AGP Executive Report

Midterm Politics: Sen. John Fetterman says it’s “entirely possible” Democrats could take back the U.S. Senate, urging voters to “revisit after the midterm” on his own future. Statehouse & Elections: A new poll finds Pennsylvania voters split on whether Gov. Josh Shapiro should run for president in 2028, with Democrats largely supportive and Republicans showing notable openness. Healthcare Workforce: Delaware County launched a doula directory and trained 30 doulas through the Delco Doula Collaborative, aiming to expand maternity support after the closure of Crozer Health’s birth center. Local Law Enforcement: Oxford Borough officers resigned ahead of a move into a regional police department, citing uncertainty about job guarantees and transparency. Public Safety: A Berks County jury awarded $4.35 million against a gastroenterologist after a missed bleeding ulcer contributed to a patient’s death. Immigration Enforcement: Commentary highlights Pennsylvania’s role in ICE’s crackdown, pointing to local participation in federal detention efforts. Weather Disruption: A deadly nor’easter battered the Northeast, knocking out power for tens of thousands and canceling hundreds of flights, including in Pennsylvania.

PennDOT Infrastructure Push: Gov. Josh Shapiro and PennDOT announced $250 million for 79 Rapid Deployment Projects across 44 counties, aiming to speed road repairs over the next 18 months using Motor License Fund dollars. AI, Data Centers, and Foreign Influence: Sen. Dave McCormick said China and Russia are shaping U.S. public opinion against AI and data centers, arguing tech missteps helped fuel polarization and calling for a FINRA-like oversight model. War Powers Vote: John Fetterman again broke with his party, voting against a resolution limiting Trump’s Iran war powers, while McCormick backed the administration. Election Security & Voting Rights: Federal charges added to Pennsylvania’s noncitizen voting crackdown, as election officials prepare for possible federal intervention ahead of the midterms. Public Health Watch: Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak continues to expand, with reporting highlighting CDC counting disputes and new case updates. Storm Disruptions: A nor’easter battered the East Coast, knocking out power for tens of thousands in Pennsylvania and canceling hundreds of flights. Local Government Notes: Liberty Township’s police chief was absent from a supervisors meeting amid questions about his status, while Carroll Valley advanced several borough projects including an ADA restroom and pickleball plans.

Data Center Fight: Palmerton-area officials are weighing a proposed data center in Lower Towamensing Township, with Palmerton Council members split over “due diligence” and potential water-supply impacts as a curative amendment hearing is set for Oct. 27 and a volunteer organizing meeting is planned Oct. 1. Local Governance: Slatington Borough Council approved budget work, a $13,842.07 change order for street work, and a plan to explore adding an election drop box, while residents raised concerns about vegetation and visibility. Elections & Administration: Elk County Elections Director Kimberly Frey received a statewide “Mad Dog Award,” praised for impartial, accurate election administration. Public Safety: A Pittsburgh pediatrician, Dr. Idris Evans, was fatally stabbed and his wife critically injured in their home; police arrested suspect Elijah Hemingway and are investigating motive. State Politics: Pennsylvania lawmakers return to Harrisburg with less than 14 days before Thanksgiving to pass major priorities, including overdue second-degree murder sentencing changes. Energy & Weather: A nor’easter is driving power outages across the Northeast, including thousands in Pennsylvania.

Election Integrity Crackdown: The U.S. Justice Department charged four noncitizens with election fraud in Pennsylvania, including an alleged repeat fraudulent voter registration and alleged illegal voting in 2022 and 2024. State Government & Health Policy: Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration will rescind proposed disease-tracking and vaccination regulations after thousands of public comments reignited COVID-era backlash. Courts & Legal Fees: A federal judge cut attorneys’ fees in the wrongful conviction case of Termaine Hicks, calling the original fee request “unreasonable.” Local Government & Accountability: Cambria County Rep. Frank Burns asked a judge to recuse herself in his defamation suit over a 2022 campaign ad. Public Safety & Fraud: Pennsylvania State Police said scammers impersonating federal law enforcement collected $6.5 million nationwide in a gold bar/coin scheme. Workforce & Business: Pep Boys plans to eliminate about 169 jobs at its Bala Cynwyd corporate offices as part of a merger reorganization. Democrats’ Midterm Push: Shapiro and Whitmer rallied volunteers in Pennsylvania and Michigan, focusing on flipping the state Senate and key U.S. House races. Tech & Data Centers: A fact-check report pushes back on claims that data center opposition is driven by “China PR,” saying the backlash is more complex and local.

Butler Shooting Aftermath: James Copenhaver, one of the men wounded in the 2024 Trump rally attack, has died from complications, renewing scrutiny of security failures and the ongoing legal fight. Election Integrity: DOJ charged four noncitizens in Pennsylvania with election-related crimes, including fraudulent voter registration, as federal and state officials brace for more scrutiny ahead of November. Measles & Public Health: A new poll finds most likely Pennsylvania voters hold an unfavorable view of RFK Jr. amid the Shapiro-RFK vaccine guidance fight while the outbreak response continues. War Powers in Washington: The U.S. Senate narrowly rejected efforts to curb Trump’s Iran war powers, with Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman voting against the resolution. Skill Games Crackdown: Pennsylvania’s skill games fight is hitting a deadline, with lawmakers facing a narrow window to set rules for machines that drive revenue for small businesses. Gaming Enforcement: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board fined MGM Resorts and CountR GmbH for licensing and control breaches. Local Government & Schools: Elizabethtown Area School Board set timelines for major middle/high school construction. Public Safety: Fayette County seized meth/cocaine, cash, and 20 guns in a major drug bust. Politics & Polling: A Franklin & Marshall poll shows Janelle Stelson leading Scott Perry in PA’s 10th District. Transit Watch: SEPTA’s “Accelerate” plan lays out major upgrades—new trains, more frequent service, and accessibility improvements—if Harrisburg funding lands.

Butler Rally Aftermath: James “Jim” Copenhaver, one of the two men critically wounded in the 2024 Trump assassination attempt, has died at 76, with his family saying he passed Wednesday “surrounded by loved ones.” Elections & Voting Integrity: The Justice Department charged four noncitizens, including two illegal aliens, with election-related crimes in Pennsylvania, adding to a broader wave of federal election-fraud cases. U.S. Senate War Powers: The Senate narrowly rejected a Democratic-led resolution to curb Trump’s Iran war powers, with only a handful of GOP senators breaking ranks. Elder Care Oversight: A state audit found major weaknesses in the Department of Aging’s oversight of elder-abuse investigations, raising risk for vulnerable older Pennsylvanians. Pennsylvania Campaign Logistics: Luzerne County will mail about 25,525 Nov. 3 general election ballots next week, with drop-box hours posted. Public Health: Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak coverage continues as federal and state counts diverge, including reporting around deaths and undercount concerns. Data Centers & Local Impact: Residents in Scrubgrass Township are questioning coal-ash cleanup compliance as a data center plan moves forward. Education: Philadelphia’s PSSA score delays are disrupting student high-school selection, with the district pushing the process back. Higher Ed Finance: Penn’s endowment jumped 27.4% (about $6.3B) in FY26, its biggest one-year dollar gain.

Skill-Game Crackdown Talks: Pennsylvania business owners and lawmakers met in Cresson after the state Supreme Court said skill games are slot machines under the Gaming Act, raising pressure for a legislative fix before operators face major losses. Governor Race Watch: A new Siena/Inquirer poll finds Gov. Josh Shapiro expanding his lead over GOP challenger Stacy Garrity, while 1 in 4 likely GOP voters say they don’t know Garrity—an early sign of trouble for down-ballot Republicans. Economy Messaging: Another poll shows Pennsylvanians grading President Trump worse on the economy and cost of living than a month ago, with gas prices a top weak spot. U.S. Senate Image Shift: Fetterman’s favorability dips and more voters now see him as more Republican than Democrat, according to a Siena/Inquirer/New York Times survey. Election Odds: Prediction markets now tilt heavily toward Democrats controlling the House and Senate after midterms, reshaping expectations for key races. Public Health Clash: AG William Tong joined a coalition urging HHS to keep vaccine guidance science-based amid disputes over federal vaccine policy. Grid Reliability Funding: The Energy Department is set to announce nearly $2B in upgrades to the aging power grid, including in Allentown, aiming to cut costs and prevent blackouts as AI-driven demand grows. Measles Fight: Pennsylvania health officials report more cases and deaths while the CDC’s counting remains disputed, keeping vaccine and outbreak policy in the spotlight.

Procurement Probe: A federal whistleblower lawsuit alleges Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration bypassed Pennsylvania procurement rules during security upgrades and renovations tied to the governor’s mansion after the 2025 firebombing, including claims of split transactions, waived bids, and continued payments to a contractor that no longer provided service. Elder Abuse Oversight: Pennsylvania Auditor General Tim DeFoor released a scathing report saying the Department of Aging’s monitoring system isn’t identifying at-risk seniors or properly overseeing county elder-abuse investigations, warning seniors are “falling through the cracks.” Data-Privacy Fight: Local officials in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys are pushing back on Flock license-plate readers over thefts, vandalism, and concerns about oversight and warrantless database access. Elections & Voting Rules: Pennsylvania’s top election office says the Nov. 3 midterms will be “business as usual” as mail-ballot voting begins, amid ongoing disputes over noncitizen voting and election security. Public Health Flashpoint: Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak keeps climbing, while the CDC’s handling of Pennsylvania death counts remains a political and public-health dispute. Local Government: Everson Borough secured police records and property after suspending its police force, while Wilkes-Barre City Council approved more than $2.2M in Local Share Assessment grants.

Criminal Justice: A civilian firearms instructor at Letterkenny Army Depot pleaded guilty in federal court to involuntary manslaughter, admitting he trained “grossly negligently” before fatally shooting PFC Krystofer Lopez. Gaming & Public Safety: Pennsylvania lawmakers are racing to legalize and regulate skill games before a court-driven deadline could let police seize terminals—consensus is uncertain with midterms looming. Elections & Voting Rights: A Supreme Court fight over documentary proof of citizenship and voter roll purges continues, with a Marshall-led 26-state brief urging the justices to uphold Arizona’s approach. Public Health: Philadelphia warned travelers about a possible measles exposure at PHL (Sept. 13–14 layover), as Pennsylvania’s outbreak climbs again—Schuylkill County reported its first case and the state hit 792 cases statewide. Privacy & Transportation: Michigan AG Dana Nessel won a preliminary injunction blocking a Trump push for a massive CDL database, arguing it threatens driver privacy and federal funding. Tech, Energy & Data Centers: Maryland signed an executive order creating a data center task force with public dashboards and guardrails; in Pennsylvania, the debate over data centers and power demand keeps heating up. Campaign Finance: Shapiro’s reelection operation hauled in $13.3M while Garrity raised $1.8M over the last three months.

Skilled Trades Push: Leaders at Luzerne County Community College’s Scranton site warned Pennsylvania could face a shortage of about 300,000 skilled trade workers by 2030, urging tighter partnerships among schools, employers, labor groups, and apprenticeship pipelines. Data Center Politics: In Archbald, Valley View School District sued Project Gravity, arguing the campus should follow local data-center zoning limits—potentially forcing major changes to the planned 186-acre project. Rail Deal Stalls: Luzerne County Council vetoed the redevelopment authority’s plan to sell a county rail line to R.J. Corman, leaving the future of the rail sale in limbo and raising questions about next steps before an Oct. 9 deadline. Pennie Premium Shock: Pennsylvania’s Insurance Department approved steep 2027 Pennie rate hikes—about 16% for individual plans and 10% for small groups—after earlier affordability pressures and federal policy changes. Election Integrity Fight: Federal noncitizen-voter enforcement efforts are producing far fewer cases than claimed, with an AP report citing about 1,600 cases and 160 arrests, while Pennsylvania election officials continue building tools for on-demand mail voting. Campaign Cash Watch: Gov. Josh Shapiro reported raising more than $60 million toward reelection, while Stacy Garrity reported about $1.8 million raised in the cycle.

Chesapeake Bay Cleanup: Virginia’s Indigenous Conservation Council says it’s withdrawing from talks with the Chesapeake Bay Program, arguing the partnership is “unwilling” to give tribes a seat on the executive decision-making body. Public Safety & Courts: A former civilian firearms instructor at Letterkenny Army Depot will plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the March death of 18-year-old Pfc. Krystofer Lopez, with prosecutors citing “grossly negligent” conduct. Defense & Procurement: The Pentagon awarded $64.04M to Bell Boeing and Raytheon to preserve V-22 Osprey engineering data and software support as production winds down. AI & Power Politics: Gov. Josh Shapiro is signaling a policy shift on data centers—moving from touting benefits to “cautiously overseeing” growth after executive orders and standards. Elections & Voting Rights: Pennsylvania is among states backing a Supreme Court brief seeking to reaffirm states’ authority over voter qualifications and voter-roll maintenance. Health Policy: The CDC updated its measles dashboard, but Pennsylvania lawmakers and doctors say the state still isn’t getting credit for four deaths, as cases near 800 and providers report unusual presentations. Local Government: Cheltenham Township’s $4.5M pool project faces delay risk after a resident sued, arguing the land lease should have triggered a bidding process. Budget Transparency: Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity highlighted OpenBookPA updates showing $75M in savings from improper payments reporting.

Measles Surge: Pennsylvania reported nearly 100 new measles cases in the past week, pushing the state total to about 792, with Lancaster County leading and four outbreak-linked deaths under dispute with federal officials. Public Safety & Local Government: Everson Borough moved to suspend its police department and will vote on emergency steps to secure law-enforcement records and shift coverage to Pennsylvania State Police. Veteran Mental Health: DMVA and PCCD hosted a suicide-prevention roundtable, citing rising Pennsylvania veteran suicide numbers and highlighting firearm-safety and mental health resources. Courts & Crime: The Third Circuit upheld a “pattern” penalty enhancement for a child rapist, while a federal case added another illegal-voting guilty plea in Pennsylvania. Elections & Access: A Delaware County RNC delegate sued after she says she was removed from a polling place in 2024. Energy & Tech Policy: Data-center ratepayer fights resurfaced as Democrats rejected a unanimous consent push, keeping pressure on how electricity costs are allocated. Health Care Litigation: New lawsuits allege GLP-1 drugs are linked to NAION vision damage, adding to a growing national wave. Transportation Disruption: FAA flight delays hit the Northeast after construction workers cut a telecom cable; operations resumed but delays lingered.

Measles Fight in Pennsylvania: The state’s outbreak keeps climbing, with reports of 767 cases and four deaths tied to unvaccinated people, while officials face criticism for limited details and privacy rules as families and communities weigh risk and misinformation. Voting Rights & Election Security: A U.S. Supreme Court ruling upheld a lower court block on USPS mail-ballot changes, but the “real test” is still ahead as advocates warn of broader election interference and push voter-protection plans. AG Privacy Push: Michigan AG Dana Nessel joined a multistate settlement with Credit Acceptance over alleged predatory auto lending, while Pennsylvania’s AG Brown led a coalition to block federal attempts to obtain CDL drivers’ personal data. Data Center Backlash: Congress and Pennsylvania regulators are grappling with how to handle data centers’ power costs and local impacts, as affordability and AI demand collide with community opposition. Higher Ed Pressure: Unions and students plan an Affordable College Now rally in Harrisburg on Sept. 28 to demand roughly 15% more funding for PASSHE schools. Local Courts & Accountability: Pennsylvania State Police settled civil suits tied to a 2024 high-speed pursuit that killed five young people, including a pregnant teen.

PennDOT EV Buildout: The Shapiro administration announced $32 million in federal NEVI funding for eastern Pennsylvania to expand public EV chargers, with applications due March 12, 2027—part of a broader push that has already opened dozens of NEVI-funded sites statewide. Public Safety & Local Crime: In Philadelphia’s Rhawnhurst, residents heard police updates on retail theft and other issues, while Sen. Joe Picozzi highlighted his VICTIM Act and a new law cracking down on predatory towing. Terror Plot Update: The FBI says a Pittsburgh-area man discussed poisoning synagogues as part of an ISIS-inspired mass-violence plot, with authorities describing a wider plan involving multiple attack methods. Measles Alarm in PA: Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak continues to climb, with reports of additional deaths and renewed calls for families to check vaccination status as health officials seek federal help. AI Policy Clash: Sen. Dave McCormick weighed in on AI regulation on Fox News Sunday, arguing the federal government must balance innovation with safeguards amid concerns about China and biosecurity. Israel-Gaza Fallout in Philly: Pop star Ed Sheeran apologized for “mistakes” tied to the Macklemore controversy and called Gaza “catastrophic and unjustifiable,” as protests and debate continued around his Philadelphia show.

SNAP Fight: Gov. Josh Shapiro says the Trump administration’s SNAP overhaul would force Pennsylvania to pay more—first for 75% of program administration starting Oct. 1, then potentially hundreds of millions in benefit costs—raising fears of cuts for hungry residents. Election Security: Delaware County’s elections director told a League of Women Voters seminar that recent Supreme Court rulings reflect the “Purcell principle” against last-minute election changes, while still preparing for compliance. Measles Politics: Pennsylvania’s outbreak continues to climb, with the state seeking CDC help as cases and deaths rise and tensions flare between Shapiro and RFK Jr. Cannabis Enforcement: Pennsylvania AG says a Pittsburgh-area man ran a 15-vape-shop network selling marijuana products without medical cards, triggering a multi-location crackdown. AI & Data Centers: Shapiro’s office and lawmakers keep spotlighting AI and data-center growth, with calls for guardrails and local control. Politics & Messaging: Coverage also highlights Democrats’ push to retake Congress and the political fallout from John Fetterman’s rightward turn.

Pennsylvania Politics & Governance: Gov. Josh Shapiro is pouring money into the final stretch of the Nov. 3 campaign, outspending GOP rival Stacy Garrity by a wide margin on TV and targeted ads, according to media tracking. Public Health: Philadelphia health officials warned of a possible measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport (Terminals B and F, plus connecting areas) tied to a traveler who didn’t leave the airport—separate from the city’s CHOP situation—urging people to check immunity and vaccination status. State Policy & Law: A Pennsylvania bill would raise penalties for leaving animals unattended in cars, including stronger consequences for intentional or reckless cases, after a reported heat-death incident in Lancaster County. Emergency Management: PEMA held its first quarterly meeting of the Emergency Readiness Advisory Group, with Shapiro saying federal barriers are making state planning more important. Elections & Federal Courts: A federal judge dismissed a Title X lawsuit brought by Pennsylvania family-planning groups, saying the plaintiffs didn’t show enough concrete harm to proceed. Civic Life: Luzerne County residents and leaders held an affordability town hall focused on housing, food insecurity, and the local impact of state and federal budget cuts.