Legislature
More Pa. Senate employees test positive for COVID-19 https://www.penncapital-star.com/blog/more-pa-senate-employees-test-positive-for-covid-19/
Pa. Democratic lawmakers face difficult vote on high school sports bill that Gov. Wolf plans to veto https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2020/09/pa-democratic-lawmakers-face-difficult-vote-on-high-school-sports-bill-that-gov-wolf-plans-to-veto.html
Former Governor Tom Ridge Calls On Legislature To Change Ballot Counting Law https://www.wesa.fm/post/former-governor-tom-ridge-calls-legislature-change-ballot-counting-law
Your View by Pennsylvania Farm Bureau: How a law can let more farms offer apple picking, corn mazes and hay rides https://www.mcall.com/opinion/mc-opi-agritourism-reform-ebert-20200912-njq3tttwovh6do43umf7g6ytmi-story.html
Coronavirus – COVID-19
‘Truly outrageous’: Trump administration rejects Pa. plea for extra food benefits for state’s neediest families https://whyy.org/articles/truly-outrageous-trump-administration-rejects-pa-plea-for-extra-food-benefits-for-states-neediest-families/
As COVID-19 vaccine trials move at warp speed, recruiting Black volunteers takes time https://whyy.org/npr_story_post/as-covid-19-vaccine-trials-move-at-warp-speed-recruiting-black-volunteers-takes-time/
Study: Kids infected at day care spread coronavirus at home https://whyy.org/articles/study-kids-infected-at-day-care-spread-coronavirus-at-home/
Adults with COVID-19 twice as likely to have eaten at restaurants, CDC study https://whyy.org/npr_story_post/adults-with-covid-19-twice-as-likely-to-have-eaten-at-restaurants-cdc-study/
The loneliness of long-haul COVID: My son and I have battled the coronavirus for six months | Opinion https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/long-haul-covid-treatment-symptoms-health-care-recovery-20200911.html
From relief to despair, one Pa. family struggles with the ambiguity of federal eviction ban https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/spl/pa-eviction-ban-cdc-gray-area-renter-assistance-20200912.html
Symptoms of COVID-19, flu, common cold, and allergies can overlap. How to tell the difference. https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/covid19-flu-cold-allergies-tell-apart-vaccine-jefferson-20200911.html
Penn State COVID-19 cases up by nearly 500 this week, Centre County tops 1,000 total https://www.witf.org/2020/09/11/penn-state-covid-19-cases-up-by-nearly-500-this-week-centre-county-tops-1000-total/
Dr. Anthony Fauci says normal life may not be back until the end of 2021 https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2020/09/11/Dr-Anthony-Fauci-says-normal-life-may-not-be-back-until-the-end-of-2021/stories/202009110167
Pa. coronavirus update: State reports 1,008 new cases; Lehigh Valley nearing 10K cases; 17 ‘concerning’ counties | Pa. COVID-19 county map (09/11/20) https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/coronavirus/2020/09/pa-coronavirus-update-state-reports-1008-new-cases-lehigh-valley-nearing-10k-cases-17-concerning-counties-pa-covid-19-county-map-091120.html
Administration
Pa. Health Secretary: no fans at sports games anytime soon, credits uptick in new COVID cases to college and university settings https://www.witf.org/2020/09/11/pa-health-secretary-no-fans-at-sports-games-anytime-soon-credits-uptick-in-new-covid-cases-to-college-and-university-settings/
Business
Costco, FedEx, UPS and other major firms reject Trump’s payroll tax deferral https://www.inquirer.com/business/trump-pandemic-tax-deferral-fedex-walmart-costco-ups-treasury-20200911.html
Comcast’s start-up accelerator will focus on the future of work https://www.inquirer.com/news/comcast-lift-labs-startup-accelerator-coronavirus-future-of-work-20200912.html
Clair Global, the Lancaster Co. concert firm, gets nation’s biggest Main Street loan: $71M. https://www.inquirer.com/business/clair-global-main-street-lending-program-federal-reserve-20200912.html
Crime
1,000 vehicles targeted for theft in Bucks County and New Jersey, authorities say https://www.inquirer.com/news/bucks-county-theft-spree-unlocked-vehicles-20200911.html
York police officer found not guilty of imitating George Floyd death at party: report https://www.pennlive.com/crime/2020/09/york-police-officer-found-not-guilty-of-imitating-george-floyd-death-at-party-report.html
Suspects in burning of unmarked Pittsburgh police car during protest appear in court https://triblive.com/local/suspects-in-burning-of-unmarked-pittsburgh-police-car-during-protest-appear-in-court/
Westmoreland leads region in fatal overdose prosecutions https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-leads-region-in-fatal-overdose-prosecutions/
Plans to restart Lehigh County jury trials amid coronavirus pandemic face scrutiny https://www.mcall.com/news/police/mc-nws-lehigh-county-jury-trials-covid-hearing-day-one-20200912-v5k54o5k6beqzkgazzbbuyt63i-story.html
3rd Circuit upholds conviction, sentence for Liberian war lord https://www.delcotimes.com/news/3rd-circuit-upholds-conviction-sentence-for-liberian-war-lord/article_d67c30ac-f3a9-11ea-a13a-330183678761.html
Education
Penn State sees another uptick in coronavirus cases but says there’s no need to cancel classes https://www.inquirer.com/news/penn-state-coronavirus-campus-classes-continue-20200911.html
St. Joseph’s University asks a sorority to quarantine after potential coronavirus exposure https://www.inquirer.com/news/st-joseph-university-coronavirus-sorority-quarantine-alpha-phi-20200911.html
Few COVID-19 cases from public schools so far, but young adults are being infected at increasing rates in Pa. and N.J. https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19-pa-nj-philly-college-students-penn-state-cases-school-20200911.html
Philly-area Catholic high school teachers approve a new contract https://www.inquirer.com/education/archdiocese-of-philadelphia-teachers-contract-catholic-high-schools-20200911.html
Schools that are mostly Black, Latino favor starting online https://www.phillytrib.com/news/across_america/schools-that-are-mostly-black-latino-favor-starting-online/article_42c3bffc-1f16-5ab6-9483-d083b8a3d8e1.html
Half Of PA Schools Still Don’t Have A Single Teacher Of Color, Black Educators Explain Why https://www.wesa.fm/post/half-pa-schools-still-dont-have-single-teacher-color-black-educators-explain-why
Duquesne suspends professor who used racial slur in class https://www.post-gazette.com/news/dispatches-from-the-front/2020/09/11/Duquesne-University-racial-slur-professor-paid-leave-education-twitter-collges-race/stories/202009110169
University of Scranton to pause in-person classes as COVID-19 case numbers rise https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/education/university-of-scranton-to-pause-in-person-classes-as-covid-19-case-numbers-rise/article_b1d19811-00e0-5464-9d70-981a4e0ba86e.html
High school football fans want more access to games https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/coronavirus/high-school-football-fans-want-more-access-to-games/article_6c86e5b7-6457-580b-82c1-01e49c02ce08.html
Elections/Politics
Trump is bestowing the Medal of Honor on a soldier for a 2015 hostage rescue https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/medal-of-honor-thomas-patrick-payne-trump-iraq-20200911.html
The Trump administration has secretly withheld millions from an FDNY 9/11 health program https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/trump-administration-fdny-september-11-health-program-20200911.html
Trump says he prevented panic on pandemic. that’s not his usual approach https://www.witf.org/2020/09/12/trump-says-he-prevented-panic-on-pandemic-thats-not-his-usual-approach/
Protesters were supposed to hear warnings before federal police moved in. They didn’t. https://www.witf.org/2020/09/11/protesters-were-supposed-to-hear-warnings-before-federal-police-moved-in-they-didnt/
Prosecutor looking into the origins of Russia probe resigns https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2020/09/11/Prosecutor-looking-into-the-origins-of-Russia-probe-resigns/stories/202009110180
Challenger to QAnon supporter bows out of race in Georgia https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2020/09/11/Challenger-to-QAnon-supporter-bows-out-of-race-in-Georgia/stories/202009110147
Biden town hall planned outside Lackawanna County stadium https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/election/biden-town-hall-planned-outside-lackawanna-county-stadium/article_a03bd81a-3e3c-5ae4-a03c-411a2b2c6257.html
Trump’s comments to Woodward on virus create mixed reviews https://www.tribdem.com/news/trump-s-comments-to-woodward-on-virus-create-mixed-reviews/article_8d808080-f4b0-11ea-ae09-bf55134bbe2a.html
Montgomery County authorizes $136K in election contracts https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/montgomery-county-authorizes-136k-in-election-contracts/article_559312bf-be96-52c6-86c6-f8d61787333b.html
Environment
DEP orders Sunoco to reroute pipeline after Marsh Creek Lake spill https://whyy.org/articles/dep-orders-sunoco-to-reroute-pipeline-after-marsh-creek-lake-spill/
Health Care
Experts: Revamped OxyContin hasn’t curbed abuse, overdoses https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2020/09/11/Experts-Revamped-OxyContin-hasn-t-curbed-abuse-overdoses/stories/202009110168
Local News
Chester County spent $13 million on coronavirus antibody tests. Then it quietly shelved the program. https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/chester-county-coronavirus-antibody-tests-false-positives-20200911.html
Central Pa. first responders, supporters, climb State Capitol building steps to honor fallen 9/11 emergency workers https://www.witf.org/2020/09/11/central-pa-first-responders-supporters-climb-state-capitol-building-steps-to-honor-fallen-9-11-emergency-workers/
Hazleton battles COVID-19, along with lingering racial tensions https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/09/hazleton-battles-covid-19-along-with-lingering-racial-tensions.html
Owner of Medicine Shoppe in Jeannette denies ‘price gouging’ https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/owner-of-medicine-shoppe-in-jeannette-denies-price-gouging/
Halloween and COVID-19: Allentown cancels parade, joining Bethlehem, other Lehigh Valley communities https://www.mcall.com/entertainment/mc-ent-is-covid-canceling-my-halloween-20200909-ldh5bvoshzbv7khwmk5i2zuufq-story.html
Officials propose 32 percent tax hike in West Chester https://www.dailylocal.com/news/coronavirus/officials-propose-32-percent-tax-hike-in-west-chester/article_6f28abfa-f373-11ea-98c6-ffb15953ee27.html
National News
Tolls on N.J. Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and A.C. Expressway are going up this weekend https://www.inquirer.com/transportation/nj-turnpike-garden-state-parkway-atlantic-city-expressway-tolls-20200911.html
U.S. budget deficit hits record $3 trillion through 11 months https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2020/09/11/U-S-budget-deficit-hits-record-3-trillion-through-11-months/stories/202009110150
Philly
City councilwoman proposes legislation criminalizing racially motivated 911 calls https://whyy.org/articles/city-councilwoman-proposes-legislation-criminalizing-racially-motivated-911-calls/
In Philadelphia’s white suburbs, Black Lives Matter protests both denounced and exposed racism. Will it make a difference? https://www.inquirer.com/news/black-lives-matter-white-philadelphia-suburbs-activism-20200912.html
Changing their minds, and their lives: A way out of poverty in Philadelphia https://www.inquirer.com/business/philadelphia-poverty-episcopal-community-services-mindset-empath-mobility-mentoring-20200912.html
Pitt
19 Neighbors: She doesn’t shrink from fight with 2 foes — addiction and a pandemic https://www.post-gazette.com/news/19-neighbors/2020/09/12/19-Neighbors-POWER-House-addiction-women-Swissvale-Saige-Gracie-COVID-19/stories/202009110094
Election officials propose additional office dates to drop off ballots ahead of Nov. 3 https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2020/09/11/Election-officials-propose-additional-office-dates-for-drop-off-ballots-ahead-of-November-3/stories/202009110144
State grants awarded for 13 historic preservation projects in Pittsburgh region https://triblive.com/local/regional/state-grants-awarded-for-13-historic-preservation-projects-in-pittsburgh-region/
State News
PLCB rule change gives Pa. wineries more flexibility for its fermented fruit beverages https://www.pennlive.com/food/2020/09/plcb-rule-change-gives-pa-wineries-more-flexibility-for-its-fermented-fruit-beverages.html
Small breweries take advantage of liquor laws to create ‘Pennsylvania Loophole’ beer https://triblive.com/lifestyles/food-drink/small-breweries-take-advantage-of-liquor-laws-to-create-pennsylvania-loophole-beer/
World
Warring Afghans meet to find peace after decades of war https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/09/warring-afghans-meet-to-find-peace-after-decades-of-war.html
Bahrain becomes latest Arab nation to recognize Israel https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/09/bahrain-becomes-latest-arab-nation-to-recognize-israel.html