News Digest:: January 17, 2023

Legislature

Philly group ‘rings’ Liberty Bell to observe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Local News | phillytrib.com

For older adults, 2023 could spell a return to travel [Report to the People] – Reading Eagle

MLK Day celebrated in Lehigh Valley (mcall.com)

New Senate bill proposes ban on vaccine mandates in Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Pa. lawmakers once again propose moving up presidential primary | TribLIVE.com

Will Mark Rozzi be PA House Speaker long term? (ydr.com)

Parent alleges school district acted in bad faith to a state senator’s open records request for Covid information (broadandliberty.com)

Water authorities receive $31 million in state funds for upgrades | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

PA Inauguration Day

Democrat Josh Shapiro to become 48th Pennsylvania governor, stress bipartisan aims | WITF

Josh Shapiro Becomes PA’s 48th Governor Today (politicspa.com)

Inauguration Day Events (politicspa.com)

Josh Shapiro to be sworn in as Pennsylvania’s 48th governor (abc27.com)

Shapiro Lists First Priorities In Radio Interview (politicspa.com)

Josh Shapiro set to be sworn in as governor Tuesday, will face challenges of running 5th most populated state in US | Pennsylvania News | wfmz.com

Josh Shapiro inauguration as Pa. governor: What to know (inquirer.com)

Josh Shapiro’s unusually opaque guv transition · Spotlight PA

Who is Josh Shapiro? Pennsylvania’s governor-elect (abc27.com)

What to know about this week’s inauguration and what’s ahead for the Shapiro-Davis administration – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Area businesses participating in Shapiro inaugural celebration | | standardspeaker.com

Allentown delegation to attend Shapiro inauguration | Lehigh Valley Regional News | wfmz.com

Bumps ahead: Some of the challenges awaiting Pa. Gov.-elect Shapiro – pennlive.com

The rise of Austin Davis: From Mon Valley rep to Pa.’s first Black lieutenant governor | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Shapiro/Davis Inauguration: Three storylines to follow today | Tuesday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

 

Business/Jobs

Millionaires in Pennsylvania: Here’s how many $1M earners the state added – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

 

Crime/Punishment

Lancaster County human trafficking task force marks first year with more than two dozen arrests | Local News | lancasteronline.com

Scranton police to begin training on immersive simulation system | News | thetimes-tribune.com

Violence claimed 72 lives in central Pa. last year – pennlive.com

Pa. Turnpike scammed of $1 million with fake E-ZPass units (mcall.com)

 

Education

Estée Lauder Companies donation marks largest single corporate investment in BCCC history | The Bucks County Herald

Letter: Rose Tree schools official says board urging Edgmont OK of school project (delcotimes.com)

Superintendent: Greater Johnstown schools to be closed Tuesday after threat | News | tribdem.com

School District of Lancaster permitted bigger tax increase than it plans to take | Community News | lancasteronline.com

PA Public Schools: Fewer Students But More Spending – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

 

Elections/Politics

The eight Senate seats most likely to flip in 2024 | ABC27

America must be a beacon of freedom, not the model of insurrection | Editorial (inquirer.com)

Shared power used to be the norm in statehouses. Now it’s nearly extinct | Analysis – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Berks County GOP works to oust ‘county club Republicans’ (ydr.com)

Philly mayoral candidates talk Black economic opportunities at candidate forum | Local News | phillytrib.com

Republican David Oh ‘leaning towards’ joining crowded contest of Democrats for Philly mayor | Local News | phillytrib.com

 

Transportation

PennDOT to unveil plans for I-81 widening | News | thetimes-tribune.com

 

Health

In-hospital mortality rates are up while readmissions decline, shows latest Pennsylvania performance report | WITF

After UPMC cuts pharmacy insurance options for some plans, independent drugstores worry about future | WITF

Guest column: The truth about chemical abortion (delcotimes.com)

Study: Visiting nature a few times a week has huge health benefits – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Xylazine, the animal tranquilizer contaminating Philly’s opioid supply, causes serious wounds and withdrawal that many providers don’t know how to treat (inquirer.com)

Rural seniors are benefiting from pandemic-driven remote fitness boom – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

 

State News

Pennsylvania’s corporate tax rate begins years-long descent | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

With COVID-era foreclosure protections expired, filings are climbing in Pennsylvania — though aid is available | WITF

 

National News

On King’s holiday, daughter calls for bold action over words | News | phillytrib.com

A trial over Elon Musk’s Tesla tweets starts Tuesday : NPR

California storms to finally let up after Monday : NPR

This 22-year-old is trying to save us from ChatGPT before it changes writing forever : Planet Money : NPR

Ex-House candidate in New Mexico charged with shooting at Democrats’ homes : NPR

China’s population falls for first time in decades : NPR

China’s economic growth falls to less than half previous year’s rate : NPR

 

Local News

Lehigh Valley celebrates, honors Martin Luther King Jr. | Lehigh Valley Regional News | wfmz.com

Hundreds of Council Rock students honor MLK with day of service | The Bucks County Herald

Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service across Delaware County (delcotimes.com)

St. Francis celebrates MLK’s life, legacy on holiday | News | tribdem.com

‘There is a fundamental value in standing for justice:’ BET host and CNN political contributor Marc Lamont Hill speaks at annual MLK service | Local News | lancasteronline.com

Volunteers cleanup atop Mount Penn for Martin Luther King Day (readingeagle.com)

GRCA is accepting nominations for annual business awards (readingeagle.com)

Chester police have charged a city man with illegally dumping rubbish as part of a new initiative (delcotimes.com)

Adamstown to seek grants for storm sewer projects | Community News | lancasteronline.com

Manheim Borough planners OK exception, variances for former Hope firehouse plans | Community News | lancasteronline.com

2023 Pennsylvania Farm Show food court sees record sales (abc27.com)

Dauphin County indoor farmers market expands with more vendors: ‘It’s a community’ – pennlive.com

The Lehigh Valley has had almost no snow this winter. That’s not stopping area ski resorts – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

 

Pitt

Pittsburgh Police resume secondary traffic stops despite city ordinance against them | WITF

Pittsburgh City Council president seeks return of youth curfew enforcement | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

MLK Day: How one Pittsburgh-area school is teaching about the civil rights leader, Black American history and the Founding Fathers | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Philly

Lottery results delayed for Philly’s special-admissions schools | Local News | phillytrib.com

TD Charitable Foundation offers $7M in grants to nonprofit housing groups | Local News | phillytrib.com

Philadelphia house explosion survivor wants to rebuild, but gets conflicting information (inquirer.com)

Across Philadelphia region, thousands honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of social justice through service (inquirer.com)

This Conwell Middle School teacher dreams of letting his students tell their own stories (inquirer.com)

76 Carriage Company’s horse stables are now empty. Has the company closed? (inquirer.com)

 

Washington

Biden’s mishandling of documents revives ‘overclassification’ debate : NPR

Why America has a debt ceiling. Five questions answered | Analysis – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)