👋 What's up? It's Wednesday.

• On this day in 1980, Bob Marley performed his final concert ever at Pittsburgh's Stanley Theatre (now called the Benedum Center). He died of cancer the following year.

☁️ Today's weather: Cloudy, slight chance of afternoon showers, high near 64.

🎧 Sounds like: "Get Up, Stand Up," by Bob Marley.

🎂 Happy birthday to our member Becky Downs!

🥂 Bring a friend — or make a few new ones. Join Axios readers going to dinner Oct. 6 at restaurants we hand-picked. Pull up a chair.

Today's newsletter is 990 words, a 3.5-minute read.

Skill games throughout Pennsylvania are facing an effective ban in mid-October — unless state legislators find a solution.

Why it matters: The fight over the ubiquitous tabletop machines in gas stations and corner stores is at a tipping point after years of the games going unregulated and untaxed.

Catch up quick: The state Supreme Court ruled over the summer that skill games are slot machines "several times over" and must abide by state gambling laws.

State of play: Pennsylvania's divided government has put forward a handful of proposals to regulate and tax skill games but hasn't reached a consensus.

• State police are warning business owners that are operating illegal skill games they will face enforcement beginning Oct. 14 — if state lawmakers don't act.
• That includes possible confiscation and forfeiting the machines.
• Businesses cannot simply unplug their skill games — they must remove them entirely.

Worth noting: Skill game machines can continue operating at locations licensed by the state Gaming Control Board: casinos and truck stops.

The big picture: An estimated 70,000 skill games are operating across Pennsylvania. The machines are both celebrated and maligned, depending on whom you're asking.

• 👍 For: Small businesses, gas stations, American Legions and stop-and-goes see skill games as a boon to their business.
• 👎 Against: Critics say the casino-like machines are a nuisance and a danger to communities, while Parx Casino has blamed them for crime and money laundering.

🤯 1 stunning fact: Skill games far exceed the number of regulated casino slot machines, per the state attorney general's website.

Zoom in: Skill games are found all across Pittsburgh. Some are located in bars, restaurants and convenience stores.

• Other storefronts have nothing but machines and ATMs.

Friction point: Pittsburgh created a tiered levy on skill games in city limits that would charge up to $1,000 per machine, but the ordinance is in limbo while the state works on legislation.

What we're watching: If a statewide ban goes into effect, local municipal police may take their own enforcement action, a state police spokesperson tells Axios.

Go deeper

Pennsylvanians buying health insurance through Pennie, the state's Affordable Care Act marketplace, may see another jump in costs next year.

Why it matters: It's the second straight year of average increases in the double digits, and more than 200,000 people have already dropped Pennie coverage since last year's open enrollment period.

The big picture: Individual health plan premiums will rise nearly 16% on average next year, while small-business group rates will climb an average of 10%, per rates finalized last week by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department.

Zoom in: What people pay for coverage next year will vary widely by insurer and plan, as well as age, location, income and household size.

• In Western Pennsylvania, Highmark Inc. members enrolled through Pennie will see a 14.5% average rate increase in 2027.
• Highmark Benefits Group: 19.7%
• UPMC Health Network: 9.7%
• UPMC Health Plan Inc: 13.5%

Context: State regulators say rising health care costs, along with greater demand for care, are pushing premiums higher. Federal safety-net cuts and Congress letting enhanced premium tax credits expire are adding to the pressure.

• New Medicaid work requirements could leave more people uninsured in 2027, shifting more uncompensated care costs to hospitals.

What they're saying: Many insurers initially sought steeper rate hikes, but state regulators approved smaller increases after reviewing whether the requests were "reasonable and justified," per the department.

• The Pennsylvania Insurance Department ultimately rejected $94.7 million in proposed premium increases.

What's next: Open enrollment for 2027 insurance will run from Nov. 1 through Jan. 15.

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💨 Pittsburgh-based Exus Renewables North America re-powered two wind farms in Cambria County last week. The Highland North project produces 75 megawatts and the Cambria wind farm produces 61.6 megawatts.

• This brings Exus' Pennsylvania portfolio to over 306.9 megawatts of renewable energy. (Press release)

🩺 Allegheny County's HIV rates have fallen to the lowest level on record, with 50 cases, a 50% decrease since 2016. (Post-Gazette)

🐞 The local spotted lanternfly population seems to have thinned out. Scientists believe depleted food resources, increased predators and pathogens, and changes in the weather could be contributing. (Next Pittsburgh)

Construction crews broke ground in Downtown yesterday on a project to rehab an overlooked corridor.

Why it matters: Smithfield Street has largely been left out of Downtown's redevelopment boom, but the whole corridor is finally getting some attention.

Zoom in: The first phase will upgrade infrastructure on three blocks between Forbes and Sixth avenues, according to the city's Department of Mobility and Infrastructure.

• That includes extended sidewalks, extending curbs for pedestrian safety, street landscaping and infrastructure for artistic lighting.
• The road will also be completely reconstructed.

Between the lines: Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O'Connor said earlier this year the upgrades are meant to create more possibilities for outdoor dining, including rehabbing the vacant storefronts under Mellon Square.

State of play: Smithfield Street has seen several business closures since the pandemic, but added Target, Five Below, and other businesses at the Kaufmann's Building.

What's next: Construction of the first phase is expected to take 18 to 24 months to complete, according to the mayor's office.

Keep reading

🏔️ Chrissy is heading to Colorado for the rest of the week.

🎤 Ryan enjoyed watching this short mini-doc on Bob Marley's final show in Pittsburgh.

Thanks to Chloe Gonzales for editing this newsletter.