Legislature
Some hoped letting groceries, mini-marts sell wine would kill Pa.’s state stores. It hasn’t
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/02/some-hoped-letting-groceries-mini-marts-sell-wine-would-kill-pas-state-stores-but-4-years-later-theyre-still-here.html
3 things Rep. Metcalfe’s one-sided hearing got wrong about RGGI | Opinion
https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/3-things-rep-metcalfes-one-sided-hearing-got-wrong-about-rggi/
Underfunded enforcement upends law
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/underfunded-enforcement-upends-law-1.2596245
Administration
Fetterman says he won’t unblock Twitter critics
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2020/02/17/John-Fetterman-Pennsylvania-lieutenant-governor-wont-unblock-Twitter-critics/stories/202002170102
Crime/Punishment
County police superintendent responds to criticism in Wilkinsburg mass shooting case
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2020/02/17/police-superintendent-McDonough-responds-criticism-Wilkinsburg-mass-shooting-case-mayor-marita-garrett/stories/202002170100
Wilkinsburg mayor rebukes Allegheny County police, prosecutors for ‘reckless handling’ of mass shooting case
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/wilkinsburgh-mayor-rebukes-allegheny-county-police-prosecutors-for-reckless-handling-of-mass-shooting-case/
2 charged in the killing of woman found strangled in McKeesport park
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2020/02/17/Ramonta-Yancey-Daron-Dominque-Parks-charged-homicide-Tameka-Dallas-strangled-McKeesport/stories/202002170095
‘Stop and frisk’ to get illegal guns off the street should be tried, says Pa. pardons board administrator
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/02/stop-and-frisk-to-get-illegal-guns-off-the-street-should-be-tried-says-pa-pardons-board-administrator.html
Education
A western Pennsylvania school district ran out of paper. That’s everything you need to know about school funding in Pa. | Analysis
https://www.penncapital-star.com/featured/a-western-pennsylvania-school-district-ran-out-of-paper-thats-everything-you-need-to-know-about-school-funding-in-pa-analysis/
Scranton teachers rally for fair funding, safer schools
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-teachers-rally-for-fair-funding-safer-schools-1.2596238
Mt. Pleasant High School students win statewide award for suicide prevention video
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/mt-pleasant-high-school-students-win-statewide-award-for-suicide-prevention-video/
New after-school program helping students at Avon Grove
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/local/new-after-school-program-helping-students-at-avon-grove/article_d0a5cda0-51b5-11ea-8abd-a33afe15a093.html
Elections/Politics
Mike Bloomberg makes Wednesday’s debate stage, facing Democratic rivals for 1st time
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/mike-bloomberg-qualifies-democratic-debate-poll-results-bernie-sanders-20200218.html
Campaigns warn of chaos ahead of Nevada caucuses
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/nevada-caucuses-trump-democrats-iowa-20200217.html
Could Pennsylvania’s 43K new citizens make the difference in 2020 election?
https://www.witf.org/2020/02/18/could-pennsylvanias-43k-new-citizens-make-the-difference-in-2020-election/
Deadline arrives for candidates to get on primary election ballot
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/deadline-arrives-for-candidates-to-get-on-primary-election-ballot-1.2596252
Lindy Li, claiming to be a victim of ‘Bernie Bro’ bullying, resigns from PA Young Democrats post
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/clout/bernie-bros-lindy-li-pennsylvania-young-democrats-twitter-controversy-20200218.html
Health Care
How the coronavirus ‘jumped’ to humans is a story as old as evolution
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus-jump-humans-animals-flu-chickens-20200218.html
Local News
WWII airman honored anew on 75th anniversary of death
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/wwii-airman-honored-anew-on-75th-anniversary-of-death-1.2596170
Washington Township scraps planning commission, hires administrator
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/washington-township-scraps-planning-commission-hires-administrator/
Pirates legend Bill Mazeroski’s house in Hempfield goes on auction block
https://triblive.com/sports/pirates/mazeroski-house-in-hempfield-goes-on-auction-block/
W-B city controller cited with public drunkenness; Snyder calls it a ‘misunderstanding’
https://www.timesleader.com/news/773071/w-b-city-controller-cited-with-public-drunkenness-snyder-calls-it-a-misunderstanding
Beaver County sees influx of tax revenue; treasurer suggests dropbox
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20200217/beaver-county-sees-influx-of-tax-revenue-treasurer-suggests-dropbox
National News
Under a barrage of sex-abuse lawsuits, the Boy Scouts of America files for bankruptcy
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2020/02/18/Boy-Scouts-of-America-files-bankruptcy-sex-abuse-lawsuits/stories/202002180089
Natural Gas
Editorial: Two words haunt Mariner East pipeline project
https://www.readingeagle.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-two-words-haunt-mariner-east-pipeline-project/article_ada1c17e-4f53-11ea-9d18-c7901a672088.html
Opioid Crisis
In Berks County, overdose deaths rose in 2019; opioids still an epidemic
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/in-berks-county-overdose-deaths-rose-in-opioids-still-an/article_960efdfa-51b6-11ea-89d1-cb9951e7ef43.html
Philly
Students will get back inside Ben Franklin High, SLA after a long delay, $50M in renovations
https://www.inquirer.com/education/ben-franklin-sla-construction-delay-asbestos-building-reopen-20200217.html
How a modern castle came to occupy the heart of Center City | Inga Saffron
https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/inga-saffron/jefferson-hospital-medical-library-scott-memorial-philadelphia-architecture-hajjar-h2l2-larson-castle-brutalism-inga-saffron-20200218.html
A spike in the cost of electricity at the Philadelphia Flower Show is shocking some vendors
https://www.inquirer.com/business/philadelphia-flower-show-electrical-power-costs-shock-exhibitors-20200218.html
Two former top prosecutors have sued Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner, saying he fired them because of age
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-district-attorney-larry-krasner-mark-gilson-marc-costanzo-lawsuit-age-discrimination-20200217.html
Fresh Grocer will close its University City store after losing a legal battle with Penn
https://www.inquirer.com/business/fresh-grocer-closing-university-city-penn-walnut-street-20200217.html
Car-free streets a nice idea, but just one spoke in a complex wheel | Editorial
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/philly-congestion-car-free-chestnut-street-busway-20200218.html
How Philly Democrats will get out the vote in 2020 | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/bob-brady-democrats-philadelphia-2020-election-20200217.html
More Philly campuses need collegiate recovery programs | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/collegiate-overdose-support-university-philadelphia-20200217.html
Pitt
Allegheny County Democratic Committee favors moderates over progressives in primary endorsements
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/allegheny-county-democratic-committee-favors-moderates-over-progressives-in-primary-endorsements/
Scrutiny of Allegheny County Democratic Committee increases after Pa. House endorsements
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2020/02/17/Allegheny-County-Democratic-Committee-endorsed-candidates-Pennsylvania/stories/202002170097
FOP rejects another contract offer from city
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2020/02/17/Fraternal-Order-of-Police-Pittsburgh-FOP-rejects-contract-offer-city/stories/202002170110
Pittsburgh police union rejects Mayor Peduto’s 2.5% raise offer, dispute heads to arbitration
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-police-officers-voting-on-2-5-raise-offer/
Fee could raise an estimated $2M to tear down Alleghenys County’s blighted properties
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2020/02/17/Allegheny-County-fee-raise-money-demolition-tear-down-blighted-properties-Mon-Valley/stories/202002130148
Mike Tomlin ‘hacked off’ at ESPN’s portrayal of Mason Rudolph-Myles Garrett situation
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2020/02/17/mike-tomlin-espn-myles-garrett-allegations-mason-rudolph-racial-slur-antonio-brown-ben-roethlisberger-steelers/stories/202002170080
Carnegie Science Center names Kim Amey as deputy director
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2020/02/17/Kim-Amey-named-deputy-director-of-Carnegie-Science-Center/stories/202002170088
Park tax squabbles
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2020/02/18/Park-tax-squabbles/stories/202002140058
Workshops to cover composting, recycling, rain barrels
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/workshops-to-cover-composting-recycling-and-rain-barrels/
Trump’s proposed budget includes spending boost for locks and dams in Pittsburgh area
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/trumps-proposed-budget-includes-spending-boost-for-locks-and-dams-in-pittsburgh-area/
State News
‘What’s going on is clearly illegal’: Ex-feds from Pa., N.J. say it’s time for Attorney General William Barr to go
https://www.inquirer.com/news/william-barr-resign-trump-attorney-general-roger-stone-justice-department-trump-prosecutor-letter-20200217.html
New Stanton area hemp processor CAMO closes, stranding farmers
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/new-stanton-area-hemp-processor-camo-closes-stranding-farmers/
Cannabis festival won’t return to Scranton park
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/cannabis-festival-won-t-return-to-scranton-park-1.2596320
PPL’s plan to hasten clean-energy goal fuels questions about its future
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/ppl-s-plan-to-hasten-clean-energy-goal-fuels-questions-about-its-future-1.2596218
Harrisburg is the state capital with the highest unemployment rate, new study states
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/02/harrisburg-is-the-state-capital-with-the-highest-unemployment-rate-new-study-states.html
Auditor general finds some flaws in Delco firefighter relief associations
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/local/auditor-general-finds-some-flaws-in-delco-firefighter-relief-associations/article_0dd98096-51c9-11ea-8a9d-576110745825.html
Transportation
Route 222 corridor upgrades are back on the table, but not for seven years
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/route-corridor-upgrades-are-back-on-the-table-but-not/article_727172a6-51b6-11ea-b54b-972a44ec8431.html