News Digest:: October 17, 2023

Legislature

Pa. election 2023: A complete guide to who is on the ballot, when to vote, how to vote, where to vote, casting mail ballots & more | News | meadvilletribune.com

Republican lawmakers have raised fees on electric cars as gas taxes have fallen – The Washington Post

Hilco Breaks Ground On First Building Of $4B Bellwether District At Former Southwest Philly Refinery (bisnow.com)

Pharmacies expand access to abortion pills under new Biden policy – The Keystone (keystonenewsroom.com)

Pa. House vote to reconsider rejected bill keeps hope alive for an early presidential primary – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pa. House environmental leader guts his own bill to manage crypto mining growth – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pennsylvania students call on lawmakers to end ‘archaic’ closed primaries – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Business/Jobs

Central Pa. conference center closing, assets going up for auction – pennlive.com

Reese’s $25,000 promotion may violate sweepstakes laws | WITF

Pharmacy chain Rite Aid files for bankruptcy amid falling sales, opioid lawsuits : NPR

LA’s housing crisis is central to the hotel workers’ strike : NPR

Netflix plans to open brick and mortar locations : NPR

Bitcoin mining study revived | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

New Popeyes collab brings hot ‘fancy and flair’ to chicken sandwich – pennlive.com

Iconic Boo Buckets land at McDonald’s today (10/17/23) – pennlive.com

COVID-19

Former COVID-19 czar: The virus ‘new normal’ points to larger public health mission – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Driver dead after head-on collision with tractor-trailer going the wrong way on I-83: coroner – pennlive.com

Crime/Punishment

Man, Wrongfully Imprisoned for 16 Years, Is Fatally Shot During Traffic Stop – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Four Men, Including One Held on a Murder Charge, Escape From a Georgia Jail – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

F.B.I. Crime Report: Murders in U.S. Fell 6% in 2022 as Violence Declined – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Prosecutors appeal length of prison sentences for Proud Boys leaders convicted of Jan. 6 plot – pennlive.com

Education

Dr. Mark Blanchard named superintendent of Cumberland Valley School District – pennlive.com

Teacher shows ‘Winnie the Pooh’ slasher film to 4th graders: reports – pennlive.com

Israel-Hamas conflict sparks tension at U.S. college campuses : NPR

Racial inequity in Pennsylvania’s public schools | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Pennsylvania students call on lawmakers to end ‘archaic’ closed primaries – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

States are trying to prop up the child care industry. It isn’t enough. – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Elections/Politics

Crunching the numbers: Campaign finance reports show a few surprises – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Environment/Energy

How gas utilities used tobacco tactics to sell more gas stoves : NPR

More trees coming to Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Renewable energy the big winner when it comes to federal subsidies | National | thecentersquare.com

Transportation

Gas prices could spike amid Middle East conflict, experts say | National | thecentersquare.com

Public EV charging may get private boost | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Gun Safety

Harrisburg event recognizes growing toll of gun violence: ‘Every month it’s more, more, more’ – pennlive.com

Health

Counseling, chiropractic, dental and hospice service providers open new central Pa. locations – pennlive.com

Many soda fountains are filthy, full of horrible superbugs: study – pennlive.com

Medicine in diabetes drug Mounjaro helped people lose a quarter of body weight – pennlive.com

State News

MIL-OSI USA: Governor Shapiro Signs Executive Order Streamlining Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder Efforts to Improve Accessibility Across the Commonwealth | ForeignAffairs.co.nz

Report calls Pennsylvania a taxpayer ‘sinkhole’ | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Pennsylvania Wilds receives grants for outdoor projects | WITF

Several Pa. pension systems kept working with financial adviser after SEC settlement | WITF

States are trying to prop up the child care industry. It isn’t enough. – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Counseling, chiropractic, dental and hospice service providers open new central Pa. locations – pennlive.com

Pennsylvania officials warn residents of fall wildfire risks (abc27.com)

Pennsylvania’s favorite Halloween candy, found | Today in Pa. – pennlive.com

National News

Biden will visit Israel to demonstrate U.S. support following Hamas attack – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Biden to visit Israel Wednesday | National | thecentersquare.com

Biden calls on Israel not to occupy Gaza as war continues | National | thecentersquare.com

Latest Biden campaign ad focuses on manufacturing in Philadelphia – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

White House bets $7B on hydrogen hubs | National | thecentersquare.com

U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force Struggle for Recruits, but the Marines Have Plenty. – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Justice Barrett Calls for Supreme Court to Adopt an Ethics Code – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Suspect in stabbing death of 6-year-old Muslim boy charged with hate crime : NPR

Local News

Longwood Garden’s 1,000-flower chrysanthemum is almost ready | WITF

Is there a ghost in this Lancaster County restaurant? | WITF

I-83 closed after Dauphin County crash – pennlive.com

Mountain lions in Pa. town? Nope. What it was, and why cougars won’t pop up here – pennlive.com

Principal, PTA team up to raise money for playground at Heights-Terrace school | Education | standardspeaker.com

Former lovers dead after apparent murder-suicide in Pottstown | Southeastern Pennsylvania | wfmz.com

Shaky Lackawanna County budget for 2024 has no tax increase — for now | News | thetimes-tribune.com

Dr. Mark Blanchard named superintendent of Cumberland Valley School District – pennlive.com

Pitt

Saxonburg community mourns youth football player killed in crash | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh Technical College works to resolve leadership crisis | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

More trees coming to Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

CMU police officer accused of switching price tags to steal from Walmart in Frazer | TribLIVE.com

Pittsburgh police commander faces wiretapping allegations | TribLIVE.com

Philly

Latest Biden campaign ad focuses on manufacturing in Philadelphia – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Passengers evacuated following aborted takeoff at Philadelphia airport – pennlive.com

Philadelphia attempts to put accessibility at the forefront of disability data – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

a. doctor wants you to consider eating animal organs | WITF

Washington

Sen. Casey’s third-quarter haul shows him well-positioned for 2024 battle – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)