Legislature
Pennsylvania governor vetoes GOP-led election overhaul citing voter ID restrictions · Spotlight PA
Wolf vetoes Pennsylvania election reform bill (broadandliberty.com)
Wolf vetoes vaccine passport ban | Coronavirus | tribdem.com
Governor Wolf vetoes ‘misguided and irresponsible’ anti-vaccine passport bill (abc27.com)
Gov. Wolf vetoes vaccine passport ban | News | meadvilletribune.com
Wolf Administration makes historic investment in Pa. higher education (abc27.com)
Pennsylvania’s ‘easy’ budget isn’t exactly a sign of bipartisan peace or fiscal responsibility | John Baer – pennlive.com
Guest editorial | With a $3 billion surplus, Harrisburg should cut the word ‘scarcity’ from the vocabulary | Editorials | tribdem.com
After this year’s budget deal, officials say lawsuit is best hope for reforming school funding – Today News Post
State anti-hunger programs get a boost in the new budget | WITF
Commentary: Pa. election reform bill attacks the wrong problem | Opinion | dailylocal.com
Wolf wrong to veto needed changes to Pa. election laws | News, Sports, Jobs – The Sentinel (lewistownsentinel.com)
U.S. Senator Bob Casey raises awareness on food insecurity in Harrisburg (abc27.com)
College athletes in Pennsylvania can now earn compensation for their name, image and likeness | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pa. college athletes can now cash in on their name, image or likeness | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
Pennsylvania legalizes compensation for college athletes | WITF
Gov. Wolf Signs Bill Expanding Medical Cannabis Access in Pennsylvania – Cannabis Dispensary (cannabisdispensarymag.com)
Langerholc opioids, human-trafficking bills signed into law by governor | Local News | tribdem.com
Report: RGGI Could Provide Financial Boost to PA Coal Communities | BCTV
Senate approves Pittman’s bills to modernize legislation for physician assistants working in Pennsylvania | State | bradfordera.com
Pa. bill would protect farms that run agritourism activities | Local News | berksmontnews.com
Dog license fees have not change in 25 years, advocates calling for changes | Nation | oleantimesherald.com
Redistricting reform in Pa. is dead for now, advocates say. So what’s next? · Spotlight PA
Key senator infuriated after PennDOT moves forward on bridge tolling plan | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Fireworks fuss: Pa. lawmakers want to reverse law that made them legal | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
Author of Pennsylvania’s fireworks law says ‘get over it,’ it’s not going to be repealed – pennlive.com
New law enacted to change milk date requirement for sales in Pa. (abc27.com)
This week’s biggest Winners & Losers | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
‘The table has been set’: Pa. lawmakers pass bill that could speed up 5G network deployment | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
State law against municipal plastic bag bans on track to end | WITF
New law requires Pa. agencies, towns, and school boards to give more notice of meetings (and what they’re doing) – pennlive.com
Pa. lawmakers look to take a bite out of food delivery fees paid by restaurants | Friday Morning Coffee | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
With legislation stalled, pre-pandemic rules on outdoor dining remain in effect this summer in PA | Local Business | lancasteronline.com
Wolf approves reforms to Pa. medical marijuana law. What will change (goerie.com)
Guest Opinion: Pennsylvania Sunshine Act needs a digital update (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
$500,000 grant boosts affordable housing efforts in Hazelwood | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
First responders to receive state grants for equipment, training | Crime-Emergency | thetimes-tribune.com
Coronavirus – COVID-19
After contact tracing data breach, Pa. sidesteps scrutiny on proposed $34M contract · Spotlight PA
Can Pennsylvania reissue the mask mandate? (abc27.com)
1 million in Pa. have missed second COVID vaccine shot (inquirer.com)
Johnson & Johnson’s COVID Vaccine Is Effective Against The Delta Variant, Studies Find : Coronavirus Updates : NPR
Dangerous Delta COVID variant has public health leaders intensifying vaccine push (abc27.com)
White House launches ‘surge response’ teams to delta variant hot spots | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Carnegie Mellon and Pitt are next door but separated by state law on COVID-19 vaccination policy | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Wilkes now requiring COVID-19 vaccine proof | Coronavirus | standardspeaker.com
Younger adults are most hesitant about COVID-19 vaccine, slowing march to sufficient immunity – pennlive.com
70 percent of Bucks County adults vaccinated; clinics to close (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Time is running out for Lancaster General Health employees to seek COVID-19 vaccine exemption | Health | lancasteronline.com
Business/Jobs
U.S. jobless claims fall to 364,000, a new pandemic low | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
These Jobs Have Yet To Be Filled, And It’s Hurting The Economy : NPR
Cocktails to-go helped Pa. businesses stay afloat. Now they’re in for an even slower recovery | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
U.S. Dept. of Labor remedies overtime violations for 117 workers in Harrisburg company (abc27.com)
More capital is flowing to minority businesses, but is it enough? – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
SBA extends deadline on $100M Community Navigator Pilot program to help businesses recover from Covid-19 – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Americans Are Retiring Earlier Because of Pandemic – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
N.J. nursing homes must hire more staff (inquirer.com)
Water company affiliate bringing 100 new customer-service jobs to Scranton | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Crime/Punishment
Boy Scouts Of America Reaches Historic Settlement With Sexual Abuse Survivors : NPR
Jeff Hurvitz: One Philly police district handcuffed by idealism (broadandliberty.com)
Sparks fly over solitary confinement, addiction treatment at Allegheny County Jail | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pa. state prison inmates mount hunger strike, calling for end to solitary confinement | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Education
A breakdown: Pa schools to receive largest funding increase ever; local schools react | WJAC (wjactv.com)
Many Southwest Pa. schools to receive funding boost from equity measure in state budget | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
State’s Level Up funding supplement helps 3 of Westmoreland’s least wealthy school districts | TribLIVE.com
Tri-Creek School Corp. names new superintendent | Latest Headlines | nwitimes.com
Philly School District does about-face, releases data on failing students (broadandliberty.com)
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts appoints Anne E. McCollum as first woman board chair in 216-year history – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Universities to spend up to six figures on name-image-likeness preparation, programs – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Pennsylvania plans to merge 6 state universities, Lock Haven will merge with Bloomsburg and Mansfield | State | thetimes-tribune.com
Pennsylvania Coal Region school districts among state’s most underfunded – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Was your school district among 12 in Berks to raise the property tax rate? | Local News | readingeagle.com
Lackawanna Trail school board approves budget | Education | thetimes-tribune.com
Mahanoy Area releases new statement on SCOTUS decision | News | standardspeaker.com
Post-pandemic summer camps will change lives (ydr.com)
Elections/Politics
Voting Rights Poll: People More Concerned With Access Vs. Fraud : NPR
In Voting Rights Case, Supreme Court Upholds Arizona Restrictions : NPR
Supreme Court Upholds Arizona Voting Restrictions – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
State-level Republicans are “reforming” how elections are administered | The Economist
How A Pro-Trump Local News Site Pushes Election Misinformation : NPR
Reader Poll: Republicans Should Nominate Meuser for Governor in 2022 | PoliticsPA
PA8: Daniels Meets with Trump | PoliticsPA
Businessman and Vet Leans Towards GOP Run in PA7 | PoliticsPA
Dems ratify Welby as 113th state House special election nomineee | Election | thetimes-tribune.com
Environment
What Pennsylvania’s move toward a clean energy future means for the region (edf.org)
Methane rule repeal tests Dems’ pledges to create jobs in Pa. with climate initiatives | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Exxon Lobbyist Caught On Sting Video Describes Anti-Climate Moves : NPR
Thanks to stimulus funding, Pa. has a chance to Grow Greener again. We can’t miss it | Opinion | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
RGGI will bring savings and jobs to Pennsylvania (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
RGGI is good for our economy and our health (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Transportation
Waze partners with local Pa. officials to improve traffic conditions using real-time data (abc27.com)
Wolf administration stresses boat safety this holiday weekend (abc27.com)
Big-city airports added more flights to smaller destinations amid Covid-19 – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Don’t drink and boat. Enhanced waterways law enforcement planned for holiday weekend | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Health
Price Transparency Remains Elusive Despite Hospitals Starting To Post Fees : Shots – Health News : NPR
Lehigh Valley Health Network, StoneBridge decide not to bid for Tower Health – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Hospitals, insurers invest big dollars to tackle patients’ social needs (inquirer.com)
‘Challenges were exacerbated’: Lehigh Valley LGBTQ youth, adults struggled during COVID-19 – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
HIV testing at non-health care sites in Philadelphia plummeted in 2020 | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Guest column: Special enrollment period for Pennsylvanians 50 and older to save on health insurance | Opinion | dailylocal.com
State News
Pension contribution rates rise for 94K school employees | WITF
Pa. school employees start paying more toward pensions as FBI investigates $64B system – pennlive.com
Bob Casey Town Hall: Democratic senator fields questions from Erie crowd (goerie.com)
Forbes Survey Ranks Commonwealth Of PA Among The Best Employers For New Grads | WTAJ – www.wearecentralpa.com
Is conversion therapy still legal in Pa.? Not in some municipalities (abc27.com)
Advocates celebrate York County Prison decision to stop contracting with ICE to detain immigrants (abc27.com)
Midstate’s newest U.S. citizens take oath ahead of July 4: “It’s been a journey” (abc27.com)
Scanlon talks $20.8M for the 5th Congressional District | News | delcotimes.com
U.S. House advances transportation bill with $85 million in funding for Pittsburgh-area projects | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Southeast Pa. would get millions for transportation projects in a bill that passed the House (inquirer.com)
Ohio River Valley Institute report outlines help for coal communities – Pittsburgh Business Times (bizjournals.com)
Pa. game commission recommends removing bird feeders as disease spreads | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
State launches annual ice cream trail with 31 creameries across Pa. – pennlive.com
National News
Crews from Pa., NJ deployed to site of deadly Florida condo collapse – 6abc Philadelphia
Florida Condo Residents Argued Over Repairs Months Before Collapse : Live Updates: Miami-Area Condo Collapse : NPR
U.S. hands Bagram Airfield to Afghans after nearly 20 years | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Trump Organization, CFO Allen Weisselberg indicted on tax fraud charges (inquirer.com)
NJ lawmakers ask EPA to ease up on biofuel regs | NJ Spotlight News
Bill Cosby’s already plotting his post-prison comeback. But is America ready to welcome him? | National | bakersfield.com
EXPLAINER: Why Bill Cosby’s conviction was overturned (apnews.com)
Victim advocates on Cosby’s release: ‘This is not an exoneration.’ (theintell.com)
Trump allies launch social media platform | Washington Examiner
Some Experts Think It’s Time For An International Cyber Treaty : NPR
California’s Fall Wildfire Disaster Had Lowest FEMA Aid Approval Rate On Record : NPR
Sha’Carri Richardson Tests Positive for Marijuana – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Gas prices at highest holiday weekend level since 2014 | Business | citizensvoice.com
Richard Branson will try to beat Jeff Bezos to space with July 11 flight | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Recall election for California Gov. Newsom is set for Sept. 14 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Hundreds believed dead in heat wave despite efforts to help | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Local News
Local moms organize camp to teach kids with disabilities to ride a bike | Latest Headlines | nwitimes.com
Montgomery County D.A. reacts to Supreme Court overturning Cosby conviction | Regional | montgomerynews.com
Allentown Black and Latino communities work toward unity after on-air racism row | WITF
Pa. coroner resigns after ‘predator catcher’ video surfaces – pennlive.com
Ce-Ce Gerlach faces call to resign from Allentown City Council because of criminal charges – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Plan to save the Fightin Phils starts to take shape | Local News | readingeagle.com
Wilkes-Barre council reduces parking meter, garbage bag fees | News | citizensvoice.com
United Way, CEO, Chamber will administer Wilkes-Barre rescue programs | coronavirus | citizensvoice.com
Pitt
Pittsburgh gets approval to move ahead with e-scooter pilot program | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh to get e-scooter pilot program thanks to provision included in budget bill | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Allegheny Land Trust closes deal to acquire the former Churchill Country Club for about $3 million | TribLIVE.com
Looking up: Developer wins key zoning approval for 300-unit Downtown apartment tower | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
‘Nothing beats sitting in these seats’: Pirates fans celebrate ‘re-opening weekend’ at PNC Park | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Wilkinsburg residents, council members speak out against proposed merger with Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Single-use plastics ban cleared for Pa. cities as Pittsburgh moves to eliminate plastic bags | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Philly
Pa. Att’y Gen. Shapiro is putting the focus on ghost guns – but that’s the wrong place to look for a solution to Philly’s violence problem | Opinion | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Pennsylvania to-go cocktails: Why legalization failed, and what’s next – On top of Philly news (billypenn.com)
Philadelphia bans single-use plastic bags (abc27.com)
2 Philadelphia performing arts organizations rebrand in effort to strengthen community ties – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Warner Bros. taps Franklin Institute in Philadelphia to host world premiere of new Harry Potter exhibition – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Two Philly running groups form Hood 2 Hood to show a healthy way to deal with stress (inquirer.com)
Where to find sexual assault support and counseling resources in Philadelphia (inquirer.com)
Why Krasner is asking Pa.’s high court to change how jurors hear use-of-force law | WITF
Washington
After judge rules against Britney Spears, a Pa. senator wants answers (inquirer.com)
Washington Republican Evokes Holocaust to Protest Vaccine Requirements (esquire.com)
The Justice Department Is Pausing Federal Executions After They Resumed Under Trump : NPR
Liz Cheney Named To Jan. 6 Select Committee By Nancy Pelosi : NPR
U.S. budget deficit projected to hit $3 trillion as pandemic spending buoys economy | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
130 countries sign on to global minimum tax plan, creating momentum for Biden push | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
‘We all have to do better’: White House urges locals to boost eviction diversion programs | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)