News Digest :: December 30, 2021

Legislature

Wolf lays out his issues with proposed congressional map | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

The public is weighing in on Pa.’s redistricting ideas. So far, they don’t like what they see. | WITF

Redrawn PA legislative maps could impact a third of Bucks County voters (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Congressman pushes back on Pennsylvania bridge tolling plan (broadandliberty.com)

Legislative Reapportionment Commission Hosting 5 Hearings On Proposed District Maps – CBS Pittsburgh (cbslocal.com)

Pennsylvania Stands Still As Neighbors Hike Minimum Wage, But Some Lawmakers See Action In 2022 – CBS Pittsburgh (cbslocal.com)

Useful hearings for the Pennsylvania Fireworks Act – Pennsylvania News Today

Opinion: Fireworks genie is out of the bottle … and it’s not going back i – Times News Online (tnonline.com)

Technical High School Purchasing New Equipment Through Grant – LevittownNow.com

State lawmakers vow to better protect care home residents from convicted sex offenders | TribLIVE.com

Fifteen Pennsylvania laws from 2021 that could affect your life | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

No more surprise medical bills: Pennsylvania to enforce new consumer protection law | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Labor complaint claims Coffee Tree Roasters barista was fired for supporting union | 90.5 WESA

Nearly $570,000 in state funding awarded to protect Chester County waterways – The Mercury (pottsmerc.com)

 

Coronavirus – COVID-19

Record number of new COVID-19 cases recorded in the U.S. : NPR

PA Department of Health fights requests to release COVID-19 death totals by ZIP code | Local News | lancasteronline.com

Pa. records highest daily COVID-19 case total; slight drop in death from last week | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

COVID spike hitting Chester County hard – Daily Local

CDC is monitoring over 90 cruise ships amid COVID outbreaks : NPR

Cumberland County EMS worker attests COVID vaccine hospitalizations are ‘deadly rumor’ (abc27.com)

Fauci defends CDC guidelines, says ‘We’re still in the middle of a pandemic’ (abc27.com)

COVID-19 directly damages, creates scar tissue on the kidneys, study finds (abc27.com)

White House promises to help development of two antiviral pills, defends administration’s efforts (abc27.com)

Lehigh Valley COVID testing centers seeing hours-long waits – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Berks County seeks to keep COVID testing center open (readingeagle.com)

COVID vaccine clinic scheduled in Reading (readingeagle.com)

Experts say vaccinated people with health problems still face serious covid risks | TribLIVE.com

Studies indicate J&J booster protects against severe illness from omicron | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

ICU beds filling up at region’s hospitals as COVID cases surge | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

WHO chief worried about ‘tsunami’ of omicron, delta cases | News | phillytrib.com

MCIC hosts COVID-19 vaccination clinic Thursday (goerie.com)

 

Business/Jobs

Lancaster County’s unemployment rate dropping to 3.6% is not necessarily good news, economists say | Local Business | lancasteronline.com

Veteran-owned businesses in Chester County and region get state support – Daily Local

Wharton Equity Partners continues industrial expansion with $22.5M acquisition in Croydon – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

BARR: Prioritizing Long-Term Economic Growth in the New Year – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Seafood demand high despite soaring prices | News | citizensvoice.com

$4 per gallon gas possible in spring before relief arrives, outlook says | TribLIVE.com

Innovation, partnership build rising tide of opportunity for Erie businesses (goerie.com)

 

Crime/Punishment

After 4 Killings, ‘Officer of the Year’ Is Still on the Job – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Pot smell alone can’t justify warrantless search, Pa. court rules – pennlive.com

Court rules pot smell alone can’t justify warrantless search | WITF

Erie crime: Police await more officers, programs as shootings grow (goerie.com)

 

Education

Here are the biggest leadership changes in Greater Philadelphia in 2021 – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

COVID concerns prompt Reading schools to go virtual for a week (readingeagle.com)

As virus cases soar, some districts consider remote learning. Philly keeps its plan to reopen schools next week. (inquirer.com)

 

Elections/Politics

Pennsylvania Candidates Line Up to Replace Sen. Toomey (theepochtimes.com)

‘Slow-motion insurrection’: How GOP seizes election power | WITF

In 2022, Pa. faces a tornado of politics, including a trip to the Land of Oz | John Baer – pennlive.com

Barletta vows, if elected Pa. governor, to take hard line against unaccompanied minors – pennlive.com

Children coming from border get attention in PA governor’s race | State | thetimes-tribune.com

Pennsylvania’s 2022 Senate and Gov. races give both parties a chance to redefine themselves (inquirer.com)

The GOP PA Senate Primary is already bonkers (msnbc.com)

Kim Clear rises in local politics with hard work, drive to give back (goerie.com)

 

Environment

Work on the Mariner East Pipeline continues despite protests and proceedings – Daily Local – Pennsylvania News Today

 

Transportation

Op-Ed: Pennsylvania should embrace its heritage by restoring railways (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Flight cancellations, delays continue Wednesday as airlines grapple with fallout from omicron, weather | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Snowplow driver shortage could mean slower road clearing in Pa., elsewhere | Analysis – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

 

Health

Telehealth controversy: Should it be ok to prescribe addiction meds virtually? : Shots – Health News : NPR

WellSpan York to receive ‘strike teams’ following Gov. Wolf’s call for federal support (abc27.com)

FEMA readies COVID help for two hospitals; Luzerne sets daily record for coronavirus cases | Coronavirus | standardspeaker.com

Midstate EMS departments continue to recruit among omicron surge (abc27.com)

Where are flu rates highest in Pennsylvania? Map – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

 

State News

Shapiro: Most Pa. counties have joined opioid settlement | News | tribdem.com

Luzerne among 50 counties to sign on to statewide opioid settlement | News | standardspeaker.com

Pa. senator asks governor about flights of undocumented immigrants (wgal.com)

Meuser: HHS discussed flights of ‘traumatized’ minors to AVP | Times Leader

Crocamo: Children on immigrant charter flights are not staying in Luzerne County | News | citizensvoice.com

Christian Hall was killed one year ago by Pa. State Police. His family still wants answers. · Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania increases spending through targeted contracts | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Infrastructure projects in Pa. need more private sector collaborations | Opinion (inquirer.com)

Court is adjourned: Pa. Justice Tom Saylor reflects on 28-year judicial career, leaves with no regrets – pennlive.com

Hidden danger: Registered sex offenders often go undetected in care homes | TribLIVE.com

Photos of the Year for 2021 by PennLive’s Sean Simmers – pennlive.com

In Focus: 2021 – A Year in Post-Gazette Visuals – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Interactive

 

National News

Urgently needed: Fed action to raise rates coupled with delay in Covid-related stimulus – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Hong Kong Police Charge 2 With Sedition Ater Wednesday Arrests : NPR

Ghislaine Maxwell verdict: Former Epstein confidant is found guilty : NPR

Ghislaine Maxwell convicted in Epstein sex abuse case (abc27.com)

50 pop culture highlights from 2021: Movies, TV and reads to remember : NPR

Myanmar Military Employs Massacres And Scorched Earth Tactics Against Opponents : NPR

Stigma persists around hunger in military as pandemic numbers remain high | TPR

Waiting for a Elizabeth Holmes trial verdict? Experts say fraud is complicated : NPR

Efforts to ban books are on the rise. Philly YA authors say ‘silent censorship’ is also getting worse (inquirer.com)

We need to be able to talk about trans athletes without shouting each other down | Opinion (inquirer.com)

Let’s stop swearing at the president and remember who we are (goerie.com)

 

Local News

Officials cut ribbon for new Bucks County Regional Police Headquarters | The Bucks County Herald

Christkindlemarkt sets near-record – Times News Online (tnonline.com)

Vigils for Christian Hall set year after police shot Pocono teen (poconorecord.com)

South Jersey, Bucks County teens share predictions for the new year (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Chester County residents share 2021 reflections with hope for future as New Year dawns – Daily Local

New Kennett library will get mural to honor Harriet Tubman – Daily Local

New transitional housing program for formerly incarcerated women coming to Harrisburg (abc27.com)

History made under the dome | Times Leader

Sanguedolce takes oath as elected district attorney | Times Leader

Infrastructure law to deliver NEPA major funding for abandoned mine land reclamation | News | thetimes-tribune.com

Hazleton area overfills trailer bound for Kentucky tornado victims | News | standardspeaker.com

Scott commissioners OK $13.4 million budget | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Lebanon County Commissioner dies after being hospitalized with COVID-19 | WITF

Receiver evaluates Chester parking meter contract (delcotimes.com)

 

Pitt

City’s budget director leaving to take job with Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Another key official in outgoing Mayor Bill Peduto’s administration announces departure | TribLIVE.com

Disciplinary action initiated against 9 Pittsburgh police officers in tasing, death of man in Bloomfield | TribLIVE.com

State police release more details in Pittsburgh man’s killing in Venango | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh restaurants and bars temporarily close amid rise in COVID cases | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Century III Mall as an endangered site worth preserving? | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Officials urge caution as Omicron cases appear and spread in Allegheny County | Coronavirus | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)

 

Philly

Philadelphia hotels see New Year’s cancelations amid Covid-19 spike, but also a “silver lining” – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

OIC of America names Louis King CEO of its national headquarters in Philadelphia – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Gabe Kaminsky: Philly’s indoor dining vax mandate hurts everyone (broadandliberty.com)

Philadelphia tourism leader Jeff Guaracino dies at 48 | Obituaries | phillytrib.com

Philly’s housing politics shifted in 2021. Here’s what to watch for in 2022 | Local News | phillytrib.com

 

Washington

Biden, Putin to speak directly amid Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine border : NPR

Biden, Putin to hold call as Russia-Ukraine tension smolders (abc27.com)

Guest Opinion: Joe Manchin is the Grinch who stole Christmas (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Capitol Police Sergeant reflects on anniversary of Jan. 6 riot : NPR

Trump asks Supreme Court to consider Jan. 6 chairman’s interview with Washington Post in bid to block records | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette