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A daily newsletter by  |
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| Today: Skill games stall, bankruptcy block, Dem warning, cause of death, Allentown showdown, big ad buys, and Centre County 'scam jam.' |
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An effort to tax and oversee skill games appears to be in jeopardy amid state budget talks, cutting off a potential bargaining chip during negotiations. Skill games are untaxed and unregulated devices that resemble slot machines and can be found in bars, restaurants, and convenience stores across Pennsylvania. Casino interests consider skill games competition and want to see them taxed. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro pegged regulating the games to his budget proposal, as a way to boost state revenue. But heavy lobbying by the casino and skill game industries has thrown the plan off course ahead of the June 30 budget deadline. Read Spotlight PA’s full report: Gov. Shapiro wanted to regulate skill games in this year's budget, but talks aren’t going well. |
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HOT, HOT, HOT Our exclusive 'All Sun, No Shade' beach towels are HOT!
Bold and thick, get ready for summer with this exclusive Spotlight PA swag. But hurry! Once they're gone, they're gone for the year. SHOP NOW > |
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NOTABLE / QUOTABLE
"I am encouraged by progress that has been made, and while I do not believe that the work can be completed on June 30, I am quite confident that we have movement significant enough to allow the pieces of a budget puzzle to come together shortly after the constitutional deadline of June 30."
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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 released today 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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| The strawberry moon over Elizabethtown, via John H. Send us photos by email, use #PAGems on Instagram, or tag us @spotlightpennsylvania. |
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 PURDUE BLOCK: The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a multibillion bankruptcy settlement between the maker of OxyContin and states like Pennsylvania that would have shielded the pharmaceutical company's family owners from future lawsuits. Per USA Today: Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the majority, said if Congress meant to reshape traditional bankruptcy practice so profoundly, it needs to do so directly.  BOYCOTT BILL: The state Senate on Thursday passed a bill ( 41-7) that would block state funding for colleges and universities that boycott or divest from Israel. State Rep. Chris Rabb (D., Philadelphia) previously told the Center Square the bill " will cause a s--- show of epic proportions" for Democrats in an election year if it comes up for a vote in the House, adding a "vigilant ... subset of the electorate" is watching.  PRISON DEATHS: Dauphin County Prison deaths appear to have been habitually labeled as “natural” when they should have been attributed to traumatic violence, UCLA researchers report, via PennLive (paywall). According to the study, Coroner Graham Hetrick’s office frequently leans on preexisting conditions, including in the case of Ty’Rique Riley, who went unconscious in a restraint chair and died days later.  LEGAL FIGHT: Allentown City Council voted 6-1 this week to lay the groundwork for potential legal action against Mayor Matt Tuerk, accusing him of "obstructing" an investigation into discrimination in city hall, WFMZ reports. Tuerk had declared a contract with the former FBI investigator brought in to probe the issue void. The investigator said he already began his work — and found evidence to substantiate the claims. |
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| 🤔 FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS: Think you know your news? Prove it with this week's Great PA News Quiz: Canceled VP debate, state budget deals, legal pot, and a boycott bill. |
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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.
T C N E M Y A O R M
Yesterday's answer: Malarkey Congrats to our daily winners: Eric F., Vicki U., Stacy S., Morgan B., Bob C., Jon W., Barbara F., Judith D., Ellen G., Kimberly D., Jody A., Don H., Tracy S., Jane R., Gail D., Mark C., Starr B., Sarah P., John A., Lynne E., Karen K., Julie K., Beth H., Elizabeth R., Mike B., John P., Julie K., Daniel M., Marisa B., Perry H., Joseph R. M., Timothy A., Karen W., Alan B., Sherri A., Johnny C., Annette I., Fran C., Roxane V., Wendy A., Craig E., Tom M., William Z., Matt A., George C., Daniel S., Bob S., Susan N.-Z., Michael T., Ronnee G., Ada M., Stanley J., and John H. |
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