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Everything to know about the race for PA treasurer

Plus, tracking more than $100M in opioid settlement money.

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Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Today: Money manager, opioid millions, voter ID, Nissley nod, protest votes, and trucks vs. covered bridges. This is PA Post. Thanks for checking in.
TREASURY PICKS
Pennsylvania's treasurer plays a crucial role in managing state dollars and investing state savings, and the row office is on the ballot this year.

Republican Stacy Garrity is seeking a second term, while two Democrats — state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (D., Erie) and Erin McClelland, a former substance abuse counselor and project manager for the Allegheny County Department of Human Services — look to unseat her.

There has been sparring over abortion and Trump, how best to handle billions of dollars in unclaimed property, and over ongoing pension privatization efforts.

Read Spotlight PA’s full rundown: Election 2024: Your guide to the primary candidates for Pennsylvania state treasurer.
NOTABLE / QUOTABLE

"I really can’t do without it. The way things are today, everyone needs to be able to use the computer."

—Seventy-nine-year-old Phyllis Jackson of Monroeville on expiring federal internet-access subsidies for low-income families
 
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📅 UPCOMING EVENTS

TRUSTING ELECTIONS: Join us Tuesday, April 2, at 6 p.m. ET on Zoom for a live panel Q&A with Al Schmidt, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of State, on creating trust in our election system and combatting misinformation. Register here and submit questions here or to events@spotlightpa.org

📷 POST IT
Full moonrise over the Delaware River at Lumberville, via Michael K. Send us your photos by email, use #PAGems on Instagram, or tag us @spotlightpennsylvania
A yellow moon over a bridge spanning water.
DAILY RUNDOWN
Today's top news story in Pennsylvania.SETTLEMENT TRACKER: Spotlight PA and Pittsburgh public radio's WESA have teamed up to track how Pennsylvania counties are spending their shares of more than $100 million in opioid settlement money amid related disagreements and confusion. Several counties have already provided their plans. See if yours is one of them.

Today's second top news story in Pennsylvania.
VOTE MANEUVER: State House Republicans want to force a floor vote on a constitutional amendment that would "require voter identification at every election," and House GOP Leader Bryan Cutler (R., Lancaster) thinks he can get enough Democratic support to do so. One catch: Democratic leadership controls the voting schedule.
  • Polling places inside synagogues are being moved for Pennsylvania's April primary during Passover, via the AP
Today's third top news story in Pennsylvania.FAR-RIGHT FACTION: A prominent Chrisitian nationalist is throwing his support behind Rep. Cutler's GOP primary opponent Dave Nissley. LNP (paywall) reports Wallbuilders President Tim Barton recently appeared at a Nissley campaign event. Also on hand: A Moms for Liberty chair and a spokesperson for state Rep. Dave Zimmerman (R., Lancaster).

Today's fourth top news story in Pennsylvania.THE 'UNCOMMITTED': A Democratic protest over President Joe Biden's handling of the war in Gaza has come to Pennsylvania ahead of next month's primary. Voting “uncommitted” isn't an option here, but Capital-Star reports organizers with the Democratic Socialists of America are aiming for 40,000 such votes and getting them counted.

Today's fifth top news story in Pennsylvania.GUV NODS: Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro is leaving the door open to endorsing Republicans in this year's legislative elections. Shapiro told PennLive (paywall) in a sit-down interview that he's looking for candidates who align with his priorities: raising the minimum wage, universal background checks, and reproductive rights.
IN OTHER NEWS
PACKAGE CONTENTS: The suspicious package that prompted the cancellation of a drag queen story hour in Lancaster on Saturday turned out to be coloring books from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, per LNP (paywall). Police dogs alerted on the parcel. Bomb threats followed.

VOTING SHIFTS: Pitt professor Lara Putnam breaks down the electoral implications of Pennsylvania's regional political realignments as "similarities created by the mid-20th century manufacturing boom fully fade."

OFF PACE: Efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions in Pittsburgh have stalled, WESA reports, and it could cost the city its 2030 climate goals. Emissions from commercial buildings are down there, but other sources are up.

BRIDGE BREAKERS: Pennsylvania has hundreds of often historic covered bridges. The AP reports truck drivers relying on GPS meant for cars pose a threat to the quaint-looking spans everywhere.

ECLIPSE COUNTDOWN: Some schools are closing early on April 8 due to the solar eclipse. A number are citing traffic challenges. One school outside Pittsburgh said they're also worried about young eyeballs.
SCRAMBLER
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.
 
T A A A E H N M

Yesterday's answer: Advocate

Congrats to our daily winners: Vicki U., Daniel M., Barbara F., David T., Beth H., Eddy Z., Don H., Jane R., Mike B., Bob C., Jon W., Julie K., Bill M., Stacy S., Chuck M., Alan B., Judith D., Elaine C., Lynne E., Rosemary C., Richard A., Barb Z., Frederick H., Marty M., Howard G., rmrekr, Jody A., Stanley J., Susan N.-Z., Daniel S., Evelyn D., Ted W., Johnny C., Cathy S., Kim C., Greg V., Randy F., Marie B., Carol G., Malachy M., Karen W., John A., Jodine M., Rick W., Vanessa J., Wendy A., Dougie J., Michael T., William Z., Tom M., David W., Jean N., Dan A., David M., and Janice H.
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