Monday is the deadline register to vote in the May 17 primary. What to know | Monday Coffee

Good Monday Morning, Fellow Seekers.As of this writing, a little more than two weeks remain before voters head to the polls (or mail in or drop off their ballots) in Pennsylvania’s nationally watched primary elections on May 17, which include high-stakes races for governor and U.S. Senate, as well as some key legislative contests across the commonwealth.

First thing’s first, if you’re not registered to vote, today is your last day to do so. You can register to vote here. Don’t know if you’re registered or not? You can check your registration status here.

But, as they say, caveat emptor: Pennsylvania’s primaries are open only to registered Democrats and Republicans. So if you’re an independent, Green, Libertarian, or even Jedi, you’re out of luck. However, there is a movement afoot to change that.

Some other key pieces of information:

The deadline to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot is May 10 by 5 p.m.

If you’re registered to vote, you can find your polling place here. 

Curious about who will appear on your ballot? The Capital-Star has you covered there, as well.

For more coverage on the primary election, the issues, and the candidates, head to our website and click on the “Election 2022” tab.

Regardez:

Find election coverage under the “Election 2022” tab on our homepage.

Need to get up to date on the issues? Our staff covered last week’s debates for U.S. Senate and governor. Here’s a quick way to get up to date:

(C) Sandra Burm – Stock.Adobe.com

Our Stuff.In 2020, outdoor recreation contributed more than $32 billion to Pennsylvania’s GDP, Cassie Miller reports in this week’s edition of The Numbers Racket, which further runs down the salutary effects that outdoor recreation has on the state’s economy.

In a newly filed federal lawsuit, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania that the City of Harrisburg has imposed “unconstitutional restrictions on public gatherings” and has asked a judge to block the city’s enforcement of its permitting system, and the fees associated with it, Cassie Miller also reports.

Pennsylvania’s pandemic-stressed public school nurses are overworked and stretched thin, Marley Parish reports in a must-read story about these critical frontline workers.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a fuel waiver to allow for a heightened ethanol gasoline blend to be sold at service stations this summer, an attempt by the Biden administration to lower soaring fuel prices, Capital-Star Washington Reporter Ariana Figueroa reports.

With the school year nearly at an end, and with budget season beckoning, our partners at City & State PA take a look at the impact that Pennsylvania’s landmark school funding trial might have on this year’s fiscal derby.

And as it rings in its sesquicentennial, embattled North Braddock, Pa., in Allegheny County is looking to a brighter future, our partners at Pittsburgh City Paper report.

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission recently proposed statewide regulations asserting that anti-LGBTQ discrimination is a form of sex discrimination, our partners at the Philadelphia Gay News report.

En la Estrella-Capital: Un panel de la Cámara de Representantes de Estados Unidos investiga la desinformación dirigida a las comunidades de color. Y los nuevos textos de Pa. muestran El “papel clave” del representante Scott Perry, R-10th District, al tratar de anular los resultados de las elecciones del 2020.

On our Commentary Page this morning: From Donald Trump to Russia, Hillary Clinton keeps getting it right, opinion regular Dick Polman writes. And spring brings new life, so let’s pass compassionate release for our incarcerated neighbors, the Rev. Sandra Strauss, of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, writes.

(Getty Images photo)

Elsewhere.Former Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane was jailed as she awaited a hearing on a DUI arrest, the Inquirer reports.

With housing prices rising, Black homeownership in Pittsburgh has declined, the Post-Gazette reports.

Pennsylvanians will have to wait a bit longer for the Post Office to deliver some packages, PennLive reports.

Some of the Republicans running for governor have accused county GOP committees of a ‘shakedown’ for charging them to speak at their events, LancasterOnline reports.

The York Daily Record runs down some of the ‘lingering’ questions about a proposed Satan club in one York County school district.

Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin has settled a defamation case against a local blogger who’d accused him of fixing cases, the Morning Call reports.

A Florida nonprofit is expanding its operations to help diabetic children in northeastern Pennsylvania, the Citizens’ Voice reports.

BillyPenn has photos from Sunday’s Broad Street run in Philadelphia.

Penn State held a ‘Night of Remembrance’ late last week to remember students who have died this year, WPSU-FM reports.

PoliticsPA runs down last week’s winners and losers in state politics.

City & State Pa. has what you need to know about ongoing efforts to reduce the state’s corporate tax rate.

State supreme courts are slowly starting to look like the rest of the country, Stateline.org reports.

Roll Call runs down what you need to watch for in Tuesday’s party primaries in Indiana and Ohio.

Here’s your #Harrisburg Instagram of the Day:

What Goes OnThe House and Senate are both out until after the primary. So, as you might expect, it’s a light docket today.10 a.m., East Hempfield Twp. Building, Landisville, Pa.: Senate Majority Policy Committee1 p.m., Cetronia Ambulance Corps HQ, Allentown: House Democratic Policy Committee

What Goes On (Nakedly Political Edition)5:30 p.m.: Reception for state House candidate Thomas Kutz. Admission runs $150 to $1,000, dependent, as always, on the depth of your enthusiasm.

WolfWatchAs of this writing, Gov. Tom Wolf has no public schedule today.

You Say It’s Your Birthday Dept.Best wishes go out this morning to regular reader Jim Hertzler, of Cumberland County, who celebrates today. Congratulations and enjoy the day.

Heavy RotationHere’s an absolute classic from Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians that popped up as I was pulling this newsletter together. It’s the wonderful — and not a little weird — ‘Balloon Man’.

Monday’s Gratuitous Baseball LinkBaltimore pulled one out over Boston on Sunday. The Os beat the Sox 9-5 at home at Camden Yards.

And now you’re up to date.