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A daily newsletter by  |
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| Today: No AC, Trump intel, Wild signee, Shapiro stance, tax disputes, and Menendez guilty on all counts. Thanks for checking in. |
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Thousands of people are living inside Pennsylvania prisons with little to no air conditioning this summer as temperatures rise.
Spotlight PA's Danielle Ohl reports:
Of the 24 Pennsylvania state prisons, four have limited or no air conditioning in areas where incarcerated people live, work and gather. Five more have only partial coverage, according to the state Department of Corrections.
The agency is working to expand air conditioning availability as resources become available, said spokesperson Maria Bivens. But until that happens, many incarcerated individuals are stuck in sweltering conditions.
Ralph Bolden, who is incarcerated at a Laurel Highlands prison for older people and those with complicated health needs, described his block as a “sauna." He said the wing "has a lot of dialysis patients."
The nine facilities with partial to very limited air conditioning include buildings that are decades, or in some cases, more than a century old.
Read Spotlight PA's full report: Thousands of Pa. prisoners endure summer heat without air conditioning. |
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| NOTABLE / QUOTABLE
"No one in a leadership position on the morning of [inauguration day] should hold that position at the end of the day."
—Kiron Skinner, founder of Carnegie Mellon University's Institute for Politics and Strategy, in a Project 2025 proposal she authored; former President Trump has extensive ties to those involved but says the plan isn't his |
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Berks County residents are extremely frustrated with the diminished capacity of the local newspaper and they are concerned about a lack of access to trustworthy information in their community, according to a groundbreaking study by Spotlight PA.
In response to the findings, Spotlight PA is planning to launch a new regional reporting bureau in Berks County to be supported primarily by people living and working in the region. Read the full story, and then support the effort »
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ROCKY WATERS: Join us Thursday, July 18 from 6-7 p.m. ET on Zoom for a live panel on Pennsylvania’s private water industry, how it is regulated, and how communities are affected when service is subpar. Register for the event here and submit your questions to events@spotlightpa.org. |
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| View of the Susquehanna River from the Overlook at Shikellamy State Park, via Fred U. of Northumberland County. Send us your photos by email, use #PAGems on Instagram, or tag us @spotlightpennsylvania. |
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 'IRANIAN PLOT': The Secret Service ramped up security around former President Donald Trump in the lead-up to Saturday's rally in Butler County after intelligence indicated an Iranian plot to assassinate the former president. CNN reports there is no known connection between the purported plot and the actual shooting that took place there. The report also notes the campaign was warned against outdoor rallies. • Secret Service director won't resign over shooting, via The Hill. • FBI cracks phone of Trump shooting suspect, via The Guardian.  'NO JUSTIFICATION': After a brief respite, Axios reports a rebellion against President Joe Biden's candidacy has resurfaced on Capitol Hill, with U.S. Rep. Susan Wild (D., Pa.) telling the outlet she plans to sign a letter opposing Democratic National Committee plans to formalize Biden's nomination early. The draft letter, first reported by The Times, argues there is no legal justification for an early virtual roll call vote. • Rendell op-ed 'on politics and Parkinson's,' via City & State.  |
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GUILTY VERDICT: U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, was found guilty on all counts in his corruption trial Tuesday, prompting swift calls for his resignation, per Politico. Menendez plans to appeal the verdict.
NO SERVICE: Pennsylvania's new state budget includes funding for schools to purchase lockable storage bags that would be used to sequester student cellphones during class, PennLive reports.
IN MEMORIAM: Joe Bryant, Philadelphia 76ers alum and father of Kobe Bryant, has died at the age of 69, the Associated Press reports. The elder Bryant also played high school and college ball in the city.
FLASH DROUGHT: Mid-Atlantic states like Pennsylvania are seeing flash drought conditions brought on by high heat and little rain. AccuWeather expects economic impacts to linger even after the drought is over.
BIG TIME: Atlas Obscura went to see the bison at Lehigh County's Trexler Nature Preserve, where an American industrialist tried to save the animal with a breeding program that continues a century later. |
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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. U S E E O T H R L P D
Yesterday's answer: Ornamental
Congrats to our daily winners: Eric F., Don H., Bob C., Kimberly D., Barbara F., Beth H., Stacy S., Richard A., George C., Jon W., Timothy A., Perry H., Jane R., Annette I., Susan N.-Z., Karen W., Kim C., Tom M., Stanley J., Jeffrey F., William Z., and David W.
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'BROKEN SYSTEM': In a county awash in