Legislature
Bipartisan pair looks to take Clean Slate a step further
https://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2019/07/bipartisan-pair-looks-to-take-clean-slate-a-step-further.php
Sen. Muth joins Philly DA to advocate against death penalty
https://www.phoenixvillenews.com/sen-muth-joins-philly-da-to-advocate-against-death-penalty/article_e4509bfd-cdfb-5277-8611-e1622ed5f7a2.html
Pending Pa. bill could curb opioid treatment drug
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2019/07/16/Pennsylvania-Senate-Bill-675-opioid-treatment-drug-suboxone-buprenorphine/stories/201907160100
Chris Long and Eagles’ Malcolm Jenkins help Clean Slate Act become law
https://www.inquirer.com/eagles/malcolm-jenkins-eagles-chris-long-clean-slate-law-20190716.html
Administration
Wolf’s ‘dream for a better Pa.’: fairer distribution of money to schools, reforms to charter schools
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/07/gov-tom-wolfs-dream-for-a-better-pa-includes-fairer-distribution-of-funding-for-schools-charter-school-reforms.html
Budget
How much money in the 2019-20 Pa. state budget is heading to your school district?
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/07/how-much-money-in-the-2019-20-pa-state-budget-is-heading-to-your-school-district.html
Business
What small businesses can do to survive a minimum wage increase
https://www.inquirer.com/business/small-business/minimum-wage-increase-small-business-survival-strategies-20190717.html
The Video Store, a holdout from the days before digital, is leaving Bucks County
https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/the-video-store-levittown-bucks-county-john-alice-tardino-20190716.html
Firm wants to open marijuana testing lab in Trafford — Western Pa.’s first
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/mich-firm-wants-to-operate-marijuana-testing-lab-in-trafford/
Crime/Punishment
Police: Deceased suspect in Penn Hills murder had history of robbery charges, planned to ‘lure’ victim for theft
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/07/16/penn-hills-police-officer-involved-shooting-onaje-dickinson-joshua-antonio-makhanda-lopez-myzle-ford/stories/201907160095
Robert Wideman begins new life in Pittsburgh halfway house after 44 years in prison
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/wideman-begins-new-life-in-pittsburgh-halfway-house-after-44-years-in-prison/
Cumru Township woman arrested with help of license plate reader months after hit-and-run accident
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/cumru-township-woman-arrested-with-help-of-license-plate-reader-months-after-hit-and-run-accident
Pa. death penalty appeal pits prosecutors on both sides of argument
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/07/pa-death-penalty-appeal-pits-prosecutors-on-both-sides-of-argument.html
Education
No more snow days for some Pa. kids? Some parents say: Not so fast.
https://www.inquirer.com/education/snow-day-cyber-pennsylvania-work-remotely-20190717.html
Tamaqua school board takes controversial policy to arm teachers back to the drawing board
https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-tamaqua-arming-teachers-rescind-20190717-rgfsmhvovjhpte7ffkiri56fza-story.html
Kiski Area East Primary School lands $26,700 fresh fruits and vegetables grant
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/kiski-area-east-primary-school-lands-26700-fresh-fruits-and-vegetables-grant/
Elections/Politics
Citing election security, advocates seek to force Pa. to reexamine new voting machines
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/pa-voting-machines-expressvote-petition-20190717.html
Gilbert condemns relaunch of ‘Women for Trump’
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/gilbert-condemns-relaunch-of-women-for-trump-1.2509198
Local News
Luzerne County August free-and-clear tax auction postponed
https://www.timesleader.com/news/750019/luzerne-county-august-free-and-clear-tax-auction-postponed
Luzerne County updates school districts on real estate bill mailing date
https://www.timesleader.com/news/750017/luzerne-county-updates-school-districts-on-real-estate-bill-mailing-date
Wilkes-Barre city council demands removal of KKK brick from Public Square
https://www.timesleader.com/news/750013/wilkes-barre-city-council-demands-removal-of-kkk-brick-from-public-square
W-B Councilman Brooks calls for brick’s removal
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/w-b-councilman-brooks-calls-for-brick-s-removal-1.2509188
Wilkes-Barre Parking Authority shows profit for first half of year
https://www.timesleader.com/news/750011/wilkes-barre-parking-authority-shows-profit-for-first-half-of-year
W-B fire chief: July 4 was ‘war zone’
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/w-b-fire-chief-july-4-was-war-zone-1.2509196
Flood authority to look into Northeast Revenue allegations
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/flood-authority-to-look-into-northeast-revenue-allegations-1.2509139
LCTA to seize Murray Complex via eminent domain for new HQ
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/lcta-to-seize-murray-complex-via-eminent-domain-for-new-hq-1.2509141
Invenergy, local officials cap power plant construction project
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/invenergy-local-officials-cap-power-plant-construction-project-1.2509167
KELLY’S WORLD: For Ken Bond ‘we’ means ‘he,’ 100%
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/kelly-s-world-for-ken-bond-we-means-he-100-1.2509169
Free lunches for children offered throughout Scranton
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/free-lunches-for-children-offered-throughout-scranton-1.2509172
Scranton artist’s legacy will live on through statues in the city
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-artist-s-legacy-will-live-on-through-statues-in-the-city-1.2509259
Crews repair massive sinkhole near Route 30 at Hempfield/Greensburg border
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/sinkhole-close-to-route-30-being-repaired-at-hempfield-greensburg-border/
3 rescues in 1 day on Kiski River sets record for Leechburg fire company
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/three-rescues-in-one-day-on-kiski-river-sets-record-for-leechburg-fire-co/
Reading mayor calls off ceremony to raise LGBTQ flag at City Hall
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/reading-mayor-calls-off-ceremony-to-raise-lgbtq-flag-at-city-hall/
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman calls on Reading Mayor Wally Scott to raise the pride flag over City Hall
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/pennsylvanias-lt-gov-john-fetterman-calls-on-reading-mayor-wally-scott-to-raise-the-pride-flag-over-city-hall
Complaint filed with Reading’s human relations commission after pride flag flap
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/complaint-filed-with-readings-human-relations-commission-after-pride-flag-flap&template=ourcityart
Berks County commissioner supports ending contract with ICE for Berks County Residential Center
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/berks-county-commissioner-supports-ending-contract-with-ice-for-berks-county-residential-center
Earl Township appointee resigns over controversial Facebook post about pregnant woman and her son who drowned
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/earl-township-appointee-resigns-over-controversial-facebook-post
Lonnie Walker IV will hold a free basketball camp for 300 kids at Reading High’s Geigle Complex
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/lonnie-walker
Reading Area Water Authority votes to seek bids to repair exposed water main
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/rawa-votes-to-seek-bids-to-repair-exposed-water-main&template=ourcityart
Blair considers adding 29 employees
http://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2019/07/blair-considers-adding-29-employees/
Nonunion Beaver County employees to get 3 percent raise
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20190716/nonunion-beaver-county-employees-to-get-3-percent-raise
Aqua enters takeover talks with DELCORA
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/local/aqua-enters-takeover-talks-with-delcora/article_c85dfa62-a7f3-11e9-ad49-87a1e60b6afd.html
Protesters urge PECO to invest in solar energy
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/protesters-urge-peco-to-invest-in-solar-energy/article_cdeb60a8-a813-11e9-900d-5f75ccb2e7f1.html
National News
John Paul Stevens, who was the Supreme Court’s leading liberal justice, dies at 99
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/obituaries/2019/07/16/Retired-Supreme-Court-Justice-John-Paul-Stevens-dies-at-99/stories/201907160139
Opioid Crisis
Federal data shows opioid shipments ballooned as crisis grew
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/healthcare-business/2019/07/17/Federal-data-shows-opioid-shipments-ballooned-as-crisis-grew/stories/201907170065
Philly
Philly had to finalize 2020 property values in March. So why did 30,000 taxpayers just receive new assessments?
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-property-assessment-opa-2020-notice-june-20190717.html
These Philly pilots fly dogs across the East Coast to save their lives. For free.
https://www.inquirer.com/news/pilots-volunteer-transport-dogs-rescues-animals-across-east-coast-pilots-n-paws-al-ciardi-paul-steklenski-20190717.html
Hahnemann announces timeline for shutdown; ER closes entirely Aug. 16
https://www.inquirer.com/health/hahnemann-hospital-closure-plan-20190716.html
Philly budget plan OK’d despite concerns about next recession, OT spending
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/state-board-approves-philly-budget-plan-20190716.html
To brag or bemoan? How differing definitions of gentrification are their own problem.
https://www.inquirer.com/news/gentrification-definition-philadelphia-developers-registered-community-organizations-displacement-investment-20190715.html
Bank with 25 branches in Philly area may have lost $90 million as a result of a customer overdraft
https://www.inquirer.com/business/key-bank-overdraft-90-million-loss-lawsuit-20190716.html
Philly Mayor Kenney suggests that if President Trump ‘goes back where he came from,’ the decor will be flames and brimstone
https://www.inquirer.com/news/kenney-trump-hell-immigrants-immigration-20190716.html
A Philadelphia university says it’s offering ‘first MBA’ for the cannabis industry
https://www.inquirer.com/business/weed/cannabis-mba-usciences-philadelphia-medical-marijuana-industry-20190716.html
DA Krasner wants Pa. Supreme Court to strike down state’s death penalty and declare it unconstitutional
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-district-attorney-larry-krasner-death-penalty-response-state-supreme-court-jermont-cox-20190716.html
Philly must stand strong against detaining immigrant youth | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/immigrant-children-unaccompanied-minors-vision-quest-20190716.html
Philly pilots program to pay for some detained immigrants’ legal defense
https://www.witf.org/news/2019/07/philly-pilots-program-to-pay-for-some-detained-immigrants-legal-defense.php
‘Sanctuary city’ of Philadelphia joins program to provide migrants with lawyers — a key to who stays or gets deported
https://www.inquirer.com/news/vera-institute-philly-migrants-deportation-immigration-20190716.html
Pitt
City Council questions idea of raising taxes to fix up city parks
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/07/16/City-council-Pittsburgh-Parks-Conservancy-ballot-initiative-tax/stories/201907160081
Resounding support in City Council chambers for Lawrenceville affordable housing measure
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/07/16/support-pittsburgh-city-council-Lawrenceville-affordable-housing-inclusionary-zoning/stories/201907160109
James Conner says doctors gave him ‘about a week’ if cancer went untreated
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2019/07/16/james-conner-cancer-steelers-pittsburgh/stories/201907160078
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust alarmed at ‘declining level of public safety’ Downtown
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2019/07/17/Pittsburgh-Cultural-Trust-Downtown-Mayor-Bill-Peduto-July-4-shooting/stories/201907170059
No way to run hospitals: VA supply shortages threaten veterans’ care
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/07/17/Veterans-Health-Administration-supply-shortages-health-care/stories/201907150024
Girl, 15, shot in stomach in Hill District
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/07/16/Girl-15-shot-in-stomach-in-Hill-District/stories/201907160157
Longtime county Elections Manager Mark Wolosik dies at 65, one year after retiring
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/obituaries/2019/07/16/allegheny-county-elections-mark-wolosik-obituary/stories/201907160111
Pittsburgh’s black population accounts for majority of arrests, report says
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburghs-black-population-accounts-for-majority-of-arrests-report-says/
State News
15-year-old who died from fall at wildnerness camp identified as Norwin High School student
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/south/2019/07/16/15-year-old-died-Somerset-Co-wildnerness-camp-inury-identified-Norwin-Nathan-Kanczes/stories/201907160144
Women for Trump is a new army in a country divided by anger. And Pa. is primed for battle. | Maria Panaritis
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/women-for-trump-rally-king-of-prussia-lara-trump-maria-panaritis-20190717.html
Three Mile Island’s 60-year shutdown: ‘More akin to a marathon than a sprint’
https://www.inquirer.com/business/three-mile-island-nrc-nuclear-decommissioning-plans-spelled-out-20190716.html
‘All hands on deck’: Pennsylvania ramps up battle against the spotted lanternfly
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/all-hands-on-deck-pennsylvania-ramps-up-battle-against-the-spotted-lanternfly/
Pittsburgh draws the most bottles of rare spirits in liquor lottery
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/pittsburgh-draws-the-most-bottles-or-rare-spirits-in-liquor-lottery/
Pa. cat has leg amputated after someone strapped firecrackers to its paw
https://www.pennlive.com/daily-buzz/2019/07/pa-cat-has-leg-amputated-after-someone-strapped-firecrackers-to-its-paw.html
Challenges facing rural Pennsylvanians
https://www.witf.org/smart-talk/2019/07/challenges-facing-rural-pennsylvanians.php
Remembering the Montoursville high school victims of TWA Flight 800 in 1996
https://www.pennlive.com/life/2019/07/remembering-the-montoursville-victims-of-twa-flight-800-in-1996.html
Even with payments, Lehigh Valley farmers losing patience with tariffs
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-farmers-struggling-tariffs-subsidies-20190716-llrqubr3ljbena3mgawgft4aa4-story.html
Transportation
An even dozen: Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls to rise 12th straight year, this time by 6% in January
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2019/07/16/Pennsylvania-Turnpike-toll-increase-6-percent-12-consecutive-years-transportation/stories/201907160092
Turnpike commission hikes tolls for 12th straight year — and will until 2044
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-turnpike-commission-hikes-tolls-for-12th-straight-year-and-will-until-2044/
Pennsylvania Turnpike to add interchange between Monroeville and Irwin
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2019/07/16/Pennsylvania-Turnpike-to-add-interchange-between-Monroeville-and-Irwin/stories/201907160122
Penn Township could get turnpike ramp on Route 130 following commission’s approval
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/penn-township-could-get-turnpike-ramp-on-route-130-following-commissions-approval/
PennDOT to clean drains along flood-prone area of Route 28
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/penndot-to-clean-drains-along-flood-prone-area-of-route-28/
Portion of Jacoby Road in Harmar to close for 3 months
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/portion-of-jacoby-road-in-harmar-to-close-for-3-months/
Washington
Rep. Mike Kelly: ‘I’m an Anglo Saxon. People say things all the time, but I don’t get offended.’
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2019/07/16/Mike-Kelly-racism-Trump-resolution-condemn-the-squad/stories/201907160138
Pa. Republican Brian Fitzpatrick joins Democrats in voting to condemn Trump’s tweets as ‘racist’
https://www.inquirer.com/news/trump-racist-tweets-republicans-fitzpatrick-bucks-county-20190717.html
House condemns ‘racist’ Trump tweets on four freshman members
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/house-condemns-racist-trump-tweets-four-freshman-members-20190716.html
Local lawmakers react to Trump’s Twitter remarks
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/local-lawmakers-react-to-trump-s-twitter-remarks-1.2509194