News Digest :: April 27, 2019

Legislature

Solar and wind energy advocates may hold swing vote in Pennsylvania’s divisive nuclear rescue debate

https://www.philly.com/news/pennsylvania-renewable-power-advocates-propose-big-boost-green-energy-incentives-20190427.html

Saving the coal industry

https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/saving-the-coal-industry-1.2475374

State lawmaker Brooks gives his state paycheck to volunteer fire companies

https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/state-lawmaker-brooks-gives-his-state-paycheck-to-volunteer-fire-companies/

Lawmakers call for state takeover of ‘dysfunctional’ Harrisburg School District

https://www.witf.org/news/2019/04/lawmakers-call-for-state-takeover-of-dysfunctional-harrisburg-school-district.php

State

Spotted lanternfly egg hatching confirmed in Berks

https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/spotted-lanternfly-egg-hatching-confirmed-in-berks

Hopeful sign: Drug deaths drop in Pennsylvania for first time in five years

https://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-lehigh-valley-drug-deaths–20190425-emychxldmvgpvhvofzce5rbhd4-story.html

Census targets hard-to-reach populations in Western Pennsylvania

https://triblive.com/local/regional/census-targets-hard-to-reach-populations-in-western-pennsylvania/

Editorial: Gas tax covers police for areas that won’t

https://triblive.com/opinion/editorial-gas-tax-covers-police-for-areas-that-wont/

Death sentence upheld in Pennsylvania troopers’ ambush

https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/death-sentence-upheld-in-pennsylvania-troopers-ambush/

Volunteers Aid “Overwhelmed” Child Welfare System

https://hosted.ap.org/citizensvoice/article/e28dc2e204a948309436634e021b1ca5/volunteers-aid-overwhelmed-child-welfare-system

Study shows prisons give home districts power, leach it from poor urban areas

https://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2019/04/study-shows-prisons-give-home-districts-power-leach-it-from-poor-urban-areas.php

Education

Allentown teachers’ union president: Threat of layoffs was ’smoke screen’

https://www.mcall.com/news/education/mc-nws-allentown-schools-deficit-20190426-yj6dlia6jrcfvls6swpxvv5tim-story.html

Harrisburg School District to allow state auditors access to finance system

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/04/harrisburg-school-district-allows-education-department-auditors-access-to-finance-system.html

Tax collector, Manheim Township School District face off in court

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/tax-collector-manheim-township-school-district-face-off-in-court/article_4b2da762-6866-11e9-9ff6-f30c877c9669.html

Pitt graduate student workers’ union vote ruled inconclusive

https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pitt-graduate-student-workers-union-vote-ruled-inconclusive/

Anti-bullying protesters a no-show at Pottstown School Board meeting

https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/anti-bullying-protesters-a-no-show-at-pottstown-school-board/article_03298fe4-682f-11e9-9bb0-fb8001393fd2.html

Business

Harrah’s opens new poker room in Chester casino

https://www.delcotimes.com/harrah-s-opens-new-poker-room-in-chester-casino/article_fce5563a-6861-11e9-9432-8339db53b3c1.html

U.S. economy feels like the 1990s, with more inequality, less readiness for a downturn

https://www.philly.com/business/us-economy-first-quarter-growth-1990s-boom-20190427.html

Weis Markets to invest $109M in growth in 2019

https://www.pottsmerc.com/business/weis-markets-to-invest-m-in-growth-in/article_b0b26574-6842-11e9-8aef-030e86250dd6.html

Transportation

Traffic disruptions, lane restrictions expected for years due to Carlisle bridge replacement

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/04/traffic-disruptions-lane-restrictions-expected-into-2020-due-to-carlisle-bridge-replacement.html

Daytime Route 209 detours begin in May

https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/daytime-route-209-detours-begin-in-may-1.2475337

24 bridges are under construction in Lancaster County

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/bridges-are-under-construction-in-lancaster-county-here-s-a/article_e4c7550c-682b-11e9-b278-7f3cf7eeacc6.html

Two-year project to improve Route 422 begins next week

https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/two-year-project-to-improve-route-begins-next-week/article_f0fe188c-6845-11e9-9a16-53fda0085002.html

Philly

Turnstile teaching

https://www.philly.com/education/a/philadelphia-school-district-teacher-turnover-20190425.html

He came to Philly to meet with rich donors. Will Joe Biden still be Middle Class Joe?

https://www.philly.com/news/joe-biden-2020-campaign-fundraising-democratic-party-20190426.html

Philly Primary Voter’s Guide

https://www.philly.com/politics/inq/primary-election-2019-philadelphia-mayor-city-council-candidates-voters-guide-20190422.html#/

Pittsburgh

Special Olympics of Pennsylvania to host ‘UNcathlon’ to raise funds, awareness

https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/special-olympics-of-pennsylvania-to-host-uncathlon-to-raise-funds-awareness/

Pittsburgh police promote 11 to leadership ranks

https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-police-promote-11-to-leadership-ranks/

PWSA board approves paid leave policy for employees

https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pwsa-board-approves-paid-leave-policy-for-employees/

Local

Reading Parking Authority is owed $2 million; a new tool helps it track down unpaid tickets

https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/license-plate-reader-catching-parking-scofflaws-in-reading

Delco Council offers annual state of county update

https://www.delcotimes.com/news/local/delco-council-offers-annual-state-of-county-update/article_94ce81ec-6849-11e9-ad99-d315dd578ff9.html

Hundreds of volunteers gather to Plant a Tree at Flight 93

https://www.tribdem.com/news/photo-gallery-hundreds-of-volunteers-gather-to-plant-a-tree/article_ce769334-6877-11e9-a97f-17932fbae1db.html

Preparing for the worst: Workshop focuses on active shooter situations in places of worship

https://www.tribdem.com/news/preparing-for-the-worst-workshop-focuses-on-active-shooter-situations/article_e870b4b8-6886-11e9-9015-13bb5f5a9f93.html

Residents skeptical of cleanup plans for Muse site

https://observer-reporter.com/news/localnews/residents-skeptical-of-cleanup-plans-for-muse-site/article_ff0b1406-685a-11e9-882c-2b572b54155a.html

Delco women firefighters make history on a Pa. middle school emergency call

https://www.philly.com/news/columnists/women-volunteer-pa-firefighter-shortage-south-media-fire-maria-panaritis-20190427.html

IRS says Beaver County owes it $378,000

https://triblive.com/local/regional/irs-says-beaver-county-owes-it-378000/

$25K ‘mini-grants’ help improve five parks

https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/k-mini-grants-help-improve-five-parks/article_9e808d1c-6794-11e9-bb7b-7fa384abc26a.html

DEP issues fine to Old Forge scrap yard owner and operator

https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/dep-issues-fine-to-old-forge-scrap-yard-owner-and-operator-1.2475431

National

Democrat-Controlled Statehouses Endorsing Clean Energy

https://hosted.ap.org/thetimes-tribune/article/2307c364c1684d5aa855d7ccc9109e88/democrat-controlled-statehouses-endorsing-clean-energy