Legislature
Wayne Fontana blasts Republicans on sale of Western Penitentiary (gazette20.com)
State police shouldn’t investigate themselves | Editorial | republicanherald.com
The good and the bad of Pennsylvania redistricting [column] | Local Voices | lancasteronline.com
Readers React: We need an independent voice in Harrisburg – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Senators propose ‘First in Math’ initiative in Pa. | News, Sports, Jobs – Times Observer
State Sen. Boscola to Introduce Resolution Urging PA Government, Businesses to Divest From Russian Holdings | WDIY Local News
Experts: Legal marijuana could cut into billions in illegal sales in Pa. | News | dailyitem.com
REP. HERRIN: Let’s take the politics out of public education – Daily Local
Challenges Begin to Mount to Final LRC Map Plan | PoliticsPA
Pennsylvania universities ask for more funds, talk up keeping tuition low | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Pa. state-related university leaders make a case for increased funds ahead of 2022-23 budget – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
For $5 million, just 28 words: Pennsylvania House member needs more information | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Wolf and Metcalfe spar over energy policy amid Russia-Ukraine conflict | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
Wolf, GOP spar over Pa. gas exports, Russian imports – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
This week’s biggest Winners & Losers | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
As Energy Prices Rise, Wolf’s RGGI Push Faces Bipartisan Opposition – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Will the U.S. Supreme Court wade into the battle over the Pennsylvania congressional map? | WITF
Wolf visits Lancaster city to stump for his plan to spend $1.7 billion in federal stimulus dollars | PA Power and Policy | lancasteronline.com
Coronavirus – COVID-19
Pa. report: 12.3% of those admitted for COVID-19 died in first 16 months of pandemic | Coronavirus | standardspeaker.com
Business/Jobs
Jobs Report February 2022: Live Updates – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Fewer Americans apply for jobless benefits last week – Daily Local
Why employers’ labor pains are only going to get worse – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Report: U.S. mortgage lending drops 13% annually at close of 2021 – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Elon Musk dares United Autoworkers to try to unionize Tesla : NPR
Gas prices continue climb on local and national level | TribLIVE.com
Zulily hopes to have new jobs with QVC/HSN for 500 workers at closing Bethlehem warehouse – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Crime/Punishment
Organizations Say Meek Mill And Celebrity Takeover Of Criminal Justice Reform Weakens Their Work (moguldom.com)
End youth incarceration now | Opinion (inquirer.com)
Education
North Penn School Board Moves Forward On Superintendent Search | Montgomeryville, PA Patch
Will Wood commentary: Local school boards and the ‘crime’ of masking (dailylocal.com)
West Chester University earns reclassification status – Daily Local
University of Pennsylvania to increase tuition 2.9% for 2022-2023 academic year – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
The 25 wealthiest U.S. universities based on 2021 endowments – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Penn State agrees to nearly $900,000 settlement to resolve alleged health care claims missteps | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Four Philly teachers talk about why they have quit in the middle of the year (inquirer.com)
Higher education innovation, statewide investment are the keys to growth in Pa. | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Southwest Philly educator’s work gets recognized on national level | Local News | phillytrib.com
PV Education Association had authorized a strike date of Feb. 28 (poconorecord.com)
University entrepreneurial innovation, investment keys to Pa. growth (goerie.com)
Elections/Politics
Economic concerns frustrating voters – Daily Local
Socially Speaking: What Channels Do the Statewide Candidates Use? | PoliticsPA
Fetterman, McCormick Top Franklin & Marshall Poll | PoliticsPA
Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine underscores importance of U.S. energy independence | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
David McCormick hawkish on China, punches back at Mehmet Oz in visit to suburban Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Allegheny County GOP chair Sam DeMarco could run to fill Conor Lamb’s seat | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Trump endorsement is sought by Pa. Republican candidates for governor — carefully (inquirer.com)
Here’s the message that wins the midterms for Democrats, if they’re not afraid | Will Bunch (inquirer.com)
Capital-Star Q+A: Reentering public life for governor run, Melissa Hart talks regulations, abortion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
The one really big, terrible number for Dems in the new F&M poll | Friday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Environment
U.S. Steel fined over $800K for air pollution violations | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
More than 2 million pounds of trashed electronics removed from Pa. waste stream – pennlive.com
Transportation
Berks commissioners set hearing for passenger railroad authority (dailylocal.com)
3 counties eye regional rail authority to restore Reading to Philadelphia rail service (dailylocal.com)
Wireless charging options would speed transition to electric vehicles (theintell.com)
Health
Florida Republicans send 15-week abortion ban to governor : NPR
Restore marijuana dispensary meets hurdles in Delco expansion – WHYY
Tower Health cuts financial losses, but it still only has one profitable hospital – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Highmark to make low-cost generic insulin available to members | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Realigning priorities at UPMC | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Purdue Pharma, states agree to new opioid settlement | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Thousands in Pa. can’t afford health insurance if we lose ARP subsidies l Expert Opinion (inquirer.com)
State News
Fitzpatrick to go to Ukraine border as Russian invasion continues (poconorecord.com)
Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court allows some party committee candidates to pass out nomination petitions | WITF
Pa. unemployment system: Progress, but problems persist (abc27.com)
Pennsylvania school pension fund to divest Russian assets (abc27.com)
Pa. voters overwhelmingly oppose dropping concealed-carry gun license rule: poll – pennlive.com
Pennsylvania joins nationwide TikTok investigation | Today in Pa. – pennlive.com
Pennsylvania school pension fund to divest Russian assets | WITF
With Wolf’s encouragement, Pa.’s teachers’ pension fund dumps Russian investments – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Highest rated beer in Pennsylvania (abc27.com)
National News
Russians in Ukraine seize Europe’s largest nuclear power plant : NPR
Russian attack on Ukraine nuclear plant sparks fire, but no radiation released | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
At Least 57 Dead in Pakistan After Mosque Attack – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Arizona Republicans continue pushing voting restrictions, risking backfire : NPR
NFL and NFL Players Association drop all COVID protocols for 2022 season : Coronavirus Updates : NPR
Breonna Taylor raid: Brett Hankison, former Louisville police officer, acquitted : NPR
The Child Tax Credit extension pulled millions of kids out of poverty. Then it ended. (inquirer.com)
Experts: Average American should beware Russia’s cyberattacks, misinformation | News | standardspeaker.com
Yellowstone turns 150. Here’s a peek into the national park’s history | WITF
Local News
Mayor cuts Mon-Oakland shuttle road; 4MR stormwater project is still on | The Homepage, published by Hazelwood Initiative | NewsBreak Original
Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board using geolocation software to inform marketing campaigns – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Traffic patterns around these two Allentown schools are changing to make them safer for students and drivers – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Masks no longer required for most fully vaccinated people at Delaware County buildings (delcotimes.com)
Warrington housing boom: Toll Brothers, DeLuca have four new projects (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Pitt
Pittsburgh closes in on all-time high gas prices after another overnight spike | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey escalates push for more money to repair city’s decaying bridges | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Agreement may be in the works on controversial plan to redevelop parts of Oakland | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Future of Pittsburgh hyperloop gets murky with company layoffs | TribLIVE.com
Pittsburgh woman now a 3-day ‘Jeopardy!’ winner | TribLIVE.com
Some groups want more time to design Pittsburgh Fern Hollow replacement | WITF
Philly
Philadelphia City Council approves creation of nation’s first municipal bank – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
City Council passes COVID-19 leave legislation | Local News | phillytrib.com
Philadelphia police shooting of 12-year-old Thomas Siderio produces conflicting accounts (inquirer.com)
Gas prices average more than $4 a gallon in the Philadelphia region due to war in Ukraine (inquirer.com)
Philly residents in areas affected by overdoses want a say in talks over a supervised injection site (inquirer.com)
City Council voted to require Philly employers to offer paid leave for COVID-19 absences through 2023 (inquirer.com)
Judge questions charges as jury gets Amtrak engineer’s case in Philadelphia | WITF
Philly Fed report: Black homeowners face more denials for refinancing | Local News | phillytrib.com
Washington
Biden seeks $10B for aid to Ukraine, $22.5B for coronavirus – Daily Local
Biden calls for HBCU support ahead of 2022 budget deadline – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Biden wants more COVID relief funds. The GOP wants to know where previous relief went : NPR
Past U.S. policy toward Russia looms over how Biden confronts Putin on Ukraine : NPR
House passes bill designed to help veterans exposed to toxins during service | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Biden criticizes Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for investigating parents of children transitioning genders (inquirer.com)
