Legislature
Pa. bill would help college students with crushing debt burden | By Sens. Vincent Hughes, Lindsey Williams and Katie Muth
https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/opinion/2019/06/pa-bill-would-help-college-students-with-crushing-debt-burden-opinion.html
Letter to the Editor: Sen. Kearney makes case for hiking minimum wage
https://www.delcotimes.com/opinion/letter-to-the-editor-sen-kearney-makes-case-for-hiking/article_a453d3b0-934b-11e9-b310-57556633ccbf.html
Make pipeline safety priority
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/make-pipeline-safety-priority-1.2498789
Hundreds rally for Killion clean energy legislation
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/local/hundreds-rally-for-killion-clean-energy-legislation/article_8e1ec7c6-9378-11e9-a4ae-df208aaf636d.html
How a bill to eliminate cash assistance for disabled Pennsylvanians turned into ‘Faustian’ budget dilemma
https://www.penncapital-star.com/working-the-economy/how-a-bill-to-eliminate-cash-assistance-for-disabled-pennsylvanians-turned-into-faustian-budget-dilemma/
Pennsylvania Sunday hunting bill takes another step forward
https://www.mcall.com/sports/outdoors/mc-spt-outdoors-sunday-hunting-vote-20190620-gthlfwh6snebjesdcylks3pm7y-story.html
Phillips-Hill gets two bills addressing opioid epidemic through Senate
https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/politics/2019/06/20/phillips-hill-gets-two-bills-addressing-opioid-epidemic-through-senate/1510955001/
Lehigh Valley lawmakers condemn Allentown shooting, ask Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to intervene
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-allentown-shooting-lawmakers-20190620-moy74sk6efg37nnbdd3diys5qi-story.html
E-Verify bill passes Pennsylvania House
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20190620/e-verify-bill-passes-pennsylvania-house
Two bills in Pa.’s legislature would place restrictions on medication-assisted treatment for addiction
https://www.inquirer.com/health/buprenorphine-suboxone-drug-legislation-pennsylvania-senate-20190620.html
House passes bill permitting (slightly) better odds for Pennsylvania Lottery players
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/06/house-passes-bill-permitting-slightly-better-odds-for-pennsylvania-lottery-players.html
Sen. Yaw appointed vice chair of Appropriations Committee
https://www.dailyitem.com/news/local_news/sen-yaw-appointed-vice-chair-of-appropriations-committee/article_ea625b04-562d-59e4-a313-fc4661d67bd4.html
Collateral damage in hospital war
https://www.citizensvoice.com/opinion/collateral-damage-in-hospital-war-1.2498778
Lead contamination in school drinking water | PennLive letters
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2019/06/lead-contamination-in-school-drinking-water-pennlive-letters.html
EDITORIAL: Parity in Interscholastic Athletics act won’t solve woes in high school sports
https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/opinion/editorials/2019/06/21/editorial-new-bill-wont-solve-pennsylvanias-high-school-sports-woes/1494169001/
Administration
#AskGovWolf highlights: Cash for the poor? Yes. Arming teachers? No.
https://www.witf.org/news/2019/06/cash-for-the-poor-yes-arming-teachers-no-and-4-other-highlights-from-askgovwolf.php
Governor Tom Wolf and Restore PA / understanding migraine
https://www.witf.org/smart-talk/2019/06/governor-tom-wolf-and-understanding-migraine-headache.php
Fracking health worries ignite calls for moratorium in Pennsylvania
https://www.sharonherald.com/news/local_news/fracking-health-worries-ignite-calls-for-moratorium-in-pennsylvania/article_7559054f-47aa-54c0-a139-762fe8a4ab1a.html
Fetterman to meet with DSI officials
https://www.republicanherald.com/news/fetterman-to-meet-with-dsi-officials-1.2498960
Budget
Disagreements remain as Pennsylvania’s budget deadline nears
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/disagreements-remain-as-pennsylvanias-budget-deadline-nears/
Business
Clairton residents, activists rally for cleaner air
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/environment/2019/06/20/Clairton-residents-activists-rally-cleaner-air-pollution-Coke-Works-Mon-Valley/stories/201906200136
New owner hopes to restore former Westinghouse campus to ‘iconic state’
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2019/06/20/buy-Westinghouse-Nuclear-campus-Monroeville-Next-Tier-RedBird/stories/201906200106
MediaNews Group’s attrition plan slashes about 50 percent of Reading Eagle Co. jobs
https://www.inquirer.com/business/reading-eagle-newspaper-medianews-bankruptcy-20190620.html
Reading Eagle’s new owner to retain 111 employees
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/eagles-new-owner-to-retain-111-employees
As Shell cracker nears ‘peak construction’ point of 6,000 workers, promoter in D.C. pushes ‘petrochemical Appalachian Renaissance’
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/powersource/2019/06/20/petrochemical-Appalachian-Shell-cracker-promoter-Washington-jobs-DOE-Ohio/stories/201906200133
Allegheny Township Save-A-Lot nearly empty, apparently ready to close
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/allegheny-township-sav-a-lot-nearly-empty-apparently-ready-to-close/
Company asks state for money over W-B Area site
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/company-asks-state-for-money-over-w-b-area-site-1.2498888
Seemingly endless rain puts a damper on some local businesses
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/seemingly-endless-rain-puts-a-damper-on-some-local-businesses-1.2498785
Giant launches new shelf tags to promote Pa. products
https://www.poconorecord.com/news/20190620/giant-launches-new-shelf-tags-to-promote-pa-products
Crime/Punishment
10 wounded in shooting outside Allentown nightclub
https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/allentown-nightclub-mass-shooting-deja-vu-ten-wounded-20190621.html
Man in custody in Allentown shooting that wounded 10
https://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-shooting-arrest-deja-vu-20190621-tt2phvfb4rdyng3obdkqdun6iu-story.html
Allentown shooting: History of multiple shootings has deadly toll in Lehigh Valley
https://www.mcall.com/news/police/mc-nws-deja-vu-lehigh-valley-worst-shootings-20190620-od3epc3hx5cmle4vz4emf6v4te-story.html
Former Scranton School District fleet manager pleads guilty to overbilling district
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/former-scranton-school-district-fleet-manager-pleads-guilty-to-overbilling-district-1.2498640
US attorney defends Ciavarella prosecution
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/us-attorney-defends-ciavarella-prosecution-1.2498838
Fired Scranton zoning officer charged with theft
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/fired-scranton-zoning-officer-charged-with-theft-1.2498627
Education
Inquirer seeks to open ‘wholesale sealing’ of federal court records in Hershey School student cases
https://www.inquirer.com/business/hershey-chocolate-charity-negligence-school-suicide-pennsylvania-politics-20190620.html
Woodland Hills board approves job cuts, tax hike to balance budget
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2019/06/20/Woodland-Hills-approves-60-job-cuts-tax-hike-to-balance-budget/stories/201906200096
Hazleton Area school board mulls plan to cut libraries for classrooms
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/hazleton-area-school-board-mulls-plan-to-cut-libraries-for-classrooms-1.2498881
Interim Temple business school dean, appointed after rankings scandal, elevated to permanent post
https://www.inquirer.com/news/temple-business-school-dean-hired-rankings-scandal-20190620.html
Pennsylvania picks Drexel, Jefferson and Penn State partners for medical marijuana research
https://www.inquirer.com/business/weed/pennsylvania-medical-marijuana-research-partnerships-approved-20190620.html
Elections/Politics
Candidates set for special election to fill state House seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Fred Keller
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/06/candidates-set-for-special-election-to-fill-state-house-seat-vacated-by-us-rep-fred-keller.html
Health Care
Sirens are sounding: The Highmark-UPMC mess is an emergency
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2019/06/21/Sirens-are-sounding-The-Highmark-UPMC-mess-is-an-emergency/stories/201906200062
Beth’s story: The human cost of UPMC’s indifference
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2019/06/21/Beth-s-story-The-human-cost-of-UPMC-s-indifference/stories/201906210022
W-B General CEO denies sale rumors
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/w-b-general-ceo-denies-sale-rumors-1.2498834
Geisinger appoints new president and CEO
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/business/geisinger-appoints-new-president-and-ceo-1.2498600
Local News
Report: Shickshinny, Plymouth have highest rates of financially stressed households
https://www.timesleader.com/news/747650/report-shickshinny-plymouth-have-highest-rates-of-financially-stressed-households
‘Wilkes-Berry’ fetes strawberries at downtown festival
https://www.timesleader.com/news/747640/wilkes-berry-fetes-strawberries-at-downtown-festival
Retired federal judge remembered at ‘simple and beautiful’ funeral service
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/retired-federal-judge-remembered-at-simple-and-beautiful-funeral-service-1.2498775
City zoners OK exception for former hotel
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/city-zoners-ok-exception-for-former-hotel-1.2498904
Hazleton police to focus on summer quality of life issues
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/hazleton-police-to-focus-on-summer-quality-of-life-issues-1.2498846
Penn Twp. Democrats to clean Bushy Run monuments
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/penn-twp-democrats-to-clean-bushy-run-monuments/
Frazer police hire 5 new officers
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/frazer-police-hire-5-new-officers/
Petition to impose term limits on Reading officials can move forward, judge rules
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/petition-to-impose-term-limits-on-reading-officials-can-move-forward-judge-rules
Reading Redevelopment Authority chairman rescinds his resignation
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/reading-redevelopment-authority-chairman-rescinds-his-resignation
York officials say no officers, while on the force, made social media posts promoting violence
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/06/york-officials-say-no-officers-while-on-the-force-made-social-media-posts-promoting-violence.html
Chester Water Authority gears up for survival battle in court
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/chester-water-authority-gears-up-for-survival-battle-in-court/article_582dbd50-93a2-11e9-88ca-5b95df92a85b.html
West Chester gets new sustainability director
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/local/west-chester-gets-new-sustainability-director/article_f9951234-9392-11e9-99ca-27648cb46acb.html
National News
Ore.’s governor orders state police to find GOP senators so they can vote on a climate bill
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/environment/2019/06/20/Oregon-state-police-Senate-Republicans-senators-vote-climate-bill-Gov-Brown/stories/201906200172
Migrant children describe neglect at an El Paso border facility
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2019/06/20/migrant-children-Texas-border/stories/201906200173
Philly
Blast rips through South Philadelphia refinery, triggering major fire
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/refinery-explosion-fire-south-philadelphia-energy-solutions-20190621.html
What Philly’s most pothole-riddled streets have in common
https://www.inquirer.com/transportation/pothole-streets-philadelphia-repave-paving-repairs-20190621.html
Councilman Squilla introduces bills to make it easier to reuse Philadelphia’s historic buildings
https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/councilman-squilla-historic-preservation-bills-mayor-kenney-developer-incentives-parking-by-right-20190620.html
Philly police union: Any firing over Facebook scandal would be ‘completely out of bounds’
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-police-union-facebook-posts-union-fop-richard-ross-20190620.html
City Council to hold hearing on alleged racist Facebook posts by police officers
https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/city-council-to-hold-hearing-on-alleged-racist-facebook-posts/article_50078692-45bc-59b3-a1fe-50d58c727ef6.html
Ban on single-use plastic bags introduced in Philly Council with 15-cent fee on other bags
https://www.inquirer.com/science/climate/philadelphia-single-use-plastic-bag-ban-mark-squilla-20190620.html
The race to ‘fix’ schools has ignored emotional learning | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/philadelphia-schools-student-psychology-emotional-health-20190620.html
Pitt
Peduto defends refugee community after Syrian arrested by FBI for bomb plot
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/06/20/Peduto-defends-refugee-community-after-Syrian-refugee-arrested-by-FBI-for-bomb-plot/stories/201906200097
Church targeted by alleged terrorist unites in worship, welcomes Muslim neighbors
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/church-targeted-by-alleged-terrorist-unites-in-worship-welcomes-muslim-neighbors/
Pittsburgh church bomb plot suspect had several targets, authorities say
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-church-bomb-plot-suspect-had-several-targets-authorities-say/
Thanks, FBI: Bomb sting shows feds have the city’s back
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/06/21/Pittsburgh-bomb-plot-sting-FBI-Syrian-refugee-Islamic-State/stories/201906210044
Experts: Refugee vetting effective despite alleged Pittsburgh terror plot
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/experts-refugee-vetting-effective-despite-alleged-pittsburgh-terror-plot/
Penn Hills nonprofit helps find lost people with special needs
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2019/06/20/Finding-ways-to-find-lost-people-with-special-needs/stories/201905090001
Auditor General faults Pittsburgh public on school transportation contracts
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2019/06/20/Pittsburgh-Public-Schools-student-transportation-bus-Auditor-General-DePasquale/stories/201906200101
Feds indict 37 in Pittsburgh fentanyl, heroin and coke investigation
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/06/20/37-indicted-East-End-Pittsburgh-fentanyl-cocaine-drug-ring/stories/201906200091
Committee recommends approval of Port Authority’s 2020 budget
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2019/06/20/Committee-recommends-approval-Port-Authority-2020-operating-capital-budget-transportation/stories/201906200084
Pittsburgh school board renews charters for schools in Hill District, Hazelwood
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2019/06/20/Pittsburgh-Public-Schools-charter-renewal-Propel-Hazelwood-Hill-House-Passport-Academy/stories/201906180108
URA chief to leave in July
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/career-workplace/2019/06/20/ura-director-leaves-july-Rubinstein/stories/201906200079
State News
Moon native Cameron Johnson goes No. 11 overall in NBA draft to Phoenix Suns
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/Pitt/2019/06/20/cameron-johnson-pitt-panthers-nba-draft-north-carolina-tar-heels-wpial-basketball/stories/201906200158
Religious communities consider how much faith to put in marijuana
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2019/06/20/medical-marijuana-faith/stories/201906160185
The stakes are huge in Philly and Pa. if we don’t get the census right | Editorial
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/2020-census-funding-pennsylvania-undercount-immigrants-citizenship-question-philadelphia-20190621.html
Western Pennsylvania wrestles with China’s recycling restrictions
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-pittsburgh-region-faces-strain-of-chinas-recycling-restrictions/
Allegheny River advisory continues, locks to remain closed
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/allegheny-river-advisory-continues-locks-to-remain-closed-due-to-high-water/
Rule pollutes public policy
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/rule-pollutes-public-policy-1.2498791
ICE raid leaves mushrooms rotting on Chester County farm after workers leave
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/ice-raid-leaves-mushrooms-rotting-on-chester-county-farm
Harrisburg attorney says more ICE raids are causing immigrants to ‘divest’ in community
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/06/harrisburg-attorney-says-more-ice-raids-are-causing-immigrants-to-divest-in-community.html
Editorial: State’s role in women’s suffrage worth celebrating
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/editorial-states-role-in-womens-suffrage-worth-celebrating
Transportation
LCTA uses Dump the Pump Day to promote transit, downtown explorer contest
https://www.timesleader.com/news/747634/lcta-uses-dump-the-pump-day-to-promote-transit-downtown-explorer-contest
COLTS skips Dump the Pump day
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/colts-skips-dump-the-pump-day-1.2498615
Closing of South Main St. in downtown Wilkes-Barre extended
https://www.timesleader.com/news/747614/closing-of-south-main-st-in-downtown-wilkes-barre-extended
Public asked to plant gardens for bees/pollinators at PennDOT rest stops, interchanges, traffic islands
https://triblive.com/local/regional/public-asked-to-plant-gardens-for-bees-pollinators-at-penndot-rest-stops-interchanges-traffic-islands/
Complaints filed to PennDOT over ‘oil and chip’ damage
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/complaints-filed-to-penndot-over-oil-and-chip-damage-1.2498840
Washington
U.S. House approves $300 million to address backlog in federal disability benefit appeals
https://www.inquirer.com/news/congress-susan-wild-social-security-administration-disability-backlog-delays-philadelphia-20190620.html
Report: Trump calls off U.S. military strike against Iran just hours before planned operation
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/iran-us-military-strike-donald-trump-cancelled-20190621.html
House would block feds from interfering with state pot laws
https://www.inquirer.com/business/weed/house-would-block-feds-from-interfering-with-state-pot-laws-20190620.html
Casey, Toomey back PFAS bills in Congress
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20190620/casey-toomey-back-pfas-bills-in-congress
Weather
What is a flash flood? From warnings to watches, here are the weather terms you need to know.
https://www.inquirer.com/weather/tornado-watch-warning-thunderstorm-national-weather-service-philadelphia-20190530.html
Flash flooding forces road closures, evacuations in Berks County
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/flash-flooding-forces-road-closures-evacuations-in-berks-county