Good morning, and welcome to Broad + Liberty's Weekly Reads.

What We’re Hearing: “Repairing the foundation of our state’s economy should be the priority, laying the groundwork for a stable business-friendly environment in Pennsylvania that fosters growth and prosperity for all citizens..” - Rep. Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington)

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1. Delco prison uses technicality to keep its death count low

By Todd Shepherd
 

"In Delaware County, when a prisoner’s life is threatened by a medical emergency such as a drug overdose or suicide attempt, the prison moves aggressively to have the person’s bail revoked or to have charges dropped, at which point the person is no longer technically in custody. If the person later dies — even just hours after having been inside the facility — the death can’t be counted on the prison’s annual statistics because of the custody technicality.”

Why It Matters. “A clear picture of that understanding fully emerged from the most recent meeting of the county’s Jail Oversight Board (JOB), in which Warden Laura Williams told board members there had been a ‘critical illness’ in the facility on January 13, but neglected to tell them the inmate eventually died from that incident.

All of this comes against a two-year backdrop in which state and federal officials as well as journalists have been digging further into the idea of ‘hidden deaths’ at jails and prisons.

A webpage for the prison says its values are, ‘Integrity, Courage, Ethics, Honor, Respect, Service, Duty, Professionalism, Innovation, Transparency, Accountability, Sustainability, Equity, and Correctional Excellence.’”

Quotable. “William Rodriguez Rivera did not pass away while in custody of the County,” county spokesperson Adrienne Marofsky told Broad + Liberty. “The County has no further comment.”

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2. Children of a lesser god

By Guy Ciarrocchi

“On a positive note, during his annual budget address, Governor Shapiro called on the Republican Senate and the Democratic House to work together to pass Lifeline scholarships. They would allow low-income parents whose children attend the worst public schools in Pennsylvania to use scholarships to transfer to a better school. (In 2023, the problem was the House, run by Democrats: the Senate passed Lifeline.)
On a less positive note, the governor’s budget contains no money to pay for Lifeline. 
The governor giveth; the governor taketh away.”

Why It Matters. “The debate over school choice has become a national battle and, unfortunately, a partisan battle at times. Worse, some politicians and the teachers’ union pit parent against parent, student against student. As if some parents shouldn’t be allowed to have a choice, as if some kids should be forced to go to bad schools — just to prove a point. As if some kids are lesser.

Lifeline is a small, targeted program to help the poorest families, whose children are forced to attend the worst schools.”

Quotable. “It’s time for him to step up and fight for all Pennsylvania children. Bring the parties together. Tell the teachers’ union to stand down — as many of them send their own children to charter, cyber, religious and private schools.”

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3. Lightning Round

• Andy Bloom: Nikki’s Haley Mary?

• Steve Ulrich: My first trip to the Trump show

• David Reel: Is John Fetterman really Arlen Specter 2.0?

• A third of fatal drug-related car crashes in Philadelphia are linked to fentanyl

• Rep. Josh Kail: The governor has no clothes