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Today's newsletter is 978 words, a 4-minute read.

Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order yesterday tightening the rules for data center development in Pennsylvania, a move he said imposes the “strictest guardrails in the nation.”

Why it matters: The first-term Democratic governor and potential 2028 presidential contender once courted data center investment in Pennsylvania, but growing public opposition to energy demands and concerns about local control have led politicians nationwide to recalibrate that approach.

The big picture: Shapiro bypassed a divided General Assembly after it stalled in Harrisburg to enact his previously announced Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) standards through executive action.

The order removes all data center projects from the state’s fast-track permitting program and makes future data center projects ineligible for the program.

• It also requires developers to sign agreements enforcing GRID requirements, including a range of water, land and energy use guidelines.
• The Department of Environmental Protection will stall permits of those who refuse until they get local approval. Developers will also lose access to an existing sales tax exemption if they do not comply.
• Developers must secure local approval before the state will consider the applications.

Zoom in: The move also requires developers to supply their own power, including 10% from clean energy sources, and pay the costs tied to electricity use.

• It bars state agencies from signing nondisclosure agreements related to data center projects and requires developers to offer municipalities community benefits agreements and hire and train local workers.

What they’re saying: Shapiro said that of more than 100 speculative projects across the state, only five have the permits they would need to begin operating.

• He noted many “lack detailed plans, have insufficient financing, don’t have access to the electricity they actually need … or have no agreement with a tech company to use the space once it's built.”
• Shapiro pointed to Archbald, a Lackawanna County borough of about 7,500 where residents are protesting plans for six data center campuses — more than anywhere else in Pennsylvania.

Between the lines: Shapiro’s political ambitions go beyond 2026, and he becomes one of the first White House hopefuls to make a splash against data centers.

• His executive order follows other high-profile politicians in states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio who have come out strongly against new data centers.

The other side: Shapiro’s Republican challenger, state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, reiterated in a statement her call to pause all new data center development, saying Shapiro was reversing course amid shifting public opinion.

The bottom line: Shapiro’s order doesn’t pause new data center development outright, but the administration says the stricter standards will make it difficult for most developers to qualify for new projects.

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The Sixers can already claim one preseason accolade: They're the NBA's hottest ticket on StubHub.

Why it matters: LeBron James doesn't just move the needle — he's the straw that stirs the NBA's drink.

Driving the news: After the NBA finalized its schedule last week, interest in Sixers games exploded on the secondary market, showing how James is "reshaping fan interest well beyond Philadelphia," a StubHub spokesperson tells Axios.

• The Sixers currently have seven of the 10 most in-demand games on StubHub, led by Philly's opening-night tilt against defending champion New York at Madison Square Garden, per data shared with Axios.

Plus, demand for James' return to Los Angeles on Christmas has nearly doubled compared with demand for last year's Christmas slate.

Stunning stat: Searches for Sixers games are up more than 12 times on StubHub from last year's schedule release.

• The team jumped from No. 6 after last year's schedule release to No. 1 this season.

Zoom in: Rounding out the Sixers' five most sought-after games:

• No. 2: Cavaliers at 76ers on Oct. 22
• No. 3: 76ers at Hornets on Halloween
• No. 4: Knicks at Sixers on Oct. 30 in the NBA Cup
• No. 5: Pistons at Sixers on Oct. 25

The bottom line: Remember when the Sixers were so bad that you could score cheap tickets?

• With James aboard for the next two years, those days are a distant memory.

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⚖️ ABC filed a lawsuit yesterday against the Federal Communications Commission, the latter of which has ordered an accelerated review of ABC's local station broadcast licenses that include Philly's 6ABC.

• The lawsuit argues that the FCC has violated ABC's First Amendment rights by retaliating against the broadcaster for its editorial decisions. (Axios)

🚨 Police are searching for an individual who they say wore a Chucky-style Halloween face mask while recently chasing and threatening several people near City Hall.

• Police are investigating whether the incidents were part of an online prank. (NBC)

💰 The Philly school district is offering eligible parents and guardians $150 monthly payments to drive their child to and from school instead of using the bus.

• The application deadline is Oct. 1.

Alas, Philadelphia's final 8pm sunset of the year is behind us.

The big picture: We lose a little more daylight every day as the Earth's Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the Sun through Dec. 21, which will be the shortest day of the year.

State of play: Our last 8pm sunset was last week.

• Tonight's apparent sunset is scheduled for 7:52pm, per NOAA.

Zoom out: Philly's joins East Coast cities from Boston to Miami that are already officially in 8pm darkness.

Meanwhile, parts of southeastern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and all of Hawaii never see an 8pm sunset, even at the height of summer.

• And then there's Arizona, which does not observe daylight saving time, so most Arizonans get what they get: earlier sunsets all the time.

🍿 Mike is watching the new season of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

Have a good day!

Today's newsletter was edited by Alexa Mencia Orozco.