Legislature

PRT observers, officials say additional state funds should be used to maintain system | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Gov. Shapiro seeks school-funding boost to help poorer districts, but Republicans remain wary – Butler Eagle

Emergency services officials cheer Pa. Senate passage of bill to create high-level search-and-rescue team (newsbreak.com)

Investigators believe 6 family members likely died in house fire near Philadelphia | Southeastern Pennsylvania | wfmz.com

In Levittown, Lawmakers Celebrate Expanded Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit – LevittownNow.com

Steelers trying to bring NFL Draft to Pittsburgh (wtae.com)

Skill games regulated, taxed under Gov. Shapiro’s budget plan | News | sharonherald.com

PA Environment Digest Blog: EPA Finalizes Stronger Standards For Harmful Soot Pollution, Increasing Health, Clean Air Protections For Families, Workers, Communities (paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com)

Shapiro calls school vouchers ‘unfinished business’ – The Record Online (therecord-online.com)

Pa. senators want to know more about how data was lost on state computers – pennlive.com

Newtown Council Renews Search For First Borough Manager | Newtown, PA Patch

State zoning reform may come to support ‘gentle density’ | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Business/Jobs

This Cumberland County liquor store is closing soon: Here’s why – pennlive.com

Snoop Dogg, Master P sue Walmart for allegedly hiding their cereal off shelves : NPR

Would you pay to shop at Target? Retailer is proposing it – pennlive.com

Crime/Punishment

Shootout, fire leaves 2 officers hurt and 6 people missing | WITF

Man Who Drugged Wife’s Drinks to Cause Abortion Gets 180 Days in Jail – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

19-year-old dies in ‘freak’ incident while sleeping in car – pennlive.com

Education

Criminal background checks waived for some student employees at Pa. state universities – pennlive.com

Elections/Politics

Who Is On The Ballot In 2024? (politicspa.com)

Supreme Court to Hear Case on Trump’s Eligibility for Colorado Ballot – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Are Americans really committed to democracy in the 2024 election? – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Environment/Energy

New EPA rule could rein in air pollution in Western Pennsylvania | WITF

Biden’s natural gas export pause fought over by U.S. House panel – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

State lawmakers want to peel back the curtain at the nation’s biggest electrical grid operator – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Transportation

Poll show 7 states oppose electric vehicle mandates | Arizona | thecentersquare.com

Transit, education expected to headline Shapiro’s 2024 Pa. budget address | Spotlight Pa | northcentralpa.com

Gun Safety

Despite rhetoric, both Trump and Biden have had limited power to change gun policy – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Gun control measures advance out of Democratic-controlled Pennsylvania House committee | News, Sports, Jobs – Williamsport Sun-Gazette (sungazette.com)

Health

Oregon pioneered a radical drug policy. Now it’s reconsidering. : NPR

Pennsylvania is trying to improve quality of maternal healthcare | WITF

U.S. Makes Initial Offers in Medicare Drug Price Negotiations – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Chemical linked to cancer found in groundwater at proposed Wawa site in Pa. city – pennlive.com

State News

Philadelphia educators see hope in Governor Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal | Local News | phillytrib.com

Gov. Shapiro renews push to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $15 | WITF

Shapiro’s budget plan: Stop losing to ‘friggin’ Ohio’ | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Shapiro calls school vouchers ‘unfinished business’ | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Governor Highlights PA Agriculture in Lancaster County Stop (politicspa.com)

Some medical debt would be wiped out under Shapiro budget · Spotlight PA

Pa. gov. visits Lancaster, highlights proposed agricultural investment | WITF

Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro aims to boost funding for mass transit, public education in 2024 budget – NBC10 Philadelphia (nbcphiladelphia.com)

Skill games regulated, taxed under Shapiro’s budget plan | Don’t Miss This | itemonline.com

PPL customers have until Feb. 28 to comment on proposed $17M billing f | WITF

Protest at Pa. Capitol ends with arrests | WITF

Someone mailed a jar of fetuses to a Pennsylvania museum – pennlive.com

Former top Pa. lawmaker’s lobbying firm paid $41K by Game Commission i | WITF

National News

President Biden was not charged in connection with his handling of documents. Here’s the latest. – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

‘My Memory Is Fine,’ President Biden Says – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

C.D.C. Investigating Gastrointestinal Illness on Queen Victoria Luxury Cruise Ship – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

U.S. Senate advances $95.3 billion bill that includes emergency funding for Ukraine, Israel  – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

The SpaceX Axiom Space Ax-3 mission to the ISS returned to Earth : NPR

Super Bowl betting soars, but it’s still not legal in teams’ home states : NPR

Biden Angrily Defends His Memory of His Son Beau’s Death – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Six months after the Maui fires, an uncertain economy for the island : NPR

Local News

Allentown Center Square redesign: Some concerned over traffic (mcall.com)

Rural Pa. township disbanded police department after chief left | WITF

Allentown NIZ approves additional funding for Center Square project (mcall.com)

America250PA: Liberty Bell replica set for Hawley, Wayne County (poconorecord.com)

Testimony reveals focus of feds’ search of Erie Rise charter school (goerie.com)

Pitt

$40 million federal grant paves road for Pittsburgh to acquire electric buses – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pittsburgh police union files grievance over release of video in Jim Rogers interaction | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

University of Pittsburgh trustees hear more about 5-year plan ahead of expected April vote; name new chairperson | TribLIVE.com

End of the line: Steelers are replacing last of the men’s room troughs at Acrisure Stadium | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Philly

Mayor Parker splits Licenses and Inspections, names new commissioners | Local News | phillytrib.com

FS Investments mandates workers return 4 days a week as it contemplates future lease options – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Penn Health System CEO warns hospitals are at ‘inflection point’ in fight for survival – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Washington

Casey introducing bills to make it easier for people with disabilities to vote, run for office – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Eye on the Capitol: How Casey, Fetterman, Kelly voted last week | Local News | ncnewsonline.com