Presupuesto
Local lawmakers sound off on Gov. Wolf’s budget proposal
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/local-lawmakers-sound-off-on-gov-wolfs-budget-proposal/
Area legislators differ in views on Wolf’s budget
https://www.timesleader.com/news/818463/area-legislators-differ-in-views-on-wolfs-budget
How Pa. lawmakers, interest groups reacted to Wolf’s 2021-2022 budget proposal
https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/how-pa-lawmakers-interest-groups-reacted-to-wolfs-2021-2022-budget-proposal/
Pa. budget overview: Income tax hike, aid for schools, a higher minimum wage and a lot of opposition
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/02/pa-budget-overview-income-tax-hike-aid-for-schools-a-higher-minimum-wage-and-a-lot-of-opposition.html
As Pa. budget shows, the governor is from Venus, the Legislature is from Mars
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/02/as-pa-budget-shows-the-governor-is-from-venus-the-legislature-is-from-mars.html
Wolf proposes new budget with tax hike; Republicans say it’s DOA
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/wolf-proposes-new-budget-with-tax-hike-republicans-say-its-doa/article_9f8385ae-a97b-5d9f-adac-b7023fabedbb.html
Wolf wants to add $1.3B in basic-ed funding, distribute with fair formula
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/education/wolf-wants-to-add-1-3b-in-basic-ed-funding-distribute-with-fair-formula/article_25c80a55-850e-518f-889c-8966462bb7a7.html
Wolf budget gives huge boost to schools in Philly, Allentown, Reading and other cities
https://www.witf.org/2021/02/04/wolf-budget-gives-huge-boost-to-schools-in-philly-allentown-reading-and-other-cities/
Wolf’s school funding plan would help Philly. It would give big increases to some wealthier suburban districts, too.
https://www.inquirer.com/education/gov-wolf-budget-school-funding-income-tax-increase-20210204.html
Public education advocates hail Wolf’s school budget; Republicans balk at tax proposal
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/public-education-advocates-hail-wolfs-school-budget-republican-balk-at-tax-proposal/
Governor’s budget proposal could ‘destroy’ Pa. horse racing, but reduce student debt
https://www.inquirer.com/news/wolf-horse-racing-subsidy-purses-disaster-college-tuition-20210203.html
Wolf COVID-19 recovery plan calls for $3B in spending over next decade
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/wolf-covid-19-recovery-plan-calls-for-3b-in-spending-over-next-decade/article_ddec00bc-87c8-5f5e-90b1-11b784a0372c.html
Gov. Wolf’s proposed changes to education funding would boost state money coming to Berks
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/gov-wolfs-proposed-changes-to-education-funding-would-boost-state-money-coming-to-berks/article_b8f5cb60-6640-11eb-830d-eb1d738da913.html
WB Area big winner in Wolf’s proposed education budget
https://www.timesleader.com/news/818471/wb-area-big-winner-in-wolfs-proposed-education-budget
List: Lehigh Valley school districts would get this much more money under Wolf budget plan
https://www.mcall.com/news/education/mc-num-wolf-budget-lehigh-valley-schools-20210204-s4dxsxahdnd2vedip5axnzvaai-story.html
Wolf budget would give W-B Area nearly $29M more in basic ed funds
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/wolf-budget-would-give-w-b-area-nearly-29m-more-in-basic-ed-funds/article_bf96b9c9-8df2-5288-9e58-f1fb7dcdecd4.html
The great debate: Will Gov. Wolf get proposed marijuana legalization for PA?
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/the-great-debate-will-gov-wolf-get-proposed-marijuana-legalization-for-pa/article_44f0d6f9-f7ad-5f3a-83cf-9a99dbedbb14.html
Recreational marijuana may be wrong choice for state, some area legislators, businesses say
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/recreational-marijuana-may-be-wrong-choice-for-state-some-area-legislators-businesses-say/article_184ecb6e-0248-5d2e-aec6-c43bd55e32eb.html
Pa. budget: Gov. Tom Wolf proposes small increase to state government workforce
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/02/pa-budget-gov-tom-wolf-proposes-small-increase-to-state-government-workforce.html
Here’s what your town would pay for state police under Gov. Tom Wolf’s fee: Use the database
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/02/heres-what-your-town-would-pay-for-state-police-under-gov-tom-wolfs-fee-use-the-database.html
Winners and losers under Wolf’s proposed 2021-22 budget
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/state/winners-and-losers-under-wolfs-proposed-2021-22-budget/article_d61a1893-2c10-5623-94f2-62ef89abf1bd.html
Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2021-2022 Budget in Brief
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/gov-tom-wolfs-2021-2022-budget-in-brief/pdf_a7ade2d7-16df-53d7-86ba-f80d527d97b2.html
Yudichak upset with proposed elimination of $5 million in state facility closure aid
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/yudichak-upset-with-proposed-elimination-of-5-million-in-state-facility-closure-aid/article_b8cdb224-4080-537d-bdab-aa9750ac04bc.html
Legislatura
What the exit of Pa.’s top election official means for the future of voting
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/spl/kathy-boockvar-pennsylvania-election-resign-republican-reaction-voting-future-20210204.html
Life without parole for ‘felony murder’: Pa. case targets sentencing law
https://www.witf.org/2021/02/04/life-without-parole-for-felony-murder-pa-case-targets-sentencing-law/
Create state authority to boost broadband
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/editorial/create-state-authority-to-boost-broadband/article_07e372e9-56e7-54f9-8a15-d0c774ea0867.html
Editorial: Don’t make Pa. abuse victims wait any longer
https://www.readingeagle.com/opinion/editorial-dont-make-pa-abuse-victims-wait-any-longer/article_9a3a084a-6626-11eb-b423-3f6d4b2327bc.html
Coronavirus - COVID-19
Pa.’s lagging vaccine rollout takes center stage in Harrisburg
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/pa-house-health-committee-examines-lagging-vaccine-rollout-hears-complaints/
New Pennsylvania Health Department leader says limited vaccine supplies going to most efficient providers first; Republicans vow to get National Guard involved
https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/capitol-ideas/mc-nws-pa-vaccine-access-debate-20210203-od3qpwy65jfjledtz4miqnaw7a-story.html
Pennsylvania focuses on finishing Phase 1A vaccinations
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2021/02/03/covid-19-coronavirus-pennsylvania-allegheny-county-pittsburgh-cases-deaths-data-health-department-vaccine/stories/202102030114
Pa. officials hope direct shipment of covid vaccine to pharmacies will ease supply woes
https://triblive.com/local/regional/pa-officials-hope-direct-shipment-of-covid-vaccine-to-pharmacies-will-ease-supply-woes/
Westmoreland group weighs in on lack of local input, challenges in vaccine rollout
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-group-weighs-in-on-lack-of-local-input-challenges-in-vaccine-rollout/
Philly opens first new vaccination clinic; N.J. relaxes restaurant, bar restrictions
https://www.inquirer.com/news/coronavirus-covid-19-philly-pa-nj-montco-fighting-covid-farley-kenney-20210203.html
Consumer group urges ‘reasonable’ policies for denying life insurance to COVID-19 victims
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/money/2021/02/04/Consumer-Federation-of-America-life-insurance-COVID-19-victims/stories/202102030146
Up in the air: Pittsburgh International Airport COVID-19 testing turns into a Catch-22 for one traveler
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2021/02/04/Pittsburgh-International-Airport-COVID-19-testing-United-Airlines-Lufthansa/stories/202102040081
Federal grand jury investigating Brighton Rehab in Beaver County
https://triblive.com/local/regional/federal-grand-jury-investigating-brighton-rehab-in-beaver-county/
Health department to investigate Kadima
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/health-department-to-investigate-kadima/article_f44cca40-ee71-5d44-ab77-169a81c4a408.html
Possible side effects, what else to expect with COVID-19 vaccination
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/coronavirus/possible-side-effects-what-else-to-expect-with-covid-19-vaccination/article_983629db-7281-50db-b432-f786155e1867.html
Montgomery County official chides social media users for sharing links to vaccine
https://www.mainlinemedianews.com/news/region/montgomery-county-official-chides-social-media-users-for-sharing-links-to-vaccine/article_bf673283-e084-5414-8398-560484a111aa.html
42 new COVID-19 cases in county on Wednesday
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/coronavirus/42-new-covid-19-cases-in-county-on-wednesday/article_4125ec50-664a-5bb1-a56c-5cbb86f54c1b.html
Berks County gets 114 new COVID cases
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/berks-county-gets-114-new-covid-cases/article_6b485bf6-661a-11eb-b601-af6580c7354e.html
Monroe goes low: Only 30 newly-reported COVID-19 cases on Wednesday
https://www.poconorecord.com/story/news/coronavirus/2021/02/03/monroe-county-counts-only-30-newly-reported-covid-19-wednesday/4337622001/
Nursing home staff nationwide largely shun COVID-19 vaccine
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/coronavirus/nursing-home-staff-nationwide-largely-shun-covid-19-vaccine/article_b411280d-a66b-5eac-8300-16061e2a0d5d.html
Empresas
Besides PPP, here are sources where local small businesses can get relief
https://www.inquirer.com/business/small-business-loans-ppp-pennsylvania-new-jersey-20210204.html
Comcast boosts internet speeds for its cheapest plan to aid homebound students
https://www.inquirer.com/business/comcast/comcast-internet-essentials-speed-increase-philadelphia-school-20210204.html
Comcast will delay extra charges for heavy internet usage
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/tech-news/2021/02/03/Comcast-Corporation-data-usage-price-increase-delayed-Attorney-General-Josh-Shapiro/stories/202102030110
Wawa and Sheetz team up to take the ‘plunge’ together
https://www.inquirer.com/news/wawa-sheetz-partnership-special-olympics-pennsylvania-polar-pop-20210203.html
Another Berks restaurant targeted by the state for closure over COVID infractions
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/another-berks-restaurant-targeted-by-the-state-for-closure-over-covid-infractions/article_5255e76e-6659-11eb-8ab7-e3c1c907abcb.html
Delito/Castigo
2 former Cambria County high school wrestling coaches enter guilty pleas to child porn charges
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2021/02/03/Portage-Area-High-School-wrestling-coaches-Michael-Fox-Bradley-Roussell-plead-guilty-child-porn/stories/202102030161
Educación
Teachers at Mars Area School District threaten strike
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2021/02/04/Teachers-Mars-Area-school-district-strike-negotiations/stories/202102040101
Preserve sports teams
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2021/02/04/Preserve-sports-teams-Pennsylvania-Universities-college/stories/202101300033
John Chaney was more than a coach. He was an advocate for Black youth. | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/john-chaney-death-temple-university-black-players-advocacy-20210203.html
Stories of Temple legend John Chaney, as told by those who lived them
https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/temple/inq/john-chaney-career-impact-temple-basketball-20210204.html
Elecciones/Política
A Never Trump Republican from Philadelphia is eyeing next year’s U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/craig-snyder-2022-pennsylvania-senate-race-20210203.html
Luzerne County Election Board quickly seeking replacement for chairwoman who resigned
https://www.timesleader.com/news/818461/luzerne-county-election-board-quickly-seeking-replacement-for-chairwoman-who-resigned
Sanidad
Health insurance marketplaces reopening in Pa., N.J. to help with COVID-19 relief
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/covid-19-coronavirus-pennie-health-insurance-marketplace-biden-20210203.html
Noticias locales
Scranton Zoning Board approves transitional living facilities for people recovering from addictions
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-zoning-board-approves-transitional-living-facilities-for-people-recovering-from-addictions/article_ba1050ea-c863-513b-87d6-b7ba9b97f0d5.html
County ordinance would set fees tied to delinquent Scranton property tax collection
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/county-ordinance-would-set-fees-tied-to-delinquent-scranton-property-tax-collection/article_a282249f-72bb-5e5c-a312-1776b8ff8629.html
Berks crews in overdrive with snow removal: ‘We’re working as fast as we can’
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/berks-crews-in-overdrive-with-snow-removal-we-re-working-as-fast-as-we-can/article_39cf0bfc-665f-11eb-b741-cf5c23cacd07.html
Caenarvon Township police receive a nearly $10,000 grant to purchase body cameras
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/caenarvon-township-police-receive-a-nearly-10-000-grant-to-purchase-body-cameras/article_055c65e6-665e-11eb-b9e6-73b7a0ae2039.html
Ridley officers sue the township and their captain, saying he demoted them for revealing misconduct
https://www.inquirer.com/news/ridley-township-police-lawsuit-willoughby-20210203.html
Rent relief helps more than 80 families in Carbon County
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/rent-relief-helps-more-than-80-families-in-carbon-county/article_97c2a538-97ab-59f1-91d6-2d3fc37abf41.html
What’s taking so long? Slow process of massive snow removal causes aggravation for municipalities and residents
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-snow-removal-challenges-municipalities-20210203-p2p3j67torathdlag46z7r3fyu-story.html
Family of teen fatally shot by state police on Poconos overpass announce lawsuit, are being represented by civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump
https://www.mcall.com/news/police/mc-nws-lawsuit-filed-against-state-police-after-fatal-shooting-20210203-siut556c7zb6dmwmib2pqilvgq-story.html
Nueva Jersey
U.S. Supreme Court will hear PennEast Pipeline appeal of N.J. eminent-domain dispute
https://www.inquirer.com/business/supreme-court-will-hear-penneast-pipeline-appeal-nj-pa-shale-gas-20210203.html
Filadelfia
Philadelphia hotel occupancy plummeted nearly 60% during pandemic, city says
https://www.inquirer.com/business/philadelphia-hotel-stays-occupancy-airbnb-pandemic-coronavirus-tourism-20210203.html
A very Philly ‘marriage selfie mural’ is going up at the Wedding License Bureau in City Hall
https://www.inquirer.com/news/wedding-license-bureau-marriage-selfie-mural-arts-philadelphia-city-hall-20210204.html
Philly recorded 4 straight days of snow for just the 4th time ever and forecasters expect more to come
https://www.inquirer.com/weather/philadelphia-weather-forecast-snow-cold-temperatures-pennsylvania-new-jersey-20210204.html
The ‘twice as good’ rule for Black leaders brings unfair scrutiny to Danielle Outlaw | Solomon Jones
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/danielle-outlaw-resignation-calls-thomas-farley-philly-fighting-covid-20210203.html
One-person protests upend a tired trope that Philadelphia residents don’t care | Helen Ubiñas
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/gun-violence-mayor-kenney-hunger-strike-philadelphia-helen-ubinas-20210203.html
Pitt
Pittsburgh School Board: $20 million in wage tax money could help ‘educational emergency’
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-school-board-20-million-in-wage-tax-money-could-help-educational-emergency/
Pittsburgh officials enlist help from nonprofit to improve relations between police, residents
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-officials-enlist-help-from-nonprofit-to-improve-relations-between-police-and-residents/
Anne Feeney, folk singer and political activist, dies at 69
https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/2021/02/03/Anne-Feeney-obituary-folk-singer-political-activist-death-69/stories/202102030167
Netflix seeking child actors for ‘The Chair’
https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2021/02/03/netflix-the-chair-casting-call-extras-child-actors-sandra-oh-jay-duplass-amanda-peet/stories/202102030145
Judge orders Crack’d Egg to follow COVID-19 rules or close
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2021/02/03/crackd-egg-brentwood-allegheny-health-department-judge-case-order-covid-coronavirus-waigand/stories/202102030155
Pittsburgh Brewing Co. plans to build its brewery at former PPG glass plant in Creighton
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/pittsburgh-brewing-co-plans-build-its-brewery-at-former-ppg-glass-plant-in-creighton/
Allegheny Co. officials ask for ‘common sense’ during Super Bowl viewing
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny-co-officials-ask-for-common-sense-during-super-bowl-viewing/
Noticias del Estado
Pennsylvania billionaire buys a SpaceX flight to orbit with 3 others
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/tech-news/2021/02/01/SpaceX-first-all-civilian-flight-mission-orbit-billionaire/stories/202102010154
What’s the worst part of living in Pennsylvania? There are lots of choices | John Baer
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/02/whats-the-worst-part-of-living-in-pennsylvania-theres-lots-of-choices-john-baer.html
Washington
House Republicans vote to keep Rep. Liz Cheney as No. 3 leader, stand by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/marjorie-taylor-greene-liz-cheney-house-gop-20210203.html
Sen. Bob Casey named to Senate Intelligence Committee
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2021/02/03/US-Senator-Bob-Casey-named-to-Senate-Intelligence-Committee/stories/202102030132