By Tim Lambert | Editor
“The goal is to continue to make products that some find therapeutic available, while eliminating the most dangerous products or forms that might be appealing to young people or consumers who simply don’t understand how dangerous kratom can be.” — State House Health Committee Chair Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), on efforts to regulate Kratom on Pennsylvania
A good Saturday morning to you. Today is going to be “take 2” for me, as far a concerts go. After Jason Isbell was canceled in Harrisburg last Sunday, Amy and I are headed to Merriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland for the Power to the People Festival. We’ll see how this Gen-Xer can hold-up at a daylong fest, but it’s worth the effort to check out Public Enemy, Tom Morello, Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Killer Mike and Dropkick Murphys.
Yes, the ‘90s called and I answered.
Whatever you are up to this weekend, be safe and have fun.
Thanks for starting your day with us. As always, we deeply appreciate you reading, sharing and supporting our work. -- Tim
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters in Washington, D.C., pictured in Feb. 3, 2026. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images)
By Natalie Bencivenga
The Week in Focus is a recap of our top stories.
A variety of kratom and 7-OH products — including capsules, cartridges and wellness shots — are on display at a smoke shop in Buffalo, N.Y. (Photo by Amanda Hernández/Stateline)
By Ian Karbal
A panel of Pennsylvania House members advanced a bill Tuesday that would allow the sale of some kratom products to continue in the state, while banning others and creating stricter regulations for sellers.
Under the proposed law, retailers who register with the state would be allowed to sell natural leaf kratom products to people 21 and over. But those products would have to meet strict packaging requirements and be subject to the tobacco tax.
Packages would have to include the manufacturer’s name and address, a warning that the products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and not contain any medical claims. They would also have to be child resistant and not designed to appeal to minors.
Advocates for open primaries have argued that the current system disenfranchises groups including about 400,000 Pennsylvania veterans and nearly two-thirds of young adults who choose to join an alternative political party or remain independent. (Photo by Pat Sutphin/Idaho Capital Sun)
By Peter Hall
A bill to allow independent and third-party voters to cast ballots in Pennsylvania primary elections passed Tuesday in the state House.
Despite the 115-88 vote, the legislation attracted opposition from both sides of the aisle from lawmakers who argued the primaries are the exclusive domain of the parties to nominate candidates for the general elections.
State Rep. Jared Solomon (D-Philadelphia), who is the measure’s prime sponsor, said opening the commonwealth’s primaries would correct an injustice for 1.5 million unaffiliated voters that has existed since the state Election Code was made law in 1937.
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Interested Pennsylvanian voters must apply for mail-in ballots by Oct. 17. The voter registration deadline is Oct. 19. (Photo by Simone Hogan/Getty Images)
By Whitney Downard
More than one million Pennsylvanian voters have requested a mail-in ballot ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election, with counties reporting nearly 64,000 returned ballots at the end of September.
At a press conference Wednesday, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt saidthat the percentage of returned ballots this year outpaced the 2022 midterm election, noting that the deadline to apply is Oct. 27.
“Voting by mail is a convenient, safe and secure option for eligible Pennsylvanians,” he said. “And even though the deadline is several weeks away, those who prefer to vote by mail should apply today to ensure they have time to receive, mark and return their ballot by Election Day.”
Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana) speaks to reporters about skill games and other legislative priorities following a Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon on Sept. 28, 2026. (Photo by Whitney Downard/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
By Whitney Downard
With just five weeks until Election Day, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana) isn’t worried that his party will lose control of the legislature’s upper chamber. Instead, despite warnings of a “blue wave” in November, he believes Senate Republicans will widen their four-seat edge.
“We have very strong incumbents that know how to reach their constituents and communicate with them,” Pittman told reporters on Monday. “Our incumbents know exactly what we’re doing, and we’re also going to pick up a seat.”
Half of the commonwealth’s senators are on the ballot this year alongside every House member.
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