Good Wednesday morning. November going out like a lion.

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Today In Harrisburg
Senate scheduled to convene at 10 a.m.

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. Jonathan Fritz.

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Top Story

1. PA Senate Sets Rules For Krasner’s Impeachment Trial

A pair of procedural measures needed to stage an impeachment trial of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner were approved by the Pennsylvania State Senate on Tuesday, paving the way for the chamber to move forward in the attempt to remove the embattled prosecutor.

The two resolutions established the ground rules for the trial which is expected to begin in mid-January. The Senate will formally receive the articles of impeachment from members of the House this morning. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

Krasner Impeachment. What’s Next? “The PA State Senate has already adopted two resolutions setting the rules for the impeachment trial of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. What happens today?” (PoliticsPA)

• PA Senate Approves Rules For Impeachment Trial, Invites House To Present Articles Against Krasner. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
• Larry Krasner On What Will Actually Reduce Crime. (The Nation)

Elections

2. SxSW. The Midterms In Southwest PA

“In this corner of Pennsylvania, Democratic fortunes have been waning for a decade or two. Yet Democrats in Southwest Pennsylvania say they saw some early signs that 2022 was going to be a good year for their party – at a time when most people in the national political discussion were expecting significant Republican gains.

While neither John Fetterman nor Josh Shapiro won every county in Southwest Pennsylvania, they generally held their own – and then some – in an area with the type of blue-collar demographics that has been unfavorable to recent Democratic candidates.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

These Counties Have Certified Their Votes. “”And the winners are … not yet certified. Not yet certified by all 67 counties in the Commonwealth, although 42 have certified their vote totals.” (PoliticsPA)

• Recount Efforts Hold Up PA Election Certifications. (Associated Press)
• Cartwright Sues Luzerne For Not Certifying Election. (The Hill)

Harrisburg

3. Candidates Announce Bids To Fill PA Supreme Court Vacancy

The 2023 election season is in full swing, despite the fact that the 2022 results have yet to be certified by the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Montgomery County Court President Judge Carolyn Carluccio and state Superior Court Judge Daniel McCaffery have both put their hats in the ring for the seat left open by the September death of Supreme Court Justice Max Baer. (PennLive)

Related

Abigail Salisbury Will Take Another Try At PA House 34th District Seat. “A Swissvale lawyer and human rights advocate who once fled Ethiopia after being declared an enemy of the state, has launched her campaign for the Pennsylvania House, becoming another candidate to run for outgoing Rep. Summer Lee’s seat.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

PA House Members Debut Their Version Of Conservative Freedom Caucus. “More than 20 Pennsylvania House lawmakers on Monday announced they’re forming a group modeled after the hard-right congressional Freedom Caucus — and they’re not releasing their list of members.” (Erie Times-News)

Around The Commonwealth

Penn State Wants Its Two Law Schools ‘Back Together.’ Now It Has To Decide What That Means. “Penn State believes it has two good law schools. It would like to have one excellent one.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Dickinson Law Alums, Carlisle Officials See A Future In Penn State’s Unified Law School Plan. “Most Carlislers and alumni of the law school here – pre- and post-Penn State – saw good news in the university’s announcement Tuesday that it will end its eight-year run of operating two separately accredited law schools on two separate campuses.” (PennLive)

Same-Sex Marriage Bill Passes Senate After Bipartisan Breakthrough. “The Senate passed landmark legislation on Tuesday to mandate federal recognition for same-sex marriages, as a lame-duck Congress mustered a notable moment of bipartisanship before Democrats were to lose their unified control of Capitol Hill.” (NY Times)

Oz Doubtful To Get TV Show Back After Losing Senate Race. “It’s not yet known how Oz, 62, aims to bounce back from his unsuccessful foray into politics. If Oz is hoping to revive his TV show, it may not be easy for him to convince producers any time soon.” (Philly Voice)

Philly City Councilmember Helen Gym Resigns Ahead Of Expected Run For Mayor. “The two-term Council member is expected to launch her campaign for the top job on Wednesday. City officeholders are required by law to resign before seeking another office.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Gas Driller Pleads No Contest To Polluting PA Town’s Water. “Pennsylvania’s most active gas driller pleaded no contest Tuesday to criminal charges, capping a landmark environmental case against a company that prosecutors say polluted a rural community’s drinking water 14 years ago and then tried to evade responsibility.” (PennLive)

Opinion

• Celebrities In Politics Have A Leg Up, But Their Advantages Can’t Top Fundraising Failures. (Richard T. Longoria, MarketWatch)
• Antisemitism Is Going Mainstream. Trump’s Helping. (Michelle Goldberg, NY Times)
• $7,400 Raises For PA Lawmakers? The System Is Broken When Politicians Profit From Inflation. (Paul Muschick, Morning Call)
• Sainato Should Be Commended For Years Of Service. (Pete Sirianni, New Castle News)

1 Thing

Thriller Turns 40

Forty years ago today, Michael Jackson released his landmark album, “Thriller.”

Remember songs such as Billie Jean, Thriller, PYT, Beat It, Human Nature, Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin, The Girl Is Mine (with Paul McCartney)

And the video … Jackson was the first artist whose music video was actually, a movie, directed by an actual famous movie director John Landis