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⚽ Union (1-0) | Sat vs. Cincinnati

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Top Story

1. McClure Announces Run For Lehigh Valley’s Seat in Congress

“Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure will run for the Lehigh Valley’s seat in Congress in 2026, seeking to hand the hotly contested district back to Democrats.

At a Thursday event at the Northampton County Courthouse, McClure said he is the best candidate to represent the region in Congress and challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, and characterized himself as an advocate for middle class and working Americans.” (Allentown Morning Call)

• ‘Fight Like Hell’: Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure to Run For Congress (LehighValleyNews.com)

Elsewhere

Why Gov. Shapiro — and Not AG Sunday — Sued Trump to Unlock Federal Funds For Pennsylvania. “While he was Pennsylvania’s attorney general, Josh Shapiro sued President Donald Trump’s first administration two dozen times: on family separations at the U.S. border, access to birth control, and environmental regulations.” (WESA Politics)

PA Democrats Are Getting Flooded With Constituent Stories That They’re Hoping to Leverage Against Trump. “Democrats can’t win in Congress, so they’re trying to win in the court of public opinion with a strategy focused on the human impact of Trump’s federal cuts.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• Bresnahan: Eligible Welfare Recipients Have ‘Nothing to Worry About’. (Scranton Times-Tribune)

Judge Finds Mass Firings of Federal Probationary Workers Were Likely Unlawful. “U.S. District Judge William Alsup ordered the Office of Personnel Management to inform certain federal agencies that it had no authority to order the firings of probationary employees, including at the Department of Defense.” (AP)

• Where Are Federal Jobs Affected by DOGE Cuts? A Look at Congressional Districts Across the US. (AP)
• Hundreds of Weather Forecasters Fired in Latest Wave of DOGE Cuts. (AP)

State

2. Senate Republican Leaders Signal Openness to Changing PA’s Public School Adequacy Funding Formula

“Some leaders of the state Senate Republican Caucus are questioning whether the adequacy formula designed to address funding inequities is truly fair to Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts.

“Frankly, I think the more we review this adequacy formula and the way it treats all the school districts, that there is inherent unfairness within this formula,” Sen. Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana) said Wednesday.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Elsewhere

Should Pennsylvania Have Its Own DOGE? These GOP State Senators Think So — With a Twist. “As Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency upends Washington, D.C., and the federal government, two state senators have their own ideas to make a Pennsylvania version of the radical disrupter.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Shapiro Floats Leaving PJM As Power Demand Spike Looms. “The supply and demand imbalance across the power grid spells trouble for the future.” (The Center Square)

Mastriano Hints at Another Gubernatorial Run. “Will he or won’t he? That is the question of the day as state Sen. Doug Mastriano is hinting that he is up for another run for governor of Pennsylvania.” (PoliticsPA)

Public Will No Longer Be In the Dark About Shapiro Flights on Taxpayer-Funded State Police Planes. “Gov. Josh Shapiro will begin publicly disclosing when he uses taxpayer-funded Pennsylvania State Police aircraft, a change that follows questions from state lawmakers and Spotlight PA.” (Spotlight PA)

Pennsylvania Leaders, Jewish Community Resist Second Pittsburgh BDS Bid. “The city of Pittsburgh is again facing down an effort by far-left activists to bring an Israel boycott and divestment referendum to the city’s voters, less than a year after the activists’ first attempt to put the issue on the ballot.” (Jewish Insider)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Pennsylvania’s Path to Cannabis Legalization — Challenges, Politics and the Road Ahead

“Pennsylvania is following about the same trajectory with adult-use recreational legalization as it did with medical marijuana. It is not an innovator but also not a laggard.” (The Conversation)

Elsewhere

PA Bird Flu Funding Sufficient, Ag. Secretary Says, But Concerns Remain Over Federal Support. “Pennsylvania has sufficient finances to deal with the impact of bird flu on poultry farms, the state agriculture secretary told lawmakers, although concerns remain if the outbreak spreads beyond birds or if the federal government reduces support.” (PennLive)

18 Apply to Fill McGloin’s Vacant Commissioner Seat. “Eighteen potential appointees applied to fill former Democratic Lackawanna County Commissioner Matt McGloin’s vacant seat, county Democratic Party Chairman Chris Patrick said Thursday.” (Scranton Times-Tribune)

• Sources: Lackawanna County Democrats Name Three to Replace Former County Commissioner Matt McGloin. (WVIA)

Is Pittsburgh a Future Hollywood Powerhouse? Possibly, With More Investment. “About 20 years since its inception, and three years since its last funding boost, the Pennsylvania film tax credit is ready for a close-up, according to industry experts.” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)

Fetterman, McCormick, Houlahan Join Bipartisan Lawmakers to Protect PA Mushroom Farmers. “Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) joined Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) to reintroduce the Protecting Mushroom Farmers Act. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-Chester) and Dan Meuser (R-Bradford) introduced a companion bill in the United States House of Representatives.” (DV Journal)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• After a Month, Trump Voters Are Happy With Their Vote. (Aaron Blake)
• America Was Built With a Dollar and a Dream, Not $5 Million Gold Cards. (Lori Falce)
• Do You See What the Trump Administration Is Doing to Philadelphians? (Jenice Armstrong)
• Could Geothermal Be the Next Pennsylvania Energy Boom? (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Government Unions Are Losing Money and Members But Not Power and Influence. (David R. Osborne)
• Reverting to a Part Time General Assembly. (Rep. Perry Stambaugh)

1 Thing

5. The Great Planetary Parade

“Look to the sky Friday night for the rare chance to see seven planets lined up.

The big picture: Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars will appear together in a “planetary alignment” or “parade of planets” shortly after sunset Friday, according to the astronomy website and app Star Walk.

Feb. 28 is considered the best day to see the alignment worldwide. The best time to start to look for the planets is about half an hour after sunset, experts advise.” (Axios)

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