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A daily newsletter by  |
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| Today: Court watch, Harris on fracking, development plan, steel deal, UArts merger, no-show guards, and free coffee for teachers. |
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A state ban on Medicaid funding for abortion. A program capping power plant emissions. The felony murder rule.
These issues and more are at the center of high-profile cases currently awaiting consideration or decisions from Pennsylvania's highest courts.
One of them saw action Friday. A panel of Commonwealth Court judges directed Pennsylvania to stop rejecting mail ballots solely because voters failed to date them, Spotlight PA and Votebeat report.
Read Spotlight PA's full rundown of each case: Abortion, gun, climate change cases await decisions from Pa.’s highest courts. |
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NOTABLE / QUOTABLE
“For the first time, more than 9,000 polling places, most of which are in public buildings, would have to receive and store absentee ballots in the weeks ahead of Election Day.”
—Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt on a recently rejected lawsuit in which two GOP lawmakers argued absentee voters must return their ballots to a local precinct or polling location, not their county board of elections |
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Our exclusive PA Landmarks Artwork features landmarks and favorites from across Pennsylvania. And now — for the first time ever — it can be yours for your home, office, or as the perfect gift for the coming holiday season.
Four years ago, we commissioned Pennsylvania artist Brandt Imhoff to dream up an exclusive, hand-drawn design showcasing the pride and joy of the commonwealth. That design became the showcase of our popular tote bag.
Framed prints now available in 11x17, 14x20 and 18x24. Gets yours now » |
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In case you missed it, Spotlight PA launched a new mobile app. Download for free to see our latest stories in an accessible, easy-to-read format and get the latest on events, product offerings, and more.
Download for Apple/iOS
Download for Google/Android |
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| A red-tailed hawk in Chester County, via Starr B. Send us your photos by email, use #PAGems on Instagram, or tag us @spotlightpennsylvania. |
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 NO-SHOWS: York has contracted with a California company for crossing guard services at local schools, but as many as 15% of the company's guards didn't show up for work on a given day last year, York Dispatch (paywall) reports, citing a contract administrator's report. The $647,000 contract was renewed for this school year.   UPZONING URGENCY: Pittsburgh officials are on board with Harris' plan to turbocharge housing development if elected. Harris wants 3 million new units in four years, $25,000 for first-time homeowners, and more. TribLIVE reports changes to Pittsburgh's outdated, project-stalling zoning code might be needed first.
 BILLIONS PLEDGED: Japan's Nippon Steel is committing to spending billions to upgrade facilities in Pennsylvania and Indiana as part of a planned — and hotly contested — acquisition of U.S. Steel. The announcement comes with the planned takeover under federal review and drawing criticism from laborers and lawmakers.  TROUBLE WITH THE MERGE: A University of the Arts merger with Temple may be off the table after negotiations soured with a major UArts donor, The Inquirer (paywall) reports: The Hamilton Family Charitable Trust, which has contributed about half of UArts’ $62 million endowment, is not in favor of that money going to Temple as part of the deal. |
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'CHILD FIGHT CLUB': A Chambersburg social service provider says it has fired two staffers accused of encouraging a youth fight club on the grounds of a local elementary school, WHP reports. The pair has been charged with corruption of minors and endangering child welfare.
NEWSAPALOOZA: CBS correspondent Robert Costa will headline Point Park University's first-ever Newsapalooza event. The celebration of local news happens September 26-28 at the Pittsburgh Playhouse.
FREE ENTRY: A reminder, via Travel + Leisure, that Knoebels amusement park in Columbia County is the largest free-admission amusement park in America. Guests pay per ride, many costing around $3.
FREE FORMULA: Pennsylvania's first mobile infant formula bank hit the road in August and plans to offer free formula in places like Greene, Fayette, Washington Counties, and Pittsburgh, per KDKA-TV.
COSTLESS COFFEE: If you're a school employee returning for a new school year, the coffee is free at Wawa through Sept. 15. |
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Unscramble and send your answer to scrambler@spotlightpa.org. We'll shout out winners here, and one each week will get some Spotlight PA swag. Answers submitted by 5:30 p.m. on issue date will be counted. Please include your first name and last initial. T T A M C A I C L C I I N
Friday's answer: Propulsion
Congrats to our weekly winner: Perry H.
Congrats to our daily winners: Elaine C., Beth H., Patricia E., Barbara F., Don H., Timothy A., Stacy S., Jack R., Jane R., Jon W., Lissa C., Louie C., Beth Y., Nancy H., Annette I., Jeff Fe., Jeff Fo., Dennis M., William Z., Amelia M., Wendy A., Jill C., Susan N., and Tom M. |
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