Is a PA sentencing law 'cruel and unusual'? (2024)

A daily newsletter by

Your Postmaster: Colin Deppen

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Today: High court case, Biden's border order, an emergency at the emergency shelter, and an open door for displaced UArts students.

LIFE IN PRISON

This fall, Pennsylvania's Supreme Court is set to weigh whether automatic life sentences for second-degree murder convictions in Pennsylvania violate constitutional prohibitions on cruel and unusual punishment.

PublicSource profiles the 36 year-old whose case could springboard a monumental ruling on this front and a 70 year-old whose half-century in confinementcould be brought to an end as a result.

Elsewhere: the AP reportsEzra Bozeman, who spent decades behind bars for a 1975 shooting he maintained he did not commit, died in Altoona Saturday, 12 days after a judge granted his bid for medical release.

Bozeman was one of Pennsylvania's longest-serving prisoners, having been sentenced to life on a second-degree murder conviction. His compassionate release push drew rare support from a sitting governor.

NOTABLE / QUOTABLE

“There needs to be more transparency and there needs to be more communication. So I’m completely committed to that.”

Pennsylvania Game Commission DirectorStephen Smith during a grilling by state House lawmakers on Monday; Smith assumed the role following his predecessor's sudden resignation amid ethics-related questions

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS

QUEERING THE NEWS: Join us Thursday, June 13 from 6-7 p.m. ET on Zoom for a free discussion with a panel of experts on Pennsylvania’s queer media landscape —past, present, and future. Register for the event here and submit your questions to events@spotlightpa.org.

📷 POST IT

The mums at Hershey Gardens from above, via @yatsko. Send us photosby email, use #PAGems on Instagram, or tag us@spotlightpennsylvania.

Is a PA sentencing law 'cruel and unusual'? (3)

DAILY RUNDOWN

Is a PA sentencing law 'cruel and unusual'? (4)

BORDER ORDER: Bob Casey (D., Pa.)declined President Joe Biden's invitationto join him in announcing an executive order on Tuesdaythat limitsasylum access atthe U.S.-Mexico border in an election year, Axios reports. Casey, who has supported similar policies,was one of severalDemocrats in competitive U.S. Senate races to decline.

  • Biden executive order is "arguablythe most restrictive border policy by a Democratic president in recent history," via CBS News.
Is a PA sentencing law 'cruel and unusual'? (5)

HOUSE RULES:A survey of voters across Pennsylvaniafound significantsupport for building more affordable housingover preserving localdevelopment control, The Inquirer (paywall) reports.State efforts todo just thathave bipartisan support, buy they also have influentialopponents in municipal associations.

Is a PA sentencing law 'cruel and unusual'? (6)

SCHOOL BILL: Abudget-season bill topour billions into underfunded Pennsylvania schools and slash payments from public districts to cyber charters was unveiled by House Democrats on Tuesday and passedin a party-line vote by a state House panel, The Inquirer (paywall) reports. The bill faces a steepclimb in the GOP-heldstate Senate.

  • Pa. House passes bill to give free pads and tampons to students asGOP lawmaker warns of'communism,'via Capital-Star.

Is a PA sentencing law 'cruel and unusual'? (7)

STEPPING DOWN: The president of Philly's University of the Arts has resigned days after the school's surprise closure announcement and one day after a related town hall with faculty and staff was canceled at the last minute.Point Park University in Pittsburgh is offering displaced students automatic acceptance and free housingthis fall.

Is a PA sentencing law 'cruel and unusual'? (8)

SHELTER FIRE: A fire at an emergency shelter near downtown Pittsburgh displaced nearly 200 people on Tuesday in the midst of an ongoing homelessness crisis there. PublicSource reports at least 180 people were being moved to a nearby convention center.It's unclear for how long. The fire's cause wasn't immediately known.

IN OTHER NEWS

WHAT'S THE 511?Change has come to Pennsylvania's statewide travel information system, 511PA. WPSU reports the app and website have new customizable features, notification options, and more.

TURNPIKE SHOOTING: A 40-year-old shot in a suspected road rage incident on the Turnpike in Lancaster County Friday has died, WHTM reports. The suspected shooter was found dead in Berks County on Saturday.

'UNSPEAKABLE HOPE': Leon Ford's memoir about being shot and paralyzed by Pittsburgh police during a mistaken identity-basedtraffic stop will represent Pennsylvania at this year's National Book Festival, Axios reports.

EXTRA TIME: Older Pennsylvanians and those with disabilitieshave an extra six months to apply forproperty tax and rent rebates this year under an extension of the deadlinerecently announced by Gov. Shapiro.

FORGE GUIDE: Thrillists' "non-touristy guide to Valley Forge" and the vicinity includes "sexy fries," a "mountain" made of flowers, and more.

HOT, HOT, HOT

Our exclusive 'All Sun, No Shade' beach towels are HOT!

Bold and thick, get ready for summer with this exclusive Spotlight PA swag. But hurry! Once they're gone, they're gone for the year.SHOP NOW >

SCRAMBLER

Unscramble and send your answer toscrambler@spotlightpa.org. We'll shout out winners here, and oneeach week will get some Spotlight PA swag.Answers submitted by 5:30 p.m. on issue date will be counted.

A A R R A H A N L I E P P

Yesterday's answer:Comingle

Congrats to our daily winners:Eric F., Stacy S., Elaine C., Bob C., Vicki U., Dave M., Don H., Marc G., Barbara F., Jane R., Jon W., Richard A., David T., Nan S., Ted W., Dan A., Susan N.-Z., Kimberly D., Jeffrey F., Annette I., Craig E., Wendy A., Alan B., James B., Tom M., Sue L., Stanley J., and sue87521.

Like PA Post? Share it with a friend.

Love PA Post? Support it with a tax-deductible gift.

Forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here.

Spotlight PAis an independent, nonpartisan & nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds the powerful to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania.

For sponsorship inquiries, email membership@spotlightpa.org.

Copyright © Spotlight PA, All rights reserved.

Spotlight PA
PO Box 11728
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1728

newsletters@spotlightpa.org

You're receiving this email because you subscribed to PA Post, a daily newsletter by Spotlight PA.

Thisemailwassentto:<<Email Address>>

Receiving too many emails from Spotlight PA?

To change your newsletter subscriptions and frequency,you can update your preferences.

To stop receiving fundraising messages,you can update your preferences and select "Opt out of Fundraising."

To stop receiving ALL EMAILS from Spotlight PA,including all of our investigations and newsletters, you can completely unsubscribe here.

Is a PA sentencing law 'cruel and unusual'? (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Patricia Veum II

Last Updated:

Views: 5233

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Patricia Veum II

Birthday: 1994-12-16

Address: 2064 Little Summit, Goldieton, MS 97651-0862

Phone: +6873952696715

Job: Principal Officer

Hobby: Rafting, Cabaret, Candle making, Jigsaw puzzles, Inline skating, Magic, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Patricia Veum II, I am a vast, combative, smiling, famous, inexpensive, zealous, sparkling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.