Legislature
Pennsylvania State Senator Nikil Saval talks urban planning and architecture criticism (archpaper.com)
Armenian Sisters Academy’s Genocide commemoration features State Senator Amanda Cappelletti – HyeTert
PA Senate Democrats unveil New Deal in PA plan for $6.15 billion in federal funds to state | WHP (local21news.com)
Pulling the Plug? Row Over Court Budget Could Shutter Pa.’s Docket System | The Legal Intelligencer (law.com)
Pa. Senate Passes Bill To Allow Parents To Decide Whether Their Kids Should Repeat A School Year | WPSU
Editorial: After a lost year of school, parents deserve more power to choose what’s best | TribLIVE.com
Pa. State Senate Improves Accessibility For Hard-of-Hearing Constituents With ENCO enCaption | TV News Check
Measure Offers Help In Fight Against Breast Cancer – WDAC
Sen. Ward plan to ensure seniors access to prescription drugs passes Senate | Community News | shipnc.com
PA Environment Digest Blog: Gov. Wolf Joins Chesapeake Bay Watershed Governors, Officials Urging Congress To Support ‘Billion For The Bay Initiative’ To Jumpstart Final Restoration Efforts (paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com)
Pa.’s Wolf, Chesapeake Bay guvs propose ‘Billion for the Bay’ federal funding initiative | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Earmarks are back. What Pennsylvania and South Jersey lawmakers want money for. (inquirer.com)
Gov. Wolf talks referendums in stop at Silver Spring Township | Politics | cumberlink.com
Carlisle Borough Council sends Rep. Barb Gleim a letter opposing legislation on transgender women in sports | Carlisle | cumberlink.com
Pa. bill seeks to block towns from banning natural gas connections | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
An ‘energy choice’ bill has some lawmakers worried local government could lose power | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Nursing professionals highlight challenges, needs at hearing with Democratic state reps | Coronavirus | thetimes-tribune.com
Investigative report uncovers the hidden costs of Pa. Legislature | Smart Talk (witf.org)
Otten reintroduce pipeline early warning proposal | Local-news | dailylocal.com
State Sen. Judy Ward: Use your voice to make your choice on May 18 | Opinion | dailylocal.com
Coronavirus – COVID-19
National
Schools are deciding what the new CDC mask guidelines mean for the classroom | WITF
Here’s what is (and isn’t) changed by the new CDC mask guidance for the transportation sector | WITF
Just 12 people are behind most vaccine hoaxes on social media, research shows | WITF
‘Get vaccinated — or wear a mask until you do’: CDC says vaccinated people can ditch masks in most cases | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
CDC: Masks no longer needed for fully vaccinated people in most settings | TribLIVE.com
Salvation Army, UnitedHealthcare answer your covid questions | TribLIVE.com
‘Great day for America’: Vaccinated can largely ditch masks | coronavirus | citizensvoice.com
CDC says fully vaccinated people can largely ditch masks: ‘We have all longed for this moment’ – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Shopping without a mask depends on where you live, despite new CDC guidelines | WITF
Drama draws parallels between 1918 flu and COVID-19 pandemics | News | tribdem.com
State
Should teens 14+ have a say in what vaccines they receive? A state lawmakers wants to give them the ability to decide | fox43.com
Teens can get COVID-19 vaccination without parental consent under proposed plan – WPXI
Pa. follows CDC lead on vaccinated people dropping masks in most cases | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
CDC update: No masks for fully vaccinated people indoors and outdoors (inquirer.com)
Fully vaxxed Pennsylvanians can go mask-free, state health officials confirm | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Western Pa. businesses grapple with mask policies after CDC, state updates guidance | TribLIVE.com
Pediatricians say GOP vaccination proposal in Pa. could put children, newborns at risk | WITF
Local
Sixers to offer a COVID-19 vaccine incentive on Saturday (inquirer.com)
Their view: Why my children are getting the COVID-19 vaccine | Times Leader
Vaccinations for elderly increase, but still lag locally | coronavirus | citizensvoice.com
80 new COVID-19 cases reported in three-county; one new death | Coronavirus | standardspeaker.com
Berks doctors debunk 13 myths about the COVID vaccine | Coronavirus | readingeagle.com
Central Bucks students can be maskless outdoors; graduations under review (theintell.com)
Port Authority reminds riders masks still required on public transit vehicles, following new CDC guidelines | Coronavirus | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Another COVID-19 variant found in Erie County (goerie.com)
IU13 to host vaccine clinic for students ages 12 and older | Local News | lancasteronline.com
Ready to scrap the mask? Depends who you ask. (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Business
Report: Small business optimism on the rise, but Pennsylvania businesses still face labor shortage | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Congress provided $28 billion to save restaurants. It’s running out | TribLIVE.com
SBA announces latest application data results for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund | The Bucks County Herald
SBA approves relief funds for 21,000 small restaurants and bars under the Restaurant Revitalization Fund | Business | delcotimes.com
SBA tells lenders to withdraw unapproved PPP loans ahead of deadline – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Clearly Clean Recognized as the Fastest-Growing Manufacturer in Northeast Pennsylvania by the NEPA Manufacturers and Employers Association for the Second Year in a Row | State | theprogressnews.com
These life sciences jobs could triple. Inside the big effort to train workers. (inquirer.com)
Now arriving at Pittsburgh International Airport: Amazon Air | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PPG invests $13 million in China coatings plant | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Lowe’s to hire 90-plus during May 18 walk-in event in Pittston | Times Leader
Time will tell how revised mask policy impacts local businesses and venues | coronavirus | citizensvoice.com
Homebuilders in Berks work to shield buyers from skyrocketing lumber prices | Pennsylvania News | readingeagle.com
New York firm Indus buys Lehigh Valley warehouse for $11.7 million – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Amazon hiring: Sign-on bonuses of $1,000; $100 benefit for vaccinated job candidates – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Amazon hiring for almost 9,000 new roles in tri-state area – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Employee Retention Credits: Experts say employers missing out on millions in ERC relief – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Crime/Punishment
Erie police, officials lauded for efforts to build relationships in city (goerie.com)
Man with gun prompts lockdown at Tunkhannock Area schools | Crime-Emergency | thetimes-tribune.com
Active-Duty Marine Corps Major Christopher Warnagiris charged in Capitol insurrection | WITF
East Berlin police chief finished with discipline for Facebook memes (ydr.com)
Education
Tens of millions of dollars in new COVID-19 aid headed for Pennsylvania colleges and their students | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Presidents of teachers unions call for full school reopening | Coronavirus | thetimes-tribune.com
School board will investigate claims of bias against Black-run charter schools in Philadelphia – Chalkbeat Philadelphia
No boys allowed: Schools are violating PIAA by-laws by permitting boys on girls sports teams | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Schuylkill Valley School District superintendent is on paid administrative leave, official says | Local News | readingeagle.com
Allentown School District students will get sturdy laptop cases – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
West York: Difficult year for in-person learning ends with colorful flags (ydr.com)
College Board and UCLA dean on why the focus on free community college misses the mark – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Elections/Politics
Leftists in Pennsylvania Outspent Conservatives 3 to 1 in 2020 – Capital Research Center
Morning Digest: Trump favorite enters Pennsylvania Senate race, but will he earn his blessing again? (dailykos.com)
Veteran Sean Parnell runs for Pennsylvania Senate seat: First 100 days of Biden ‘a disaster’ | Fox News
Giuliani to raise money for Mastriano for expected governor run. What’s planned (goerie.com)
Republicans vie for Trump’s mantle in Pa. Senate primary | TheHill
Josh Shapiro and Bill McSwain clash on Philadelphia DA race ahead of 2022 election (inquirer.com)
PEMA director urges voters to reject constitutional amendment on emergency powers | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Letter: More GOP politicians should show courage | Letters to the Editor | readingeagle.com
Pa. Primary Election Day is Tuesday: Here’s what you need to know – pennlive.com
Report: The 2020 electorate was the most diverse ever | Friday Morning Coffee | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Local Election Guides/News
About half of Allegheny County voters who requested mail-in ballots have returned them | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Westmoreland officials say voters who receive mail-in ballots this weekend should use drop boxes | TribLIVE.com
Larry Krasner—and the Future of the Criminal Justice Reform Movement—Is on Tuesday’s Ballot | The Nation
Governor Ed Rendell Endorses Carlos Vega For Philadelphia DA – The Dom Giordano Program – Omny.fm
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s mixed record of reform as he seeks reelection (inquirer.com)
Bucks County prepares for upwards of 53,000 mail-in ballots in primary (theintell.com)
Norristown Area School District school board candidates ahead of May 18 primary | Local-news | timesherald.com
HD182: Sims Endorses LGBTQ Public Health Advocate to Replace Him | PoliticsPA
Q&A: Pittsburgh mayoral candidates discuss business issues – Pittsburgh Business Times (bizjournals.com)
Here’s what Harrisburg City Council’s 13 Democratic candidates say about 3 of its key issues – pennlive.com
State Rep. Mark Rozzi endorses candidates in May primary | Elections | readingeagle.com
39 candidates fight for 9 Allegheny County Common Pleas judicial seats | TribLIVE.com
Newcomers seek seats on Jeannette school board, as two incumbents wage write-in efforts | TribLIVE.com
Northampton County constable candidate has a history of violence – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
A return to normal? Winners, losers could be known on election night (goerie.com)
Republican voters fleeing the party in Chester County | Opinion | dailylocal.com
Environment
Ned Smith Center to celebrate Pa.’s Environmental Rights Amendment with exhibit, open house – pennlive.com
PA Environment Digest Blog: Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Student Leaders Continue To Carry The Torch In Pennsylvania (paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com)
PA Environment Digest Blog: Student Project Brings Trees And Music To Water Quality Cleanup Efforts In Lancaster County; June 5 ‘The Big Do’ Celebration (paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com)
Transportation
Three years late and millions over budget, Mt. Rose construction project is ‘not anywhere near completion’ – pennlive.com
Mount Rose Avenue near Interstate 83 will be closed this weekend, PennDOT says (ydr.com)
Millcreek Township awards $2.6 million contract for road paving (goerie.com)
Health
How the pandemic has affected America’s working moms – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Delco: GEO stalling on expanding drug treatment program | News | delcotimes.com
An attorney leads push to save three Chester County hospitals that are part of the Tower Health system | Local News | dailylocal.com
State News
Weekly unemployment claims in Pennsylvania increased last week (timesonline.com)
Legislation would set aside elk hunting licenses for disabled Pennsylvania veterans | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
17 little-known facts about the 17-year periodical cicadas – pennlive.com
We need to close the digital divide in Pa.’s communities of color | Andrea Custis | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Pennsylvania dog wardens call for dog license fee increases to fund work (timesonline.com)
Dog wardens beg for funding during visit to Bucks County kennel (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
How will gas shortage affect central Pennsylvania? (ydr.com)
No evidence of a gasoline shortage in region | Local News | delcotimes.com
National News
U.S. unemployment claims sink to 473,000 as more GOP governors move to end added benefits | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The great U.S. political fight of the 2020s is over the future of work | Will Bunch (inquirer.com)
Israeli ground troops massed at border bombard Gaza, threaten full-on invasion | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Israeli tanks pound Gaza ahead of possible ground incursion; Palestinian families flee | TribLIVE.com
Kabul mosque bombing kills at least 12 worshippers, Afghan police say | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Colonial Pipeline paid hackers nearly $5 million in ransom | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Local News
Westmoreland to get $105M in covid relief funds, could use money for capital improvements | TribLIVE.com
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene berates Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on House floor for backing ‘terrorists’ | TribLIVE.com
Keystone Mission to add 15-bed transformation center for homeless men | Times Leader
Luzerne County prison had 11 inmate suicide attempts last year | Times Leader
‘Acknowledge them:’ Local Vietnam veteran reflects on service as Wall That Heals arrives in Tunkhannock | News | citizensvoice.com
Diocese: Finances, lack of clergy contributed to South Side parish consolidation | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Officials tour downtown Tamaqua $5.7M housing renovation project | News | standardspeaker.com
Pa. agency investigating Berks man’s water-accident death | Berks and Beyond | readingeagle.com
With roots in Harrisburg, 8 Myles Mac n’ Cheese launches in 240 Target stores – pennlive.com
Whitehall, home to retail strips and malls, has had enough with ‘litter epidemic’ – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
National Apple Pie Day: Lehigh Valley recipes – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Whole Foods Co-op, new market house aim to improve food access in Erie (goerie.com)
Lake Erie beach house: Judge sets aside tax sale, but blasts owner, 74 (goerie.com)
Country music festival returning to Chester County this year | Local News | delcotimes.com
Radnor considers tax credit for firefighters, EMS | Local-news | delcotimes.com
Lancaster City Council rejects condo plan for historic tobacco warehouse | Community News | lancasteronline.com
Ephrata council votes to complete Warwick-to-Ephrata rail trail | Community News | lancasteronline.com
Chester County woman crowned Miss Philadelphia | Local-news | dailylocal.com
Pitt
Another big catch? National retailer may take all of second floor in Downtown’s Kaufmann’s redevelopment | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
‘It’s been such a long year’: Pittsburghers welcome new CDC mask guidelines | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Local arts professionals unite to form Pittsburgh Arts Administrators of Color | Arts + Entertainment | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
The Pittsburgh Neighborhood Guidebook offers nostalgic reflections and vignettes of a complicated city | Literary Arts | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Pittsburgh City Council recognizes LGBTQ-owned businesses and ensures equitable contracting opportunities | LGBTQ | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Philly
Philly health official forced to resign over MOVE cremations | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Thomas Farley resigns as Philadelphia health commissioner for cremating MOVE remains (inquirer.com)
Thomas Farley, city’s health commissioner, resigns over cremating remains of MOVE bombing victims | Local News | phillytrib.com
MOVE bombing anniversary in Philadelphia brings fresh pain, calls for accountability (inquirer.com)
MOVE rallies in remembrance of 36th anniversary of bombing | Local News | phillytrib.com
Reopening MLK Drive to cars is bad for Philadelphia’s collective mental health | Opinion (inquirer.com)
First-time homebuyers are losing out in this twisted housing market | Maria Panaritis (inquirer.com)
Panic fuel buying is not occurring in Philadelphia. At least not yet. (inquirer.com)
Shootings of multiple victims are becoming commonplace in gun-plagued Philadelphia (inquirer.com)
Philadelphia parking tax could be cut under City Council bill (inquirer.com)
Phillies announce Citizens Bank Park will return to full capacity in June | WITF
Murals honoring Black activists now wrap the Municipal Services Building | Local News | phillytrib.com
Philadelphia School District teacher chosen as a Yale National Fellow | Local News | phillytrib.com
Backed by $1M Facebook gift, Philadelphia Foundation starts fund for Black-led nonprofits – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Washington
White House, alongside Sen. Bob Casey, announces $12.7 billion for home- and community-based services | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Sen. Pat Toomey and GOP leaders pitch infrastructure plan to President Biden amid rising inflation, labor market concerns | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Joe Biden announces public-health funding boost amid COVID pandemic (inquirer.com)
Biden issues warning to gas station owners on price gouging (post-gazette.com)
Fuel is ‘beginning to flow,’ Biden says as administration struggles to limit political damage from shortage | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Hoping for unity, GOP set to put Rep. Elise Stefanik in top House post | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Mike Rounds (via Public) / Rounds, Colleagues Urge President Biden to Stand with Israel and Reject Iran Sanction Relief (publicnow.com)
The Trump effect: Brian Fitzpatrick on the ouster of Cheney (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Pittsburgh-area rep. Mike Kelly joins House GOP in ousting Liz Cheney from leadership for rejecting Trump’s “big lie” | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene berates Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on House floor for backing ‘terrorists’ | TribLIVE.com
Tom Ridge among group of Republican ‘pragmatists’ calling on party to move past Trump – pennlive.com
What insurrection? Growing number in GOP downplay Jan. 6 | National and World | dailylocal.com
