News Digest:: April 4,2023

Legislature

Transgender Day of Visibility 2023 bolsters stories of Lehigh Valley trans community (PHOTOS) – lehighvalleylive.com

Redevelopment, firetrucks, pedestrian safety and more: Lehigh Valley projects awarded $16M – lehighvalleylive.com

Philadelphia to receive $21M grant initiative for residential home repairs – Metro Philadelphia

Lawmaker introduces bill to 100% transition Pennsylvania to renewable energy (abc27.com)

Calls for permanent Pennsylvania Office of Child Advocate at Capitol (abc27.com)

Gov. Shapiro speaks on first responder investments in budget proposal (abc27.com)

Supporters hope Pa.’s new legislature will embrace open primaries, but at least one big hurdle remains (mcall.com)

Pa. faces a shortage of benefits workers as health coverage for thousands is on the line (mcall.com)

Gov. Josh Shapiro unveils Pa. teacher apprentice program | Local News | phillytrib.com

Bill would create permanent Office of Child Advocate in Pennsylvania – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Legislation would smooth path for Pittsburgh Land Bank to acquire property – Pittsburgh Union Progress

Philly lawmakers want to have more oversight of Temple’s board of trustees (msn.com)

Pa. faces shortage of benefits' workers as health coverage for thousands is on the line – Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet

Pennsylvania officials mark April as Child Abuse Prevention Month (msn.com)

Business/Jobs

Walmart announces that nearly 600 workers at Bethlehem warehouse could lose jobs (mcall.com)

McDonald’s temporarily closes US offices ahead of layoffs – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Credit Suisse chairman admits failure, anger to shareholders | Associated Press | wfmz.com

‘There’s going to be a lot of hurting people’: Residents react after cuts at Walmart warehouse in Bethlehem | Lehigh Valley Regional News | wfmz.com

Electric vehicles are delivering pizza in Berks, Chester counties (dailylocal.com)

Virgin Orbit seeks bankruptcy protection after mission fail | Technology | lancasteronline.com

PennDOT accepting companies’ ideas | Local News | tribdem.com

Women now dominate the book business. Why there and not other creative industries? : Planet Money : NPR

Local labor/business coalition says Allegheny County has lost 50,000 jobs in last 5 years – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Crime/Punishment

Ex-Maryland political aide dead after manhunt, lawyer says : NPR

Donald Trump to surrender to history-making criminal charges in New York – pennlive.com

Pa. man told police he wanted to finish assault on ex: ‘You think that PFA was going to stop me?’ – pennlive.com

Upper Macungie police investigate gunshot fired into occupied home | Lehigh Valley Regional News | wfmz.com

2 children die in predawn house fire in Upper Darby (delcotimes.com)

Erie shelter sues to recoup costs of care for animals seized from farm (goerie.com)

Death and Justice on the Border: A Migrant Is Killed, a Rancher Is Charged – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Nashville police: School shooter planned attack for months | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Education

As book bans gain favor, some fear libraries could be at risk – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Cumberland County holds meeting on mental health funding (abc27.com)

Willow Lane Elementary students document Lower Macungie’s past through local history project (mcall.com)

ACLU files lawsuit against Saucon Valley School District over After School Satan Club (mcall.com)

MCCC Student and Alumni Small Business Expo will promote entrepreneurs – Daily Local

A student created a media platform by and about people of color to fill a void in campus journalism – Reading Eagle

The Liberal Maverick Fighting Race-Based Affirmative Action – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Republicans Face Setbacks in Push to Tighten Voting Laws on College Campuses – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Yeshiva University’s Ban on L.G.B.T.Q. Club Leads to Scrutiny of Funding – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Recovery high schools build a culture of mental health to help kids thrive : Shots – Health News : NPR

Perkiomen Valley High School students walk out over proposed library book policy targeting ‘sexualized content’ (inquirer.com)

Changes are coming to the FAFSA: Here’s what college students need to know | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Preschoolers ‘Hop for Hope’ to raise money for school supplies for Zimbabwe orphanage – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Elections/Politics

Independents excluded from PA’s 2023 primary election · Spotlight PA

Dickinson College hosts panel on democracy, election processes (abc27.com)

Democrats targeting Scott Perry’s House seat in 2024: report (abc27.com)

PA Senate Makes National Dems’ 2024 Target List – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com

Environment

Tornado hits Bucks County during weekend storms (abc27.com)

New TV ad airing in Chester County warns of climate change risks – Daily Local

A warm, wet, wild and windy opener for trout anglers – Daily Local

Forecast warns of more severe storms in South, Midwest | National News | lancasteronline.com

Transportation

Norfolk Southern has spent millions on lobbying and political donations. Will it pay off? – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

Gun Safety

Balling Against Gun Violence Basketball Game Set for April 15 – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Bucks County Dem Back With Another ‘Assault Weapons’ Ban Proposal – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Health

Drug-Resistant Bacteria Tied to Eyedrops Can Spread Person to Person – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Medicare Delays a Full Crackdown on Private Health Plans – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Millions on Medicaid May Soon Lose Coverage as Pandemic Protections Expire – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Online gambling in Pennsylvania: One in three who play online say they’ve had a problem with gambling (inquirer.com)

Pitt researchers lead groundbreaking study on ketamine treatments for depression – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

State News

Sens. Casey, Fetterman, and Brown Introduce Railroad Accountability Bill – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Shapiro to speak at Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technical Center on Tuesday (yahoo.com)

Casey, colleagues introduce legislation to invest in local fire stations | State News | latrobebulletinnews.com

DCCC Targets Fitzpatrick, Perry Among 33 Districts In Play (politicspa.com)

Fetterman Opens Up About His Struggles With Depression (politicspa.com)

Senator Bob Casey, PennDOT show infrastructure money at work (abc27.com)

Census data reflects shrinking Pennsylvania cities (broadandliberty.com)

Chester County Rabbi serves at Pa. Senate Chaplain – Daily Local

Boys & Girls Club, library, Church World Service among proposed recipients for $5M in city COVID funds | Local News | lancasteronline.com

Philadelphia DA’s Office releases report on girls in juvenile justice system | Local News | phillytrib.com

Rep. Summer Lee signs onto a letter urging Biden administration to re-evaluate policy toward Israel | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Shapiro highlights proposed budget’s funding for fire, EMS services during Altoona visit – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Senator to highlight $23.3 million plan to resurface stretch of Susquehanna Valley road (msn.com)

National News

In New Jersey, bill would track deadly car crashes caused by cannabis impairment – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Donald Trump to surrender, make historic court appearance | ABC27

NASA announces 4 astronauts flying to the moon on Artemis II – Daily Local

Chicago chooses between progressive, moderate for mayor | National News | lancasteronline.com

Biden offers $450M for clean energy projects at coal mines | PA Power and Policy | lancasteronline.com

Members of Congress on TikTok defend app’s reach to voters | PA Power and Policy | lancasteronline.com

Florida Senate passes 6-week abortion ban backed by DeSantis | Health | lancasteronline.com

Officials: US providing Ukraine $2.6 billion in military aid | World News | lancasteronline.com

Biden to meet with experts on AI ‘risks and opportunities’ | Nation & World Business | lancasteronline.com

Abortion rights, democracy define Wisconsin Supreme Court election (ydr.com)

Chicagoans Go to the Polls in a Mayoral Race Between Very Different Democrats – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Wisconsin’s Supreme Court election is about abortion and redistricting : NPR

1st moon crew in 50 years includes woman, Black astronaut (inquirer.com)

Local News

Man killed in Harrisburg stabbing was a talented basketball player with big dreams: ‘He was on his way’ – pennlive.com

Where to go in the Harrisburg-area for Easter dinners, brunches and buffets – pennlive.com

Colonial Park Mall prepares for sheriff’s sale (abc27.com)

Pitt

Joan Gabel to become first woman to serve as Pitt chancellor | TribLIVE.com

‘We are resilient’: Jewish Pittsburghers focus on Passover traditions as Tree of Life trial looms | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Carson Briere removed from Mercyhurst men’s hockey team following wheelchair incident – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Pittsburgh to unveil initiatives to rejuvenate Downtown – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Philly

Philly Council seeks temporary halt to state’s preemption of local gun laws – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pa. plant to close; More than 200 people will be laid off – pennlive.com

Philadelphia voters guide: Democratic primary in May 2023 (inquirer.com)

Temple University should have more trustees appointed by the state, lawmakers say (inquirer.com)

Sixers arena: Where Philadelphia mayoral candidates stand (inquirer.com)

Philadelphia shootings starting to slow — except among youth | Local News | phillytrib.com

King of Prussia’s 17 development projects underway or in the works – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)