Legislature
Why fire chiefs wants more restrictions on Pa. fireworks
https://www.witf.org/news/2019/07/why-a-bucks-county-fire-chief-and-lawmaker-wants-more-restrictions-on-pa-fireworks.php
Pennsylvania’s small cities are strapped for cash. Can lawmakers help them make ends meet?
https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/pennsylvanias-small-cities-are-strapped-for-cash-can-lawmakers-help-them-make-ends-meet/
State panel explores ideas to help distressed cities, including Reading
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/state-panel-explores-ideas-to-help-distressed-cities-including-reading
Pa. delays restrictions on plastic
http://www.altoonamirror.com/opinion/editorials/2019/07/pa-delays-restrictions-on-plastic/
Budget
Pennsylvania’s public library lovers are rejoicing over additional funding
https://www.inquirer.com/news/stan-saylor-pennsylvania-public-library-funding-increase-20190711.html
Business
Kennametal to close Hempfield plant
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/kennametal-to-close-hempfield-plant/
Community members say it’s ‘good news’ that Sikorsky helicopter plant will remain open through 2020
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/community-members-say-it-s-good-news-that-sikorsky-helicopter/article_faee2d52-a425-11e9-a916-876d8cc9c1fa.html
Crime/Punishment
Judge sets bail at $50K for ex-cop Collins
https://www.timesleader.com/news/749423/judge-sets-bail-at-50k-for-ex-cop-collins
Education
Keeping summer educational with Power Scholars Academy
https://www.timesleader.com/news/749551/keeping-summer-educational-with-power-scholars-academy
Former Pa. Congress members tackle civics education
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/former-pa-congress-members-tackle-civics-education/
AG report: Unnecessary standardized tests cost Pa. taxpayers $18 million
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/auditor-generals-report-slams-unnecessary-cost-of-using-keystone-exams-for-schools/
Error leads to Scranton School District graduates receiving 0.0 GPAs
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/error-leads-to-scranton-school-district-graduates-receiving-0-0-gpas-1.2507409
Performance of cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania
https://www.witf.org/smart-talk/2019/07/performance-of-cyber-charter-schools-in-pennsylvania.php
Elections/Politics
Sexual harassment allegations cloud Pa. Republicans’ efforts to elect a new state chair
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/07/sexual-harassment-allegations-cloud-pa-republicans-efforts-to-elect-a-new-state-chair.html
Local News
Back Mountain Memorial Library kicks off 73rd annual auction
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/back-mountain-memorial-library-kicks-off-73rd-annual-auction-1.2507374
Bells toll for start of Back Mountain auction
https://www.timesleader.com/news/749559/bells-toll-for-start-of-back-mountain-auction
‘Parks Portal’ to connect businesses
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/parks-portal-to-connect-businesses-1.2507302
A little gentleman: Great-grandmother recalls boy, 11, killed in Pittston fire
https://www.timesleader.com/news/749522/a-little-gentleman-great-grandmother-recalls-boy-11-killed-in-pittston-fire
Pedri hopes riverfront park will get more use
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/pedri-hopes-riverfront-park-will-get-more-use-1.2507296
Opinions split on brick removal
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/opinions-split-on-brick-removal-1.2507357
Protest planned to remove KKK-sponsored brick from Wilkes-Barre marker
https://www.timesleader.com/news/749434/protest-planned-to-remove-kkk-sponsored-brick-from-wilkes-barre-marker
Developer plans hardware store in Newport Twp.’s Wanamie section
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/developer-plans-hardware-store-in-newport-twp-s-wanamie-section-1.2507298
Butler, Sugarloaf townships mull combining police
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/butler-sugarloaf-townships-mull-combining-police-1.2507321
DEP moves forward with Quakake Tunnel acid mine water cleanup project
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/dep-moves-forward-with-quakake-tunnel-acid-mine-water-cleanup-project-1.2507320
Three affordable housing projects in region receive nearly $1.3 million from state
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/three-affordable-housing-projects-in-region-receive-nearly-1-3-million-from-state-1.2507448
Scranton developer shares story of permit holdups amid federal corruption probe
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-developer-shares-story-of-permit-holdups-amid-federal-corruption-probe-1.2507403
Courtright’s name removed from Scranton welcome signs
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/courtright-s-name-removed-from-scranton-welcome-signs-1.2507446
Lawsuit seeking to force Lackawanna County property reassessment may proceed, judges rule
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/lawsuit-seeking-to-force-lackawanna-county-property-reassessment-may-proceed-judges-rule-1.2507442
Taylor struggling to find colliery land buyers
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/taylor-struggling-to-find-colliery-land-buyers-1.2507425
Taylor OKs zoning change to make way for possible Sheetz
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/business/taylor-oks-zoning-change-to-make-way-for-possible-sheetz-1.2507237
Arnold Council seeks ideas for spending $300K in federal money
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/arnold-council-seeks-ideas-for-spending-300k-in-federal-money/
Plum’s farmers market to now happen every Monday
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/plums-farmers-market-to-now-happen-every-monday/
Westmoreland food bank seeking donations to replace truck lost in fire
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/food-bank-seeking-donations-to-replace-truck-lost-in-fire/
Westmoreland Cultural Trust plans open house for new Palace Theatre apartments
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-cultural-trust-plans-open-house-for-new-palace-theatre-apartments/
5-year-old boy drowns in retention pond at Oley Township farm
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/5-year-old-boy-drowns-in-retention-pond-in-family-farm-in-oley
‘True integrity’: Retiring Berks veterans director saluted
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/true-integrity-retiring-berks-veterans-director-saluted
Frustrations continue as Exeter Township railroad underpass remains closed
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/frustrations-continue-as-exeter-township-railroad-underpass-remains-closed
Editorial: Pagoda issues need to be resolved
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/editorial-pagoda-issues-need-to-be-resolved
Here’s Bethlehem’s latest effort to crack down on problem property owners
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/bethlehem/mc-nws-bethlehem-blight-law-20190712-j5rc6qt3yvbp3iyzigwv2e7bvq-story.html
What it’s like to be caught in the Dock Street Dam: ‘Your life flashes before your eyes’
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/07/your-life-flashes-before-your-eyes-central-pa-man-remembers-being-caught-in-the-deadly-dock-street-dam.html
‘It’s OK to be white’: Civil rights town hall in Hanover unlike the rest
https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2019/07/12/its-ok-white-latest-town-hall-pa-different-rest/1710977001/
National News
Immigration groups sue to block Trump’s Sunday ICE raids
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/immigration-groups-sue-block-trumps-sunday-ice-raids-20190711.html
Natural Gas
Western Pa. pipeline battle over fuel delivery continues with regulators
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/western-pa-pipeline-battle-over-fuel-delivery-continues-with-regulators/
Philly
Summer is a hungry time for low-income kids in the region
https://www.inquirer.com/news/summer-hunger-feeding-pennsylvania-police-athletic-league-philabundance-20190712.html
Hahnemann creditors want emergency department shut down July 17
https://www.inquirer.com/health/hahnemann-tower-residency-program-accreditation-20190711.html
Bring your dog to work, consult a nutritionist, take paternity leave: Philly CEOs crow about their employees’ fave workplace benefits
https://www.inquirer.com/business/workplace-benefits-ceo-urban-outfitters-fs-investments-pwc-20190711.html
In Philly’s changing Grays Ferry neighborhood, a chance at preservation — and apartments — for a Catholic convent
https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/housing/st-gabriel-catholic-church-convent-grays-ferry-dickinson-philadelphia-apartment-proposal-archdiocese-preservation-20190711.html
Job fair brings veterans to Heinz Field
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/career-workplace/2019/07/11/Job-fair-military-RecruitMilitary-Disabled-Veterans-employment-opportunity-Heinz-Field-Pittsburgh/stories/201907110101
New Crane Chinatown apartments to open this month, but some ask: Where’s the affordable housing?
https://www.inquirer.com/news/chinatown-philadelphia-development-callowhill-gentrification-rail-park-bid-20190711.html
City’s new cellphone policy an example of patching vulnerabilities after they happen instead of before | Editorial
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/mayor-kenney-text-message-policy-open-records-right-know-20190712.html
Prosecutors go to court in support of Philly drug injection site
https://triblive.com/local/regional/prosecutors-go-to-court-in-support-of-philly-drug-injection-site/
Pitt
State agency approves $1.2M for Allegheny County housing projects
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/state-agency-approves-1-2m-for-allegheny-county-housing-projects/
Affordable housing developments awarded state tax credits while Lincoln-Lemington project moves forward
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/2019/07/11/Affordable-housing-tax-credits-Pennsylvania-Housing-Finance-Agency-Hill-District-Lemington-Home-for-the-Aged/stories/201907110117
Peduto defends decision to retain police detectives who brawled with Pagans in bar
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/07/11/pittsburgh-mayor-bill-Peduto-defends-decision-police-officers-Pagans-bar-brawl-kopys/stories/201907110115
Finding a spot may get a little easier — you now can access all of the city’s parking data
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/tech-news/2019/07/11/open-data-western-pennsylvania-regional-center-pittsburgh-robert-gradeck-university-parking/stories/201907020005
‘They’re human beings’: Peduto, community leaders react to ICE’s nationwide raid
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2019/07/11/Immigration-and-Customs-Enforcement-Mayor-Bill-Peduto-Pittsburgh-Casa-San-Jose-L/stories/201907110153
Sen. Gillibrand voices support for UPMC workers’ union organizing drive
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/career-workplace/2019/07/12/Kirsten-Gillibrand-UPMC-union-SEIU-drugs-wage-NLRB/stories/201907110121
NY Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand talks unions, Medicare for All at Pittsburgh stop on presidential campaign
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2019/07/11/New-York-Senator-Kirsten-Gillibrand-unions-Medicare-for-All-Pittsburgh-Presidential-campaign/stories/201907110094
Democratic presidential hopeful Gillibrand touts health-care policies in Pittsburgh
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/dem-presidential-candidate-gillibrand-touts-health-care-policies-in-pittsburgh-stop/
Pedestrian restrictions begin Monday between Hill District and Downtown Pittsburgh
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2019/07/11/Hill-District-Downtown-Pittsburgh-Interstate-579-sidewalk-restrictions-urban-park/stories/201907110123
When it rains it pours, and Millvale has seen it all before
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/north/2019/07/11/Millvale-flooding-rain-storms-Girtys-Run-2019-floodwaters-recovery/stories/201907110119
Zoning board gives Oakland residents 2-week extension to meet with Forbes Avenue developer
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/07/11/Oakland-3440-Forbes-avenue-council-president-bruce-kraus-wexford-development/stories/201907110096
Asleep at the wheel: County falls down on recovery house oversight
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/07/12/Recovery-house-oversight-Allegheny-County/stories/201907100021
Karen Kane: Peduto prefers posture over substance
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/karen-kane/2019/07/12/Bill-Peduto-posture-substance-LGBTQ-Pittsburgh/stories/201907120014
Trial on disorderly conduct to resume Friday for husband of Allegheny County controller
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/trial-on-disorderly-conduct-to-resume-friday-for-khari-mosley-husband-to-allegheny-county-controller/
Allegheny Health Network ‘tops off’ new North Side cancer institute
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/allegheny-health-network-tops-off-new-north-side-cancer-institute/
Mr. Rogers inspired fifth career for newly sworn-in Pittsburgh medic
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/mr-rogers-inspired-fifth-career-for-newly-sworn-in-pittsburgh-medic/
State News
Anxiety now qualifies for medical marijuana in Pennsylvania
https://www.inquirer.com/business/weed/anxiety-marijuana-tourette-syndrome-pennsylvania-qualifying-conditions-20190711.html
Pa. adds anxiety to qualifying conditions for medical pot
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/pa-adds-anxiety-to-qualifying-conditions-for-medical-pot/
Pennsylvania adds anxiety disorders and Tourette syndrome to list of conditions approved for medical marijuana use
https://www.mcall.com/health/mc-hea-medical-marijuana-anxiety-20190711-4kb37n66grg2viq3spf37h3ykm-story.html
2 workers dead after being pulled from Delco manhole
https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/workers-die-in-manhole-aldan-pennsylvania-20190711.html
Two workers die while working in manhole in Aldan
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/two-workers-die-while-working-in-manhole-in-aldan/article_4dd809c6-a3f8-11e9-9dc2-a3322c839a11.html
Former New York Jets coach, Swoyersville native Walt Michaels dead at 89
https://www.timesleader.com/news/749426/former-new-york-jets-coach-swoyersville-native-walt-michaels-dead-at-89
Pennsylvania must get tough on crime guns, prosecutor says
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-must-get-tough-on-crime-guns-prosecutor-says/
Court: Risks justify redacting Pa. abortion clinic worker names
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/court-risks-justify-redacting-pa-abortion-clinic-worker-names/
Unclear if ICE raids will impact PA, but advocates say they breed fear regardless
https://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2019/07/unclear-if-ice-raids-will-impact-pa-but-advocates-say-they-breed-fear-regardless.php
Immigrant families detained in coming Trump crackdown could be held in Berks County facility
https://www.penncapital-star.com/civil-rights-social-justice/immigrant-families-detained-in-coming-trump-crackdown-could-be-held-in-berks-county-facility/
Murrysville consumer advocate named to PUC advisory council
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/murrysville-consumer-advocate-named-to-puc-advisory-council/
What happened to a state-owned Chester County facility may hold lessons for Allentown State Hospital
https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-pennhurst-development-20190711-oeyekxxuvzb7jpa5f3l7nea3vm-story.html
Transportation
At 85, she holds daily antiwar protests along busy Route 1 in Chester County
https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/joan-nicholson-picket-signs-kennett-square-activism-20190712.html
Washington
Trump abandons effort to put citizenship question on census, will pursue other ways to get data
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/trump-barr-census-citizenship-question-executive-action-20190711.html
Dems defend Pelosi after Ocasio-Cortez says she targets ‘newly elected women of color’
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2019/07/11/Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez-Nancy-Pelosi-House-Democrats-women/stories/201907110158
Pelosi ready for deal on borrowing limit, spending levels
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/pelosi-ready-deal-borrowing-limit-spending-levels-20190712.html
Weather
WEATHER: Rainfall pushes region toward another record-setting year of precipitation
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2019/07/11/TRAFFIC-Route-65-closed-due-to-flooding-pittsburgh-weather/stories/201907110075
Torrential rain leads to widespread flooding across Western Pa.
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/flash-flood-warning-issued-for-allegheny-county-as-heavy-rains-inundate-region/
Westmoreland sees flooding, damage during torrential rain
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-sees-flooding-damage-during-torrential-rain/
9 people rescued in Penn Borough after onslaught of rain
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/9-people-rescued-in-penn-borough-after-torrential-rain-thursday/
Pregnant mother and her son killed in Manatawny Creek floodwaters
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/pregnant-mother-and-son-killed-in-manatawny-creek-floodwaters