First Read PA – Oct. 26, 2023

WEATHER: Philadelphia: sunny, high of 78; Harrisburg: mostly sunny, high of 77; Pittsburgh: partly sunny, high of 76.

FROM CITY & STATE:

* Penn State’s James L. Delattre writes in a new op-ed that Harrisburg needs to recognize the importance of the university’s LaunchBox and Innovation Network – and invest in it.* The state Senate voted unanimously yesterday to confirm Wendy Spicher as the state’s secretary of Banking and Securities. You can find a full list of Shapiro’s confirmed cabinet members here. 

* From our partners at the Pennsylvania Capital-Star: In the School District of Philadelphia, the number of school librarians has declined over the past decade, from about 57 in the 2012-13 school year to just one in the 2023-24 school year. Marissa Orbanek, communications officer for the Philadelphia School District, said that the district does not have enough funds for all the positions that are ultimately needed.

NEW THIS MORNING:

* Tomorrow marks five years since a gunman killed 11 worshippers at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue, and community groups are holding several commemoration events to remember those lost in the shooting, WESA reports.

* Leaders from Penn State University, the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University and Lincoln University are pressuring lawmakers to approve $642 million that has failed to advance through the legislature due to opposition from the House Republican Caucus, PennLive reports.

* The state’s main election law was written when only 10% of rural households had access to electricity, resulting in some outdated sections, including a requirement for lanterns at polling places, Spotlight PA reports.

* A new poll from Franklin & Marshall College shows voters still have favorable views of Gov. Josh Shapiro and former President Donald Trump, though just one in three respondents believe the state is on the right track, Politics PA reports.

* Secretary of State Al Schmidt said yesterday during a state Senate committee hearing that there is no indication that the personal information of motorists and voters was misused by the Electronic Registration Information Center, a multistate nonprofit that helps counties tend to their voter rolls, the Pennsylvania Capital Star reports. 

* Heated arguments broke out at last night’s Easton City Council meeting after a resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was removed from the council’s agenda, LehighValleyNews.com reports.

* Union officials with Service Employees International Union Local 668 and SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania yesterday accused Westmoreland County leaders of negotiating in bad faith during a demonstration in front of the courthouse, though county commissioners say talks are expected to resume, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

* The federal Energy Information Administration expects most U.S. households to spend less on energy this year during the winter months, and the state will also receive $193 million in federal funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, StateImpact Pennsylvania reports.

* Chester residents voiced opposition to Philadelphia’s decision to send its trash to the Chester incinerator for burning, expressing concerns over their health and the environment, WHYY reports.

* Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney attended a state dinner at the White House last night held for Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, making him one of only two mayors to attend, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

EDITORIAL PAGES:

* The Tribune-Review highlights what voters need to know ahead of next month’s elections for statewide judicial seats and other local positions.

* PennLive has an op-ed from outreach and opinion editor Joyce Davis, who writes readers must keep their guard up as online scams intensify and adapt to changing technology. 

NATIONAL POLITICS:

* Louisiana’s Mike Johnson became the unlikely leader of the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday in part due to his anonymity in Washington, and one of Johnson’s first big tests will be avoiding a government shutdown, Politico reports.

* Bertie Bowman, a congressional aide who got his start in Washington sweeping the U.S. Capitol steps as a 13-year-old runaway and most recently worked on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, died yesterday at the age of 92, The Washington Post reports.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: To state Sen. and Senate Democratic Appropriations Committee Chair Vincent Hughes … to Mary-Jo Mullen, CPA and attorney at law at Halbruner Hatch & Guise … and to Jefrey Pollock, founding partner and president, Global Strategy Group … Want to wish someone a happy birthday in our newsletter? Email their name, job title and upcoming birthday to editor@cityandstatepa.com.

TODAY’S SKED:

9 a.m. – The House Tourism & Economic & Recreational Development Committee meets for a public hearing on Philadelphia’s preparations for the Semiquincentennial celebration and World Cup, Independence Visitors Center, 599 Market St., Philadelphia. Watch here. 

10 a.m. – The Philadelphia City Council meets, Room 400, City Hall, Philadelphia. Watch here. 

11:30 a.m. – Gov. Josh Shapiro to highlight successes in improving the commonwealth's permitting processes, Sola Salons, 2553 Brindle Drive, Harrisburg. Watch here. 

1 p.m. – The House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee Subcommittee on Security and Emergency Response Readiness meets for an informational meeting on battling cancer and occupational diseases in firefighting, Warminster Township Administration Building, 401 Gibson Ave., Warminster. Watch here. 

KICKER: 

“The delay in the passage of our funding has been felt differently by each of our institutions but we all are feeling the financial strains from not receiving the annual support we have historically relied upon.” – The leaders of Pennsylvania’s four state-related universities on the absence of state funding, via PennLive