Legislature
Dog license fee hike would address Pennsylvania bureau’s budget shortfall
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/10-pooch-license-fee-sought-to-fund-pennsylvanias-bureau-of-dog-law/
Fighting COVID-19 called top Pa. prisons priority
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2021/02/17/Pennsylvania-Department-of-Corrections-state-prisons-COVID-19-inmates/stories/202102170145
A Pa. lawmaker helped hundreds of seniors get COVID-19 vaccines, but not everyone says that’s fair
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/vaccine-legislator-stephens-harrisburg-pennsylvania-covid-20210217.html
Don’t delay the election, lawmakers. Ask the public to draw your districts instead | John Baer
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/02/dont-delay-the-election-lawmakers-ask-the-public-to-draw-your-districts-instead-john-baer.html
PA lawmakers must act to help doctors provide the medical care people deserve | Opinion
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2021/02/pa-lawmakers-must-act-to-help-doctors-provide-the-medical-care-people-deserve-opinion.html
Coronavirus – COVID-19
Pa. faces a vaccine shortage that could delay shots for 100,000
https://www.inquirer.com/news/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-shortage-pa-moderna-shot-second-dose-20210218.html
Vaccine mix-up prompts rescheduling shuffle in Pennsylvania
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/vaccine-mixup-prompts-rescheduling-shuffle-in-pennsylvania/
Vaccine misstep forces more than 100,000 Pennsylvanians to reschedule shots
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2021/02/17/COVID-19-vaccine-misstep-Pennsylvanians-reschedule-shots-pittsburgh-cases-deaths-data-pandemic/stories/202102170116
Problems in Pennsylvania COVID-19 vaccine rollout could affect shots for 100,000-plus people; LVHN and St. Luke’s reschedule appointments
https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/capitol-ideas/mc-nws-pa-vaccine-moderna-issues-20210217-3mzqnswvi5e6xeoknc2qmy4kr4-story.html
NEPA health networks reschedule Moderna COVID-19 vaccinations due to shortages
https://www.poconorecord.com/story/news/coronavirus/2021/02/18/nepa-health-networks-reschedule-covid-19-vaccines-due-shortages/6788208002/
Pa. COVID vaccine providers mixed up Moderna shots, state officials say
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/pa-covid-vaccine-providers-mixed-up-moderna-shots-state-officials-say/article_92067bb8-713e-11eb-bd05-832d6ae883e2.html
Frustration builds at COVID vaccine delays
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/coronavirus/frustration-builds-at-covid-vaccine-delays/article_bc601a98-7172-11eb-bda4-8b0bed70bfa1.html
Poor neighborhoods linked to higher mortality risk from COVID-19, Duquesne U. professor finds
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/healthcare-business/2021/02/18/low-income-neighborhoods-mortality-risk-COVID-19-Duquesne-University-Ahmad-khanijahani/stories/202102160117
Lehigh Valley not in ‘a great place,’ but doing better than much of Pa., when it comes to vaccines, official says
https://www.mcall.com/coronavirus/mc-nws-lehigh-valley-planning-covid-vaccine-20210218-cgd6qngugzbllp2msbyrqomv7a-story.html
Excela starting to offer covid vaccines to public when available; most staffers immunized
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/majority-of-excela-staff-immunized-against-coronavirus-limited-appointments-periodically-being-opened-to-public/
Penn State Health to also expand COVID vaccinations for those eligible in Phase 1A
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/penn-state-health-to-also-expand-covid-vaccinations-for-those-eligible-in-phase-1a/article_3556d27c-7117-11eb-825a-0b0287e8c42d.html
Government rushes virus gene-mapping as COVID-19 mutations spread
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/2021/02/17/Government-rushes-virus-gene-mapping-as-mutations-spread/stories/202102170137
Allegheny County reports 26 new coronavirus deaths
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny-county-reports-26-new-coronavirus-deaths/
Administration
Wolf admin has paid lawyers $3.4 million for two dozen election lawsuits
https://www.penncapital-star.com/blog/wolf-admin-has-paid-lawyers-3-4-million-for-two-dozen-election-lawsuits/
Business
Westmoreland County bars and restaurants in line for nearly $4M in grants
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-county-bars-and-restaurants-in-line-for-nearly-4m-in-grants/
PSP cites Luzerne County establishments for alleged COVID violations
https://www.timesleader.com/news/906887/psp-cites-luzerne-county-establishments-for-alleged-covid-violations
Crime/Punishment
A gun ring illegally armed criminals in the region with more than 30 firearms, Montgomery County DA says
https://www.inquirer.com/news/montgomery-county-straw-purchasing-illegal-guns-20210217.html
Education
The $1 billion plan to close the gap between growing and shrinking Pa. school districts
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/spl/pennsylvania-education-tom-wolf-budget-funding-formula-hold-harmless-20210218.html
PIAA notebook: Board passes motion requiring all participants to wear masks for state playoffs
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-basketball/2021/02/17/piaa-notebook-bob-lombardi-mask-mandate-covid-19-screening-form-face-covering-certification-state-playoffs-giant-center-cumberland-valley/stories/202102170152
State university program would offer free education in exchange for staying in the state
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/nellie-bly-scholarship-program-proposal-would-draw-199-million-from-horse-racing-trust-fund/
Cost of college in Pennsylvania is rising while state funding is decreasing
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/cost-of-college-in-pennsylvania-is-rising-while-state-funding-is-decreasing/article_96821eb4-7151-11eb-a4c5-376530837044.html
Elections/Politics
Delaware County Democrats are finally in power and they have the growing pains to show it
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/delaware-county-pennsylvania-democrats-20210218.html
Why is the Pennsylvania Republican Party in such a twist about Sen. Pat Toomey’s impeachment vote?
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/02/why-is-the-pennsylvania-republican-party-in-such-a-twist-about-sen-pat-toomeys-impeachment-vote.html
County boss rails against doing right thing
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/editorial/county-boss-rails-against-doing-right-thing/article_385b65cf-a003-54a4-91eb-4d12ab7a03d1.html
Berks County Republican Committee will consider censure of Sen. Pat Toomey
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/berks-county-republican-committee-will-consider-censure-of-sen-pat-toomey/article_5e89f260-7148-11eb-ac81-27f7ac3f0c7b.html
Local News
Rock salt in high demand amid extraordinarily snowy winter
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/rock-salt-in-high-demand-amid-extraordinarily-snowy-winter/article_bdef9bd9-064e-5fad-ab16-126420092bd7.html
Namiotka appointed as Scranton police superintendent
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/namiotka-appointed-as-scranton-police-superintendent/article_3f5b3165-9dd5-5342-bdf0-5715c01b48aa.html
Reading puts proposed panhandling ordinance on hold
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/reading-puts-proposed-panhandling-ordinance-on-hold/article_5e97424c-7168-11eb-a2e8-23df13d399e0.html
Longwood Gardens is planning a $250 million makeover that will be its biggest ever
https://www.inquirer.com/news/longwood-gardens-building-chester-county-philadelphia-20210218.html
Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority seeking blighted properties for demolition
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/county-redevelopment-authority-seeking-blighted-properties-for-demolition/
Wilkes-Barre property tax payment deadlines extended
https://www.timesleader.com/news/908472/wilkes-barre-property-tax-payment-deadlines-extended
Fatigue, overtime mount as another snowstorm arrives
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/fatigue-overtime-mount-as-another-snowstorm-arrives/article_065a841d-02e7-5355-b064-a098267f6514.html/
National News
During pandemic, U.S. life expectancy falls by a year, even more among Black and Latino Americans
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/us-life-expectancy-drops-coronavirus-20210218.html
Rick Perry says Texans would accept longer power outages ‘to keep the federal government out of their business’
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2021/02/18/Rick-Perry-Texans-accept-longer-power-outages-federal-government-energy/stories/202102180121
U.S. needs to brace itself for more deadly storms, experts say
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/science/2021/02/18/US-needs-to-brace-itself-for-more-deadly-storms-experts-say/stories/202102180119
Philly
Philly’s school reopening is pushed back again. City councilmembers questioned the plan.
https://www.inquirer.com/education/philadelphia-school-district-reopen-covid-hite-council-20210217.html
Eight people shot near Olney Transportation Center, Philly police say
https://www.inquirer.com/news/seven-people-shot-olney-transportation-center-septa-broad-street-20210217.html
Di Bruno Bros. wants to expand where Project HOME products are sold
https://www.inquirer.com/news/homeless-philadelphia-project-home-di-bruno-bros-conscious-consumerism-candle-making-20210218.html
Phil Mancuso and Angelo Scuderi upheld Philadelphia’s Italian American food traditions
https://www.inquirer.com/food/craig-laban/mancusos-scuderi-italian-south-philly-market-20210217.html
Philly SAG-AFTRA board member resigns after posting anti-Asian meme
https://www.inquirer.com/news/sag-aftra-john-mitchell-asian-racist-meme-20210217.html
The best places to buy bikes in Philadelphia
https://www.inquirer.com/philly-tips/best-bike-stores-philadelphia-20210217.html
Gun violence is a citywide emergency. Declaring that doesn’t demand more policing or incarceration. | Editorial
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/philadelphia-gun-violence-emergency-declaration-jim-kenney-20210217.html
The Inquirer needs a racism intervention | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/inquirer-diversity-inclusion-race-audit-newsroom-20210217.html
Philly schools should not reopen until all staff can be guaranteed a COVID vaccine | Expert Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/philadelphia-schools-reopening-teachers-vaccine-support-staff-20210217.html
New survey finds Philadelphians feel police aren’t keeping them safe
https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/new-survey-finds-philadelphians-feel-police-aren-t-keeping-them-safe/article_9ece0e10-71e8-11eb-a6fe-fb45d5ea01aa.html
Pitt
Rivers Casino goes to court over property assessment — and it could just be the beginning of such cases
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2021/02/18/Rivers-Casino-property-assessment-pandemic-Allegheny-County-Common-Pleas-Court-Board-of-Viewers/stories/202102180100
Pittsburgh City Council supports Peduto’s change to hairstyle discrimination law
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2021/02/17/Pittsburgh-City-Council-hairstyle-discrimination-law-police-beard-facial-hair-crown-act/stories/202102170122
Pittsburgh Promise eases requirements for 2021 graduates
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2021/02/17/Pittsburgh-Promise-students-education-public-schools-requirements-ease/stories/202102170123
Allegheny County plans to administer 2nd covid vaccine doses in timely fashion
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny-county-plans-to-administer-second-covid-vaccine-doses-in-timely-fashion/
Mellon Park nears designation as historic site by Pittsburgh officials
https://triblive.com/local/mellon-park-nears-designation-as-a-historic-site-by-pittsburgh-officials/
Before making it big, Rush Limbaugh got his start in Pittsburgh as ‘Jeff Christie’
https://triblive.com/local/rush-limbaugh-once-worked-in-pittsburgh-radio/
Port Authority to discuss transit improvement ideas at community meetings
https://triblive.com/local/north-hills/port-authority-to-discuss-transit-improvement-ideas-at-community-meetings/
State News
Tax increase is not beneficial to Pa.
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/2021/02/18/Tax-increase-is-not-beneficial-to-Pa/stories/202102180047
Gisele Fetterman introduces PA Kindness Poem Project
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/gisele-fetterman-introduces-pa-kindness-poem-project/
We must work to end LGBTQ economic discrimination | Mark Sega
https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/we-must-work-to-end-lgbtq-economic-discrimination-mark-segal/
Transportation
3 from Berks appointed to committee to restore Reading-to-Philadelphia passenger rail service
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/transportation/3-from-berks-appointed-to-committee-to-restore-reading-to-philadelphia-passenger-rail-service/article_65cd4be2-712c-11eb-ab06-9fa481f315a2.html
Washington
Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon should hold Biden’s feet to the fire on regulatory agenda | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/joe-biden-rules-regulations-oversight-mary-gay-scanlon-20210218.html