Legislature
Pa. Senate shouting match: GOP may be right on rules, but Democrats score public relations points
https://www.pennlive.com/politics/2019/07/processing-the-recent-pa-senate-floor-fireworks-gop-may-be-right-on-rules-but-democrats-are-scoring-pr-points.html
Democrats launching plan to save General Assistance, again
https://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2019/07/democrats-launching-plan-to-save-general-assistance-again.php
New Pa. law spells out who can carry a gun in schools, and teachers are not on the list
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/07/pa-schools-now-have-more-armed-personnel-options-to-provide-security-in-their-buildings-just-not-teachers.html
Union says new state law should end Tamaqua district’s attempt to arm teachers
https://www.mcall.com/news/police/mc-nws-tamaqua-school-security-armed-teachers-illegal-20190703-bwgqq4ybjvcptb3cdepiqzhf24-story.html
New Pennsylvania law ends snow days as we know them, enabling schools to have students work from home
https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-snow-flex-days-20190703-b3u4lom4jffpdltmkzjdij47b4-story.html
Administration
Pool at Pa. lieutenant governor’s residence opened to schoolchildren, nonprofit groups
https://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/2019/07/pennsylvania-lt-gov-john-fetterman-and-second-lady-gisele-open-lt-gov-pool-at-the-gap-to-school-kids-and-non-profits.html
Budget
What Pa.’s green lawmakers and environmentalists think of this year’s budget
https://www.penncapital-star.com/energy-environment/what-pa-s-green-lawmakers-and-environmentalists-think-of-this-years-budget/
Business
McCarthy Tire Service to acquire 16 locations from GCR Tires & Service
https://www.timesleader.com/news/748827/mccarthy-tire-service-to-acquire-16-locations-from-gcr-tires-service
Ohio company to establish its first manufacturing operation in Pa.
https://www.pennlive.com/life/2019/07/ohio-company-to-establish-its-first-manufacturing-operation-in-pa.html
Beemac Trucking gets state loan to build maintenance, repair facility
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20190703/beemac-trucking-gets-state-loan-to-build-maintenance-repair-facility
Crime/Punishment
Bucks County confirms third jail inmate suicide in a year
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20190703/bucks-county-confirms-third-jail-inmate-suicide-in-year
Education
Choosing to serve: Honoring local grads entering U.S. military
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/choosing-to-serve-honoring-local-grads-entering-u-s-military-1.2504556
Plum School District’s assistant superintendent’s brother hired as new facilities director
https://triblive.com/local/plum/plum-school-districts-assistant-superintendents-brother-hired-as-new-facilities-director/
Son of Penn Hills school board president vows to chain himself to White House for ‘bailout’ of district’s debt
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2019/07/03/Penn-Hills-school-board-White-House-debt-Erin-Vecchio/stories/201907030103
King’s College buying property in W-B
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/king-s-college-buying-property-in-w-b-1.2504470
Gaming
Lancaster can now opt out of video gambling terminals
https://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2019/07/lancaster-can-now-opt-out-of-video-gambling-terminals.php
Local News
Northeast Revenue wants to continue collecting Luzerne County back taxes
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/northeast-revenue-wants-to-continue-collecting-luzerne-county-back-taxes-1.2504558
WB to get own half marathon in 2020
https://www.timesleader.com/news/748845/wb-to-get-own-half-marathon-in-2020
Wilkes-Barre encourages fireworks safety ahead of Independence Day
https://www.timesleader.com/news/748800/wilkes-barre-encourages-fireworks-safety-ahead-of-independence-day
Groups partner to find transportation options for workers, businesses
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/groups-partner-to-find-transportation-options-for-workers-businesses-1.2504471
NEPA Moves new initiative drives workforce transportation solutions
https://www.timesleader.com/news/748810/nepa-moves-new-initiative-drives-workforce-transportation-solutions
Courtright’s attorney: ‘He’s made some mistakes’
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/courtright-s-attorney-he-s-made-some-mistakes-1.2504376
City council, voters or judge could decide Scranton’s next permament mayor
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/city-council-voters-or-judge-could-decide-scranton-s-next-permament-mayor-1.2504377
Scranton councilman calls for resignation of any city employee involved in corruption schemes
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-councilman-calls-for-resignation-of-any-city-employee-involved-in-corruption-schemes-1.2504393
Scranton City Council adopts new parking ordinances
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-city-council-adopts-new-parking-ordinances-1.2504345
Jessup one step closer to getting new senior housing complex
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/jessup-one-step-closer-to-getting-new-senior-housing-complex-1.2504615
State: Legionnaires’ patient spent time at Scranton facility
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/state-legionnaires-patient-spent-time-at-scranton-facility-1.2504378
Hazle Twp. fire assocation disputes findings of AG’s office
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/hazle-twp-fire-assocation-disputes-findings-of-ag-s-office-1.2504433
‘Financial irregularities’ at Tamaqua agency
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/financial-irregularities-at-tamaqua-agency-1.2504459
Chester County DA Hogan withdraws reelection bid
https://www.inquirer.com/news/chester-county-district-attorney-thomas-hogan-withdraw-reelection-20190703.html
Decades-old gas lamps in Oakmont may be converted to LED lights
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/decades-old-gas-lamps-in-oakmont-to-be-converted-to-led-lights-2/
Berks County spent nearly $93,000 on scrapped plan to sell Berks Heim
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/berks-county-spent-about-93000-on-scrapped-plan-to-sell-berks-heim
What’s up at Reading’s Pagoda? Lots of noise and loitering, again
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/noise-gatherings-a-problem-at-the-pagoda-again
PPL installing underground power line in Spring Township
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/ppl-installing-underground-power-line-in-spring-township
National News
This July 4th, Americans will spend more on beer, wine than fireworks
https://www.inquirer.com/news/fourth-of-july-fireworks-celebration-philadelphia-travel-beer-wine-20190704.html
Philly
Hahnemann University Hospital closure upends career paths for 570 doctors-in-training
https://www.inquirer.com/business/hahnemann-university-hospital-residents-lose-training-grounds-20190703.html
Hahnemann’s closure will hurt patient care | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/hahnemann-closing-emergency-care-patient-impact-20190703.html
Damaged Philly refinery gives workers a 6-week extension to prepare ‘for a possible sale or restart’
https://www.inquirer.com/business/philadelphia-refinery-fire-pes-extends-workforce-august-prepare-for-sale-20190703.html
Cleanup at South Philly refinery must tackle decades of chemicals
https://www.inquirer.com/science/climate/refinery-fire-philly-pes-cleanup-remediation-contamination-20190703.html
Philadelphia refinery delays layoffs by six weeks
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/local/philadelphia-refinery-delays-layoffs-by-six-weeks/article_514564d2-9dd6-11e9-a5a8-6776c068e46d.html
A woman publicly complained about her rent. Days later, Arts & Crafts Holdings terminated her lease
https://www.inquirer.com/news/arts-and-crafts-callowhill-915-spring-garden-gentrification-20190703.html
Philly car dealer sold defective vehicles it didn’t own, AG Shapiro claims in new lawsuit
https://www.inquirer.com/business/car-auto-fraud-sales-attorney-general-pennsylvania-philadelphia-20190703.html
Philly tower to be first project for Mass.-based senior-living developer’s new urban-minded division
https://www.inquirer.com/news/benchmark-philadelphia-urban-division-wellness-senior-living-brickstone-park-america-20190703.html
July 4th travel in Philadelphia: Road closures, SEPTA changes, and traffic
https://www.inquirer.com/transportation/july-4th-travel-philadelphia-road-closures-septa-aaa-20190703.html
Local couple’s donation will make CCP free for some nontraditional students
https://www.inquirer.com/education/ccp-scholarship-returning-students-joseph-field-philanthropy-community-college-20190703.html
Where have all the pigeons gone? Philly numbers are down as predators thrive. Could it be a trend?
https://www.inquirer.com/news/pigeons-philadelphia-bird-census-droppings-population-decline-20190703.html
Mayor Jim Kenney sizes up the 2020 Democratic presidential field
https://www.inquirer.com/news/mayor-jim-kenney-2020-democrats-joe-biden-bernie-sanders-elizabeth-warren-20190703.html
How Philly should lead on transgender health care | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/transgender-health-philadelphia-pcom-hahnemann-fellowship-20190703.html
Pitt
Annual report: All Pittsburgh police officers should have body cameras by year’s end
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/07/03/pittsburgh-crime-statistics-2018-report-police-officer-body-cameras-arrest-demographics/stories/201907030153
Pittsburgh police on track to equip nearly 900 officers with body cams, chief says
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-police-on-track-to-equip-nearly-900-officers-with-body-cams-chief-says/
More oversight needed for addiction recovery houses, Controller Chelsa Wagner says
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2019/07/03/human-services-audit-addiction-recovery-violation-rules-chelsa-wagner-controller-audit/stories/201907030140
Allegheny County Democrats name interim executive director
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/allegheny-county-democrats-name-interim-executive-director/
Deutschtown Music Festival brings more than 300 bands, 30 venues to North Side
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/deutschtown-music-festival-brings-more-than-300-bands-30-venues-to-north-side/
Expect extra security for July 4 events in Pittsburgh, and (of course) a chance of rain
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/07/03/fourth-of-july-weather-pittsburgh-fireworks-downtown-north-shore-security/stories/201907030131
Kristen Wesloh resigns as head of City of Asylum
https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/books/2019/07/03/Kristen-Wesloh-resigns-from-City-of-Asylum-Pittsburgh-bookstore-Alphabet/stories/201907030110
State News
Keystone State Park programs focus on conservation, links with South America
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/keystone-state-park-programs-focus-on-conservation-links-with-south-america/
New U.S. citizens sworn in at Fort Necessity, site of famous George Washington loss
https://triblive.com/local/regional/new-u-s-citizens-sworn-in-at-fort-necessity-site-of-famous-george-washington-loss/
Soldier with local ties helps California mall shooting victim
https://www.timesleader.com/news/748786/soldier-with-local-ties-helps-california-mall-shooting-victim
‘It was always his hometown’: Lee Iacocca’s family and others recall auto giant’s Lehigh Valley roots
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-lee-iacocca-death-folo-20190703-4qmjq3ohlfcfrg72xxbtlxmygy-story.html
Inside one of Pennsylvania’s most energy-efficient buildings
https://www.witf.org/news/2019/07/inside-one-of-pennsylvanias-most-energy-efficient-buildings.php
Transportation
Turnpike makes long-delayed $450 million transit payment to PennDOT
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2019/07/03/PennDOT-Pennsylvania-Turnpike-Port-Authority-delayed-transit-payments/stories/201907030151
Driver nabbed doing 93 mph in 55 mph zone on I-81 near Carlisle, troopers say
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/07/driver-nabbed-doing-93-mph-in-55-mph-zone-on-i-81-near-carlisle-troopers-say.html
Washington
The Trump administration reverses course after ditching the census’ citizenship question
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2019/07/03/census-question-citizenship-Trump-administration-forward-2020/stories/201907030149
Appellate court again delays enforcement of Trump abortion restrictions
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/abortion-restrictions-on-hold-trump-administration-appeals-court-20190704.html
Hispanic Democrats press House leaders to act quickly to address border crisis
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/us-mexico-border-crisis-hispanic-caucus-press-legislation-20190704.html