Legislature
Pa. lawmakers want stricter regulations on fracking | WKBN.com
Senate Democrats push for greater accountability from natural gas industry | StateImpact Pennsylvania (npr.org)
State awards $200,000 in grants to address blight in Reading | Berks and Beyond | readingeagle.com
Answering calls for transparency, Senate committee holds first public hearing on redistricting | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
McClinton calls for safeguards against prison gerrymandering in Pa. legislative maps | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Pa. lawmakers want stricter regulations on fracking | WKBN.com
Pa. proposes board to investigate drug prices rising so fast residents can’t afford their medicine (inquirer.com)
Gift ban proposed for Pennsylvania lawmakers – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
PA Senate approves SGOC option for first responders, veterans groups | Leader Times
Members of the Women’s Health Caucus Host 4th Trimester Awareness Day Press Conference to Support Mothers and – EIN News – Women’s Health News – Articles for a Healthy Lifestyle (herhealthonly.com)
Tempers flare as child sex abuse reform bill stalls in Pa. Senate; victims demand a vote – pennlive.com
Pennsylvania Senate Panel Advances Tax Credit Changes (taxnotes.com)
Bill Protecting Religious Liberty Goes To PA Senate – WDAC
More Inquiry After Inspector General Report – WDAC
Letter: Some clarity needed on redistricting issues | Letters to the Editor | readingeagle.com
To spend or not to spend, Harrisburg asks this budget season | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.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)
Law adds more representatives to Pennsylvania timber resources council | Colorado | thecentersquare.com
Pennsylvania House speaker introduces legislation to establish election auditing entity | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
New lobbying rules proposed in Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Democrats push back against anti-abortion legislation | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
Abortion fight in Pa.: Wolf says ‘politics do not belong in a doctor’s office’ (goerie.com)
Wolf Administration, medical professionals hold discussion on COVID-19 vaccinations and reproductive health | The Bucks County Herald
This week’s biggest Winners & Losers | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
Val Arkoosh tweet takes on Pennsylvania GOP pro-life bill on fetal remains (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Coronavirus – COVID-19
National
Idaho lieutenant governor bans mask mandates while governor away | TribLIVE.com
‘A whirlwind’: 1st Ohio vaccine lottery winners speak out | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Q&A: How has pandemic inactivity affected our bodies? (inquirer.com)
CDC investigates a potential link between COVID-19 vaccines and heart problem seen in young people – pennlive.com
Why a lab in Wuhan is worth a closer look as a possible source of the pandemic | WITF
The Latest: US taking ‘very close look’ at vaccine passports | Nation & World Business | lancasteronline.com
Production of another COVID-19 vaccine to begin in weeks | Coronavirus | tribdem.com
President Joe Biden visits Cleveland, praises Ohio vaccine lottery (goerie.com)
West Virginia to offer cash, pickup trucks as vaccine prize | TribLIVE.com
State
Pennsylvania Mask-Wearing Order To Be Lifted By End Of June | WPSU
On track to achieve vaccine benchmark, Pa. plans to lift mask mandate by June 28 | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
PA mask mandate will be eliminated by June 28 as COVID-19 cases drop (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
State health chief: ‘Game changer’ vaccines bring end to mask order by late June | Local News | tribdem.com
Getting back to normal: Pa. to lift mask mandate by June 28 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
National Guard To Take Over COVID-19 Contact Tracing After State Fires Vendor Over Data Breach – WorldNews (wn.com)
National Guard To Take Over COVID-19 Contact Tracing After State Fires Vendor Over Data Breach – CBS Pittsburgh (cbslocal.com)
A stark racial divide on vaccinations leaves many at risk as Pa. reopens (inquirer.com)
The Year of COVID Unemployment (post-gazette.com)
As COVID-19 vaccines enable the region to reopen, health experts share thoughts on this new freedom (inquirer.com)
Pa. vaccinates thousands of 12- to 15-year olds, hopes to sustain demand – pennlive.com
Increase incentives, and go door to door, to reach undervaccinated communities, Pa. lawmakers say | WITF
Looser COVID restrictions for Memorial Day change everything (poconorecord.com)
Casinos update mask rules | Business | standardspeaker.com
As covid vaccinations continue, Pennsylvania and Allegheny, Westmoreland counties see fewer cases | TribLIVE.com
Local
With COVID-19 mitigation rules expiring, county Health Department’s restaurant task force set to dissolve | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Vaccinations have hit a key threshold across Pa., but still lag in Philly and some rural counties (inquirer.com)
COVID-19: Daily update on coronavirus cases in Erie County (goerie.com)
Allegheny County Pennsylvania vaccine rate: How many people are vaccinated? (timesonline.com)
Penn State Extension to provide vaccine education to underserved communities | Coronavirus | standardspeaker.com
Business/Jobs
U.S. jobless claims fall to 406,000, a new pandemic low | Coronavirus | tribdem.com
More jobless getting aid than in past even as cutoffs loom | Coronavirus | thetimes-tribune.com
Central Pa. restaurants raising prices, eliminating menu items due to higher food costs – pennlive.com
If I owned a restaurant, here’s why I’d open at 100% today instead of Monday when Gov. Wolf lifts restrictions – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
SBA accepting grant applications for funds from new $100 million Community Navigator Pilot Program – pennlive.com
SBA looks to simplify, expedite PPP loan forgiveness process – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
The SBA’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund needs more money. Help could be on the way. – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
One option for reviving a shrinking middle class: Value skills, not just education | WITF
Starkist moving headquarters from Pennsylvania to Virginia | Virginia | thecentersquare.com
Upper Merion has been transformed by more than $4B in development over the last decade – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Lockheed Martin expanding in New Jersey, adding 400 jobs – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Philadelphia real estate: Wayne building trades for $19.5M; homebuilder buys 65 acres in Chesco for $5.1M – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
You Can Still Count The Number Of Black CEOs On One Hand : NPR
Microsoft, Mastercard, Chobani Will Invest In Northern Triangle : NPR
Crime/Punishment
Pa. woman accused of stealing Nancy Pelosi’s computer granted release from home detention | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Philadelphia to form new police oversight commission after City Council vote (inquirer.com)
‘Monumental leap’: Philly Council passes bill establishing new police oversight board | WITF
City Council approves creation of new Citizens Police Oversight Commission | Local News | phillytrib.com
Reading police say 171 guns were taken off the streets during the first 100 days of Operation Cease Fire | Local News | readingeagle.com
Central Dauphin High School principal charged with 2nd DUI after crashing into pole – pennlive.com
‘It’s a mess right now’: Official reacts to arrest of central Pa. township supervisor – pennlive.com
Top brass at Philly Police concerned about escalating violence this summer | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Chester County DA: Child porn found in gym teacher’s home | Local-news | dailylocal.com
Chester County businessman who stole $2M sentenced: ‘Once a con man, always a con man’ | Local-news | dailylocal.com
Fugitive extradited from Israel to Pittsburgh stands trial on rape charges | TribLIVE.com
Education
Philly high schools should start later, Hite says; massive schedule changes are ‘evolving’ (inquirer.com)
America’s richest school serves low-income kids. But much of its Hershey-funded fortune isn’t being spent. (inquirer.com)
Pennridge School District, Yardley receive grants | The Bucks County Herald
Pittsburgh Public Schools to appeal open records ruling on reopening communications | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Swarthmore College divided over Chamberlain Project to bring retired military as faculty (inquirer.com)
East Pennsboro group wants answers on why so many teachers, staff are leaving the district – pennlive.com
Shannon Mayfield resigning as principal of Allen High School – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Budget cuts in California, Connecticut, Texas, Wisconsin and other states threaten to worsen inequities among colleges and universities – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Colorado Ditches SAT, ACT And Legacy Admissions For Public Colleges : NPR
Elizabethtown College receives second-largest gift in school history | Local News | lancasteronline.com
Rep. Natalie Mihalek: Restoring our education system after covid-19 | TribLIVE.com
Elections/Politics
Auditors find no fraud in disputed New Hampshire election | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pennsylvania primary election reveals small problems, and Republican calls for big changes (inquirer.com)
Want common sense electoral reform? Legalize weekend voting | Jonathan C. Rothermel | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Does Pa.’s Primary Day rebuke of Wolf signal rough sailing for Dems in 2022? | Mark O’Keefe | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
To protect voting rights in Pa., for us all, the Senate needs to pass the For the People Act | Opinion | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Erie primary: Dem incumbent Schember wins Republican write-in for mayor (goerie.com)
Political observers: Ties to Trump could help Barletta | Election | standardspeaker.com
Tally of write-in votes continues; thousands of ballots still to go | Election | citizensvoice.com
Mastriano Poll: Mastriano 19%, Barletta 16%, Undecided 49% | PoliticsPA
Cook Keeps 2022 PA Governor Race As Toss Up in Latest Ratings | PoliticsPA
Republicans are lining up for PA’s 2022 governor’s race. The key question is: Who will hold the Trump card? | PA Power and Policy | lancasteronline.com
Lou Barletta’s Republican 2022 Pennsylvania governor campaign looks to rebound from 2018 (inquirer.com)
Tony Moreno Says He’s Considering Accepting Republican Nomination For Pittsburgh Mayor – CBS Pittsburgh (cbslocal.com)
Environment
Garrity joins GOP state treasurers warning banks that dump fossil fuels | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
The Week That Shook Big Oil : NPR
Capturing the sun: Solar power farm construction begins | Local News | tribdem.com
Where Wind and Solar Power Need to Grow for America to Meet Its Goals – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Biden’s Fossil Fuel Moves Clash With Pledges on Climate Change – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Transportation
Pittsburgh airport to offer $7 budget parking for price-conscious travelers | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Lehigh Valley airport begins $29 million construction on connector bridge to ease passenger congestion – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Airport still seeking service to Florida | Business | thetimes-tribune.com
Route 247 reopens in Jessup, Olyphant after construction project | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Turnpike officials expect Memorial Day traffic to nearly double from last year | TribLIVE.com
Health
HIV/AIDS advocacy group set to honor ‘one of the greatest influences to have around you’ | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Health insurance is on sale at a steep discount thanks to the latest COVID-19 relief law (inquirer.com)
WellSpan Health opens new heart and vascular center for central Pa. (ydr.com)
Central Bucks student with neurofibromatosis creates awareness (theintell.com)
Noah Feldman: Texas abortion ban is both devious and doomed | Times Leader
State News
Pa. horse racing commission finds syringes and drugs at Parx Racing (inquirer.com)
Sheetz will start to accept digital currency payments this summer – pennlive.com
Report: It’s time for Pa.’s horse racing subsidy to be put out to pasture | Friday Morning Coffee | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Airbnb extends summer party ban, warns Pennsylvania and New Jersey renters about penalties – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Pennsylvania, nation moving in wrong direction on needed gun safety reform [editorial] | Our Opinion | lancasteronline.com
PA breweries band together for veterans with sale of Memorial Day IPA (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Rare cicada to make debut in parts of Pennsylvania | Local News | tribdem.com
Class-action suit takes aim at prothonotary offices across state | News | tribdem.com
Six area outdoor hubs tagged in state’s overcrowding alert | News | standardspeaker.com
Local Dems push for Biden’s proposed American Families Plan | Education | citizensvoice.com
National News
Tony Norman: Is this the kind of country we want to be? | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
San Jose Shooting: Victims’ Names Released, Gunman Set Fire To His Own Home : NPR
10 more dead, this time in San Jose; action needed now on gun control | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Unearthing history: Tulsa massacre victims search resumes | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
CDC approves first revenue cruise from Fla., but governor may stand in the way | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Black Lives Matter co-founder to step down from movement foundation | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Donald Trump reportedly pressed Arlen Specter to drop New England Patriots Spygate probe (inquirer.com)
Murder charges filed against Tacoma, Washington police officers in Black man’s death (inquirer.com)
Bill Cosby denied parole after failing to complete ‘sex offender’ therapy program – pennlive.com
Kentucky ties to Baptist kids agency at risk over gay rights and a Pa. case may help its cause | WITF
States tap federal aid to shore up empty unemployment funds | WITF
California Senate approves taking badges from bad officers | Across America | phillytrib.com
Americans Strongly Support Trans Rights — In Some Cases : NPR
Japan extends virus emergency with safe Olympics at stake | Nation & World Business | lancasteronline.com
Local News
Berks pools set to open this weekend with COVID threat down from last summer | Local News | readingeagle.com
Reading Public Museum foundation tries to tamp down sense that move is imminent | Local News | readingeagle.com
Japan-based company builds ‘intriguing’ and ‘unique’ facility – pennlive.com
Central Pa. loses tennis ‘icon’: ‘It’s going to take a village to replace him’ – pennlive.com
Feds must pay $1.33M for last contested lots at site of Harrisburg’s new U.S. courthouse, judge rules – pennlive.com
No one injured when quarry truck hits train, goes airborne on border between Upper, Lower Nazareth townships – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Last-of-its-kind vintage woodworking machine makes 2,300-mile trip to Bethlehem’s National Museum of Industrial History – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Hundreds of parking spaces are already leased at a yet-to-be-built parking garage in Bethlehem – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Allentown announces opening dates for city pools, spray parks – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Columbia Market House reopens Memorial Day weekend after a $3.5M renovation; here’s what to expect | What’s in store | lancasteronline.com
Plans scrapped for Weary Traveler restaurant/market in Manheim | What’s in store | lancasteronline.com
City of Coatesville to keep remote meeting access in place, end livestreaming | Community News | lancasteronline.com
Lancaster’s Stockyard Inn to close at historic site as new property owner eyes redevelopment | Local Business | lancasteronline.com
Holocaust educator from Bucks takes on Rep. Greene’s Jewish star comment (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Mullane: Secret journey in search of Bucks County’s last Vietnam MIA (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Water main break near pipeline leaves hundreds without water | Local-news | dailylocal.com
Montgomery County firm Greenphire to be acquired by Thoma Bravo | Business | delcotimes.com
Presque Isle starts summer season with fundraising chips, swimming (goerie.com)
Erie one year after George Floyd’s murder: Has anything changed? (goerie.com)
These beaches in the Poconos open Memorial Day weekend (poconorecord.com)
St. Thomas in Croydon to be razed for new Habitat for Humanity homes (theintell.com)
Fire destroys Darlington church (timesonline.com)
Tigerland Wave Pool prepares for feasibility study to procure grant money (timesonline.com)
Memorial Day parades return after a year off for COVID-19 | News | standardspeaker.com
Mahanoy Area board rejects millage increase as proposed | News | standardspeaker.com
West Mahanoy plans to include Radio Station Road as township street | News | standardspeaker.com
Plan for downtown pocket park proceeds in Scranton | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Scholastic Superstars recognized during ceremony at Kirby Center | Education | citizensvoice.com
Wilkes-Barre officials to propose uses for Rescue Plan funds | News | citizensvoice.com
Controversy erupts over long-absent Wyoming Valley West board member | Times Leader
Wilkes-Barre City Council will welcome public back to meetings next month | Times Leader
Pitt
Joy Riders helps those with limited mobility ride along the rivers | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
$2 million from Allegheny County and philanthropies will fund in-person summer camps for kids | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
KDKA Radio’s Shelby Cassesse ‘beyond thrilled’ for her own sports show on 93.7 The Fan | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
What to do in Pittsburgh this Memorial Day weekend | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Hundreds call for healing, community action at vigil in wake of 4 Penn Hills students’ deaths | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Peace rally held in Penn Hills after 4 students die within weeks | TribLIVE.com
George Floyd among those honored in artist’s ‘Blue Walk’ to The Frick Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Downtown Pittsburgh property developers look to re-attract foot traffic after COVID reopening | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Duolingo founder, a Pittsburgher and immigrant, puts his app to work fighting illiteracy in Central America | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Pittsburgh set to open some public pools, if they can find enough lifeguards | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
E-bikes coming to Healthy Ride bike share thanks to grant from Heinz Endowments | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Olympic sensation Simone Biles to perform in Pittsburgh | TribLIVE.com
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announces reopening, improvements at Western Pa., West Virginia sites | TribLIVE.com
Philly
Philadelphia Latino Film Festival for 2021 starts May 30 (inquirer.com)
Iglesias Garden becomes a safe space for residents seeking ‘sovereignty’ in North Philly (inquirer.com)
Philly fire engine crashes into Girard Avenue building (inquirer.com)
See how a local artist and her students are making the world’s largest drawing at the Franklin Institute (inquirer.com)
Workers’ Day at César Andreu Iglesias Community Garden (inquirer.com)
Legislators seek to diversify city workforce by eliminating so-called ‘rule of two’ | Local News | phillytrib.com
DeRitis Playground gets a makeover | Local News | phillytrib.com
New construction fuels tensions on North 7th Street | Local News | phillytrib.com
Downtowns with a diverse mix of uses fared better during the pandemic, study finds – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Former Philadelphia parks and rec official Paul Dignam sentenced for mail fraud, embezzlement – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Brewery co-founded by ‘Shark Tank’ alum expanding to Philadelphia – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Twitter: Critics on the right charge that defunding the police is to blame for a rise in violent crime across the country. Philadelphia’s @DA_LarryKrasner has a few things to say about that to @MehdiRHasan
Washington
GOP set to block Jan. 6 commission, stoking Senate filibuster fight | TribLIVE.com
Republicans to filibuster 1/6 insurrection commission vote (inquirer.com)
Biden to GOP: ‘Don’t get in the way’ of infrastructure plan | Usa latest news (usa-latestnews.com)
GOP offers $928B on infrastructure, funded with covid aid | TribLIVE.com
(100) Fox Business| Congressman Meuser joins Cavuto to talk infrastructure and Biden’s spending spree – YouTube
Ex-Speaker Paul Ryan to GOP: Reject Trump, ‘2nd-rate imitations’ | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The DOJ Civil Rights Division’s new leader is known for breaking barriers | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Social spending, business tax hike drive Biden’s $6 trillion budget | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Biden administration tells Russia it won’t rejoin Open Skies Treaty (inquirer.com)
Senate eyes R&D bill to counter China, bolster manufacturing | Nation & World Business | lancasteronline.com
U.S. Says It Will Not Rejoin Open Skies Treaty With Russia – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
