News Digest:: June 19, 2023

Legislature

What other newspapers are saying: Electric vehicle fee for road use is only fair | News, Sports, Jobs – Williamsport Sun-Gazette (sungazette.com)

Tree of Life, community react to guilty verdict in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial – WPXI

After Pennsylvania, THIS US state passes bill to declare school holiday on Diwali | Mint (livemint.com)

‘Some people have three jobs’: All eyes on Harrisburg for a minimum wage hike – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Lawmaker proposes $2,000 penalty for eagle killings | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Lifeline scholarships quietly introduced in the Senate | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Pennsylvania House Passes State Earned Income Tax Credit – Tennessee Star

Pennsylvania and New Jersey Propose Paying Student Teachers | BestColleges

State Awards Grants In Bucks To Combat Substance Use Disorders | Doylestown, PA Patch

Ideas exchanged at the “Thank a Black Teacher” celebration during Teacher Appreciation Week apply year round – The Philadelphia Sunday Sun (philasun.com)

Pa. Democrats Seek $250M for Renovations in Budget – Erie News Now | WICU and WSEE in Erie, PA

West Deer breaks ground on new municipal building | TribLIVE.com

Juneteenth flag raising part of weeklong celebration of freedom – Reading Eagle

Surging child labor violations prompt legislative action | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

PA lawmakers want casino lobbyist meeting probed · Spotlight PA

PA lawmakers debate how to fix school funding system · Spotlight PA

Business/Jobs

Philly sisters, unable to find girls’ basketball clothing in stores, create own brand – pennlive.com

COVID-19

Republicans oppose Biden’s CDC choice over her COVID policies | National | thecentersquare.com

Crime/Punishment

3 dead, including children, after man drives head-on into sister’s car – pennlive.com

Man says he did not deserve abuse he claims was inflicted by central Pa. officer – pennlive.com

16 hurt as Baltimore bus crashes into 2 cars, apartment building – pennlive.com

Pennsylvania State Police trooper, suspect killed in Juniata County shootout; one other trooper badly injured – pennlive.com

Pa. trooper among 6 dead, dozens hurt in weekend shootings in U.S. – pennlive.com

1 dead, at least 22 hurt in parking lot party shooting in suburban Chicago – pennlive.com

 Bethlehem man stabbed to death Sunday in Allentown; suspect arrested (mcall.com)

Education

Washington schools among those experimenting with year-round school | National | thecentersquare.com

Funding the 500: Pa.’s school funding fix is the challenge of our time | Monday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Funding the 500: A landmark school funding case put K-12 spending on trial – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Elections/Politics

Report: Turnover to blame for Luzerne election debacle · Spotlight PA

States with low election turnout did little in 2023 to expand voting access – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Environment

Drought conditions in Pennsylvania expected to last months | StateImpact Pennsylvania (npr.org)

Highest mountains in Pennsylvania (abc27.com)

Transportation

With Commuters Staying Home, Transit Agencies Try to Reinvent Themselves – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Health

‘Ozempic Finger’ joins ‘Ozempic Face’ and ‘Ozempic Butt’ as issue caused by popular drug. Here’s what it is – pennlive.com

State News

Shapiro Says I-95 Will Reopen Within Two Weeks (politicspa.com)

I-95 to reopen in 2 weeks, ‘I can state with confidence’: governor – pennlive.com

Ahead of Philadelphia visit, labor vows ‘largest ever’ 2024 ground game for Biden, Harris – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

June 16 Playbook: Coming To Town (politicspa.com)

Philadelphia high school student denied diploma after dancing across stage, viral video shows (abc27.com)

‘From Philly, for Philly’: A Q&A with Democratic activist Sinceré Harris – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Robert Bowers guilty of killing 11 in Tree of Life shooting | WITF

Drought conditions in Pennsylvania expected to last months | StateImpact Pennsylvania (npr.org)

Pa. under drought watch; people asked to cut water use | StateImpact Pennsylvania (npr.org)

1 trooper killed, 1 critically wounded in central Pennsylvan | WITF

Report says Pennsylvania and Florida towns among top places to retire (phillyburbs.com)

National News

Juneteenth history and why it is important | WITF

Shakeup at CBP, Border Patrol as replacements for outgoing chiefs are named | National | thecentersquare.com

Trump demands indictment in classified documents be withdrawn | National | thecentersquare.com

Report: Minneapolis police, city have pattern of violating U.S. Constitution | Minnesota | thecentersquare.com

Judge sentences Sinaloa Cartel trafficker to 13 years in U.S. prison | National | thecentersquare.com

These Cowboys Build a New Juneteenth Tradition at a Rodeo in Portland – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

A Nevada City Confronts Millions of Smelly Mormon Crickets – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Local News

Pa. town holds prayer vigil after shootings that killed, injured troopers – pennlive.com

Juneteenth HBG Jubilee draws a crowd Sunday to HACC – pennlive.com

What does Juneteenth mean to those in the Lehigh Valley? (mcall.com)

Easton Area grad, raised and inspired by single mother, earns full ride to UPenn (mcall.com)

Crash takes out utility pole in Allentown | Lehigh Valley Regional News | wfmz.com

History, present, path and purpose: Pride events set for Chester County History Center – Daily Local

Americans mark Juneteenth with parties, events and quiet reflection on the end of slavery | News | tribdem.com

Lancaster residents reflect on Juneteenth and why it’s important to educate more people about its significance | Local News | lancasteronline.com

Upper Darby police issue alerts for multiple scams and how to not fall victim – Delco Times

Pitt

After 3 weeks and a guilty verdict on all counts, Pittsburgh synagogue attack trial moves to penalty phase | TribLIVE.com

What to expect in Tree of Life synagogue gunman Robert Bowers’ sentencing | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Decorated Tuskegee Airman James Harvey star of Pittsburgh’s Juneteenth parade | TribLIVE.com

Pa. DEP issues Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Monday – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Fire rips through home in Lower Burrell – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Pittsburgh schools superintendent Wayne Walters still seen as right leader for district’s students | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

‘I think it should be for everybody’: Pittsburghers celebrate Juneteenth | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh credit card debt has grown with higher rates and inflation | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Philly

Defying national backlash, Philadelphia’s drag performers press on – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Philly sisters, unable to find girls’ basketball clothing in stores, create own brand – pennlive.com

Philadelphia high school student denied diploma after dancing across stage, viral video shows (abc27.com)

DA report: Blacks in Philly experience much more criminal justice disparities | Local News | phillytrib.com

New Philly children’s literacy event puts Juneteenth on the books | Local News | phillytrib.com

Washington

Pa.’s Fitzpatrick, Dems launch bipartisan student loan refinancing bill | Friday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Dem. Sen. John Fetterman Slammed For Wearing Hoodie And Shorts To Accompany Biden » WhatsNew2Day

Casey, Fetterman, Philly congressional delegation push for emergency funds to expand SEPTA capacity after I-95 collapse | Local News | phillytrib.com

‘We’re just trying to live our lives’: DACA hits 11-year mark still mired in the courts – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)