Happy Wednesday!

• Pennsylvania founder William Penn was born on this day in 1644,

🌧️ Today's weather: Slight chance of showers then mostly sunny with a high near 69.

🎧 Sounds like: "Moon River," by Henry Mancini.

🎂 Happy birthday to our member Pamela Stewart!

Today’s newsletter is 949 words — a 3.5-minute read.

The era of unregulated skill games in Pennsylvania is over.

Why it matters: The effective ban is a double whammy, depriving small businesses and the state of significant revenue from the money-making slot machines.

State of play: An estimated 70,000 skill games across Pennsylvania must go offline today.

• The state's divided government failed to come to terms on a new framework for the casino-style machines to keep them operating.

Context: Over the summer, the state Supreme Court ended a yearslong debate by ruling that skill games are gambling devices subject to state gambling laws.

• The justices gave lawmakers several months to legalize and regulate the devices before a ban would go into effect.

Worth noting: Skill games are still legal in licensed casinos and truck stops.

👍 Winners: Communities and lawmakers who loathe the devices, labeling them as nuisances that attract crime.

👎 Losers: Small businesses — think gas stations, social clubs, bars and corner stores — who can reap significant revenues from the slot machines in their stores.

How it works: State police and local municipalities can begin enforcing the ban today, which includes:

• Seizing and forfeiting machines, as well as any revenues associated with their operation
• Filing criminal charges, which could carry fines of $1,500+ and jail time.
• Potential suspension of liquor license

Yes, but: Exactly how the ban will be enforced and whether residents can call in to report violations is unclear.

📍 Zoom in: Pittsburgh veterans groups and businesses urged state lawmakers to protect their skill-game machines, warning they could lose thousands in revenue.

What they're saying: A spokesperson for Pace-O-Matic, which manufactures many of the city's terminals, tells Axios the company remains hopeful lawmakers will pass legislation to regulate and tax skill games.

What we're watching: Whether state lawmakers revisit skill game regulations in the future to legalize the devices.

Between the lines

The Pittsburgh Walk of Fame doubled its star power Tuesday, unveiling a second class of honorees whose bronze stars now line the Strip District Terminal.

Zoom in: This year's inductees are:

🎙️ Myron Cope: The longtime Steelers broadcaster who created the Terrible Towel in 1975.

• "He received offers to broadcast and move to many other cities, but he chose to stay here in his hometown," said Elizabeth Cope, his daughter, who spoke at the ceremony. "He always said it wouldn't be as fun anywhere else; he couldn't be as passionate anywhere else. My father worked hard, played hard and had the time of his life right here in Pittsburgh."

💃 Martha Graham: The North Side-born dancer and choreographer who helped revolutionize modern dance. The Martha Graham Dance Company remains a leading modern dance troupe as it celebrates its centennial this year.

📸 Charles "Teenie" Harris: The Hill District photographer who documented decades of Black life in Pittsburgh. His son, Lionel Harris, spoke on his behalf and shared the launch of the Teenie Harris Foundation and efforts to save the Teenie Harris house in Homewood.

🏈 Franco Harris: The four-time Super Bowl champion behind the Steelers' Immaculate Reception.

🥫 H.J. Heinz: The Sharpsburg-raised entrepreneur who built a global food empire known for ketchup and its 57 varieties.

🎭 Shirley Jones: The Charleroi-born, Oscar-winning actress known for "Oklahoma!" and "The Partridge Family."

🐧 Mario Lemieux: The Penguins legend who won two Stanley Cups as a player and three more as an owner. Lemieux accepted the honor in person.

🎶 Henry Mancini: The Aliquippa-raised, four-time Oscar-winning composer behind "Moon River" and "The Pink Panther Theme."

🎬 Jimmy Stewart: The Indiana, Pa., native and Oscar-winning actor known for "It's a Wonderful Life."

🛤️ George Westinghouse: The inventor who transformed railroad safety and electrical power systems, then built his industrial empire in Pittsburgh.

If you go: The Walk of Fame is on the sidewalk along Smallman Street between 18th and 19th streets in front of the Strip District Terminal.

Keep reading

🍴Lawrence Hall on Butler Street in Lawrenceville will close at the end of the year, citing "rising costs, a difficult economic backdrop and a series of challenges and setbacks."

• The food hall opened in early 2024. It remains open for regular hours through December. (Instagram)

✈️ Breeze Airways will bring commercial flights back to Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe following Spirit Airlines' shutdown.

• Nonstop flights (Mondays and Fridays) to Myrtle Beach begin Feb. 9, followed by nonstop flights to Orlando (Wednesdays and Saturdays) on May 26. (Post-Gazette)

🦠Pennsylvania reported its sixth measles-associated death so far this year in Franklin County. The state has reported 1,136 total cases, including 2 in Allegheny County. (KDKA)

🤘 Pittsburgh music legend Donnie Iris is retiring from live performances due to health issues. The 83-year-old's final show was Sept. 28 at the opening of Citizens Live at The Wylie. (WTAE)

🎃 Pittsburgh's official trick-or-treat hours will be 5:30pm – 7:30pm on Oct. 31. Find safety tips and other city Halloween events here. (Press release)

Nebby found a little piece of Pittsburgh's past.

Can you guess where? Reply to this email with your guess for a chance to win a Nebby sticker!

Editor's note: Yesterday's newsletter incorrectly listed the "Multi-Modal Race" as taking place next Friday. The event was last Friday, Oct. 9. The newsletter has been corrected to reflect the error.

👹 Chrissy visited Portals of Fear for the first time last weekend and was impressed with the costumes, story and set design.

✌️Ryan is enjoying his vacation.

Thanks to Larry Graham for editing this newsletter.