News Digest :: July 29, 2022

Legislature

Gov. Wolf sues state Legislature to stop GOP-backed amendments on abortion, voting – Daily Local

Wolf sues GOP-led legislature to block abortion, voter ID questions from reaching Pa. ballot box · Spotlight PA

Gov. Tom Wolf sues Pa. Legislature over proposed abortion amendment | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Gov. Wolf sues to stop GOP-backed amendments on abortion, voting (inquirer.com)

Wolf asks high court to invalidate Constitutional amendment on abortion in emergency filing – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

This week’s headlines: Wolf sues over abortion measure and GOP leaders call for a tuition freeze – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

Wolf administration, GOP lawmaker fight war of words over undated mail ballots (mcall.com)

$55M in student loan debt relief on its way for Pa. nurses – pennlive.com

Local officials celebrate passage of state home repair program | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

67 counties, 17 providers: PA lawmakers track a path forward on abortion | Al Día News (aldianews.com)

Op-Ed: Keep domestic abusers out of public office (ydr.com)

Lt. Gov. Fetterman’s handling of health crisis subject of Senate panel inquiry – pennlive.com

Pennsylvania announces $25M to help poultry farmers affected by bird flu | Pennsylvania News | wfmz.com

Lower Merion to receive PennDOT grant for traffic safety – Mainline Media News

 

Coronavirus – COVID-19

In rural America, COVID hits Black and Hispanic people hardest | Health | phillytrib.com

People aren’t getting their young kids vaccinated against COVID-19 — and many aren’t getting boosters either – pennlive.com

Biden administration plans to offer updated booster shots in September | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Summer boosters scrapped in favor of next generation boosters in the fall : Shots – Health News : NPR

White House, Moderna reach deal for omicron COVID-19 vaccine (abc27.com)

BA.5 now dominant covid-19 variant in Allegheny County | TribLIVE.com

 

Business/Jobs

Phoenix Tube gets Pa. grant to expand in Bethlehem (mcall.com)

350 New Jobs Coming to Coatesville – MyChesCo

Columbia to be the site of cutting edge drone research testing facility | Smart Talk (witf.org)

Exxon banked record quarterly profit as energy prices soared | Business | tribdem.com

Pa. medical marijuana grower lays off dozens, says industry taken over by out-of-staters – pennlive.com

Trader Joe’s employees in Massachusetts vote in favor of company’s first union – pennlive.com

U.S. economy is sending mixed signals: Here’s what it all means (inquirer.com)

 

Crime/Punishment

Pa. Law enforcement commission issues recommendations for police agencies (abc27.com)

A member of the popular singing group Brotherly Love was fatally shot outside his South Philly home (inquirer.com)

 

Education

Editorial: Fair funding advocates get a win for local schools – Daily Local

Guest commentary: A bipartisan call to get charter reform legislation across the finish line – Daily Local

Central Bucks School Board OKs controversial policy to restrict books in libraries | Southeastern Pennsylvania | wfmz.com

Pennsylvania school library policy draws book ban comparisons (usatoday.com)

CCAC faculty union poised for “no-confidence” vote against board and president | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)

Penn State will receive $12.1M in federal funds but is still raising tuition. Here’s why | TribLIVE.com

 

Elections/Politics

PA Governor race: Doug Mastriano trails Josh Shapiro by double digits (abc27.com)

PA Senate Race Poll: John Fetterman leads Mehmet Oz by double digits in Fox News poll (abc27.com)

Josh Shapiro outlines plan to make Pennsylvania more business friendly | WITF

Dems to launch statewide tour, arguing GOP is ‘too extreme’ for Pa. voters | Friday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pa. Senate race: Mehmet Oz says John Fetterman is soft on crime. (inquirer.com)

New diss from Jersey for Dr. Oz’s Senate run in Pennsylvania: nomination to the N.J. Hall of Fame! – pennlive.com

Susan Wild gets big fundraising boost from Roe v. Wade overturn (mcall.com)

Mastriano Called Out for Link to Extremist Social Media Site – Jewish Exponent

PA Governor race: Mastriano responds to Gab ties, anti-Semitism claims (abc27.com)

Doug Mastriano responds to criticisms over Gab account, removes profile from site | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Environment

Experts: Dems’ budget deal with Manchin “keeps us in the climate fight” : NPR

Pa. climate advocates ‘excited’ after Manchin’s sudden turn gets budget bill compromise | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Transportation

With millions in federal funding, PennDOT charges ahead on EV infrastructure development in Pa. – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

JetBlue-Spirit deal brings hope and concern for Western Pa. | TribLIVE.com

 

Health

Allegheny Co. Health Dept. expands access to monkeypox vaccine – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pennsylvania medical marijuana advisory board sees changes – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Lives hang in the balance as time runs out for action on health insurance | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Monkeypox is in the Lehigh Valley. What happens now? – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

 

State News

Lancaster County commissioner testifies at hearing over May primary mail ballots | Local News | lancasteronline.com

Judge will decide whether Berks, other counties must count undated ballots from 2022 primary – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Trident Mortgage agrees to pay $20M to settle redlining allegations – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Feds reach $20M redlining settlement with Philadelphia mortgage lender | Local News | phillytrib.com

City & State investigates: How local governments are handling a threat they can’t even see – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

Despite Soaring Inflation, DelVal Reps, Sen. Casey Vote for $280B CHIPS Act – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Black family sues Sesame Place, alleging discrimination | WITF

Pennsylvania stadium No. 2 best in U.S. says study – pennlive.com

This week’s biggest Winners & Losers – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

Pennsylvania Game Commission deadline approaches for elk, 2nd deer tag (poconorecord.com)

Philly military training exercise gathered first responders, Black Hawk helicopters, and actors playing injured civilians (inquirer.com)

 

National News

43 clinics stopped giving abortions in states with bans after Roe v. Wade repeal : NPR

At least 15 people are dead after torrential rains flood Appalachia : NPR

In a 3rd test, Facebook still fails to block hate speech (inquirer.com)

San Francisco declares an emergency to help the city deal with monkeypox spread : NPR

Beyoncé releases seventh album, ‘Renaissance’ : NPR

With the end of Roe v. Wade, Americans are demanding Supreme Court term limits | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Will Wood: The baffling ups and downs of housing market (mainlinemedianews.com)

 

Local News

Kennett Police ready to celebrate National Night Out with community at Anson B. Nixon Park on August 2 – Daily Local

$1.1 billion offer for public sewer system would be largest privatization in country | The Bucks County Herald

Pocono Canna Fest brings cannabis education and entertainment together (poconorecord.com)

Delco’s libraries receive grant to purchase more museum passes – Delco Times

Steve Miller Band cancels York Fair concert due to COVID-19 – pennlive.com

LANTA, the Lehigh Valley’s transportation service, turns 50 (mcall.com)

 

Pitt

Pittsburgh City Council appoints Daniel Friedson as its first independent solicitor | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Federal funding kept Pittsburgh transit running during pandemic | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Spotted lanternfly numbers on the rise in Allegheny County | TribLIVE.com

Saint Vincent expects 15,000 fans on Saturday: Steelers training camp by the numbers | TribLIVE.com

South Side distributor plans large-scale expansion in Westmoreland County | TribLIVE.com

 

Philly

Grocery Outlet opens in Sharswood section of North Philadelphia (inquirer.com)

Many still facing property tax hike, despite Philly’s revised homestead program | Local News | phillytrib.com

‘Children still live there’: The fight for safe summer play in Kensington | Local News | phillytrib.com

Frankford residents hope new affordable housing complex is a sign of things to come | Local News | phillytrib.com

Philadelphia doesn’t need a return to the bad old days of stop-and-frisk | Editorial (inquirer.com)

Black Philadelphians need more bars and clubs to call their own | Opinion (inquirer.com)

Philadelphia transit dependent on $1.5B in COVID-19 funding while trying to rebuild ridership | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Philadelphia’s home appraisal bias task force issues final report | Local News | phillytrib.com

Michael Nutter: 10 traits we should look for in Philadelphia’s next mayor (inquirer.com)

Opioid epidemic: Philadelphia creating a pop-up garden to memorialize victims of overdoses (inquirer.com)

 

Washington

U.S. Senate fails to advance burn pits bill for veterans in dispute over spending – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

President Biden looks to ease tensions with Xi over Taiwan : NPR

Congress mostly silent as states struggle to contain monkeypox – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)