News & Brews May 28, 2026
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Prediction markets ‘all in on Pa. elections’
Will prediction markets replace traditional polling? City & State PA reports that these markets, which “allow users to buy and sell shares in the outcome of future events … may offer a more accurate picture of current events than traditional polls.” And in Pennsylvania, traders are betting on things like whether Fetterman will leave the Democrat party and who will win this year’s gubernatorial race. Meanwhile, Pa. lawmakers at both the federal and state level are advocating regulations for these markets.
Dueling PACs plan $33M on U.S. House races in Pa.
The Center Square reports that the Democrat-aligned House Majority PAC and the Republican-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund have thus far reserved a combined $33.5 million in ad spending in Pennsylvania focused on U.S. House races. The former holds the edge at just over $20 million while the latter has reserved $13.5 million. “The four districts that will be in the spotlight as a result of these ads will be the races for the state’s 1st, 7th, 8th, and 10th Congressional Districts. Those four seats are currently held by Republican incumbents.”
Data centers at center of new proposals
Even after Gov. Shapiro’s administration cozied up to Amazon on its data center development, the governor yesterday “issued details of voluntary standards that data center proposers will have to meet if they want support from state government. Those standards deal with energy affordability, transparency and community engagement, economic development, and the environment,” the Center Square reports. Separately, “Republican Sen. Jarrett Coleman of Lehigh County and Republican Rep. Jamie Walsh of Luzerne County … introduced bills that would repeal a state sales tax exemption for data center equipment that was enacted in 2021. Other bills from the pair of lawmakers would allow municipalities to put an 18-month moratorium on data center applications.”
Parker’s latest tax idea
Even as her plan to impose a $1-per-ride rideshare tax in Philly faces stiff opposition, Mayor Cherelle Parker is pitching another tax plan. The Inquirer reports that “Parker said that she wants to hike taxes on short-term rentals by 6% to help fund initiatives to address homelessness. The proposal is an amendment to the mayor’s earlier plan to increase the city’s hotel tax by 2%, which would have also applied to short-term rentals like Airbnb and VRBO…. The increase would amount to one of the highest tax rates on short-term rentals in the country.” The tax hike would supposedly sunset in five years. But let’s be real, what’s the likelihood of that happening?
PGH to move forward on school closures
“After nearly three years of heated deliberations, Pittsburgh Public Schools will move forward with its sweeping school closure and reconfiguration plan” following a 6-2 vote from school board members last evening, WESA reports. The plan will “permanently close seven PPS buildings next June.” Interestingly, “many of the 90 parents and students who signed up to speak at Tuesday night’s public hearing say their discomfort with the plan comes … from a lack of confidence in district administration to carry out this transition well.”