News Digest:: July 6, 2023

Legislature

School choice veto may not end Pennsylvania budget impasse | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Pa. Gov. drops support of private-school voucher program | WITF

Gov. Shapiro Ditches Scholarship Plan for Children in Failing Schools – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Local legislators weigh in on Gov. Shapiro pulling support of new private-school funding program – WPXI

Senate panel moves Bogen nomination for Pa. health secretary with no recommendation | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

$136M Property tax, rent rebate expansion headed to governor’s desk | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

No Pennsylvania school voucher program for now – Chalkbeat Philadelphia

Inaugural Berks County Field of Honor dedicated in Wyomissing (berksweekly.com)

PA To Begin New Fiscal Year Without Budget Plan In Place – Fulton County News

Pa. budget deadline nears with Senate Republicans, House Democrats at odds | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Refining the Pa. Turnpike’s toll collection and rate increases are on the soon-to-be commissioner’s radar | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

New Pennsylvania Turnpike Commissioner Focuses on Fares, Tolls (delco.today)

Moms for Liberty Came to Philly. Philly Came for Them. – PROJIN NEWS

Pennsylvania’s budget is late. Here’s what you need to know about the impasse. – Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry (chescochamber.org)

Pennsylvania governor backs off $100M private schools program, eases House budget vote | AP News

House sends $45.5B budget to Shapiro — who vows to abandon Senate GOP-backed school vouchers – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pa. lawmakers, advocates react to state budget passage – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pa.’s $45.5B budget bill gets House OK but could have long wait to get to governor – pennlive.com

Business/Jobs

Meta takes aim at Twitter with the launch of its rival app Threads : NPR

Longtime retailer leaves Colonial Park Mall – pennlive.com

Amazon Early Prime Day deals: Best air fryers to shop now – pennlive.com

Crime/Punishment

Families of victims of Philadelphia shooting cope with loss. | WITF

Philadelphia mass shooting worst violence around July 4 | WITF

California Man Hid Mother’s Death for 3 Decades to Collect Her Benefits – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

2 charged after dead dogs discovered in shed, police say – pennlive.com

5 teens arrested after ‘riotous’ behavior at Dauphin County fireworks display: police – pennlive.com

Man sentenced for raping 9-year-old Ohio girl who traveled to Indiana for legal abortion – pennlive.com

4 injured during Pa. Fourth of July celebration, mistaking firecrackers for gunshots: reports – pennlive.com

Education

‘How are you supposed to finance that?’ Ohio college students face barriers to abortion access – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

House sends $45.5B budget to Shapiro — who vows to abandon Senate GOP-backed school vouchers – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

New report recommends changes to Philly’s school selection process – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Environment

The legislation passed to help Joshua Trees : NPR

Weather service confirms Pa. county was hit by 3 tornadoes on same day – pennlive.com

Transportation

19th century horse speeding, fire transport still carry $5 fine | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Health

Philadelphia ‘epicenter of xylazine’ as overdoses skyrocket | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Out-of-body experiences reveal brain area tied to our sense of self : Shots – Health News : NPR

‘How are you supposed to finance that?’ Ohio college students face barriers to abortion access – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

State News

Gov. Josh Shapiro withdraws nomination of Debra Bogen as Pa. health secretary | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Report: 58% of underage Pa. residents carded, served booze anyway in 2022 | Thursday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Survey: Patriotism waning among younger generations | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Poll: Taxes, cost of living driving away young residents | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

National News

Senators take action to assist the nation’s 12M military spouses | North Carolina | thecentersquare.com

White House disagrees with judge’s order on social media in Missouri v. Biden | Missouri | thecentersquare.com

Air Force embraces DEI as recruitment falters | National | thecentersquare.com

Federal judge rules against Biden administration on social media censorship | Louisiana | thecentersquare.com

2022 national food stamp payment error rates hit nearly 12% | National | thecentersquare.com

As ‘Pride Month’ ends, taxpayer spending on LGBT projects piles up | National | thecentersquare.com

Supreme Court rejects Independent State Legislature theory | WITF

SCOTUS decision on Lancaster County mail carrier case coming | WITF

A train carrying hazardous materials plunges into Yellowstone River after bridge fails | WITF

U.S. Is Destroying the Last of Its Once-Vast Chemical Weapons Arsenal – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Transgender Care Bans Leave Families and Doctors Scrambling – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

DeSantis Campaign Struggles to Make a Strong Case Against Trump – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Janet Yellen heads to China, seeking to ease tensions : NPR

Local News

Rapho Township building explosion leads to evacuation | WITF

Struggles remain in Pa. town that hired Tamir Rice’s killer | WITF

Possible shark attacks prompt heightened patrols at New York’s Long Island beach : NPR

One Pa. man remains on Charity Lawson’s season of ‘The Bachelorette’ – pennlive.com

Owners of closed Pa. mall fined $240K over its dilapidated condition: reports – pennlive.com

UE members in Erie remain on picket line at Wabtec as talks resume (goerie.com)

Warrington names part of Route 611 for police officer | The Bucks County Herald

State: Popeyes franchise in W-B Twp. fined for firing LGBTQ employee | Crime-emergencies | citizensvoice.com

Pitt

Prosecutors in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial work to dismantle expert testimony that shooter was delusional | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh affordable housing bond payments to Urban Redevelopment Authority spurs City Council debate | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Firecrackers at Point State Park precede injuries during Pittsburgh’s July Fourth fireworks | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

‘Social justice warrior’: Lyle Wood retires from Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Local students’ creations wow judges at Invention Convention | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

With 1 win on ‘Jeopardy!’ Pittsburgh surgeon will honor late brother | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh officials advance plan to tear down poorly rated bridge despite lawsuit | TribLIVE.com

VisitPittsburgh CEO competing in National Senior Games in his own city | TribLIVE.com

Philly

Philadelphia ‘epicenter of xylazine’ as overdoses skyrocket | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Families of victims of Philadelphia shooting cope with loss. | WITF

Independence Health looks to sublease up to 224,000 SF in Center City – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Boeing gets contract to build final Block I Chinooks, with $8B order for 60 upgraded Chinooks on horizon – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Philadelphia-native Dr. Keith Leaphart confirmed to lead Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission | Local News | phillytrib.com

Code Orange declared for Philly area due to poor air quality | Local News | phillytrib.com

Philadelphia suspect left a will and was acting agitated days before shootings, prosecutors say | Local News | phillytrib.com

Washington

Pennsylvania Democrat Bob Casey lands his best fundraising quarter in his Senate reelection campaign – Opera News (dailyadvent.com)

Bob Casey breaks more with Joe Biden amid 2024 reelection campaign | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette