News Digest :: May 27, 2022

Legislature

Pa. Dems announce new gun law proposals in wake of mass shootings | Don’t Miss This | ncnewsonline.com

Pa. lawmakers react to Texas tragedy, discuss legislation | Berks Regional News | wfmz.com

Pennsylvania lawmakers call for action after Texas school shooting (wgal.com)

Students, parents, educators, counselors, police and others offer solutions to gun violence and mass shootings | | thetimes-tribune.com

Remote voting in the U.S. House hits a second anniversary, but it may be its last – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pa. legislator stripped of committee seats after endorsing GOP incumbent challengers (abc27.com)

Lights, camera, subsidy: Tax credits for film a political favorite, with questionable success | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Gov. Wolf sees ‘future of education’ at McDowell, decries gun violence (goerie.com)

Op-Ed: Time for PA to pass the Family Care Act (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

‘We will not go away:’ Philly Black Clergy, allies call for more money for gun violence prevention | State & Region | phillytrib.com

PA Senate Committee approves bill preventing trans girls from competing in women’s sports | KIMA (kimatv.com)

Bucks County lawmaker pushes to recognize May as Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month – thereporteronline

Pennsylvania Rep. Sappey Calls for U.S. Senators to Back Veterans | West Chester, PA Patch

Exit Interviews: City & State talks to some of the state’s highest-profile politicians leaving office in 2022 – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

 

Coronavirus – COVID-19

Allegheny County COVID-19 risk level moves from ‘medium’ to ‘high’ | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Amid uptick, Montgomery County enters ‘high’ CDC coronavirus community level (mainlinemedianews.com)

Delaware County moves to high COVID transmission; reinstates masks at county buildings (delcotimes.com)

 

Business/Jobs

Steelworkers union steps into Armstrong Flooring bankruptcy | Local Business | lancasteronline.com

Bowery Farming’s new farm is built inside a Bethlehem warehouse (mcall.com)

High inflation will persist into next year, CBO projects | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Giant Eagle revamps loyalty program for customers amid inflation, supply chain challenges | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Crime/Punishment

York coroner on homicide spike: ‘We’ve lost the art of being able to discuss things’ calmly (abc27.com)

 

Education

U.S. education chief seeks action to prevent school shootings (inquirer.com)

Pa. mandated school safety protocols aim to protect students attending schools | WITF

Reading School District addresses security and safety in the wake of Texas school shooting (readingeagle.com)

Luzerne County school officials confident of school security, continue to evaluate | News | citizensvoice.com

Downingtown students stage protest over lack of commonsense gun legislation (dailylocal.com)

Bethlehem teachers secure early bird contract and raises into 2026 – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

ACLU says revised Central Bucks book policy still ‘problematic’ (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Proposed book approval process for Central Bucks schools vague, unclear some parents say | WITF

Lower Makefield board approves $30M middle school project | The Bucks County Herald

 

Elections/Politics

Jarrett Coleman declares victory over Pa. Sen Browne in Lehigh Valley GOP primary – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Progressive Summer Lee will win Democratic House primary in Pennsylvania, CNN projects | State & Region | phillytrib.com

Lehigh County among first to start recount in Oz-McCormick GOP primary for Senate – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Recount cranks up in Pennsylvania’s GOP primary for U.S. Senate | WITF

Pa. Senate primary: Why McCormick and Oz are fighting over tiny batches of votes (inquirer.com)

Lancaster Co. lawmakers, hopefuls prepare for renewed debate on gun violence reduction bills  – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Nick Miller claims victory in tight 14th Senate District Democratic primary election; opponent Tara Zrinski says it isn’t over and prepares to go to court (mcall.com)

SKLAROFF: Act 77 Can And Should Be Trashed – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

PA Primary Turnout Points to GOP Wave in November – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

What the GOP’s culture war is really about. And how it’s out of Putin’s playbook | Robert Reich – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

From defund to refund: Why Democrats are shifting their tone on policing two years after George Floyd’s murder (inquirer.com)

Here’s how Latino candidates did in the Pa. primary | WITF

 

Environment

How an Organized Republican Effort Punishes Companies for Climate Action – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Climate change is wreaking havoc on our mental health | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Spotted lanternflies ‘in disguise,’ ways to trap them, and common myths: This Weekend in the Garden – pennlive.com

 

Transportation

Eastern Berks Railroad receives $14 million grant for renovations (readingeagle.com)

High gas prices won’t put the brakes on Memorial Day travel | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Health

Philadelphia-area hospital system finances hit hard by omicron (inquirer.com)

Lawmakers, county officials tour Paoli Hospital in wake of hospital closings – NewsBreak

Radnor Democrats Push Pro-Choice Ordinance Blocking Enforcement of Future Abortion Laws – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Spared from Hahnemann’s fate, the former Mercy Philadelphia Hospital is fulfilling its promise – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Our View: Mental Health Awareness Month ends but little has changed (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Mental health needs for youth soar in NEPA, straining community resources | Education | thetimes-tribune.com

 

State News

IRS Data: Pennsylvania keeps losing population and wealth | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

This week’s biggest Winners & Losers – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

 

National News

Advocates for Black, brown, LGBTQ, women call for ‘meaningful’ gun reform | Friday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Christa Caceres: Now is the time to protect our kids (poconorecord.com)

Editorial: The heartbreak of Texas school shooting belongs to all of us (mainlinemedianews.com)

The Texas school shooting conspiracies show far-right misinformation is evolving : NPR

New York Yankees and Tampa Rays use Twitter to raise awareness of gun violence : NPR

Police face questions over response to Texas school shooting | News | phillytrib.com

Texas school shooter entered Robb Elementary unobstructed, police say | WITF

NRA stages big gun show in Texas days after school massacre | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

U.S. Census Bureau: Big city losses early in COVID pandemic | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Trump loses an appeal and must testify in New York’s civil investigation : NPR

Veterans Org Urges DoD to Do More in Fight Against Suicide – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

With public camping a felony, Tennessee homeless seek refuge : NPR

Michigan boots 19 candidates, including 6 running for governor, from primary election over errors, fraud – pennlive.com

Ray Liotta, of ‘Goodfellas’ and ‘Field of Dreams,’ Dies at 67 – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

 

Local News

Radnor approves 2.26 percent tax increase in next year’s budget – Mainline Media News

Montgomery County allocates $7.3M for One Montgomery Plaza electrical, HVAC contracts (mainlinemedianews.com)

Black Civil War soldiers to get long-delayed honors on Cumberland County memorial – pennlive.com

Memorial Day Weekend parades set: Hawley, Honesdale & Milford (poconorecord.com)

Prayer vigil against racism and violence held at Sacred Heart Church (goerie.com)

Former Phoenixville Civic Center on Main Street to be sold at auction (delcotimes.com)

Bucks County’s public golf courses and country clubs make millions (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Friday’s storms could bring tornado, floods, damaging winds to central Pa. – pennlive.com

Powerful Pottstown house explosion kills at least 4 – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Wilkes-Barre Area votes to sell Meyers for $3.2 M | Education | citizensvoice.com

Hazleton planners grant conditional approval for warehouse project | News | standardspeaker.com

Reading, West Reading to hold flag-raising ceremonies to kick off Pride month | Berks Regional News | wfmz.com

 

Pitt

In Pgh., elected officials, environmental groups call for updates to Pa.’s recycling laws – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Allegheny Co. DA Zappala’s decision to seek death penalty doesn’t serve justice | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Leadership profile for next Pittsburgh superintendent presented to school board | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh art commission rejects actor Jane Seymour’s “heart” sculpture | WITF

Proposal to allow youth groups to camp in Pittsburgh parks moves forward | TribLIVE.com

Train derailment in Harmar expected to last through holiday weekend, road and river traffic halted | TribLIVE.com

Train carrying oil derails after striking truck in Harmar; cleanup will disrupt Memorial Day travel and recreation | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

This Duquesne veteran left Vietnam 50 years ago. Each year since, he’s honored those who didn’t make it back. | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Philly

Philly city officials, Philly Housing Authority collaborate for violence prevention – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Councilmember Brooks to hold Restore our City event | News | phillytrib.com

Philadelphia’s recent population decline among largest of major U.S. cities, Census estimates show – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Philly Council members disagree on reconfiguration of Washington Avenue (inquirer.com)

 

Washington

Senators talk expanded gun background checks, red flag laws – Daily Local

Senate GOP blocks domestic terrorism bill, gun policy debate | News | tribdem.com

Ted Cruz walks away after reporter asks him why mass shootings keep happening : NPR

Republicans’ Jan. 6 Refusal Could Set Up a Showdown – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Politico: Mark Meadows burned papers after meeting with Scott Perry (ydr.com)