News Digest:: March 22, 2024

Legislature

Pa. Democrats, doctors push preservation of Affordable Care Act – WHYY

NABTU stops in Pittsburgh to applaud apprenticeship programs | 90.5 WESA

Legislators prepare bills in Pa. House, Senate to support Shapiro’s energy policy | Local News | ncnewsonline.com

What performance-based Pa. college funding model could mean (audacy.com)

How Gov. Josh Shapiro wants to spend $80M to attack state housing crisis – Cranberry Eagle

Pa. zoning laws are strangling home construction, and lawmakers want changes | United States | Head Topics

What a Proposed Performance-based Funding Model Could Mean for Penn State, Other State-related Universities – GantNews.com

Cybersecurity experts urge retirement of touchscreen voting machines used in Pennsylvania – The Record Online (therecord-online.com)

Republicans advance bill that would eliminate election drop boxes in Pa. – pennlive.com 

Federal solar subsidies race on in Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Pa. House speaker pushes for same-day registration, early voting | WITF

Marijuana legalization: ‘Do not under-resource those regulators’ | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Bill to offset student debt through tax credit passes Pa. House | WITF

Election reforms teed up with consensus uncertain | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Pa. House speaker pushes for same-day registration, early voting | WITF

Federal solar subsidies race on in Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Business/Jobs

Discount retailer hits $2B sales mark for first time in company history – pennlive.com

Maryland company buys 67-year-old Harrisburg shopping center – pennlive.com

Beloved restaurant chain’s stock nearly hits $3K a share after company’s big announcement – pennlive.com

Education

School repairs: Hazleton Area adds and subtracts from fix-it list | Education | standardspeaker.com

5 takeaways from event on PA public school transparency · Spotlight PA State College

Philadelphia School District budgets $620,000 for recruitment campaign | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Crime/Punishment

Central Pa. man found guilty of entering U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 – pennlive.com

Chipotle manager in Cumberland County did more than expose his genitals: police – pennlive.com

Details emerge in crash fatal to Penn State Berks student after vehicular homicide hearing (readingeagle.com)

Harrisburg-area school bus driver arrested, charged with child porn offenses – pennlive.com

Education

Most Pittsburgh-area small colleges watching student populations fall – pennlive.com

Penn State Students to Lead Advocacy Efforts | ABC27

Allentown School District creates Dual Language Immersion Academy (mcall.com)

Elections/Politics

Pa. election 2024: How much the attorney general candidates raised | WITF

PA-12: Lee, Patel Release First Campaign Ads (politicspa.com)

Election 2024 Pennsylvania Senate | National News | clintonherald.com

Outside Groups Pledge Over $1 Billion to Aid Biden’s Re-election Effort – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Election 2024: PA attorney general candidate guide · Spotlight PA

Environment

Chilly and blustery today, but sunny at least | ABC27

High Winds Fuel Wildfires in Virginia and Other Mid-Atlantic States – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Transportation

Resurfacing project to resume on Route 22/322, Route 11/15 in central Pa. – pennlive.com

 

Health

Racism investigation yields sweeping changes at Pa. health system – pennlive.com

Taxpayers were overcharged for patient meds. Then came the lawyers. • Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Health care cyberattack continues to affect claims, prescriptions nationwide – pennlive.com

NIH scientists: Havana syndrome left no physical trace of harm in patient brains : Shots – Health News : NPR

Why it took so long for the U.S. to formally ban the use of chrysotile asbestos : NPR

State News

Josh Shapiro’s plan to boost mass transit aid passes Pa. House | WITF

Shapiro Says No to PA National Guard Troops for Southern Border (politicspa.com)

Shapiro says no troops for the border | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Pennsylvania launches Outdoor Business Alliance | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Gov. Shapiro urges NFL to bring draft to Pittsburgh | TribLIVE.com

Federal rules push well plugging cost to $100,000 | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Seniors in Pennsylvania are concerned about Social Security following Trump’s comments • Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Poll: Pennsylvanians want low energy prices above all else | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Playground safety in Pennsylvania questioned | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

National News

Shapiro’s RGGI alternative needs GOP support · Spotlight PA

Biden campaign launches outreach for Latino voters in Pennsylvania and across the country • Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Biden Looks to Shore Up Latino Support in Visit to Nevada and Arizona – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Pa. airman killed in World War II identified after 80 years, family no longer left wondering – pennlive.com

Follow these IRS tips to help avoid tax mistakes, delays in refunds – pennlive.com

California Approves Prop. 1, a Mental Health Plan Aimed at Addressing Homelessness – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Freaknik Documentary: Atlanta’s Rowdy Spring Festival Revisited – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Centene Health Care Fraud Case: How Private Lawyers Profited – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Local News

Township to consider pulling library funding over Drag Queen Story Hour – pennlive.com

Lancaster County commissioners pass ‘non-sanctuary’ resolution | WITF

Geisinger promises more convenient health care at new, $90 million outpatient facility in Plains Twp. | News | citizensvoice.com

Scranton Police Detective Kyle Gilmartin’s remarkable recovery continues | News | thetimes-tribune.com

Wind-driven blaze destroys six Royersford row homes (mainlinemedianews.com)

Iconic Chaddsford Winery to be sold (mainlinemedianews.com)

Commissioners spar at contentious meeting | News | thetimes-tribune.com

Pitt

Pittsburgh Stadium Authority to sell North Shore land to Pirates for $569K for plaza development | TribLIVE.com

Recorded jailhouse calls help keep Serra Catholic crash driver in jail | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Are Pittsburgh businesses complying with the plastic bag ban? | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Philly

Philadelphia doctors rally in favor of Affordable Care Act | Local News | phillytrib.com

Philadelphia City Council bans skill game machines within city businesses, giving exceptions to bars and restaurants – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

Washington

In Pennsylvania’s Senate race, Casey puts ‘greedflation’ and corporations on the ballot | ABC27

Fetterman supports Adeel Mangi’s confirmation. Will Bob Casey? (inquirer.com)

Casey, Fetterman, Kelly cast votes in Congress | News | sharonherald.com

Responding to McCormick attack, Casey says he’s a ‘very strong supporter of Israel’ – pennlive.com