News Digest :: May 20, 2022

Legislature

Pa. Senate GOP’s election inquiry continues; consultant contract extended – pennlive.com

There is no time to waste | PennLive letters – pennlive.com

Should the Hershey Kiss be Pennsylvania’s official state candy? – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

Departments of Health, Education and PEMA announce recipients of Governor’s Awards for Excellence | The Bucks County Herald

 

Coronavirus – COVID-19

CDC urges Pfizer booster for children ages 5 to 11 | TribLIVE.com

New coronavirus variant of concern detected in Western Pa. | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Data shows COVID-19 on steady rise in Hazleton area | News | standardspeaker.com

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are rising in Pennsylvania | WITF

 

Business/Jobs

Harley-Davidson plant in York County temporarily suspends operations (ydr.com)

Wisconsin’s union law worked. Now it’s Pennsylvania’s turn | Opinion (inquirer.com)

Local gas prices hit record high for 14th consecutive day | News | standardspeaker.com

 

Crime/Punishment

Pennsylvania public school finance director gets 14 months for stealing $100k | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

York County Prison: Pa. court won’t hear appeal over reinstatement (ydr.com)

Bucks DNA database works with Montgomery County, Philly to solve crime (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

 

Education

Great Valley School Board Exits When Parent Talks About Abortion Lesson – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Shapiro files brief supporting schools in funding lawsuit | Education | standardspeaker.com

 

Elections/Politics

Pennsylvania’s 2 state budget leaders experience used against them in the primary | WITF

Pa. U.S. Senate Republican primary virtually tied between Oz and McCormick with thousands of ballots to be counted | WITF

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

Steve Santarsiero Facing Matthew McCullough In November Election – LevittownNow.com

Lehigh Valley’s tight Coleman-Browne and Miller-Zrinski Senate primary races may hinge on hundreds of provisional ballots – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

John Fetterman ‘feeling good’ as he continues to recover, raises $1.6M within 24 hours of primary victory | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

John Fetterman’s Pa. primary Senate win was rejection of Conor Lamb’s electability claims (inquirer.com)

Ron Vogel, finishing third in 6th Congressional District race, slams Chester County GOP (dailylocal.com)

Lou Barletta says unsuccessful bid for GOP gubernatorial nomination was his last campaign – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Guy Ciarrocchi Wins Republican Nomination in 6th Congressional District – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Fierce fight between Summer Lee and Steve Irwin in U.S. House race could be over by Friday; Lee camp confident of victory | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Immigration lawyer to face incumbent Congressman Scott Perry in the fall | WITF

Commissioners: 2022 primary election went smoothly in Montgomery County (mainlinemedianews.com)

Here’s why American conservatives heading to Hungary for a big conference | WITF

Lancaster County GOP holds back challenge from right in midterm primary | Local News | lancasteronline.com

 

Environment

Chesapeake Bay farmers getting $22.5 million boost to clean waters – pennlive.com

Funding crucial for the future of clean water in Pennsylvania (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

 

Transportation

Lehigh Valley airport expects surge in travelers this summer. Here’s how to avoid missing your flight – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

American Buslines? AA thinks passengers will like these wingless Lancaster-Philly ‘flights’ (abc27.com)

PennDOT to host live virtual public meetings on third section of Route 309 Connector in Montgomery, Bucks Counties | The Bucks County Herald

 

Health

CDC investigates 180 cases of children with hepatitis of unknown cause : NPR

Telehealth abortion providers prepare for a wave of demand – and new obstacles : Shots – Health News : NPR

What is monkeypox and what do we know about the cases in the U.K. and Europe? : Goats and Soda : NPR

FDA’s proposed menthol cigarette ban could save 248,000 Black lives in 4 years | Across America | phillytrib.com

Berks DA’s vaping probe: Smoking material had THC over legal limit (readingeagle.com)

Pa. teen drug deaths are down but officials warn that could change | WITF

 

State News

Attorney General Josh Shapiro working with local officials on Crozer Health situation (delcotimes.com)

This week’s biggest Winners & Losers – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

 

National News

Oklahoma’s legislature passes bill banning nearly all abortions : NPR

How would states enforce anti-abortion laws if Roe v Wade is overturned? : NPR

New Twitter policy aims to crack down on misinformation : NPR

Wildfires like New Mexico’s intentional fire are vital for forest management : NPR

Body armor, worn by the Buffalo shooter, faces far fewer regulations than guns : NPR

Chicago shooting near Magnificent Mile kills 2 people and injures 8 : NPR

Sri Lanka closes schools and limits work to combat fuel shortage : NPR

Tech group ask Supreme Court to freeze Texas social media law : NPR

 

Local News

Northampton County Council to consider pandemic-emergency funding for Gracedale, including worker bonuses, day care – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Bethlehem City Council passes on developer’s plan to demolish homes for student housing. Is it dead for good? – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Upper Darby audit of ARPA funds finds no misuse – Delco Times

Bucks County median home price stands at $552,950 (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Children are behind on routine vaccinations since the pandemic. How Lehigh Valley school districts are working to get kids their shots. – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Lehigh Valley Hospital-Dickson City opens | News | thetimes-tribune.com

Chairman removed from city redevelopment authority (readingeagle.com)

Lancaster County poultry farm released from flu-infected status, but still no return to normalcy | Local News | lancasteronline.com

 

Pitt

Neighbors request more input into Fern Hollow Bridge replacement (nextpittsburgh.com)

Pittsburgh ranks best place to live in Pennsylvania and 26th in U.S. (nextpittsburgh.com)

Developer wants to turn Downtown Pittsburgh warehouse once owned by Mark Cuban into apartments | TribLIVE.com

Port Authority to reduce service because of driver shortage | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Hot weather expected next 2 days, new record possible Saturday | TribLIVE.com

Airbnb operators urge Pittsburgh City Council to tweak legislation on short-term rentals | TribLIVE.com

Fern Hollow Bridge was severely decaying before collapse, 2021 report indicates | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Port Authority’s proposed $519.7 million budget counting on ridership returning another 12% in the next year | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh blogger Sue Kerr wins second GLAAD Media Award | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Philly

Phillies join Philabundance to help feed the hungry – WHYY

City Council addresses prisoner gerrymandering | Local News | phillytrib.com

Panel announces candidates for school board vacancies | Local News | phillytrib.com

Philadelphia’s Jewish history museum reopens after bankruptcy (inquirer.com)

In group homes, this Philly student fell behind in school. Then he discovered a program and got himself into Penn | | union-bulletin.com

Holy Ghost Headquarters pastor is charged with rape, sexual assault after victims come forward decades later (inquirer.com)

Thousands in city have arrests, convictions hurting job chances | Local News | phillytrib.com

Two Philadelphia businesses fund diversity in one of the nation’s largest and poorest cities. (inquirer.com)

 

Washington

Senate votes against the $40 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund, dashing owners’ hopes (inquirer.com)

Biden: SKorean chip plant a model for deeper ties to Asia – Daily Local

Congress OKs latest $40B to help Ukraine repulse Russia | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Jan. 6 panel wants answers from Republican it says led a Capitol tour : NPR

House passes bill to crack down on gasoline ‘price gouging’ | TribLIVE.com

Biden’s approval rating dips to lowest of presidency: Poll – pennlive.com