Legislature
PA Senate Democrats unveil New Deal in PA plan for $6.15 billion in federal funds to state | WHP (local21news.com)
Senate Democrats propose ‘New Deal’ spending plan for Pa. relief funds | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
@ClearforPA: The CLEAR Coalition supports the @PaSenateDems’ plan to invest the Commonwealth’s federal funding from the American Recovery Plan in People, Projects, and Public Health.
Rep. Rapp abortion hearing is criticized | News, Sports, Jobs – Times Observer
Cappelletti Bill Would Allow Teens To Get Vax Without Parents’ Consent – This Is Lower Merion And Narberth
New Senate bill would remove fishing license costs for veterans and others in physical or mental recovery | Outdoors | northcentralpa.com
Pa. Senate Majority Leader Ward reveals breast cancer diagnosis (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Parents deserve more options to overcome disruption to kids’ education | News, Sports, Jobs – The Sentinel (lewistownsentinel.com)
Pa. Senate unanimously passes bill to give parents the option of having their student repeat a grade (abc27.com)
Pa. Legislature mulls letting parents hold back kids a grade due to COVID (tricountyindependent.com)
Sen. Ward plan to ensure seniors access to prescription drugs passes Senate | Community News | shipnc.com
Proposal for opening primaries to all Pennsylvania voters (audacy.com)
How Pa. House GOP plans to make it ‘easy to vote but hard to cheat’ (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Following Biden executive order, AG Shapiro urges lawmakers to federally regulate DIY ‘ghost guns’ | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Law enforcement officials from Pa., Md. urge action against rising numbers of ‘ghost guns’ | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
‘Our rights will be defended’: Mastriano brings the fight over ‘Second Amendment Sanctuaries’ to the Pa. Capitol | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Class action lawsuit over Pennsylvania’s contact tracing data breach leaves senators’ questions unanswered | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Pennsylvania contact tracing data breach probed – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Prosecutors probe Pennsylvania contact tracing data breach | WITF
Briggs introduces legislation to create paid family leave in Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
How the Pa. power struggle between Wolf and GOP impacts residents (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Wolf warns voters that emergency powers ballot questions would make it ‘a lot messier, slower’ to manage crises | WITF
Is a ‘Three-Day War’ between Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf and lawmakers real or pretend? | John Baer – pennlive.com
Some Pa. lawmakers tout expense transparency. Their websites tell a different story. – pennlive.com
Central Pa. lawyer accused of threatening to kill U.S. senators and shoot his wife is disbarred – pennlive.com
‘We can’t move forward if we leave others behind’: State officials urge Pennsylvanians to apply for rental assistance | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Coronavirus – COVID-19
National
CDC Says Kids As Young As 12 Should Get The Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine : Coronavirus Updates : NPR
A look at how America’s partisan divide over pandemic responses played out in the states | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Ohio Raises The Stakes To Boost Vaccinations, Offers 5, $1 Million Drawings : NPR
COVID-19 wastewater testing proves effective in new study | The Bucks County Herald
COVID In Nicaragua: Ortega Claims Success. Citizens Seek Real Pandemic Toll : NPR
COVID-19 Was ‘A Preventable Disaster,’ WHO-Ordered Report Says : Coronavirus Updates : NPR
Will Vaccines Work On Coronavirus Variant From India? : Goats and Soda : NPR
US advisers endorse Pfizer COVID shot for kids 12 and up | coronavirus | citizensvoice.com
Uber and Lyft will provide free rides to vaccination sites until July 4 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
State
Pennsylvania venues get capacity bump on May 17 | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Pennsylvania to start giving young teens COVID vaccine Thursday (goerie.com)
Which is it? Gov. Wolf, Health Department differ on COVID-19 vaccination numbers | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Gov. Wolf advocates against ballot questions in visit to Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Local
Montgomery County officials report ‘robust’ interest in vaccines for adolescents | News | timesherald.com
Chester County extends COVID-19 vaccine to 12- to 15-year-olds | Local News | dailylocal.com
Chester County on cusp of ‘low risk’ virus transmission | Coronavirus | dailylocal.com
Montgomery County opens Pfizer clinics to 12- to 15-year-olds (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Cambria COVID-19 hospitalizations rise as numbers flatten statewide | Coronavirus | tribdem.com
Fairview 14-year-old receives COVID-19 vaccine (goerie.com)
Pfizer vaccine for children 12-15 at LVHN, St. Luke’s – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Philadelphia to lift COVID-19 restrictions, cases dropping in Pa. and N.J. as more get vaccine (inquirer.com)
Nockley Family Pharmacy, Geisinger offering COVID-19 vaccines to patients 12 and older | coronavirus | citizensvoice.com
Lackawanna County sets the pace in residents fully vaccinated against COVID-19 | Coronavirus | thetimes-tribune.com
Business
SBA’s abrupt PPP shutdown strands millions of businesses — and spurs calls for more funding – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
There’s a disconnect between companies and workers on ‘the return’ after covid – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Samuel Adams program offers support for ‘mompreneurs’ in the food and beverage industry | Business | dailylocal.com
Burle Business Park sold to NJ investor for $30M; upgrade planned | Local Business | lancasteronline.com
Former Maytag warehouse in Covington Twp. sold for $30.6 million | Business | thetimes-tribune.com
Crime/Punishment
County finds $4M savings by deprivatizing prison | News | delcotimes.com
‘No-Knock’ ballot measure in Pittsburgh could open door to more police accountability, activists hope | WITF
Lancaster city officer sued 3rd time over excessive force claim after shooting man in back with Taser | Local News | lancasteronline.com
Education
President of Key Teachers’ Union Shares Plea: ‘Schools Must Be Open’ in Fall – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
The pandemic and bitter partisanship polarized 2020. Now it’s seeping into school board races. (inquirer.com)
Rep. Houlahan convenes panel on community colleges | Local News | dailylocal.com
Philly’s Black-led charter schools have alleged bias by the district. Now the claims will be investigated. (inquirer.com)
School choice PACs have huge reserves thanks to Pa.’s Jeff Yass – WHYY
Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health on track to welcome students in August | Local News | dailylocal.com
QNB Bank donates $40,000 through Pennsylvania EITC program (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Pa. high schools face a dilemma with Native American mascots (goerie.com)
Outbreak of COVID-19 closes Western Beaver High School (timesonline.com)
Penn State board approves plans for $85 million art museum (inquirer.com)
Delaware State offering debt relief to recent grads hurt financially by COVID-19 | State & Region | phillytrib.com
Schools ditch student mask requirements in growing numbers | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Elections/Politics
2022 U.S. SENATE FIELD BECOMING CROWDED IN PENNSYLVANIA | WCCS AM1160 & 101.1FM (wccsradio.com)
Who’s running for key seats on statewide judicial courts | News, Sports, Jobs – The Express (lockhaven.com)
Your guide to Pa.’s 2021 primary ballot questions | Local News | standard-journal.com
The Pa. Senate 48th District race: Who’s the best man for the job? – pennlive.com
The Pa. Senate 48th District race: Candidates clash on minimum wage, election reform, abortion and more – pennlive.com
Idea: In 2022, Let’s Nominate Candidates Who Aren’t Awful by Kurt Schlichter (townhall.com)
Here’s How Disinformation Drives Voting Laws – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Letter: We must pay attention to politicians’ activities | Letters to the Editor | readingeagle.com
Local Election Guides/News
Here’s how much money the Bethlehem mayoral Democratic candidates have raised – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Peduto Outraises, Outspends Rivals, But Gainey Draws On Outside Union Support In Bitter Campaign | 90.5 WESA
Cognetti deserves full term | Editorials and Columns | thetimes-tribune.com
Where do local Dems stand on Krasner vs. Vega? – Northeast Times
District Attorney Larry Krasner and Challenger Carlos Vega – Inside Story 050921 – 6abc Philadelphia
Philly DA Larry Krasner’s first campaign TV ad shows I-676 tear-gassing (inquirer.com)
Spending in 2021 Harrisburg mayoral primary will set city record – pennlive.com
Harrisburg’s mayoral candidates take readers’ questions: Privatization of public services – pennlive.com
Erie County executive candidates Titus, Bishop also declared bankruptcy (goerie.com)
2021 Primary Election: Here’s a look at the contested races in Perry County – pennlive.com
1 Allegheny County Councilman Faces Primary Challenge For Reelection – CBS Pittsburgh (cbslocal.com)
Bucks County prepares for upwards of 53,000 mail-in ballots in primary (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Elections director in Berks County applauds levels of mailed ballots requested and returned | Elections | readingeagle.com
Allentown voter data analysis reveals reality of mayoral primary electorate – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Election board approves curing of ballots on primary election day | Election | citizensvoice.com
Some Luzerne County mail-in ballots sent with wrong return address | Election | standardspeaker.com
Mobile vaccination clinic coming to Hazleton on Thursday | Coronavirus | standardspeaker.com
Voters may have chance to vote at polls if mail ballots defective | Times Leader
Transportation
PennDOT to begin rehabilitation on Richland Pike Culvert over Cooks Creek in Springfield Township, Bucks County | The Bucks County Herald
Pa. Turnpike is gouging E-ZPass users for millions of dollars in unjustified fees, driver claims in newly filed lawsuit – pennlive.com
State Department of Transportation to invest $1.7 million in Lehigh Valley International Airport – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
York County I-83 interchange project originally scheduled to be done in 2018 remains a work in progress – pennlive.com
Commuters to NJ be warned: Repairs on I-78 bridge in Easton area now indefinite – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
American Airlines executives optimistic about a recovery at Philadelphia International Airport (inquirer.com)
Health
How Will Health Care In The U.S. Change After The Pandemic? : Shots – Health News : NPR
In The Pandemic, Children Face A Mental Health Crisis : Short Wave : NPR
CDC And FDA Trusted By Only Half Of Americans : NPR
100 years ago, insulin transformed the fight against diabetes | Smart Talk (witf.org)
Mental health problems likely to outlast pandemic | Coronavirus | standardspeaker.com
Report: Luzerne County has higher rate of sepsis in maternal hospitalizations | Times Leader
State News
Gas prices — already up in PA — could ‘explode’ for Memorial Day (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
How will gas shortage affect central Pennsylvania? (ydr.com)
Pa. families set to receive $1 billion in relief due to missed school meals during virtual school | WITF
State begins distributing funds to families whose children missed free, reduced-price meals | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Fiscal experts to states on stimulus cash: Don’t spend it all in one place | Thursday Morning Coffee | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
National News
‘It’s Against All Of Us’: Israel-Hamas Violence, As Seen From The Ground : NPR
Conflict Between Israel and Palestinians Continues to Escalate – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Canada, unions, business groups warn of international consequences of Line 5 shutdown | Michigan | thecentersquare.com
Colonial Pipeline Restarts: Experts Say Don’t Panic-Buy Gas As System Normalizes : NPR
Internet Subsidy Gives $50 A Month Discounts For Low-Income Americans : NPR
Comcast Cable CEO doesn’t expect new federal broadband rebate program to replace Internet Essentials – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Tax Day 2021 is May 17. Here’s what you need to know before the deadline to file your taxes – pennlive.com
Yes, Inflation Made Things More Expensive In April : NPR
Inflation Is Here. What Now? – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Knight Commission Urges NCAA And Schools To Tackle Racial Inequity : NPR
Judge approves $577 million settlement for historically Black colleges and universities in Maryland | News | tribdem.com
Ellen DeGeneres to end long-running TV talk show next year | National and World | dailylocal.com
Facebook should clarify what standard former President Trump violated or lift his suspension | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tesla stops accepting Bitcoin as payment for its cars amid Musk’s woes over environment | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Mysterious ailments are said to be more widespread among U.S. personnel | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Local News
Dino Don on ‘Shark Tank’: Delaware County robotic dinosaur maker to appear on hit ABC show – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
West Chester’s Uptown! prepares to reopen at full capacity | Local News | dailylocal.com
Buckingham’s Bake Ability empowers young adults with special needs (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
How Lancaster County retirement communities found bright spots in a year of challenges | Health | lancasteronline.com
Erie federal court: Indictment charges misuse of $150K COVID-19 loan (goerie.com)
Monroe County health workers hold vigil for COVID-19 victims (poconorecord.com)
Monroe County issued more than 5K conceal carry permits in 2020 (poconorecord.com)
Lower Makefield Township mulls ways to spend $53 million | The Bucks County Herald
No evidence of a gasoline shortage in Berks County | Local News | readingeagle.com
YMCA & Pennie Health Equity Tour comes to Sinking Spring | Berks and Beyond | readingeagle.com
No-kill shelter awarded 15K grant from Petco Love – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Chambersburg committee considering new anti-discrimination ordinance, local human relations commission | WITF
Kate Winslet learned to be ‘Mare of Easttown’ from this Chester County detective (inquirer.com)
Appeals court overturns Lackawanna County Tax Claim bureau’s sale of Scranton property | News | thetimes-tribune.com
‘Acknowledge them’: Local Vietnam veteran reflects on service as Wall That Heals arrives in Tunkhannock | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Diocese of Scranton to merge two South Side parishes | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Hazleton City Council authorizes administrators to explore financing for paving projects | News | standardspeaker.com
Pedestrian safety grants will aid WB, Kingston police | Times Leader
Greater Nanticoke approves proposed budget with maximum tax hike | Times Leader
Board seeks appraisal of Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza as match for state grant | Times Leader
Pitt
Pittsburgh City Council recognizes LGBTQ-owned businesses and ensures equitable contracting opportunities | LGBTQ | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Pile of COVID-19 business suits against Erie Insurance end up in a Pittsburgh court | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh hospital workers detail discrimination, call for action at City Council meeting | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Diocese lifts Mass attendance limits | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh unveils new ‘state-of-the-art’ River Rescue boat | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
NEA doles out $190K in grants to Pittsburgh arts organizations | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Philly
‘A very explosive situation’: The anniversary of the MOVE bombing in Philadelphia – pennlive.com
Philly Police Commish Outlaw signals support for allowing veteran cops to live outside city, drawing pushback from council president | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Outlaw signals support for allowing veteran cops to live outside city, drawing pushback from council president | Local News | phillytrib.com
Hate crimes against Asian Americans in Philadelphia have been happening for decades (inquirer.com)
Philadelphia DA race is personal in neighborhoods most affected by crime, incarceration (inquirer.com)
Dozens allege abuse by Philly homicide detective James Pitts (inquirer.com)
Center City is bouncing back from the pandemic, but businesses still have recovery work ahead (inquirer.com)
First-time homebuyers are losing out in aggressive housing market (inquirer.com)
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier opposes 48th and Chester ‘poop building’ project | Local News | phillytrib.com
Washington
Biden Will Host Senate Republicans In Bid For Infrastructure Package : NPR
Biden Executive Order Follows Recent Cyberattacks : NPR
As Trillions Flow Out the Door, Stimulus Oversight Faces Challenges – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Marco Rubio (via Public) / Rubio Leads Senate Republicans in Urging POTUS to Stand With Israel and to Not Provide Iran With Sanctions Relief (publicnow.com)
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan on Military Moms Matter Act: ‘It’s really, really an important piece of legislation’ (msnbc.com)
The Trump effect: Brian Fitzpatrick on the ouster of Cheney (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Pa.’s Kelly joins House GOP in ousting Liz Cheney from leadership for rejecting Trump’s ‘big lie’ | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Local Republican congressmen vote to oust Cheney | National News | thetimes-tribune.com
Two Pa. GOP congressmen share why they voted out Liz Cheney from leadership | WITF
Liz Cheney Removed From GOP Post Over Trump Criticism : NPR
Republicans’ Overthrow of Cheney Creates New Problems for Party – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
In Insurrection Hearing, Partisan Divide On The ‘Big Lie’ Takes Center Stage : NPR
Biden nominates Karen Williams to serve as U.S. District Judge in Camden – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Cartwright, Casey introduce Tobyhanna Army Depot pay gap bill again (poconorecord.com)
New footage shows Capitol rioter celebrating as cop is beaten, Tasered: ‘I got one!’ | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Biden administration approves nation’s 1st major offshore wind farm | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
