First Read PA – Jan. 18, 2024

WEATHER: Philadelphia: mostly cloudy, high of 35; Harrisburg: cloudy, high of 31; Pittsburgh: cloudy, then chance of snow, high of 30. 

FROM CITY & STATE:

* We’ve put together a quick guide to next month’s special election in Bucks County – which will determine what party controls the state House of Representatives in the early months of 2024.

NEW THIS MORNING:

* Lawmakers have until the end of 2024 to reauthorize protections for low-income utility customers from sudden shut-offs when behind on their bills, and some are taking advantage of the deadline to push for new consumer protections, Spotlight PA reports.

* Brandi Tomasetti, a secretary and treasurer for Conestoga Township in Lancaster County, is seeking the Republican nomination for the state’s U.S. Senate seat. Citing her roots in the commonwealth, Tomasetti came out hard against GOP candidate David McCormick, Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports.

* State Rep. Dawn Keefer’s decision to vacate her seat in the 92nd House District to seek a state senate seat has created an opening that three candidates so far are vying to fill, including newest candidate, Dan Almoneyn of Newberry Township, PennLive reports.

* In a show of unity, leaders of the Democratic U.S. House caucus, including NY Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, rallied yesterday to support Rep. Summer Lee – a move that comes as the first-term incumbent girds for a contentious primary contest, WESA reports.

* Temple University became the latest college to face a federal probe over its handling of antisemitism complaints on campus, after the U.S. Dept. of Education’s Office of Civil Rights included them on its list of open investigations, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

* Southern Tioga School District board members made a new decision concerning the district’s plans to construct a new $70 million condensed high school in Blossburg during their meeting on Tuesday, Wellsboro Gazette reports.

* York County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution yesterday to increase the amount of county taxes eligible volunteer firefighters and EMS workers can refund – a move the agencies argued would help with recruitment, York Dispatch reports.

* Cumberland County commissioners considered the first increase in the county’s real estate tax rate in 10 years at a meeting yesterday.  While no one said “yes” to raising taxes, one member, Commissioner Gary Eichelberger, said “no,” PennLive reports.

* A focus group held in Northampton County earlier this month, consisting of 15 voters, convened to discuss the state of American democracy. A top concern was the possibility of violence surrounding the upcoming elections, Politico reports.  

* Demolition got underway yesterday at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, the site of the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, as part of the effort to reimagine the building to honor the 11 people who were killed there in 2018, WESA reports.

EDITORIAL PAGES:

* LancasterOnline writes that road safety must be a priority as the number of roadway fatalities in Lancaster County is 4.1 times greater than the average county in the U.S., with 33 people killed in 32 traffic-related incidents in 2023. 

* The Inquirer writes that in recent years, Sheriff Rochelle Bilal and the Philadelphia Sheriff’s department has lost guns in its custody, violated city ethics rules and personally attempted to double Bilal’s own salary, among other failures.

NATIONAL POLITICS:

* Nearly two years ago the U.S. and its allies froze roughly $300 billion in Russian foreign holdings in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine. Now, officials from multiple countries debate the legality of sending that money to Ukraine, Associated Press reports.

* U.S. Sen. John Fetterman is endorsing Rep. Andy Kim of New Jersey in the primary to unseat Sen. Bob Menendez, the embattled veteran Democrat who is under indictment in a federal corruption case, The New York Times reports.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: To Alex Feldman, Managing Director at U3 Advisors … and to Kimberly Brown, partner at Jones Day … Want to wish someone a happy birthday in our newsletter? Email their name, job title and upcoming birthday to editor@cityandstatepa.com.

MOVING ON: Mike Lee was announced as the new executive director of ACLU PA … Have a career change or life event to announce? Email us: editor@cityandstatepa.com.

TODAY’S SKED:

10 a.m. – House Education Committee, Room 523, Irvis Office Building. Watch here.

10:30 a.m. – Gov. Josh Shapiro will join state Sen. Marty Flynn, state Rep. Jim Haddock, and Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo to highlight the major expansion of dependent care tax credits and rent rebates at the Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA, Pittston. Watch here.

11 a.m. – Lt. Gov. Austin Davis will join Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll, state legislators, representatives from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission and local labor leaders to announce new investments in infrastructure, Allegheny Overlook, David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh.

2 p.m. – House Education Committee, Room 523, Irvis Office Building. Watch here.

KICKER: “With a dedicated effort, I can defeat career politician and RINO Republican Dave McCormick who is unlikely to succeed in a purple state.” – Brandi Tomasetti, U.S. Senate candidate, via the Penn Capital-Star.