Legislature

‘Damn the U.S. Supreme Court:’ PA Dems Decry SCOTUS Ruling on Race – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Senate Passes School Voucher Program; Bill Heads to House (politicspa.com)

Pa. Senate school voucher bill tied to state budget is destined to fail, House Democrats say – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

What Are Pa.’s Lifeline Scholarships? School Choice, Vouchers and the Budget Debate, Explained | State College, PA

Pa. Democrats React to Affirmative Action Ruling – WENY News

What leaders are saying about the end of affirmative action (inquirer.com)

Pa. lawmakers pursue hydrogen hubs, safety concerns raised | 90.5 WESA

Bipartisan school choice embrace reframes state budget negotiations | State | theprogressnews.com

Refining turnpike toll collection is on soon-to-be commissioner’s radar | State | theprogressnews.com

West Reading businesses impacted by R.M. Palmer factory explosion eligible for disaster loan assistance (berksweekly.com)

Councilman highlights summer activities, developments (thenorthsidechronicle.com)

House committee clears bill that would nix constitutional questions in off-year elections – pennlive.com

Meek Mill among 65 endorsing lifeline scholarships | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Barber shops rent to freelancers while salons miss out | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Pennsylvania lawmakers advance COLA bills for retirees (abc27.com)

Majority approve of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s job performance; poll (abc27.com)

Homeowners could reject racist deed restrictions under bill passed in Pa. House – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

$100M school choice program woven into key budget bill | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Pennsylvania receives $42 million for school meals, food banks | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Business/Jobs

UPS strike is imminent if satisfying offer is not given | National | thecentersquare.com

Fraudsters likely stole $200 billion from pandemic funding meant for small businesses | National | thecentersquare.com

Google says it will start blocking Canadian news stories in response to new law : NPR

Number of states where customers can’t pump their own gas is about to shrink to one – pennlive.com

Overstock.com to rebrand as Bed Bath and Beyond – pennlive.com

COVID-19

Inquiry into teachers unions influence over school COVID closures ramps up | National | thecentersquare.com

Crime/Punishment

Pa. man steals dad’s gun, leading to 7-hour police standoff: reports – pennlive.com

Pa. man sues 10 Williamsport cops claiming false arrest, use of excessive force – pennlive.com

Missing boater, 82, found dead in Susquehanna River: state police – pennlive.com

Bus carrying Pa. campers crashes through fence, sending 25 children to hospital: state police – pennlive.com

Pa. man charged in fatal shooting during custody exchange: reports – pennlive.com

Education

Five Ways College Admissions Could Change After Affirmative Action Decision – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Solar energy grant program for Pa. school districts gets bipartisan support in state House – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Ex-Social Worker, 32, Pretended to Be a Boston High School Student, Police Say – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Here’s what happened when affirmative action ended in California : NPR

Penn State, Pitt, and others get millions in tax dollars | WITF

Colleges look for new ways to promote diversity after affirmative action ruling – pennlive.com

Elections/Politics

Pa. mail ballot rejections will particularly affect Democrats, older voters, and Black and Latino voters in 2024 (inquirer.com)

Environment

What you can do to protect yourself from wildfire smoke | 90.5 WESA

Summer wildfire threat could imperil unexpected U.S. regions: the Northeast and Midwest – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Feds: Natural gas production in Permian Basin region reaches new record | National | thecentersquare.com

Solar energy grant program for Pa. school districts gets bipartisan support in state House – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

U.S. Air Quality: Wildfire Smoke Lingers in Midwest and Northeast – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Air quality improves slightly in central Pa., but is nowhere near clear – pennlive.com

Heat Forecast: Temperatures Set to Rise in California as Southern U.S. Stews – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Tornado that hit this week was Pa. county’s first in 25+ years – pennlive.com

Canada wildfire air quality red alerts hit Midwest and East Coast : NPR

Transportation

Fourth of July travel is expected to break records this weekend : NPR

Gun Safety

New survey shows holes in Pa. gun legislation | WITF

Health

Xylazine deaths surged years earlier than reported, the CDC says : NPR

He was diagnosed with ALS. Then they changed the face of medical advocacy : NPR

State News

How Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Approval Compares to the Nation’s Most Popular Governors | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Schmidt, Arkoosh, Browne officially take office as department secretaries – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

‘This is the existential crisis’: A push for climate change education – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Allegheny Co. Exec. Fitzgerald files lawsuit over minimum wage ordinance – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pa. gets disaster declaration for businesses impacted by Berks Co. chocolate factory explosion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

East Palestine area residents demand more transparency, chemical testing | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Driver lost control of tanker truck before I-95 collapse | WITF

Supreme Court rules for Pa man who refused to work on Sunday | WITF

Utility assistance should be available year round in Pa. | WITF

What is school choice, and why is it a big deal in PA? · Spotlight PA

National News

Feds: National debt will be nearly twice as large as U.S. economy in 30 years | National | thecentersquare.com

FTC Chair accused of misleading Congress on questions of bias, ethics | National | thecentersquare.com

Supreme Court expands degree to which businesses must accommodate religious workers | National | thecentersquare.com

SCOTUS strikes down affirmative action policies at Harvard, UNC | National | thecentersquare.com

Biden touts economy during Chicago visit | Illinois | thecentersquare.com

11 Have Died in Rip Currents Along the Gulf Coast. Here’s How to Escape One. – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Clarence Thomas and Ketanji Brown Jackson Spar Over Affirmative Action Ruling – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

With affirmative action gutted for college, race-conscious work programs may be next : NPR

Moorpark derailment: Amtrak train carrying more than 200 people rams truck : NPR

Supreme Court rejects Independent State Legislature theory | WITF

Local News

LVHN hires international law firm to investigate former resident’s complaints of racism (mcall.com)

Allentown Soldiers and Sailors Monument will stay at 7th and Hamilton (mcall.com)

One Earth ReggaeFest returns to Bethlehem on Saturday | Homepage Top Stories | wfmz.com

Festive Fitness on the Fourth: Annual 5K in Pottstown is a family-friendly event (dailylocal.com)

Central Bucks School District emails refute ‘Nazi’ claim by board member (phillyburbs.com)

‘They had to be saved’: Lancaster County native brings new life to historic stained glass windows | Local News | lancasteronline.com

Hundreds likely at 70th Miller family reunion in Trainer park (delcotimes.com)

Ferndale schools shuffle admin, create K-12 principal position | News | tribdem.com

Former AAA building in Erie PA could be home to new restaurant (goerie.com)

Pitt

Forensic psychologist who interviewed Pittsburgh synagogue shooter testifies – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Top 11 July events for kids in Pittsburgh (nextpittsburgh.com)

A blanket of smoke sends Pittsburghers running for indoor cover | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Morning Roundup: City activates fireworks task force to crackdown on scofflaws | TribLIVE.com

Pittsburgh considers demolishing poorly rated bridge over objections from nearby business | TribLIVE.com

Philly

Lenora mixed-use building in Fishtown lists for $17.7M – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Divided Supreme Court outlaws affirmative action in college admissions | News | phillytrib.com

Supreme Court decision sparks reaction from local and national leaders | State & Region | phillytrib.com

Philadelphia remains under ‘code red’ air quality alert | Local News | phillytrib.com

Frankford High to start 2023-2024 school year at two locations | Local News | phillytrib.com

Washington

Casey, Wild Announce Special Financial Assistance For PA Union Pensions (politicspa.com)