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🎧 Sounds like: "Tha Crossroads," by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

Today's newsletter is 912 words, a 3.5-minute read.

Pennsylvania's rapid push toward limiting the use of license plate readers made by Flock and other companies just got a major backer: Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Why it matters: The cameras have fast become a major flashpoint over concerns of mass surveillance and privacy, joining other anti-tech targets like data centers.

How it works: Flock and other automated license plate reader cameras (ALPRs) are placed on streets and highways. They use AI to capture and store information like license plate numbers, car make and other features.

1 rare thing: It's a bipartisan issue in Pennsylvania — unusual in the state's divided government.

State of play: At least three state legislators say they will put forward limits or outright bans on the tech — two state Republican senators and a Democratic senator.

Meanwhile, Shapiro recently took a position on the issue, saying he would back legislation to ban the cameras statewide.

• "This is not something in the public interest," said the Democratic governor about the cameras, per the Post-Gazette. "I think law enforcement needs to have tools to keep communities safe. Flock cameras are not a tool that I support."

Zoom in: There are more than 1,300 ALPRs logged across 10 Southwestern Pennsylvania counties, and roughly 30% of them are owned by Flock, according to DeFlock, a national organization that maps Flock cameras and other ALPRs via crowdsourced data.

State of play: Anti-Flock fever has hit parts of Pittsburgh, including on Pitt's campus. Some on social media have also confused the city's new red-light cameras with Flock cameras, even though the red-light cameras are owned by Verra Mobility and not used for surveillance.

The big picture: Flock alone has more than 120,000 cameras across the country, the company tells Axios.

• Advocates say the cameras help quickly track down criminals, making cities safer.
• Opponents say the cameras enable constant surveillance, infringe on residents' civil liberties and lack adequate oversight. Some have even turned to sabotaging them.

What they're saying: Elizabeth Randol, ACLU of Pennsylvania's legislative director, tells Axios that Flock's universal coverage can create a chilling effect on people's liberties.

• "Even if a person is not violating the law, the threat of this constant, ever-present surveillance could make people afraid to lawfully exercise their rights of freedom of speech, religion, and association," Randol says.

Go deeper

The Pennsylvania Turnpike is getting a new exit and interchange in Westmoreland County, the Turnpike Commission announced last month.

Why it matters: Townships like Mt. Pleasant, Unity and Derry are growing, and adding a connection to the turnpike is critical to boost that area's momentum, said PennDOT secretary Mike Carroll.

Zoom in: A diamond-style interchange will be built where the toll road meets Route 981 in Mt. Pleasant Township.

• That's at the turnpike's mile marker 80.8.
• It will be about 15 minutes south of the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport near Latrobe.

Zoom out: The new interchange will sit between the New Stanton and Dongel exits, adding an entrance/exit to this 16-mile gap.

By the numbers: The project will cost between $45 million and $50 million, per the Turnpike Commission.

• Tens of millions of dollars have already been committed to this project, Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward said.

What they're saying: The interchange will create easier access to the turnpike for many nearby communities and help businesses and freight companies save money on logistics by opening up use of the Arnold Palmer Airport instead of driving to Pittsburgh, Ward said.

What's next: The Turnpike Commission estimates a 2031 completion date, spokesperson Marissa Orbanek tells Axios.

Between the lines

🥛 Dairy giant Chobani announced yesterday it's investing $1.2 billion in a massive plant in Lehigh County, promising 900 jobs and 3 billion pounds of milk annually. (Press release)

🏠 Homeowners in predominantly Black communities in Allegheny County are paying about $1,800 a year for home insurance, compared to $1,600 a year for homeowners in predominantly white communities. (Post-Gazette)

🎭 The newly merged Pittsburgh CLO and Pittsburgh Public Theater on Monday announced its new name: Confluence Theater of Pittsburgh. (TribLive)

🪴Pittsburgh plant shop City Grows closed its Strip District location at the Terminal, citing the challenges of managing two shops. Its original Butler Street location in Lawrenceville will now be open seven days a week. (Business Times)

There's nothing more damaging to a Democrat than agreeing with Trump AND data centers — but what's right is right.

Context: Fetterman posted Monday on X he agrees with President Trump, who wrote on social media that data centers will make communities "successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place."

Zoom out: Pennsylvania and the nation's data center debate is boiling over, as some politicians alter their past positions, just as others dig in.

❗Chrissy found a tourist attraction on Google titled "Krusty the Neighborhood Cat" with glowing reviews and needs more context.

🚆 Ryan had a blast talking about trains and why we won't get high-speed rail on this episode of City Cast Pittsburgh.

Thanks to Chloe Gonzales for editing this newsletter.