Pennsylvania Democrats want to make affordability a central issue of their campaign this fall.

Why it matters: State Democrats are hoping to capitalize on President Trump's poor polling figures on the economy to flip the state Senate for the first time in 33 years, but the Republicans have a plan to hold their ground.

Context: Democrats have not had a trifecta in the state government since 1993 and are hoping to flip at least two Senate seats, retain the state House, and retain the governorship to reclaim total control.

Driving the news: State Senate Democrats unveiled their Affordability Action Plan at a press conference yesterday in Harrisburg.

• The plan builds on Lt. Gov. Austin Davis' initiatives and adds some legislation to address food and health care costs.

Senate Dems want to:

• Raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2029.
• Expand the state's free school breakfast program to include free lunch.
• Prevent future hospital closures.
• Expand the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit.
• Support Gov. Josh Shapiro's energy and housing action plans.
• Provide student debt relief.

What they're saying: "Our message today is clear: Senate Democrats are ready to enact commonsense, bipartisan legislation that will put money back in the pockets of Pennsylvania's families," said Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-Forest Hills) in a statement.

Between the lines: Food prices in February were up 3% compared with the same time last year, per the Consumer Price Index, Axios' Emily Peck reported.

The other side: State Republicans are looking to address affordability through a series of tax holidays, the caucus announced in March. They want to:

• Lower the state personal income tax rate from 3.07% to 2.99% for six months.
• Suspend the gas tax for six months.
• Suspend taxes on electricity and telecommunications for six months.

The bottom line

We reported Monday that local leaders are urging residents to ditch the doom loop and embrace the NFL draft's free festivities.

Zoom in: We asked readers to share their reactions, and you delivered with thoughtful, candid responses.

What they're saying: "Half a million visitors flooding already tight infrastructure is not a minor inconvenience, it's a quality-of-life issue for people who live and work Downtown," said Jessie P.

• X user @ak47eating said the lack of early clarity that the 700,000 attendance figure was spread over three days — not all at once — fueled reasonable public concern.
• Reader Sinéad M. said Axios Pittsburgh doesn't "get to run a newsletter with the subject line 'Relax about the draft' after over a month and a half of sending stories to inboxes about how downtown is preparing and emergency rooms bracing for large crowds."

The other side: "I get the anxiety, but I think some of the reactions are a little over the top," said Jason E. "Pittsburgh has always had a natural skepticism of outsiders coming in and judging us or a feeling that we don't need to do all this 'redding up' to prove ourselves. But there is something to be said for seeing your city through other people's eyes."

• "I'm out of town but have a buddy there that's excited for the whole event," said Bill W. "His solution? He lives in Green Tree and has a great scooter to get around all over town. Hoping he shares lots of great photos and videos. Some folks always hate on these kind of events but it does put a lot of extra welcomed $$ in many local businesses."

Thanks for sharing! Keep 'em comin'.

More reactions

🏈 Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will join NBC as a studio analyst on its Sunday night pregame show, "Football Night in America," this season. (The Athletic)

💊 Mark Cuban, Mt. Lebanon native and billionaire, will be interviewed live at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill on Fox News today at 8:30am.

• Steve Doocy will interview Cuban and discuss his Pittsburgh upbringing and his online pharmacy Cost Plus Drugs' partnership with TrumpRx. (Press release)

🛍️ Industrial bag manufacturer Mondi Bags will expand operations into a new facility in Findlay, adding 170 jobs to the region, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced yesterday. (Press release)

⚖️ The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court on Monday struck down the state's ban on using public funds, including Medicaid, for abortion care, ruling it violates the state constitution's Equal Rights Amendment. (WHYY)

Spring is the time when baby birds sometimes make their way out of the nest before they're ready — either from a moment of overconfidence or wind from a storm.

• Here's what to do when a fallen creature tugs at your heartstrings, according to wildlife officials.

Check for feathers: If the baby's still bald, you can pick it up and place it in its nest — or, if you can't find the nest, on a branch that's high enough to escape the interest of cats and dogs.

If it has feathers: Leave it alone unless it's in immediate danger from, say, another animal.

• In that case, move it somewhere safer — but only if it's not too agile a hopper for you to catch.

Threat level: Here are things to avoid.

• Don't take a bird home. Pennsylvania requires permits for that.
• Don't feed a baby bird. The wrong grub could kill it.
• Don't move nests that have birds or eggs in them. It's illegal under state and federal law.

The bottom line: When in doubt, ask a wildlife expert for advice.