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Pennsylvania still has a ballot processing problem

Pennsylvania might not find out who its next senator is on the night of the November election. Why? The short answer: politics.

  • Pa. mail ballots still can’t be sorted in advance, unlike in most other U.S. states. Election officials can now start counting at 7 a.m. on Election Day, but warn it might not be enough to avoid a delay.

Asha Prihar has a rundown of why the issue has fizzled into a stalemate.

Workers tally mail ballots inside the Pa. Convention Center on Election Day 2020 Credit: Emma Lee / WHYY

A ‘beautiful and necessary’ gathering of Black women poets

Philadelphia has a strong history of Black women poets, from Sonia Sanchez to Ursula Rucker and beyond.

  • Two of Philly’s recent poet laureates, Yolanda Wisher and Trapeta B. Mayson, created a Monument Lab project to recognize and cultivate that legacy. Called ConsenSIS, it culminated last weekend

Part listening session, part dance party — and all gorgeously colorful — the gathering “allowed participants to find joy,” writes Maya Arthur for Billy Penn.

Doing the Electric Slide as part of The Score, a ConsenSIS listening party and celebration at the Johnson House Historic Site in Germantown Credit: Tieshka Smith for ConsenSIS PHL

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

  • A look at where gubernatorial candidates Josh Shapiro and Doug Mastriano stand on changing Pa.’s minimum wage, which hasn’t budged since 2009. [WHYY]
  • Over 2,000 nurses and other union employees with Temple University Hospital voted Wednesday to authorize a strike, but will remain on the job as negotiations continue. [6ABC]
  • Wawa is closing two Center City stores — at 12th and Market and 19th and Market — citing “continued safety and security challenges.” That’s a 180 from the convenience brand’s position three years ago, when it was doubling down on Philly locations, including the big flagship next to Independence Mall. [NBC10/BP x 2]
  • Long the anchor of Philly’s economy, “eds and meds,” are still the basis of about 13% of all jobs in the area, per a new report by the Philadelphia Fed. [Axios/Fed]
  • Looking to get into real estate? Women and people of color interested in pursuing certification can apply for free training from ULI Philadelphia. Deadline is Nov. 30. [ULI Phila]
  • Joel Embiid is donating $1 million to local youth nonprofits as part of his newly established “In Memory of Arthur” foundation, named for his younger brother, who died in a 2014 car accident and is the namesake of Embiid’s son. [NBA/BP 2020]

The story you didn’t read

? Highlighting good articles few people clicked on ?

  • Over half of registered Latino voters in Pennsylvania have never been contacted by a nonpartisan or partisan source for voter outreach, per a recent poll. Why is that — and what are Philly-area counties doing about it?

MAYOR WATCH

Mayor Kenney brings election officials and faith leaders to City Hall for a press conference urging voter participation in the November election (10:30 a.m.). Need to register? Do that here. Apply for a mail ballot? Here’s the link.

ON THE CALENDAR

? BP Quizzo is sponsored by Mighty Writers this month! Join us for a night of Philly trivia at Hawthornes in Bella Vista. Win prizes and enjoy happy hour specials as we welcome the literacy nonprofit and its NEA Big Read program. RSVP to play Quizzo for free. (6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19)

? To close out Hispanic Heritage Month, artist Cesar Viveros live-paints a mural at Kensington’s Sunflower Philly, where there will be light bites and a chance to make sugar skulls. (12 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16)