Legislature
Pennsylvania’s voting laws likely to change, but not in a big way
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2021/02/07/Pennsylvania-mail-in-voting-laws-Harrisburg-Legislature/stories/202102070086
Lawmakers should adopt environmental measures
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/columnists/lawmakers-should-adopt-environmental-measures/article_3d85a167-4911-598a-9e93-7efcb577b5de.html
Pass law for abuse victims
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/pass-law-for-abuse-victims/article_45de612c-ae04-5e85-8d72-cac5ea18c7cf.html
Legislators hoard millions amid pandemic
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/legislators-hoard-millions-amid-pandemic/article_29a2ef2b-6c4a-57d2-a392-37aaecb31d0a.html
Coronavirus – COVID-19
Pa. fails to enforce vaccine order to track racial data
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2021/02/06/vaccine-recipients-records-COVID-19-Pittsburgh-race-of-recipients/stories/202102060059
CMU study shows racial disparities in vaccine distribution, acceptance
https://triblive.com/local/cmu-study-shows-racial-disparities-in-vaccine-distribution-acceptance/
‘It’s ridiculous’: Stressed Pennsylvanians craving easier path to COVID-19 vaccination
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2021/02/07/Stressed-Pennsylvanians-COVID-19-vaccination/stories/202102070138
Forget the Super Bowl. For this Montco community, the thrill was getting a coronavirus vaccine.
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/covid-pandemic-vaccine-philadelphia-skippack-20210207.html
These suburban Philly women hustled to get COVID-19 vaccination appointments for family. Now they’re helping strangers.
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/vaccine-scheduling-covid-scarce-appointment-chester-pennsylvania-20210206.html
Thousands of AHN patients get 1st dose of covid vaccine at PNC Park
https://triblive.com/local/thousands-of-allegheny-health-network-patients-get-first-dose-of-coronavirus-vaccine-at-pnc-park/
108 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Luzerne County on Sunday
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/coronavirus/108-new-cases-of-covid-19-reported-in-luzerne-county-on-sunday/article_21d22422-0460-5c98-a0ec-97487bad03dd.html
Another 317 cases and 14 deaths from COVID-19 in NEPA
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/coronavirus/another-317-cases-and-14-deaths-from-covid-19-in-nepa/article_6308bf24-3fdd-53b3-8efa-3face652e833.html
After 9 months in the hospital due to COVID, Berks woman finally comes home
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/after-9-months-in-the-hospital-due-to-covid-berks-woman-finally-comes-home/article_2fd30234-67db-11eb-b4cc-53f2818526b3.html
Dr. Fauci skeptical of call to save COVID-19 vaccines for first doses
https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2021/02/dr-fauci-skeptical-of-call-to-save-covid-19-vaccines-for-first-doses.html
Bipartisan or bold? With ‘reconciliation,’ Biden, lawmakers face perilous path for COVID-19 package
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2021/02/08/COVID-19-relief-bill-bipartisan-bold-Democrats-Joe-Biden-Bob-Casey-congress-reconciliation/stories/202102070047
Administration
Wolf administration questioned over whether vaccine, jobless issues are its fault
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2021/02/07/Wolf-administration-questioned-over-whether-vaccine-jobless-issues-are-its-fault/stories/202102070157
Gov. Wolf’s Pa. budget includes bold proposals. Now it requires bold action. | Editorial
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/wolf-pa-budget-income-tax-fracking-cyber-school-reform-harrisburg-20210207.html
Budget and bungling in Harrisburg: some hope from Biden | Opinion
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2021/02/budget-and-bungling-in-harrisburg-some-hope-from-biden-opinion.html
Business
Rebel restaurant owners: Why some Pa. establishments are defying COVID orders
https://www.pennlive.com/food/2021/02/rebel-restaurant-owners-why-some-pa-establishments-are-defying-covid-orders.html
Some mortgage companies misled borrowers about forbearance, regulators say
https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/housing/mortgage-forbearance-coronavirus-aid-20210208.html
How farms prepare for the next pandemic: Local milk, cheese and beef
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/bop/2021/02/08/Farms-Department-Agriculture-USDA-COVID-19-pandemic-cheese-beef-dairy-milk/stories/202102010003
Pipeline delays hurt Pa. economy
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/letters/2021/02/07/Pipeline-delays-hurt-Pa-economy/stories/202102020118
Dozens of Scranton businesses benefit from city pandemic-relief grants
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/coronavirus/dozens-of-scranton-businesses-benefit-from-city-pandemic-relief-grants/article_65c577eb-1608-5d70-b027-f9559265ecea.html
Education
Frustrated Scranton parents seek in-person instruction for their children
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/education/frustrated-scranton-parents-seek-in-person-instruction-for-their-children/article_0a5d0d2d-62fb-56a6-9677-2ffb9d0bccb3.html
Mindfulness programs grow in public schools to address ‘storm of stresses’
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2021/02/08/Pittsburgh-area-public-schools-mindfulness-programs-students-behavioral-health/stories/202101310044
The pressure is on to reopen public schools. But can it really happen? | Maria Panaritis
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/public-schools-reopening-philadelphia-pennsylvania-help-solutions-20210206.html
Penn State’s 46-hour THON is going virtual this year. Students will dance at home.
https://www.inquirer.com/education/thon-penn-state-virtual-dance-marathon-20210208.html
Elections/Politics
Pa. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman enters 2022 Senate race, but plenty of rivals are on the launchpad
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/02/pa-lt-gov-john-fetterman-enters-2022-senate-race-but-plenty-of-rivals-are-on-the-launchpad.html
Pa. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, spurred by ‘dishonesty and chaos’ of Trump allies, is running for U.S. Senate
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/02/pa-lt-gov-john-fetterman-is-running-for-us-senate.html
Lt. Gov. John Fetterman officially announces run for the U.S. Senate
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2021/02/08/John-Fetterman-announces-run-candidate-democratic-nomination-US-Senate-Pennsylvania-Pat-Toomey/stories/202102080028
John Fetterman makes his Pa. Senate campaign official as a competitive, expensive race begins
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/john-fetterman-2022-pennsylvania-senate-campaign-launch-20210208.html
Health Care
NEPA Health Care Foundation rolls out Careers in Care, nursing scholarship program
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/nepa-health-care-foundation-rolls-out-careers-in-care-nursing-scholarship-program/article_0b49b8c8-4fc3-5c13-9dca-a8d7b53678c2.html
Local News
2021 municipal property taxes in Lackawanna County largely remain same
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/2021-municipal-property-taxes-in-lackawanna-county-largely-remain-same/article_010bbaa8-612d-58d5-b3f7-ff7487b76136.html
Scranton Ice Festival concludes with money raised for small businesses
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/business/scranton-ice-festival-concludes-with-money-raised-for-small-businesses/article_09b0cbb5-4a29-527d-ba9d-f594ed472cde.html
New Kensington moving on new playgrounds in downtown, Mount Vernon
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/new-kensington-moving-on-new-playgrounds-in-downtown-mount-vernon/
Lower Burrell Councilman Rob Hamilton will not seek reelection but promises to return
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/lower-burrell-councilman-rob-hamilton-will-not-seek-reelection-but-promises-to-return/
New president of Greater Norristown NAACP advocates for all marginalized communities
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/new-president-of-greater-norristown-naacp-advocates-for-all-marginalized-communities/article_92178afa-ecd1-5319-9364-ca62620b5114.html
County council to vote on proposed raises for tax collectors
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/county-council-to-vote-on-proposed-raises-for-tax-collectors/article_4a9d3d63-6b9b-5f0a-8275-729c2fba0c83.html
Libraries coping with pandemic; patrons urged to make appointments
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/coronavirus/libraries-coping-with-pandemic-patrons-urged-to-make-appointments/article_4300e647-ad34-51e7-89e4-b5ecb2d294f3.html
Wilkes-Barre’s 2020 deficit less than initially projected
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/wilkes-barres-2020-deficit-less-than-initially-projected/article_e547ccae-b628-5b1e-9e8d-4ece535440a7.html
Hazleton City Council to review local committee’s request for hate and bias resolution
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/hazleton-city-council-to-review-local-committees-request-for-hate-and-bias-resolution/article_4c3e378b-4108-5879-88d8-3a678585b44d.html
Allentown campaign finance: Mayoral candidates Matt Tuerk, Ce-Ce Gerlach start strong in fundraising, Mayor Ray O’Connell says he’ll pick up the pace
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-nws-allentown-mayoral-race-campaign-finance-report-20210207-i3whidptlrdojbpzggdaz6j53u-story.html
National News
Weary postal workers hope Biden will help ‘put things back to the way they were when it worked’
https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2021/02/weary-postal-workers-hope-biden-will-help-put-things-back-to-the-way-they-were-when-it-worked.html
Natural Gas
Fracking ban for Delaware River basin heads to a showdown in federal court
https://www.inquirer.com/business/fracking-ban-delaware-river-basin-heading-for-showdown-federal-court-showdown-20210207.html
Philly
‘We are not ready to go into unsafe buildings’: No word from mediator, but Philly teachers will still protest
https://www.inquirer.com/education/philadelphia-school-district-reopen-pft-union-jordan-20210207.html
Philly teachers defy demands to return to buildings, plan Monday protests
https://www.witf.org/2021/02/08/philly-teachers-defy-demands-to-return-to-buildings-plan-monday-protests/
SEPTA is relying on persuasion, not punishment, to enforce federal mask requirement
https://www.inquirer.com/transportation/septa-federal-mask-mandate-public-transit-enforcement-20210207.html
Philly’s transgender community speaks out on intimate partner violence
https://www.penncapital-star.com/civil-rights-social-justice/phillys-transgender-community-speaks-out-on-intimate-partner-violence/
We’re Philly civil rights leaders: We face a common enemy in white supremacy. We must fight it together | Opinion
https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/were-philly-civil-rights-leaders-we-face-a-common-enemy-in-white-supremacy-we-must-fight-it-together-opinion/
Mariya Plekan, 59, survivor of Salvation Army building collapse, dies of COVID-19
https://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/mariya-plekan-salvation-army-collapse-death-20210208.html
Off-duty Pa. officer accused of crashing into home while DUI, killing dog, injuring couple
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/02/off-duty-pa-officer-accused-of-crashing-into-home-while-dui-killing-dog-injuring-couple.html
Yes, that was Philly’s Four Seasons Total Landscaping in a Super Bowl commercial
https://www.inquirer.com/entertainment/tv/super-bowl-2021-commercials-fiverr-four-seasons-total-landscaping-20210208.html
Tax time: How to get your city of Philadelphia wage tax refund for 2020
https://www.inquirer.com/business/city-philadelphia-wage-tax-refund-2020-covid-file-department-revenue-non-resident-20210207.html
Quiz: Test your Philly snow etiquette | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/snow-weather-philadelphia-shoveling-etiquette-20210207.html
Pitt
Port Authority seeks artist to promote COVID-19 safety at bus stops
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2021/02/07/Port-Authority-Smart-Growth-America-artist-grant-COVID-19-safety-bus-stop/stories/202102070058
Cultural District art installation celebrates a ‘constellation’ of Black creatives
https://www.post-gazette.com/life/fashion/2021/02/08/202021-a-new-constellation-a-public-art-installation-in-Cultural-District-celebrates-Black-creatives/stories/202102080003
More women and African Americans attend Pittsburgh Gun Show
https://www.post-gazette.com/life/outdoors/2021/02/07/guns-Pittsburgh-pennsylvania-women-african-americans/stories/202102070172
State News
Bucs’ Javadifar, Harrisburg native Locust become first female coaches to win Super Bowl
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/2021/02/08/Bucs-Javadifar-Locust-1st-female-coaches-to-win-Super-Bowl/stories/202102080058
Fee hikes on tap for accommodations at state parks
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2021/02/07/Fee-hikes-on-tap-for-accommodations-at-state-parks/stories/202102070046
Work together for seniors
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2021/02/08/Work-together-for-seniors/stories/202101190007
5 Western Pennsylvanians share their anguish of losing a sibling
https://triblive.com/lifestyles/more-lifestyles/stories-of-western-pennsylvanians-who-lost-a-sibling/
New local Boy Scout executive faces challenges
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/new-local-boy-scout-executive-faces-challenges/
Lawsuit challenging end of small cash payments to poorest Pennsylvanians in Commonwealth Court today
https://www.witf.org/2021/02/08/lawsuit-challenging-end-of-small-cash-payments-to-poorest-pennsylvanians-in-commonwealth-court-today/
Washington
Loved or loathed, Rep. Scott Perry is making a name in Pennsylvania
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/scott-perry-donad-trump-pennsylvania-20210208.html
Gun violence survivors are begging for resources. Would this bill help them?
https://www.inquirer.com/news/gun-violence-philadelphia-dwight-evans-bob-casey-resources-victims-20210206.html