News Digest:: January 11, 2024

Legislature

Upper Main Line YMCA hosts Governor Josh Shapiro to Celebrate the Expansion of Tax Credits for Families (vista.today)

Pennsylvania provides state money for public defense for the first time | News | dailyitem.com

Pa. provides state funds for public defense for first time · Spotlight PA

State Sen. Jim Brewster to retire at end of year – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Heating cost help is available | The Bucks County Herald

LGBT Center of Greater Reading opens new wellness clinic (yahoo.com)

It’s Not Just Trump: Democrats Trying to Disqualify Other Republican Candidates Using the 14th Amendment – RedState

Missing disabled Pennsylvania teen prompts ‘Purple Alert’ petition, legislation (abc27.com)

Farmworker housing crisis looms | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Business/Jobs

Helping Harvest receives grant to support pregnant women and new mothers (readingeagle.com)

Nearly 300 contract workers at 8 Amazon warehouses in Pa. to be laid off – pennlive.com

Pa. facility to close; 68 people to be laid off – pennlive.com

McDonald’s is bringing back a big upgrade to its Big Mac – pennlive.com

Johnson Controls receives $33M grant to increase electric heat pump manufacturing; project will bring 200 jobs to central Pa. – pennlive.com

124 people to be laid off at Pa. healthcare company – pennlive.com

COVID-19

COVID-19 still rising, but flu takes good turn in Pa.: weekly update – pennlive.com

What’s Going Around: Strep throat, RSV, flu, COVID | ABC27

Crime/Punishment

Aderrien Murry: Bodycam video released of MS officer who shot 11-year-old boy : NPR

Motorcyclist critically hurt by crash into Wendy’s during multi-county police chase – pennlive.com

Harrisburg pair sent to prison after paying UPS employees to steal cell phone shipments – pennlive.com

Police seek two for questioning in Old Forge nightclub shooting death | News | thetimes-tribune.com

Suspended Pa. principal admitted to spending 7 years with student – pennlive.com

Education

Pa.’s poorest school districts were slated for a funding boost. | WITF

‘Spirited’ debates ahead for Pennsylvania education policy | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

White House unveils $1 billion for electric and low-emission school buses – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pennsylvania public universities seek innovative ways to teach humanities as interest wanes – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Poor schools are prepared to return to court if Pa. budget falls short | WITF

Elections/Politics

Quinnipiac Poll: Biden Surpasses Trump; Casey Holds 10-Point Edge on McCormick (politicspa.com)

Democrats Set Ambitious Spending Plan for State Legislative Races – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

State Democrats break off-year fundraising record as they look to make inroads in red states in 2024 – Local News 8

Young Lancaster natives step up to try their hand at politcs | WITF

PA Senate Race poll: Bob Casey extends early lead over Dave McCormick (yourerie.com)

Environment

The Parade of Unsettled Weather Will Continue Into the Weekend – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

More rain, winds expected in central Pa. before the weekend – pennlive.com

U.S. climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions declined slightly in 2023 : NPR

The Northeast and South are recovering after a huge, deadly winter storm : NPR

Transportation

Alaska Airlines cancels all flights on the Boeing 737 Max 9 through Saturday : NPR

Gun Safety

Federal court strikes down California’s broad restrictions on concealed carry | California | thecentersquare.com

Health

What’s Going Around: Strep throat, RSV, flu, COVID | ABC27

Pennsylvanians get 4 extra days to sign up for subsidized health insur | WITF

State News

New food infrastructure grants available for Pennsylvania farmers as Shapiro takes in Farm Show | ABC27

President Biden to visit Allentown on Friday – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Shapiro Administration, OpenAI Launch First-in-the-Nation Generative AI Pilot for Commonwealth Employees (politicspa.com)

Pennsylvania pipeline capacity problem persists | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Horse racing industry gets $198M taxpayer subsidy | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Regulators ask for permanent federal low-income water grants | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Which states will join the new summer meal program for low-income kids? Here’s the list. – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pa. Ag Dept. wants Lancaster County farmer Amos Miller to succeed | WITF

Despite low unemployment, Pennsylvania SNAP enrollment tops 2 million | WITF

Should Pa. hunters be allowed to track wounded deer with drones? – pennlive.com

IRS seizes former skill game executive’s cash, accounts as part of tax investigation – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

National News

Energy group: Biden policies sow seeds for ‘new energy crisis’ | National | thecentersquare.com

DeSantis, Haley spar over leadership, policy as Iowa caucuses loom | National | thecentersquare.com

House to hold hearing on DHS failing to enforce law against Chinese forced labor | National | thecentersquare.com

State Legislators Tighten A.I. Rules to Combat Deceptive Election Ads – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Guantánamo Bay is still open. This week, pressure ramped up to close it : NPR

NASA delays astronaut moon landing | National | thecentersquare.com

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie suspends campaign | National | thecentersquare.com

Local News

Broad Street Market could close due to financial struggles (abc27.com)

How Lehigh Valley is handling mystery canine respiratory illness (mcall.com)

Five Lehigh Valley farms are saved from development (mcall.com)

Some areas remain closed, as crews continue to clean up after flooding in Lehigh Valley | Lehigh Valley Regional News | wfmz.com

Allentown City Council’s new president: ‘We need to work better as a group’ | Lehigh Valley Regional News | wfmz.com

Luzerne County tourism bureau launches ‘pizza trail’ contest to promote local eateries | News | citizensvoice.com

Pitt

Innamorato announces $500K for child care facilities throughout Allegheny County | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Allegheny County Controller to audit county spending on homelessness programs | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Owner of Century III Mall fails to pay $150K fine for dangerous code violations | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cause of death released for Pittsburgh man found dead in the Allegheny River in October | TribLIVE.com

The Fresh Market to open at former Whole Foods site in East Liberty | TribLIVE.com

Philly

Omar Sabir replaces Lisa Deeley as chair of Philly City Commissioners – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

Wissahickon Brewing to open taproom and kombucha brewery in Olde Kensington – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Philadelphia is ‘America’s poorest big city.’ Here’s what that actually means | Local News | phillytrib.com

Macy’s building owner, others sued over security precautions during December stabbing | Local News | phillytrib.com

Park Service retracts decision to take down William Penn statue at Philadelphia historical site | Local News | phillytrib.com

Philly DA wants city’s crime-fighting efforts to go more high-tech | Local News | phillytrib.com

Washington

PA Senate Race poll: Bob Casey extends early lead over Dave McCormick (yourerie.com)

McCormick, Casey announce big campaign hauls in U.S. Senate race | TribLIVE.com

Sen. Casey pens letter to baby formula manufacturer following recall – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Casey on Jan. 6: Protecting democracy will be ‘significant issue’ in reelection campaign – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)