????  Good Morning Tuesday

????️  In Today’s Edition. What to know about Stacy Garrity. Could Keystone Line be a SEPTA cut? Without budget, counties, schools prepare for service cuts. Skibidi, delulu, tradwife.

????  Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. People Got to Be Free. The Rascals

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Top Story

1.  PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity Just Entered the Governor Race. Here’s What to Know About Her

“Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity has jumped into the Keystone State’s gubernatorial race, announcing on Aug. 18 that she’s seeking to win the Republican nomination for the role and block Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro from a second term. 

The Bradford County native is a decorated former Army Reserve soldier and worked as a business executive before launching her political career. Here’s more background on the Republican contender.” (USA Today Network)

Elsewhere

Political Consultant Calls Garrity’s Run For Governor a ‘Very Steep Hill to Climb’. “Mike Mikus, who works primarily for Democrats, believes Garrity will have a tough time because of Shapiro’s widespread popularity that crosses party lines and his high visibility, especially during times of crisis” (WPXI)

Mastriano Reacts To Garrity’s Gubernatorial Campaign Announcement. ““The issue I have here is that we want the state party out of the way and let the people decide,” Mastriano said on the John Fredericks Show.” (WHTM)

Pharma Industry and Ballard Partners Dominate the Lobbying Space in Second Quarter of 2025. “Pharmaceutical and health products companies continued to dominate the lobbying space in the second quarter of 2025, spending $105.4 million to influence public policy.” (Open Secrets)

Fact-Checking Trump’s Latest Claims About Mail Ballots and Voting Machines. “The president, seizing on assertions by Vladimir Putin, promises to ‘lead a movement’ for paper ballots. But his powers are limited.” (Votebeat)

State

2.   Amtrak’s Keystone Line, Connecting NYC, Philly, and Harrisburg, May Get Axed Under SEPTA Cuts

“U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle warned Monday that planned SEPTA cuts could force Amtrak to cut the Keystone Service line from Philadelphia to Harrisburg.

The line, which continues on from Philadelphia to Manhattan, would also mean fewer trains operating from Philadelphia to New York City.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Elsewhere

SEPTA Users ‘Took Over’ Joe Picozzi’s Office. He Never Showed. “About 20 SEPTA users “took over” Picozzi’s office for two and a half hours, determined to get his attention. They have vowed to come back.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Pennsylvanians Face Higher Health Insurance Costs As Insurers Propose 19% Increase to 2026 Premiums. “Insurance carriers offering plans on Pennie, the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace, are proposing, on average, a 19% increase to premiums for individuals and a 13% increase to premiums for small businesses and groups in 2026.” (WHYY)

The Big Impact of Pennsylvania Pharmacy Closures, Explained in 3 Maps. “Pharmacies are disappearing across Pennsylvania, leaving some patients with fewer options and longer journeys to access the medications they need. The three maps below show how widespread the problem is in the state and illustrate the areas that have been hardest hit.” (Spotlight PA)

In-Home Care Agencies Say Wage Increase Unlikely Under PA Budget Proposals. “Health care workers have long said the commonwealth’s Medicaid reimbursement rate for caregivers — $20.63 per hour — is too low compared to its neighbors, including Ohio’s $28.96 per hour, Maryland’s $25.58 and West Virginia’s $25.44.” (WITF)

Around The Commonwealth

3.  PA Counties, School Districts Prepare For Service Cuts If a State Budget Isn’t Delivered Soon

“Across Pennsylvania, counties and providers of essential human services are bracing for what many fear will be a protracted state budget standoff in Harrisburg that’s already nearly seven weeks past the deadline.

For many, it’s bringing up fears of another impasse like in 2015, when lawmakers went nine months without finalizing a spending plan.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Elsewhere

How Your County Is Affected By “Big Beautiful Bill” Tax Cuts. “The average American will receive a federal tax cut of $3,752 in 2026 thanks to the bill, per an analysis from the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan research group that mostly supports lower taxes. The intrigue: They may not feel much of a change.” (Axios)

Pennsylvania Government Agencies Aim To Expand Employees’ Use Of Artificial Intelligence. “For local and state agencies, it’s a way to ease the workload by directing artificial intelligence to complete routine tasks that would otherwise take hours — at the cost of tens of thousands of dollars.” (Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Garrity Outlines How Run For PA Governor Will Benefit Bradford County. “Pennsylvania State Treasurer and Bradford County native Stacy Garrity spoke of how she would help her hometown area if elected governor of the commonwealth. She promised to represent Bradford County as governor by advocating for rural residents, similar to her current work as state treasurer.” (Towanda Review)

Editorial

4.  What Do You Think?

• Your Vote Matters, But Voting Is Not Enough. (Wilmer J. Leon III)
• Trump Demands: Ditch Vote-By-Mail. Republicans Shouldn’t. (Bill Scher)
• Education Is Key to Harrisburg’s Long-Term Development, Not Only Downtown But Throughout the City. (Doug Neidich)
• Pennsylvania’s Legal System is Being Abused – And Everyone is Paying the Price. (Rep. Torren Ecker)
• The 401(k) Needs Better Guardrails. (Baltimore Sun)

1 Thing

5.   How to Use “Skibidi” and Other New Slang Added to Cambridge Dictionary

“Social media slang terms “skibidi,” “delulu” and “tradwife” have gone from TikTok straight into the Cambridge Dictionary, reflecting digital culture’s power to influence language.

“Skibidi” is an all-purpose word from a viral video. “Delulu” is short for “delusional.” And “tradwife” is a portmanteau of “traditional wife,” tied to a controversial trend built around traditional gender roles.

“We only add words where we think they’ll have staying power,” Colin McIntosh, a Cambridge lexical program manager, said in a statement. (Axios)

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