First Read PA – Nov. 20, 2023

WEATHER: Philadelphia: sunny, high of 47; Harrisburg: increasing clouds, high of 47; Pittsburgh: partly sunny, high of 48.

FROM CITY & STATE:

* The U.S. Department of Education announced last week that it is investigating seven schools – including two in Pennsylvania – over reported instances of antisemitism and Islamophobia on college campuses.

* The race for Pennsylvania attorney general is ramping up, with more candidacy and endorsement announcements dropping each week. The most recent update: a former Republican District Attorney in Delaware County revealed her interest in entering the race.

NEW THIS MORNING:

* The name of Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty came up during a federal embezzlement trial of his brother, John Dougherty, who allegedly stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from a labor union he once led, The Associated Press reports.

* Republican David Oh, who lost this month’s Philadelphia mayoral election to Cherelle Parker, is weighing his options after the loss, and didn’t rule out another run for elected office, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

* The leader of Pittsburgh Regional Transit pushed back on characterizations that the city is experiencing a service crisis, noting that the agency has taken steps to address staff shortages, the Pittsburgh Union Progress reports.

* Republican state Rep. Abby Major appeared on “This Week in Pennsylvania” over the weekend to discuss a package of bills designed to reform how sexual harassment cases are handled in Harrisburg, ABC 27 reports.

* Fox News reports that U.S. Sen. Bob Casey’s seat in the U.S. Senate is one of five Democratic seats most likely to flip, and is “one of the most competitive and expensive Senate races across the country.”

* U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker and state Sen. Maria Collett appeared on “Face the State with Joel D. Smith” yesterday, CBS 21 reports.

* The commonwealth’s unemployment rate for the month of October remained at 3.4% – a record low for the state that is one full percentage point lower than the state’s unemployment rate in October 2022, Politics PA reports.

* Phillip Fisher Jr., a pastor and Republican ward leader who assists with faith-based outreach for Philadelphia’s Moms for Liberty chapter, is a registered sex offender due to a 2012 felony conviction, though he insists he did nothing wrong, the Inquirer reports.

* The commonwealth ranked among the bottom of U.S. states with low charter school performances in a new analysis from the Program on Education Policy and Governance at Harvard University, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports.

* Gov. Josh Shapiro and Casey took time to remember former First Lady Rosalynn Carter following her death over the weekend, CBS 21 reports.

EDITORIAL PAGES:

* The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes that this month’s election results in Allegheny County show that county politics may not be as black and white – or rather, blue and red – as they seem.

NATIONAL POLITICS:

* Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, who partnered with her husband on policy and diplomacy during his presidency and is one-half of the longest-lived presidential couple in American history, died over the weekend at the age of 96, Politico reports.

* Argentina’s next president Javier Milei, known as “the crazy” and “the wig” to supporters, is a former television talking head who political experts thought – up until recently – had little shot at actually winning the presidency, the AP reports. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: To Pam Snyder, senior advisor, Government Relations,  Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC … and to Beth Strain Berry, constituent services director for Philadelphia City Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson … 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:

10 a.m. – The Pittsburgh City Council meets, Council Chambers, City-County Building, Pittsburgh. Watch here.

10 a.m. – The Philadelphia City Council Committee on Rules meets, remotely. Watch here.

11: 30 a.m. – State Department of Health to discuss efforts to stop rise in newborn syphilis cases, Kirby Health Center, 71 N. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre.

12:30 p.m. – Gov. Josh Shapiro to deliver remarks at the Pennsylvania Press Club's November luncheon, Harrisburg Hilton, One N. 2nd St., Harrisburg. Watch here.

1:30 p.m. –  The Pittsburgh City Council Standing Committee meets, Council Chambers, City-County Building, Pittsburgh. Watch here.

KICKER: 

“I can’t say that I’m not going to run for another position. I can’t say that I am … I am kind of a blank slate at this point in time.” – Former Philadelphia City Councilmember and 2023 mayoral candidate David Oh, via the Inquirer