Legislature

Pa. lawmakers, Gov. Wolf close to a budget deal: 5 things to watch (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

State budget deal inches closer to the finish line | WITF

House passes bill providing optional COVID do-over year for school students | News | tribdem.com

Why voters may decide if an ID is needed at the Pa. polls. The latest (ydr.com)

Pennsylvania Senate Launches Voter ID Constitutional Amendment Process – NBC10 Philadelphia (nbcphiladelphia.com)

Pa. Senate sends Voter ID constitutional amendment to House for review | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Senate launches voter ID constitutional amendment process | Macon Telegraph

Proof of ID at the polls? Dems say ‘No way’ as budget deadline looms | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)

How Erie-area lawmakers voted on Pa. House GOP election-reform bill (goerie.com)

Aiming to avoid a veto, Pa. Senate moves voter ID constitutional amendment – Opera News (dailyadvent.com)

Philadelphia council member among those arrested in fair funding protest – Today News Post

Calling for fair school funding, clergy, activists, Philly Councilmember Gym detained after interrupting Pa. Senate session | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pennsylvania Capitol Police detain protesters, including Philadelphia council member, outside Senate chamber | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Final days before Pa. state budget is due; We The People rally for funds (abc27.com)

‘I’m not tired of standing up. Are you?’ As deadline looms, progressives push their budget agenda | Thursday Morning Coffee | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Hardball politics: Pa. lawmakers try to block college funding until Senate passes sex-abuse bill (abc27.com)

Senate passes legislation to help children experiencing homelessness or in foster care to graduate high school | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Pa. House votes to ban ‘vaccine passports,’ restrict health secretary | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pennsylvania’s vaccine passport ban clears state House | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

GOP bill stripping powers from Secretary of Health, banning public vaccine checks advances through Pa. House | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

New legislation would commit Pa. to investing in workforce development while combating climate change | News | northcentralpa.com

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Build Support For New Marijuana Legalization Bill | Marijuana Moment

State government committee advances bill to curb congressional gerrymandering | Pennsylvania News | wfmz.com

Katie Muth’s War With Beleaguered PSERS (Teachers’ State Pension Fund) Rages On – This Is Lower Merion And Narberth

Kutztown Council opposes Water Quality Act Senate Bill 597 for financial burden, short time to comply | Local News | berksmontnews.com

Warren, Santarsiero welcome Pennsbury state champ Kayli Williams to Capitol – Lower Bucks Times

Film industry incentive means more money, jobs in Pa. | Columnists | heraldstandard.com

Editorial | Senate votes to allow local police to use radar; House should, too | News | tribdem.com

Radar in Pennsylvania; Senate OKs local police use for speed enforcement – 6abc Philadelphia

Pa. Senate passes radar for local police | Local News | ncnewsonline.com

Drivers beware! Radar guns could soon roll out to more police to catch speeders in Pennsylvania | wnep.com

Redistricting priorities remain unclear | The Bucks County Herald

Lower Saucon Twp. Joins Growing Opposition to Water Mgmt. Bill (sauconsource.com)

CWSA discusses pending Pa. bill on water safety – Lehigh Valley Press (lvpnews.com)

Guest Editorial: Wisely invest state budget surplus | New Pittsburgh Courier

A PA bill to protect lemonade stands will head to Gov. Wolf’s desk (goerie.com)

Senator Mensch introduced 2 Montgomery County residents to Pa. Senate | Pennsylvania News | wfmz.com

Bill Expands Safe Haven Law For Newborns – WDAC

Senior Prescription Drug Bill Advances – WDAC

Pennsylvania State Grange statement on vote on Dairy (SB 434) | Morning Ag Clips

Editorial: Don’t fall for a phony ‘forensic audit’ of 2020 election | TribLIVE.com

Gina Diorio: For real lobbying reform, Harrisburg must look in the mirror (broadandliberty.com)

Task force reports racial, economic inequalities permeate juvenile justice system | News | delcotimes.com

Pa. Senator Mike Regan cited for motorcycle crash (abc27.com)

State Senate Confirms PA Education and Labor Secretaries | PoliticsPA

Pennsylvania Lawmaker Chris Sainato Defends $1.8 Million In Taxpayer-Paid Expenses – CBS Pittsburgh (cbslocal.com)

Mike Reese Memorial 5K will help establish foundation in late lawmaker’s memory | TribLIVE.com

Pa. education funding suit gets a date in court | News | dailylocal.com

Editorial: Law to support caregivers will benefit elderly residents | Opinion | delcotimes.com

Harrisburg should not pass up this opportunity to invest in the Black economy | Opinion | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

This budget season, the General Assembly must address education funding inequality in Pa. | Opinion | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pa.’s budget process needs an upgrade; I suggest swapping our needs for theirs | John Baer – pennlive.com

 

Coronavirus – COVID-19

Covid cases, hospitalizations drop in Pennsylvania, Allegheny and Westmoreland counties; vaccine rates inch up | TribLIVE.com

Health leaders concerned about low vaccination rates among young adults (abc27.com)

Heart inflammation in teens and young adults after COVID-19 vaccine is rare, CDC says | WITF

COVID confusion? Pa. university system says it can’t require student vaccinations, but 1 public campus already does | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Unvaccinated Missourians fuel COVID-19: ‘We will be the canary’ | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

UPMC enrolling kids for Moderna covid vaccine trial | TribLIVE.com

Berks County commissioners vote to lift county’s COVID emergency declaration | Local News | readingeagle.com

Thunder in the Valley crowds offered free COVID-19 shots during rally | Coronavirus | tribdem.com

Almost 90% of Lackawanna senior citizens fully COVID-19 vaccinated | Coronavirus | thetimes-tribune.com

 

Business/Jobs

U.S. restaurants boosting menu prices at fast clip to recoup costs | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

PPS to recruit bus drivers at Summerfest 2021 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Joe Bell: Ongoing trade war limits recovery for U.S. businesses | TribLIVE.com

Philly-based technicians at NBC, Telemundo threaten to go on strike | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)

The Great Resignation: Why Millions of Workers Are Quitting Their Jobs : NPR

SBA EIDL loan increases were approved for thousands of borrowers. A $2M limit is on the horizon. – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

SBA restores advisory council for underserved communities – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

One quarter of Americans wanted to start a business during Covid. Here’s what stopped them. – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Rebuild the economy by unlocking the power of solar energy (timesonline.com)

Keep women in the workforce. Pass the Family Care Act (timesonline.com)

Lehigh Valley employers, workers face new work adjustments – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

 

Crime/Punishment

Is the Pa. law that police used to charge a woman for Facebook posts constitutional? | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

3 more Western Pa. residents, including Scottdale man, charged in Capitol riots | TribLIVE.com

 

Education

Plan to merge Lock Haven University, other Pa. state universities raises fears for troubled schools (inquirer.com)

Community leaders discuss the ‘educational emergency’ in Pittsburgh Public Schools | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

West Mifflin school budget approved; tax rate unchanged | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Gov. Tom Wolf and Republicans reach a deal to revive a powerful Pa. charter-school panel | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Private colleges look to diversify enrollment by recruiting nontraditional students – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Widener University President Julie Wollman leaving for Penn next year – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Public schools will be a primary, year-one beneficiary of Pa.’s share of American Rescue Act dollars – pennlive.com

North Penn High School first to adopt VR spatial computing program (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Erie School District uses pandemic funds for summer program (goerie.com)

Reading School District will buy former Reading Outlet Center to build school | Local News | readingeagle.com

Northwest Area Board OKs budget with maximum tax hike | Times Leader

 

Elections/Politics

Michigan Senate GOP probe: No systemic fraud in election | TribLIVE.com

Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania’s open U.S. Senate seat turning into east-west battle | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Self-identified socialist scores upset victory in Buffalo mayoral primary | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Transportation

Pa. highways rated among the worst in the nation for road and bridge deterioration (abc27.com)

PennDOT working on permanent repair for oft-hit Route 10 guide rail in Berks | Local News | readingeagle.com

Passenger rail service from Allentown to New York: Is it necessary? – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

 

Health

To improve health care disparities, close the digital divide | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)

Maskless Americans once again face common germs and ailments (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

In pandemic, drug overdose deaths soar among Black Americans | News | tribdem.com

How to protect yourself from ticks and the diseases they transmit | Smart Talk (witf.org)

 

State News

Pa. extends deadline for housing rebate checks to end of 2021 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Delco teacher files suit against investing consultants to PSERS (inquirer.com)

Pennsylvania lost $1.7 billion in 2019 due to migration, study finds (broadandliberty.com)

Op-Ed: Pipelines deliver the energy that powers Pennsylvania – and the U.S. | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

American Rescue Plan funding needed in hardest hit communities (goerie.com)

Hershey restaurant sues federal government, claiming discrimination over COVID-19 grants | WITF

 

National News

U.S. officials expected to extend eviction moratorium by 30 days as fears about renters mount | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Supreme Court rules in favor of former Eastern Pa. high school cheerleader over profane Snapchat post | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Brandi Levy, Pa. high school cheerleader suspended for Snapchat rant, wins Supreme Court ruling (inquirer.com)

US Marks Slavery’s End on New ‘Juneteenth’ National Holiday (theglobepost.com)

Miami-area building collapse kills at least 1, causes massive emergency response | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Hong Kong’s last pro-democracy paper publishes final edition | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Joint Chiefs Chair Mark Milley, Gaetz Spar On Critical Race Theory : NPR

John McAfee Found Dead In A Spanish Prison Cell : NPR

Photos: Scenes From Across America As COVID-19 Restrictions Begin To Lift : The Picture Show : NPR

The pandemic led to the biggest drop in U.S. life expectancy since WWII, study finds | WITF

Civil rights leaders announce another March on Washington after voting rights bill fails in Senate | Across America | phillytrib.com

 

Local News

Reading City Council wants additional oversight on how $61 million in federal funding is spent | Local News | readingeagle.com

Reading-Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center wants to expand welding and machining programs | Local News | readingeagle.com

State, Chester County officials honor Dinniman with garden dedication for charitable legacy to feed the hungry | Local-news | dailylocal.com

Bucks, Montgomery school districts offer free summer meals to students (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Lancaster Farmland Trust kicks off public phase of fundraising campaign, asking for $7.5M | Local News | lancasteronline.com

City of Erie property owners could see new stormwater management fee (goerie.com)

Millcreek Township will use COVID relief money to improve streets (goerie.com)

Broad Street corridor project end in sight | The Bucks County Herald

Lackawanna County to receive share of lien attorney fees paid by delinquent Scranton taxpayers | News | thetimes-tribune.com

Coalition to teach ABCs of bike safety in NEPA | News | standardspeaker.com

 

Pitt

Law enforcement officials expected to discuss gun violence, impact on victims in Pittsburgh today | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh City Council again delays bill to increase lifeguard wages | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh launches a community-based Food Equity Ambassador Program. | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A change-up: Developer to get until Dec. 31 to start residential and retail complex on North Shore | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh police carry out ‘blitz’ on abandoned vehicles in Homewood | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Abby Lee Miller sues airline, claiming employees dropped her at Pittsburgh airport | TribLIVE.com

Pittsburgh acquires former VA hospital site, plans public safety training site | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Pittsburgh unionized Google contractors met with Kamala Harris and Labor Secretary Walsh | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)

Artists can apply for BIPOC Micro-Grant Program, launched in memory of Mac Miller | Visual Art | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)

 

Philly

Biden anti-violence plan has Philadelphia work with other cities on rising gun crimes (inquirer.com)

Philadelphia increases violence prevention program funding as shootings soar. What does it buy? (inquirer.com)

Philly Mayor Kenney stands by his violence prevention plan as homicides show no sign of ebbing | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

How Philadelphia will spend $155 million to stop violence surge – On top of Philly news (billypenn.com)

Philly pledges more humane jail conditions and pays $125,000 to bail funds to settle suit (inquirer.com)

Philadelphia’s ban on plastic bags begins next week (inquirer.com)

How 4 Philadelphia nonprofits plan to use MacKenzie Scott’s donations – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

 

Washington

Senators to pitch $953B bipartisan infrastructure plan to Biden | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Biden whisperer, longtime Washington lobbyist helps secure breakthrough in infrastructure talks | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

White House replaces regulator overseeing U.S. mortgage giants following Supreme Court ruling | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

VP Kamala Harris to visit U.S.-Mexico border area regarding migration | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Biden targets law-breaking gun dealers in anti-crime plan | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Rep. Lloyd Smucker proposes tax on electric cars (abc27.com)

Rep. Fred Keller urges full reopening of House of Representatives to public | News, Sports, Jobs – Williamsport Sun-Gazette (sungazette.com)

Retiring Toomey looms large over Senate transport bill – Roll Call

Biden includes Cindy McCain among 17 nominations – pennlive.com