Legislature
Sen. Doug Mastriano says being kicked off Twitter is “slavery” | By Sen. Vincent J. Hughes
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2021/03/sen-doug-mastriano-says-being-kicked-off-twitter-is-slavery-opinion.html
Pa. federal court fight over Delaware River fracking ban heats up | Wednesday Morning Coffee
https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/pa-federal-court-fight-over-delaware-river-fracking-ban-heats-up-wednesday-morning-coffee/
Pennsylvania election law reforms won’t be ready for primary
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-election-law-reforms-wont-be-ready-for-primary/
Marsy’s Law is flawed; ACLU and League of Women Voters were right
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2021/03/31/Marsys-Law-is-flawed-ACLU-and-League-of-Women-Voters-were-right/stories/202103180096
Take chance to make them honest
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/editorial/take-chance-to-make-them-honest/article_e26b859f-5eb3-5eb3-9a86-39bbeab38114.html
Coronavirus – COVID-19
Gov. Wolf says end of Phase 1A coming soon
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2021/03/30/covid-coronavirus-pennsylvania-allegheny-county-cases-deaths-vaccine-health-tom-wolf/stories/202103300146
Pennsylvania fight over COVID-19 ‘vaccine passports’ may be brewing as Phase 1A of rollout nears finish
https://www.mcall.com/coronavirus/mc-nws-coronavirus-wolf-vaccine-march30-20210330-lped5sxwh5c37hng2bjuwavhfa-story.html
A county left behind: Pennsylvania’s shift to bigger vaccine distributors leaves out McKean
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/healthcare-business/2021/03/30/COVID-19-vaccine-clinic-rural-McKean-County-suspended-UPMC-Kane-hospital-pharmacy/stories/202103300142
Allegheny County and Pennsylvania see highest covid hospitalizations in a month
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/allegheny-county-and-pennsylvania-see-highest-covid-hospitalizations-in-a-month/
Pennsylvanians are crossing the Ohio border for COVID-19 shots
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2021/03/31/ohio-covid-19-vaccine-out-of-state-residents-pennsylvania-youngstown-phase-1a-coronavirus/stories/202103300035
With more older people vaccinated, hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the Philly region are getting younger
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/covid-19-hospitalization-up-pennsylvania-new-jersey-younger-patients-20210331.html
Bucks health director: Coronavirus spikes not outpacing vaccination rates here
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/story/news/2021/03/31/bucks-coronavirus-spikes-not-outpacing-vaccination-rates-says-health-director/7047215002/
COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Montage Mountain to reach more than 3,000 people
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccination-clinic-on-montage-mountain-to-reach-more-than-3-000-people/article_1015b4a4-9dd0-5bd7-8df3-5d42ca2c0950.html
How can there be a COVID surge when so many people have already had it and so many people have been vaccinated?
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/how-can-there-be-a-covid-surge-when-so-many-people-have-already-had-it/article_18f99ea4-9154-11eb-a199-ffb37922b33c.html
Volunteers needed to help with mass vaccination clinic on Montage Mountain
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/coronavirus/volunteers-needed-to-help-with-mass-vaccination-clinic-on-montage-mountain/article_0265f762-681d-5865-b485-d780742e51db.html
Wright Center admits patients wrongly billed for office visits for COVID-19 tests
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/coronavirus/wright-center-admits-patients-wrongly-billed-for-office-visits-for-covid-19-tests/article_45fc7b89-90d0-5cef-a018-07a1706f344d.html
Stigma is COVID-19′s silent complication. It has changed since the pandemic’s early days.
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19-stigma-pandemic-20210331.html
Pfizer says its COVID-19 vaccine safe and effective in kids as young as 12
https://www.mcall.com/coronavirus/ct-aud-nw-pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine-teens-20210331-x5sgr7jcz5h43k4d3pxm7rwooy-story.html
Special Report: Dozens of members of Congress are vaccinated against COVID-19, but some still hesitate; How Pa. did
https://www.penncapital-star.com/covid-19/special-report-dozens-of-members-of-congress-are-vaccinated-against-covid-19-but-some-still-hesitate-how-pa-did/
Business
United Steelworkers begin strike at Allegheny Technologies, Inc.; reject’s ATI’s last-minute counter offer
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/united-steelworkers-begin-strike-at-ati/
Private event professionals are asking public’s help to ‘Let PA Marry Us’
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/coronavirus/private-event-professionals-are-asking-publics-help-to-let-pa-marry-us/article_9a710bfa-918d-11eb-b102-d3373419ba9c.html
Got game? Metro Esports in Warminster opens new worlds, career for Bucks gamers
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/story/news/2021/03/31/bucks-county-eports-center-warminster-gaming-learning-lounge/6963499002/
Crime/Punishment
10 years ago today, Jerry Sandusky was outed as a child predator
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/03/10-years-ago-today-jerry-sandusky-was-outed-as-a-child-predator.html
Education
Officials relax some distancing, other guidance in Pennsylvania schools
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/officials-relax-some-distancing-other-guidance-in-pennsylvania-schools/
State updates COVID-19 guidance for schools
https://www.timesleader.com/news/1173519/state-updates-covid-19-guidance-for-schools
Schools can shorten distances between students for in-person classes
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/coronavirus/schools-can-shorten-distances-between-students-for-in-person-classes/article_e8341e52-2564-59b1-8bd3-ef9449cddd8f.html
Berks County school districts will get $160 million in federal COVID relief money
https://www.readingeagle.com/local-news/berks-county-school-districts-will-get-160-million-in-federal-covid-relief-money/article_8fd18b8a-915a-11eb-8433-b35831257b5b.html
Audit: Penn Hills School District closing reserve fund deficit
https://triblive.com/local/penn-hills/audit-penn-hills-school-district-closing-reserve-fund-deficit/
Facing smaller paychecks and new positions, Scranton paraprofessionals feel ‘degraded’
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/education/facing-smaller-paychecks-and-new-positions-scranton-paraprofessionals-feel-degraded/article_6e399df8-0e27-5dc9-9ddd-91ca4425b48d.html
New Seton LaSalle football coach Mauro Monz and assistants could face a one-year suspension by the WPIAL
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-football/2021/03/30/seton-lasalle-football-coach-mauro-monz-recruits-wpial-football/stories/202103300179
Elections/Politics
Braddock’s mayor picks Malcolm Kenyatta over her predecessor, John Fetterman, in Pa. Senate race
https://www.inquirer.com/news/braddock-mayor-endorses-malcolm-kenyatta-senate-john-fetterman-20210331.html
Gaming
Job fair slated for open positions at Live! Casino Pittsburgh
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/job-fair-slated-for-open-positions-at-live-casino-pittsburgh/
Local News
Professionally designed skate park planned for Wilkes-Barre
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/professionally-designed-skate-park-planned-for-wilkes-barre/article_138d65ca-0323-5559-bf4a-ed3f2b976ce0.html
National News
Firefighter testifies in Chauvin trial: ‘I was desperate to help …and this human was denied that’
https://www.witf.org/2021/03/31/firefighter-testifies-in-chauvin-trial-i-was-desperate-to-help-and-this-human-was-denied-that/
New Jersey
N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy signs measure allowing early in-person voting
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/new-jersey/new-jersey-early-voting-phil-murphy-20210330.html
Philly
Many high school athletes face the trauma of violence and death. Their coaches face it too.
https://www.inquirer.com/high-school-sports/pennsylvania/athletes-violence-trauma-coaches-coping-20210331.html
As firearm arrests go up, DA’s office is not winning those cases, city’s top cop says
https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/as-firearm-arrests-go-up-das-office-is-not-winning-those-cases-citys-top-cop/article_8896b58f-d974-5bce-9dfc-e782087400d0.html
Landlord locks out tenants despite judge’s order, then leaves the states to sail the Caribbean
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/eviction-north-philadelphia-gagandeep-lakhmna-moscow-monica-apartments-20210331.html
The Philly jail unit where a man was killed was left unsupervised for hours, records show
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-prisons-jail-armani-faison-homicide–20210330.html
Philly City Councilmembers call for an increased focus on violence interruption as shootings continue
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-shootings-gun-violence-city-council-20210330.html
Philly’s pandemic budget hole is big compared with other cities
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-budget-shortfall-coroanvirus-wage-tax-20210330.html
The first female head of Philadelphia’s Church of the Advocate is stepping down
https://www.inquirer.com/news/renee-mckenzie-church-advocate-sanctuary-movement-philadelphia-20210331.html
Slaying of beauty pageant finalist is another sign of how out of control gun violence is | Jenice Armstrong
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/gun-violence-najeebat-sule-philly-jenice-armstrong-20210330.html
Mall shooting leaves 1 dead in Philadelphia
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/03/mall-shooting-leaves-1-dead-in-philadelphia.html
Pitt
Biden’s visit to Pittsburgh today will focus on a national rebuild
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/career-workplace/2021/03/31/Biden-Pittsburgh-visit-infrastructure-speech-Collier-carpentry-training-facility-union-pandemic-stimulus-economy/stories/202103310090
In visit to Pittsburgh, Biden will speak from pro-union and well-worn carpentry facility
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2021/03/30/President-Joe-Biden-visit-Pittsburgh-Collier-carpentry-training-facility-union-infrastructure-speech/stories/202103300127
Why Joe Biden is pitching his infrastructure plan in Pittsburgh, where he launched and ended his campaign
https://www.inquirer.com/news/joe-biden-pittsburgh-infrastructure-bill-20210331.html
Biden heads to Pittsburgh region to unveil major infrastructure plan
https://triblive.com/news/politics-election/biden-heads-to-pittsburgh-region-to-unveil-major-infrastructure-plan/
In Pgh return, Biden to unveil $2T plan to rebuild infrastructure, create jobs, move to clean energy
https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/in-pgh-return-biden-to-unveil-2t-plan-to-rebuild-infrastructure-create-jobs-move-to-clean-energy/
Fitzgerald’s veto of paid sick leave bill remains after Allegheny County Council vote
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2021/03/30/allegheny-county-council-paid-sick-leave-bill-vote-override-rich-fitzgerald-veto/stories/202103300176
Attempt to override Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald’s veto of paid sick leave law fails by 1 vote
https://triblive.com/local/attempt-to-override-allegheny-county-executive-rich-fitzgeralds-veto-of-paid-sick-leave-law-fails-by-1-vote/
‘Colorful and uplifting’ social-distancing reminder coming to at least 1 Port Authority bus shelter
https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/art-architecture/2021/03/30/port-authority-of-allegheny-county-bus-stop-art-social-distancing-janel-young/stories/202103300168
COVID-19 now widespread in 13 Pitt residence halls as officials fear end-of-semester surge
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2021/03/30/University-of-PIttsburgh-COVID-19-commencement-infections-students-isolation-Bradford-Greensburg/stories/202103300134
Pitt says covid is ‘widespread’ in residence halls, adds 30 cases
https://triblive.com/news/education-classroom/pitt-says-covid-is-widespread-in-residence-halls-adds-30-cases/
Pittsburgh City Council to consider ‘clarifying language’ for eviction moratorium
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2021/03/30/Pittsburgh-Council-review-amendments-eviction-moratorium-housing-COVID-19-pandemic/stories/202103300129
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy announces Earth Day Events in April
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-parks-conservancy-announces-earth-day-events-in-april/
State News
Pa. Commission for Women honors 19 veterans
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2021/03/30/Female-women-veterans-honored-service-patti-gerhauser-loretta-kendall-jessica-king-Pennsylvania-commission/stories/202103300160
Immigration activists sue Berks commissioners to learn plans for ICE detention center
https://www.inquirer.com/news/berks-immigrant-family-detention-center-ice-deportation-immigration-lawsuit-20210330.html
Immigration rights advocates sue Berks County commissioners over the Berks Residential Center
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/immigration-rights-advocates-sue-berks-county-commissioners-over-the-berks-residential-center/article_c35d2ef6-9159-11eb-a11a-b3cea1a4e50c.html
Federal evictions ban extended but officials urge tenants to seek help now if they’re struggling with rent
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/federal-evictions-ban-extended-but-officials-urge-tenants-to-seek-help-now-if-theyre-struggling/article_87f1a47e-90cc-11eb-b4bc-3f4d2e475c91.html
Utility shut-off ban ends Thursday; Western Pennsylvania companies say help is available
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/utility-shut-off-ban-ends-thursday-western-pennsylvania-companies-say-help-is-available/
Pennsylvania customers face utility shutoffs Wednesday
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/pennsylvania-customers-face-utility-shutoffs-wednesday/article_6ba74154-a1d0-5f6b-a1ea-73651a99a45b.html
Pa. utility shutoffs resume on April 1. Here’s what you can do if you owe
https://www.witf.org/2021/03/31/pa-utility-shutoffs-resume-on-april-1-heres-what-you-can-do-if-you-owe/
Peco seeks electric rate hike that would boost bills by 9.65%, citing grid costs and COVID-19
https://www.inquirer.com/business/peco-electric-rate-increase-20210330.html
Sympathy for the cicada: Soon-to-emerge Brood X is harmless. And tasty. And really loud!
https://www.ydr.com/in-depth/news/2021/03/31/brood-x-cicada-spring-2021-noise-atltantic-region/6979256002/
Transportation
PennDOT announcing this season’s road and bridge projects
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2021/03/31/Pennsylvania-Department-of-Transportation-Allegheny-County-Beaver-County-Lawrence-County-road-projects-summer-schedule/stories/202103310075
Fed up with traffic jams on Route 22? Worried about truck traffic? PennDOT wants to hear from you on transportation priorities
https://www.mcall.com/business/transportation/mc-biz-penndot-survey-how-to-spend-20210330-qgjarzqfmzbdjl4twylxq57pha-story.html
Washington
GOP Rep. Gaetz investigated over sexual relationship
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/gop-representative-matt-gaetz-investigation-20210330.html
Congresswoman Houlahan hosts forum on equity in support of people still struggling from financial woes of pandemic
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/congresswoman-houlahan-hosts-forum-on-equity-in-support-of-people-still-struggling-from-financial-woes/article_4747efd2-918f-11eb-ad2b-dfe554e82dd4.html