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Pa. House Democrats are licking their chops
Democrats came up big in Pennsylvania this week, and the party yesterday announced another potential win: flipping the Pa. House majority.
- It would be the first time since 2010 that Dems control the chamber, and there are big implications for issues like abortion and minimum wage. Philly Rep. McClinton would become the first woman speaker.
However, it’s not a done deal. Some of the races — including seats in the Philly suburbs — are still too close to call. We have a breakdown of the situation.

A travel company brought British tourists to gawk at Pa. elections
Which stage of post-colonialism is this? A travel company apparently sold a group of British tourists an up-close look at the U.S. election.
- Philadelphia was one of the stops advertised on the tour, which promised to “[take] the political temperature and look at the huge battles ongoing within both parties.”
City officials told BP intern Emily White they hadn’t heard about the company, but one organizer said there were complaints about disrupting GOTV work.

RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
- Democrat Summer Lee will be the first Black woman to represent Pennsylvania in Congress, after beating Republican Mike Doyle in District 12, which reps Happy Valley. [KDKA]
- A new contract for nurses at Temple University Hospital avoided a strike, bringing better security measures and some of the highest nursing wages in the region. [WHYY]
- Throwback to when Pa.’s next U.S. senator got artists to create a 1,000-lb. butter sculpture of Gritty. [Billy Penn]
- Work is underway to replace the strip mall at 43rd and Chestnut in University City with a 275-unit apartment building. [Rising Real Estate]
- If you know any native Spanish speakers who want more formal language education, they can sign up for a Free Library program called Leamos. [Kensington Voice]
- The man who ate 40 consecutive rotisserie chickens is using his 15 minutes of fame for good: on his Twitter account, he’s promoting donations to the South Philly Community Fridge. [Billy Penn/@AlexiconTom]
- Philly native Jake Tapper schooling his CNN colleague on election night: “I keep telling you, it’s ‘Delco.’” [@CrossingBroad]
MAYOR WATCH
Hmm guess what? Nothing on the public schedule for Mayor Kenney today.
ON THE CALENDAR
?️ The Constitution Center celebrates Veterans Day with a series of events, including a wreath-laying, veteran author chats, a letter-writing station, and poppy pins. (11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11)
?️ Looking for locally made gifts like candles and cutting boards? The Chandlery Scent Studio reopens in Grad Hospital after a pandemic break. (3 to 7 p.m. Thurs and Fri, 12 to 6 p.m. Sat and Sun)
? The Food Trust hosts a pop-up farmers market in Northern Liberties’ Piazza. If this one goes well, it could return on a weekly basis next spring. (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12)