On today’s episode of The Confluence:
State lawmakers are finishing business regarding bills to propose constitutional amendments and other legislation before the November election
(0:00 - 6:19)
Lawmakers began returning to Harrisburg this week after a recess, but have fewer than 10 session days in September and October before they break for the election.
So far, lawyers for a Senate committee and the Pennsylvania Department of State sparred in front of Commonwealth Court judges over whether the agency should hand over more than a dozen types of election records from those who voted by mail or in person during the 2020 general election and 2021 May primary.
“That information is what the Department of State has said is somewhat problematic to release to a Senate committee whose intentions are a little more murky than they would like the public to believe,” says Sam Dunklau, WESA’s capitol bureau chief. A data security contractor hired by the committee is being paid a few hundred thousand dollars to look at the records, but is not obligated to release any findings to the public.
The outcome of this case could depend on how the Republican majority Commonwealth Court rules, and which party occupies the governor’s seat.
Also this week, the state Supreme Court refused Gov. Tom Wolf’s request to block a GOP effort to combine several proposals for different constitutional amendments into one bill. Wolf says the effort violates the state constitution, which says different issues need to be considered as their own bills.
The main bill GOP lawmakers are trying to pass the amendments under would say there is no guaranteed right to an abortion in Pennsylvania, and would revoke public funding for the procedure. Other amendments also within the bill concern voter identification and election audits.
The responsibility of Roberto Clemente’s Ciudad Deportiva is being debated by the Puerto Rican government and Clemente’s family
(6:27 - 13:53)
It’s been nearly 50 years since legendary Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente died in a plane crash taking relief supplies to earthquake ravaged Nicaragua. Since then, Clemente’s family has been running Ciudad Deportiva, or Sports City, a center for youth sports in Puerto Rico. But now, the family and government are at odds over who should control the land on which the facility is built.
“I think if you talk to Sports City, and particularly Luis Clemente [Roberto’s second son], he feels that the biggest problem is that the government stood in the way of plans to redevelop that property,” says Tom Fontaine, news editor for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
The Clemente family has sued the Puerto Rican government for copyright infringement after it began selling commemorative license plates with the player on them.
Fontaine says although both lawmakers and the family want to keep Clemente’s legacy going, they are at odds over the best course to do so.
A film documentary with interviews from the family, baseball players, and Puerto Rican politicians about Ciudad Deportiva will be airing tonight on AT&T Sportsnet after the Pirates post-game show, and will re-air Sept. 22.
The state Board of Education has voted to update 20-year-old science standards
(14:02 - 22:30)
The State Board of Education will move forward in revising its science standards for K-12 students throughout the commonwealth. The last revision was 20 years ago.
“One of the key differences between the standards that were adopted in 2002 and the shift that we'll see in the new standards is that the new standards prioritize a shift away from memorization of facts to having students productively participate in scientific discourse and practices,” says Karen Molchanow, executive director for the State Board of Education.
The board and Department of Education spent two years soliciting feedback about crafting the new standards. Now that they have been approved, the department will begin preparing to implement the new standards, starting July 1, 2025.
The Confluence, where the news comes together, is 90.5 WESA’s daily news program. Tune in Monday to Thursday at 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. to hear newsmakers and innovators take an in-depth look at stories important to the Pittsburgh region. Find more episodes of The Confluence here or wherever you get your podcasts.
