Legislature
Draft bills and late-night emails reveal cozy ties between Pa. state lawmaker, casino lobbyists · Spotlight PA
What are skill games, and why are they at the center of a multimillion-dollar fight · Spotlight PA
Pa. Senate bill would authorize sale of medical marijuana edibles | Monday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
As constitutional amendments grow and die in the Pa. Legislature, some popular ideas are shot down | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Federal judge dismisses Republicans’ lawsuit to block unaffiliated voter participation in primaries – Colorado Newsline
Some Pennsylvania Republicans want to get rid of ballot drop boxes. Experts say that’s a step too far. | WITF
Tips of the Trade: Penn. bill to require repair shops to identify suspected hit-and-run drivers – Collision Repair Magazine
Schwank and Street Announce Plan to Ban Delta-8 THC in Pennsylvania – BCTV
Pennsylvania Senators to Introduce Legislation to Ban Delta-8 THC – Cannabis Business Times
Bill to allow marijuana businesses to access banks (abc27.com)
Pennsylvania lawmaker Judy Schwank wants to ban Delta-8 ‘to protect people’ (wkbn.com)
CR students find sweet success in naming Hersey Kiss as PA state candy (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Governor Wolf Continues Push For $200 Million Scholarship Program To Lower Student Debt – CBS Pittsburgh (cbslocal.com)
Gov. Wolf promotes $200M scholarships in Pennsylvania – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
With $1.7 billion in ARPA funds, $75 million could go to Pennsylvania economic development | State | theprogressnews.com
Gov. Wolf: $500 Million American Rescue Plan Program Would Put $2,000 in Pockets | State | thecourierexpress.com
Hershey Kiss: A ‘Pa. thing’ on its way to becoming a state symbol | News | bradfordera.com
Hershey’s Kisses nominated as Pennsylvania state candy – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Editorial: Lawmakers should act with urgency on childhood sexual abuse bill (delcotimes.com)
Schnee visits Harrisburg, prepares to become state representative | Election | standardspeaker.com
Coronavirus – COVID-19
Northeastern Pennsylvania hospitals talk COVID challenges (poconorecord.com)
State, local agencies reduce reporting of COVID-19 statistics to the public | Health | lancasteronline.com
The next leap in coronavirus vaccine development could be a nasal spray (inquirer.com)
Business/Jobs
Majority of HACC faculty votes yes to forming union (abc27.com)
Economists fear inflation could lead to recession (abc27.com)
Some counties in the Poconos saw unemployment drop in early 2022 (poconorecord.com)
I’m a DoorDash delivery driver. I deserve both flexibility and a safety net. | Opinion (inquirer.com)
$1.1B facility planned for central Pa. will convert used plastic materials – pennlive.com
Crime/Punishment
Program dispatching social workers rather than police gains traction in Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
‘It’s Very Terrifying’: Some SEPTA Riders Fear For Safety After 3 Attacks In Last Week – CBS Philly (cbslocal.com)
Education
Clarion University to Host International Conference on Global Diversity & Inclusion in Higher Education :: exploreClarion.com
The Road Ahead: Pandemic brought about new and different ways for students to learn (dailylocal.com)
THE ROAD AHEAD: COVID taught schools a tough lesson (dailylocal.com)
Gov. Wolf proposes $200 million for college scholarships | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Guest Opinion: Proposed Pennridge regions developed in private (theintell.com)
Lancaster school boundary policy could switch 1,300 students and rule out all transfer requests | Community News | lancasteronline.com
Letters: Change needed at PSU, oil helps our security, NAMI omitted (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Elections/Politics
Your guide to the 2022 primary challengers – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)
Pittsburgh voters replace State House members in special elections | | phillytrib.com
Top 10 U.S. Senate races that are most likely to flip : NPR
Pennsylvania’s Senate race tops the list of campaigns that are most likely to flip to the other party | WITF
Trump Endorses Dr. Oz, Shakes Up PA Senate Campaign – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
GOP Hopes Rising Gas Prices Bring More Support For Republicans – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
PA Green Groups Back Shapiro Despite Stance on RGGI, Fracking – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Pa. GOP governor’s candidates are making big promises on energy. Their power to act on them could be limited – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
GOP’s energy promises face limits in Pennsylvania governor’s race | WITF
Pa.’s governor candidates feud over how to reduce pain at the pump – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Pa.’s 2022 GOP U.S Senate primary could define future of Social Security, Medicare | Ray E. Landis – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
In Philly, Democratic U.S. Senate candidates battle for votes – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Transportation
Chase tests electric-car charging stations at select branches, including in Exton – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Health
A worrisome new bird flu is spreading in American birds and may be here to stay | WITF
Pa. Physician General discusses Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in Crawford County – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Microbiome experts warn of an ‘invisible extinction’ of gut bacteria that’s harming human health | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Abortion pills, once a workaround, are now a target | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Geisinger issues visitor pledge to curb aggressive behavior against staff | Life | northcentralpa.com
State News
FBI, SEC probes have cost Pa.’s largest pension fund $4 million in the last year (inquirer.com)
EDITORIAL: Pennsylvania leads in hate propaganda, a distinction we must combat | Editorials | observer-reporter.com
Tax reform may be needed to reverse Pennsylvania population decline | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Billions of dollars in federal aid on the way to attack abandoned mine pollution in Pa., elsewhere – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Report: These Pa. counties received an ‘F’ for air quality | The Numbers Racket – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Pa. man says mobile home residents are ‘sitting on a time bomb’ in red-hot housing market – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
York, Pa. students who fought book ban tell their story to U.S. House panel – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Cartwright, Penn State and NSF officials tour Schott in Duryea | Business | standardspeaker.com
Cartwright, Penn State and NSF officials tour Schott in Duryea | Business | standardspeaker.com
National News
War in Ukraine live updates: Russian rocket kills at least 50 people as they were trying to evacuate, Ukraine says | NPR
Russia’s war to shrink Ukraine economy 45%, World Bank says | News | tribdem.com
Maryland expands who can perform abortions after overriding Hogan’s veto : NPR
More than a dozen states propose so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bills : NPR
French presidential election: Macron and Le Pen head to runoff : NPR
Pakistani lawmakers to elect new prime minister after Imran Khan ouster : NPR
The Masters: Tiger Woods finishes in the 47th spot : NPR
FLOWERS: Musk’s Twitter Stock Stake Brings Hope Censorship Will End – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Could The Housing Bubble Burst in 2022? – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
America’s homeless ranks graying as more retire on streets | News | phillytrib.com
Local News
Shredding event set April 30 at Malvern Fire Co. – Daily Local
Erie Insurance uses tax credit program to donate $824,000 (goerie.com)
We are all affected by and accountable for Erie youth gun violence (goerie.com)
Affordable housing in Bucks County lacks community support, builders say (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Op-Ed: The Declaration’s vision should unite us (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Santander Arena, Performing Arts Center lifts to Reading downtown (readingeagle.com)
Members of Congress part of foreign affairs discussion (readingeagle.com)
Pitt
Red Cross urges Pittsburghers to donate blood in honor of National Minority Health Month | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Second public hearing on Pittsburgh’s potential annexation Wilkinsburg is set for Thursday | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
City to partner with Allegheny Health Network in social services, violence prevention initiative | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Nonprofit calls research into recent U.S. book bans ‘shocking’ as Franklin Regional parents express support for restrictions, warnings | TribLIVE.com
Philly
Philly’s Black leaders say Jackson’s confirmation win is tribute to her perseverance – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
PHL Inno – Penn State grads to open first Code Ninjas location in Philadelphia on South Broad Street (bizjournals.com)
Councilmember Gym ready to address liveabilty in Philadelphia with 2023 budget | Local News | phillytrib.com
New Pew poll shows 30% increase in Philly residents concerned about crime – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Philadelphia has lost more than 5,000 people to COVID. Here’s where was hardest hit (inquirer.com)
The census is undercounting Philadelphians who come from the Middle East and North Africa | Opinion (inquirer.com)
Mall operator PREIT sells dying mall Exton Square and says it will sell land for apartments on some mall sites (inquirer.com)
What do Dawn Staley, Questlove, and Will Smith all have in common? They’re all Philly public school grads and don’t forget it. (inquirer.com)
Washington
Biden expected to release rule on ghost guns in days – Daily Local
Biden picks new ATF nominee, in 2nd attempt : NPR
McConnell: If Republicans retake Congress, ‘we’ll make sure Joe Biden is a moderate’ (abc27.com)
Jackson, COVID and a retirement show Congress’ partisan path | Coronavirus | tribdem.com