Legislature

Barn weddings: Bill would help cash-strapped PA farmers (publicopiniononline.com)

Bill could help Pa. farmers convert old barns for weddings | Pennsylvania | heraldmailmedia.com

Bill seeks $50k in student loan aid for first-time homebuyers in PA (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Local State Senator Calls For Expanding Drop Boxes, Pre-Canvassing – LevittownNow.com

Pa. lawmakers seek to ban cellphone use while driving | Today in Pa. – pennlive.com

Pennsylvania Republican lawmaker seeks COVID Freedom Act with prohibition on ‘vaccine passports’; Gov. Wolf’s office calls it ‘dangerous’ – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Yudichak chairs hearings on impact of technology/energy infrastructure | Times Leader

County Commissioners Join River Lawsuit Fight – LevittownNow.com

State officials tout emergency rental assistance | News | indianagazette.com

As Pennsylvania’s Congressional Delegation Shrinks, Whose District Gets Eliminated? – NBC10 Philadelphia (nbcphiladelphia.com)

We tried drawing our own Pa. congressional maps. Here’s what we came up with | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Editorial: Redistricting approaches amid political firestorm | Opinion | thereporteronline.com

Millions awarded to Luzerne County infrastructure projects | Times Leader

$3 million state grant brings Valley Crest project closer to fruition | News | citizensvoice.com

West Chester BID, Oxford Main Street get $60,000 in pandemic funding | Coronavirus | dailylocal.com

West Brandywine gets $1.6 million grant to improve traffic safety | Local News | dailylocal.com

$32K grant announced for West Reading Community Revitalization | BCTV

State Lawmakers Announce $499K Grant for Albright College | BCTV

Yardley and Morrisville boroughs awarded grants for sidewalk, traffic signal improvement projects | Yardley Area | buckslocalnews.com

Reading gets $130,000 Pa. grant to replace outdated guide rails | Berks and Beyond | readingeagle.com

Grant to help Albright offer STEM program to 5-12 students | Berks Regional News | wfmz.com

Rally for marijuana legalization planned for April 20 in Harrisburg: ‘Pennsylvania is falling behind the times’ – pennlive.com

Five Takeaways From Pennsylvania Senate Ag Budget Hearing | Farm Policy News | lancasterfarming.com

Bill to aid nonprofits fundraise in pandemic passes Pa House (audacy.com)

Department of Agriculture Answers Frequently Ask Questions About Dog Wardens Role, Animal Cruelty – MyChesCo

The single policy intervention that can improve health for moms and babies | Expert Opinion (inquirer.com)

Editorial: Pennsylvania Senate must stand up for victims of abuse | Editorials | readingeagle.com

Letter: Pennsylvania should lift prohibition on marijuana | Letters to the Editor | readingeagle.com

 

Coronavirus – COVID-19

Gov. Wolf getting COVID-19 vaccination this morning | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (post-gazette.com)

Fauci says he expects Johnson & Johnson vaccine to resume later this week, half of US adults have received at least one COVID-19 shot (inquirer.com)

Covid cases continue slow increase as over 40% of Pa. has at least 1 vaccine dose | TribLIVE.com

Half of state’s nursing home staff declined vaccination | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (post-gazette.com)

‘Ripe for fraud’: Coronavirus vaccination cards support burgeoning scams | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (post-gazette.com)

Half of U.S. adults have received at least one COVID-19 shot | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (post-gazette.com)

Pennsylvania sounds alarm on coronavirus vaccine hesitancy | Times Leader

Effort to end COVID-19 becomes race against vaccine hesitancy and misinformation | coronavirus | citizensvoice.com

What should Pa. learn from COVID-19? And will we embrace the lessons in such divided times? – pennlive.com

Pa. can improve pandemic response capability, shouldn’t let partisan politics interfere, top official says – pennlive.com

Exton’s West Pharmaceutical Services helps make COVID-19 vaccines. So business is booming (inquirer.com)

Vaccination clinic targets Pittsburgh’s Latino community | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (post-gazette.com)

Vulnerable immigrants, refugees in Lehigh Valley struggle to get COVID-19 vaccine – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Up to $9,000 in funeral assistance available to families who lost loved ones to covid-19 | TribLIVE.com

Hope Christian Community Center to host vaccine clinic in Aliquippa (timesonline.com)

 

Business

Help for small firms trying to survive the pandemic in at-risk neighborhoods | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (post-gazette.com)

Their view: Vote to protect communities and small businesses | Times Leader

Gun shop owners continue to experience firearm, ammo shortages | Business | thetimes-tribune.com (thetimes-tribune.com)

Pittsburgh-area music venues, theaters hamstrung by issues with Small Business Administration website | TribLIVE.com

Allegheny, Westmoreland bars and restaurants hit with covid mitigation violations | TribLIVE.com

Its financial situation dire, Tower Health faces critical choices in the coming weeks | Berks and Beyond | readingeagle.com

More people visiting area restaurants, bars | News | standardspeaker.com

Craft beer makers look to region’s farms to grow grains | TribLIVE.com

A look at what’s envisioned for the Bethlehem Steel General Office annex – lehighvalleylive.com

Swimming pool demand deepens in Western Pa. during pandemic | TribLIVE.com

Canadian retailer Ardene to open central Pa. store – pennlive.com

Dauphin County company to expand its central distribution center to 200,000 square feet – pennlive.com

How are Allentown, Easton and Quakertown public markets doing during pandemic – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

The BucksMont Chamber of Commerce, others offer $50,000 tech upgrade (theintell.com)

Interest grows for potential business park at former McGinness airfield in Columbia | Local News | lancasteronline.com

Gyroscope Therapeutics files for $100M IPO – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

$50M sports complex and velodrome project closer to fruition in Coatesville – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

 

Crime/Punishment

Upper Merion downgrades possession of small amount of marijuana to a summary offense | PhillyVoice

Local cops train to avoid Taser, gun mix-ups | Cops and Courts | standardspeaker.com

Extended family of Cassandra Gross hope to draw attention to case | TribLIVE.com

Judge says lawsuit over forced labor at recycling center should proceed | News | thetimes-tribune.com (thetimes-tribune.com)

Allentown police outreach unit reassures neighborhoods traumatized by shootings, other crimes – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

York County police departments adopt #8CantWait to mitigate misconduct (ydr.com)

 

Education

PASSHE responds to reports of racism on campuses with commitment to diversity, equity | WHP (local21news.com)

A ray of hope for fair school funding in Pennsylvania | Guest Commentary (thephiladelphiacitizen.org)

Dauphin County resident awarded Blue-Ribbon Champion for Safe Kids award – pennlive.com

Luzerne County school districts receiving nearly $200M in COVID-19 relief | coronavirus | citizensvoice.com

Ellwood City School District makes plans for $3.6 million from stimulus (timesonline.com)

Shortages of school bus drivers and substitute teachers ‘devastating’ to NEPA districts | Education | thetimes-tribune.com (thetimes-tribune.com)

Schuylkill Intermediate Unit seeking funds for new playground | Education | standardspeaker.com

Alvernia University on track to expand into downtown Reading by late summer | Local News | readingeagle.com

LaSalle University creates nursing scholarship for minority students | Local News | phillytrib.com

Students discuss their harsh realities during pandemic at roundtable | Local News | phillytrib.com

Raising awareness for ‘Ana’ and others: NASD teacher spreads word about education certification for DACA recipients | Local News | timesherald.com

‘Your voice matters:’ SDL parents to rally for fair funding from state | Community News | lancasteronline.com

Beaver County schools will hold proms despite ongoing pandemic (timesonline.com)

 

Elections/Politics

Pennsylvania Democrats see gains in Poconos from New York, New Jersey transplants (inquirer.com)

Faith leaders across U.S. join in decrying voting restrictions | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (post-gazette.com)

Election experts recommend what Pa. counties have been asking for all along: more ballot pre-canvassing time | WITF

State Rep. Marty Flynn to appear on Volpe Report (fox56.com)

An ‘off-year’ election? There’s no such thing for these local officials.  | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Primary prep picks up steam with election one month away | Election | citizensvoice.com

2020’s election keeps coming up in 2021’s high court race | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (post-gazette.com)

GOP WH hopefuls move forward | Times Leader

Lou Barletta forms new group with Pennsylvania 2022 governor’s race in sight (inquirer.com)

Fetterman dwarfs competition in first fundraising numbers for Pa.’s Senate race | WITF

Pennsylvania 2022 Senate race: Fund-raising reports give early picture (inquirer.com)

Protect Our Police PAC hits Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner in TV ads (inquirer.com)

Edwards takes on two challengers in PPS District 9 board race | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (post-gazette.com)

District 4 primary race will be Pittsburgh City Council’s biggest showdown | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (post-gazette.com)

Two Libertarians running for Luzerne County Council | Election | citizensvoice.com

As the 2021 municipal primary approaches, here are 4 things to keep in mind | PA Power and Policy | lancasteronline.com

EDITORIAL: Counties should have more time to process mail-in ballots | Editorials | observer-reporter.com (observer-reporter.com)

 

Transportation

PennDOT installs first solar microgrid on Hempfield bypass property | TribLIVE.com

PennDOT to build teardrop roundabouts at Interstate 90 interchange (goerie.com)

 

Health

Black Maternal Health Week highlights dangers, inequities for pregnant persons | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Living in majority-Black neighborhoods in Philly linked to increased maternal health issues, Penn Medicine study finds | Local News | phillytrib.com

 

State News

FBI probes big pension fund’s $13.5 million in Harrisburg projects (inquirer.com)

FBI investigating PSER’s real estate purchases: report – pennlive.com

Infrastructure funding could be ‘opportunity of a lifetime’ to plug thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (post-gazette.com)

Emergency Rental Assistance Programs aims to help NEPA (poconorecord.com)

Bad math: PSERS was warned but inflated investment returns anyway (inquirer.com)

Pennsylvania casinos top $400M in March, shatter monthly revenue record | TribLIVE.com

Ousted Temple business school dean indicted on fraud charges tied to college rankings scandal (inquirer.com)

Reading High boys basketball team enjoys state championship victory lap | High School Sports | readingeagle.com

New building on River Street in Plains Twp. will be DEP faciliity | Times Leader

The cicadas are coming: How to deal with the emergence of Brood X | Times Leader

Mountain Council of Governments receives governor’s excellence award | Coronavirus | standardspeaker.com

Distracted driving citations decreased in Pa. in 2020 during the pandemic | News | readingeagle.com

Pennsylvania is loaded with things to do for Earth Day – pennlive.com

The Pennsylvania Cannabis Festival in Kutztown – pennlive.com

Medical marijuana in Pennsylvania marks five years | WITF

Judge Domitrovich case: PA Supreme Court gets appeal of court order (goerie.com)

 

National News

Minneapolis braces for unrest as Derek Chauvin trial enters final phase | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (post-gazette.com)

Black Americans experiencing collective trauma, grief | News | phillytrib.com

Dirty Dollars (post-gazette.com)

Weekend shootings in Texas and Wisconsin add to tally of U.S. gun deaths | WITF

River color seen by satellite helping to reveal condition of water | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (post-gazette.com)

Sikh community calls for gun reforms after FedEx shooting | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (post-gazette.com)

Shooting at FedEx in Indianapolis leaves nine dead, including gunman (inquirer.com)

Washington state governor OKs bill banning for-profit jails (apnews.com)

Economic Boom? Retail Sales Surge, Jobless Claims Hit Pandemic Low : NPR

SpaceX wins $2.9 Billion contract for next lunar lander | WITF

 

Local News

Starlite Lounge in Blawnox to be on Food Network’s ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’ | TribLIVE.com

Judge grants continuance in Maxatawny cemetery case | Berks Regional News | wfmz.com

Nanticoke seeks Luzerne County back tax abatement for unsafe structure demolition | Times Leader

Electric car charging stations popping up around NEPA | Business | citizensvoice.com

National Donate Life Month: No better gift than the Gift of Life | Times Leader

More than 200 turn out for return of WVCA Walk-A-Thon | Times Leader

Wilkes-Barre to swear in 8 new police officers | Times Leader

Light It Up Blue campaign designed to bring autism awareness | News | citizensvoice.com

It’s allergies: Here’s what to expect this season if you live in NEPA | News | thetimes-tribune.com (thetimes-tribune.com)

HCA board restructures management | News | standardspeaker.com

Sugarloaf Twp. supervisors approve liquor license transfer | News | standardspeaker.com

11 demolition projects to proceed in Schuylkill County | News | standardspeaker.com

Hazleton City Council hears refinancing pitch | News | standardspeaker.com

Reading officials concerned about dangerous intersections | Local News | readingeagle.com

How did a crowded festival take place in Reading during COVID? That’s what city officials want to know | Local News | readingeagle.com

Vo-tech students save, rebuild Harrisburg house destroyed by fire – pennlive.com

After selling mansion, UPMC sells former surgery center – pennlive.com

At 82, Lehigh Valley farrier still teaches ancient art of shoeing horses – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Liberty’s Matthew Vital breaks Sam Snead’s course record at Philadelphia Junior Tour event with an 8-under-par 62 Saturday at Reading County Club. – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Former Center Twp. tax collector facing federal charges (timesonline.com)

Migrant children in sole Pennsylvania shelter await their fate (goerie.com)

Erie City Hall security: Metal detectors, other enhancements coming soon (goerie.com)

Windber eyeing Act 90 crackdown on blight, delinquent taxes | News | tribdem.com

Bucks lawmakers petition Philadelphia to ease city wage tax refund (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Drug takeback scheduled for Bucks, Montgomery counties this month (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Coatesville Area plans potential 3.9% tax increase | Community News | lancasteronline.com

Hosts of paranormal TV show come to the Fulton to search for ghosts both friendly and tragic | Entertainment | lancasteronline.com

Few homes, quick sales, steep prices: Lancaster County real estate market goes berserk; ‘It’s the wild west’ | Local Business | lancasteronline.com

 

Pitt

Port Authority ready to refurbish Negley Station on Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (post-gazette.com)

A post-pandemic push for federal R&D infrastructure could boost Pittsburgh-area labs | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (post-gazette.com)

In call for user fees, a middle-class tax hike or a fairer way to pay for infrastructure in Pittsburgh region? | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (post-gazette.com)

Proposal to open Arnold Palmer airport restaurant lease triggers social media furor | TribLIVE.com

Don’s Diner to be featured in Showtime series filming in Pittsburgh | TribLIVE.com

Allegheny Circle Conversion Project begins Monday on North Side | TribLIVE.com

Pittsburgh venues frustrated with held-up federal funds from Save Our Stages Act | Music | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)

 

Philly

Pa. National Guard activated as Philly preps for potential unrest ahead of Derek Chauvin murder trial verdict (inquirer.com)

How Philly, the nation’s most supervised big city, cut its probation numbers by a third (inquirer.com)

Protests in Philadelphia today, marches in Center City over police killings (inquirer.com)

We asked Philly-area residents how they’re doing a year into the pandemic. This is what they said. (inquirer.com)

Amazon now has 50 warehouses ringing the Philadelphia area (inquirer.com)

Philadelphia SEPTA subway mural misspells Frederick Douglass (inquirer.com)

Philly rap star AR-Ab sentenced to 45 years for running a drug ring implicated in murder (inquirer.com)

Seth Williams and second chances | Local News | phillytrib.com

City retracts, apologizes for ‘fear-mongering’ request from police | News | phillytrib.com

 

Washington

Casey bill aims to help expand disability aid | News | citizensvoice.com

President Biden’s new offshore wind plan could be boost to New Jersey (inquirer.com)

Despite tensions, U.S. and China agree to work together on climate change | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (post-gazette.com)

Japan, U.S. showcase alliance, resolve in dealing with China (inquirer.com)

Joe Biden speeds refugees admissions, but doesn’t lift Donald Trump cap (inquirer.com)

I’m a physician: Pa.’s Toomey needs to lead the fight for universal background checks | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Troops exposed to Agent Orange outside of Vietnam could be in line for presumptive benefits (militarytimes.com)