The U.S. Supreme Court's conservative majority is prepared to strike down Roe v. Wade in what would be a landmark decision turning states like Pennsylvania into primary abortion-access battlegrounds. 

In Pennsylvania, abortion is legal up to 24 weeks into a pregnancy, but Republican lawmakers in Harrisburg want more stringent limits. Possibilities include a "heartbeat bill" that would ban the procedure after a doctor identifies a fetal heartbeat, usually around six weeks.

And that has exponentially raised the stakes of this year's race for governor, as Republicans look to secure a government trifecta and Democrats look to secure a firewall against further GOP-led restrictions.

Spotlight PA reports that what happens in Pennsylvania if Roe v. Wade is overturned largely depends on who the next governor is.

Term-limited incumbent Tom Wolf, a Democrat, tweeted Monday that he would veto any future attempts to curtail abortion rights statewide.

The lone Democrat running for his seat, Josh Shapiro, said the same.

Meanwhile, all nine candidates in the Republican primary for Wolf's seat would sign new restrictions into law, some without any exceptions.

THE CONTEXT: There is a bill that would codify Roe v. Wade protections in federal law and it passed the U.S. House in September. 

But NBC News reports there are two U.S. Senate Democrats — Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Joe Manchin of West Virginia — who have withheld their support. Casey on Tuesday expressed "serious concerns" about Roe v. Wade being overturned but did not endorse a specific legislative response.

"If this draft opinion becomes the final opinion of the court, I have serious concerns about what overturning almost 50 years of legal precedent will mean for women in states passing near or total" bans, Casey added.

Pennsylvania does not have a so-called trigger law that would rein in abortion access as soon as Roe is overturned. That means abortion would remain legal here post-Roe until the state adopts new restrictions.

There is also a lawsuit pending before the state's Supreme Court that could ultimately enshrine the procedure as a protected right under the state constitution's equal protection clause.

The suit, filed by abortion providers against the state Department of Human Services, argues that by denying coverage for abortion, Pennsylvania's Medicaid program is engaged in a form of sex discrimination.

THE BLOODLINE: The Post-Gazette traced the roots of Pittsburgh's first Black mayor, Ed Gainey, back to Virginia, the cradle of American slavery and a land some of Gainey's ancestors left for the northern city he now leads. But for modern-day relatives still in Virginia, the "losses outweigh the victories."

UNPERMITTED: The ACLU of Pennsylvania is suing Harrisburg, alleging the city's "burdensome and expensive" permitting process amounts to an unconstitutional restriction on public gatherings, per Capital-Star.

TRAIN TRACKS: There are abandoned rail lines scattered across Pennsylvania, and someone is compiling them in an interactive map because Pennsylvania loves its railroads, even after they're gone.

MAY FOURTH: A 90s-era, Star Wars-themed Pepsi machine in Pittsburgh has been repaired and restocked in honor of May Fourth — the film franchise's unofficial holiday, WTRF reports. The machine is a fan favorite.

FLYOVER COUNTRY: I'm currently using this slow-moving, hypnotic drone video of Harrisburg at dusk to lower my blood pressure and I've never felt better. Thanks as always for reading. See you back here tomorrow.