Legislature
Scranton’s Act 47 designation as financially distressed extended through 2021
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-s-act-47-designation-as-financially-distressed-extended-through-2021-1.2637542
Embraced heavily during COVID-19, is telemedicine here to stay?
https://www.penncapital-star.com/covid-19/embraced-heavily-during-covid-19-is-telemedicine-here-to-stay/
Pension travel policy reforms meet pushback from teachers
https://www.penncapital-star.com/working-the-economy/pension-travel-policy-reforms-meet-pushback-from-teachers/
Coronavirus – COVID-19
Feds fine Beaver County nursing home for COVID-19-related deficiencies
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/west/2020/06/11/Brighton-Rehabilitation-and-Wellness-Center-Beaver-County-nursing-home-CMS-fine/stories/202006110148
Western Pa. has 2 new COVID-19 deaths and 53 new cases
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/06/11/COVID-19-coronavirus-Allegheny-County-Western-Pennsylvania-cases-deaths-data-pandemic-24/stories/202006110102
Allegheny County reports 21 new coronavirus cases, 1 more death
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/allegheny-county-reports-21-new-coronavirus-cases-1-death/
Four new coronavirus deaths in NEPA
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/coronavirus/four-new-coronavirus-deaths-in-nepa-1.2637405
Coronavirus hits an Allentown family hard — at least a dozen were infected and three died
https://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-allentown-15-members-of-family-coronavirus-20200611-d4of3fha5ngt5joubjivedx5ve-story.html
Hunger expected to explode here, throughout America, because of COVID-19
https://www.inquirer.com/news/coronavirus-hunger-food-insecurity-feeding-america-philabundance-share-jewish-federation-20200611.html
Reopening
Which Pa. counties could be picked to move into the green phase of Wolf’s plan next?: Analysis
https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/06/which-pa-counties-could-be-picked-to-move-into-the-green-phase-of-wolfs-plan-next-analysis.html
More Pennsylvania counties poised to enter ‘green’ phase
https://www.timesleader.com/news/787484/more-pennsylvania-counties-poised-to-enter-green-phase-2
Bucks health official says county “ready to go” to green phase
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20200611/bucks-health-official-says-county-ready-to-go-to-green-phase
Gov. Wolf updates business guidance on outdoor recreation
https://www.timesleader.com/news/787482/gov-wolf-updates-business-guidance-on-outdoor-recreation
Berks County commissioners frustrated by coronavirus funding, reopening guidance
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/berks-county-commissioners-frustrated-by-coronavirus-funding-reopening-guidance/article_6f769adc-abf6-11ea-83d4-abaecb6f5f08.html
Can you get a tattoo now? Parlors in Pa.’s green counties can take appointments
https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/06/green-phase-friday-tattoo-parlors-plan-to-reopen-with-by-appointment-only.html
Administration
Why Gov. Tom Wolf’s big effort to grant coronavirus reprieves to Pa. inmates came up small
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2020/06/11/Why-Gov-Tom-Wolf-s-big-effort-to-grant-coronavirus-reprieves-to-Pa-inmates-came-up-small/stories/202006110137
Scott commissioner draws condemnation after remark about Pa. health secretary
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/south/2020/06/11/Scott-Township-Commission-Paul-Abel-derogatory-comment-health-secretary-Rachel-Levine-transphobia/stories/202006110146
Business
Pa. small business assistance grant program expects to begin accepting applications by month’s end
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/06/pa-small-business-assistant-grant-program-expects-to-begin-accepting-applications-by-months-end.html
Amazon price-gouging crackdown worsened shortage of sanitizer, wipes
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/tech-news/2020/06/12/Amazon-price-gouging-crackdown-shortage-sanitizer-wipes/stories/202006130011
Helping local businesses with Loyalty Bonds
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2020/06/12/Loyalty-bonds-local-business-economic-assistance/stories/202005280074
Gym continues to be cited for opening
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/gym-continues-to-be-cited-for-opening-1.2637599
Unemployment compensation to be distributed via debit cards
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/unemployment-compensation-to-be-distributed-via-debit-cards-1.2637513
Reading relaxes regulations for sidewalk dining; restaurant owners excited for potential
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/reading-relaxes-regulations-for-sidewalk-dining-restaurant-owners-excited-for-potential/article_8514161c-ab51-11ea-b075-1f0a22dc7bce.html
Supporting black businesses in Monroe County
https://www.poconorecord.com/news/20200611/supporting-black-businesses-in-monroe-county
Deadline for Reading’s small business loan program extended
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/deadline-for-readings-small-business-loan-program-extended/article_574f10d8-ac19-11ea-8259-3f1dd75cc0b4.html
Nestle could sell most of its North American water business, which includes 2 Lehigh Valley plants
https://www.mcall.com/business/mc-biz-nestle-exploring-strategic-options-north-america-water-business-20200612-ytsnnyu2ifhr5pxlk756acc3ky-story.html
Challenges remain as York County businesses move to ‘green’ phase
https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/2020/06/11/challenges-ahead-businesses-even-wolfs-green-phase/5342172002/
5 area counties receive grants, access to business loans to help to meet coronavirus challenges
https://www.delcotimes.com/business/5-area-counties-receive-grants-access-to-business-loans-to-help-to-meet-coronavirus-challenges/article_d6f8bb66-bfb7-5db1-9ca4-67ed09d23ef0.html
Gay Street in West Chester to close to help merchants during pandemic
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/local/gay-street-in-west-chester-to-close-to-help-merchants-during-pandemic/article_03fd1cdc-ac0e-11ea-bb62-c38ae6ec273a.html
Education
Chester County school board president resigns after joke about George Floyd’s death
https://www.inquirer.com/education/owen-j-roberts-school-board-karel-minor-george-floyd-resignation-20200611.html
Owen J. Roberts school board president resigns over Facebook post
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/owen-j-roberts-school-board-president-resigns-over-facebook-post/article_d4056c56-d3e8-51d8-9148-f35cd3a3174d.html
OJR school board president resigns over Facebook post
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/ojr-school-board-president-resigns-over-facebook-post/article_3f4bf2ab-52c6-5aff-ade1-09d59102ff1a.html
High school black student union members denounce systemic racism in protest
https://www.witf.org/2020/06/12/high-school-black-student-union-members-denounce-systemic-racism-in-protest/
Ex-wrestling coach JaMarr Billman files racial discrimination lawsuit against Easton Area School District
https://www.mcall.com/news/education/mc-nws-billman-racial-discrimination-lawsuit-20200611-i3d4phrxenedvcyp3o4fkwrhlm-story.html
Local athletic departments have much work to do before off-season workouts resume
https://www.timesonline.com/sports/20200611/local-athletic-departments-have-much-work-to-do-before-off-season-workouts-resume
Return to team workouts won’t happen overnight for Berks athletes
https://www.readingeagle.com/sports/high-school/return-to-team-workouts-wont-happen-overnight-for-berks-athletes/article_242ef506-ac14-11ea-811b-ab2eccff81da.html
Projected first-year enrollment down at Pennsylvania’s 14 state universities
https://www.inquirer.com/education/state-system-university-enrollment-pennsylvania-deposits-20200611.html
With state board’s green light, Erie County to become home of Pa.’s 15th community college
https://www.penncapital-star.com/education/with-state-boards-green-light-erie-county-to-become-home-of-pa-s-15th-community-college/
Elections/Politics
How did Janet Diaz win another primary without the Lancaster Dems endorsement?
https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/how-did-janet-diaz-win-another-primary-without-the-lancaster-dems-endorsement/article_b231daa0-ac44-11ea-aee5-4b07ade25024.html
Ed Rendell just hosted his biggest fund-raiser ever: A Zoom call for Joe Biden
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/joe-biden-fundraiser-philadelphia-2020-george-floyd-20200611.html
Jenkins Township woman allegedly spit on election worker
https://www.timesleader.com/news/787496/jenkins-township-woman-allegedly-spit-on-election-worker
Montgomery County officials still counting primary election ballots
https://www.mainlinemedianews.com/news/region/montgomery-county-officials-still-counting-primary-election-ballots/article_2528839c-5d88-5f0c-af7f-4f08db43afb5.html
Health Care
Wright Center receives more than $1M grant for geriatric medicine and psychiatry training
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/wright-center-receives-more-than-1m-grant-for-geriatric-medicine-and-psychiatry-training-1.2637471
Local News
Everhart officials gearing up for new director search
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/everhart-officials-gearing-up-for-new-director-search-1.2637472
3 environmental efforts receive grants through Berks County Community Foundation
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/3-environmental-efforts-receive-grants-through-berks-county-community-foundation/article_b97e662e-ac09-11ea-b03b-d3218360bb10.html
Sheriff’s orders: No choke holds allowed
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/sheriffs-orders-no-choke-holds-allowed/article_b1dcb840-ac30-11ea-877f-572f8256a104.html
New Kensington protest to recognize slain city officer before demanding end to police brutality
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/new-kensington-protest-to-include-moment-of-silence-for-slain-city-police-officer-brian-shaw/
Peaceful anti-racism rally draws about 500 people to O’Hara park
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/peaceful-anti-racism-rally-draws-about-500-people-to-ohara-park/
Many Westmoreland taxpayers not noticing extended discount period
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/many-westmoreland-taxpayers-not-taking-advantage-of-extended-discount/
WB’s Brown to create civilian advisory board for police department
https://www.timesleader.com/news/787475/wbs-brown-to-create-civilian-advisory-board-for-police-department
W-B mayor forms police advisory committee
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/w-b-mayor-forms-police-advisory-committee-1.2637693
Funding award will close Wyoming Valley Levee gaps that require sandbags during floods
https://www.timesleader.com/news/787492/funding-award-will-close-wyoming-valley-levee-gaps-that-require-sandbags-during-floods
Flood authority gets FEMA grant for upgrade project
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/flood-authority-gets-fema-grant-for-upgrade-project-1.2637683
Local police struggling to fill out their ranks
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/local-police-struggling-to-fill-out-their-ranks-1.2637691
County commission appointments in question
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/county-commission-appointments-in-question-1.2637597
National News
Ohio senator fired from emergency room job after using racist language
https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2020/06/ohio-senator-fired-from-emergency-room-job-after-using-racist-language.html
Philly
Critical mistakes doomed the police response to Philly’s George Floyd demonstrations.
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/a/philadelphia-police-overwhelmed-protests-city-leaders-george-floyd-20200611.html
Philly City Council wants to ban police kneeholds and require new cops to live in the city
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-city-council-police-reform-bills-20200611.html
Kimmel Center, seeing no earned revenue, cuts most of its staff
https://www.inquirer.com/arts/kimmel-center-philadelphia-orchestra-broadway-academy-of-music-20200612.html
Philadelphia Art Museum leaders apologize for word choices in Black Lives Matter message
https://www.inquirer.com/news/black-lives-matter-philadelphia-museum-of-art-response-protest-staff-criticism-20200611.html
His Philly tailoring shop was looted during the uprising. More than $30,000 was donated for repairs
https://www.inquirer.com/life/baldwin-fine-custom-tailors-looted-george-floyd-protest-black-owned-business-20200612.html
Joe Biden used a visit to West Philly to introduce his plan to restart the national economy
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/joe-biden-philadelphia-visit-campaign-2020-coronavirus-reopening-20200611.html
‘The best there was’: Family, teachers mourn a 15-year-old boy who died trying to save his friend in the Schuylkill
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/philadelphia-schuylkill-river-drowning-bartrams-garden-20200611.html
Outdoor dining to start in Philly and New Jersey, as caution still urged against COVID-19
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid19-philly-outdoor-dining-close-streets-murphy-20200611.html
What did police do in April during a crime low? It wasn’t solving homicide cases. | Editorial
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/philadelphia-police-gun-violence-shootings-homicide-clearance-defund-20200612.html
My father gave me The Talk after the MOVE bombing. Now, I have to do it for my kids. | Perspective
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/police-george-floyd-black-parents-20200612.html
SEPTA should extend benefits to families of workers who died from COVID-19 | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/coronavirus-transit-workers-philadelphia-septa-protections-20200611.html
What was the National Guard doing in Philadelphia, anyway?
https://www.witf.org/2020/06/12/what-was-the-national-guard-doing-in-philadelphia-anyway/
Pitt
SEA wants a stronger voice in the development at the former Civic Arena site
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2020/06/12/Civic-Arena-lower-Hill-District-SEA-URA-First-National-Bank-Udin-Fontana/stories/202006120075
URA, Citizens Bank donate $15,000 to help black businesses damaged by protest violence
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2020/06/11/URA-Citizens-Bank-donations-Pittsburgh-black-businesses-George-Floyd-protests/stories/202006120078
Peduto praises administration, promises reform in statement on Black Lives Matter protests
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2020/06/11/Pittsburgh-Bill-Peduto-Black-Lives-Matter-George-Floyd-protests-police-reforms-social-justice-race-equity/stories/202006110147
Peduto gives statement on George Floyd and Black Lives Matter movement
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/peduto-gives-statement-on-george-floyd-and-black-lives-matter-movement/
Nine sue diocese over alleged sexual abuse
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2020/06/11/Nine-sue-diocese-over-alleged-sexual-abuse-Catholic-Pittsburgh/stories/202006110120
City planning to show drive-in movies beginning Saturday
https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/movies/2020/06/11/Pittsburgh-planning-drive-in-movies-beginning-Saturday/stories/202006110124
‘We are never going to be tired’: South Hills protest organizer vows continued fight over racial injustice
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/black-lives-matter-protest-underway-in-dormont/
Pittsburgh Public Schools axes drive-in commencements because of planned protests
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-public-schools-axes-drive-in-commencements-because-of-planned-protests/
Pittsburgh expanding ‘Grab and Go’ meal sites for kids and seniors
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-expanding-grab-and-go-meal-sites-for-kids-and-seniors/
State News
The Pennsylvania GOP may spark another party fight in its bid for ‘unity’
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/clout/pennsylvania-gop-battle-bob-asher-andy-reilly-lawrence-20200612.html
Pa.’s decline in child abuse reports is ‘not a data trend that we were happy to see’
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/06/pas-decline-in-child-abuse-reports-is-not-a-data-trend-that-we-were-happy-to-see.html
Pa. keeps police misconduct records secret
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/06/police-misconduct-records-kept-secret-in-pennsylvania.html
Washington
‘I owe a debt’; Cory Booker, the son of civil rights activists, is leading the push for police reform
https://www.inquirer.com/news/cory-booker-george-floyd-police-reform-congress-20200611.html