News & Brews January 10, 2025
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Feds: Philly School District failed to address antisemitism
The74 reports that there are “numerous allegations of antisemitism The School District of Philadelphia failed to adequately address in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.” For its part, the district claims it “strives to create welcoming and inclusive environments that allow our students to feel safe and heard.” But following the allegations, the district came to an agreement with the Department of Education to, among other things, “[p]rovide an age-appropriate information program for all 6th through 12th grade students to address discrimination.” Of course, even programs like this can end up being discriminatory in nature… we’ll see.
Fetterman to meet with Trump
Democrat U.S. Sen. John Fetterman plans to travel to Mar-a-Lago to meet with President-elect Trump, becoming the first Senate Democrat to do so since the election. The AP reports, “Fetterman said that he’s not leaving the Democratic Party, but that meeting Trump nominees and agreeing with GOP policy views is ‘part of politics’ and ‘representing the kind of state that we have in Pennsylvania.’” He stated, “I’m the Senator for all Pennsylvanians — not just Democrats in Pennsylvania. I’ve been clear that no one is my gatekeeper. I will meet with and have a conversation with anyone if it helps me deliver for Pennsylvania and the nation.”
Shapiro’s complaint against PJM misses the real culprit
Gov. Josh Shapiro has filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), arguing that the rules of “America’s largest energy grid operator, PJM Interconnection … are responsible for last summer’s record-high power auction prices,” the Delaware Valley Journal reports. But not so fast. “The grid operator and energy industry analysts, however, point to another culprit: Soaring demand for electricity at the same time power plants are being retired, reducing supply.” According to Terry Fitzpatrick, former Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission chair, “We’re not adding new plants that are capable of running around the clock, and then you have this, this new, unexpected demand. It’s really going to cause a problem down the line unless we shift gears and correct it.”
SEIU joins AFL-CIO to push for Leftist agenda
Two major political groups … I mean labor unions … no, actually I mean political groups are joining forces to fight against Trump. The NY Times reports, “The Service Employees International Union, which represents nearly two million workers in industries like home health care and janitorial services, said on Wednesday that it would become part of the A.F.L.-C.I.O., an umbrella group of more than 50 unions that represent more than 12.5 million workers.” They claim it’s not because of Trump … right before they admit it’s because of Trump. Indeed, they “said the alliance was unrelated to the result of November’s presidential election, but they acknowledged that it would help organized labor fend off potential threats from the Trump administration.” You know, “threats” like upholding immigration law and addressing ridiculous and wasteful government spending.
GOP state rep running for county judge
Republican state Rep. Lou Schmitt (Blair County) yesterday announced his candidacy for Blair County Court of Common Pleas judge. Schmitt was first elected to the Pa. House in 2018 and ran unopposed for re-election this past November. Schmitt is not the first recently re-elected rep to announce his candidacy for another office. In December, Democrat state Rep. Josh Siegel (Lehigh County) announced he would run for county executive.