Legislature
Pa. lawmakers are slamming Norfolk Southern as ‘ignorant’ and greedy after the East Palestine derailment | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
State officials ramp up scrutiny on Norfolk Southern’s handling of Ohio train derailment – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)
Pennsylvania lawmakers to reintroduce chokehold ban bill (abc27.com)
School lunch debt mounts | Local News | observer-reporter.com
Pennsylvania lawmakers introduce death penalty repeal legislation (abc27.com)
State Legislature Starts Work on Repealing Death Penalty Law | (wkok.com)
Gov. Shapiro won’t enforce capital punishment in PA, calls for its abolishment | Al Día News (aldianews.com)
Shapiro refuses to sign execution warrants, calls on lawmakers to abolish capital punishment – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
A change of heart – The Philadelphia Sunday Sun (philasun.com)
Pennsylvania Governor Does a 180 on Death Penalty (newser.com)
Yes, Pa. should have a death penalty | Opinion | bradfordera.com
Lawmaker eyes tiny house building codes for Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Pa. lawmaker to introduce bill to incentivize farmers to adopt agroforestry practices – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Pennsylvania lawmaker proposes allowing canned cocktails in grocery stores (abc27.com)
Pennsylvania lawmaker proposes renaming “child pornography” law (abc27.com)
Expecting ‘extraordinary action’ this session, gift ban advocates hope for legislative action – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Will narrow margins in the Pa. House bring new rules to empower the minority party? – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Is this the year that Pa. finally legalizes recreational marijuana? | Mark O’Keefe – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Where do things stand with the Pa. House? | Five for the Weekend – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Opinion: Working to secure rights for LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians (poconorecord.com)
PA Environment Digest Blog: Two PA Senate Committees To Hold Hearings On Ohio/PA Train Derailment: Emergency Preparedness- Feb. 23; Transportation- Feb. 27 – Public Invited To Submit Questions To Transportation (paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com)
Business/Jobs
SBA will focus on bridging small-business capital gap in 2023 – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Black farmers were left behind from USDA programs in 2022. : NPR
No end in sight for bird flu outbreak causing sky-high egg prices | ABC27
News unions meet with company, deliver health care and contract proposals – Pittsburgh Union Progress
Temple, striking grad students reach agreement to end walkout | Local News | phillytrib.com
Lehigh Valley warehouses: How some municipalities are fighting back against plans (mcall.com)
Philly area nurses find work, purpose outside hospitals post-COVID (inquirer.com)
COVID-19
Health care vaccine mandate remains as some push for an end | National | standardspeaker.com
Crime/Punishment
Governor Shapiro orders flags to half-staff in honor of Temple University Police Officer (abc27.com)
Officials react to killing of Temple University police officer Christopher Fitzgerald | Local News | phillytrib.com
Suspect arrested in slaying of university police officer | WITF
The morning after the fatal shooting of a Temple police officer, some students were shocked — others, not surprised (inquirer.com)
Temple Officer Christopher Fitzgerald ‘cared about the community more than himself’ (inquirer.com)
Education
THON 2023 smashes fundraising record, gives $15 million (abc27.com)
Penn State THON changing lives, and the world, for the better | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Meet Moms for Liberty, the group leading LGBTQ book bans in Pa. schools – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
As chronic absenteeism rises in schools, officials search for ways to entice students to stay in the classroom | TribLIVE.com
Penn State Beaver Stadium renovation plan announced (readingeagle.com)
Alvernia University students to benefit from expanded partnership with Fulton Bank, officials say (readingeagle.com)
Meet FRIDA, a Carnegie Mellon robot with the flair of a fine artist | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Elections/Politics
National
Election fraud claims on Fox News vs. what was said behind the scenes : NPR
‘Ready for Ron’ Petition to Draft DeSantis Snags 200,000 Signatures – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Now a political force, research shows GenZ voters crave information on candidates, issues – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Opinion: Ideally, US would divide into ‘red’, ‘blue’ states equally (poconorecord.com)
Trump will return to the scene of his crime when he visits Ohio toxic train wreck (inquirer.com)
Statewide
Who’s Running For AG? (politicspa.com)
Party officials say Casey, Fetterman health issues ‘too early’ to raise concern | TribLIVE.com
District/Local
Pa. U.S. Rep. Summer Lee celebrates Black achievement during ceremonial swearing-in – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Legislative aide to run for Lackawanna County treasurer (yahoo.com)
GALE: Why I Am Running for Re-Election and Not Seeking Endorsement of Party Bosses – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Candidates for mayor plans for stemming the gun violence | Mayorsrace | phillytrib.com
Candidates await endorsement of Philadelphia Building Trades union | Mayorsrace | phillytrib.com
Environment
How misinformation about solar power hinders the fight against climate change : NPR
Transportation
Lackawanna County looks to replace bridges, pave roads | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Amtrak’s new trains skip Northeast Corridor for now (inquirer.com)
Gun Safety
Philly’s March for Our Lives organizes gun violence summit – CBS Philadelphia (cbsnews.com)
A record 6,542 guns were intercepted at U.S. airport security in 2022 : NPR
YEAH Philly creates space for joy and healing in the midst of Philly’s gun violence epidemic | Local News | phillytrib.com
Health
A slew of state proposals shows the threat of ‘forever chemicals’ | Analysis – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Despite new choices, need for mental health services outpacing supply | Times Leader
One district, many programs: Mental Health efforts at Wilkes-Barre Area | Times Leader
Risks for chemical spills are high, but here’s how to protect yourself | WITF
Doylestown Health selling Pine Run Retirement Community as part of financial recovery bid (inquirer.com)
State News
Federal government to send medical experts to site of Ohio train derailment – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine calls on Congress to look at rail safety following East Palestine derailment | StateImpact Pennsylvania (npr.org)
Clinic to open near Ohio derailment site as health worries linger | WITF
Op-Ed: Pennsylvania deserves answers about East Palestine | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Norfolk Southern’s profits and accident rates rose in recent years | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Disparaged customers in Pennsylvania face Frontier Communications | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
These Pa. cities will favor house sellers in 2023 (abc27.com)
Fetterman to receive depression treatment for ‘a few weeks’: report (abc27.com)
John Fetterman being a leader by publicizing his depression (mcall.com)
Pa. Sen. John Fetterman’s decision to seek mental health treatment gets support from voters & lawmakers | WITF
Federal appeals court to hear arguments over right to access congressman’s phone – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)
FBI records deepen mystery of dig in Pennsylvania for Civil War-era gold | WITF
National News
Tributes pour in for former President Jimmy Carter after he enters hospice care : NPR
Jimmy Carter, 39th US president, enters hospice care at home | Ap-top-news | wfmz.com
As the Ukraine war’s first anniversary nears, there’s still no end in sight : NPR
Michigan State University to resume classes after school shooting : NPR
North Korea follows threats by firing two short-range missiles – pennlive.com
Social media companies must curtail the spread of misinformation | Editorial (inquirer.com)
36 dead amid heavy rains in Brazil, cities cancel Carnival | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Local News
R-Phils Celebrate Milestone in Stadium Renovations – BCTV
York County fire spreads to multiple buildings, shelter-in-place lifted (abc27.com)
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission to review Dorney coaster, Fountain Hill apartment lot size | Business News | wfmz.com
Rep. Susan Wild’s office hosts veterans resource fair in Carbon County (poconorecord.com)
Wilson High student selected as an adviser to Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation (readingeagle.com)
Pitt
Experts: Pittsburgh water safe to drink following East Palestine train derailment – Pittsburgh Union Progress
District plan calls for gradual return for Westinghouse students in wake of shooting that left four teens injured | TribLIVE.com
Westinghouse Academy gradually reopening to in-person learning | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Wabash piers have a new owner after 2 years on the market | TribLIVE.com
Pittsburgh arts organizations oppose plan to raise visa fees, which could hamper showcasing international talent | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest leads Pittsburgh middle school to teach CPR, AED skills | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Responding to demand, breastfeeding support for Spanish speakers launched in Western Pa. | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Philly
‘Our history and culture is a people’s story’: Philly Tribune honors Black leaders – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Philly City Council President Darrell Clarke considers retiring, unclear on his future plans | Local News | phillytrib.com
Sixers’ Mac McClung wins NBA Slam Dunk contest and captures hearts with all-time performance (mcall.com)
Washington
Blinken tours Turkey’s earthquake zone and pledges $100 million more in U.S. aid : NPR
Treasury Department paid record amount in interest payments toward national debt – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)
U.S. Senate panel spars over elevated food assistance spending in upcoming farm bill – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
