News Digest :: June 21, 2022

Legislature

Delco Legislators Introduce Bills to Stop Privatizing Healthcare – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Pa. lawmakers propose bill that bars for-profit entities from owning, managing hospitals | Today in Pa. – pennlive.com

Pa. Senate committee advances proposed fireworks reform – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pa. Senate committee advances bill to limit fireworks (mcall.com)

Gov. Wolf wants education spending increases in his final PA budget (goerie.com)

The bipartisan push to cut corporate taxes in Pennsylvania, explained (goerie.com)

The bipartisan push to cut corporate taxes in Pennsylvania, explained | TribLIVE.com

Social workers ask for more funding in Pa. budget (abc27.com)

We’re in the budget home stretch; do the right thing for disability workers | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Legislators should invest boldly in public schools this year | PennLive letters – pennlive.com

Look At The Reproductive Health Bills Currently Before PA’s General Assembly – LevittownNow.com

Pennsylvania House approves bill legalizing fentanyl test strips (abc27.com)

DelVal Reacts to Sen. Doug Mastriano’s Idea to Arm School Staff – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Pennsylvania dog license fee increase proposed (mcall.com)

After nursing home operators’ dire warnings, talks underway to address funding crisis | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Driverless vehicle bill advances in Pa., hoping to capitalize on Pittsburgh’s growing industry | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Coronavirus – COVID-19

Kids 6 months to 5 years old can be vaccinated starting Tuesday in PA (abc27.com)

COVID-19 vaccines for youngest kids ready to roll out across Pa. | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Business/Jobs

Pennsylvania receives $3 million for unemployment compensation disparities | 90.5 WESA

Maryland Apple store workers face hurdles after their vote to unionize : NPR

Five small businesses recognized by SCORE Chester and Delaware counties (delcotimes.com)

National average gas prices sliding under $5 a gallon, except in Pa. – pennlive.com

Gas prices fall below $5 per gallon in the first weekly drop since April | WITF

Tax cuts cause inflation, too. We need to resist quick fixes | Bruce Ledewitz – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Oil refineries are making a windfall — so why do they keep closing? | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Crime/Punishment

Statewide Pennsylvania police hiring database hindered by loopholes, lack of enforcement · Spotlight PA

Three former Sharon Hill officers have moved to quash charges in the shooting death of an 8-year-old girl last year (delcotimes.com)

 

Education

Chestnut Hill College’s Sister Carol Jean Vale prepares to retire after 30 years (inquirer.com)

State Sen. Sharif Street elected Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair (abc27.com)

Arming teachers isn’t the solution to mass shootings in schools | PennLive Editorial – pennlive.com

Dartmouth College will no longer offer loans to undergrad students : NPR

Two new principals appointed in Owen J. Roberts School District – Daily Local

 

Elections/Politics

Fetterman, Shapiro are teaming up in 2022. Will it help, hurt? | Tuesday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Sharif Street is the new Pa. Democratic Party chair. Josh Shapiro wanted someone else. (inquirer.com)

Pa. Governor race: Future of abortion laws in Pennsylvania on the ballot (abc27.com)

Mastriano won’t talk to the mainstream press, an unconventional strategy as contest against Shapiro begins | PA Power and Policy | lancasteronline.com

A Black Republican tries to bring in Black voters to the GOP | News | phillytrib.com

 

Environment

Salena Zito: Half-built Pa. solar farm shows renewables aren’t ready for prime time | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Climate change is everywhere and dangerous, survey shows : NPR

DEP wants more work on oil leak near White Haven | News | standardspeaker.com

 

Transportation

New PennDOT database enhances transparency for customers | The Bucks County Herald

 

Health

Pa. abortion providers brace for patient surge if Roe v. Wade overturned (inquirer.com)

Disabled Pennsylvanians fear plan for home health aides will backfire (goerie.com)

Penn State Health opening pediatric center at site of former Toys R Us in Manheim Township | Health | lancasteronline.com

 

State News

Natural gas industry: $234 million in impact fees for 2021, second-highest on record | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Wolf orders Pennsylvania flags to half-staff in honor of fallen Philadelphia firefighter | Southeastern Pennsylvania | wfmz.com

Could we see gas tax cuts in southwestern Pennsylvania? – WPXI

Proposal to raise the cost to fish, boat in Pennsylvania under consideration | WITF

 

National News

Massive heat dome to bring hot weather to United States (abc27.com)

North Carolina considers new laws to protect patients from medical debt : Shots – Health News : NPR

Texas GOP’s new platform says Biden didn’t really win the 2020 election : NPR

Cryptocurrency tech’s security weaknesses could compromise how it runs: DARPA : NPR

Enough baby formula to make 19 million bottles headed to U.S. from Ireland – pennlive.com

The District of Columbia allows incarcerated people to vote, a rarity in the U.S. – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

The Black-White homeownership gap is wider than it was in the ’60s. Here’s how to close it | Commentary | phillytrib.com

Facebook removes GOP Senate candidate’s ‘RINO hunting’ video | TribLIVE.com

 

Local News

Lancaster affordable housing project moves forward, neighbors raise concerns (abc27.com)

Monroe County’s average home sold for a higher price year over year (poconorecord.com)

With Tuesday’s solstice, summer officially arrives to region – Daily Local

Denied: Dallas Twp. zoning board rejects proposed development off Irem Road | News | citizensvoice.com

Aulenbach’s Cemetery in dire need of volunteers (readingeagle.com)

Allentown board rejects developer Nat Hyman’s proposed 48-unit apartment building – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

 

Pitt

How 2 Pittsburgh-area siblings journeyed together from Highland Park to Stanford degrees | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Greater demand, rise in maintenance costs drive Western Pennsylvania rent increases | TribLIVE.com

Fountain Street Overlook to open with a scenic view of Pittsburgh | TribLIVE.com

Code Orange air quality alert issued for Tuesday in Pittsburgh region | TribLIVE.com

Tony Norman: Can Pittsburgh have an Emmett Till moment? | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Philly

Fire in Chinatown tears through two buildings (inquirer.com)

Philadelphia voters want lower property taxes, but higher taxes on the rich | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Philadelphia’s increase in investor home purchases leads the nation, and it isn’t even close – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Philly announces 30 winners of Community Champions Awards grants | Local News | phillytrib.com

Closing the Gap conference seeks to help Philly’s Latino business owners recover from the pandemic (inquirer.com)

 

Washington

Gas rebate cards for Americans? Biden administration ‘considering’ the move | ABC27

Jan. 6 committee to look at Trump’s pressure on state voting officials : NPR

Jan. 6 committee to hear from Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, others Trump pushed (inquirer.com)

Voters in Virginia’s 7th District reflect on Jan. 6 hearings : NPR

Biden signs off on hefty pay raise for federal firefighters – Daily Local

Lynn Malerba to become first Native American appointed U.S. treasurer (inquirer.com)