Sen. Pat Toomey has now said he'll vote against confirming U.S. Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. Toomey met with her Friday in his office and said Jackson was smart with an impressive academic and professional background. But in a late Sunday night release he said Jackson's inability to define her own judicial philosophy makes it difficult to understand how she might approach the most important cases facing the nation today, tomorrow and far into the future. In the same release, Toomey wrote Jackson's history of judicial activism is also highly concerning. The Senate is expected to vote on her confirmation this week.
A community came together Sunday to remember the two girls killed in a Friday fire in Hellertown. 15-year-old Brianna Baer and her 10-year-old sister Abigail Kaufman both died in the fire on Linden Avenue. The girls' parents were treated at the hospital but have since been released.
State Police trooper Branden Sisca was buried over the weekend. Sisca, fellow trooper Martin Mack III and a pedestrian were all killed on I-95 in Philadelphia on March 22. State Police Lt. Adam Reed says the turnout for Sisca's funeral was impressive and very meaningful. "This show of support is appreciated far and wide. It's heart warming to see the amount of support from our brothers and sisters in law enforcement from across the United States," Reed says. Mack was buried earlier last week. Sisca leaves behind a wife who is expecting a baby in July. A woman is being held on charges of driving drunk when she hit and killed the two troopers and Reyes Oliveras of Allentown.
Two of three Democrats running for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania debated Sunday afternoon at Muhlenberg College. Congressman Conor Lamb was critical of the third candidate, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who declined to participate. "He didn't respect you enough to show up today," Lamb said. St. Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta said, "If John can't show up to talk with other Democrats about the importance of this race and about what he would do as our next United States senator, who the hell really believes that John is going to be able to show up and fight for our values in Washington?" Fetterman's campaign says the candidate had already agreed to three other debates leading up to next month's primary election. About 175 people attended the debate, which was also shown live on PCN.
The state Senate Transportation Committee will hear public comment on parking near bike lanes today. Under current law, a vehicle needs to park along a roadway within 12 inches of the curb. The vehicle code does not provide an allowance for parking next to bike lanes and House Bill 140 would change that. It's sponsored by Rep. David Maloney of Berks County.
Pennsylvania residents who have fallen behind on utility bills could now be subject to service disconnects. A moratorium on disconnections expired Friday but authorities do not permit disconnects on Fridays, so today is the first day that impacted residents could see shut-offs. Utility companies around the state say that tens of thousands of residents could possibly face disconnections.
Lottery players will have another chance tonight to win the growing Powerball jackpot. There were no jackpot winners in Saturday's drawing meaning tonight's top prize is an estimated $231 million. The odds of winning that big prize are one in more than 292-million. Winning numbers will be drawn just before 11 p.m.
State political contribution records show over $308 million were donated to Pennsylvania campaigns last year. Figures tabulated for 2021 donations to state-level candidates and political action committees also show the ten largest donors gave more than $22 million. The data compiled by Ballotpedia shows top giver Jeffrey Yass contributed $13 million to select campaigns. He's the billionaire owner of an investment firm based outside Philadelphia.