News Digest :: April 25, 2022

Legislature

PA officials call for senior tax relief through American Rescue Act (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Senate, House Democrats Host Roundtable Discussion on EMS Issues – MyChesCo

PA officials call for senior tax relief through American Rescue Act (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Alvernia taps PA State Senator Schwank as commencement speaker | Alvernia University

$873K Allotted To Pedestrian Safety In Newtown | Newtown, PA Patch

Schwank, Kutztown University Announce Funding for Keith Haring Fitness Park – BCTV

$1 Million Awarded to Southeastern Chester County Refuse Authority – NewsBreak

Wolf awards RACP grants totaling $6.5M to 3 Philadelphia-area development projects – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

State invests in walking and biking trail to connect Hazelwood and Greenfield | 90.5 WESA

Hearing on State Senate bill to open primary elections | WOLF (fox56.com)

Pennsylvania Officials Celebrate Western PA Students Excelling in Biliteracy, Civic Engagement – PennWatch

New bill could change primary system in Pennsylvania | State | wfmz.com

Op-Ed: Our students need a ‘lifeline’ and HB 2169 is it (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

 

Coronavirus – COVID-19

Two years in — researchers reaffirm masks protect against COVID | Smart Talk (witf.org)

Should you wear a mask on a plane, bus or train? 4 essential reads to help you decide | Analysis – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

COVID shots still work but researchers hunt new improvements | Health | phillytrib.com

 

Business/Jobs

Voting begins in second Amazon union election on Staten Island : NPR

Amazon union could face a tough road ahead after victory | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

NLRB sues Starbucks for retaliating against 3 workers involved in unionizing : NPR

PennDOT worker accuses union officials of sexism in lawsuit | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Tech and innovations keep businesses competitive (dailylocal.com)

Rapid Inflation, Lower Employment: How the U.S. Pandemic Response Measures Up – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Automatic or the people? | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Business owners need buyers when it’s time for them to retire. That’s easier said than done | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Crime/Punishment

Our View: Keep the thin blue line on the straight and narrow (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Former Yeadon Police Chief Anthony Paparo added new allegations this week to a lawsuit against the borough (delcotimes.com)

Five takeaways from our investigation of the crisis in Philadelphia jails (inquirer.com)

 

Education

Editorial: Child care issues matter to us all (dailylocal.com)

York NAACP: Area schools not doing enough about rise of racial prejudice (ydr.com)

Erie High shooting: Next security upgrades to focus on restrooms (goerie.com)

Editorial: Holocaust comparisons and misinformation highlight the need for quality education | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A Bucks County school’s diversity program imploded after conservative backlash (inquirer.com)

High schools need more counselors to support new Pennsylvania graduation requirements | Opinion (inquirer.com)

 

Elections/Politics

Pa. primary election 2022: Watch Spotlight PA’s Democratic U.S. Senate debate live · Spotlight PA

Pa. U.S. Senate Republican frontrunners Mehmet Oz, David McCormick set to debate for first time | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

What you need to know ahead of the 2022 Pa. primary election | WITF

4 things to watch for in the Pennsylvania GOP Senate Debate | McCormick, Oz, Barnette, Bartos, Sands (abc27.com)

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan Headline Chesco Democrats’ Spring Dinner Event – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

The Neverending Malcolm Kenyatta Story | Screen | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)

Voters Guide 2022: 10th Congressional race in Pennsylvania (ydr.com)

More diverse candidates are on the ballot for Harrisburg in 2022, but Latinos are largely left out – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

‘Not shooting straight’: Fetterman’s past gun incident rattles Black Democrats in Pa. Senate race (msn.com)

The real reason today’s Republican Party hates corporations like Disney | Will Bunch (inquirer.com)

Following mass shooting in Pittsburgh, Pa. Democrats running for Senate push for all-hands approach to gun violence – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Westmoreland County poised to scale back mail-in ballot drop boxes | TribLIVE.com

 

Environment

Pennsylvania taking biggest climate step yet (abc27.com)

China promotes coal in setback for efforts to cut emissions : NPR

Warren Buffett Faces Renewed Climate Change Challenge by Investors – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Erie County aces State of the Air report as air quality improves (goerie.com)

Fallingwater unveils solar panel array to help power Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Fayette County house | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Looking to protect Pa.’s natural heritage? Become a master naturalist volunteer | TribLIVE.com

 

Transportation

Pennsylvania blocks critical details of state’s most decrepit bridges from public view – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Interactive

 

Health

Pennsylvania still restricts nurses’ scope of practice, health care options | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Firearms overtook auto accidents as the leading cause of death in children | WITF

Delco County Health Department Holds Open House – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Worried Sick: A Journey Into the Anxious Teenage Mind – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

National Minority Health Month shines a light on glaring gaps in health equity | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Smithfield Gateway developers break ground on St. Luke’s location (poconorecord.com)

Abortion training under threat for med students, residents | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

State News

President Biden nominates first female U.S. attorney for eastern Pennsylvania – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Pa. Rep. Perry ‘endorsed’ plan to send pro-Trump extremists to the Capitol | Monday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pa. education secretary departs his Cabinet post to pursue other professional pursuits | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Humane Pennsylvania will waive adoption fees for three days | Local News | lancasteronline.com

Pa.’s litter problem | The Numbers Racket – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pa. landowners have dealt with coal, oil and gas rights. Now, there are pore rights. | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

National News

French election: Emmanuel Macron beats Marine Le Pen : NPR

A beginner’s guide to legal weed in New Jersey · Spotlight PA

The Supreme Court ponders the right to pray on the 50-yard line : NPR

Redistricting and Democrats’ stalled agenda put this blue Arizona House seat in play : NPR

Ukraine Live Updates: U.S. Says It Wants Russian Military Weakened – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Long-serving Utah US Senator Orrin Hatch dies at age 88 | WITF

Twitter bans ads that contradict science on climate change | WITF

Who are the ‘ghosts’ in ghost guns? Firearms manufacturer disputes federal crackdown on untraceable weapons | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Local News

Groundbreaking ceremony for Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Berks County Intermediate Unit Celebrates 50 Years of Service – BCTV

Oxford Theater Is One Step Closer to Reality – MyChesCo

Memorial erected to honor gun violence victims of last 5 years in Harrisburg (abc27.com)

Newtown Township Recognized as a Certified Sustainable Municipality by The Pennsylvania Municipal League and Sustainable Pittsburgh – Mainline Media News

Montgomery County approves $3M paving contract (mainlinemedianews.com)

Montgomery County authorizes $2.3M in Ida clean up contracts (mainlinemedianews.com)

Fight against Lancaster city’s first new affordable housing construction since the ’70s has echoes of the past | Local News | lancasteronline.com

Nearly three dozen new housing developments in central Pa. include townhouses, apartments, more – pennlive.com

Schuylkill lawmakers, attorneys discuss legislative issues | News | standardspeaker.com

Legal aid groups express concerns over Emergency Rental Assistance Program | News | thetimes-tribune.com

Flood insurance rates set to rise for many NEPA homeowners | News | citizensvoice.com

Schnee’s replacement on county council should be a Republican, office of law recommends | News | citizensvoice.com

 

Pitt

Pittsburgh police, ATF discuss data on juvenile gun possession | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Self-driving technology company expands headquarters in Pittsburgh – Pennsylvania Business Report (pennbizreport.com)

Allegheny Conference report charts ‘middle path’ for Western Pennsylvania’s energy future (nextpittsburgh.com)

Over a week after Airbnb shootout, killers still at large | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh Technology Council starts apprenticeship program to increase diversity in STEM industry | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Communities across Pittsburgh region participate in Drug Take Back Day | TribLIVE.com

 

Philly

Jacqueline C. Romero, Biden’s pick for Philly’s next U.S. attorney, is the first woman ever nominated for the role (inquirer.com)

Mask whiplash strikes Philadelphia amid changing rules across U.S. | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Philly’s economy is rebounding from pandemic, but challenges remain, Pew analysis finds – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

‘State of the City’ report reinforces need to address gun violence and joblessness | Editorial (inquirer.com)

Philadelphia lawmakers question nonfunctioning city surveillance cameras | Local News | phillytrib.com

New group to monitor Philly police following car stop reforms | Local News | phillytrib.com

CCP, PHA partner to offer students affordable housing | Local News | phillytrib.com

Philly area finally off the ‘worst 25’ list for ozone pollution, but still gets failing grade | Local News | phillytrib.com

Could planting gardens be the key to preventing shootings? These Grays Ferry residents are giving it a go | Local News | phillytrib.com

Reparations for Black Germantown homeowners | Morning Newsletter (inquirer.com)

Philly has a backlog of 34,000 abandoned-car complaints — and the city has no solution (inquirer.com)

Philadelphia City Council alone in top 10 cities still holding virtual meetings (inquirer.com)

 

Washington

US promises more Ukraine aid, Biden announces veteran envoy – Daily Local

U.S. officials plan to move embassy staff back to Kyiv : NPR

3 big reasons why the Biden climate agenda is floundering – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

What to know about Title 42, the Trump-era policy now central to the border debate | WITF

Federal attempts to legalize marijuana flail, even as public support grows | Analysis – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Bipartisan State Attorneys General Call For Marijuana Banking Fix In New Letter To Senate Leadership | MJ Shareholders

With inflation looming, Congress returns to battles over spending | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Lower-income Americans have thrived under Biden. It probably won’t last | Will Bunch (inquirer.com)