Legislature
Justice Department Proposal Making It Harder To Buy Parts To Make Ghost Guns Brings Hope To Fighting Philly’s Epidemic – CBS Philly (cbslocal.com)
State House GOP outlines ideas for sweeping changes to voting laws | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A Pennsylvania Lawmaker and the Resurgence of Christian Nationalism | The New Yorker
New Yorker profile positions Pa.’s Mastriano as icon of Christian nationalism | Tuesday Morning Coffee | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
The Pa. Senate 48th District race: Candidates clash on minimum wage, election reform, abortion and more | Associated Press | lancasterfarming.com
Work search requirements, digital hearings advance as lawmakers tinker with Pa. unemployment | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Pennsylvania and other states push jobless from virus recession to return to work | WITF
PA Bill Allows Doctor Informed Consent Delegation (natlawreview.com)
Pa. Senate gets bill that would allow parents to decide if a child should repeat grade | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Bill to give special education students the chance to repeat a grade level, moves toward Senate | WTAJ – www.wearecentralpa.com
Pa. Senate committee approves bill allowing parents to opt for children to repeat a grade | Around the Web – Pennsylvania | mainlinemedianews.com
Pennsylvania senators endorse grade repeating after pandemic learning loss | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
State Sen. Mike Regan returns to Capitol after motorcycle crash | ABC27
Readers’ Views: Pa. Senate should reject bill making spitting on police a felony | Opinion | pottsmerc.com
Multi-billion-dollar tax increase still a priority for Pennsylvania governor | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Rep. Herrin meets with constituents | Local News | dailylocal.com
PFAS discharge permit appeal needs to end, PA lawmakers say (theintell.com)
Abuse survivors press for action on window bill | Local News | tribdem.com
Coronavirus – COVID-19
National
FAQ About Pfizer’s COVID Vaccine And Kids : Shots – Health News : NPR
COVID Vaccination Choices Split Families And Communities In Rural Montana : Shots – Health News : NPR
FDA OKs Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 12-15 age group | WITF
Pfizer covid-19 shot expanded to U.S. children as young as 12 | TribLIVE.com
What you need to know about covid vaccine for kids 12-15 | TribLIVE.com
‘A weight off my shoulders’: FDA approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Indian Americans are distraught over the catastrophe COVID-19 has brought to their native land | Opinion – pennlive.com
To Vaccinate Younger Teens, States and Cities Look to Schools, Camps, Even Beaches – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
State
Will Pa. allow minors to get a COVID vaccine without parental consent? (therecordherald.com)
Pa. families seek ways to help as coronavirus surges in India | Smart Talk (witf.org)
State posts lowest number of new covid cases in 7 months | TribLIVE.com
COVID-19 Latest: Pa.’s new cases nearly half as last Monday; AHN reacts to FDA’s Pfizer announcement | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Desire to get COVID vaccine very high among PA LGBTQ population, but so are barriers, statewide study finds – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Local
Philadelphia officials to announce timeline for lifting restrictions on Tuesday – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Philadelphia to ease COVID-19 restrictions, cases dropping in Pa. and N.J. (inquirer.com)
Flyers let fans take their shot and score COVID-19 immunity | WITF
Flyers giving out free tickets to fans who get vaccinated | WITF
Coronavirus positivity rate continues decline in Montgomery County and SE Pa. | News | mainlinemedianews.com
Vaccine hesitancy in Beaver County: why locals aren’t getting the vaccine. (timesonline.com)
Heritage Valley and UPMC team up for treatment of COVID-19 (timesonline.com)
Pfizer vaccine available at RMU vaccine clinics this week (timesonline.com)
Rate of new covid cases in North Huntingdon, Irwin areas falls below 1%, as of May 10 | TribLIVE.com
32 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Luzerne County on Monday | Times Leader
Geisinger starts COVID-19 survivors support group | News | citizensvoice.com
Wilkes-Barre Area planning COVID-19 vaccine clinic for children 12 and older | coronavirus | citizensvoice.com
Chester County Health Department partners with EMS agencies to offer at-home COVID vaccines | Coronavirus | dailylocal.com
Erie County: No COVID-19 deaths reported in 11 days and counting (goerie.com)
Coronavirus positivity rate continues decline in Montgomery County and SE Pa. | Local News | pottsmerc.com
LVHN to hold no-appointment vaccine clinics at Dorney Park, other locations – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Berks adds 53 new COVID cases as longer-term trends show a decline and rate of vaccinations rises | Coronavirus | readingeagle.com
Anti-mask rally in Chester County: ‘Let them breathe’ | Coronavirus | dailylocal.com
Business
Pennsylvania small businesses’ need for workers ‘a huge issue,’ industry representative says | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
PPP loan forgiveness process could drag out for ‘six to eight years’ – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Why Soaring Stocks Could Be Bad News For The Economy : Planet Money : NPR
Philadelphia ranks among top metros for small business employment in April – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Community Briefs: Zabel hosts job fair Thursday | Lifestyle | delcotimes.com
Need help getting workers? Use this tax credit to pay a hiring bonus. (inquirer.com)
Chipotle Will Raise Average Wage to $15 an Hour – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Sheetz announces wage increases | Business | thetimes-tribune.com
Sheetz, Wawa offering incentives for new, current workers – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Contract pharmaceutical manufacturing facility coming to York County (ydr.com)
Always Best is hosting a job fair at OIC | Business | timesherald.com
Restaurants reduce hours to counter hiring crisis: ‘We don’t have people to work’ – pennlive.com
Crime/Punishment
Sen. Casey calls for mental health supports in police encounters with people with disabilities | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
‘Old Law’ Prisoners Seek Release But Fall Through The Cracks : NPR
Rochester, N.Y., Wants To Reimagine Police. What Do People Imagine That Means? : NPR
25 people shot, 7 killed in Philly over the weekend. Police say lack of trust in law enforcement fueling the surge | WITF
Yeadon police unveil first in nation police-community garden project | News | delcotimes.com
Education
US schools fight to keep students amid fear of dropout surge | National News | lancasteronline.com
Some Pennsylvania student debt will no longer be turned over to debt collectors | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Philadelphia School Partnership names Stacy Holland new leader (inquirer.com)
W-B Area agrees to sell Meyers for $2M to assisted living developer | News | citizensvoice.com
Bear Creek Community Charter gets $1.5 million for ‘high quality’ education | Times Leader
NAACP pushes for community college to be located downtown (goerie.com)
Erie County Communtiy Collegek: NAACP, others push for it to be downtown (goerie.com)
Northampton Community College settles lawsuit with former employee who claimed he was denied a promotion because he is Black – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Elizabethtown Area school board member says staff cuts should be weighed in future | Community News | lancasteronline.com
Penn Manor discusses increase in students with disabilities | Community News | lancasteronline.com
Bucks County school leaders join push for more state education funding (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Elections/Politics
Today is the deadline to request a mail-in ballot for the May 18 primary | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tuesday is last day for mail-in ballot requests, in-person voting | Election | citizensvoice.com
Primary voters will be asked to decide three amendments to state constitution, and fire referendum | Local News | observer-reporter.com
Fire funding: Ballot question could aid Erie, others in funding needs (goerie.com)
Jerry Shenk: The 2022 midterm election has already begun | Opinion | mainlinemedianews.com
Primary voters will be asked to decide three amendments to state constitution, and fire referendum | Local News | observer-reporter.com
Independents can vote on ballot questions, and more things to know about the May 18 primary · Spotlight PA
Biden and Democrats face party divisions in critical Senate races – The Washington Post
Ballot Measure Seeks To Curb Solitary Confinement At Allegheny County Jail | 90.5 WESA
Berks Stands Up endorses candidates in May primary | Elections | readingeagle.com
States, including Pa., pick judges very differently from U.S. Supreme Court appointments | Opinion | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
This political power couple wants Latino candidates to win. Can they make it happen in Allentown? | WITF
Former CEO Glenn Youngkin wins Virginia GOP governor nod after last challenger concedes | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
My red state is still arguing over masks, but it’s not about COVID anymore | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Ahead of Northampton County executive race, Lamont McClure stockpiles $180,000 war chest – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Environment
Biden Wants A Civilian Climate Corps. Here’s How It Might Work : NPR
A Louisiana Climate Plan Aims To Zero Out Oil And Gas Emissions : NPR
New Study: Electric vehicle expansion could help Pa.’s meet its climate goals | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Transportation
Cyclists can ride COLTS buses free next week | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Interstate 83 Mount Rose Avenue: Watch for traffic restrictions as two new ramps open (ydr.com)
Ridge Pike Improvement Project gets funds, moves forward with construction | News | pottsmerc.com
Ridge Pike Improvement Project gets funds, moves forward with construction | Local-news | thereporteronline.com
Administrators in Hazleton evaluating alternative options to pay for paving projects | News | standardspeaker.com
Health
Tower Health to close, consolidate some physician practice sites in latest cost-cutting move – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Tower Health consolidating physician practices, impacting nearly 200 doctors and staff | Local News | readingeagle.com
An investment in homecare is an investment in healthy families & communities | Opinion | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Beaver County to host naloxone distribution event in Ambridge (timesonline.com)
For introverts and people with social anxiety, pandemic lockdown brought relief and more autonomy (inquirer.com)
State News
This week’s biggest Winners & Losers | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
F.B.I. Asking Questions After a Pension Fund Aimed High and Fell Short – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Bradford County District Attorney Chad Salsman pleads guilty, resigns amid allegations (abc27.com)
‘I’m honored to be selected’: Lawrence joins national NewDEAL organization | News | pottsmerc.com
The tax filing deadline is one week away. Here’s how Pa. residents can file for free online | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Cicada year: Brood X set to make noise as they emerge in spring 2021 (timesonline.com)
‘She’s in the wooder’: Saturday Night Live goes full Delco in parody of ‘Mare of Eastown’ | Local-news | delcotimes.com
First responders remind motorists to slow down and move over | News | citizensvoice.com
Medical marijuana in PA: State OK’s Calypso’s expanded grow facility in Erie (goerie.com)
Pike County tick study sheds crucial information on diseases – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Pennsylvania’s unemployment system will be modernized, go offline for a few days – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
National News
Why Support For Refugees Is Higher Than You Might Think In Parts Of ‘Trump Country’ : NPR
Section 230: How Ken Zeran’s Fight With AOL Sealed The Tech Industry’s Power : NPR
What We Know About The Ransomware Attack On A Critical U.S. Pipeline : NPR
FBI names pipeline cyberattackers as company promises return | Business | delcotimes.com
Colonial Pipeline officials hope most service will be restored by this weekend | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pipeline shutdown pushes up East Coast fuel prices, but don’t worry about gas lines yet (inquirer.com)
Government Housing Vouchers Are Hard To Get, And Hard To Use : NPR
Mass Shootings In 2021: 194 Shootings In 18 Weeks : NPR
Homebuying as a single Black woman is hard. No one told me it’d be terrifying. | Commentary | phillytrib.com
Judge strikes down moratorium on evictions; Biden’s DOJ appeals (timesonline.com)
Gaza militants, children among 24 dead as Israel hits Hamas | National and World | delcotimes.com
1.4B but no more? China’s population growth closer to zero | TribLIVE.com
Inside Arizona’s election audit, GOP fraud fantasies live on | TribLIVE.com
Federal trial begins in case of ex-New Castle cop charged in beating | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Facebook insists a kids version of Instagram will be safe, but state AGs aren’t buying it | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
America’s bridges need greater investment in order to survive | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
NASA Wallops rocket launch scrubbed again, moved to Tuesday (ydr.com)
FCC to lower internet bills for eligible households (goerie.com)
Actions show why net neutrality is needed | Editorials and Columns | standardspeaker.com
Shooting at Russian school leaves at least 7 students, 1 teacher dead – pennlive.com
$2,000 monthly stimulus checks? Restaurant owner starts a petition with over 2 million signatures – pennlive.com
Local News
Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville starting annual heroism award (abc27.com)
Flight 93 families hope heroism award helps keep story alive | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Casey Pitches Biden’s Infrastructure, Families Plan At Monaca Town Hall | 90.5 WESA
Casey touts Biden jobs plan at Beaver County town hall (timesonline.com)
Yard waste permits available in Beaver (timesonline.com)
Slight tax increase likely for Fox Chapel Area residents | TribLIVE.com
Reading & Northern looking at passenger excursions from W-B to Jim Thorpe | Times Leader
Metz thanks foodservice ‘heroes’ | Times Leader
Luzerne County Council to discuss tax break request | Times Leader
NEPA counties, metro cities can now get fiscal relief totaling $330 million | coronavirus | citizensvoice.com
Property owners say expert report proves Lackawanna County assessments are unfair | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Attorneys for landfill, waste/recycling firm threaten Dunmore with litigation | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Bucks County govt, towns and schools to receive nearly $300M under American Rescue Plan (theintell.com)
Bucks County coroner alleged county violated Sunshine law with budget cut (theintell.com)
Bucks County coroner: Commissioners’ $1 million cut to office violated Sunshine law – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Doylestown Borough, Bristol put Memorial Day events back on calendar (theintell.com)
Entire Lehigh Valley now classified as abnormally dry, but a new tool from NASA could help area farmers – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Underground tunnel work to partially close Lancaster County trash facility for two months | Local News | lancasteronline.com
Self-guided tour honors veterans buried in Longswamp Township | Berks and Beyond | readingeagle.com
Democrats tour Reading to promote the Pennsylvania Rescue Plan | Local News | readingeagle.com
Gas prices going up in Schjuylkill County as more think about summer travel | News | standardspeaker.com
Hazle Twp. Supervisors grant tax exemption for warehouse campus | News | standardspeaker.com
Luzerne County council to discuss 2nd Amendment sanctuary proposal | News | standardspeaker.com
Pitt
White House launches fund to distribute $335M for Pittsburgh, $381M for Allegheny County | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
URA opens free legal help to renters, homeowners facing eviction or foreclosure | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Wendy Bell is off the Pittsburgh airwaves … again | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Health department shuts down Club Elegance in Braddock due to ‘several inches of raw sewage’ on floor | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Downtown’s elegant Granite Building just sold for $1.8 million. But to whom? | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh motorists shouldn’t panic-buy gasoline after Colonial Pipeline cyberattack, experts say | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Reimagining the Tree of Life synagogue as a place of education and community deserves support | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Philly
Larry Krasner deserves a second term as Philly district attorney | Endorsement (inquirer.com)
The DA race is testing progressives | Morning Newsletter (inquirer.com)
Fact-checking Krasner, Vega in the Philadelphia DA debate (audacy.com)
Krasner, others rally in Burholme – Northeast Times
Toll Brothers to restart Jewelers’ Row project in 2022 – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Which banks approved the most PPP loans in 2021? The top lender might surprise you – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Giant to open four new stores in Philadelphia – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Wanamaker building put up for sale as pending vacancies loom – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Will Philly NAACP boss who shared anti-Semitic meme run for another term at the top? He’s not saying | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Philadelphia School District’s longest-serving teacher to retire after 47 years | Local News | phillytrib.com
Philadelphia 76ers and Firstrust Bank highlight local Black-owned businesses | Business | phillytrib.com
City Councilmember raises concerns over Kenney administration’s pledge to shift resources from police department | Local News | phillytrib.com
Philly still weeks away from completing evaluation of new anti-violence program | Local News | phillytrib.com
The Brothers’ Network continues to showcase Black birders and artists | Local News | phillytrib.com
Philadelphia’s Awbury Arboretum wants to build a welcome center on a meadow. Neighbors are fighting the plan. (inquirer.com)
Washington
U.S. reverses Trump change, restores transgender civil rights protections in health care | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
US restores transgender health protections denied by Trump | News | citizensvoice.com
President Biden is hosting 4 crucial meetings this week to convince Republicans and skeptical Democrats to support his infrastructure plans | National and World | dailylocal.com
Toomey To Talk Infrastructure With Biden in Thursday Meeting | PoliticsPA
Reschenthaler, Casey see bipartisan momentum for ‘clean slate’ bill in Congress | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Sen. Bob Casey To Introduce Two Police Reform Bills – CBS Pittsburgh (cbslocal.com)
Biden: Americans Will Lose Unemployment Benefits If They Turn Down Jobs : NPR
Et Tu, Elise? Cheney set to lose leadership job to congresswoman who nominated her for it | WITF
McCarthy sets Wednesday vote on Liz Cheney leadership ouster | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Watchdog: Capitol Police need to boost counterintelligence to address rising treats | WITF
Biden Defends Unemployment Benefits, Provided Workers Accept Job Offers – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
