Legislature
How changing names is both more complex and expensive for the transgender community in Pa. (abc27.com)
Legal recognition for transgender, nonbinary Pennsylvanians doesn’t come easy. Here’s why some are calling for change | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Renewed calls for anti-discrimination law during LGBTQ Pride Month | Smart Talk (witf.org)
It’s far past time for Pa. lawmakers to pass comprehensive non-discrimination legislation | Opinion | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
GOP Wants To Add Voter ID To The Pennsylvania Constitution : NPR
Philly anti-gun violence efforts: Elected officials, clergy applaud funding – WHYY
Don’t get numb to gun violence, even as more people are shot in Philly each week | Opinion (inquirer.com)
Pa. plans to spend $1 billion in American Rescue Plan money. A few similar-sized states plan to spend more. | WITF
Wolf to sign budget package, celebrate public school funding | WITF
Gov. Tom Wolf says new state budget will ‘move Pennsylvania forward’ | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Schools, nursing homes big winners in state budget | News | dailyitem.com
Pennsylvania budget deal sparks partisan fight over proposed election audit bureau (inquirer.com)
GOP Legislature says it funded election audits; Wolf, Auditor General DeFoor disagree | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
A partisan fight brews over election audit funding in Pa.’s new budget | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
Will Pa. have an Arizona-style audit? What we know (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Pa. governor to enact $40 billion state budget; state overtime rule repealed – Pennsylvania Business Report (pennbizreport.com)
Budget surplus offers golden opportunity | Editorials | heraldstandard.com
Pa. lawmakers passed a budget on time, but here’s what they didn’t do (goerie.com)
New Pa. Level Up program boosts Erie School District; budget vote set (goerie.com)
Slain Chester County teen Bianca Roberson remembered | Local-news | dailylocal.com
This Pa.Congressman holds donations from the skills game industry – Illinois News Today
Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Home Grow Amendment Fails (hempgazette.com)
PA Senate Votes To Lift Ban On Student Athlete Earnings | Across Pennsylvania, PA Patch
Support Sénate Bill 607 to allow Game Commission to regulate Sunday hunting – Backcountry Hunters and Anglers
PA Lawmakers Turn Against ‘Skill Games’
Pandemic Gap Year: Montco Students Reluctant to Advance a Grade Gain Legislative Permission to Stay Put
Trust (but verify) local police with speed radar | Editorials | bradfordera.com
Cut off: Cocktails to-go saga stalls in Senate | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
Pennsylvania bill to legalize cocktails to-go stalls, on hold for summer | TribLIVE.com
Welcome to Pennsylvania Political Podcast (papoliticspodcast.org)
Pennsylvania doesn’t need yet another audit of 2020 election | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
State lawmakers join Pittsburgh restaurant owners in revolt against food delivery apps | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Left out of state budget, Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement will ‘maintain minimum services’ with Ag funds | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Toohil to resume outreach for area veterans | News | standardspeaker.com
Coronavirus – COVID-19
Delta variant prompts some US leaders to call for return of masks indoors (abc27.com)
Jill Biden teams up with NFL great to push vaccinations | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Booster may be needed for J&J shot as Delta variant spreads; some experts already taking them (abc27.com)
This Pa. public campus reverses its vaccine requirement even before bill to ban it becomes law | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
For second straight week, there are no counties in Pa. with high spread of coronavirus | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The coronavirus Delta variant is in the Philadelphia area, posing a threat to unvaccinated people (inquirer.com)
Some Pa. nursing homes will still require masks, despite mandate lifting | WITF
Could promise of cold beer prompt Erie County residents to roll up sleeves? (goerie.com)
Lancaster County mass vaccination site permanently closing its doors today | Health | lancasteronline.com
As variant rises, vaccine plan targets ‘movable middle’ | National and World | dailylocal.com
U.S., Berks officials highlight effort to increase access to COVID services for underserved | Coronavirus | readingeagle.com
Business/Jobs
The Restaurant Revitalization Fund ran out quickly. Is more restaurant relief funding on the way? – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
We hate the office. We love the office. Do we want to go back? – The Washington Post
Employers calling people back as businesses reach conclusion that ‘human element cannot be replicated by Zoom’ – pennlive.com
Seniors Can Wait Months For Home Health Care Because Of Worker Shortage : Shots – Health News : NPR
A global chip shortage is leaving car dealership lots empty – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Editorial | Contracts, arrival of new company great news for local defense sector | News | tribdem.com
Reading raises hourly wage to $15 for 33 part-time employees | Local News | readingeagle.com
Crime/Punishment
D.C. Attorney General Plan Could Put Fewer Teens In Adult Prisons : NPR
‘So I raped you’: Facebook message leads to arrest warrant in years-old rape claim in Gettysburg (abc27.com)
33-hour standoff ends after police storm apartment to rescue hostages, take suspect into custody – pennlive.com
Ghost guns seized from Northampton County home – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Catholic priest faces charges after being accused of sexually assaulting a child in 1998 | TribLIVE.com
Education
FCC opens up $7.2 billion tech fund for schools, libraries to close ‘homework divide’ | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Opinion | Americans Finally Appreciate Schools. Now What? – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Dent Named As Inaugural Penn State McCourtney Institute Visiting Fellow | PoliticsPA
Vaccine requirements: NJ, PA colleges and universities have different rules for campus return (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Point Park University says students must be vaccinated against COVID-19 this fall | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Hempfield School District should foster education, not discrimination [opinion] | Local Voices | lancasteronline.com
Wyoming Area approves 2% increase in property tax rate | Education | citizensvoice.com
Hanover Area budget allocates $36.4M, doesn’t raise property tax | News | citizensvoice.com
Elections/Politics
Christine Flowers: What I saw at Charlie Gerow’s gubernatorial campaign launch (broadandliberty.com)
A GOP Donor Is Funding South Dakota National Guard Troops In Texas : NPR
Opinion | Eric Adams Says He’s the ‘Face of the New Democratic Party.’ Is He Right? – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Tony Moreno accepts Republican nomination for Pittsburgh mayor, will challenge Ed Gainey in November | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tony Moreno, who lost Pittsburgh mayor race as a Democrat, now running as a GOP | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
State Sen. Mastriano, eyeing governor run, appears at Star Barn campaign event | PA Power and Policy | lancasteronline.com
Letter: Young people will overturn movement by Republicans | Letters to the Editor | readingeagle.com
Letter: Eisenhower wouldn’t recognize today’s GOP | Letters to the Editor | readingeagle.com
Scranton Dems recommend Welby for state House seat | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Transportation
Americans expected to celebrate pandemic freedom with July 4th road trips | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
High-speed rail plans should appeal even to staunch critics | Opinion (inquirer.com)
Officials: United Airlines’ new jets, added flights ‘great news’ for Johnstown airport | Local News | tribdem.com
I-83 widening project in York: Rutter’s, other businesses in limbo (ydr.com)
Interstate 83 businesses worry about eminent domain along Toronita Street (ydr.com)
Health
Walmart launches lower-priced private label analog insulin to ease costs for diabetes care – pennlive.com
8-Year-Olds in Despair: The Mental Health Crisis Is Getting Younger – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Report: Number of Americans who need long-term care will double by 2065 | Wednesday Morning Coffee | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
State News
Ben Mannes: Opposition to PA pipelines hurts us and helps Putin (broadandliberty.com)
Problems continue with Pennsylvania’s revamped unemployment system (abc27.com)
Fourth of July travel plans? Here are mitigation orders for Pa’s neighboring states (abc27.com)
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh move ahead with plastic bag bans as Pennsylvania’s preemption nears its end · Spotlight PA
‘Stand up for us and fight back’: Billy Porter, Sen. Casey get emotional reaction at session on LGBTQ+ rights | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Statewide initiative promotes fireworks safety after dramatic rise in injuries | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Penn president to become next U.S. ambassador to Germany, report says (inquirer.com)
Pa. is leading the way on pardon reform | Opinion (inquirer.com)
When will the heat wave break? Thunderstorms may be on the way to help – pennlive.com
Cold front headed our way: A break – and perhaps rain – expected to halt western Pennsylvania heat wave | Local News | tribdem.com
Pennsylvania water named to 100 Best Bass Lakes list – pennlive.com
PennEast pipeline plans won’t be stopped by Supreme Court – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Pennsylvania blood banks concerned by shrinking supplies, asking donors to step forward | WITF
Google launches new ‘Find Food Support’ interactive site | TribLIVE.com
How Biden’s expanded endangered species protections help Pa. birds | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
A puppy named Libre inspired a law that’s helped to curb animal cruelty in Pennsylvania. Those of us who want dogs in our lives have to do our part, too. [editorial] | Our Opinion | lancasteronline.com
National News
Champlain Towers Residents Sue Condo Association, Alleging Negligence : Live Updates: Miami-Area Condo Collapse : NPR
Florida condo rescuers keep an eye on tropical forecast as search effort enters 7th day | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
FEMA Assistance Is Unfair To Poorer Disaster Survivors : NPR
The Supreme Court Leaves The CDC’s Moratorium On Evictions In Place : NPR
Court Rules In Alabama’s Census Case Over Redistricting Data, Privacy : NPR
The West Coast Heat Wave Kills Dozens, Hospitalizes More In Canada And U.S : NPR
Opinion | What the U.S. military can teach us about critical race facts – The Washington Post
How the next Manhattan DA could impact the Trump investigation – NEWS ON THE GO
Board of Elections error mars vote count in NYC mayoral primary | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
CFPB says mortgage servicers can soon start foreclosure proceedings. But there are limitations. – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Target Store Closings Show Limits of Pledge to Black Communities – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
NSA says it never targeted Tucker Carlson | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Rental assistance fell victim to politics, bureaucracy | WITF
Why the murder rate is rising — and what we can do about it | John A. Tures | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Local News
Home for children with disabilities opens in Penn Hills | New Pittsburgh Courier
Editorial: Fireworks safety is explosive issue as July 4th approaches | Opinion | thereporteronline.com
Mechanicsburg under mandatory water conservation order (abc27.com)
Pa. councilwoman charged, loses job after leaving runaway boy at homeless camp: authorities – pennlive.com
No clowning around: Hellertown pool suspends daily admission, citing ‘general unruliness and inappropriate behavior’ – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Easton fire hydrants open to help public cool down from heat – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Preservation Erie lists Erie County’s 9 ‘Most Endangered Properties’ (goerie.com)
PHS Harvest program aims to provide fresh produce to area food pantries | News | pottsmerc.com
Learning Lamp recipient of $230K grant from Appalachian Regional Commission | Local News | tribdem.com
Main Line Chamber Foundation receives $40,000 grant to support initiatives tied to COVID-19 recovery | Business | dailylocal.com
Luzerne County tenants receive $3.6M in rent assistance | News | standardspeaker.com
HCA preparing for distribution system improvements in 2022 | News | standardspeaker.com
Reading officials say the Pa. law that allows the sale of amateur fireworks is putting people in danger | Local News | readingeagle.com
Berks lawmaker reports increase in unemployment compensation scams | Local News | readingeagle.com
Neshaminy, Oxford Valley malls struggle as luxury shopping flourishes (theintell.com)
Many factors impacted Pocono LGBTQ+ community during pandemic (poconorecord.com)
York Revolution add Anthony Moore, Fred Walker and others to ownership (ydr.com)
Indoor smoking returns at Mohegan Sun Pocono | Business | citizensvoice.com
Neighborhood revitalization program comes to Carbondale | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Pop-up city halls resume in Scranton | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Lackawanna County commissioners to hold special meeting Wednesday | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Pitt
State budget OKs Pittsburgh’s scooter share pilot program | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Boomtown: Strip District population may double in next few years after $1.5 billion in investment, report predicts | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Eds, meds and bots: Pittsburgh Robotics Network aims to put the city at the forefront of automation, robotics | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
City Council to begin public process on spending $335 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Irish Centre of Pittsburgh on sale for a reduced price of … $1.5 million | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Barrel and Flow announces new initiative to foster collaborations between artists and small businesses | Visual Art | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Philly
PhilaPort lands $49M grant to help fund first deepwater berth in nearly 5 decades – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
These are the healthiest communities in the Philadelphia area, per U.S. News & World Report – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
As industrial real estate market sizzles, even old scrap metal yards are sparking bidding wars – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Marc Zumoff retires as 76ers play-by-play broadcaster – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Philadelphia pool openings summer 2021 are inequitable, residents say (inquirer.com)
Philly races to distribute rental assistance before the national eviction ban ends (inquirer.com)
Philly Controller calls for urgent action on ‘unsafe’ jails (inquirer.com)
Black Clergy, Krasner call on Philly’s largest companies, nonprofits to fund violence prevention efforts | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Washington
Infrastructure bill uncertain in Congress as Biden turns focus to public (abc27.com)
In Wisconsin jaunt, Biden pitches bipartisan infrastructure deal | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Progressives Hope Justice Stephen Breyer Steps Down : NPR
The House Votes To Remove Confederate Statues In The U.S. Capitol : NPR
Pa.’s U.S. House Republicans split on vote to remove statues of Confederate leaders, bust of Dred Scott author | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Keller and Thompson Join Conservative Climate Caucus | PoliticsPA
Toomey Rips Biden Agenda, While Expressing Optimism Over Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal at PA Press Club | PoliticsPA
Roads, bridges, jobs: Biden selling big infrastructure deal | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
McConnell says federal standard may be needed to protect college sports | TribLIVE.com
