The woman who took down Jeffrey Epstein was forged in Philly “Philly is in my bones. I would not be where I am right now if not for Philadelphia.”

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Head of Pa.’s civil rights agency to resign as Gov. Shapiro launches inquiry into agency’s spending The governor has asked Chad Dion Lassiter to resign, and four other senior officials have left the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in recent weeks.

Head of Pa.'s civil rights agency to resign as Gov. Shapiro launches inquiry into agency's spending
www.inquirer.com/news/pennsyl...

Gov. @joshshapiropa.bsky.social has been wearing white sneakers recently, instead of his black ones.

In this essay, I will explain why this fashion change could be teasing a 2028 presidential bid…

Accessible to all? Pennsylvania's Capitol an obstacle course for many citizens living with disabilities HARRISBURG — Inside and outside of the state’s 117-year-old Capitol, beauty eclipses accessibility for many government workers and visitors, said Pam Auer, a Harrisburg resident who frequents the buil...

Shapiro said his admin will look at more ways to improve accessibility around the state Capitol building, despite its historic status.

Past story on this from Sarah Nicell at LNP:

lancasteronline.com/news/politic...

“I think some underestimate what people with disabilities are capable of. I see how extraordinary and awesome you all are,” Shapiro said, jabbing at President Trump’s admin for their “disgraceful” behavior toward folks with disabilities.

#3 – Instructs the Developmental Disabilities Council (under DHS) to develop a strategic plan to coordinate services, supports, and advocacy for folks with development disabilities.

#2 – Creates a Governor’s Advisory Commission on People with Disabilities to recommend related policies to the Gov’s Office, as well as engaging with fed, state, local agencies.

“I know many of you are worried that the administration in Washington is trying to create a national database of people with disabilities,” Shapiro said. “Hear me on this — we will not let them get a hold of your private, personal information.”

… That info can be shared with informed written consent, need for services, approved confidential research, or legal requirements. It cannot be shared for a registry/database, unless authorized by law.

#1 – Programs/services must be nondiscriminatory and accessible to folks with disabilities. It also limits Pa. agencies to collect, keep, and use info IDing someone with a developmental disability only under certain circumstances…

Today in the Capitol, Gov. Josh Shapiro is signing 3 executive orders his office said will support individuals with disabilities and autism. Here’s what they do to Pa. agencies…

A clerk specialist in the Lancaster County Prothonotary’s Office has been charged with improperly using his position to access and share the personal information of a subject of a federal law enforcement investigation. Lucas Keener, of the 400 block of West Marion Street in Lancaster city, was charged with a misdemeanor count of obstructing the administration of law or other governmental function, specifically by breach of official duty. Keener, 31, is accused of abusing his position as a county employee the afternoon of Jan. 16 by accessing the personal information of an Iranian national (initials “M.M.”) who had recently entered the United States illegally. Keener then improperly shared that information with a local watchdog group without authorization in order to obstruct a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) investigation. “Public servants abusing their positions in order to prevent a federal agency from carrying out their lawful mission is an unacceptable breach of trust and potentially endangers law enforcement and our community,” said District Attorney Heather Adams. “We firmly believe that the actions the defendant is accused of committing are not a reflection of the professionalism and dedication shown every day in our county’s agencies. “ Two uniformed CBP agents entered the Lancaster County Courthouse shortly before 3 p.m. to obtain publicly filed information about M.M., who has a pending criminal case in Lancaster County, as part of their investigation. The agents’ interaction in the Clerk of Courts office lasted about 20 minutes after which they immediately exited the courthouse. Moments after the agents departed Keener is alleged to have entered the Clerk of Courts office where he began asking an employee about the information CBP was gathering. The employee, who is familiar with Keener due to his employment with the county and official interactions with the Clerk of Courts office and believing his question to be related to county business, allow…

Interesting case out of Lancaster County, Pa.
Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: crimewatch.net/us/pa/lancas...

Inside the Shapiro admin’s plan to prevent maternal deaths Pennsylvania’s new maternal health plan has been praised as ambitious, but advocates warn funding may fall short of long-term goals.

Problem-solving at the laundromat. Prenatal nutrition advice at the pharmacy. Mental health screenings through an app.

Inside the Shapiro administration’s ‘absolutely ambitious’ plan to prevent maternal deaths www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/04...

"The hypocrisy of Garrity and the Washington consultants controlling her campaign knows no bounds – and it’s exactly why she belongs nowhere near the Governor’s Office.” - Bonder (4/4)

Bonder said Garrity is the "very worst of our politics" and criticized her for aligning with President Donald Trump, despite his past ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. (3/4)

“Governor Shapiro has a track record of taking on powerful institutions, exposing sexual abuse, and putting predators behind bars – and he continues to fight to deliver real accountability and justice for survivors here in Pennsylvania," he said. (2/4)

Manuel Bonder, Gov. Josh Shapiro's campaign spox, sent a comment responding to some of what was said at Republican Stacy Garrity's presser today... (1/4)

Garrity claimed — WITHOUT providing evidence — that there are more sexual harassment cases under Shapiro’s leadership as governor and attorney general.

She promised those would come to light soon, when asked about the documentary her campaign teased months ago.

Garrity announced what she’d like to see changed in state gov… including banning taxpayer-funded settlements for sexual harassment claims.

LG candidate Jason Richey is here and said the Garrity-Richey admin would have “zero tolerance for this in Harrisburg.”

Rep. Abby Major (R., Armstrong) is here, and said she was “incredibly disappointed” by Shapiro’s handling of the Vereb case.

“It's about the lack of transparency his (Shapiro’s) administration has repeatedly shown,” Garrity said, noting payments for a settlement agreement in the Vereb case. “But it's also about his hardball tactics that have left women shaking.”

Disappearing documents: Shapiro admin deleted accuser’s emails — while senior aides’ records were preserved Internal records and new RTK responses cast doubt on the Shapiro administration’s explanation for deleting the email account of a harassment accuser. By Todd Shepherd

Garrity pointed to a Broad + Liberty report that found records of Vereb’s emails were deleted, possibly violating the admin’s retention policies. broadandliberty.com/2025/05/06/d...

Garrity said it is an “open secret” in Harrisburg that there is a culture of sexual abuse and harassment that has taken roots in state government.

PA Gov. Shapiro staffer resigns after misconduct claim Mike Vereb, an aide to Pennsylvania’s governor, was accused months ago by a fellow staffer of sexual harassment.

Background on the Vereb case here … www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/09...

GOP candidate Stacy Garrity is hosting a news conference in Harrisburg to jab at incumbent Gov. Josh Shapiro over, what she called, a cover up by his admin of sexual harassment allegations against close advisor Mike Vereb back in 2023.

News: Pennsylvania state Treasurer and GOP gubernatorial Stacy Garrity raised $1 million since the beginning of the year and moves forward with $1.5 million in cash on-hand.

They’re also filming around the Capitol, with some locations temporarily closed off to the public as they record.

I just spotted Kylie Kelce — host of the popular “Not Gonna Lie” podcast, wife of former Eagle’s center Jason Kelce, and PA native — exit @governor.pa.gov’s office in the state Capitol.

Perhaps for a podcast interview? 👀

Behind the curtain, Pittsburgh’s theater business is undergoing a scene change Pressures from touring Broadway shows to staffing pressures and federal funding shifts are driving Pittsburgh theater companies to innovate.

Behind the curtain, Pittsburgh’s theater business is undergoing a scene change
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