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Life inside PA's sweltering prisons without AC

Plus, how PA is dealing with population decline.

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A daily newsletter by The logo of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom producing investigative journalism for Pennsylvania.
Your Postmaster: Colin Deppen



Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Today: No AC, Trump intel, Wild signee, Shapiro stance, tax disputes, and Menendez guilty on all counts. Thanks for checking in. 
SWELTERING CELLS

Thousands of people are living inside Pennsylvania prisons with little to no air conditioning this summer as temperatures rise. 

Spotlight PA's Danielle Ohl reports: 

Of the 24 Pennsylvania state prisons, four have limited or no air conditioning in areas where incarcerated people live, work and gather. Five more have only partial coverage, according to the state Department of Corrections.

The agency is working to expand air conditioning availability as resources become available, said spokesperson Maria Bivens. But until that happens, many incarcerated individuals are stuck in sweltering conditions.


Ralph Bolden, who is incarcerated at a Laurel Highlands prison for older people and those with complicated health needs, described his block as a “sauna." He said the wing "has a lot of dialysis patients."

The nine facilities with partial to very limited air conditioning include buildings that are decades, or in some cases, more than a century old.

Read Spotlight PA's full report: Thousands of Pa. prisoners endure summer heat without air conditioning.

NOTABLE / QUOTABLE

"No one in a leadership position on the morning of [inauguration day] should hold that position at the end of the day."

—Kiron Skinner, founder of Carnegie Mellon University's Institute for Politics and Strategy, in a Project 2025 proposal she authored; former President Trump has extensive ties to those involved but says the plan isn't his
BERKS STUDY
A woman in Berks County shares what local news coverage she wants to read as part of a Spotlight PA study
Berks County residents are extremely frustrated with the diminished capacity of the local newspaper and they are concerned about a lack of access to trustworthy information in their community, according to a groundbreaking study by Spotlight PA.

In response to the findings, Spotlight PA is planning to launch a new regional reporting bureau in Berks County to be supported primarily by people living and working in the region. Read the full story, and then support the effort »
 
📅 UPCOMING EVENTS

ROCKY WATERS: Join us Thursday, July 18 from 6-7 p.m. ET on Zoom for a live panel on Pennsylvania’s private water industry, how it is regulated, and how communities are affected when service is subpar. Register for the event here and submit your questions to events@spotlightpa.org.

📷 POST IT
View of the Susquehanna River from the Overlook at Shikellamy State Park, via Fred U. of Northumberland County. Send us your photos by email, use #PAGems on Instagram, or tag us @spotlightpennsylvania.
An elevated view of towns and hills along a river.
DAILY RUNDOWN
Today's top news story in Pennsylvania.
'IRANIAN PLOT': The Secret Service ramped up security around former President Donald Trump in the lead-up to Saturday's rally in Butler County after intelligence indicated an Iranian plot to assassinate the former president. CNN reports there is no known connection between the purported plot and the actual shooting that took place there. The report also notes the campaign was warned against outdoor rallies.

• Secret Service director won't resign over shooting, via The Hill.
• FBI cracks phone of Trump shooting suspect, via The Guardian.
 
Today's second top news story in Pennsylvania.
'NO JUSTIFICATION': After a brief respite, Axios reports a rebellion against President Joe Biden's candidacy has resurfaced on Capitol Hill, with U.S. Rep. Susan Wild (D., Pa.) telling the outlet she plans to sign a letter opposing Democratic National Committee plans to formalize Biden's nomination early. The draft letter, first reported by The Times, argues there is no legal justification for an early virtual roll call vote.

• Rendell op-ed 'on politics and Parkinson's,' via City & State.
 
Today's third top news story in Pennsylvania.
NO DEFENSE: Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro's administration has opted not to defend in court a state law that prohibits state Medicaid funding from being used on abortion. Shapiro says the ban runs counter to this January state Supreme Court ruling. The conservative Pennsylvania Family Institute says the move leaves Pennsylvania taxpayers "without a voice" on a key issue, via @StephenJ_Caruso.

• Shapiro signs doorless driving, other bills into law, via WHTM.
 
Today's fourth top news story in Pennsylvania.
IN DECLINE: As Pennsylvania's population decline outpaces predictions, Pennsylvania lawmakers hope a new commission can stem the tide in rural parts of the commonwealth by encouraging people to live in those areas, Spotlight PA reports. The Rural Population Revitalization Commission was created in June; according to population projections, its 15 members have their work cut out for them.
 
Today's fifth top news story in Pennsylvania.'BROKEN SYSTEM': In a county awash in falling property tax levies, experts gathered in Pittsburgh Monday to advocate for regular state-mandated and statewide reassessments before a panel of Democratic lawmakers, per TribLIVE. Local officials have urged the state to get involved in the hot-button issue. One wants a court to dismiss a related lawsuit from the state's second-largest school district.
IN OTHER NEWS
GUILTY VERDICT: U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, was found guilty on all counts in his corruption trial Tuesday, prompting swift calls for his resignation, per Politico. Menendez plans to appeal the verdict.

NO SERVICE: Pennsylvania's new state budget includes funding for schools to purchase lockable storage bags that would be used to sequester student cellphones during class, PennLive reports.

IN MEMORIAM: Joe Bryant, Philadelphia 76ers alum and father of Kobe Bryant, has died at the age of 69, the Associated Press reports. The elder Bryant also played high school and college ball in the city.

FLASH DROUGHT: Mid-Atlantic states like Pennsylvania are seeing flash drought conditions brought on by high heat and little rain. AccuWeather expects economic impacts to linger even after the drought is over.

BIG TIME: Atlas Obscura went to see the bison at Lehigh County's Trexler Nature Preserve, where an American industrialist tried to save the animal with a breeding program that continues a century later.
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. Answers submitted by 5:30 p.m. on issue date will be countedPlease include your first name and last initial.
 
U S E E O T H R L P D

Yesterday's answer: Ornamental

Congrats to our daily winners: Eric F., Don H., Bob C., Kimberly D., Barbara F., Beth H., Stacy S., Richard A., George C., Jon W., Timothy A., Perry H., Jane R., Annette I., Susan N.-Z., Karen W., Kim C., Tom M., Stanley J., Jeffrey F., William Z., and David W.
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