News Digest :: August 4, 2022

Legislature

State Sen. Amanda Cappelletti, environmental advocates share their climate priorities – NewsBreak

Gov. Wolf, Pa. Democrats try to revive plan for $2,000 checks for some households; Republicans say it will make inflation worse [Updated] – Daily Local

Stimulus checks for Pennsylvanians: Gov. Wolf, Pa. Democrats continue push for $2,000 payments – pennlive.com

PODCAST: Sen. Mensch On ‘Free Money,’ Inflation and the Midterms – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Pennsylvania continues to fund antiabortion organization in new budget | TribLIVE.com

$60K State Grant Awarded To Local Ambulance Company For New Vehicle | Limerick, PA Patch

Sunoco misses cleanup deadline at Marsh Creek State Park; local lawmakers call for action – Daily Local

 

Coronavirus – COVID-19

CDC expected to ease Covid-19 recommendations, including for schools, as soon as this week | Coronavirus | phillytrib.com

Erie hospitals to offer Novavax COVID-19 vaccine (goerie.com)

Clearfield County on COVID-19 ‘high’ list; CDC says Cambria at medium transmission level | Local News | tribdem.com

Berks COVID update: Elevated cases and hospitalizations continue (readingeagle.com)

 

Business/Jobs

Feds: Small business loans to diverse owners increase across eastern Pa. | Thursday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Tips on a new Pennsylvania law and rewarding your hospitality workers | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Credit card debt surged as inflation forced Americans to borrow more (inquirer.com)

Food pantries are serving more families in need amid inflation challenges | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

SBA plans to release $180M in leftover Restaurant Revitalization Fund money – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

SBA Covid EIDL doesn’t plan to use billions in remaining potential loan authority – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Growing prescriptions help push CVS past Q2 expectations | News | tribdem.com

Training programs help college graduate trade office for ambulance work | News | standardspeaker.com

Pennsylvania-based Aurora delays launch of self-driving trucking, citing supply shortages | WITF

Inflation weighs on back-to-school buying for many families | TribLIVE.com

 

Crime/Punishment

Hall fatal shooting suit going before federal grand jury, family says (poconorecord.com)

York police turn to the community for ideas to reduce gun violence (ydr.com)

Lancaster police using federal grant to buy 2 electric patrol bicycles, upgrade systems | Local News | lancasteronline.com

 

Education

Pa. schools can apply for mental health, safety grants (abc27.com)

Penn State did not prove its legal standing to have public court filing sealed, experts say · Spotlight PA

Pennridge considers policies on student, staff speech, library books (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Pa. colleges try to keep students safe against monkeypox (abc27.com)

CB School Board partners with PR firm to improve community relations | The Bucks County Herald

Early College Boot Camp offers sneak peek at MCCC’s dual enrollment program – Mainline Media News

Op-Ed: Get charter school reform across the finish line (ydr.com)

Wyoming Valley West reviewing security contract, forming new committee | News | citizensvoice.com

Allegheny County to get millions in new state funding for early childhood education | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

More than $1.6 million in early learning grants are coming to Berks County. (readingeagle.com)

Duquesne City schools build out mental health supports as district grows | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Olney High, Stetson Middle to return to Philadelphia School District after a decade of charter control (inquirer.com)

 

Elections/Politics

Butler County is ‘reviewing’ its 2020 election mail ballots. The Pa. Department of State calls it a ‘waste of time.’ | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Kansas abortion vote gives Pa. Democrats new hope for 2022 midterm elections (inquirer.com)

Democrats, emboldened after Kansas abortion vote, eye fall campaign | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pa. Senate: John Fetterman’s comfortable upbringing undercuts image, Republicans say (inquirer.com)

Republican Senate candidate Mehmet Oz touts American manufacturing, ‘burn pit’ bill, in visit to Western Pennsylvania | WITF

Doug Mastriano says Pennsylvania is ‘at a crossroads’ during campaign stop at Crawford County fair | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Push for Radical Gender Policies in K-12 Education a Top-Down Effort, Mastriano Says – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Local Jewish group condemns Moosic native, far-right social media platform founder | | citizensvoice.com

Doug Mastriano says Pennsylvania is ‘at a crossroads’ during campaign stop at Crawford County fair | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Gubernatorial Candidate Spotlight: Outward Migration (broadandliberty.com)

Republicans choose Burgerhoff as new 114th House candidate | Election | thetimes-tribune.com

Can John Fetterman and Josh Shapiro win Pa. in a ‘Republican year’? | John Baer – pennlive.com

John Fetterman’s parents gave him money into his 40s. Republicans say that undercuts his blue-collar image. – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

 

Environment

EPA: Chemical in medical-device cleanser poses cancer risk to people living near plants in Pennsylvania and other states | WITF

 

Transportation

American Airlines cuts more than 1,800 flights at PHL for September and October – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Wilkes-Barre, state officials prep for passenger rail study | News | citizensvoice.com

PennDOT’s unpopular bridge tolling plan headed for the junkyard – pennlive.com

Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls will increase – again – starting next year | WITF

 

Health

Prospect Medical Holdings might not sell Crozer, Medical Properties Trust says (inquirer.com)

‘American Cartel’ authors go inside the opioid industry : Shots – Health News : NPR

Pennsylvania Medicaid recipients reminded to pick plan before August deadline (abc27.com)

New center commits to use $24 million to find a cure for all pediatric cancers – pennlive.com

Eight cases of monkeypox reported in Bucks County (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Erie to receive more monkeypox vaccine to fight worldwide outbreak (goerie.com)

CDC reports 170 monkeypox cases in Pennsylvania; health officials mum on any potential Lancaster County cases | Health | lancasteronline.com

988 suicide hotline: Why mental health activists are concerned (goerie.com)

Moses Taylor, Regional hospitals plan to merge under one license | News | thetimes-tribune.com

Union officials concerned by plan to close First Hospital | News | citizensvoice.com

 

State News

Erie’s EMI project gets a $1.5 million boost from federal grant (goerie.com)

Sen. Bob Casey requests $17.5 million of earmarks for Western Pa. outreach, STEM and municipal projects | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pa. is giving counties cash for elections. But some say the strings attached might make their jobs harder | WITF

Pa. eligible for more than $244M in U.S. Interior Department mine cleanup funds – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

DOJ Drops Investigation Into PSERS — But Challenges Remain for the Fund | Institutional Investor

US prosecutors see no criminal charge for PSERS teacher pension fund (inquirer.com)

Sesame Place video not first time Bucks County park under fire for racism (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

What Does Kansas Abortion Rights Vote Mean for PA? (politicspa.com)

Veteran GOP Operative Caputo Says PA Supreme Court Playing Politics With Act 77 – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Lady Gaga’s foundation announces donations to VOICEup Berks and Mighty Writers | WITF

The $20 million settlement against a racist mortgage lender should just be the start | Editorial (inquirer.com)

Pennsylvania aims to fight robocalls by joining task force that would sue scammers | TribLIVE.com

 

National News

After Supreme Court ruling, it’s open season on U.S. gun laws (inquirer.com)

Record rent increases, low wages are driving an eviction crisis, U.S. Senate panel told – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

How the U.S. gave away a breakthrough battery technology to China : NPR

Alex Jones concedes Sandy Hook attack was ‘100% real’ (abc27.com)

To one retired commander, the ISS was the last bond between the U.S. and Russia : NPR

Phil Mickelson, others sue PGA Tour over LIV Golf suspensions (inquirer.com)

Closing arguments are to begin Thursday in Brittney Griner’s drug case in Russia : NPR

Parkland families talk of ‘unspeakable loss’ as they continue victim impact testimony in gunman’s death penalty trial | News | phillytrib.com

Coral levels in areas of the Great Barrier Reef reach a 36-year peak : NPR

China says it carried out precision missile strikes in the Taiwan Strait : NPR

Is the Choco Taco coming back? Klondike hints at future of discontinued treat (abc27.com)

NFL appealing Deshaun Watson’s suspension (abc27.com)

Michael E. Langley confirmed as first Black four-star Marine general | Across America | phillytrib.com

Michigan GOP Rep. Peter Meijer loses re-election months after voting to impeach Trump | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Young adults moved home and then back out during the pandemic, disrupting millions of households | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Local News

Greater Coatesville nonprofits get $657,000 in grant funding – Daily Local

Chester County launches Walk. Ride. Drive. Safe campaign – Daily Local

Police departments in Chester County celebrate National Night Out – Daily Local

Buckingham supervisors approve multi-million dollar project at Friends school | The Bucks County Herald

Family Service earns Foundations Community Partnership grant to support children’s mental health counseling | The Bucks County Herald

Work begins on $100M Queen Street Flats project adding 244 apartments, medical building at former Lancaster YMCA site | Local Business | lancasteronline.com

Lancaster County buys land along Conestoga river for new jail project | Local News | lancasteronline.com

HCA continues search for new water sources with well study | News | standardspeaker.com

Explosion and fire reported at factory in western Berks (readingeagle.com)

Officials postpone recommendation on Cumru warehouse plans (readingeagle.com)

Sticker shock: Inflation, supply shortages affecting everything from mugs to food at Musikfest this year – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

 

Pitt

Allegheny County to get millions in new state funding for early childhood education | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Can environmental violations define oil and gas companies as bad actors? A judgment awaits | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Allegheny County spokeswoman accuses Republican activist of slander | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Historic Freedom Corner suffers damages; leaders work to rebuild | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)

 

Philly

Philly kids slept in a DHS conference room for weeks on end (inquirer.com)

A Philadelphia DHS office houses stranded kids, but staff warn it’s unsafe (inquirer.com)

The brother of two MOVE victims finally got their remains back from the medical examiner’s office (inquirer.com)

What’s the future of Philly’s iconic Roundhouse? Officials seek community input | Local News | phillytrib.com

Penn partners with West Philly High to give it a new ‘front porch’ and teach students about careers (inquirer.com)

 

Washington

Biden signs executive order aimed at safeguarding abortion access and providing guidance to health care providers | News | phillytrib.com

Biden to sign order on out-of-state abortion access – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Biden signs executive order to protect travel for abortion (inquirer.com)

Biden to sign order on out-of-state abortion access – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

The Senate passes help for veterans exposed to toxins, after a reversal drew fury | WITF

What closing the ‘carried interest loophole’ means for the Senate climate bill : NPR

U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski dies in a car crash : NPR

New crypto oversight legislation arrives as industry shakes (inquirer.com)

With midterm elections approaching, Biden calls out Trump more often : NPR

U.S. Senate rebukes Russia approves Finland, Sweden for NATO : NPR

Chris Freind: Vote down Schumer-Manchin tax bill – Mainline Media News