State Responds to DOJ Election Monitors

The Justice Department will send election monitors to polling places in Philadelphia, Allegheny, Luzerne, and Lehigh counties on Election Day, Nov. 3, according to a letter to state election officials.

The letter says the monitors will be unarmed, dressed business casual, and only observe and take notes, without talking to voters or interfering with voting.

The Department of State said monitors have no more access to polling places than the general public, and state law already limits who can be there, keeping police at least 100 feet away unless they’re voting or preventing a disturbance.

Philadelphia City Commissioner Omar Sabir called the monitoring routine and urged eligible voters not to be distracted, as the DOJ plans to send a record 1,000 monitors nationwide.

Treasury Auctions Record Haul of Items

The Pennsylvania Treasury’s largest-ever unclaimed property auction runs today and Thursday, with more than 6,600 items up for bid, including currency, jewelry, coins, and collectibles.

Downingtown auction house Pook & Pook is running the online sale, which clears out items that have sat in the Treasury’s vault, many of them from abandoned safe deposit boxes.

Proceeds stay available for rightful owners to claim indefinitely, and the state holds more than $5 billion in unclaimed property overall.

Last fall’s auction brought in more than $523,000, with many items selling above their high estimates.

Chicago Couple Weds at Eagles Tailgate

Chicago couple Lindsey Carl and Brandon Byrd got married at an Eagles tailgate in Lot H before Monday night’s game against Dallas.

They were chosen for Garage Beer’s “Tailgate Wedding of the Century,” which included rings from Steven Singer Jewelers, music from the Philly Pops and Delco Donny, and $5,000 toward a honeymoon.

Garage Beer is the light beer brand co-owned by Eagles legend Jason Kelce and his brother, Travis.

The Birds didn’t deliver a wedding gift, falling to the Cowboys 38-21, but the newlyweds join a growing list of fans who’ve said “I do” in the Linc’s parking lots.

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➤ Statewide: Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the bell-to-bell school cellphone ban into law Monday. It takes effect in the 2027-28 school year, with exceptions for medical and educational needs. (More)

➤ Pittsburgh: The city is remembering rocker Donnie Iris, who died at 83. He was known for Ah! Leah! and Love Is Like a Rock, plus his years with the Jaggerz. (More)

➤ Somerset County: Thieves stole more than $80,000 in extrication and power tools from the Addison Volunteer Fire Department, while chainsaws were taken from a Clearfield County fire company. (More)

➤ Western PA: Invasive Joro spiders, the giant yellow-and-blue arachnids spreading across the Southeast, could soon reach western Pennsylvania as their range keeps expanding. (More)

➤ Philadelphia: Six men stole 3,000 pounds of frozen snow crab from a semi around 4 a.m. Tuesday while the driver slept, then fled in a pickup and minivan. (More)

➤ Lancaster County: A burglary suspect broke out of his handcuffs and fought officers during his arrest in East Earl Township before being taken back into custody, police say. (More)

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➤ The Eagles fell to 2-5 with a 38-21 Monday loss at the Linc, as the defense allowed three touchdown passes and a career-high 155 rushing yards to Cowboys running back Javonte Williams. (See Recap)

➤ Saquon Barkley hurt his back on his first carry Monday after returning from a hamstring injury. He blamed the new injury on overcompensating, but still ran for 62 yards and a touchdown. (More)

➤ The Penguins get some much-needed rest with a light schedule this week, and a few injured players could return to the lineup soon. (More)

➤ The Flyers activated Cam York off injured reserve, recalled forward Jacob Gaucher from Lehigh Valley, and placed Rasmus Ristolainen on IR with an upper-body injury. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NBA | NHL | Soccer

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➤ U.S. Steel, now owned by Nippon Steel, approved nearly $3 billion for a new hot strip mill at Edgar Thomson in Braddock, boosting capacity nearly 60% by late 2029. (More)

➤ Pennsylvania farms are reporting bigger pumpkin harvests this fall, a boost for the state’s 821 agritourism farms. Lancaster County leads the state with more than 200 pumpkin operations. (More)

➤ Pittsburgh’s Incline Equity Partners acquired The Conrad Company, a 58-year-old York County distributor of fluid power, motion control, and automation products. (More)

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➤ Little Movie Store opened at 10th and McKean streets in South Philly, bringing back the video store experience with VHS tapes, DVDs, snacks, and rental machines. (More)

➤ The cast of HBO Max’s Emmy-winning The Pitt is back in Pittsburgh, filming Season 3 exterior scenes at Allegheny General Hospital, including its LifeFlight helipad. (More)

➤ Disney On Ice brings its Find Your Hero show to Hershey’s Giant Center for seven performances April 1-4, 2027. Tickets go on sale next Tuesday. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. 

➤ The classic 4% retirement rule got a haircut, and new research is rewriting savings targets. (Listen Now)

➤ ACA premiums are slated for another double-digit jump, and new enrollment rules could slow sign-ups. (Hear Episode)

➤ About 80% of the seafood Americans eat is imported, and the White House has a new strategy to shrink that number. (Hear Details)

Are crab legs worth the work?

1. Worth every crack
2. Too much effort
3. Don’t like crab

Yesterday’s Results:

Were you part of a music program in high school?

1. Music wasn’t my thing: 54%
2. Choir: 20%
3. Multiple programs: 14%
4. Marching band: 9%
5. Orchestra/concert band: 3%

HBO Max’s The Pitt is set at a Pittsburgh hospital, but where is most of the show actually filmed?

Show me the answer