Tom Riese

Former Pittsburgh Mayor Gainey appointed to state gaming control board The new position comes with a $145,018 salary, per information available as of December. The board oversees the state’s gambling industry, regulating slot machines and table games at casinos, as well ...

New from me and @cpotterpgh.bsky.social — former Pittsburgh mayor just got a new job!
www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...

Two CBP Agents Identified in Alex Pretti Shooting The two federal immigration agents who fired on Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti are identified in government records as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa and Customs and Border Protection officer Raym...

1/ BREAKING: Government documents reviewed by ProPublica identify Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa, 43, and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez, 35, as the two who fired their weapons during the deadly encounter with Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

Per my colleague @tomlriese.bsky.social, PEMA ain't pulling any punches with these storm warnings. "The sad fact is that despite our best attempts, this storm will most likely result in tragedy somewhere."

Probably the most people I’ve ever seen in the Capitol rotunda today

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announces it is shutting down in May The company said it has lost more than $350 million over the past two decades while operating the Post-Gazette.

Move comes just after the Supreme Court denied a bid by PG ownership to delay having to reinstate healthcare benefits for workers under prior contract. That was at issue in a years-long strike that only JUST saw union journalists return to the newsroom.
www.wesa.fm/economy-busi...

Pennsylvania judge questions potential AI hallucinations in legal brief for gender-identity suit The case involves a challenge to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission’s application of anti-discrimination protections to transgender students in public schools.

A judge in Commonwealth Court Wednesday said the lawyers for two state House members and two districts (suing over the expansion of LGBTQ protections in schools) used AI to draft a brief. The law firm says it never touched the technology.
www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...

New from today @wesa.fm

Pittsburgh Public Schools and three other districts are suing Pa.’s largest cyber charter school Pittsburgh Public Schools and three other districts are suing CCA and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, for allegedly violating students’ constitutional right to a “thorough and efficient” edu...

NEW: Pittsburgh Public Schools, Indiana Area, Leechburg & Ligonier Valley school districts have sued the state education department and Pennsylvania's largest cyber school. ✍🏼 by Jillian Forstadt and me @wesa.fm:

www.wesa.fm/education/20...

Pa. Supreme Court eases 24-hour notice rule for local officials, angering transparency advocates In a 4-3 decision, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Monday that local agencies do not need to give 24-hour notice when making changes to public meeting agendas — as long as a majority of the body ...

New from the Pa. Supreme Court: In a 4-3 decision, the court ruled Monday that local agencies do not need to give 24-hour notice when making changes to public meeting agendas — as long as a majority of the body votes to do so. www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...

Pa. Sen. John Fetterman's heart condition could have posed deadly threat, experts say The heart health condition officials say caused Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman’s fall Thursday could have been deadly if it wasn’t immediately treated, according to cardiologists.

The heart health condition officials say caused Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman’s fall Thursday could have been deadly if it wasn’t immediately treated, according to cardiologists. And the first-term Democrat’s life was likely saved by an implant given to him after a stroke more than 3 years ago.

Follow along for budget impacts as House and Senate vote to pass a $50.1B state spending plan, nearly 4.5 months late:

Tempers flare but deal elusive in nearly 4 month Pa. budget stalemate As the impasse over Pennsylvania’s state budget nears four months, many of the details about the sticking points are still unknown. But lawmakers are more openly showing their anger.

“I’m not gonna sugar coat it. It’s bullshit.” - Butler County commissioner Kevin Boozel on the nearly 4 month state budget impasse. Read more from folks who know this process well ⬇️

www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...

Pennsylvania Supreme Court would be left short-handed if retention effort fails For all the political debate about whether or not to retain state Supreme Court justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty or David Wecht this fall, one question rarely gets discussed: If voters deci...

Ever wonder what would happen (or might not happen) if one or more of the SCOPA justices aren’t retained in two weeks? www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...

Pa. LGBTQ advocates urge state to head off future threat to same-sex marriage rights The push by advocates comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide whether to hear a case that could change the fate of same-sex marriage.

SCOTUS is expected this month to decide if it will hear a case that formally asks to overturn the landmark same-sex marriage ruling. Pennsylvania activists and legal experts explain what would happen if the court takes that step www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...

With governor race as backdrop, Garrity loan program becomes part of budget impasse There was little sign of a breakthrough when Pennsylvania's state budget impasse blew past its 100th day last week. Instead, state legislators found something new to argue about: whether a loan progra...

As Pennsylvania's state budget impasse blew past 100 days, state legislators argued whether a loan program offered by Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity was a lifeline for groups who rely on state funding, or a political stunt that could further delay a final deal.

‘Unconscionable’ Pa. budget impasse forces area counties, local services to scale down Despite Gov. Josh Shapiro’s insistence this week that Pennsylvania state budget negotiations are “incredibly close” to ending an impasse entering its fourth month, county leaders and service agencies ...

Despite Gov. Josh Shapiro’s insistence this week that Pennsylvania state budget negotiations are “incredibly close” to ending an impasse entering its fourth month, county leaders and service agencies in SW Pennsylvania say they’re preparing to scale down operations without dedicated state funding.

Judge protects Pennsylvania — for now — from federal reprisal in food-stamp dispute Pennsylvania joined the suit late, but the ruling temporarily prevents the U.S. Department of Agriculture from withholding hundreds of millions of dollars in benefits State officials say they are open...

Here to catch you up on the food-stamp data dispute between USDA and Pennsylvania. Court docs filed Sunday and Monday give the latest picture @wesa.fm www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...

Financial reports show big-dollar donations in Pa. Supreme Court judicial retention contest Three state Supreme Court Justices have raised more than $2.8 million to make the case that voters should keep them on the state’s top court this fall.

Three Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justices have raised more than $2.8 million to make the case that voters should keep them on the state’s top court this fall.

But newly filed campaign finance reports suggest those efforts may be overshadowed by outside interest groups on both sides of the debate.

Pennsylvania joins legal fight over Trump Administration demand for food-stamp data Pennsylvania has been added to a lawsuit over the Trump Administration’s demand for personal information on food-stamp recipients. State officials hope the legal maneuver will provide breathing room i...

According a new filing PA has now been added to the lawsuit against the USDA over a demand for personal info on SNAP enrollees. Attys argued a penalty that could cost the state close to half a billion $ yearly could collapse the food-stamp program. www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...

The 24-year-old was inside his ex’s home, when he opened fire on police with a semi-automatic rifle. 3 regional police officers killed, 1 wounded w/ a sheriff deputy. Suspect also killed his ex’s dog. All due to the “hateful scourge of domestic violence,” county DA said.

Now picked up nationally— many states could be affected

ICYMI: Shapiro admin. has until tomorrow to decide if it will share the personal data of food-stamp recipients, or start losing $115.3M quarterly from the feds.

A man was allegedly lying in wait in a cornfield wearing camouflage and opened fire. Police were investigating him over stalking and harassment of an ex-girlfriend, according to cnn.

Trump admin. threatens to withhold $460M in food-stamp funding if Pa. doesn't share personal data A long-simmering battle between Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and the White House over the state’s food-stamp program is set to come to a head by the end of this week.

The USDA has given Pennsylvania until Friday to provide personal data about those who receive food assistance. And if it doesn’t get the data, it has threatened to withhold more than 10 cents of every dollar in food aid the state currently receives — nearly half a billion dollars each year.

Trump admin. threatens to withhold $460M in food-stamp funding if Pa. doesn't share personal data A long-simmering battle between Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and the White House over the state’s food-stamp program is set to come to a head by the end of this week.

Documents obtained thru FOIA show the Trump administration gave PA (and likely other noncompliant states) until Friday to turn over SNAP user data -- SSNs, addresses and names -- or lose out on millions $ immediately... and again every three months. 👀 www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...

Will a 2018 map ruling come back to haunt 3 Pa. Supreme Court justices? Republicans hope so Courts are supposed to be above politics, but partisan interests and concerns are already shaping this November's fight over whether to retain three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices.

The GOP hopes voters remember how 3 justices voted on a congressional map 7 years ago that leveled the playing field for Democrats. But the leader of the state Dems says his party’s losses last year prove just how neutral those maps are: @wesa.fm www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...

For southwest PA folks that may be following — Pittsburgh Regional Transit shared a statement Monday saying it’s considering the same move as SEPTA but didn’t sound thrilled about it

A messy fight over public transit could be coming to an end with only a temporary solution. The state Senate returns this afternoon, but a full budget deal is still elusive. Plus, a western PA rape crisis center has to cut hours due to the impasse @wesa.fm www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...

Shapiro, Garrity strike different notes on National Guard deployments as Trump expands reach Gov. Josh Shapiro told reporters in Philadelphia that violent crime is down in Pennsylvania, and any attempt to direct federal forces to U.S. cities is unconstitutional, as a federal judge ruled on Tu...

Asked if she’d welcome the Guard in Philly, the campaign of Stacy Garrity didn’t respond directly, but said she supports Trump’s law and order policies. @wesa.fm

www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...

that’s narrow gap *in* voter registration numbers