Another poll shows that Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are neck and neck in Pennsylvania. This one, from Emerson College Polling and Real Clear Pennsylvania, found a 48-48 tie between the two candidates, while half of voters expect Harris to prevail and 49% expect Trump to pull it off. Conducted in late September, the poll asked 1,000 likely voters in the commonwealth and has a margin of error of three percentage points. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot...
Oct 03, 2024•4 min•Ep. 299
In the battleground of Bucks County on Wednesday, Republican Senate Candidate Dave McCormick focused on the rising cost of living. “Families and businesses are hurting,” McCormick told a few dozen supporters crammed into the Bensalem Farmers Market and Deli. “It’s been devastating, the last three and a half years, for Pennsylvania.” He repeated his criticism of incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey as an out-of-touch liberal who would leave Pennsylvania worse off if he wins a fourth term. Support ...
Sep 28, 2024•5 min•Ep. 298
County boards of elections across Pennsylvania are preparing for November, but warn that more support would help them get the job done quicker — while state laws hamstring their effort. “We should have one uniform way of handling elections that takes out all the ambiguity,” Jeff Reber, a Union County Commissioner and election reform committee chair of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, said. “Honestly, everybody I’ve talked to from the election administration side would be thr...
Sep 27, 2024•4 min•Ep. 297
A new plan formalized Sunday means Pennsylvania will support economic recovery efforts in southeastern Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the war-torn country’s president, watched as an official from the Zaporizhzhia Regional State (Military) Administration signed the agreement at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant on Sunday. The Lackawanna County facility manufactures the 155-millimeter howitzer rounds considered “vital” for Ukraine’s defense against Russia. Support this podcast: https://secure.aned...
Sep 26, 2024•5 min•Ep. 296
New presidential polls are dropping, but they don’t bring much clarity for battleground Pennsylvania. The race is tight and within the margin of error – and one poll has a tie between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. A Marist Poll found little space between the two. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_1c217f18...
Sep 21, 2024•5 min•Ep. 295
Pennsylvania relies on nuclear power more than any other state except Illinois — and there’s talk of growth. One way would be to revive Three Mile Island, and it has some political support as electricity demand keeps building. Pennsylvania is one of 13 states and Washington, D.C. that’s part of the PJM grid, which supplies power for 65 million people. Pennsylvania is a major exporter of electricity to other states, but as power demands are set to grow significantly in the near future, there’s no...
Sep 20, 2024•5 min•Ep. 294
Private school students who pay tuition using taxpayer-funded scholarships achieve higher academic proficiencies than their public school counterparts, according to a recent report. The analysis, compiled by the Commonwealth Foundation, a policy group that focuses on fiscal conservancy, looked at the demographics of nearly 78,000 students who received financial aid through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit or the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit programs in the 2021-22 school year. Rachel...
Sep 19, 2024•6 min•Ep. 293
The presidential debate Tuesday night in Philadelphia focused on immigration, abortion, and crowd sizes at campaign rallies. What went under-discussed, however, was one close to the heart of Pennsylvania’s economy: energy. The attention it did receive centered on fracking, and Pennsylvania is the second-largest producer of natural gas in the country. Vice President Kamala Harris clarified that she no longer supported banning fracking after saying in 2019 there was “no question I would ban fracki...
Sep 13, 2024•8 min•Ep. 292
As the Pennsylvania treasurer’s election approaches in November, incumbent Stacy Garrity touts her accomplishments and stewardship of Pennsylvania’s tax dollars. However, her Democratic challenger, Erin McClelland, argues that the office needs a shakeup in the name of transparency and less-politicized investments. Garrity first won election in 2020 while McClelland defeated Rep. Ryan Bizarro, D-Erie, in this year's Democratic primary, by eight points. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot....
Sep 12, 2024•4 min•Ep. 291
Unions see a clear path through the legislature to boost membership after several legal challenges saw workers leave in droves. This, according to a new report released Wednesday that grades public sector labor laws across the nation. The data was compiled by the Commonwealth Foundation, a policy group that focuses on fiscal conservancy. David Osborne, senior fellow for labor policy at the foundation, said during a media briefing that government privatization, changing demographics and a 2018 Su...
Sep 07, 2024•8 min•Ep. 290
The company behind the eponymous "Steel City" may be a Pittsburgh icon no more. U.S. Steel, founded in the city more than 120 years ago, said Wednesday that without Japanese-owned Nippon Steel’s $14.9 billion acquisition, it would relocate out of Pittsburgh – dealing an economic and symbolic blow to Pennsylvania. The comment comes as multiple media reports suggest the Biden administration will soon collect on a promise to block the deal, a union-backed bipartisan move aimed at keeping the famed ...
Sep 06, 2024•6 min•Ep. 289
A new law designed to boost high-value manufacturing through engineering firms and universities took center stage on Tuesday. Now, it just needs state funding. Act 24, passed in June, created the Max Manufacturing Initiative to build public-private partnerships through a grant and loan program, shared research facilities and new equipment and incentives. Officials see it as a game changer for advanced manufacturing if it gets some tax money, which they hope will come in next year’s budget. Suppo...
Sep 05, 2024•5 min•Ep. 288
Pennsylvania sits at the heart of the 13-state electric grid called PJM. That means the state’s role in generating power to keep the lights on in neighboring states is crucial. But a report warns that recent government policy choices have weakened the grid, making it more vulnerable to disruptions. A potential power shortage could hit by 2030 if more problems mount. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Fu...
Aug 31, 2024•7 min•Ep. 287
A proposal for election transparency has one state legislator going against the Department of State. At the center of the split: changes made to Pennsylvania’s elections stemming from the passage of Act 77 of 2019. Rep. Brad Roae, R-Meadville, introduced House Bill 2542 to require the Department to again update precinct counts online, allowing voters to see how the count is progressing. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?...
Aug 30, 2024•9 min•Ep. 286
A bipartisan task force investigating the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump requested a trove of documents and interviews on Wednesday. Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, who chairs the panel, and Colorado Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Crow, who serves as ranking member, sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Secret Service asking for interviews, communications and existing protocols that factored into the July 13 campaign rally shooting i...
Aug 29, 2024•5 min•Ep. 285
In May, Gov. Josh Shapiro embarked on a weeklong family RV trip to promote the state’s new tourism brand, “Pennsylvania: The Great American Getaway.” Speaking at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders baseball stadium, the governor wanted to show off “the opportunity we have when it comes to tourism and when it comes to economic development.” With stops in Philadelphia to promote urban tourism and lake visits to boost outdoor recreation, Shapiro emphasized tourism as a central part of his administ...
Aug 24, 2024•6 min•Ep. 284
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Wednesday that Democrats support the “kind of freedom” that starts in the classroom. Specifically, the public school classroom. “You know what Democrats? We are the party of real freedom,” Shapiro said from the Democratic National Convention stage in Chicago. “The kind of real freedom that comes when that child attends a great public school with an awesome teacher because we believe in her future.” The first-term governor went on to describe the other “real fr...
Aug 23, 2024•5 min•Ep. 283
Less burdensome regulation has led to economic growth in some states, but Pennsylvania trails far behind. As the commonwealth slips in population and job growth, one report argues that its red-tape-laden system will create more problems in the future. Nationally, Pennsylvania is the 14th-most regulated state, according to an analysis by the Mercatus Center of George Mason University. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?sou...
Aug 17, 2024•6 min•Ep. 282
A federal report warns that SEPTA’s contract with a state-owned Chinese company lacked proper oversight and may not have met federal guidelines for Buy America requirements. However, much of the problem came from vague guidance from the federal government itself. The contract, a $138-million deal with the China Railway Rolling Stock MA Corporation, or CRRC, would have delivered 45 passenger railcars to the Philadelphia region’s transit agency by 2025. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot....
Aug 16, 2024•5 min•Ep. 281
A new report from the Pennsylvania State Police found no statistically significant racial or ethnic disparities during traffic stops in 2023. The data, analyzed by researchers from the University of Cincinnati, shows troopers pulled over white, Black and Hispanic drivers at the same rate. The odds of receiving a warning or citation or being arrested were “statistically insignificant,” said Dr. Robin Engel, professor of criminal justice at the University of Cincinnati. Support this podcast: https...
Aug 15, 2024•5 min•Ep. 280
Sufficient aid, including health care funding, to Pennsylvanians is being asked of Norfolk Southern in a settlement request of the U.S. Department of Justice, says state Attorney General Michelle Henry. Along with Gov. Josh Shapiro, the Justice Department was given the response when it requested input on a proposed settlement with the train company related to the February 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. In a release, Henry said, "This catastrophic crash had wide-ranging impacts on many ...
Aug 10, 2024•4 min•Ep. 279
Twelve casinos filed a lawsuit last week demanding that unregulated skill game operators pay the same 54% tax rate applied to slot machines. While the industry claims this would make the levy constitutionally fair, critics argue it's another tactic meant to squash their competition. The turf war between Pennsylvania’s 17 casinos and roughly 67,000 unregulated skill game terminals in social clubs, convenience stores, gas stations, and bars has grown more heated in recent years as one of the latte...
Aug 09, 2024•4 min•Ep. 278
Vice President Kamala Harris held a rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday night in her first official appearance with her new running mate, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Harris said that she has found in Walz a “fighter” and a “patriot.” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was also considered for the role, but that didn’t stop him from making an appearance on stage to stump for Harris and Walz. Shapiro denounced former President Donald Trump and his campaign as the crowd of thousands chanted, “we’re...
Aug 08, 2024•5 min•Ep. 277
Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday appeared in Pennsylvania for the first time since an attempted assassination in Butler on July 13. He took the stage in a packed auditorium in Harrisburg, where he chided Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee, for shifting her public image and relying on celebrities to draw crowds to her rallies. Trump’s comments come 10 days after Harris ascended to the top of the ticket vacated by President Joe Biden via a statement shared o...
Aug 03, 2024•6 min•Ep. 276
Another year, another budget plan adopted in Pennsylvania. Despite a $3 billion increase in spending – including record investment in struggling school districts – some parents say they’re disappointed that "lifeline scholarships" were overlooked, again. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_b1976cb6-4f49-11ef-8208-aff03afb6ddf.html...
Aug 02, 2024•6 min•Ep. 275
The tax increase on cell phones to support Pennsylvania’s 911 system is on track to hit its expected revenues. The tax, passed in 2023 to raise the monthly surcharge from $1.65 to $1.95, brought in more than $97 million in the second quarter of 2024, a $5 million haul above initial estimates. The money supports 61 911 call centers across the commonwealth. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx Full story: h...
Aug 01, 2024•5 min•Ep. 274
Pennsylvania has a mine pollution problem. America has a critical mineral shortage. And both problems may get solved as researchers find these critical and strategic elements in the polluted waters that come from acid mine drainage. If all goes well, Pennsylvania could become a leader in boosting national security — while potentially creating billions of dollars in value from environmental hazards. Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d...
Jul 27, 2024•6 min•Ep. 273
Two of Pennsylvania’s congressional lawmakers probed U.S. Secret Service Director Kim Cheatle on Monday about the agency’s communications minutes before a gunman opened fire at a July 13 campaign rally, nearly killing former president Donald Trump. Like most members of the House Oversight Committee, however, they were left with more questions than answers. Such as why the agents assigned to protect the former president that day were far shorter than his 6-foot-3-inch frame, at what point suspici...
Jul 26, 2024•6 min•Ep. 272
Rumors swirled Monday that Vice President Kamala Harris may select Pennsylvania’s governor as her running mate. The news comes as Gov. Josh Shapiro himself encouraged Pennsylvania Democrats to unite behind her, just hours after President Joe Biden stepped down from his campaign. "I’ve known Kamala Harris for nearly two decades – we’ve both been prosecutors, we’ve both stood up for the rule of law, we’ve both fought for the people and delivered results,” he said. “Kamala Harris is a patriot worth...
Jul 25, 2024•5 min•Ep. 271
State agencies own vast amounts of rural lands, which limits the tax base for small communities and townships. With the new state budget, those local governments will see more payments to balance out fiscal limitations. The extra funding, a $1.80 increase, comes from slot machine revenues, and state agencies will pay $9 per acre for their land to municipal and county governments, and school districts (split evenly). The payments in lieu of taxes affect the Department of Conservation and Natural ...
Jul 20, 2024•5 min•Ep. 270
