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A daily newsletter by  |
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| Today: Trump talking points, debate stage set, unions going green, opioid spending denied, transmission line trouble, and a Sixers town hall. |
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Former President Donald Trump was back to bashing Philadelphia's elections as a hotbed of Democratic fraud in June. He didn't cite any specific incidents, and there has been no evidence that fraud or cheating cost him any meaningful number of votes in the city or the state in 2016 or 2020.
But Philadelphia does have a real history of election misdeeds, and Brett Mandel, an author and past candidate for city controller, said that history is often misconstrued, obscuring the reality of how modern elections work after decades of reforms, and drawing on racist attitudes.
“What’s dangerous about the history in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania is that there are enough truths to give rise to the big lie,” Mandel added.
Read Spotlight PA and Votebeat's full report: Donald Trump insists ‘bad things happen in Philadelphia.’ Here’s the real history. |
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NOTABLE / QUOTABLE
"The executive order and management directive violate the First Amendment because they unduly limit employees’ right to speak as citizens on matters of public concern, discriminate against speech based on viewpoint, and fail to give employees adequate notice of what speech is prohibited."
—Philly-based free speech group FIRE in a letter challenging the constitutionality of Gov. Josh Shapiro's order barring state employees from engaging in “scandalous or disgraceful” behavior amid Gaza protests |
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Our exclusive PA Landmarks Artwork features landmarks and favorites from across Pennsylvania. And now — for the first time ever — it can be yours for your home, office, or as the perfect gift for the coming holiday season.
Four years ago, we commissioned Pennsylvania artist Brandt Imhoff to dream up an exclusive, hand-drawn design showcasing the pride and joy of the commonwealth. That design became the showcase of our popular tote bag.
Framed prints now available in 11x17, 14x20 and 18x24. Gets yours now » |
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In case you missed it, Spotlight PA launched a new mobile app. Download for free to see our latest stories in an accessible, easy-to-read format and get the latest on events, product offerings, and more.
Download for Apple/iOS
Download for Google/Android |
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| A young and curious pup at Tuscarora State Park, via Don H. Send us your photos by email, use #PAGems on IG, or tag @spotlightpennsylvania. |
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   APPEAL DENIED: The first appeal of a decision by the trust overseeing historic opioid settlement spending in Pennsylvania has been lost by Somerset County. The Center Square reports the Pennsylvania opioid trust's dispute resolution committee ruled $30,000 for an outdoor recreation program for young people didn’t qualify as an approved use of funds. Here's how Spotlight PA is tracking the expenditures.
 ENERGY LINE: A hotly contested electricity transmission line in Franklin County got the go-ahead this summer. Transource has agreed to pay $5 million to offset impacts of the project and another $4 million to alter the route based on public feedback. StateImpact explains how we got here and notes the broader implications for states looking to veto regional transmission projects that benefit their neighbors.  LOCAL BRIEFS: As police searched for a missing 13-year-old in Pittsburgh, she sat in a Beaver County jail 30 miles away. Police say the child, suspected in a dollar store theft, lied about her age. It took officials weeks to figure it out, per the Beaver County Times. Elsewhere: A commissioner in Ross Township of Allegheny County may have accidentally fired a gun inside a bar, injuring one person. WPXI reports no charges were immediately filed and lots of questions remain. |
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9/11 CEREMONY: Tomorrow is the 23rd anniversary of 9/11. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will be in Shanksville, where a 9/11 National Memorial Trail is one step closer to being completed.
DEAL DOLLARS: A new 76ers arena in Center City could tap taxpayer dollars retroactively under a deal sought by the team and tied to hypothetical future city subsidies for other clubs, The Inquirer (paywall) reports. Mayor Cherelle Parker will hold a town hall about the arena proposal tomorrow.
LIBEL CLAIM: Blogger Eugene Volokh succeeded in unsealing two exhibits in GOP state Sen. Doug Mastriano's lawsuit over the release of his PhD thesis. It turns out Mastriano's libel claim wasn't about the thesis after all.
STAFF OUTING: Lycoming County will spend $25,000 in taxpayer funds on a staff outing to the Knoebels amusement park — the same that former commissioners nixed years ago to save money, PennLive reports.
PITT PIVOT: The University of Pittsburgh has fired athletics director Heather Lyke. ESPN reports Lyke had been looking for a new gig and disagreed with Chancellor Joan Gabel on issues like name, image, and likeness deals. |
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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. S U I C I R F T T U
Yesterday's answer: Dynamism
Congrats to our daily winners: Jack R., Beth H., Stacy S., Don H., Jon W., Barb K., Bob C., Richard A., Mete E., Mike B., Elaine C., Louie C., Diane B., Jill C., Timothy A., Barbara F., William Z., Marie B., Jeffrey F., Mary S., Annette I., Bill S., Jeff F., Michael T., Dennis M., Jodi M., Zoe B., Wendy A., Stanley J., Susan N.-Z., John P., Perry H., Jody A., and Tom M. |
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