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Possibly 'damaging' PSERS report could stay hidden

Plus, top Pa. House Republican looks to curtail executive power.

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A daily newsletter by Spotlight PA
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Your Postmaster: Colin Deppen

November 10, 2021
Private PSERS, executive power, landmark trial, traffic block, growing alarm, farmer shortage, and a Pennsylvania worker revolt. It's Wednesday, welcome. 
A message from our sponsor...
Gamut Theatre in downtown Harrisburg is dedicated to telling classic stories in new and exciting ways. We believe all individuals regardless of race, gender, gender identity, religion, culture, sexual orientation, and/or disability are welcome to participate in Gamut programs. Get ready for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. The whole family can follow Alice as she discovers a world filled with extraordinary exploits and playful characters. Tickets are on sale now!
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UNDER WRAPS
NOTABLE / QUOTABLE 

"Dr. Oz has received encouragement to run for the U.S. Senate but is currently focused on our show and has no announcement at this time." 

—A spokesperson for Dr. Mehmet Oz on reports the television host is preparing to run for U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania as a Republican
THIS IS HUGE
We've been issued an urgent challenge: If we raise $70,000 by December 31st, we'll unlock $70,000 in matching gifts. This is HUGE.

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 what's more important than the truth?

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💉 COVID-19 NEWS
» VACCINE MANDATE: Whistleblowers will play a key role in enforcing President Joe Biden's vaccine mandate for businesses with 100 or more employees, the AP reports. The mandate is currently under legal review.

» SCHOOL MASKS: The anticipated end of a statewide school mask rule on Jan. 17 will leave the future of school masking up to local districts. Some are ready to move on, TribLIVE reports, while others are weighing the options.

» EMPLOYEE POLICY: Philadelphia quietly rolled out a vaccine mandate for about 4,000 non-union employees last month, pushing the city closer to a universal mandate for its workers, Billy Penn reports.

To find a COVID-19 vaccine, use the federal government's online tool, call 1-800-232-0233, or text your zip code to 438829 (GETVAX).
📅 UPCOMING EVENTS
» CANNABIS CONUNDRUM: Join us Thursday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. EST via Zoom for a free Q&A on cannabis as a treatment for opioid use disorder, the debate in the medical community, and a look at what the research says. Register here and submit your questions to events@spotlightpa.org.
📷 POST IT
The Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat docked on the Susquehanna River West Branch at Williamsport. Thanks for sharing, Don H.Send us your gems, use the hashtag #PAGems on Instagram, or tag us @spotlightpennsylvania.
DAILY RUNDOWN

POWER CHECK: The top Republican in the state House is backing state constitutional amendments that would significantly limit a governor's power to issue regulations or administrative orders, all amid sustained wrangling over coronavirus rules. If the measure is twice approved by both chambers, voters would get final say over the changes, per Spotlight PA.

FUNDING FIGHT: A landmark trial that could fundamentally alter how Pennsylvania funds its public schools is set to start Friday, seven years after first being filed. WHYY explains the respective arguments and the constitutional claim at the center of the suit, which the station calls "one of the most complicated and consequential in state history."

POLICE STOPS: ban on traffic stops for secondary violations involving headlights, brake lights, license plates, and more is being eyed in Pittsburgh, TribLIVE reports. The proposed legislation is meant to reduce the number of traffic stops and points to New York Times reporting on fatal police encounters that begin with minor violations.

EMPTY POSTS: The Inquirer recently looked at staffing levels inside Philadelphia prisons and found 40% of posts unfilled, stabbings that went unnoticed, and a growing sense of alarm. At least 21 people have died in Philadelphia jails during the pandemic, including five by homicide and four by suicide. Staff also say riots have grown more common.

FARM WORK: Researchers say there won't be enough skilled and migrant workers to fill the gap as Pennsylvania's farmers age out of the profession, presenting an acute dilemma for the state's crucial agriculture industry. WESA reports more than half of people who run Pennsylvania's farms were aged 55 or older in 2017. 

Correction: Tuesday's edition incorrectly identified state Rep. Mike Sturla (D., Lancaster) as a member of the U.S. House.

IN OTHER NEWS

BOOM TIMES: Manheim Township is trying to rein in recreational fireworks by only permitting their use seven days a year, WGAL reports. A groundswell of complaints followed the state's legalization of a wide array of consumer-grade fireworks in 2017 — a move some lawmakers are pushing to undo.

WORKER REVOLT: A Washington Post piece about a nationwide wave of worker rebellions begins at a McDonald's in Bradford, where employees — sensing "they finally had a little power" — walked off the job in September.

ART STUNT: The art collective behind Lil Nas X's "Satan" Nikes is now selling 1,000 artworks by Pittsburgh native Andy Warhol for $250 each. But CNN reports there's a catch: One of them is real.

'CANDYMANDERING': Savannah Rhodes, a student at The Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, made her own Pennsylvania congressional map using Halloween candy. It's the perfect pairing for gerrymandered pizza.

BEER HERE: Berks County centenarian Margaret DiLullo credits her longevity to "drinking a lager a day." So the oldest continually operating brewery in the U.S., Pennsylvania-based Yuengling, sent her a truckload, per Fox43.

THE 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.
 
A N R R M A A E A I N P I L T

*This week's theme: Politics
 
Yesterday's answer: Gerrymander (Fun fact: The term originated with a salamander-shaped congressional district approved by one-time Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry.)

Congrats to our daily winners: Craig W., Michelle T., Irene R., Susan N., Becky C., Beth T., Vicki U., Barbara F., Jessica K., Wendy A., Kimberly B., Jodi R., Eddy Z., Craig E., Stephanie J., Ted W., Dave N., Bonnie R., Mike B., Neal W., Brandie K., Doris T., Al M., Lex M., Lynne E., Joel S., Susan D., Judith D., Diane P., Kim C., Don H., Kimberly S., Bill F., Elizabeth W., Janet C., Mark O., Heidi B., Karen W., Donna D., Elaine C., Daniel M., Elayne B., Bridget C., Jenn C., Gina L., Christine M., Steve D., Dianne K., Susan R., Walt T., Jill A., Barbara O., George S., David S., Rob W., Sandy B., Bill S., Catherine J., Stephanie C., Luke E., Marisa B., John P., Alletta S., John A., Dan W., Myles M., Patricia R., Janet C., Sharon M., Cathy S., Tish M., Skip B., David W., Ann E., Cathy S., and Chris M.

 

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