Legislature
Democrats boycott Pennsylvania Senate election investigation hearing about ballot drop boxes | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Senate committee investigating Pa. elections holds hearing on ballot drop boxes, Dems walk out – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
New bill will give parents control over school curriculum (abc27.com)
More than $21 million in state funding invested in city since 2020, and there’s more, state senator says (readingeagle.com)
Bill to make Hershey Kiss Pa.’s state candy taken to Senate Committee (wearecentralpa.com)
House set to pass marijuana legalization Friday (abc27.com)
Marijuana banking reform legislation would help protect banks, insurers in PA | WHP (local21news.com)
Cannabis banking bill approved by Pa. Senate committee – Central Penn Business Journal (cpbj.com)
Pennsylvania Senators Approve Marijuana Banking Protection Bill As Congressional Reform Stalls – Marijuana Moment
Bill to ban spot appeals would eliminate the Pennsylvania ‘newcomer tax’ | National News | kpvi.com
Sen. Comitta, Pa. First Lady Frances Wolf join WCU students in calling for action to address college hunger – Daily Local
Bill to unveil lucrative lawmaker perks advances · Spotlight PA
Groups seek to keep Pennsylvania lawmakers from ignoring popular bills | WITF
Now a defender of personal freedom, Mastriano wanted to lift privacy rules in pandemic’s early days – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Targeting vulnerable transgender kids? A cruel and dangerous waste of time | Friday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
The Pa. House’s transgender sports ban will harm our youth – not help them | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Editorial by Philadelphia Daily News/Inquirer: Republicans in Harrisburg are using Ukraine to promote a climate-denialist agenda | Editorials | ncnewsonline.com
Coronavirus – COVID-19
COVID-19 infection increases diabetes risk, a new study says : NPR
2021 survey: 44% of teens felt ‘hopeless’, reported increased issues at home during pandemic highpoint | News | tribdem.com
Erie nurse Jon Bock describes COVID-19 stress, anxiety (goerie.com)
How has the pandemic affected babies? (inquirer.com)
Muhlenberg poll: Most Pennsylvanians believe worst of pandemic behind us – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Business/Jobs
Former nurses at The Meadows Psychiatric Center in Centre Hall fired after organizing to unionize | WITF
Labor groups close in on Amazon in 2 tight union elections : NPR
Food prices are going up — and at levels Americans haven’t seen in decades : NPR
Crime/Punishment
Lebanon officer killed, two officers injured (abc27.com)
1 police officer dead, 2 wounded in central Pennsylvania shooting: officials | WITF
Officials around Pa. react to deadly Lebanon shooting (abc27.com)
Bucks County mental health center delayed after plans change (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Education
Colleges are rethinking, shrinking campuses as students and workers demand more flexibility – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
How a student loan safety net has failed low-income borrowers : NPR
UDSD officials warn of continuing teacher shortages – Delco Times
Central Bucks to start nonprofit educational foundation, alumni group (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Early learning is vital to children’s development. Why is funding it such a struggle? | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Upcoming U.S. Supreme Court cases could curb colleges’ use of affirmative action – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Elections/Politics
Group Wants GOP Primary Voters to Press Officials to Repeal Act 77 – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Republicans say residency matters in Pennsylvania US Senate race; poll (abc27.com)
What do Pennsylvania voters think of President Biden? (abc27.com)
Pa. voters blame Biden admin. for gas prices; poll (abc27.com)
Dr. Kevin Baumlin, candidate for Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seat, drops out (abc27.com)
President Trump’s endorsement could sway voters in the Pennsylvania primary election, new poll finds (abc27.com)
YouTube Reinstates Pennsylvania Republican Governor Candidates Forum – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Readers Poll: Who Should the GOP Nominate for Governor – PoliticsPA
Oz, Fetterman, Mastriano Lead Emerson Poll – PoliticsPA
Fetterman skipping U.S. Senate debate at Muhlenberg College; Lamb, Kenyatta expected to attend – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Paul Prescod discusses State Senate campaign, importance of public education with Penn Dems | The Daily Pennsylvanian (thedp.com)
Transportation
Canada-US Rail Mega-Merger Raises Fears of ‘NAFTA Super Railway’ – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Spring break drives demand for air travel despite high fares and airlines profit : NPR
White Haven residents briefed on I-80 toll plan dangers | Times Leader
County may partner with PennDOT for new bridge between Pittston, West Pittston | News | citizensvoice.com
Health
LGH recognized as LGTBQ+ health care leader (abc27.com)
County officials: ‘Excellent’ chance for hospitals to reopen in Chester County (dailylocal.com)
Coatesville VA Medical Center closing not set in stone, CEO says – Daily Local
PA may make it easier to offer telehealth for mental health care | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
As autism rates increase, so do wait times to see a specialist | WITF
Specialized respiratory care provider in Bucks County announces closure due to increased costs and state underfunding for patient care | The Bucks County Herald
Lyme disease seen in record numbers; How to guard against ticks (goerie.com)
State News
Pennsylvania State Trooper killed in the line of duty given a final salute in Bucks County (dailylocal.com)
PA state trooper funeral brings out police, community in Levittown (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Federal funds to bolster acid mine drainage cleanup in Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
This week’s biggest Winners & Losers | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
Pa.’s Toomey meets with Ketanji Brown Jackson, concerned whether she’ll ‘serve as a neutral umpire of the law’ – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Interior would see big funding boost under Biden budget proposal; how Pa. benefits – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Moratorium lifted on Pennsylvania utility shutoffs; services can be interrupted beginning Monday | TribLIVE.com
State to adjust pay guidelines for tipped workers | State | standardspeaker.com
Pennsylvania station to roll out vintage train for special trips this summer | Today in Pa. – pennlive.com
National News
Judge Tosses N.Y. District Lines, Citing Democrats’ ‘Bias’ – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Judge Rules Parts of Florida Voting Law Are Unconstitutional – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot proposes gift cards to help residents pay for gas : NPR
Copyright or copycat? Lawsuit over Andy Warhol portraits are headed to the U.S. Supreme Court | WITF
Pope Apologizes to Indigenous People of Canada – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Arizona could force U.S. Supreme Court to consider proof of citizenship for voter registration – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Local News
‘The single easiest way to save lives:’ Scranton firefighters stress importance of smoke detectors, fire alarms | News | thetimes-tribune.com
$6 million in federal funding headed to Blue Marsh Lake projects. (readingeagle.com)
Allentown City Council quickly, unanimously kills controversial pro-union contractor ordinance – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
City schools to provide COVID-19 tests in effort to limit disruptions after spring break | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pitt
Springdale power plant shuts down, demolition work to begin | TribLIVE.com
On Transgender Day of Visibility, celebration paired with caution at Pittsburgh rally as anti-trans legislation gains support | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Recent spate of Pittsburgh homicides has Mayor Ed Gainey raising alarm | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh City Council hears from stakeholders at 1st public hearing on Wilkinsburg annexation | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust eases COVID-19 restrictions at its venues | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Philly
Philadelphia’s 2023 $5.6 billion executive budget broken down by the numbers | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
Mayor Kenney’s proposed budget increases spending for police and antiviolence programs. Here’s what it would do. (inquirer.com)
Philadelphia’s plastic bag ban is now fully in effect — enforcement included | WITF
Everything you need to know about Philadelphia’s plastic bag ban (inquirer.com)
Alliance, City Council react to the Kenney’s budget proposal | Local News | phillytrib.com
Bill will examine use of technology to help solve shootings in Philly hotspots | Local News | phillytrib.com
Experts examine Philadelphia’s Black-white homeownership gap | Local News | phillytrib.com
City kicks off its Liberia bicentennial celebration | Local News | phillytrib.com
PPD announces arrest of teens involved in five Philly crimes | Local News | phillytrib.com
City residents and city officials live in parallel universes when it comes to gun violence | Helen Ubiñas (inquirer.com)
Video: Inside the new Philadelphia Police Department headquarters on Broad Street (inquirer.com)
A Philly wealth tax could raise more than $200 million, sponsors say. But critics call it a disaster. (inquirer.com)
Washington
Biden oil move aims to cut gas prices ‘fairly significantly’ – Daily Local
What to know about the U.S. emergency oil stash as Biden gears up to tap the reserves | WITF
As Biden Pleads for More Covid Aid, States Are Awash in Federal Dollars – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Jared Kushner provided ‘helpful’ details to Jan. 6 committee, panel member says : NPR
House passes bill to cap insulin prices. Two Pennsylvania GOP lawmakers cross the aisle to vote yes. | WITF
House passes bill to cap insulin prices : NPR
On Transgender Day of Visibility, White House announces moves to expand trans rights | WITF
With Sen. Graham’s plans to vote ‘no,’ panel tally likely split on Judge Jackson for Supreme Court | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Bipartisan deal struck ‘in principle’ on $10 billion Covid-19 aid package, Romney says | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
