May 9: Hands-Free Driving

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What We’re Hearing. Trump Media’s CEO is calling for an investigation of four firms, including Jeff Yass’ Susquehanna International Group, involving their role in investor bets against the new company.

Daily Bruce. “Well my soul checked out missing as I sat listening, To the hours and minutes tickin’ away. Yeah, just sittin’ around waitin’ for my life to begin, While it was all just slippin’ away.” – Better Days

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Top Story

1. PA Set To Become 27th State To Ban Handheld Cell Phones While Driving

“Pennsylvania will soon join 26 other states, including all of its neighboring states, in making it illegal to use a handheld cellphone while driving.

The bill allows a law enforcement officer to cite a driver for using a handheld device without any other traffic offense taking place. It sets the fine at $50 for violators. The ban would not take effect for a year and for the first 12 months after that, police could only issue written warnings.” (PennLive)

Related

Muhlenberg Poll: Race For White House, U.S. Senate Within Statistical Margins. “With a little under six months to go before the 2024 general election, former President Donald Trump and incumbent Sen. Bob Casey hold percentage-point leads over their opponents in the latest findings from the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion.” (PoliticsPA)

Scott Perry Calls KKK ‘Militant Wing’ of the Democratic Party. “Perry also appeared to defend the so-called great replacement theory — the racist, white nationalist belief that white people are being purposely replaced by minorities and immigrants in the United States and Europe, CNN reported. Perry added that migrants entering the country “have no interest in being Americans.”” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Kamala Harris and Abbott Elementary’s Sheryl Lee Ralph Talk Reproductive Rights In Philly Area Visit. “Vice President Kamala Harris first entered law as a prosecutor handling cases of violence against women and children. As she told the crowd at Salus University in Elkins Park on Wednesday, that is what drives her to champion reproductive rights, and why she fights so hard against abortion bans that don’t have exceptions for rape and incest.” (Philadelphia Tribune)

State

2. Biden Nominates Saporito For U.S. District Court in Middle District of PA

“President Joe Biden made his 49th round of nominees for federal judicial positions on Wednesday and tabbed Joseph Saparito Jr. as his selection to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Saparito has served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania since 2015 and has been the Court’s Chief United States Magistrate Judge since February 2024.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

PA School Voucher Program Passes Out Of Senate Committee. “Last year’s budget process got bogged down by the inclusion of a school voucher program that many Democrats said would take money away from public schools. Those vouchers are now back on the menu.” (WESA)

PA House Passes Social Media Rules For Kids Amid Free Speech Concerns. “A bill creating rules for children’s social media use passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Wednesday after an extensive re-write that assuaged some but not all of the issues raised regarding young people’s privacy rights and potential free speech violations.” (PennLive)

PA House Passes Bill Covering Post-Traumatic Stress Injuries For First Responders. “Following several personal and emotional speeches, the Pennsylvania House passed a bill that would cover post-traumatic stress injuries for first responders under the state’s Workers’ Compensation Act. ” (Penn Capital-Star)

Proposed PA House Rule Change On Incapacitated Lawmakers Moves Out Of Committee Over GOP Protest. “A rule change that would create a new process for removing Pennsylvania House lawmakers who become incapacitated passed a committee vote along party lines on Wednesday, drawing vocal objections from Republican leaders.” (Penn Capital-Star)

State Rep. Jessica Benham Walks A Day In The Life Of A Home Health Care Worker. “Showering daily, getting her hair braided for church and maintaining some independence are some of the basic human dignities that Linda Stokes worries she would lose if she had to move to a senior nursing facility.” (Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Pennsylvania Sees Fewer Mail Ballots Rejected For Technicalities, A Priority For Election Officials

“Pennsylvania election officials said Wednesday that the rate of mail-in ballots rejected for technicalities, like a missing date, saw a significant drop in last month’s primary election after state officials tried anew to help voters avoid mistakes that might get their ballots thrown out.

Pennsylvania’s top election official, Secretary of State Al Schmidt, said counties reported a 13.5% decrease in mail-in ballots that were rejected for reasons the state had tried to address with a redesigned ballot envelope and instructions for voting by mail. That drop was calculated in comparison to the 2023 primary election.” (AP)

Related

Luzerne County Court Dismisses Walsh Appeal Over Six Mail Ballots. “A three-judge Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas panel has denied Republican state representative candidate Jamie Walsh’s appeal asking judges to throw out six mail ballots in his race because the voters did not fill in the final two digits of the year on the outer envelope, according to a Wednesday court ruling.” (Times Leader)

York County Elections Director: A Tough Job, If You Can Stay In It. “The revolving door that is the York County elections office turned again this week, with Julie Haertsch becoming the third director to resign since 2020.” (York Dispatch)

Penn State Offers To Pay Commonwealth Campus Employees To Resign Amid Budget Cuts. “Tenured faculty, tenure-line faculty, academic administrators, and staff who are full-time employees, not on fixed-term contracts, and were hired before April 1, 2023 are eligible.” (Spotlight PA)

Dauphin County House Candidate Banked On A Write-In Spot On Fall Ballot And Succeeded. “A Hershey area ophthalmologist, despite her own party’s efforts to keep her out of the race, finds herself as the Democratic nominee for the 106th state House District seat in the Nov. 5 general election.” (PennLive)

Family Feud: Lawsuit Says Post-Gazette Publisher Wants To Sell Paper As Brothers Clash. “Pittsburgh Post-Gazette publisher and editor-in-chief John Block wants to sell the paper as well as its parent company, Block Communications Inc., according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday in an Ohio court.” (Tribune-Review)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Are You Ready For Another Round Of PA Budget Drama? (John Baer)
• PA lawmakers Must Join Other States In Fighting The Rise Of Exorbitant Hospital ‘Facility Fees.’ (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• To Save Local Pharmacies, State Must Rein In The Middlemen. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Would Help Families Caring For People With Disabilities. (Dr. Val Arkoosh)
• In Lawrence County, Every Vote Really Does Count. (Pete Sirianni)
• The Culture of House Republicans Is Warped. (Brendan Buck)
• Blocking Voters You Don’t Like Is A Shameful American Tradition. (Mary C. Curtis)
• Parents and Children Versus Politicians and Teachers Unions. (Guy Ciarrocchi)

1 Thing

5. The Gift of Time

With Mother’s Day coming Sunday, there’s a free and procrastinator-friendly gift we can give to our moms and maternal figures: TIME.

Why it matters: The gift of time can look different for different moms, Axios’ Erica Pandey writes.

A mother of young children might be looking for free time — a day of relaxation away from the constant responsibilities of parenting. A mother of adult children might want quality time — a no-phones brunch or a long phone call, the N.Y. Times notes.

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