby Henon’s union advocacy is no different than other Councilmembers’ conflicts 
Jon Geeting: Why Won’t Darrell Clarke Support Affordable Housing?  
Dr. Gordon Eck: Republicans can set things right in Chester County
Charlotte Valyo: Democrats will keep Chester County moving forward
Richardson Dilworth: Bolstering commercial corridors is a vital part of rebounding from COVID-19 | Rebuilding Philly
Inquirer Editorial Board: Threats and harassment directed at election workers imperils democracy, too 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Time to rein in leadership PACs
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Licensing recovery homes
John L. Micek: The Top 5 Ways Biden’s domestic agenda helps Pa. kids, families, workers | Monday Morning Coffee
Maryrose Myrtetus and Clara Lyle: Climate change is raising energy bills, especially among those who can least afford it