Legislature
‘Tax fairness’ hearing morphs into debate on property tax elimination
https://www.timesleader.com/news/715625/tax-fairness-hearing-morphs-into-debate-on-property-tax-elimination
Eliminating school property taxes topic of hearing in W-B
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/eliminating-school-propertytaxes-topic-of-hearing-in-w-b-1.2376112
MERGING SCHOOLS | Lawmakers seek solutions to school issues that voters will support
http://www.tribdem.com/news/merging-schools-lawmakers-seek-solutions-to-school-issues-that-voters/article_cdad4c6a-a534-11e8-afaa-4ff2b9582874.html
Business
Study shows regional job growth in health care and manufacturing
https://www.timesleader.com/business/715620/study-shows-regional-job-growth-in-health-care-and-manufacturing
Clergy Sex Abuse
In wake of clergy abuse report, a likely legislative fight brews
http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2018/08/in-wake-of-clergy-abuse-report-a-likely-legislative-fight-brews.php
Pope Francis’ letter on clergy sex abuse
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2018/08/20/Pope-Francis-letter-clergy-child-sex-abuse-scandal-grand-jury-report-Pennsylvania/stories/201808200121
Greensburg priest who retired after allegations went on to abuse again
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2018/08/20/Pennsylvania-priest-roger-alan-sinclair-greensburg-diocese-grand-jury-sexual-abuse-report-pa-catholic-diocese/stories/201808200135
Spokesman: Pittsburgh Diocese could support bigger window for legal action over sexual abuse
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/08/20/Pittsburgh-Catholic-diocese-SNAP-statute-of-limitations-retroactive-prosecution-Zubik/stories/201808200118
Abuse by Priests victims group confronts clergy in Pittsburgh: ‘We need action’
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/13992668-74/priest-abuse-victims-group-rally-in-pittsburgh-call-for-action
After the grand jury report: What we’re reading about Catholicism, clergy and the future of the faithful
http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/commentary/catholic-church-pennsylvania-grand-jury-report-clergy-sexual-abuse-vatican-pope-francis-20180820.html?arc404=true
Cardinal Wuerl’s name painted over at North Catholic High School
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/13991675-74/cardinal-donald-wuerls-name-spray-painted-over-at-cardinal-wuerl-north-catholic
Calls to Pennsylvania attorney general’s sex abuse hotline continue to surge
https://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/13994307-74/calls-to-pennsylvania-attorney-generals-sex-abuse-hotline-continue-to-surge
University of Scranton to strike bishops’ names from buildings
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/university-of-scranton-to-strike-bishops-names-from-buildings-1.2376235
Abuse survivors group addresses diocese report
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/abuse-survivors-group-addresses-diocese-report-1.2376209
EDITORIAL: Widen door of justice for victims of predator priests
https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/opinion/editorials/2018/08/21/editorial-widen-door-justice-victims-predator-priests/1041581002/
Crime/Punishment
Prisons continue search for substance that sickened guards, inmates
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/13993046-74/prisons-continue-search-for-substance-that-sickened-guards-inmates
Beaver Falls police find 2-year-old with access to fentanyl while executing search warrant
https://triblive.com/local/regional/13994868-74/beaver-falls-police-find-2-year-old-with-access-to-fentanyl-while-executing-search
Prison guard says he was fired for reporting sexual abuse
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/prison-guard-says-he-was-fired-for-reporting-sexual-abuse-1.2376309
Education
State: Scranton School District not required to rehire furloughed teachers under grant
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/state-scranton-school-district-not-required-to-rehire-furloughed-teachers-under-grant-1.2376059
No windfall for taxpayers
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/no-windfall-for-taxpayers-1.2376138
Norwin school director resigns, rips administration
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/13993645-74/norwin-school-director-resigns-rips-administration
Harrisburg students walk out of class to protest loss of full-time principal
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/08/harrisburg_school_district_sci.html#incart_2box_news
Harrisburg schools superintendent responds to critics: ‘I have to make hard decisions’
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/08/harrisburg_schools_superintend.html#incart_river_index
Pay freeze could be alternative to getting Harrisburg teachers to return money to district: lawyer
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/08/harrisburg_school_district_sal.html
Gov. Mifflin School Board approves 5-year contract for superintendent
http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/gov-mifflin-school-board-approves-5-year-contract-for-superintendent
Editorial: Reading School District must build on success
http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/editorial-reading-school-district-must-build-on-success
Elections/Politics
Congressional candidate Dan David focuses on financial issues
http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/congressional-candidate-dan-david-focuses-on-financial-issues
Wagner vows to focus on education, lower taxes
http://www.goerie.com/news/20180820/wagner-vows-to-focus-on-education-lower-taxes
Health Care
Highmark Health sees $551 million gain at mid-year as signal strategy is paying off
http://www.post-gazette.com/business/healthcare-business/2018/08/20/Highmark-Health-six-month-financials-profit-revenue-gains-insurance-AHN-ACA/stories/201808200098
Allegheny Health Network seeking reduced sewage tap-in fees for Harmar hospital
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/13993191-74/allegheny-health-network-seeking-reduced-sewage-tap-in-fees-for-harmar-hospital
Local News
Retirement of Wilkes-Barre employee raises questions about pension
https://www.timesleader.com/news/715622/retirement-of-wilkes-barre-employee-raises-questions-about-pension
Wyoming divided over embattled borough manager
https://www.timesleader.com/news/715640/wyoming-divided-over-embattled-borough-manager
Contractor files lawsuit against Pittston Twp. Sewer Authority
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/contractor-files-lawsuit-against-pittston-twp-sewer-authority-1.2376113
Carbondale holds first public hearing for $300,000 grant
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/carbondale-holds-first-public-hearing-for-300-000-grant-1.2376311
Some want clerk to handle city bids
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/some-want-clerk-to-handle-city-bids-1.2376119
Opening arguments made at trial of former Reading mayor
http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/jury-panel-questioned-in-corruption-trial-of-ex-reading-mayor
Reading inks $1.5 million pact for police service to Kenhorst
http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/reading-inks-15-million-pact-for-police-service-to-kenhorst&template=ourcityart
Flood victims find relief from Salvation Army, Greater Berks Food Bank
http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/flood-victims-find-relief-from-salvation-army-greater-berks-food-bank
National News
Black Americans still are victims of hate crimes more than any other group
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/james-byrd-black-americans-racism-hate-crimes-kkk-20180821.html
Army reinstates at least 36 discharged immigrants
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20180820_ap_3c40731b98aa4ffbb8f4c35e8b68bc0b.html
A Michigan official faces a manslaughter trial over two Legionnaires’-linked Flint deaths
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2018/08/20/A-Michigan-official-faces-a-manslaughter-trial-over-two-Legionnaires-linked-Flint-deaths/stories/201808200187
No verdict in Manafort trial after 3 days of deliberations
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/presidential/20180820_ap_43821fa5adbd44b2965df2bfe73726df.html?arc404=true
Microsoft says hackers tied to Russia’s government may be targeting U.S. conservatives
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2018/08/21/Microsoft-says-hackers-tied-to-Russia-s-government-may-be-targeting-U-S-conservatives/stories/201808210206
Opioid Crisis
STOP Act will prevent opioid smuggling
http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/letters/2018/08/21/STOP-Act-will-prevent-opioid-smuggling/stories/201808210147
Epidemic has life of its own
https://www.citizensvoice.com/opinion/epidemic-has-life-of-its-own-1.2376091
Philly
Police fatally shoot man in Tacony; 3 officers injured
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/crime/police-fatally-shoot-male-in-tacony-20180820.html
Two roommates bet their careers on soft pretzels. 20 years later, the Philly snack is more popular than ever.
http://www2.philly.com/philly/food/philly-pretzel-factory-soft-pretzels-anniversary-20180821.html
Electric scooters have brought chaos and outrage in cities across the country. Is Philly next?
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/philadelphia/electric-scooters-philadelphia-bird-lime-skip-share-dockless-20180820.html
Philadelphia’s start-up community launches data survey to address its diversity shortcomings
http://www2.philly.com/philly/business/small_business/philadelphia-start-up-community-diversity-survey-20180820.html
City Hall: Work overtime to cut spending | Editorial
http://www2.philly.com/philly/opinion/editorials/philadelphia-overtime-city-budget-editorial-20180820.html
‘Council staffers stuck together.’ Remembering my friend, Linda Rios-Neuby | Opinion
http://www2.philly.com/philly/opinion/commentary/linda-rius-nueby-murder-suicide-city-hall-staffer-20180820.html
Pitt
Removing barriers to success gives kids the opportunity to thrive | Opinion
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/13992295-74/pennsylvania-puc-schedules-four-hearings-for-early-september-over-pwsa-rate-increases
Much more than a market: Pittsburgh’s international groceries offer food, culture and personal touch
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/08/20/International-grocery-stores-small-community-cornerstones/stories/201808190010
Shuttered YMCA in Hazelwood — and the way the community stepped up — offers pattern for places now losing their branches
http://www.post-gazette.com/business/money/2018/08/20/YMCA-Hazelwood-branch-closings-services-food-program/stories/201808190048
Ross passes deer-feeding ban
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/north/2018/08/20/ross-township-passes-deer-feeding-ban/stories/201808210156
Agency: Art Institute of Pittsburgh risks losing accreditation in November
http://www.post-gazette.com/business/career-workplace/2018/08/20/Art-Institute-Pittsburgh-Accreditation-Dream-Center-Middle-States-Commission-on-Higher-Education/stories/201808200102
Health department wants to give grants to groups working to prevent air pollution
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/13993029-74/health-department-wants-to-give-grants-to-groups-working-to-prevent-air
State News
Ben Carson touts housing department’s focus on affordable living during Beaver County tour
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/west/2018/08/20/Ben-Carson-Keith-Rothfus-Beaver-County-housing-tour-affordability-Economy-Village/stories/201808200123
Ben Carson says in Ambridge stop that HUD is combating affordable housing crisis
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/13993167-74/ben-carson-shares-message-of-perseverance-in-ambridge-monday
NYS had two sewage discharges into Susquehanna
https://www.timesleader.com/news/715632/nys-had-two-sewage-discharges-into-susquehanna
DEP to spray to control mosquitoes today; cites West Nile concerns
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/dep-to-spray-to-control-mosquitoes-today-cites-west-nile-concerns-1.2376135
State College among the nation’s 50 safest college towns
https://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/13992343-74/state-college-among-the-nations-50-safest-college-towns
Activists renew call to shut down Berks immigrant detention center
http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2018/08/activists-reiterate-appeal-for-stronger-action-to-shut-down-berks.php
Dry Leaf Marijuana Expected To Quadruple Medicinal Cannabis Sales In PA By 2020
http://www.wesa.fm/post/dry-leaf-marijuana-expected-quadruple-medicinal-cannabis-sales-pa-2020#stream/0
Pa. and other states aim to stop internet release of 3D-printed gun plans
http://www.witf.org/news/2018/08/pa-and-other-states-aim-to-stop-internet-release-of-3d-printed-gun-plans.php
Fallen Erie officer remembered at funeral
http://www.goerie.com/news/20180821/fallen-erie-officer-remembered-at-funeral
Transportation
Turnpike traffic altered around Lehigh Tunnel this week
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/turnpike-traffic-altered-around-lehigh-tunnel-this-week-1.2376096
Sewer work closes River Street in W-B
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/sewer-work-closes-river-street-in-w-b-1.2376103
Montage Mountain traffic issues affected Friday concertgoers
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/montage-mountain-traffic-issues-affected-friday-concertgoers-1.2376088
Washington
Trump praises a Hispanic-American Border Patrol agent’s ‘perfect English’ as he hails ICE
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2018/08/20/Trump-praises-a-Hispanic-American-Border-Patrol-agent-s-perfect-English-as-he-hails-ICE/stories/201808200189