First Read PA – July 18, 2024

WEATHER: Philadelphia: slight chance of thunderstorms, high of 87; Harrisburg: mostly sunny, high of 87; Pittsburgh: mostly sunny, high of 82.

FROM CITY & STATE:

* A home repair program once passed as a landmark bipartisan initiative failed to receive funding in this year’s state budget, disappointing many county officials and housing and energy advocates. 

NEW THIS MORNING:

* U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was in Harrisburg yesterday to announce a $500 million Large Bridge Project grant to PennDOT for repairs to the I-83 South Bridge, The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports. 

* Two state bills that could resolve “predatory” lot rent increases for manufactured home communities have lawmakers at odds and expressing skepticism about their prospects, the Center Square reports. 

* Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a bill on Monday that amends the Liquor Code and bumps up the number of hours licensed establishments in the state can host happy hours from 14 to 24 hours a week, PennLive reports.

* The Board of Governors for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) voted unanimously to freeze tuition for in-house undergraduate students for the 2024-2025 academic year, Erie News Now reports.

* Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick says he’d be “open” to raising the minimum wage, ABC27 reports.

* U.S. Sen. Bob Casey yesterday said Congress must thoroughly review the Secret Service’s handling of security during Donald Trump’s assassination attempt, LancasterOnline reports.

* Penn State trustee Barry Fenchak is suing the Penn State board after he discovered the university’s endowment administrative expenses more than tripled within three years, Centre Daily Times reports.

* Allegheny County’s Board of Health has voted in support of a housing advisory committee – a potential first step toward larger changes in how the department regulates rental housing, WESA reports.

EDITORIAL PAGES:

* The Philadelphia Inquirer has an op-ed by Veronica Miller and Ari Shapell, who write that our state’s lack of funding for public defenders has put the enshrined right to an attorney in jeopardy.

* Philadelphia Gay News has an op-ed by Mark Segal, who writes that there is one woman in this state who would be the first to destroy your marriage. Her name is: Sen. Kim Ward.

* The Tribune Review writes that amid the finger-pointing about what went wrong with law enforcement during the Trump assassination attempt, there should be attention on what was there when it was needed.

NATIONAL POLITICS:

* President Joe Biden is finalizing plans to endorse major changes to the Supreme Court, including proposals for legislation to establish term limits for the justices and an enforceable ethics code, The Washington Post reports.

* A survey conducted by AP-NORC reveals that two-thirds of Democrats surveyed believe that Biden should withdraw as the Democratic candidate and allow his party to select a different nominee, PoliticsPA reports.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY: to Superior Court judge Mary Jane Bowes … and to Melissa Fogg, executive director, Student Support Initiatives, Community College of Philadelphia …  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 Philadelphia City Council Special Committee on Kensington meets, Rock Ministries, 2755 Kensington Ave., Philadelphia. 

KICKER: “Just imagine this, in the past three years, 20% of whatever’s in your wallet got stolen. For a lot of people that’s not a huge deal but for most people, however, it is.” – U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick on inflation via ABC27