Central Pa. borough may repeal LGBTQ protections

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January 24, 2022

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Board NDAs, Bitcoin pollution, tracing down, LGBTQ protections, shooting investigation, 2020 lie ties, and a sad end for escaped monkeys. It's Monday.

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SECRECY OATH

Leaders of Pennsylvania’s beleaguered teachers’ pension fund are requesting that board members sign oaths of secrecy before receiving a critical update on a scandal that has led to multiple federal investigations.

In an email reviewed by Spotlight PA and The Inquirer, the chairman of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System board told members they must sign a yet-to-be-drafted non-disclosure agreement to participate in a closed-door meeting later this month.

The meeting is pivotal: Board members are poised to be presented with the findings of a taxpayer-funded inquiry into an investment calculation mistake that wrongly spared teachers a potential hike in their pension payments, leaving taxpayers to make up the difference over time.

THE CONTEXT: In recent months, PSERS has become increasingly upset over what it perceives as “leaks” about the investigation into the fund’s mistake.

Open government advocates said the new demand raises free speech concerns. They also questioned whether such an agreement by a government agency can even be enforced.

A lawyer who represents one of the fund’s senior advisors defended the NDA request, saying it "serves the good of protecting the integrity of a $70 billion public pension fund. It is preventing the board from being unfairly criticized. And it is protecting the reputation of actual human beings."

NOTABLE / QUOTABLE

"You’re taking pollution that was going to be impacting the land and water and turning it into air pollution."

—Rob Altenburg, senior director for energy and climate at PennFuture, on how coal waste in Pennsylvania is powering Bitcoin

💉 COVID-19 NEWS

» UP AND DOWN: Pennsylvania's contact tracers examined 10% of cases between Dec. 10 and Jan. 9, a decrease that reflects a spike in infections.

» WHAT'S NEXT: If the omicron spike flames out quickly, many experts think there could be a "quiet period" this spring and summer.

» RAPID RESULTS: NPR explains why rapid COVID-19 tests aren't more accurate and how scientists hope to improve them

To find a COVID-19 vaccine, use the federal government's online tool, call 1-800-232-0233, or text your zip code to 438829 (GETVAX).

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS

» BACK IN SESSION: On Thursday, Jan. 27 at 5 p.m. EST, join Spotlight PA and our panel of experts via Zoom as we look back on the 2021 legislative session and discuss what themes are likely to emerge — or persist — in 2022. RSVP for free here. Submit questions to events@spotlightpa.org.

📷 POST IT

A soggy day at the Lancaster Amtrak station, courtesy of your PA Post writer. Send us your gems, use #PAGems on Instagram, or tag us @spotlightpennsylvania.

DAILY RUNDOWN

REPEAL PLAN: Chambersburg Borough Council plans to vote today on repealing the LGBTQ protections it put in place only a few months ago, PennLive reports. The political makeup of the council changed last November, ushering in a 7-3 Republican majority.

'MODERN-DAY LYNCHING': The family of a Jamaican immigrant who was fatally shot at a cabin in rural Venango County last month wants a deeper investigation into his death, The Inquirer reports. Pennsylvania State Police has urged the public to “remain patient.”

DAIRY DEMAND: Dairy farmers in Pennsylvania are cheering a recent trade decision that found Canada was giving its own processors preferential treatment. Farmers here are hoping the decision will increase demand, the Post-Gazette reports.

DEEP ROOTS: WITF examines the ties between a review of Fulton County’s voting machines ordered by Senate Republicans and 2020 election lies. Among them: The lawyers representing the county are backed by the Amistad Project, which Rudy Giuliani once described as a “partner” in the Trump campaign’s efforts to overturn the presidential results.

BIG BETS: Gamblers handed over more than $4.7 billion to 16 casinos as well as fantasy sports operators and truck stops in 2021, according to the AP, a record. Online gaming helped drive the increase.

IN OTHER NEWS

TRAILER OF MONKEYS: Three macaques who escaped in Montour County after a trailer carrying 100 monkeys crashed have been found and euthanized, the Daily Item reports. The truck was on its way to a lab.

MYSTERY MUTT: In other animal news, a woman in Fairfield Township thought she was doing a good deed when she rescued what she thought could be her neighbor’s loose dog. But because of its appearance and behavior, a local wildlife group isn't so sure what kind of canine the creature actually is.

SUPER COUPLE: Two strangers who recreated a famous kissing photo at the Eagles’ Super Bowl parade are now engaged. Shamus Clancy would have preferred to pop the question at another victory celebration, but alas.

HELPING HANDS: A group of Black and Latino firefighters and players on Temple University’s football team spent Martin Luther King Jr. Day installing smoke alarms in West Philadelphia. The day of service was even more crucial this year after 12 adults and children died in a Fairmount fire.

GREAT RESIGNATION: The Morning Call spoke to several Pennsylvanians who quit their jobs as part of the "great resignation." One came from corporate America and was simply looking for a change. Others say they were tired of coronavirus concerns or mistreatment.

THE SCRAMBLER

Unscramble and send your answer to scrambler@spotlightpa.org. We'll shout out winners here, and one each week will get some Spotlight PA swag.

R R O H O R P I C T C A

Friday's answer: Mammatocumulus

Congrats to our weekly winner: Craig W.

Congrats to our daily winners: William S., Lynne E., John A., Jill K., Susan D., Don H., James B., and Ann and John.

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Investigative Journalism for Pennsylvania

Central Pa. borough may repeal LGBTQ protections

Plus, Pa.'s largest pension fund asks board to sign NDAs.