News Digest:: April 27, 2023

Legislature

US: Pennsylvania State Senate passes bill recognising Diwali as official holiday (deccanchronicle.com)

Pennsylvania legislature takes first step toward banning supervised injection sites statewide | WITF

‘Game-changer’ cancer screening bill passes House and Senate, awaits final passage from Shapiro – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Lawmakers in PA House Approve Bill to Increase Eating Disorder Awareness – PennWatch

Lawmakers, advocates rally for the House, Senate to pass LGBTQ anti-discrimination bill – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Broadband funding package tweaked by county commissioners | Local News | indianagazette.com

Hundreds of Penn graduate student workers rally for union recognition at campus demonstration | The Daily Pennsylvanian (thedp.com)

Philadelphia Mayoral Forum: Democratic Candidates Discuss Gun Violence and School Safety – Bollyinside

Josh Shapiro announces support for Fairness Act – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

Pennsylvania does not fund defense. Shapiro’s budget will change that. Spotlight PA – Pennsylvanianewstoday.com

House Judiciary Moves Four Bills That Could Expand State’s Gun Laws (politicspa.com)

Pa. lawmaker to reintroduce teledentistry bill – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Hopes rise for more communal transportation planning | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Bill to require CO detectors in day cares passes Pa. House (mcall.com)

Pa. lawmaker proposes new way of determining how much you pay in property taxes | Pennsylvania News | wfmz.com

Local lawmaker introduces bill aimed at getting more teachers in the classroom in Pa. | Lehigh Valley Regional News | wfmz.com

Business/Jobs

Shop offers free pizza in return for Taylor Swift concert tickets – pennlive.com

Want to spend the night on the Gettysburg Battlefield? You might be able to very soon. | WITF

Cans of Wendy’s beloved chili with beans ready to hit store shelves – pennlive.com

Here’s where gas prices are headed (for now) and why – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

WellSpan Health to increase minimum wage (abc27.com)

Geisinger Health to be acquired, will operate under Risant Health (abc27.com)

German discount grocery store soon coming to Dauphin County (abc27.com)

GM is ending Chevy Bolt EV production : NPR

Mad Dog Hot Dogs in Macungie is closing (mcall.com)

California-based company acquiring Geisinger Health System | Lehigh Valley Regional News | wfmz.com

COVID-19

Arizona GOP appeal to U.S. Supreme Court to stop COVID-19 vaccine mandate | National | thecentersquare.com

New COVID mutation called Arcturus is producing two new symptoms in children: report – pennlive.com

Crime/Punishment

Penn State football player charged with assault after fight at State College fraternity – pennlive.com

Driver dies a month after being charged in Mechanicsburg pedestrian’s death – pennlive.com

3 high school students charged over tossed rock that killed driver – pennlive.com

Dauphin County man convicted of sexual offenses for the third time – pennlive.com

Harrisburg Police trying to identify car allegedly connected to homicide (abc27.com)

Mississippi jail escapee is found dead after armed standoff, police say : NPR

Rachel King fatally shot in Dunkin’ drive-thru by hitman: DA (mcall.com)

One person injured in overnight shooting in Duquesne – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Education

In divided Pa., school boards emerge as political battlegrounds | WITF

Bethlehem Area approves five-year contract and $220,000 salary for new superintendent (mcall.com)

School security at center of Pittsburgh Public Schools Board meeting – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Elections/Politics

Ed Rendell is endorsing Rebecca Rhynhart in Philly mayor’s race – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

There’s a new push to open Pennsylvania’s primary elections to independents. A Lehigh Valley lawmaker is behind it. – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Pa. lawmakers introduce bill allowing voters not affiliated with a political party to vote in primary elections | Pennsylvania News | wfmz.com

Environment

If you want to see blooms all season, plant these trees | George Weigel – pennlive.com

‘Baseball Size’ Hail Falls in Texas as Storms Whip Across South – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Will Hydrogen Hub Come to Philly? – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Keeping your lawn and your body healthy as summer approaches – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Transportation

Hopes rise for more communal transportation planning | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Gun Safety

Gun control measures advance in Pennsylvania state House | WITF

Legislative package to prevent shooting deaths heads toward Pa. House floor – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Health

Pa.’s Geisinger to join health network that vows to be accessible, affordable – pennlive.com

Pennsylvania aims to expand breast cancer screenings | WITF

What’s Going Around: Strep, croup, fevers, allergies (abc27.com)

Local hospitals, senior care facilities taking precautions to prevent potentially deadly fungus being tracked by the CDC | New Jersey News | wfmz.com

US adult cigarette smoking rate hits new all-time low | Ap-top-news | wfmz.com

Punishment or prevention: California debates fentanyl crisis | Ap-health | wfmz.com

Keeping your lawn and your body healthy as summer approaches – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

State News

Pa. Senate confirms another of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Cabinet nominees – pennlive.com

Pennsylvania to receive almost $2B for broadband expansion | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

LGBTQ Equality Caucus holds rally in Harrisburg (abc27.com)

Delco Garners Nearly $1M in Federal Funds for Maternal Health – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Harrisburg City Councilwoman Shamaine Daniels to repeat bid for Congress in Pa.’s 10th District – pennlive.com

Pennsylvania aims to expand breast cancer screenings | WITF

How many women serve in the PA legislature? · Spotlight PA

Norfolk Southern estimates Ohio derailment will cost $387 million | WITF

Changes proposed for Pennsylvania boating laws (abc27.com)

Pennsylvania amusement park to open this weekend (abc27.com)

National News

Biden’s Labor Secretary nominee passes committee, faces Senate fight | National | thecentersquare.com

Congressional farm leaders split over work requirements for food aid, climate funds – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

The Tiny, Tight-Lipped Circle of Aides Guiding Biden 2024 – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Ukraine’s fate hangs in balance in 2024 clash | ABC27

Trump allies who stole from border wall donors sentenced to prison | ABC27

Jack Teixeira, Airman Accused of Leaking Documents, Has History of Racist and Violent Remarks, Filing Says – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Trump Can’t Stop Pence From Testifying to Jan. 6 Grand Jury, Court Rules – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Fort Lee is being renamed Fort Gregg-Adams to honor 2 pioneering Black officers : NPR

Disney sues Florida Governor Ron DeSantis claiming ‘retaliation’ : NPR

Young inspiration for youthful activism : NPR

Kohberger defense team wants Moscow survivor’s testimony. Here’s why they may not get it (mcall.com)

Local News

Dauphin County ordered to pay $91K for tossing political candidate out of public park – pennlive.com

Biden, Yoon warn N. Korea on nukes, unveil deterrence plan (inquirer.com)

Chambersburg wants to become a better community. 19 residents gathered to discuss how to get there | WITF

Expansion of Cumberland Perry Area Career & Technical Center gets green light – pennlive.com

Hershey Trust plans to build 190,000-square-foot short-term housing development – pennlive.com

Early morning fire destroys home in York County (abc27.com)

Lancaster approves $5 million in ARPA funds to community facilities (abc27.com)

‘Free Movie Fridays’ coming back to Harrisburg (abc27.com)

Allentown City Council takes first step toward changes to city parking laws (mcall.com)

Mid Penn Bank cleared by regulators and shareholders to acquire Brunswick Bancorp | Business News | wfmz.com

Some Pennsylvania dairy cows get to eat Hershey’s Kisses and Kit Kat bars (inquirer.com)

Pitt

Family of Jim Rogers settles wrongful death lawsuit with Pittsburgh, lawyer says | TribLIVE.com

Jury selection continues in Pittsburgh synagogue attack trial | TribLIVE.com

Pitt names next dean of university’s School of Arts and Sciences | TribLIVE.com

Pittsburgh EMS to get high-tech mannequins for training in trauma care, child delivery | TribLIVE.com

Pittsburgh’s Aurora Innovation partners with Continental AG to expand autonomous trucking | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Family of Jim Rogers, who died after police used Taser on him, reaches settlement with Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh schedules prayer service for Tree of Life community – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Pittsburgh Public Schools holds senior celebration – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Pittsburgh Marathoner hoping to qualify for Olympic trials – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Philly

Will Hydrogen Hub Come to Philly? – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Philadelphia antiviolence grant funds mishandled (inquirer.com)

Philadelphia leaders urge Legislature to pass gun bills | State & Region | phillytrib.com

Philadelphia’s Black men, boys show lag in educational pursuits | Local News | phillytrib.com

Students hospitalized after drinking juice laced with opioid, officials say | Local News | phillytrib.com

Developer buys Fishtown office building for $12M – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Ryan Serhant faces $10M lawsuit over Philadelphia-area expansion – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Please Touch Museum planning $1.9M exhibit to mark U.S. semiquincentennial in 2026 – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Carpenter’s Hall to reopen this summer after $3M preservation project – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Washington

New bipartisan bill would support parental consent for kids to use social media (abc27.com)

Casey, colleagues introduce bill to support direct care workforce | News | bradfordera.com