News Digest :: June 1, 2021

Legislature

Pa. House Democratic leader proposes to end prison gerrymandering (eveningsun.com)

Pennsylvania senators revive bipartisan bill calling for transparency in prescription drug costs | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Pa. House Democratic leader proposes to end prison gerrymandering (ydr.com)

 

Coronavirus – COVID-19

National

To mask or not to mask? When it comes to unvaccinated children, it’s complicated. | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

On the COVID-19 front lines, when not getting belly rubs | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

After detecting new hybrid coronavirus variant, Vietnam races to increase testing and restrictions | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

What employers can do when a worker refuses to be vaccinated – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

The ‘Time Has Come’ For A Global Pandemic Treaty, WHO’s Tedros Says : Coronavirus Updates : NPR

Vaccine Date On Race Varies Widely Among States, Making Outreach Difficult : Shots – Health News : NPR

Maryland reaches the 70% threshold in adult vaccinations – pennlive.com

Mobile units hitting tiny U.S. towns, satisfied whether they find ‘two people or 200′ to vaccinate – pennlive.com

State

A Stark Racial Divide On Vaccinations Leaves Many At Risk As Pennsylvania Reopens | 90.5 WESA

Pennsylvania lifts coronavirus mitigation restrictions | fox43.com

Government shouldn’t be able to require vaccine passports | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pennsylvanians should see more normalcy in their lives as state lifts many COVID-19 restrictions | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

To mask or not to mask? As Pennsylvania begins to reopen, people have decisions to make. (inquirer.com)

Pa.’s reopening is here. But after wildly different years, how will people reconnect? (inquirer.com)

Pennsylvania lifts all Covid-19 restrictions except for mask mandate – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Pennsylvania lifts capacity restrictions for businesses, retail shops | WITF

PA COVID restrictions update: what business owners, residents need to know (poconorecord.com)

New COVID-19 cases plummet in Pennsylvania (timesonline.com)

Local

Lancaster Countians react to easing of COVID-19 capacity limits, social distancing rules Monday | Health | lancasteronline.com

Few COVID-19 cases reported locally, statewide | Coronavirus | tribdem.com

Region reports fewest new COVID-19 cases since mid-July | Coronavirus | thetimes-tribune.com

Six new cases of COVID reported in Luzerne County | coronavirus | citizensvoice.com

Local pharmacies face decreasing vaccine demand | coronavirus | citizensvoice.com

 

Business/Jobs

Philadelphia office landlords are seeking refuge in lab space conversions – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Unisys reduces office space by 27%, embraces hoteling and gig workers – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Nextmv shifts focus from B2B to individual developers to scale ahead of Series B – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Labor shortage: These metros could be most susceptible to tight talent market – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

‘The industry is plagued’: Pa. restaurant owners say lifting of COVID-19 restrictions doesn’t mean ‘return to normal’ – pennlive.com

‘We gotta run around like rats’: Jersey Shore businesses still struggling to hire as season gets underway | WITF

Lancaster County employers raising minimum pay to $15 in effort to fill chronic job openings | Local Business | lancasteronline.com

Beaver County Career and Technology Center to offer apprenticeship readiness program (timesonline.com)

Wanted: Millions of cybersecurity pros. Salary: Whatever you want | Business | phillytrib.com

Restaurant workers welcome end of restrictions | News | thetimes-tribune.com

4 tips for small-business owners paying down pandemic debt | Times Leader

 

Crime/Punishment

Vatican law criminalizes abuse of adults by priests, laity | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Amid national debate on policing: Are more women officers the answer? – pennlive.com

Data: Black people in Pa. are more than 5 times as likely as whites to be killed by police | Tuesday Morning Coffee | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Ex-Erie City Council chief doesn’t have to repay all her fraud victims (goerie.com)

Records show force used against Kim Stringer in Bucks County Jail (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Why did Bucks corrections staff use force against a mentally ill inmate? (theintell.com)

 

Education

Pennsylvania State System on Higher Education slates public hearings on consolidation plan – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Keystone Oaks High School moves online for Tuesday after water main break | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pocono schools dealt with decline in enrollment during pandemic (poconorecord.com)

Freedom teacher receives Harmony Hero award for courtyard classroom (timesonline.com)

Targeting ‘Critical Race Theory,’ Republicans Rattle American Schools – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

 

Elections/Politics

A New Mexico Special Election Is Posing An Early Test Of Democrats’ 2022 Messaging : NPR

Pa. governor’s race 2022: Why Wolf’s legacy matters (poconorecord.com)

Lowman S. Henry: A Tale of Two Governors: Wolf and DeSantis | Opinion | dailylocal.com

Op-Ed: It’s time to end closed primaries in Pennsylvania (goerie.com)

How much do elections cost in Delaware County? | News | delcotimes.com

Letter to the Editor: Delco’s primary election turnout was extraordinary | Opinion | delcotimes.com

 

Transportation

Calming effect: Pittsburgh installs speed humps, traffic circles to slow traffic and increase safety | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Lehigh Valley tourism explodes amid vaccines, easing restrictions – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Highways, bridges: PennDOT eyes tolling with $8.1 billion shortfall. (ydr.com)

Erie Ravine Drive project: City will demolish bridge; no access road (goerie.com)

SEPTA launches pilot plan to reduce deadly falls and jumps onto tracks | Local News | phillytrib.com

 

Health

These Penn scientists discovered how the brain engages in imagination (inquirer.com)

Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month | Smart Talk (witf.org)

Jury selection slated in UPMC suit over Altoona acquisition | WITF

In first interview, new LG Health CEO talks about staff morale, COVID-19 vaccine | Health | lancasteronline.com

 

State News

Pa.’s 2020 census response exceeds national average | The Numbers Racket | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Weekly unemployment claims in Pennsylvania increased last week (poconorecord.com)

Pennsylvania businesses, consumers among those getting short end of the stick amid lumber shortage | WITF

Pa. using insecticide on invasive spotted lanternflies – WHYY

What is infrastructure? Ahead of summer slog, lawmakers advance competing definitions to sell a deal | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

After transition, Pa.’s unemployment system will be faster and easier to use, state officials say | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Anxiety runs high as Pa. begins massive overhaul of 60-year-old unemployment computer system · Spotlight PA

Internal PSERS documents show how Pa’s biggest pension fund got key financial calculation wrong · Spotlight PA

A year after George Floyd’s death, protesters reflect on what’s changed in Western Pennsylvania | TribLIVE.com

New Pa. unemployment system expected to go live next week | Today in Pa. – pennlive.com

Only two Pennsylvania state parks had to turn visitors away Monday due to overcrowding – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Infrastructure overhaul should focus more on safety, advocates say | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Erie Pride Month: Virtual festival, vehicle parade, art exhibit planned (goerie.com)

Investigation: ATF rarely issues harsh gun dealer penalties in Pennsylvania (timesonline.com)

 

National News

In Tulsa, solemn remembrances of a century-old race massacre by survivors and descendants | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Paul Rucker’s ‘Black Wall Streets’ Marks 100 Years Since The Tulsa Race Massacre : NPR

Hundreds gather at historic Tulsa church’s prayer wall | Across America | phillytrib.com

Meat is latest cyber victim as hackers hit top supplier JBS | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Hackers hit top supplier JBS, making meat the latest victim of a cyberattack – pennlive.com

Fast-cash house flippers flood poor neighborhoods in U.S. | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

After defeating restrictive voting bill, Texas Dems send loud message: ‘We need Congress to do their part’ | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Macron says wiretapping ‘not acceptable between allies,’ after new report adds details about an old NSA program | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Vets return to Memorial Day traditions as pandemic eases | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Texas Governor Threatens No Pay After Democrats Block Voting Bill : NPR

A New Hurricane Season Brings A New Threat: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning : NPR

China Will Now Permit Married Couples To Have Up To 3 Children : NPR

Study finds that the U.S. had more shark attacks last year than any other country – pennlive.com

4-time Grand Slam champ withdraws from French Open after dispute over media access – pennlive.com

California looks at shuttered malls, stores and sees an answer to its affordable housing shortage – pennlive.com

Home-based gun dealers fail ATF inspections nationwide (goerie.com)

BEHIND THE WHEEL: Less choice, higher car prices in chip shortage | Business | dailylocal.com

Global Shortages During Coronavirus Reveal Failings of Just in Time Manufacturing – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

 

Local News

Readers sound off on GOP commission nix, puppy mills and Bezos bid – New York Daily News (nydailynews.com)

South Side Hilltop Memorial Day Pilgrimage Returns To Honor Fallen Soldiers – CBS Pittsburgh (cbslocal.com)

‘Those who gave last full measure’ remembered on Memorial Day in Westmoreland County | TribLIVE.com

Military sacrifices remembered on Memorial Day across the Alle-Kiski Valley | TribLIVE.com

‘Saving Claremont’: Can a citizens group thwart the sale of a Cumberland County nursing home? – pennlive.com

In Carlisle, a rededication ceremony returns life to a previously forgotten resting place – pennlive.com

East Pennsboro ROTC teacher the latest to benefit from American Legion Riders Post 751 – pennlive.com

Firefighters battle trash, building fires in Harrisburg – pennlive.com

Fire crews clean up following 2 house fires in 7 hours in northern Berks | Berks and Beyond | readingeagle.com

With volunteer ranks dwindling, Berks fire companies exploring financial incentives | Berks and Beyond | readingeagle.com

Reading must improve stadium or risk losing Fightin Phils, officials say | Local News | readingeagle.com

Lehigh County Court jury trials return: What you need to know – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

U.S.S. Cod: WWII submarine will get repairs at Erie shipyard (goerie.com)

Lancaster Water Week – Lancaster Conservancy

Yardley council won’t weigh in on Vault kitchen zoning request (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Morrisville authority pays $4 million for new plant plot at U.S. Steel (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Chester County commissioners want to continue virtual meetings | Local-news | dailylocal.com

‘They are remembered’: Luminarias at Johnstown Flood National Memorial honor lives lost in 1889 | Local News | tribdem.com

50th National Memorial Day returns a sense of ‘normalcy’ | Local-news | delcotimes.com

County council to resume in-person meetings this week | Coronavirus | delcotimes.com

Conyngham celebrates Memorial Day | News | standardspeaker.com

Visionaries saw future in Hazleton’s downtown at St. Paul’s church | News | standardspeaker.com

Process to select new county manager will start soon | News | citizensvoice.com

Luzerne County 911 upgrade project on track but cost increased | News | citizensvoice.com

Nearly 400 runners take part in 40th Old Fort 5 Miler | Times Leader

‘We’re here for the people that aren’t here’ | Times Leader

 

Pitt

‘A place to be’: New group brings together Pittsburgh arts administrators of color | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Creatives with Pittsburgh connections bring New York City pop-up to life | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Groups of off-road vehicles reported driving around Pittsburgh | TribLIVE.com

Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh announces 4 new, merged parishes to be created in July | TribLIVE.com

 

Philly

Philly cops are fighting back 2 years after racist Facebook posts got them fired | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Philadelphia police reform is a work in progress a year after Mayor Jim Kenney promised change (inquirer.com)

For Philly, it’s time to put people before parking spaces | Editorial (inquirer.com)

Philly consumers’ spending goes up as pandemic recedes (inquirer.com)

After a year of COVID-19 restrictions, criminal trials are the final step in restoring Philly-area courthouses to full capacity (inquirer.com)

A year after police teargassed 52nd Street, Philadelphia activists and community members call for justice (inquirer.com)

Philly grapples with statues of Frank Rizzo, Christopher Columbus, and more, a year after post-George Floyd protests – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Philly Council looks to diversify city workforce by eliminating so-called ‘Rule of Two’ | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

 

Washington

Move ahead with capitol riot commission, anyway, Connolly urges Biden (potomaclocal.com)

Biden To Visit Tulsa For Anniversary Of 1921 Race Massacre On Black Wall Street : NPR

Biden to honor forgotten victims of 1921 Tulsa race massacre Tuesday | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Biden aims to rebuild and expand legal immigration | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Biden honors war dead at Arlington, implores nation to heal | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Biden’s Budget Removes A Longstanding Ban On Abortion Funding : NPR

Voting Rights Bill Falters in Congress as States Race Ahead – The New York Times (nytimes.com)