Overdose crisis, Omicron FAQ, child care numbers, utility preemption, election software, and what to do about rising energy costs. Happy Monday.
Hey, it's Colin, your PA Post editor, and these next two days are big...
With just two more days in November, we're SO CLOSE to the halfway mark of our historic end-of-year fundraising goal of $70,000 in support of Spotlight PA's vital investigative journalism. Put us over the top now!
If you love starting your day with PA Post, I need your help. We need to raise $4,000 by the end of Tuesday to stay on track. As a special bonus, make a contribution now and it will be DOUBLED.
We've been issued an urgent challenge: If we raise $70,000 by Dec. 31, we'll unlock $70,000 in matching gifts. And we're nearly halfway there!
Don't miss this chance to support Spotlight PA's vital investigative journalism and have your contribution DOUBLED. The future of Spotlight PA depends on your support, and we can't afford to lose this critical journalism.
A view from the Scenic Vista Trail in Kings Gap state park from Robert S. Send us your gems, use the hashtag #PAGems on Instagram, or tag us @spotlightpennsylvania.
DAILY RUNDOWN
BY THE NUMBERS: As a $2 trillion social spending plan moves through Congress, transformational change could be on the horizon for child care in Pennsylvania. But for now, the industry is in crisis. From Spotlight PA, here are the figures that stand out, and what they show.
LOCAL CONTROL: A Republican state lawmaker wants Pennsylvania to join 19 states that have preempted local municipalities from regulating utilities within their borders. According to the Capital-Star, opponents say the bills are an attack on municipal climate action.
LITTER PROBLEM: Gov. Tom Wolf has declared war on the state's litterbugs, releasing an action plan with 16 recommendations, TribLIVE reports. They include an anti-litter campaign and minimizing the use of straws and disposable utensils in state parks.
HIGHER PRICES: Thanks to rising fuel prices for power generators, energy costs for Pennsylvanians are about to go up — by a lot. But, per The Inquirer, there are ways you can save money if you take action now.
TREE TIME: A 20-foot tall Douglas fir from Crystal Spring Tree Farm in Carbon County has a new (temporary) home in the Capitol rotunda, serving as the official Christmas tree. The lighting of the Capitol menorah begins Tuesday.
'HEARTBREAKING': Lancaster police say a downtown menorah was intentionally damaged just a few days before the beginning of Hanukkah. “This is a frightening time for Jews in this county," a local rabbi said.
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.
E I N P A O I T S T
Thursday's answers: We aren't listing winners from Thanksgiving Day because we posted the answers here. But if you missed them, they were bountiful, gastronomy, autumnal, gatherings, and casserole.
Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and WITF Public Media.
BY THE NUMBERS: As a $2 trillion social spending plan moves through Congress, transformational change could be on the horizon for child care in Pennsylvania. But for now, the industry is in crisis. From Spotlight PA, 
LOCAL CONTROL: A Republican state lawmaker wants Pennsylvania to join 19 states that have preempted local municipalities from regulating utilities within their borders. According to the Capital-Star, opponents say 
LITTER PROBLEM: Gov. Tom Wolf has declared war on the state's litterbugs, 
IN NEED: High prices and supply-chain disruptions are 
SPELLING PROBLEM: An apparent software limitation may keep 139 write-in votes from being counted in a Lancaster County school board race, deciding the outcome. 
