First Read – Jan. 26, 2024

WEATHER: Philadelphia: rain and patchy fog, high of 53; Harrisburg: chance of rain, mostly cloudy, high of 55; Pittsburgh: chance of rain, high of 57. 

FROM CITY & STATE:

* A new Philadelphia City Council has already met at least one expectation through its first legislative session of the year – punctuality. The on-time start, a rarity in previous years, is expected to be the new norm under new Council President Kenyatta Johnson. 

* The makeup of the General Assembly is going to look quite a bit different in 2025 due to a number of impending legislative retirements, as well as some resignations that have already occurred. 

* In this week’s Winners & Losers, York County District Attorney Dave Sunday gets big endorsement from GOP, U.S. Senate hopeful Dave McCormick’s political slip-up – and more.

NEW THIS MORNING:

* Gov. Josh Shapiro has a new slogan for how he wants to run Pennsylvania – and it’s not fit for kids’ ears. That saying, “get sh– done” has become the governing philosophy and brand of Shapiro, The Associated Press reports. 

*  State Rep. Dawn Keefer is the lead plaintiff in a federal lawsuit filed against President Joe Biden, Gov. Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Department of State officials over orders they issued when it comes to elections, PennLive reports.

* Citing threats from unfriendly nations – including China – state House Republicans have introduced bills to restrict foreign ownership of farmland and protect critical infrastructure, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports. 

* Under a final rule issued yesterday by the Federal Railroad Administration, railroads will be required to have “emergency escape breathing apparatuses for train crew members,” the Capital-Star reports.

* Penn State University plans to slash $94 million from its budget starting in July 2025, changes it says are necessary for its long-term stability and success, Spotlight PA reports.

* Abortion is legal in the commonwealth – and with a Democratic governor in power who supports access, it will almost certainly remain so for at least the next three years, Spotlight PA reports.

* After announcing plans to strike next month, more than 500 Westmoreland County government workers will instead be voting on a new three-year labor deal next week,  TribLive reports.

* Legislation to be introduced by state Rep. Tarik Khan would repeal a law, signed by former Gov. Tom Corbett, that required abortion clinics to meet the same requirements as ambulatory surgical facilities, WESA reports.

* Shapiro is set to announce a blueprint for changing how the state handles state-funded higher education to make college more affordable with better economic outcomes, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

* In a heavily caps-locked email last week, Philly Mayor Cherelle Parker’s managing director told department leaders that all public statements need to be sent to the top of the City Hall food chain for approval, the Inquirer reports.

EDITORIAL PAGES:

* The Inquirer has an op-ed by Roseann Liu, who writes that racial disparities in school funding are not about bad policy – they’re rooted in the differential valuing of children’s lives.

* The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s permanent loss of commuter ridership due to the pandemic should prompt a complete reimagining of public transit in Western Pennsylvania.

NATIONAL POLITICS:

* Senate Republicans struggled to hold together support for a bipartisan border-for-Ukraine deal yesterday as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell privately acknowledged Trump’s opposition to the deal, The Washington Post reports.

* The U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Alabama can proceed with using nitrogen gas to put a man to death, refusing to block what would be the nation’s first execution by a new method since 1982, Associated Press reports.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: To Mungu Sanchez, deputy Political Director, EAS Regional Council of Carpenters … to Britainy Stephens, director of operations at Benchmark Real Estate Partners, Inc. … 

on Saturday: to former state Rep. Joseph Markosek … to April Barton, dean at Duquesne University School of Law … to Moriah Hathaway, executive director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women …

And on Sunday: to former U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta … to Peri Jude Radecic, CEO of Disability Rights Pennsylvania … and to state Sen. Art Haywood … Want to wish someone a happy birthday in our newsletter? Email their name, job title and upcoming birthday to editor@cityandstatepa.com.

MOVING ON: At the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, Rodrigo Diaz is the new executive director, Doug Hitz is now deputy executive director and Jason Worley is now chief counsel … Have a career change or life event to announce? Email us: editor@cityandstatepa.com.

TODAY’S SKED:

11 a.m. – Lt. Gov. Austin Davis will join Penn. Dept. of Education Deputy Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe, local leaders, educators, students and parents for a roundtable conversation on student mental health, South Fayette High School, 3640 Old Oakdale Road, McDonald.

KICKER: “To be absolutely clear, NO MEDIA INTERVIEWS, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, OR STATEMENTS OF ANY, KIND-UNTIL/UNLESS APPROVED IN ADVANCE BY MAYOR’S COMMUNICATIONS.” – Adam Thiel, managing director of the Parker administration, via the Inquirer.