Legislature
‘It’s a new day’: Pa. lawmakers to tackle police reform in wake of George Floyd’s death
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/06/pa-lawmakers-to-tackle-police-reform-in-wake-of-george-floyds-death-its-a-new-day.html
Tenants and landlords in Pa. and N.J. are seeking rental assistance to fend off evictions
https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/housing/rent-assistance-relief-pa-nj-coronavirus-eviction-tenant-20200615.html
Another look at CARES Act spending in Pa.: How health and social programs benefit | The Numbers Racket
https://www.penncapital-star.com/covid-19/coronavirus-relief-appropriations-part-2-of-2-the-numbers-racket/
Coronavirus – COVID-19
Coronavirus exploited failure of Pa. health officials to improve long-standing problems with nursing home oversight
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/06/15/The-coronavirus-exploited-failure-of-Pa-health-officials-to-improve-long-standing-problems-with-nursing-home-oversight/stories/202006150025
A second wave of the coronavirus is coming, health officials say. But when?
https://www.mcall.com/health/mc-hea-coronavirus-second-wave-20200615-edsi5f3x2fcq5nezrhrq62x5y4-story.html
Pennsylvania reports 336 more covid-19 cases, 4 more deaths
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-reports-336-more-covid-19-cases-4-more-deaths/
No new deaths in Western Pa.; 4 deaths reported statewide
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/06/14/COVID-19-coronavirus-Allegheny-County-Western-Pennsylvania-cases-deaths-data-pandemic-25/stories/202006140112
Allegheny County reports 3 new covid-19 cases, no new deaths
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/allegheny-county-reports-3-new-covid-19-cases-no-new-deaths/
Westmoreland County adds 3 new covid-19 cases, no new deaths
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-county-adds-3-new-covid-19-cases-no-new-deaths/
6 new COVID-19 cases, no new deaths in county
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/6-new-covid-19-cases-no-new-deaths-in-county-1.2638480
County’s first COVID-19 case confirmed 3 months ago
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/county-s-first-covid-19-case-confirmed-3-months-ago-1.2638477
Berks County adds 16 more positive coronavirus cases
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/berks-county-adds-16-more-positive-coronavirus-cases/article_0bc3dc34-ae76-11ea-ac60-3bbe20b78909.html
Too soon to surrender to coronavirus | Editorial
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/coronavirus-rebound-lifting-restrictions-pennsylvania-new-jersey-20200615.html
Business
To help businesses in Philly and elsewhere, PayPal sets up a new $530 million fund to assist black-owned firms
https://www.inquirer.com/business/sba-ppp-treasury-ppfa-paypal-worc-black-business-20200615.html
Everybody wants a backyard pool, but the line is long
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/pittsburgh-company-news/2020/06/15/Pools-pandemic-COVID-19-Pittsburgh/stories/202006120043
Hotels in Westmoreland County, impacted by coronavirus, could see growth in coming years
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/hotels-in-westmoreland-county-impacted-by-coronavirus-could-see-growth-in-coming-years/
Want to exit a bad timeshare? The firms offering to help you can be just as bad as the original commitment.
https://www.inquirer.com/business/tourism/timeshare-contracts-exits-complaints-attorney-general-bbb-aarp-20200615.html
Why the May job numbers were wrong and how to read economic data in the coronavirus era
https://www.inquirer.com/economy/may-jobs-report-understated-unemployed-bls-tips-analysis–20200614.html
Aquarium adds new exhibits for eventual return
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/aquarium-adds-new-exhibits-for-eventual-return-1.2638572
Local farms planning for unprecedented berry season
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/local-farms-planning-for-unprecedented-berry-season-1.2638613
T-shirt campaign raised more than $87K for local businesses
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/t-shirt-campaign-raised-more-than-87k-for-local-businesses-1.2638590
Some quarters of Berks County showing eagerness for return of shopping, dining
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/some-quarters-of-berks-county-showing-eagerness-for-return-of-shopping-dining/article_5e6c6b06-acb7-11ea-8472-577754bc6d54.html
Lehigh Valley’s final Kmart, in Walnutport, to close, retailer’s website indicates
https://www.mcall.com/business/mc-biz-kmart-closing-walnutport-last-in-lehigh-valley-20200613-xf6nur2wdzfzdha66slnki4pwu-story.html
Does PennEast pipeline need water-protection agency’s blessing? The answer’s murky.
https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/news/2020/06/does-penneast-pipeline-need-water-protection-agencys-blessing-the-answers-murky.html
Crime/Punishment
Norristown police chief talks race, policing following death of George Floyd
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/norristown-police-chief-talks-race-policing-following-death-of-george-floyd/article_86fdac04-2c9b-5eee-9460-243d3fedfdc4.html
Tasers: Are these police tools effective and are they dangerous?
https://www.mcall.com/news/nation-world/ct-nw-nyt-police-tasers-safety-20200615-zrcruifhmvdfbj25iwcuwwckqa-story.html
‘She’s breaking down’: Inmates at Bucks County jail decry treatment of suicidal woman with severe mental illness
https://www.witf.org/2020/06/15/inmates-at-bucks-county-jail-allege-nightmare-conditions-for-suicidal-woman-with-severe-mental-illness/
How police accountability works in Pennsylvania
https://www.penncapital-star.com/civil-rights-social-justice/how-police-accountability-works-in-pennsylvania/
Let’s strive to make rubber bullets relics of the past. There is a path forward | Opinion
https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/lets-strive-to-make-rubber-bullets-relics-of-the-past-there-is-a-path-forward-opinion/
Education
Nittany Lion football? Thousands of students back in Happy Valley? Penn State is planning for it.
https://www.inquirer.com/education/penn-state-fall-plans-coronavirus-football-20200614.html
Penn State will resume in-person classes in late August amid the coronavirus pandemic, but will break in November
https://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/2020/06/penn-state-will-resume-in-person-classes-in-late-august-amid-the-coronavirus-pandemic-but-will-break-in-november.html
HACC campuses will remain closed for rest of the year
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/06/hacc-campuses-will-remain-closed-for-rest-of-the-year.html
Lehigh Valley colleges refunded some money to students this spring. Come fall, that’s unlikely.
https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/coronavirus/2020/06/lehigh-valley-colleges-refunded-some-money-to-students-this-spring-come-fall-thats-unlikely.html
Elections/Politics
Blind voter advocates file lawsuits in Pa., other states over voter access
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/blind-voter-advocates-file-state-lawsuits-voter-protections-election-20200614.html
Trump rally called ‘dangerous move’ in age of coronavirus
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/coronavirus-covid-19-trump-campaign-rally-tulsa-oklahoma-may-spread-virus-pandemic-20200614.html
Local News
Berks Democratic committee collects food for Helping Harvest
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/berks-democratic-committee-collects-food-for-helping-harvest/article_0765e58c-ae72-11ea-964f-df362eb21c95.html
Harrison walk calls for love, unity, healing
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/harrison-walk-calls-for-love-unity-healing/
More than 100 turn out for Murrysville Black Lives Matter support walk
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/more-than-100-turn-out-for-murrysville-black-lives-matter-support-walk/
Hundreds march for love over hate in Robesonia
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/hundreds-march-for-love-over-hate-in-robesonia/article_600950b4-ae79-11ea-b6e6-53769be1579f.html
More than 1,000 protesters walk for Black Lives Matter through Lansdowne, Yeadon
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/more-than-1-000-protesters-walk-for-black-lives-matter-through-lansdowne-yeadon/article_379281d6-ae98-11ea-b876-abae3edd4111.html
Community cleans up Chester parsonage hit by firebomb
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/community-cleans-up-chester-parsonage-hit-by-firebomb/article_dee4f822-ae9f-11ea-8a63-a7975f16563a.html
Sunday protest in Kirby Park smaller than others, but just as loud
https://www.timesleader.com/top-stories/787876/sunday-protest-in-kirby-park-smaller-than-others-but-just-as-loud
Demands for change, justice at Wilkes-Barre rally
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/demands-for-change-justice-at-wilkes-barre-rally-1.2638565
Poor People’s Campaign holds demonstration
https://www.timesleader.com/news/787856/poor-peoples-campaign-holds-demonstration
Petition calls for replacing Columbus statue in Wilkes-Barre
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/petition-calls-for-replacing-columbus-statue-in-wilkes-barre-1.2638567
Installation of new Luzerne County Courthouse windows set to begin soon
https://www.timesleader.com/news/787873/installation-of-new-luzerne-county-courthouse-windows-set-to-begin-soon
County changing pricing policy for properties in repository
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/county-changing-pricing-policy-for-properties-in-repository-1.2638588
Local Little Leagues preparing for restricted seasons
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/local-little-leagues-preparing-for-restricted-seasons-1.2638617
Harrisburg may hire social workers, violence ‘interrupters’ with money from police budget: mayor
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/06/harrisburg-may-hire-social-workers-violence-interrupters-with-money-from-police-budget-mayor.html
Philly
For second day, group ‘protects’ Christopher Columbus statue in South Philadelphia; mayor denounces ‘vigilantism’
https://www.inquirer.com/news/floyd-protest-columbus-statue-protesters-unrest-philadelphia-police-20200614.html
West Philly’s historic black corridor looks to rebuild after unrest and pandemic
https://www.inquirer.com/news/52nd-street-philadelphia-looting-revitalization-black-community-historic-west-philly-main-20200615.html
Transgender woman, originally from York, brutally killed in Philadelphia, police say
https://www.ydr.com/story/news/crime/2020/06/14/york-transgender-woman-brutally-murdered-philadelphia-police-say/3186576001/
Pitt
BLM, social justice demonstrations continue around the Pittsburgh region
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2020/06/14/Protesters-Murrysville-solidarity-march-Black-Lives-Matter-movement-George-Floyd/stories/202006140120
Synagogue member lives through a second trauma in as many years
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2020/06/15/Torah-trauma-protest-Kimberly-Latta-Dor-Hadash-Tree-of-Life-social-justice/stories/202006100052
Organization names Pittsburgh 20th most bike-friendly city in U.S.
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2020/06/15/Pittsburgh-bicycle-bicycling-friendly-bike-lanes-ranking-PeopleForBikes/stories/202006110127
Homewood mural’s creator was inspired by his own past to create ‘Liberation Wall’
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/homewood-murals-creator-was-inspired-by-his-own-past-to-create-liberation-wall/
Construction on sinkhole bus site ‘about 50% done’; 10th Street set to reopen June 30
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2020/06/14/sinkhole-bus-construction-10th-Street-Pittsburgh-50-percent-done-reopen-June-30/stories/202006140133
Enjoying summer safely
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2020/06/15/Summer-time-safety-reopening/stories/202006110031
State News
Spring freezes are chilling some berry and peach harvests in New Jersey and Pennsylvania
https://www.inquirer.com/news/freeze-peaches-strawberries-new-jersey-pennsylvania-philadelphia-winter-spring-20200615.html
State sees decline in ChildLine reports, notes racial disparities in child welfare
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20200614/state-sees-decline-in-childline-reports-notes-racial-disparities-in-child-welfare
Transportation
Atheist group seeks $642K from COLTS
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/atheist-group-seeks-642k-from-colts-1.2638616
Washington
GOP senator defies Trump by calling for renaming military bases named for Confederate general
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/06/gop-senator-defies-trump-by-calling-for-renaming-military-bases-named-for-confederate-general.html