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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Republican David McCormick will be the only eligible names on ballots for the office in Pennsylvania's April primary after a ruling Friday by the state's highest court. The state Supreme Court rejected an appeal from a Republican candidate, Joe Vodvarka, who had been ordered off primary ballots by a lower court that found he had not received enough voter signatures to qualify. The state Supreme Court, in its two-line order, did not explain its decision. Courts earlier in March had already granted challenges to the paperwork of two other candidates filing for the primary ballot for U.S. Senate. Both Brandi Tomasetti, a Republican from Lancaster County, and William Parker, a Democrat from Allegheny County, were ordered off ballots.

Persons: — Democratic U.S . Sen, Bob Casey, Republican David McCormick, Casey, McCormick, Mehmet Oz, Joe Vodvarka, Vodvarka, Brandi Tomasetti, William Parker, Marc Levy Organizations: — Democratic U.S ., Republican, Republican Party, White, Senate, U.S . Senate, Democrat Locations: HARRISBURG, Pa, Pennsylvania's, Pennsylvania, Lancaster County, Allegheny County

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's high court will consider whether some automatic life sentences for those convicted of murder violate constitutional protections for defendants, the justices said Friday. The appeal being pursued by Derek Lee, convicted of a 2014 killing, argues the state's life-without-parole law violates prohibitions in the Pennsylvania and U.S. constitutions against cruel punishment. Advocates say there are about 5,200 people in Pennsylvania currently serving what they call “death by incarceration” sentences, the highest per capita rate among states. In a June ruling, the Pennsylvania Superior Court cited decisions in previous, similar appeals as it turned down Lee's claim that life-without-parole violates his constitutional rights. But in a concurring opinion, Superior Court Judge Alice Beck Dubow urged the higher court to revisit the matter “in light of changes in related case law from other states and research and policy concerns regarding the criminal justice system.”.

Persons: Derek Lee, “, Quinn Cozzens, Lee, ” Cozzens, ” Kelly Callihan, Leonard Butler, Butler, ”, codefendant Paul Durham, Alice Beck Dubow Organizations: Abolitionist Law Center, Pennsylvania, Association Locations: HARRISBURG, Pa, Pennsylvania, Allegheny

The settlement with environmental groups Clean Air Council and PennEnvironment and the Allegheny County Health Department was filed in federal court Monday for a judge to review, the groups said. PennEnvironment and the other plaintiffs accused the steel producer of more than 12,000 violations of its air pollution permits. The rest is a $5 million penalty that U.S. Steel agreed to pay to fund clean air efforts. It is one of the largest-ever fines nationally in a citizen-enforced lawsuit under federal clean air laws, Clean Air Council and PennEnvironment said. ___This story has been corrected to show the number of alleged air pollution permit violations is more than 12,000, instead of more than 1,200.

Persons: PennEnvironment, polluters, David Masur, ”, Kurt Barshick, U.S . Steel Organizations: —, Steel, Clean Air Council, PennEnvironment, Allegheny County Health Department, U.S . Steel, Valley Works, U.S, U.S . Locations: HARRISBURG, Pa, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, U.S

The lawsuit alleges that school personnel at Taylor Allderdice High School failed to provide adequate supervision and care of the girl during school hours and during transportation to and from school. The painful result was her sexual assault.” said attorney Alec Wright, who represents the girl and her mother in the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that Starbucks employees witnessed the male students taking turns entering the bathroom with the girl and did not intervene. The girl's mother notified school officials that her daughter would need help adjusting to high school and with taking public transportation to school, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that Starbucks employees allowed students largely unrestricted access to its bathrooms partly because the students increased the store's sales.

Persons: ”, Alec Wright, Taylor, Taylor Allderdice, It’s Organizations: Starbucks, Pittsburgh Public Schools, Taylor Allderdice High, Kappa Drive, Kappa, Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety, Associated Press, Tasers Locations: Allegheny County, Pleas, Seattle

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A bill seeking to protect those who travel to Pennsylvania to get abortions by barring public officials from cooperating with authorities in other states that criminalize the practice advanced Wednesday through the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. At least 16 states -- the majority of Democrat-controlled states -- have adopted laws seeking to protect abortion access since last year. Many of those laws have provisions that protect providers and the people who come from other states seeking an abortion. Josh Shapiro has positioned himself as a defender of abortion rights. Some of Pennsylvania’s neighboring states have sought to protect access to abortion, but those from states where abortion rights have been curtailed have come to Pennsylvania at greater rates seeking services.

Persons: Mary Jo Daley, ” “, ”, Charity Grimm Krupa, You’re, Josh Shapiro, Roe, Wade, Dobbs Organizations: Democratic, Representatives, GOP, Senate, Republicans, Democrat, Democratic Rep, Constitution, ” Democratic, Real Locations: HARRISBURG, Pa, Pennsylvania, Montgomery County, Fayette, U.S, Allegheny County, Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio

What happened next was a state Supreme Court election in Pennsylvania unlike any other. Such high-stakes, high-spending partisan campaigns could become standard for judicial elections in Pennsylvania, a premier presidential battleground state where the state Supreme Court has issued pivotal decisions on major election-related cases in recent years. Democrats had held a 5-2 majority on Pennsylvania's Supreme Court before Chief Justice Max Baer died last year. Democrats and their allies learned a hard lesson in Pennsylvania's 2021 race for Supreme Court, when Republicans outspent Democrats by more than $1 million. Based on reports filed thus far to the state, McCaffery and Democratic allies spent more than $13 million, compared to more than $8 million by Carluccio and her allies.

Persons: Dan McCaffery, Carolyn Carluccio, Donald Trump, that’s, ”, Shanin Specter, ” McCaffery, Roe, Wade, Max Baer, Republican Kevin Brobson, Carluccio, Jeffrey Yass —, ” Specter, Eric Stern, Matthew Brouillette, ” Brouillette, “, ” Kadida Kenner, McCaffery, ” Kenner, Marc Levy Organizations: Republican, Association, U.S, Democratic, Pennsylvania's, Supreme, Republicans outspent, Democratic Party, Democrats, New Pennsylvania Locations: HARRISBURG, Pa, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, U.S ., Wisconsin, Allegheny County

Local elections in Democratic strongholds at both ends of Pennsylvania next month could show how voters feel about progressive candidates and issues such as abortion and crime ahead of the 2024 election. Philadelphia will get a new mayor, and Allegheny County — where Pittsburgh is the county seat — will see a new executive. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesParker, a moderate, emerged from a crowded field vying for her party’s nomination in the heavily Democratic city. “I believe what we should be doing is focusing on Allegheny County with practical solutions, as opposed to running this county from an ideological perspective,” he said. ALLEGHENY COUNTY PROSECUTORDuring the spring primary for elected prosecutor, Allegheny County's Democratic voters enthusiastically supported the more progressive candidate over the more moderate long-term incumbent.

Persons: Cherelle Parker, David Oh, Jim Kenney, Parker, —, ”, they’re, They've, ” Parker, City Council —, “ I’m, Sara Innamorato, Joe Rockey, Rich Fitzgerald, Innamorato, Rockey, “, They're, Matt Dugan, Stephen Zappala, Zappala, Dugan, We’ve, ” ___ Brooke Schultz Organizations: Democratic, Philadelphia, Democrat, PHILADELPHIA, In, City Council, Republican, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PNC, Allegheny, doer, Allegheny County's Democratic, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Pennsylvania, Allegheny County —, Pittsburgh, In Philadelphia, “, Allegheny County, Rockey, ALLEGHENY

Josh Shapiro to bypass the Legislature and start automatic voter registration. “THE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO STEAL PENNSYLVANIA AGAIN BY DOING THE ‘AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION’ SCAM,” Trump wrote on his social media platform. Democrats contended that Shapiro was well within his legal authority to authorize automatic voter registration. A survey of several states with automatic voter registration revealed similar experiences. Republicans in some states that have switched to automatic registration say it will lead to fraud or illegal voting, and conservatives in Alaska have attempted to repeal that state’s automatic registration.

Persons: — Donald Trump, Josh Shapiro, Trump, Shapiro, ” Trump, Ronna McDaniel, “, ” McDaniel, ” Shapiro, Adam Bonin, ”, Tammy Patrick, Charles Stewart III, ” Stewart, Democrat Joe Biden, Sam DeMarco, ” DeMarco, Christina A, Cassidy, Marc Levy Organizations: Republican, Democratic Gov, Democratic, Republicans, Trump, “, MSNBC, District of Columbia, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Association of Election, Massachusetts Institute, Science, Pennsylvania Project, Public, Institute of California, University of Southern, University of California, Democrat, Democratic Party, Associated Press Locations: HARRISBURG, Pa, Alaska, Georgia, West Virginia . Georgia, Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, Berkeley, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, Atlanta

Here’s a look at what to expect on election night:ELECTION DAYThe special election for Pennsylvania state House District 21 will be held on Tuesday. WHAT’S ON THE BALLOTThe Associated Press will provide coverage for the special election in District 21, which is the only race on the ballot. WHO GETS TO VOTEVoters must be registered in House District 21 to participate in the special election. DECISION NOTESUnder its current boundaries, District 21 heavily favors Democrats. In the 2022 general election in District 21, the AP first reported results at 8:39 p.m.

Persons: Sara Innamorato, Lindsay Powell, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto, Erin Connolly Autenreith, Thomas Connolly, Innamorato, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Sen, John Fetterman, Mehmet Oz, Pennsylvania, John Galloway, Frank Perman, Autenreith, Perman, Powell, it’s Organizations: WASHINGTON, Representatives, Democratic, Republican, Allegheny, Republicans, U.S, Pittsburgh Mayor, Shaler Township Republican, Pennsylvania House, Rep, Pennsylvania, Press, WHO, House, AP, Pennsylvania’s, Pennsylvania Department, State’s Locations: Shaler Township, McKees, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Etna, Millvale, District, Shaler, underperform

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Republicans trying to recapture the U.S. Senate majority have the candidate they want in Pennsylvania. Almost since the moment he lost last year's Senate GOP primary, McCormick has floated the possibility that he would again seek the party's nomination for the U.S. Senate, this time to challenge three-term Democratic Sen. Bob Casey. “At this point, if Dave McCormick doesn't run, it'll be the biggest head fake in Pennsylvania political history,” said Vince Galko, a Republican campaign strategist based in northeastern Pennsylvania. For a party that has struggled — both nationally and in Pennsylvania — with nominating polarizing and badly flawed candidates for Senate, some in Pennsylvania worry that another fringe candidate could capture the nomination and embarrass the party anew if McCormick doesn’t run. If McCormick doesn't run, some party officials worry about the caliber of available alternatives at this relatively late stage.

Persons: David McCormick, McCormick, Democratic Sen, Bob Casey, Dave McCormick doesn't, it'll, ”, Vince Galko, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, —, “, Rob Gleason, Mitch McConnell —, “ That’s, Sam DeMarco, Dave, Dave McCormick, he's, Mehmet Oz, Oz, Democrat John Fetterman, Biden, Casey, Trump, lustily, ” McCormick, ‘, Gleason, DeMarco, Linley Sanders, Marc Levy Organizations: —, U.S, Senate, GOP, U.S . Senate, Democratic, Republican, White, Labor, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Fund, McCormick, Allegheny County GOP, Republican Party of Pennsylvania, Trump, Democrat, Publicly, Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Research, Trump Republicans, Twitter Locations: HARRISBURG, Pa, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County, U.S, Washington

The district is a Democratic stronghold Democratic strategists predict their party will be able to retain. A previous special election in which the Republican candidate lost by a wide margin may be why the GOP hasn’t drained its coffers to try to flip the seat, said Trevor Southerland, House Democratic campaign strategist. Several Democrat-led initiatives, such as whole home repair and broader protections for LGBTQ+ people, were critical pieces of legislation that didn’t move until Democrats reclaimed control of the state House earlier this year, she said. But the Legislature remains politically divided, with a firm Republican majority in the Senate that has sought to advance its own priorities, including school vouchers and constitutional amendments. She previously ran for the state House in 2000 but lost to the Democrat seeking reelection.

Persons: Lindsay Powell, Republican Erin Connolly Autenreith, Sara Innamorato, Trevor Southerland, ”, “ We’re, “, Sam DeMarco, ” Powell, Sen, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Powell, Josh Shapiro, that’s, Autenreith, it’s, Innamorato, Joseph Rockey, John Galloway, ___ Brooke Schultz Organizations: Pennsylvania, Republican, Democratic, House Democratic, Republicans, U.S . Rep, New York Democrats, Pittsburgh, Democrat, Democrats, Gov, Senate, Capitol, Republican Party, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: HARRISBURG, Pa, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Harrisburg, McKees, Shaler, Bucks County

☆ Taylor Swift's impact on the economy has caught the eye of the Fed
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The stunning success of Taylor Swift's Eras tour has had a noticeable impact on the economy. The Federal Reserve highlighted the impact of Swift's three Philadelphia concerts in its most recent beige book. The tour, which has attracted hundreds of thousands of Taylor Swift fans to cities across the country, has helped boost hotel revenues considerably, especially in Philadelphia. "The totality of Taylor Swifts' U.S. tour could generate $4.6 billion in total consumer spending, larger than the GDP of 35 countries," the Common Sense Institute said. So if the economy manages to avoid a recession that so many are worried about, the US may have Taylor Swift and her deeply loyal fans partly to thank.

Persons: Taylor, Swift, Taylor Swift Organizations: Federal Reserve, Service, Federal, Lincoln Financial, Kansas City, Taylor Swifts, Institute Locations: Wall, Silicon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Booking.com, Pittsburgh , Minneapolis, Kansas, Allegheny County, Denver , Colorado, Denver, U.S

"They've done nothing but harass this guy," said Gregg Hough, chair of the Republican party in Belknap County, New Hampshire, predicting the prosecution will boost Trump support "to the moon" if it fails to deliver a convincing conviction. In a statement on Thursday, Trump called the indictment "Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history," without providing evidence. John Feehery, a Republican strategist, described the Manhattan case as "silly" compared to the other probes hanging over Trump's campaign. At a campaign rally in Waco, Texas on Saturday, Trump likened the criminal investigations against him to a "Stalinist Russia horror show." Trump remains the front-runner in the 2024 Republican field, with the support of 44% of Republicans in a March Reuters/Ipsos, ahead of DeSantis' 30% support.

Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford. "I think this will strengthen the resolve of his supporters," said Ford O'Connell, a Republican strategist who represented Trump in many media appearances during the 2020 presidential campaign. "It’s not good for Trump, the question is how bad for Trump it is," said Sabato. Trump has defied predictions of his demise numerous times since he launched his bid for the White House in 2015. Trump remains the front-runner in the 2024 Republican field, with the support of 44% of Republicans in a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday, ahead of DeSantis' 30% support.

☆ Movie theatre operator AMC's stock surged 23% after a potential legal delay to a plan that could dilute its shares
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AMC stock surged 23% on Monday after a judge scheduled a hearing for shareholders suing the company. The stock became popular in 2021 as a meme stock on Reddit. Investors of the movie theatre chain are scheduled to vote on a conversion of the preferred shares to common shares on March 14 — which will increase the pool of common stock and thus dilute the voting power of common shareholders. This boosted market sentiment and sent AMC common shares soaring. Insider's Phil Rosen reported on Thursday that the rally is like the meme stock boom of 2021.

☆ Democrats win control of Pennsylvania House, end GOP rule in competitive swing state
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Reading, PA - May 10: Pennsylvania State Rep and Democratic Leader Joanna E. McClinton speaks in front of Reading City Hall. Democrats won control of the Pennsylvania House in special elections Tuesday, wresting partial power from Republicans for the first time in a dozen years in the competitive swing state. Three of those Democratic seats quickly became vacant, casting uncertainty over who actually controlled the chamber. Democrats had been expected to win Tuesday's special elections, because they had easily won the same seats last fall. That's because Republican Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver won a special election Jan. 31 to fill a vacant state Senate seat.

☆ Pennsylvania police chief killed, second officer wounded after chasing suspect
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

BRACKENRIDGE, Pa. — The man suspected of fatally shooting a Pennsylvania police chief and wounding another officer in confrontations during a foot pursuit near Pittsburgh was killed by police after a chase, authorities said. The officers were shot blocks apart Monday in Brackenridge, an Allegheny County town northeast of Pittsburgh. The suspect carjacked a vehicle, and when Pittsburgh detectives later spotted it, he fled, Allegheny County Police Superintendent Christopher Kearns said. Authorities had identified the suspect as Aaron Lamont Swan, 28, of the nearby city of Duquesne. Allegheny County Police will investigate the shooting of the suspect, Kearns said.

☆ Companies like Airbnb can ban customers based on a criminal background check: Here's how to dispute it if you think yours is in error
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Sarah Belle Lin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Companies like Airbnb say they use background checks to help protect the community. Background checks have proliferated but there are common flaws in the system, experts say. Here's what criminal justice experts say about inaccurate background checks and how to file appeals. "They're not really looking at potential risk in terms of public safety, per se," Stewart told Insider. "I think part of it is companies being able to determine their own criteria," Stewart told Insider.

☆ Six battleground states will hold the key to the White House in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

AP Photo/Andrew HarnikGeorgia2012 margin: Romney +7.8%2016 margin: Trump +5.1%2020 margin: Biden +0.2%For decades, Republicans could easily depend on the Peach State's electoral votes falling into their column. Two years later, Biden won the state by roughly 12,000 votes over Trump, followed by the dual 2021 runoff victories of Sens. AP Photo/Matt RourkePennsylvania2012 margin: Obama +5.4%2016 margin: Trump +0.7%2020 margin: Biden +1.2%Biden's hometown of Scranton is dear to his heart so Pennsylvania was always going to be a key state for the party in 2024. AP Photo/Andy Manis, FileWisconsin2012 margin: Obama +6.9%2016 margin: Trump +0.8%2020 margin: Biden +0.6%Wisconsin is one of the most politically-divided states in the country. But Trump flipped Wisconsin to the GOP in 2016, the first time it had supported a Republican presidential nominee since 1984.

CNN —Special counsel Jack Smith has issued a subpoena to local officials in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, for information related to the 2020 election, a spokesperson for the county told CNN. “Yes, we received a subpoena from the Department of Justice’s special counsel regarding the 2020 election. The subpoena sent to Allegheny County is the latest in a string of requests for information sent by Smith, who is now overseeing the Justice Department’s sprawling criminal investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Officials have also been subpoenaed in Georgia, New Mexico, Nevada, Michigan, Arizona and Wisconsin. Smith’s team has now sent subpoenas to local and state officials in all seven of the key states targeted by former President Donald Trump and his allies as part of their bid to upend Joe Biden’s legitimate victory.

Special counsel Jack Smith has subpoenaed local officials in key presidential swing states for any and all communications involving former President Donald Trump, his campaign and a series of aides and allies who assisted in his effort to overturn the 2020 election. A spokesperson for Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson confirmed that Smith’s office had sent a subpoena. Scott McDonnell, the Dane County clerk, confirmed to NBC News that his county had received a virtually identical subpoena as Milwaukee. An Arizona elections official confirmed that Maricopa County had received such a subpoena this month with similar demands for those communications. "Maricopa County has received a subpoena and will comply," Fields Moseley, a county spokesperson, said.

☆ Fact Check-Mail-in and absentee ballot numbers in Pennsylvania counties do not prove ‘cheating’ or election fraud in the state
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Mail-in and absentee ballot numbers in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny County and Philadelphia County have been misleadingly portrayed as proof of Democrats committing election fraud by social media users. They falsely claim that more Democrats requesting to vote by mail in Allegheny County than in Philadelphia County, despite there being more registered Democrats in Philadelphia County, is evidence of “cheating”. In both 2016 and 2018 Allegheny County had more mail in requests overall than Philadelphia County did. Reuters was unable to determine the reason for higher mail in voting in Allegheny County in 2016 and 2018. Of those, Democrat voters in Philadelphia requested 368,940 mail-in ballots while Allegheny received 288,044 applications by Democrat voters.

☆ Fact Check-Why a ‘mostly red’ PA election map showing wins by counties needs context
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The post shows a map of Pennsylvania mostly covered in red with some counties in blue. Maps showing votes by county can create optical distortions, as rural counties tend to represent a high volume of land mass but do not have as many people as urban counties. For example, with over 99% of expected votes counted at the time of writing, Oz won Bradford County with 15,946 to Fetterman’s 6,563. By contrast, Fetterman won the more populous county, Philadelphia, with 382,848 to Oz’ 76,129 and Allegheny County with 352,940 to Oz’ 196,879 (here). Election maps showing votes by county can be misleading as rural counties represent a lot of land mass but do not have as many people as urban counties.

☆ Midterm elections live updates: Pennsylvania races, New Hampshire Senate race too early to call
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Brandy Zadrozny | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Sahil-Kapur-Headshot.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +109 min

Share this -Link copiedWisconsin Senate and governor's races too early to call It is too early to call the Senate and gubernatorial races in Wisconsin, according to NBC News. Share this -Link copiedNew Hampshire Senate race too early to call The Senate race in New Hampshire is too early to call, according to NBC News. Share this -Link copiedPennsylvania Senate and governor races are too early to call After polls closed at 8 p.m. While Maricopa County election officials initially categorized the problem as a “hiccup,” it took hours before a solution was identified early Tuesday afternoon. In Columbus County, election officials allegedly were harassed by an “observer following one-stop workers” and photographing or filming the workers, it said.

While Maricopa County election officials initially categorized the problem as a “hiccup,” it took hours before a solution was identified early Tuesday afternoon. According to the poll, 46% of voters said their family’s financial situation is worse than it was two years ago. Civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP, filed a similar complaint Friday against state election officials. The app and portal had been down for part of the morning and the state's election hotline also briefly experienced issues. In Columbus County, election officials allegedly were harassed by an “observer following one-stop workers” and photographing or filming the workers, it said.

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