News Digest :: May 27, 2021

Legislature

Pa. governor calls for minimum wage increase (wgal.com)

Pa. minimum wage: Business owners join Wolf in push for $15 an hour (poconorecord.com)

Gov. Wolf visits Lancaster to push minimum wage increase, while local companies say they’re far past it | PA Power and Policy | lancasteronline.com

Local lawmakers weigh in on vaccine passport bill | Pennsylvania News | wfmz.com

Bill would bar Pa. school districts from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations | WITF

Bills to restrict abortion rights advanced in Pennsylvania | WHP (local21news.com)

Pennsylvania Senate Democrats unveil bills to regulate natural gas drilling further – Pittsburgh Business Times (bizjournals.com)

Pennridge School District, Yardley receive grants | The Bucks County Herald

Report says Pa. department’s ‘systemic failures’ caused sex abuse vote failure (ldnews.com)

Probe finds no intentional act to derail sex-abuse vote | WITF

Report: No malfeasance behind Pennsylvania’s botched constitutional amendment | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

‘Internal systemic failures’ led to Wolf administration blunder that derailed child sex abuse amendment · Spotlight PA

Bills Help In PA Broadband Deployment – WDAC

Bucks Senators’ ‘Upskirt’ Legislation Passes PA Senate | Doylestown, PA Patch

Pa. lawmakers want stricter regulations on fracking | WKBN.com

Senate approves games of chance option for first responders, veterans’ groups | News | indianagazette.com

Gov. Wolf pardons former doctor who grew marijuana for dying wife at Main Line house (inquirer.com)

Wolf pardons eye doctor who grew marijuana for sick wife | WITF

Child sex abuse survivors, supporters pressure Pa. Senate leader Kim Ward to bring bill to vote | TribLIVE.com

$3.4M to fight blight coming to Allegheny, Westmoreland counties | TribLIVE.com

$253K more awarded to knock down blight in Johnstown | News | tribdem.com

Carbon County gets $730K in LSA funds | News | standardspeaker.com

Scranton projects gets state funds to fight blight | News | thetimes-tribune.com

The Pa. legislature has new power to overrule Wolf on COVID. The two camps differ on details | WITF

Lawmakers attempt edit of Pennsylvania’s disaster declaration (broadandliberty.com)

The fight over critical race theory lands in Harrisburg; House GOP bill would punish districts that teach it | Thursday Morning Coffee | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pennsylvania House approves bill to create agency that would review obsolete laws, regulations | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

A Q&A with ‘Trump House’ creator and freshman state Rep. Leslie Rossi | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)

Wolf administration hiding information on how it distributed PPE during pandemic (broadandliberty.com)

Boyle brothers’ shared political money spills into courtroom fight (broadandliberty.com)

Pennsylvania House Votes 187-14 To Permanently Legalize Cocktails To Go – CBS Pittsburgh (cbslocal.com)

PA schools: Bill would allow any student to repeat school year due to COVID-19 (goerie.com)

Bill to give students COVID-19 do-over year moving in state House | News | tribdem.com

Pa. GOP lawmaker Doug Mastriano says he left the Capitol area before the riot. New videos say otherwise. | State | standardspeaker.com

 

Coronavirus – COVID-19

National

Ohio announces 1st $1 million Vax-a-Million lottery winner | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Biden asks U.S. intel officials to investigate COVID-19 origin | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Biden Asks U.S. Intel To Push For Stronger Conclusions On The Coronavirus’ Origins : NPR

‘A major milestone’: Half of American adults now fully vaccinated against COVID-19 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Editorial: The balancing act of vaccines, public health and liberties | TribLIVE.com

Canadian prime minister given flexibility from voters on when to reopen the U.S. border – pennlive.com

Can employers make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory? | Business | delcotimes.com

Rely on medical professionals for information about COVID-19 vaccination. We amplify the expertise of 2. [editorial] | Our Opinion | lancasteronline.com

Production of another COVID-19 vaccine to begin in weeks | Coronavirus | tribdem.com

‘Breakthrough’ infections are rare, and just 2% result in COVID-19 deaths, CDC says | Coronavirus | thetimes-tribune.com

State

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf says he’s comfortable lifting Covid-19 restrictions Monday – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Pennsylvania Drops Legal Action Against Restaurants Defiant Over COVID Restrictions – NBC10 Philadelphia (nbcphiladelphia.com)

Pennsylvania moves closer to 70% vaccination goal; Allegheny County excited by its numbers | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Officials: 70% of Pa. adults have received at least 1 dose of covid vaccine | TribLIVE.com

Pa. coronavirus update: 70% of adults at least partially vaccinated | WITF

Pa.’s road to 70% vaccinated — and no more face mask requirement — turns steep and rocky with misinformation – pennlive.com

Pennsylvania drops legal action against restaurants over pandemic | TribLIVE.com

Penn State study finds 1 in 4 Pennsylvanians won’t get COVID-19 vaccine | WITF

Looser COVID restrictions for Memorial Day change everything (poconorecord.com)

COVID-19 vaccines: How 18,000 doses of the vaccine were wasted in Pa. (ydr.com)

UPMC offers monoclonal antibody treatment to high-risk COVID patients (timesonline.com)

Local hospitals see COVID-19 uptick; state hospitalizations fall | Local News | tribdem.com

Local

COVID-19: Erie kids among first 2- 11-year-olds in pfizer vaccine trials (goerie.com)

‘Mad or nah?’: Nearly half of police, firefighters skipped vaccine – WHYY

Penn State to require employees taking university-funded trips be vaccinated against COVID-19 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Allegheny County reports 5th straight day of covid cases under 100 | TribLIVE.com

Lancaster County Commissioners disapprove of LGH staff COVID-19 vaccine requirement | Health | lancasteronline.com

35 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death reported in county | coronavirus | citizensvoice.com

NEPA sees 79 new COVID-19 cases, but cases continue downward trend | Coronavirus | thetimes-tribune.com

Amazon in Hazle Twp. offers on-site vaccine clinic | Coronavirus | standardspeaker.com

Montgomery County records 32 new coronavirus cases, no new deaths in daily report | News | mainlinemedianews.com

 

Business/Jobs

SBA accepting grant applications for funds from new $100 million Community Navigator Pilot Program – pennlive.com

SBA to open up Targeted EIDL Advance cash grant program to significantly more small businesses – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Groups sue SBA, allege America Rescue Plan Act institutes racial, gender discrimination | National | thecentersquare.com

$15 minimum wage not enough for most workers – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

From resilient supply chains to secure data, new commission studies ‘geopolitics’ of tech | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Game on! Dick’s Sporting Goods rallies on the return of team sports, doubles sales in Q1 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Amazon buys MGM in a $8.45 billion mega media deal | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Beaver County nursing home staff say conditions are bleak, hope union negotiations bring higher staffing levels | WITF

Beaver County nursing home workers rally for industry improvements (timesonline.com)

Harborview employees join Pa. nursing workers calling for fair wages (theintell.com)

Lehigh Valley’s warehouse industry explosion catches New York Times’ attention – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Tribune Publishing offering buyouts to newsroom employees, two days after purchase by hedge fund Alden – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Hiring spree: Penn State Health hiring hundreds, offers improved starting pay, many entry-level jobs – pennlive.com

The US economy is closer than ever to ‘back to normal.’ But we’ve still got a long way to go | Business | phillytrib.com

Killer Mike’s Greenwood banking platform raises nearly $40 million in Series A funding | Business | phillytrib.com

A Tiny Fund Scores Historic Win In Battle Against ExxonMobil : NPR

Pennsylvania banks experience 106% jump in 1Q net income, FDIC says – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Quest Diagnostics to lay off 154 people at its Horsham lab – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Retail distribution center planned at Wyeth property | Local-news | dailylocal.com

 

Crime/Punishment

Judge Upholds Jail Sentence For Penn State Ex-President Graham Spanier – CBS Pittsburgh (cbslocal.com)

Quincy Township, Franklin Co. Supervisor charged with theft of $150,000 (publicopiniononline.com)

Two Philadelphia high school students were fatally shot Tuesday. One was two weeks from graduation. (inquirer.com)

Philly’s indicted former treasurer is facing new charges tied to his role in a medical marijuana start-up (inquirer.com)

Vandals cause $5K damage to high school football field in Armstrong County | TribLIVE.com

Former Penn State President Graham Spanier To Go To Jail For Child Abuse Scandal : NPR

‘A danger and terror to society:’ York County judge sentences abuser (ydr.com)

Online fraud: Erie man pleads guilty to scamming woman out of $550K (goerie.com)

Animal abuse: Dogs, cats seized from east Erie house in hoarding probe (goerie.com)

State police plan DUI checkpoints, roving patrols during holiday | Crime-Emergency | thetimes-tribune.com

Freeland man jailed after threatening to “shoot up” district court office | Cops and Courts | standardspeaker.com

 

Education

Pennsylvania and its state-owned universities ponder debt relief as controversial merger vote nears | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Expert View: Colleges could be prime targets for cyber-attacks this fall – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Philly wants to change some schools’ schedules by as much as 2 hours. People are up in arms. (inquirer.com)

Students or horses? Education advocates want to repurpose Pa.’s generous horse-racing subsidy | WITF

Sending science majors into elementary schools helps Latino and Black students realize scientists can look like them | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

‘Satanic Temple’ group scolds Mahanoy Area over student freedoms – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Pa. school won’t allow student’s graduation sash celebrating her heritage: ‘We have to be consistent’ – pennlive.com

Reading School Board tries to remove board president over derogatory social media post about the city | Local News | readingeagle.com

Central Bucks BOE ousts president in unexpected reorganization (theintell.com)

Central Bucks school board OKs faculty transgender education conference (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Spring-Ford School Board gives Rizzo 4-year superintendent contract, $215K salary | News | dailylocal.com

School bus cameras will help ticket those who pass stopped Spring-Ford buses | News | dailylocal.com

Non-verbal graduate will have her voice heard at LCCC graduation as commencement speaker | News | citizensvoice.com

Wyoming Area trying to reduce cyber charter costs | News | citizensvoice.com

School board poised to name new principal at Hazleton Area High School | Education | standardspeaker.com

 

Elections/Politics

Wisconsin GOP leader hires retired police to probe election | TribLIVE.com

Tony Moreno wins GOP nomination for Pittsburgh mayor via write-ins, could face Ed Gainey in November general election | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Will Tony Moreno run as a Republican in Pittsburgh mayoral race? | TribLIVE.com

Green Party candidate hopes to shake up Pittsburgh council | TribLIVE.com

Philly will count undated mail ballots the Pa. Supreme Court said should be thrown out (inquirer.com)

Kyle Sammin: Krasner’s big win shows the limits of moderation in today’s political climate (broadandliberty.com)

Shaun King’s PAC and Philly DA Larry Krasner Scratched Backs, Suit Claims (thedailybeast.com)

Cook Keeps 2022 PA Governor Race As Toss Up in Latest Ratings | PoliticsPA

Dr. Nche Zama Launches 2022 Bid for Governor | PoliticsPA

 

Environment

Pa. Treasurer Garrity warns banks against divesting from fossil fuel companies | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Scoop: States warn banks — Drop coal, and we drop you – Axios

Biden opens California’s coast to wind farms | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

New wolf-killing laws trigger push to revive U.S. protections | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Pandemic Didn’t Slow Climate Change. It’s Actually Speeding Up, Experts Warn : NPR

 

Transportation

New Pa. law updates requirements for a CDL license – pennlive.com

Transit workers union files complaint against SEPTA for hiring a contractor to operate new on-demand shuttle service (inquirer.com)

Pa. Turnpike remains closed between Lehigh Valley, Quakertown following crash – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Truck drivers opting against Route 29 detour are getting stuck – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

SEPTA is testing a new way to help people struggling with addiction on the system | Local News | phillytrib.com

PennDOT road construction: Stretch of I-79 in Crawford to be paved in June (goerie.com)

Storms knock down trees, debris along Harrisburg Pike; traffic redirected in Lancaster, Manheim Township Wednesday | Local News | lancasteronline.com

 

Health

Tower Health announces departure of Reading Hospital president and CEO | Local News | readingeagle.com

Despite License Denials, Nursing Homes Can Keep Operating In California : Shots – Health News : NPR

Scientific Group Advises Scrapping 14-Day Rule For Studying Human Embryos : Shots – Health News : NPR

Drexel spinout Sonnest raises $4M to advance high-tech heart imaging agent – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Editorial: Mental health awareness only grows in urgency | Opinion | dailylocal.com

 

State News

Local Dems push for Biden’s proposed American Families Plan | Education | citizensvoice.com

Local legislators, educators express support for Biden’s American Families Plan | News | thetimes-tribune.com

A teachers union wants most PSERS trustees off the board (inquirer.com)

Pennsylvania to resume work-search rule for jobless benefits | Politics | cumberlink.com

Deer hunting PA: CWD detected in Warren County (goerie.com)

Deadly deer disease detected in a new area of Pennsylvania – pennlive.com

Pa. gets another piece of a national historic park that for a while appeared destined to be torn up for homes – pennlive.com

More than 20,000 people without power around Pa. after severe thunderstorms – pennlive.com

Officials: 61% of Pa. mental health court participants graduate successfully | News | mainlinemedianews.com

 

National News

Ford: Electric vehicles to be 40% of global sales by 2030 | WHP (local21news.com)

Authorities identify 9 victims killed in the San Jose rail yard shooting – The Washington Post

Why We’re Seeing A Spike In Workplace Shootings : NPR

John Warner, 5-term Republican senator from Virginia, dies at 94 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

U.S. pipelines ordered to increase cyber defenses after hack (inquirer.com)

Moodys’ Zandi: Inflation should ease by next year, but plan for a bumpy ride (inquirer.com)

Heading for a national park this summer? The ‘biggest season in the history of the Park Service’ predicted | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Cuomo impeachment probe has now spoken to around 75 people – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Nikole Hannah-Jones receives support in tenure dispute | Across America | phillytrib.com

Honoring Juneteenth through art in Galveston | Lifestyle | phillytrib.com

Century after massacre, Blacks struggle for political voice | Across America | phillytrib.com

Five arrested in connection with shooting of British BLM activist | News | phillytrib.com

Darnella Frazier Filmed George Floyd’s Murder. Read Her Anniversary Statement : NPR

Central Park ‘Exonerated 5’ Member Yusef Salaam Reflects On Freedom, Forgiveness : NPR

Tulsa, 100 Years Later : Code Switch : NPR

Syrian Election Shows The Extent Of Assad’s Power : NPR

Most of Boeing discrimination suit withstands dismissal motion | News | delcotimes.com

Christine Flowers: Why we must rise up and battle anti-Semitism | Opinion | dailylocal.com

 

Local News

Tenants in Blakely development warned water could be shut off over $120,000 bill | News | thetimes-tribune.com

Comitta encourages enrollment in Pa. Senior Food Box program | Local-news | dailylocal.com

Vandals cause $5K damage to high school football field in Armstrong County | TribLIVE.com

Penn Hills School District holding memorial vigil Thursday for four recent student deaths | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Ex-Bordentown Township police chief gets 28 months in prison for lying to the FBI in a hate-crime case (inquirer.com)

New housing development proposed in Bethel Park | TribLIVE.com

Penn Hills property owners could see about 1.35% tax hike for next school year | TribLIVE.com

Leechburg Area Pool improvements highlight return of swim season in Alle-Kiski Valley | TribLIVE.com

Water main break floods homes, yards in Beechview | TribLIVE.com

Lehigh Valley’s last gay club, Stonewall, to host ‘final bash’ – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

‘Multiple cases of downed wires’ lead to power outage in Whitehall area, PPL says – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

The Trexler Trust doles out nearly $6 million in awards – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Reading Public Museum foundation discusses a new location for the institution | Local News | readingeagle.com

Berks-area wineries excited to offer fruits of ‘dream harvest,’ welcome back more customers | Local News | readingeagle.com

NAACP invites all to Alley membership drive June 3 | News | readingeagle.com

Students from Berks-area schools chat with astronauts aboard International Space Station | Berks and Beyond | readingeagle.com

Presque Isle bus service and water taxi: EMTA will have a PISP shuttle (goerie.com)

Scams: Sheriff says Erie County resident out $500 in warrant ruse (goerie.com)

George Floyd vigil: Erie residents mark one-year anniversary of death (goerie.com)

Many gathered to honor the life of the late George Floyd | The Bucks County Herald

Lower Makefield plans splashy return to pool | The Bucks County Herald

It took 17 years – but banquet facility is approved | The Bucks County Herald

“Do Not Solicit List” is up and running in Bedminster | The Bucks County Herald

Parks Police superintendent who succumbed to COVID is laid to rest | Local-news | delcotimes.com

Lancaster County commissioners approve land purchase for new prison | Local News | lancasteronline.com

Local organization creates resource guide for churches to help members who have experienced sexual abuse | Faith & Values | lancasteronline.com

Legacy continues for Avondale man with charity work, one breath at a time | Local-news | dailylocal.com

Wilkes-Barre mayor wants funding for Mill Creek levee study | News | citizensvoice.com

County council approves tax break for Northpoint commercial project | News | citizensvoice.com

DA issue warning about scam phone call | News | citizensvoice.com

Divided US Catholic bishops will debate Communion policy | National News | thetimes-tribune.com

Elevator remains out at Hazleton high-rise | News | standardspeaker.com

Schuylkill commissioners approve medical marijuana policy | News | standardspeaker.com

Luzerne County Council approves tax break for Northpoint commercial project | Business | standardspeaker.com

‘BEWARE THE BLOB!’: Colonial Theatre’s Blobfest will be virtual again this year, tickets on sale May 28 | News | mainlinemedianews.com

 

Pitt

Passing grade? Debate flares over community benefits associated with FNB office tower at the former Civic Arena site | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

As some Hill District residents remain skeptical, URA to vote on plans for Civic Arena site | TribLIVE.com

Pittsburgh Public Schools to form committee to advise on federal aid use | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh considers $28,500 settlement for woman who alleges false 2019 arrest in the East Hills | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Amid climbing veterans’ suicide rate, Allegheny County partners with VA | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Philly

Tired Hands Brewing Company’s new leadership plans to overhaul its ‘dude-bro culture’ (inquirer.com)

Biden administration plan to give vouchers to those experiencing homelessness an “unprecedented” move (inquirer.com)

Former State Sen. Vincent Fumo loses legal round in long-running tax battle over his abuse of South Philly nonprofit (inquirer.com)

$100 minimum, strict dress code at Philadelphia restaurant draw Twitter’s ire – pennlive.com

Legislators demand more transparency around errors affecting OnePhilly payroll system | Local News | phillytrib.com

Made in America is coming back to the Parkway this Labor Day weekend | Music | phillytrib.com

Top police brass concerned about escalating levels of violence this summer | Local News | phillytrib.com

 

Washington

Biden to Propose $6 Trillion Budget to Boost Middle Class and Infrastructure – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

A commission to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection is needed | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Justice Dept. releases part of internal memo on not charging Trump in Russia probe | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Blinken claims progress in effort to boost Gaza truce | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Leading Dems seek input on ‘public option’ health care plan (inquirer.com)

Why a ‘9/11 Commission’ is popular but may not happen for the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection | WITF

Letter: Biden should be forceful in denouncing Republicans | Letters to the Editor | readingeagle.com

Anti-Semitism Task Force condemns attacks on Jewish community | The Bucks County Herald

Sen. Toomey, please vote for a Jan. 6 commission. Our democracy depends on the truth. [editorial] | Our Opinion | lancasteronline.com

AP FACT CHECK: House GOP falsely blames Biden for gas prices | National News | thetimes-tribune.com