The new NFL season kicks off tonight and fall is just around the corner. Although this week’s heat wave around the Commonwealth belies that fact. We are just 12 days away from a special election that could turn the majority in the state House, while we still await the final pieces of the state budget puzzle to be solved. Who had a good week? Who had a bad week? That’s why we’re here.
John Fetterman. It’s refreshing to see candor in Washington from elected officials. Pennsylvania’s junior senator had some blunt words for Republicans who are pushing to impeach President Joe Biden: It’ll bite you in next year’s elections. “Go ahead. Do it, I dare you.”
PA State Courts. Thanks to budget dysfunction in the state Capitol, people filing divorces, estates, and many other legal actions across Pennsylvania are getting a financial break while courts lose millions of dollars. The lost revenue amounts to about $3.7 million a month for the court system.
PA Office of Administration. Pennsylvania officials have removed a searchable, online database of state employee emails, narrowing the ways the public can reach the people who work for commonwealth agencies. The Office of Administration took down the directory in May because it posed a security risk. The email directory launched in 2012, and gave the public a way to directly contact employees who work for various state departments. The email directory launched in 2012, and gave the public a way to directly contact employees who work for various state departments.
Gov. Josh Shapiro. Just what the doctor ordered. Eliminating the requirement that Pennsylvania State Police cadets have college credits under their belts in order to apply for trooper jobs was met with a burst of applications. State officials said 137 of 297 people who applied in the two days after the announcement last week do not have college credits. It’s exactly what Shapiro was hoping for when he lifted the requirement.
Brenton Davis. The Erie County Executive has been accused by the County Council of violating local law by improperly adding funds to the 2023 budget. By vetoing Council’s reductions to the general fund budget, Davis was able to increase the size of his travel budget; increase funds to his economic development department; and add three positions to his administration. The vetoes, in total, added more than $400,000 to the final general fund budget adopted by council.
Danielle Outlaw. Philadelphia’s Police Commissioner announced she would be stepping down later this month to become a deputy chief at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, helping oversee emergency management, cybersecurity, and public safety for that region’s bridges, tunnels, ports, and airports.
John Stanford. First Deputy John Stanford will serve Philadelphia’s interim police commissioner after the resignation of Commissioner Danielle Outlaw. He is a two-decade veteran of the department and has overseen Internal Affairs, led a West Philadelphia district, and served as a department spokesperson.
Mike O’Brien. The retired Marine Corps aviator who is new to politics and south central Pennsylvania has entered the race for PA’s 10th Congressional District seat, presently held by Rep. Scott Perry. O’Brien must first compete for Democratic nomination with previously announced candidates Shamaine Daniels and Rick Coplen.
Rep. John Joyce. Joyce announced on Tuesday that he plans to seek a fourth term representing Pennsylvania’s 13th Congressional District. He specifically mentioned improving rural health care and continuing his Homegrown Health Care Initiative that provides Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine students the opportunity to complete their clinical studies at regional hubs, including Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, among his goals if reelected.
Lindsay Powell NextGen PAC announced the endorsement of Powell for Pennsylvania’s 21st House of Representatives District ahead of this year’s special elections. The organization says it is endorsing Powell for her commitment to social justice and addressing inequality. Powell is running against Erin Connolly Autenreith for the seat previously held by Sara Innamorato.
PA’s Second Family. Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and his wife, Blayre Holmes Davis, welcomed a daughter into the world last weekend. “We will be spending the coming weeks caring for and bonding with our daughter. We will treasure this time, which is so vital for an infant and new parents.”
David Oh. The Republican candidate for mayor of Philadelphia was criticized for misrepresenting his military service in 2011 and apologized for inaccurately claiming that he was a member of the Green Berets, the Army’s elite special operations force known for their distinctive headwear. Today, he says he did serve in the Special Forces and Green Berets. His logic: although he never completed the qualification course that is required to join the ranks of the Green Berets, he was issued a beret that was green.
Wawa. The convenience store chain is giving teachers and school administrators a free coffee of any size throughout September as part of its “Cheers to the Classrooms” celebration. Wawa will also donate $50,000 to match teachers’ requests to fund school supplies through non-profit group DonorsChoose.
Sonya M. McKnight. The Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board filed formal charges against the Dauphin County Magisterial District Judge (12-2-04) for violating rules governing standards of conduct of MDJs and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.