Legislature

A Pa. judge just sided with the GOP on a congressional map proposal. Here’s what’s next. · Spotlight PA

Special Master Chooses Republican Congressional Map | PoliticsPA

Pennsylvania congressional map: Judge recommends one favored by GOP – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Pa. judge recommends a GOP-drawn congressional map plan. But the process still isn’t over. | WITF

See how the final Pennsylvania state House map scores in every key area · Spotlight PA

State lawmakers react to approval of a new House and Senate map | Homepage Top Stories | wfmz.com

Gov. Wolf shares video message ahead of final budget address | ABC27

Three things to watch for in Gov. Tom Wolf’s legacy burnishing budget | Tuesday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Assembly cash reserve hit record as spending fell last year | WITF

PA Gov. Tom Wolf delivers his final budget address; What to know (goerie.com)

Southwest Republicans outline 2022 wish list ahead of budget address | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)

Wolf to roll out last budget with public school education on his mind | News | citizensvoice.com

Opinion divided on redistricting process | Times Leader

Senate committee sparks debate over adult-use cannabis legalization | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)

Pa. chiefs of police: Legalized marijuana poses health and safety risks (poconorecord.com)

By legalizing marijuana, Pa. senator said he wants ‘tax it, regulate it and make it safe’ – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

A Pennsylvania Republican senator leads hearing to legalize marijuana (inquirer.com)

Cannabis legalization: Will Pa. lawmakers barter away our public health and safety? | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Cannabis Legalization: Pa. should lead, not follow | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Sen Street & PA Agriculture Secretary Redding Announce Urban Agriculture Grants – MyChesCo

Pa. Senate committee OKs turnpike reform legislation – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Sen Judy Schwank, Rep Manny Guzman Visit 2nd Street Learning Center – BCTV

Comitta announces $1.3 Million for watershed protection projects | Chester County Press

Wolf administration sues to start participation in greenhouse initiative | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Pennsylvania senators hold hearing on legalizing recreational marijuana (abc27.com)

Wolf sides with local governments in rejecting gun rights bill (broadandliberty.com)

Reps. Bizzarro, Snyder: Protect the Pennsylvania Constitution from GOP (poconorecord.com)

Pennsylvania lawmakers advance measure supporting off-label treatments for COVID-19 – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

 

Coronavirus – COVID-19

Governors in these 4 states plan for end to school mask mandates (abc27.com)

Four states announce they’re dropping mask mandates for schools | WITF

With no end of COVID-19 in sight, we must learn to adapt (goerie.com)

Central Bucks excluding at-home COVID tests, documents show (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

China locks down southern city as omicron variant surges | Coronavirus | tribdem.com

Scranton school directors table COVID-19 testing program, approve building upgrades, STEMM Academy | Education | thetimes-tribune.com

 

Business/Jobs

Guest Opinion: Raise the wage because we can’t live on tips alone (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

As the talent battle rages, Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) makes a big move to $350K – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Frontier and Spirit airlines announce merger worth $6.6 billion : NPR

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette staff wins major labor dispute over health care reimbursements | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)

WPXI news producers to unionize with SAG-AFTRA | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)

Bucks County residents who work for companies based in Philadelphia may be due a City Wage Tax refund (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Central Pa. restaurants giving workers ‘more skin in the game’ with higher pay, benefits – pennlive.com

Gas prices at the highest level in 8 years with ‘no signs of slowing’ – pennlive.com

 

Crime/Punishment

Fraudsters set to pounce on $120B in infrastructure money | News | standardspeaker.com

 

Education

Report: US college completion rates rise to 62.2% in 2021 – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

LCEEC to host beekeeping certification course (poconorecord.com)

Parents sue Springfield School District in Delaware County to keep students masked (delcotimes.com)

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design buys former Chameleon Club building for nearly $1 million | Local News | lancasteronline.com

School bus shortage is no excuse for Hempfield schoolchildren left stranded in below-freezing temperatures [editorial] | Our Opinion | lancasteronline.com

Broken Lights, No Glue: ‘Abbott Elementary’ Has Teachers Talking – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Pitt describes instructor’s Holocaust analogy about masks as ‘inappropriate’ – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Temple prof seeks reinstatement of damage claims against FBI | WITF

Pitt will begin officially observing Juneteenth this year | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Judge orders Perkiomen Valley School District to continue masking to protect disabled students (inquirer.com)

 

Elections/Politics

You’re invited! A free virtual panel on the future of Pennsylvania’s mail voting law · Spotlight PA

Probst running for 189th District seat (poconorecord.com)

Rep. Sturla announces re-election campaign in new 96th House District in northern Lancaster city, Manheim Township and East Petersburg | PA Power and Policy | lancasteronline.com

Newcomer takes lead in straw poll vote for GOP nomination to 6th Congressional District seat (dailylocal.com)

Costa aide tapped as Democratic candidate for Ed Gainey’s House seat in special election – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Lawrence, Gale address Act 77 developments ahead of 2022 primary election (mainlinemedianews.com)

Lou Barletta hopes to win GOP primary for Pa. governor on name recognition (inquirer.com)

 

Transportation

Nearly 25% of Pocono bridges in poor condition. What is being done? (poconorecord.com)

Why This Could Be a Critical Year for Electric Cars – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

What are the worst-rated bridges in central Pa.? Search the database – pennlive.com

Initial report doesn’t ID cause of Pittsburgh bridge failure | WITF

Spirit-Frontier airlines merger embraced at Westmoreland, Pittsburgh airports | TribLIVE.com

Pittsburgh to receive $30M for public transit in 1st infrastructure bill allocation | TribLIVE.com

 

Health

CHOP’s asthma prevention program completes 100th home renovation – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Pa. Medical Marijuana Program: List of products now banned by DOH | ABC27

All women deserve the right to safe abortions in Pennsylvania – NewsBreak

 

State News

Justice Department finds Pa. courts in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Feds say Pa. courts discriminate against some with opioid dependency | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pennsylvania to get surge of money for abandoned mine cleanup | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pa. mine cleanup funding seen as game-changer | TribLIVE.com

Pa. bans sales of Ravenna grass and 2 species of buckthorn trees | TribLIVE.com

State looking into chair lift evacuations at Montage, Elk | News | citizensvoice.com

 

National News

Supreme Court lets Alabama use GOP-backed map of the state’s congressional districts : NPR

US, Germany vow united opposition if Russia invades Ukraine | ABC27

Judge orders U.S. to pay $230 million to victims of Tas church massacre : NPR

U.S. figure skater Nathan Chen takes the lead in men’s single event at Olympics : NPR

Sean Forbes will sign language-interpret SuperBowl halftime show (ydr.com)

Diplomatic shuttle: France’s Macron in Kyiv after Putin talks | Coronavirus | tribdem.com

Opinion | Getting Rid of Joe Rogan Won’t Solve the Health Misinformation Problem – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Retired pope asks pardon for abuse, but admits no wrongdoing – Reading Eagle

Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court is not affirmative action | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Amir Locke protesters seek acting police chief’s resignation | Across America | phillytrib.com

Bill Cosby unlikely to testify in sex assault lawsuit | Local News | phillytrib.com

Peter Thiel to leave Meta board to pursue Trump agenda | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Local News

White supremacist group Patriot Front recruiting in Pa., targeting Lancaster County with propaganda | Pennsylvania State News | lancasteronline.com

Bucks County raising subsidized rent limits. Will it fix the housing crisis? (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Neighbors and climate activists protest Vanguard at Generating Station in Croydon during “Points of Destruction” Tour | The Bucks County Herald

Meals on Wheels needs more volunteers to deliver food in Berks (readingeagle.com)

Here are the Black residents Morning Call readers nominated as difference-makers in the Lehigh Valley – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Lower Merion to borrow $15 million to help fund capital improvement programs – Mainline Media News

YMCA Daycare opens in Pittston Township | Times Leader

Chamber, partners launch new workforce development program Project PIVOT | Times Leader

 

Pitt

Pittsburgh City Council gives itself a raise behind closed doors | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Pittsburghers remember Peter Spencer with candlelight vigil, demand justice | Pittsburgh City Photos | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)

Six Allegheny County facilities must adjust ‘unacceptable’ emissions plans, health department says | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Philly

Feds might allow safe injection sites for drug users after fighting Philadelphia’s plan – pennlive.com

Justice Dept. signals it may allow safe injection sites | WITF

DA’s office announces leaders of victim services unit | Local News | phillytrib.com

City Council hearing discusses diversity in Philly contracting | Local News | phillytrib.com

Flyers won’t raise ticket prices for 90% of Wells Fargo Center seats for 2022-2023 season – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Playground exhibit recognizes Philly’s Black leaders, legends | Local News | phillytrib.com

SEPTA police arrest five accused in weekend assaults, armed robberies | Local News | phillytrib.com

A rental lease template could help prevent some of Philly’s landlord-tenant disputes before they begin | Opinion (inquirer.com)

Philly will start regulating Airbnbs in hopes of stopping unruly party houses (inquirer.com)

Philadelphia renters who lacked consistent heat hope others learn from their experience (inquirer.com)

 

Washington

House Democrats introduce legislation to keep federal government funded until March 11 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Nikki Haley: Pence ‘did what he thought was right’ on Jan. 6 (abc27.com)

Democrats admit defeat on free community college | ABC27

Jill Biden says bills aren’t footballs to ‘pass or pivot’ – Daily Local

Free community college is off the table, Jill Biden says | News | phillytrib.com

White House: Top scientist resigns over treatment of staff | News | tribdem.com

15 boxes of White House records have been recovered at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago | WITF