News Digest :: March 22, 2022

Legislature

GOP in Pa. supporting Dems’ housing repair bill – WHYY

New legislative districts in Berks finalized (readingeagle.com)

Independent Fiscal Office update casts doubt on Wolf’s rosy budget outlook | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Bill to reduce Pa. gas tax introduced in Senate (abc27.com)

More hesitation on marijuana legalization in Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Geisinger gets $30M from state to research medical marijuana, hasn’t shifted position on advocacy | News | tribdem.com

Pa. Democrat proposes study of four day work week for state employees – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Survey: Most 2022 governor candidates back gift ban for Pa. pols – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Bill to reduce Pa. gas tax introduced in Senate (abc27.com)

Taxpayers have the right to see online the expenses claimed by Pa. House members [editorial] | Our Opinion | lancasteronline.com

 

Coronavirus – COVID-19

Why some are getting COVID vaccines in Philadelphia now (inquirer.com)

 

Business/Jobs

How tipped workers in Pennsylvania are paid could soon change – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Changes to minimum wage and tipped work move on for AG approval | News | djournal.com

SEC unveils new climate disclosure rule for businesses – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Philadelphia commercial real estate brokers predict the biggest trends of 2022 – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Fewer hot showers, less meat: How retirees on fixed incomes are dealing with inflation (inquirer.com)

High fuel prices negatively impact lawn care, landscaping businesses | Business | citizensvoice.com

 

Crime/Punishment

Just weeks away: Hiring staff remains a critical need as Delaware County prepares to takeover prison | WITF

2 Pennsylvania troopers, man killed; police open DUI probe | TribLIVE.com

Hundreds of ATVs, dirt bikes swarm Pa. streets to menace drivers, but police sound helpless | National News | thetimes-tribune.com

 

Education

College leaders reflect on how the pandemic changed higher education – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Elizabethtown School Board to vote on proposed budget cuts (abc27.com)

PA Students Paid Academic Price for Pandemic Lockdowns, Test Results Show – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Chester Co. Judge Allows Cases to Advance Against Two School Boards Over Mask Policies – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Cyber-charter regulations approved on split vote | News | tribdem.com

Pennsylvania approves stronger charter school regulations | WITF

In a victory for the Wolf administration, Pa. review board approves charter school regulations – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Millions of children will miss healthy school meals when pandemic relief expires | WITF

The job is hard enough. Let teachers teach | Lloyd E. Sheaffer – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

 

Elections/Politics

Voting machine maker wins appeal in GOP election inquiry (abc27.com)

Pa. Supreme Court sides with Dominion Voting Systems in battle over Fulton County inquiry – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Voting machine maker wins appeal in Pennsylvania Republican election inquiry | WITF

GOP Candidates for Governor Agree on Set of Debate Criteria – PoliticsPA

How Cartwright, Fitzpatrick Figure in the Battle for the House – PoliticsPA

‘Trump caucus’ to be held in Pa. before GOP primary — if the ex-president picks a favorite – pennlive.com

Outside group flood Pa’s U.S. Senate race with cash | Tuesday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

PAC hosts elected officials, candidates | Local News | phillytrib.com

For GOP Senate candidate Jeff Bartos, front-runners for the job aren’t true Pennsylvanians | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pa. Rep. Kurt Masser will not seek reelection | State | tiogapublishing.com

 

Environment

Pennsylvania natural gas plant on hold after legal challenge – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

 

Transportation

PA gas tax: What are drivers getting for their money? (ydr.com)

 

Health

A third of trans youth are at risk of losing gender-affirming care, study says : NPR

Alcohol-Related Deaths Spiked During the Pandemic, a Study Shows – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Lehigh Valley allergy season: Any relief in sight? – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Alzheimer’s caregivers in Pennsylvania face huge burden | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

State News

Conor Lamb pushes White House to extend pause in student loan repayments | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Highest-earning counties in Pennsylvania (abc27.com)

Malls in Central PA ranked first to worst (ydr.com)

Pa. Treasury to auction unclaimed property | State & Region | phillytrib.com

 

National News

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to address Japanese parliament : NPR

Ukraine retakes key Kyiv suburb from Russian forces; battle for Mariupol rages (abc27.com)

The U.S. warns companies to stay on guard for possible Russian cyberattacks : NPR

Biden Warns Private Sector of Potential Russian Cyberattacks – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

D.C. sues Grubhub for allegedly using deceptive trade practices : NPR

Miami Beach declares state of emergency after spring break violence : NPR

Facebook has locked out users who didn’t turn on Facebook Protect before the deadline – pennlive.com

Companies offer free internet through affordable connectivity program | Local News | phillytrib.com

Disney workers threaten “Don’t Say Gay” walkout protest today | National News | thetimes-tribune.com

 

Local News

Upper Darby Township Council voted recently to move forward with plans for a new Community Center using ARPA money (delcotimes.com)

‘Unprecedented’ set of recusals in Oregon Village meeting creates a new wrinkle | Local Business | lancasteronline.com

Apartments at Oxford Valley Mall: Construction could start in 2022 (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Lancaster summit tackles variety of issues with diverse voices | Smart Talk (witf.org)

Broadway’s next young ‘Lion King’ star is a 10-year-old from Delco (inquirer.com)

Luzerne County Council discussing agreement to address closed bridge linking Pittston and West Pittston | Times Leader

Holy Redeemer student ‘heroes’ credited with averting disaster on school bus ride home | News | citizensvoice.com

 

Pitt

Pittsburgh to resume ticketing for street sweeping | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)

Pittsburgh to resume street sweeping with related parking enforcement after 2 years | TribLIVE.com

Amazon eyes other Allegheny County locations for massive distribution warehouse after ending Churchill plan | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Should Pittsburgh Public Schools end its mask mandate? Community remains split | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor, a Strip District institution, is up for sale | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Brother’s Brother supplies donated from Pittsburgh reach Ukraine | TribLIVE.com

 

Philly

Philly’s Black clergy gives Kenney an ‘F’ for gun violence response – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

District Attorney’s office announced fraud charges for Philadelphia area contractor | Local News | phillytrib.com

How Philly compares with other big cities | Morning Newsletter (inquirer.com)

New superintendent needs to focus on transparency, infrastructure, and rebuilding trust to succeed | Editorial (inquirer.com)

 

Washington

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmation hearings: What happened today : NPR

Jackson pledges to decide cases ‘without fear or favor’ | News | phillytrib.com

Here are the CEOs who were briefed by the White House on the war in Ukraine : NPR

Ethics advocates say Senate staffers could be breaking rules on stock ownership : NPR

In visit, Biden will thank Polish leader for refugee efforts | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette