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RFK Jr. exits PA presidential race; who's left?

Plus, rising vaccine exemptions in PA schools.

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A daily newsletter by The logo of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom producing investigative journalism for Pennsylvania.
Your Postmaster: Colin Deppen



Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Today: RFK Jr. update, vaccination lags, debate doubts, heavy-metal money, broadband budgets, Chester takeovers, and political athletes.
PRESIDENTIAL EXIT
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is off the ballot in Pennsylvania, but it may be too late to remove him from ballots in other swing states with different deadlines. 

While Kennedy successfully withdrew his candidacy in Pennsylvania, officials in Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin told the Associated Press it is too late to remove him from the ballot in their states. 

Democrats concerned about Kennedy's impact on the presidential race in Pennsylvania, a state where recent contests have been decided by just tens of thousands of votes, sought to have him removed from the ballot.

Last week, Kennedy, an independent, preempted their push as he filed to withdraw his candidacy in court and endorsed GOP candidate Donald Trump. A Commonwealth Court judge approved Kennedy's request on Friday, leaving four presidential candidates set to appear here, as of Monday: Trump, Democrat Kamala Harris, Libertarian Chase Oliver, and Jill Stein of the Green Party.

Read Spotlight PA's full report: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. won’t appear on the ballot in Pennsylvania this November.
NOTABLE / QUOTABLE

"School freedom would help the world. I’ve never been more sure about any bet I’ve ever made."

—Pennsylvania's richest man, Jeff Yass, on his political pet cause: private school vouchers; Yass has spent a fortune courting support around the issue
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📷 POST IT
Interesting clouds to open the football season in Butler, via Barbara O. Send us your photos by email, use #PAGems on Instagram, or tag us @spotlightpennsylvania.
Wispy clouds over a football stadium at sunset.
📅 UPCOMING EVENTS
BERKS BUREAU: Join us on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. for a session on our plans for a Berks County reporting bureau. Register here.
DAILY RUNDOWN
Today's top news story in Pennsylvania.
UNVACCINATED: Pennsylvania could face an avoidable public health crisis if the number of unvaccinated kids keeps rising here. Nationwide shifts in vaccination trends have coincided with comebacks of diseases like measles. Spotlight PA reports: The kindergarten vaccination rate for measles dropped 2.4% statewide between 2020 and 2023. Find more reporting like this in our How We Care newsletter.
 
Today's second top news story in Pennsylvania.
DEBATE IMPASSE: Preparations for next month's premier debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in Philadelphia have hit a snag over muted mics. Politico reports Harris’ campaign wants the microphones to be hot at all times during the ABC debate, but Trump is balking, he says because different ground rules were agreed to by the debate's original Democratic participant, President Joe Biden.
 
Today's third top news story in Pennsylvania.GET THE LEAD OUT: Pennsylvania is set to receive almost $1 million in federal funding to test water lines for lead at schools and child care centers statewide. A 2021 report by the nonprofit Women for a Healthy Environment found that of 65 Pennsylvania school districts surveyed, 91% found lead in their water. Another $15 billion is available to states under the federal Infrastructure Law to replace lead pipes.
 
Today's fourth top news story in Pennsylvania.WI-FI WARNING: Could a single word balloon project costs as Pennsylvania prepares to undertake a massive, federally backed expansion of broadband access statewide? Broadband Communications Association of Pennsylvania President Todd Eachus said yes, claiming the state is improperly classifying project workers under the "vastly more expensive electric lineman" label. Inflation isn't helping either. 

Today's fifth top news story in Pennsylvania.NEW PLAN: The state-appointed receiver for Chester wants a third party to take over the bankrupt city's water, sewer, and stormwater assets on the condition that they remain publicly owned. The Daily Times (paywall) reports proposals are being sought that prioritize minimizing the impact on ratepayers and retention of public sector jobs. More information will be livestreamed at 1 pm today on the receiver's Facebook page.
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IN OTHER NEWS

OPEN QUESTIONS: The parents of a Bucknell University football player who died in July, two days after his first team workout, are pressing the school for more information. Doctors said Calvin Dickey Jr. collapsed from a condition that could have been reversed by simply stopping exercise.

'IMMINENT INDICTMENT': The publisher of the Gettysburg Times newspaper has been suspended after informing the paper's owners that he faces imminent indictment on federal mail theft charges

EARLY RELEASE: A Delaware County man convicted of DUI offenses was accidentally released from the county's troubled jail two weeks ago and hasn't returned. WHYY reports officials aren't saying much.

GLORY DAYS: On the heels of this year's Little League World Series in South Williamsport (Florida won it all), City & State asked Pennsylvania politicians to share their youth sports exploits.

SINCERELY, GEORGE: A letter written by George Washington at his winter encampment in Morristown, New Jersey, circa 1780, has sold for $24,000 at auction in Pennsylvania, well over the estimated going price.

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 countedPlease include your first name and last initial.
 
R K S I E S N N A C
 
Yesterday's answer: Unconditional

Congrats to our daily winners: Stacy S., Jack R., Ted W., Jane R., Jon W., Eric F., Barbara F., Richard A., Don H., Craig E., Jeffrey F., Elaine C., Lynne E., Lissa C., Gerry L., Dennis M., Louie C., Amy R., Jody A., William Z., Susan N.-Z., Barb K., Wendy A., Beth H., Jill C., Beth T., Jeff F., Annette I., Perry H., David W., Stanley J., David M., and Tom M.
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