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A daily newsletter by  |
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| Today: Buzz bills, Shapiro's 'veepstakes,' succession plan, Cheatle resigns, Bucks GOP, Greenstein steps down, and log cabin rescues. |
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A new fee on electric vehicles, a solar-panel grant program for schools, and a bill allowing third-party reviews of environmental permits are among a grab bag of energy initiatives passed alongside the $47.6 billion state budget.
But most substantially, Spotlight PA reports, lawmakers passed a Republican-sponsored bill to set up an administrative framework for the fledgling carbon capture industry here — part of a contested, federally backed push to build two hydrogen energy hubs in the commonwealth.
The message from this flurry of Capitol activity is clear: Pennsylvania is slowly moving toward clean energy, but fossil fuels aren’t going anywhere.
Read Kate Huangpu's full report: Federal dollars driving energy policy in Pennsylvania toward solar, hydrogen. |
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NOTABLE / QUOTABLE
"I looked at all of the roofs that were around, and my count was around 12 or so. And I just thought, 'Maybe this isn't the best place to have done this.'"
—U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D., Maryland) during this week's congressional tour of the site of the fatal July 13 Trump rally shooting in Butler County |
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| On the fence at Bartram's Garden in Philly, via Joe P. Send us your photos by email, use #PAGems on Instagram, or tag us @spotlightpennsylvania. |
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BUDGET BREAKDOWN: Join us Thursday, July 25 from 6-7 p.m. on Zoom for a discussion on the major components of the budget, the politics that shaped the deal, and what was left on the cutting room floor. Register for the event here and submit your questions to events@spotlightpa.org. |
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Following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Butler, Spotlight PA is trying to better understand security protocols at past campaign events in Pennsylvania. To do so, we need your help.
Did you or someone you know attend a public campaign event for either Trump or President Joe Biden? If you did, and you want to assist us in our reporting, please contact reporter Danielle Ohl at dohl@spotlightpa.org or 717-433-3071. |
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 'VEEPSTAKES': While ABC News reported Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro as one of two frontrunners to be Kamala Harris' vice presidential pick on Tuesday, Shapiro said he had yet to be asked to submit vetting paperwork by the campaign and therefore hadn't done so, Capital-Star reports. Some Pennsylvania Republicans are trying to dissuade Shapiro from considering it.
• Pro-Israel, pro-voucher Shapiro for Dem VP?, via the Inquirer (paywall).
• Biden to address nation in primetime tonight, via NBC News.
 PA SUCCESSION: On the state Senate implications of Shapiro's hypothetical run for VP, @StephenJ_Caruso reports: The timing would actually work in Democrats' favor if they succeed in tying the upper chamber come November. Because Shapiro wouldn't need to step down until he is about to be sworn in, "Dems could elect their own pro temp and adopt their rules before he resigns; so potentially no LG Ward."
 OUT OF SERVICE: Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned Tuesday over the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. Also on Tuesday: Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Christopher Paris told Congress that two local officers could have spotted shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks on the roof but left their post to search for him moments before he ascended. |
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MENENDEZ OUT: Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey will resign effective Aug. 20 following his conviction on federal corruption charges, CNN reports. A temporary appointment will be made to fill the seat.
ON APPEAL: The push for a new trial for a State College man who has spent more than 40 years in prison for a murder he says he didn't commit is now in the hands of a judge, Centre Daily Times (paywall) reports.
EX-OFFICER SENTENCED: A former Philadelphia police officer has been sentenced to 8 to 20 years in jail for fatally shooting 12-year-old Thomas “T.J.” Siderio in the back in 2022, NBC10 reports.
CLOSING CAMPUSES: Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is closing campuses in Panama and in the United Arab Emirates amid financial issues, PennLive (paywall) reports.
CABIN FEVER: A retired history teacher at Derry Area High School in Westmoreland County now spends his days restoring Pennsylvania's log houses — more than three dozen to date, TribLIVE reports. |
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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. I A B G M E L C R N
Yesterday's answer: Fanatical
Congrats to our daily winners: Eric F., Bob C., Vicki U., Marc G., Elaine C., Don H., Richard A., Daniel M., Jane R., David T., Timothy A., Stacy S., Jon W., Kimberly D., Cynthia B., Karen W., Beth H., Dave K., David W., William Z., Jeffrey F., Annette I., Tom M., Judith D., Lynne M., Susan N.-Z., Jan C., Barbara F., Stanley J., Perry H., Carolyn R., Wendy A., and Jeff F.
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BUCKS MAJORITY: Pivotal Bucks County officially has more registered Republicans than Democrats. @ByCarterWalker reports 
PASSHE EXIT: