Legislature
What to watch for in Pennsylvania governor’s budget proposal (abc27.com)
Gov. Wolf wants to release $1.7 billion in federal dollars (inquirer.com)
Five things to watch for in Gov. Tom Wolf’s final budget proposal – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Surpluses and electioneering set the stage for Gov. Tom Wolf’s final budget proposal – pennlive.com
Wolf to roll out last budget with public school education on his mind | News | citizensvoice.com
Commission Approves Legislative Maps That Could Alter Balance of Power | PoliticsPA
Guest Opinion: Pennsylvania GOP leaders are stealing your right to vote (yahoo.com)
Wolf sides with local governments in rejecting gun rights bill | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
State lawmakers to host hearing to discuss the legalization of recreational marijuana | fox43.com
Recreational pot in PA: Legislative hearing set for Monday (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Proposed bill would protect farmers when grain brokers fail – Opera News (dailyadvent.com)
Opportunity House Learning Center hosts tour for state legislators | Berks Regional News | wfmz.com
YUDICHAK: NEPA Leads State in Job Growth – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Allentown NIZ tax money to stay hidden after change in law – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Coronavirus – COVID-19
Elena Perri: Maddening and misguided Covid mandates (broadandliberty.com)
COVID-19 stress and disruptions are wreaking havoc on multi-child families, study says (abc27.com)
900,000 Americans have died of COVID in 2 years of the global pandemic | WITF
COVID-19 cases drop in Erie County as omicron surge subsides (goerie.com)
Homeless shelters persevering through COVID (delcotimes.com)
Business/Jobs
Biden administration points to new job numbers as proof of economic recovery | ABC27
Biden sees U.S. economy as powering past the pandemic | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A massive Pa. corporate tax break lacks basic accountability, report finds (inquirer.com)
Frontier Airlines buying Spirit in nearly $3B deal (abc27.com)
Black-owned businesses surge back after early pandemic losses | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
IRS wants cut of internet sales topping $600 or more per year | TribLIVE.com
Hershey Co. raising candy prices, including Kit Kats, Reese’s | TribLIVE.com
Crime/Punishment
Pennsylvania’s Probation System Keeps Some Locked in a Harmful Cycle (businessinsider.com)
‘Absolutely repulsive’: Outlaw slams cops who abuse Philly’s injured-on-duty benefits (inquirer.com)
Police arrest Philly teens wanted in carjackings and Wawa robberies (inquirer.com)
Education
Editorial: State has the money to boost school funding (dailylocal.com)
Lancaster colleges seek to meet shortage of registered nurses | Local Business | lancasteronline.com
Addressing the teacher shortage | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PA school funding formula does damage to students critics say (mainlinemedianews.com)
Elections/Politics
John Fetterman raises big money for Pennsylvania Senate race through snail mail (inquirer.com)
Letter to the Editor: The Republican State Committee must remember its purpose (broadandliberty.com)
Podcast: Conor Lamb, In-Depth | PoliticsPA
Trump tirade on ‘racist’ DAs echoes other racist tropes – Daily Local
Probst, Shukaitis running for 189th District seat (poconorecord.com)
Dr. Oz focuses on pandemic during campaign stop in York, Pa. (ydr.com)
Summer Lee’s congressional run picks up key endorsements | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Environment
Road salt hazardous to the environment? | Smart Talk (witf.org)
Transportation
Fontones: PennDOT currently has an unmet need of $8.1 billion annually (poconorecord.com)
Hazleton receives more than $330,000 in federal transit funds | News | standardspeaker.com
Penn State’s Center for Dirt and Gravel Studies combats pollution from unpaved roads (inquirer.com)
Health
Changes coming to Pa. Medical Marijuana Program (abc27.com)
Op-Ed: We must protect abortion access in Pennsylvania (goerie.com)
Millions in tax dollars flow to anti-abortion centers around the country (abc27.com)
Study shows rise in telemedicine during the pandemic eliminated a historic racial health gap | WITF
State News
$25M for abandoned well cleanup just the start of work in PA | News | tribdem.com
Houlahan legislation included in massive supply chain package – Daily Local
Pa. bans sales of Ravenna grass and 2 species of buckthorn trees | TribLIVE.com
National News
Top Biden aide says Ukraine invasion could come ‘any day’ | TribLIVE.com
U.S. says Russia has amassed about 75% of the troops it would need to invade Ukraine | WITF
France’s Macron flies to Moscow as a new round of talks over Ukraine begins | NPR
Virginia district suspends 29 students for not wearing masks (abc27.com)
School Mask Mandate to Be Lifted in New Jersey – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Canceling Joe Rogan not ‘the answer’ Spotify CEO tells employees (abc27.com)
United States wins first Olympic medal in women’s slopestyle competition | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Canada’s capital declares state of emergency over COVID protests – pennlive.com
Amir Locke, killed by Minneapolis cop, wanted music career | News | phillytrib.com
The U.S. is debating whether to adopt a digital dollar : NPR
Beijing and Moscow unite in efforts to redefine democracy itself : NPR
What the Washington Commanders’ new name means for Native Americans : NPR
Local News
Upper Darby mayor calls for emergency meeting to avoid government shutdown (broadandliberty.com)
Route 32 reopens after bridge repair | The Bucks County Herald
Berks library supporters awarded (readingeagle.com)
Great American Outdoor Show returns to Harrisburg after 2 years (abc27.com)
‘Shoulder to shoulder’ crowds are back for Great American Outdoor Show – pennlive.com
Falls’ King Farms once made Bucks County a leader in vegetable farms (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Bucks County needs affordable housing, health care, good-paying jobs (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Guest Opinion: Reject normalization of hate-fueled violence (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Chester County’s share of opioid settlement ‘pot’ grows to $19 million – Daily Local
New startup will help Erie households recycle plastics, not landfill them (goerie.com)
George Floyd’s brother explains why Erie must confront racism not deny it (goerie.com)
Sober living facility for women progressing in Olyphant | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Pitt
Family, friends hold vigil for Pittsburgh man killed in Venango shooting | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh council members grant themselves 6.3% raise | TribLIVE.com
Port Authority bridge in Mt. Washington to remain closed for repairs | TribLIVE.com
This Pa. city is among the top 20 best spots to celebrate Valentine’s Day: study – pennlive.com
Philly
Gov. Wolf invests $246M into Port of Philadelphia | Pennsylvania News | wfmz.com
Port of Philadelphia to receive $246MM state investment – Produce Blue Book
Rosa Parks honored with red roses and a seat on SEPTA | Local News | phillytrib.com
Washington
Manchin: Overhaul of Electoral Count Act ‘absolutely’ will pass | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tech advocates call on Congress to increase high-skilled immigration to the US | ABC27
German leader’s stance on Russia looms over 1st visit to US | WITF
Jackson, in high court mix, traces law interest to preschool | News | phillytrib.com
What Shalanda Young’s ascension means to Black staffers on Capitol Hill | News | phillytrib.com