News Digest :: May 19, 2022

Legislature

Fetterman to resume Lt. Governor duties next week following stroke (abc27.com)

Following a stroke, Lt. Gov. Fetterman says he’s fit to resume duties next week – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Adult victims of child sex abuse deserve a fair shot at justice | Patrick Beaty – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

 

Coronavirus – COVID-19

COVID-19 vaccine clinics being held in Harrisburg as cases rise (abc27.com)

Republican-leaning areas continue to face more COVID deaths : NPR

Here’s what we know about North Korea’s COVID outbreak : NPR

Berks COVID update: 60% more cases in a week and more hospitalized (readingeagle.com)

Vaccines still essential in the fight against COVID, state health secretary says (readingeagle.com)

 

Business/Jobs

Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the road this year, adding more supply chain disruptions (abc27.com)

Gas prices rapidly approaching $5 a gallon, Pa. again sets a new record high – pennlive.com

 

Crime/Punishment

Philadelphia jails are a humanitarian crisis | Opinion (inquirer.com)

 

Education

AG Josh Shapiro sides with plaintiffs in school funding lawsuit, saying Pa. is violating its constitution (inquirer.com)

Central Bucks School District backpedals, classes about puberty are now optional and virtual | WITF

Proposed Central Bucks library policy targeting ‘sexualized content’ spurs worries about sweeping book removal (inquirer.com)

Some 68 years after Brown v. Board, similar foes continue stubbornly fighting progress | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Empty University of Scranton lots could become center for workforce development, research | Education | thetimes-tribune.com

 

Elections/Politics

Pennsylvania lawmakers see terms ended by primary defeats | WITF

The latest congressional vote counts in the commonwealth – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

Oz, McCormick still neck and neck in Pennsylvania GOP Senate primary | WITF

Pa Sen. Race: Timeline for a potential Oz, McCormick recount (abc27.com)

‘Oh no, here we go again’: Another manual ballot count in Lancaster, but this one’s going quickly (abc27.com)

Sauer, Santarsiero Win State Senate Primary: Bucks County Election | Doylestown, PA Patch

Several narrow contests remain in local Pennsylvania state legislature races | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

How Doug Mastriano could turn election lies into action, if elected governor | WITF

Editorial: Pa. Republican Party chair Lawrence Tabas should resign over Doug Mastriano debacle | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Lori Mizgorski defeats Jake Roberts in GOP primary in state Senate 38th District race | TribLIVE.com

Inside the Lancaster County operation where staff are remarking 16,000 mail ballots that could decide the GOP U.S. Senate primary | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Renewable energy proponent and former County Councilor win primaries in redrawn northern suburbs | 90.5 WESA

Deluzio, Shaffer to face off in November for Lamb’s former U.S. House seat | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

While Summer Lee’s supporters declare victory, Allegheny County says race updates won’t be available until Friday | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Summer Lee declares victory, a win for La’Tasha Mayes, and more primary election updates | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)

Primary election: North Penn polling places report slow but steady voter turnout (thereporteronline.com)

One day after Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial primary, the general election campaign has already started | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

John Fetterman dominated the Pa. Democratic primary for Senate. Here’s how. (inquirer.com)

Primary election results set up fall battle of familiar foes for 24th Senatorial District (thereporteronline.com)

Newman defeats Dicranian in GOP primary for 167th state House District – Daily Local

Kazeem tops Kirkland to win Dem nod in the 159th – Delco Times

Watro nabs GOP nomination in 116th state House District | Election | standardspeaker.com

Bognet wallops Marsicano, earns rematch with Cartwright | Election | standardspeaker.com

Historic GOP Primary Leaves Senate Outcome Uncertain – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Republican Race For Congress in Chester County Remains Undecided – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

How mailed ballots slow results in Pennsylvania | WITF

Berks County primary election faces technical problems, errors and criticism | WITF

Republican Scheller likely to get rematch with Democrat Wild in Lehigh Valley congressional race – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Outstanding votes in Allegheny County could sway races, but will take time to count | TribLIVE.com

Eyeing family time, Barletta vows to bow out of running for office | Election | standardspeaker.com

 

Transportation

Pennsylvania judge halts bridge tolling plans, for now | WITF

Commonwealth Court halts PennDOT bridge tolling project, including I-79 near Bridgeville | TribLIVE.com

Pa. court halts I-83 bridge tolling project, but immediate impacts unclear – pennlive.com

 

Health

With Roe in doubt, some fear tech surveillance of pregnancy | WITF

Public Health Experts: Don’t Let Fears of Teen Vaping Slow Push to Get Older Smokers to Switch – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

More focus on mental health since the pandemic | Smart Talk (witf.org)

 

State News

Pennsylvania eyes a hydrogen hub – and the billions of federal cash that come with it | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Hidden pension management fees – hundreds of millions of Pennsylvania dollars – could become public | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Little League International opens facility in Poland to Ukrainian refugees (abc27.com)

Life jackets, safety checks improving boating safety (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

UGI’s planned rate hikes would boost residential bills 22% by December | Local News | lancasteronline.com

Probation violation hearing set for former state Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane | Crime-Emergency | thetimes-tribune.com

 

National News

Summer blackouts could hit these US states, regulators warn (abc27.com)

Baby formula shortage hits home for mother of triplets | ABC27

Formula for trouble: How the U.S. got into an infant formula mess : NPR

US Soccer equalizes pay in milestone with women, men – Daily Local

64% of U.S. adults oppose overturning Roe v. Wade, poll says : NPR

Poll: Two-thirds of Americans back Roe, less likely to vote for abortion foes | Thursday Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Biden invokes the Defense Production Act for the baby formula shortage : NPR

Park outdoors: Ford recalls SUVs due to engine fire risk | News | tribdem.com

Red Cross registers Mariupol POWs as hundreds more surrender (inquirer.com)

Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says ‘no’ to Sweden and Finland NATO bids (inquirer.com)

 

Local News

McNeill’s senior fair – Times News Online (tnonline.com)

Ex-Phoenixville school official gets 14 months for stealing $90K from student field trips and other funds (inquirer.com)

Group works to save Oscar Hammerstein’s former Bucks County home (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

TMA Bucks receives funds to enhance traffic safety education in Bucks | The Bucks County Herald

Erie-area homes for sale rise to $195,000 median price (goerie.com)

letters to the editor on taxes, guns, Trump and abortion (goerie.com)

Tait Towers sues U.S. Small Business Administration over denial of $10 million grant | Local Business | lancasteronline.com

Lackawanna County commissioners approve historic reassessment contract | News | thetimes-tribune.com

Harrisburg summit gives teens a chance to have ‘meaningful conversations’ about gun violence – pennlive.com

 

Pitt

Bus driver, passenger, others hurt in Fern Hollow Bridge collapse file notices of lawsuits | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust President and CEO J. Kevin McMahon is retiring (nextpittsburgh.com)

Downtown’s long-abandoned Smithfield Cafe site finding new life as custom condos (nextpittsburgh.com)

Brined and ready: Picklesburgh returns in July | Food | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)

Allegheny Valley School District agrees to 5-year contract with its teachers | TribLIVE.com

Allegheny Council takes step toward salary transparency in county jobs | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Philly

Philly’s ability to generate job growth could mean the difference between renaissance or stagnation (inquirer.com)

Regulators are considering a ban on menthol cigarettes, and it could change the way Philly smokes (inquirer.com)

Cycle-mounted officers will ticket vehicles blocking Philly bike lanes (inquirer.com)

Ben Mannes: Who is investigating Larry Krasner? (broadandliberty.com)

Philly DA Larry Krasner’s office has sparred with two judges over questions in old murder convictions (inquirer.com)

Philadelphia shooting wounds 5 near Temple University – Daily Local

FDR Park holds groundbreaking for new welcome center | Lifestyle | phillytrib.com

Philly shouldn’t let I-95 construction worsen divide between neighborhoods, Delaware River (inquirer.com)

Historic Laurel Hill Cemetery will kill off its green Kelly Drive hillside — in order to save it (inquirer.com)

 

Washington

House members hold hearing on potential post-Roe v. Wade nation (abc27.com)

House approves a bill to fight domestic terror : NPR

House passes domestic terrorism bill after Buffalo shooting | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Abbott faces Senate probe tying formula shortage to tax cut, buybacks | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette