This week’s biggest Winners & Losers

Promoted to SEPTA’s top job after six months as interim chief, Sauer just won himself arguably one of the commonwealth’s hardest jobs: stabilizing Southeastern Pennsylvania’s troubled transit system. Few know SEPTA like Sauer, a 35-year employee now tasked with steering the agency through a budget crisis that has the board voting on a plan to slash service by up to 50%.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education announced this week that the Harrisburg School District is set to exit state receivership on June 17 after spending six years under state oversight – becoming the first school district in state history to leave receivership. The local school board will regain more control over the district after having its powers constrained while under the state’s watch. The school board’s 2025-26 budget includes a 2% property tax hike, which will be considered on June 24, according to The Burg.

The Villanova-tied pope has tapped a Pittsburgh bishop for a leadership position. Pope Leo XIV appointed Pittsburgh Auxiliary Bishop Mark Eckman to lead the northern U.S. diocese. Eckman, a Pittsburgh native, has also served as a member on several boards, including the priest council and the U.S. bishops’ conference National Advisory Board.

The South-Central PA Republican has yet to learn a fundamental lesson of the digital age: Think before you tweet. On Tuesday, along with sharing Elon Musk’s X missive calling the president’s Big, Beautiful Bill “a massive, outrageous, pork-filled … disgusting abomination,” Perry added his own commentary: “Shame on those who voted for it … @elonmusk is right to call out House Leadership.” Whereupon the Twittersphere called Perry out directly for his hypocrisy, via a community note: “Rep. Scott Perry voted for the bill.” Whoopsie!

Trump nominated Jared Isaacman, a commercial astronaut and the founding CEO of the payment processing company Shift4, to lead NASA on Dec. 4, 2024. However, Trump withdrew Isaacman’s nomination this week “after a thorough review of prior associations,” according to a social media post from the president. The New York Times later reported that the decision came after Trump was informed that Isaacman had previously made political contributions to Democrats. That’s one small step backward for the Pennsylvania-based astronaut and entrepreneur.

One Harrisburg-area woman is being charged after allegedly stealing $23,500 in an immigration process scheme in 2024, according to Swatara Township Police. The victim, who provided months of evidence and texts, told police they paid Gracie Deguia-Reed in order for her to sponsor six family members coming from Vietnam to the U.S. Deguia-Reed, also known as Grace Santos-Cruz, reportedly lied to police about her information and criminal record – and has been charged with theft by deception and false impression.