Legislatura
Pennsylvania GOP’s push for more power over judiciary raises alarms
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2021/02/15/Pennsylvania-republicans-power-judiciary-judges-zones-trump-election-challenges/stories/202102150066
GOP lawmakers in 28 states, including Pa., have introduced more than 100 bills seeking to restrict ballot access | Analysis
https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/gop-lawmakers-in-28-states-have-introduced-more-than-100-bills-seeking-to-restrict-ballot-access-analysis/
Pa. schools would get hike of more than $1B with Gov. Wolf’s budget, but officials aren’t banking on cash yet
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/02/pa-schools-would-get-hike-of-more-than-1b-with-gov-wolfs-budget-but-officials-arent-banking-on-cash-yet.html
After state blunder, Pa. abuse victims ask: ‘Who the hell are we supposed to trust?’
https://www.witf.org/2021/02/16/after-state-blunder-pa-abuse-victims-ask-who-the-hell-are-we-supposed-to-trust/
Let’s work for – not against – women’s health in 2021-22 | Opinion
https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/lets-work-for-not-against-womens-health-in-2021-22-opinion/
Pa. Dems were right: It’s time for lawmakers to prioritize women’s, family health | Opinion
https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/pa-dems-were-right-its-time-for-lawmakers-to-prioritize-womens-family-health-opinion/
To keep Pa. voters confident in our elections, rejecting misinformation is key | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/pennsylvania-election-voter-trust-mail-in-ballots-muhlenberg-report-20210215.html
Pending legislation could affect Salavantis replacement
https://www.timesleader.com/news/893975/pending-legislation-could-affect-salavantis-replacement
Pennsylvania laws must ensure child abuse victims can pursue justice | Opinion
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2021/02/pennsylvania-laws-must-ensure-child-abuse-victims-can-pursue-justice-opinion.html
Blake to direct Cartwright’s district office with jobs focus
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/blake-to-direct-cartwrights-district-office-with-jobs-focus/article_3b5cffca-c090-5106-a6da-bffd25aaf020.html
Pa. state Sen. Blake to take econ development job with Cartwright, sparking NEPA special election
https://www.penncapital-star.com/blog/blake-to-take-econ-development-job-with-cartwright-sparking-nepa-special-election/
Blake good model for his successor
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/editorial/blake-good-model-for-his-successor/article_9a884959-ad6d-53e7-81b3-f006a6294c25.html
Philly Rep. Brian Sims says he’ll seek Dem nod for Lt. Gov in 2022
https://www.penncapital-star.com/blog/philly-rep-brian-sims-says-hell-seek-dem-nod-for-lt-gov-in-2022/
Coronavirus - COVID-19
Doctors push back against new Pa. Health Department COVID-19 vaccine policy
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/healthcare-business/2021/02/15/Pennsylvania-health-department-Alison-Beam-doctors-push-back-Natalie-gentile-covid-vaccinations-hospitals-doctors/stories/202102150068
Berks Community Health Center to see increase in COVID vaccine supply under new program
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/berks-community-health-center-to-see-increase-in-covid-vaccine-supply-under-new-program/article_95250c6e-6d57-11eb-835b-2f7d02985c9f.html
Bucks County delays some COVID vaccine appointments due to registration error
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/story/news/2021/02/16/bucks-county-covid-vaccine-registration-error-delays-some-shots/6761686002/
Pennsylvania coronavirus update: Fewer than 2,000 additional cases; Pa. slated for 210,000 first vaccine doses this week
https://www.mcall.com/coronavirus/mc-nws-coronavirus-feb-15-update-20210215-rftsrkdograflefohvdx7lbidi-story.html
COVID-19 Update: New cases in Pa. at lowest point in months
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2021/02/15/covid-19-coronavirus-pittsburgh-pennsylvania-allegheny-county-cases-deaths-pandemic-vaccine/stories/202102150077
COVID cases rise by 51 in Berks County; 2-dose vaccinations top 12,000
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/covid-cases-rise-by-51-in-berks-county-2-dose-vaccinations-top-12-000/article_e60f3244-6fb9-11eb-852b-1f4ca4b55f51.html
38 new COVID-19 cases reported in county on Monday
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/coronavirus/38-new-covid-19-cases-reported-in-county-on-monday/article_ede2fc76-b428-5bad-b40e-44108fe3867d.html
County agency steps up for older residents
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/editorial/county-agency-steps-up-for-older-residents/article_05f9e8a3-9d8a-5ee3-8b53-addf73a82a7a.html
Redistribución de distritos
Delay in census data could put transparency in Pa.’s redistricting process at risk
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2021/02/15/Pennsylvania-us-census-2020-data-delay-transparency-redistricting-process-risk/stories/202102150126
Empresas
Armstrong County to give $733K in grants to restaurants hard hit by pandemic
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/armstrong-county-to-give-733000-in-grants-to-restaurants-hard-hit-by-pandemic/
Hospitality workers hardest hit by COVID pandemic
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/hospitality-workers-hardest-hit-by-covid-pandemic/article_8fffb3aa-65b5-11eb-ad88-8f9d19021d6d.html
Allied Universal hiring 200 people in and around Lehigh Valley as demand jumps for security services
https://www.mcall.com/business/mc-biz-allied-universal-hiring-lehigh-valley-security-professionals-20210215-qlz3adryt5eajci4pq5pcceer4-story.html
Royal Farms offers wellness bonus to employees that get COVID vaccine
https://www.delcotimes.com/business/royal-farms-offers-wellness-bonus-to-employees-that-get-covid-vaccine/article_46d3949a-3036-5a72-87a1-b2db9afa7cd2.html
Delito/Castigo
A call for accuracy and safety
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2021/02/16/A-call-for-accuracy-and-safety-PA-prisoners-COVID-Editorial-Board-Pittsburgh-Post-Gazette/stories/202102040029
Educación
New CDC COVID guidelines for schools don’t change much in Pennsylvania
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/new-cdc-covid-guidelines-for-schools-dont-change-much-in-pennsylvania/article_8bd4ec76-6fa3-11eb-b61a-5bbeb914b49f.html
Muhlenberg School District students will likely be back in class soon, but not quite yet
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/muhlenberg-school-district-students-will-likely-be-back-in-class-soon-but-not-quite-yet/article_ca290458-6fad-11eb-80c2-9384b586098f.html
Wilkes-Barre Area expecting schools to reopen in two weeks
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/wilkes-barre-area-expecting-schools-to-reopen-in-two-weeks/article_77b16834-fff2-59ff-94d8-45f6bfacd51d.html
Some high schools change mask policy to avoid WPIAL playoff forfeits
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-basketball/2021/02/15/WPIAL-basketball-playoffs-masks-2021-open-tournament-Amy-Scheuneman/stories/202102150131
Should Pa. increase education funding by raising taxes? | Pro/Con
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/pennsylvania-taxes-school-funding-tom-wolf-budget-education-20210215.html
Universities are schooling future architects to consider community and history as they design
https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/architecture-university-training-community-involvement-philadelphia-20210216.html
Local students in health care help during pandemic
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/coronavirus/local-students-in-health-care-help-during-pandemic/article_68fb9992-82c4-583c-9ce7-35e1cad3b3f5.html
Lehigh University professor’s remarks about race and poverty draw criticism from students, faculty
https://www.mcall.com/news/education/mc-nws-lehigh-university-race-poverty-20210216-axsssqldvrcezmdhmq5l3im3lq-story.html
WCU awarded $30,000 to combat sex and relationship violence
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/local/wcu-awarded-30-000-to-combat-sex-and-relationship-violence/article_be685554-6faa-11eb-8210-db3f6182f2f5.html
Noticias locales
New section of trail in Scranton will traverse former mining tract
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/new-section-of-trail-in-scranton-will-traverse-former-mining-tract/article_73159ad3-d4d5-5cb0-9ff5-10b36c9baf40.html
$1.5M Babcock Nature Center under construction in Buffalo Township
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/1-5-million-babcock-nature-center-under-construction-in-buffalo-township-near-butler-freeport-community-trail/
Montgomery County coronavirus response fund raises $900K for nonprofits
https://www.mainlinemedianews.com/news/region/montgomery-county-coronavirus-response-fund-raises-900k-for-nonprofits/article_89804d63-8404-540b-b5c2-aa7934e4fe49.html
Luzerne County committee to discuss 407 acres that could be sold
https://www.timesleader.com/news/894004/luzerne-county-committee-to-discuss-407-acres-that-could-be-sold
Filadelfia
Philly Fighting COVID got a city contract while groups emphasizing racial equity didn’t
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/philadelphia-coronavirus-vaccine-distribution-racial-equity-20210216.html
Elected officials and community partners want the Linc as massive vaccination site
https://www.phillytrib.com/news/elected-officials-and-community-partners-want-the-linc-as-massive-vaccination-site/article_29afcca1-e512-545e-84f8-beee21407595.html
Some skulls in a Penn Museum collection may be the remains of enslaved people taken from a nearby burial ground
https://www.inquirer.com/news/penn-museum-morton-collection-black-philadelphians-skulls-20210216.html
Start-ups are surging across the U.S. It may be a good to time to launch a home-based business in Philly
https://www.inquirer.com/business/small-business/pandemic-home-based-businesses-startup-jobless-free-time-20210216.html
Political squabbling over Philly vaccination plan is sickening | Editorial
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/vaccination-philly-lincoln-financial-field-domb-kenney-vaccines-20210216.html
Now do you understand why I write about Black people so much? | Jenice Armstrong
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/inquirer-audit-temple-university-black-journalists-philly-jenice-armstrong-20210216.html
Philly should use the schools reopening debate to fix longer-term problems | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/philly-school-reopening-safety-buildings-digital-divide-mental-health-20210215.html
Krasner calls on Philadelphia leaders to invest $100 million to help curb gun violence
https://www.witf.org/2021/02/16/krasner-calls-on-philadelphia-leaders-to-invest-100-million-to-help-curb-gun-violence/
Pitt
Demand far exceeds supply at Allegheny County vaccine centers
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2021/02/15/Demand-far-exceeds-supply-at-county-vaccine-centers/stories/202102150084
Teen hospitalized after shooting in Larimer
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2021/02/16/Teen-shot-in-leg-Larimer-pittsburgh/stories/202102160086
Pittsburgh to partner with FUSE Corps on policing, youth workforce development
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2021/02/15/Pittsburgh-police-reform-youth-workers-FUSE-Corps-Mayor-Peduto-task-force/stories/202102150086
Pitt, NCAA knew about dangers of football concussions, lawsuits claim
https://triblive.com/sports/lawsuits-claim-pitt-ncaa-pitt-knew-about-danger-of-football-concussions/
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and PennDOT officials try to keep up with wintry weather
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny-county-and-penndot-officials-try-to-keep-up-with-wintry-weather/
Noticias del Estado
Pennsylvanians consumed an average of 753 drinks each in 2020, study says
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/pennsylvanians-consumed-an-average-of-753-drinks-each-in-2020-study-says/
Transporte
PennDOT receives $407.2 million in federal COVID relief funds for road and bridge projects
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/penndot-receives-407-2-million-in-federal-covid-relief-funds-for-road-and-bridge-projects/article_29913148-6f9c-11eb-b0e6-fb103bcf0706.html
Ready for takeoff: Portersville man finally gets required COVID test to visit wife in Germany
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2021/02/16/Pittsburgh-International-Airport-Tackl-Health-David-Kern-United-Airlines-Lufthansa-Portersville-Chicago-Frankfurt-Germany/stories/202102160058
Washington
Pelosi says independent commission will examine Capitol riot
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/capitol-insurrection-jan-6-pelosi-20210215.html
Westmoreland GOP censures Toomey while Allegheny chair urges caution
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2021/02/15/Pat-Toomey-impeachment-vote-2021-Republican-censure-Allegheny-County-GOP-DeMarco-Westmoreland/stories/202102150124
Pat Toomey is facing a Republican backlash in Pennsylvania for voting to convict Donald Trump
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/pat-toomey-trump-impeachment-vote-pennsylvania-republicans-20210215.html
Pa. Republicans weigh move to censure Toomey over impeachment vote, report
https://www.penncapital-star.com/blog/pa-republicans-weigh-move-to-censure-toomey-over-impeachment-vote-report/