Legislature

Addiction Treatment Providers in Pa. Face Little State Scrutiny Despite Harm to Clients | Kaiser Health News (khn.org)

As more Pennsylvanians die of drug overdoses, lawmakers call for review of treatment centers, fines – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Pa. Supreme Court will pick chair of powerful state redistricting panel · Spotlight PA

Pa. Supreme Court to pick Legislative Reapportionment Commission chair (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Leaders deadlock on final member of district-drawing panel – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Pa. leaders deadlock on final member of district-drawing panel | TribLIVE.com

Legislative reapportionment panel deadlocks on 5th member; sends decision to Pa. Supreme Court | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

‘The next chess move:’ Emergency powers ballot questions set the stage for a balance-of-power showdown | WITF

Pa. Supreme Court to pick Legislative Reapportionment Commission chair (ydr.com)

Pa. racial equality amendment has precedent — and online skeptics | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

PA House Committee Approves Veterans Job Training Bill – WDAC

State briefs | | thecourierexpress.com

Quick hits: Pennsylvania news in brief for Friday, April 30 | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Bipartisan Senate bill would create Treasury fund for animal cruelty investigations | News | northcentralpa.com

New report reveals $132.5 billion economic impact for Pa. agriculture | Times Leader

Report: Agriculture Is Fundamental to Pennsylvania’s Economy | Farm Policy News | lancasterfarming.com

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, CBF urge funding bill | American Farm Publications

Pennsylvania bill would help farmers adopt conservation-friendly practices, improve watersheds | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Take action against guns now | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pa. Senate Passes Bill to Help Firefighter Recruitment | The Legal Intelligencer (law.com)

Exton-based company awarded $45,000 in state funding to provide computer training for job seekers | News | dailylocal.com

This is the true ‘gold standard” for child protection in Pa. | Opinion   | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Letter: DCNR deserves more funding from the state | Letters to the Editor | readingeagle.com

With Chermak absent, three state Senate candidate debate issues | Election | citizensvoice.com

State lawmaker looks for ‘supplement’ to dwindling dog warden presence | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pa. lawmakers just can’t resist comparing things to the Holocaust & Nazis. It’s time to banish this lazy and offensive rhetoric from our dialogue | Opinion | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

PA ABLE Act: Savings program for disabled residents looks to expand (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

 

Coronavirus – COVID-19

National

TSA Keeps Face Mask Requirement On Public Transportation Through September : Coronavirus Updates : NPR

Mask requirement extended for airplanes, other transit in U.S. | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Younger People Make Up Growing Share Of Serious COVID Cases : Shots – Health News : NPR

Is The Vaccine Rollout Doing Enough To End U.S. Outbreak? : Shots – Health News : NPR

Number of Americans fully vaccinated tops 100 million | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

U.S. Will Impose New Ban On Travel From India As Coronavirus Rages : Coronavirus Updates : NPR

Doubtful about covid vaccine? It depends on your occupation, study shows | TribLIVE.com

State

Vaccine hesitancy among longterm care workers a complex issue, Pennsylvania providers group says | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

These dogs are learning to detect COVID-19, and they could work at airports and stadiums (inquirer.com)

Western Pa. venues weigh pros, cons of vaccinated-only spectator sections | TribLIVE.com

Pa. covid hospitalizations decline for 10th straight day | TribLIVE.com

COVID-19 cases, deaths dip in region, state | Coronavirus | thetimes-tribune.com

COVID-19 vaccine demand in Pa. ‘has really fallen off a cliff.’ Is it a lack of interest or access? – pennlive.com

Local

Vincent Hughes, Sheryl Lee Ralph-Hughes host vaccination clinics | Coronavirus | phillytrib.com

Pennsylvania Officials Kick Off May Challenge In Effort To Get Philadelphians Vaccinated – CBS Philly (cbslocal.com)

Philly Indian community uses ties back home to send COVID aid – WHYY

COVID-19 Update: Clinic brings vaccine to Swissvale | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Philly’s vaccination effort reaches out to another community: the deaf (inquirer.com)

Philly teen confronts misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine – WHYY

For one West Philadelphia family, the pandemic has brought a year of challenges and academic loss (inquirer.com)

Covid vaccine clinic set for Norwin students | TribLIVE.com

57 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Luzerne County on Sunday | Times Leader

Teens roll up sleeves for COVID-19 vaccine at WVW | News | citizensvoice.com

COVID-19 test site coming to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton airport | News | citizensvoice.com

57 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Luzerne County on Sunday | coronavirus | citizensvoice.com

118 new cases of COVID-19 reported in three-county area; 1 new death | Coronavirus | standardspeaker.com

COVID exposes need for greater broadband access in Berks | Coronavirus | readingeagle.com

Berks County on verge of 100,000 completed COVID vaccinations | Coronavirus | readingeagle.com

COVID-19: Daily update on coronavirus cases in Erie County (goerie.com)

8 people in Lancaster County died from COVID-19 last week; here’s what state, county data says | Health | lancasteronline.com

Montgomery County reports 212 new coronavirus cases, five more deaths | News | mainlinemedianews.com

 

Business

In the Mon Valley — where U.S. Steel has canceled major investment — many left wondering what went wrong | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Officials bemoan U.S. Steel plans to scrap $1.5B Mon Valley Works upgrade | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

SBA Restaurant Revitalization Fund: Demand for $28.6B in grants expected to outpace availability – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Restaurant Revitalization Fund offers vital help to NEPA eateries (poconorecord.com)

Restaurants look to normalcy and perhaps a boom after pandemic shutdowns | Local News | delcotimes.com

McDonald’s raises wages and offers perks amid labor shortage | Business | citizensvoice.com

Philadelphia restaurant jobs await unemployed food workers who are ready to return (inquirer.com)

Minimum wage: How would $15 an hour impact restaurant owners, workers? (poconorecord.com)

Pa. minimum wage: How do you live on $7.25? (poconorecord.com)

Minimum wage debate still roiling in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. (ydr.com)

SBA Targeted EIDL Advance cash grants makes little progress – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Stocks Have Surged The Most Since FDR During Biden’s 1st 100 Days : NPR

There are Pandemic Shortages, but Prices aren’t Rising : The Indicator from Planet Money : NPR

The failure to unionize Amazon is the union’s own fault | Opinion (inquirer.com)

 

Crime/Punishment

In wake of Derek Chauvin verdict, Pennsylvania can learn from Maryland’s police reform | Opinion (inquirer.com)

Central Pa. police work on change after George Floyd’s murder, but activists hope for more – pennlive.com

Police reform in Pa. could increase diversity, ban chokeholds, more – pennlive.com

Police forces see recruitment struggles, surge in retirements | WITF

Pa. Black Caucus pushes for universal collection of racial data from traffic stops | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

PA State Police offer rare look at use-of-force standards, training (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

 

Education

Art and music transform spring experiences for West Chester high school students | News | dailylocal.com

Building Equity for All: To increase home values and correct injustice, start in Pa. schools | Opinion | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pandemic boosts enrollment in cyber charter schools, but costs also are rising | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

COVID-19 delayed Duquesne’s medical school project, but pandemic shows that it’s needed, university says | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Philly kids, teachers march for schools, racial justice: ‘Normal was never enough’ (inquirer.com)

Liberty High School shocks principal with the news he’s Pa.’s secondary principal of the year – lehighvalleylive.com

Abington Heights and Delaware Valley high schools receive top rankings | Education | standardspeaker.com

COVID cases to close Reading’s Northwest Elementary School on Monday | Coronavirus | readingeagle.com

La junta estatal del sistema de educación superior respalda el plan para consolidar seis universidades a dos | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

A ‘Record-Breaking Year’ For Gifts To HBCUs : NPR

Stimulus spending: Erie area schools target programs, staff, buildings (goerie.com)

Millersville University to renovate Biemesderfer Stadium with help from $1.5M gift | Local News | lancasteronline.com

‘Rally for Our Schools’ amplifies CBSD student and school board candidate voices (buckscountyherald.com)

 

Elections/Politics

Monday is last day to register to vote; first day for drop boxes, in-person voting | Election | citizensvoice.com

Vote-by-mail remains popular with Cumberland County electorate | Politics | cumberlink.com

38 Luzerne County polling places changing for May 18 primary | Times Leader

Primary polling sites finalized, new sites included; Exeter to vote in West Wyoming | Election | citizensvoice.com

Procrastinator’s guide to the May 2021 primary election in Philadelphia – On top of Philly news (billypenn.com)

Pennsylvania Democrats Deal Another Blow to Pelosi’s House Majority (breitbart.com)

Fair Maps National Day of Action celebrated by LWVBC | News | montgomerynews.com

Pennsylvania redistricting: I’m hopeful about gerrymandering reform – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Are Pa.’s state House and Senate maps gerrymandered? Depends on how you measure them. · Spotlight PA

Chester County officials, residents call for redistricting reform | Local News | dailylocal.com

In Hot Mic Comments, Congressman Says He Might Run One Or Two More Times – LevittownNow.com

Democrats face growing list of swing-district retirements, dimming midterm prospects | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Five Democrats vying for Scranton City Council nominations outline positions, priorities | Election | thetimes-tribune.com

Lehigh Valley recipe for hot local elections: Mix controversial construction projects with transparency concerns, stir in a pandemic, bake for a year in Zoom – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

 

Environment

Op-Ed: ‘Community solar’ could help Pennsylvania diversify its energy portfolio | Opinion | thecentersquare.com

Spotted lanternfly control in Berks set back by funding cuts | Environment | readingeagle.com

Hard-To-Recycle Collection Campaign launched for electronics, tires, and more | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)

Conservationists hope to boost Hammer Creek’s wild trout potential with $5.2 million pollution mitigation plan | Outdoors | lancasteronline.com

 

Transportation

PennDOT Shares Draft Funding Study for Public Review, Comment | BCTV

Lobbying continues for reduced Port Authority fares for low-income riders | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Public transit hopes to win back riders after crushing year | Lifestyle | thereporteronline.com

PECO to restrict several state highways for utility improvements in Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties | News | dailylocal.com

 

Health

SPECIAL REPORT | Dementia wards in Pennsylvania were ravaged during the pandemic | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Oversight of Pa. recovery homes stalls as officials, advocates disagree on best approach | WITF

My family’s long-term care story – and what it says about the challenges we all face | Ray E. Landis | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Raise awareness for mental health this May (poconorecord.com)

 

State News

Dems test infrastructure pitch with expansion of services for seniors, people with disabilities | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Why allergy season is worsening in Western Pa. | TribLIVE.com

How citizen scientists can help unlock the mysteries of cicadas [opinion] | Living | readingeagle.com

Deer disease meetings set to begin Wednesday – pennlive.com

We must join together to stop the hate against Asian Americans. Here’s how you can help | Opinion | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Study: States’ personal income hit 20-year high in 2020 | Monday Morning Coffee | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Here’s what you need to earn to rent a home in Pa. | The Numbers Racket | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Stigma of poverty: Advocates say vilifying the working poor is immoral (ydr.com)

PA gig worker and single mom of twins struggles to make it on low wages (ydr.com)

Bucks, Montgomery County students nominated to military academies (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Bucks County farmers: It’s high time hemp gets its due (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

PA casino revenue plummeted in 2020. Can it come back in 2021? (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

 

National News

Mourners gathering Monday for funeral of Andrew Brown Jr. | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Idaho’s Transgender Sports Ban Faces A Major Legal Hurdle : NPR

25 States Mount Legal Fight To Block Sackler Bid For Opioid Immunity : NPR

U.S. Judge Restricts Use Of Force By Columbus, Ohio, Police : NPR

2 Killed In Shooting At Wisconsin Casino; Gunman Slain : NPR

How Small Census Numbers Can Decide A State’s Share Of Power In Congress : NPR

How 26 people in the census count helped Minnesota beat New York for a House seat | WITF

Oregon Lawmaker Who Opened State Capitol To Far-Right Protesters Faces Charges : NPR

U.S. incomes surged, spending jumped in March as coronavirus relief rolled out (inquirer.com)

Guardian Angels on earth: Highmark sponsored service dogs assist veterans | TribLIVE.com

Used vehicles in high demand as new supply dwindles | Business | standardspeaker.com

What you need to know about tax-season changes as filing day nears | Money | readingeagle.com

Stimulus checks: Some Americans may have to pay back at least some of the child tax credit – pennlive.com

Roughly 40% of post offices operate in the red. Could banking offer them a way out? | WITF

‘Black America’s attorney general’ seems to be everywhere | News | phillytrib.com

This fast food chain is now one of the most diverse workforces in America — except for its executives | Business | phillytrib.com

 

Local News

Junior League of Reading continues activities this weekend to empower middle school girls | Local News | readingeagle.com

Filmmaking is thriving in Lancaster County (thetelegraph.com)

Paul T. Dickinson named new Pennridge Regional Police Chief; retiring Chief Rodney Blake commended | News | montgomerynews.com

Should Harrisburg provide guaranteed income to some residents? The mayor wants to give it a shot – pennlive.com

Fishing activity increases as temperatures warm in Monroeville | TribLIVE.com

Diocese: Two Wilkes-Barre parishes to consolidate | Times Leader

Fork Over Love announces May distribution dates | Times Leader

Pandemic not stopping proms this year | News | citizensvoice.com

New stretch of Lackawanna River Heritage Trail slated for completion by year’s end | News | thetimes-tribune.com

‘Love, welcome and respect:’ Gay Catholic man advocates for LGBTQ faithful in the Allentown diocese | News | standardspeaker.com

Hazleton resident shares concerns with city leaders about busy intersection | News | standardspeaker.com

Black Lives Matter rally in Bethlehem remembers people killed in police violence, focuses on political activism – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, to visit Lehigh Valley on Wednesday – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Stroud teen Vahanvaty plays with poetry for national competition (poconorecord.com)

Erie scholarships for minorities: $3M ‘We believe in Erie Fund’ launched (goerie.com)

Delaware County eyes tax decrease as budget numbers firm up | News | delcotimes.com

Pottstown proposal would limit chickens to large lots | Local News | pottsmerc.com

How a 60-year-old Lancaster man went viral on TikTok for roller-skating at Overlook Roller Rink | Entertainment | lancasteronline.com

Bucks County courts remain in a judicial emergency a year, but work continues (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Bucks County teen navigates adulthood making under $15 an hour (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Foundations Community Partnership awards $80K to Bucks County nonprofits (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Bucks Detectives warn of scam using spoofed DA’s phone number (buckscountyherald.com)

 

Pitt

Closures Leave Ventilator Unit Residents With 30 Days To Find New Homes At Already-Packed Facilities – CBS Pittsburgh (cbslocal.com)

Pittsburgh’s 4 Big Nonprofits Contribute $115 Million Over 5 Years To Peduto’s OnePGH Initiative | 90.5 WESA

Utility work begins in advance of Bus Rapid Transit project between Oakland and Downtown | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Future of policing is key issue in Pittsburgh mayoral race | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Lamb: City’s finances weathered ‘the storm’ but pandemic-related losses still a concern | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cinemark set to reopen Pittsburgh-area theaters | TribLIVE.com

New report finds lead in majority of Allegheny Co. water systems, offers strategies to reduce exposure | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Work in PA: How a Pittsburgh barista manages on under $2K a month (ydr.com)

 

Philly

Biden celebrates Amtrak’s 50th birthday and pitches more rail investment in Philadelphia | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

1500 Sansom Street streetery hit with stop work order – WHYY

PREIT off to strong leasing activity so far this year – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Richard Vague: ‘Sea change’ underway in lender attitudes toward Philadelphia minority business owners – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Center City Philly welcomes bigger crowds as COVID vaccination rates rise (inquirer.com)

George Twardy, former Haverford Republican, is Philadelphia Democrats’ pick for Municipal Court judge (inquirer.com)

In Philly suburbs, sewer systems are for sale, and citizens push back, fearing rate hikes (inquirer.com)

Low-wage Philly security guard subsists in Kensington (ydr.com)

Black bikers ride to get out the Philly vote | Local News | phillytrib.com

Philadelphia Home & School Council highlights fathers’ voices | Local News | phillytrib.com

‘We have to do something’: Friends hope new app will empower Philadelphians to help prevent gun violence | Local News | phillytrib.com

 

Washington

POLITICO Playbook: Why Biden’s next 100 days will be harder – POLITICO

Separated Families To Reunite In The U.S., As Immigrant Advocates Push For More : NPR

White House Says It Is Open To Diplomacy With North Korea : NPR

Treasury secretary doesn’t see Biden plan creating inflation ‘issue’ | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Biden’s proposals aim to give sturdier support to the middle class | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Romney is booed at Utah GOP convention before failed vote to censure him | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Manchin pans D.C. statehood bill in break with Dems | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

McConnell attacks Biden education anti-racism focus, calling it ‘divisive’ | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Biden cancels border wall projects | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Celebrity politicians test voter interest in post-Trump era | National News | thetimes-tribune.com

New funding to curb wildfires pushed in Congress, as another fire season looms | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Democrats seek narrow path to rein in cost of medicines | National and World | delcotimes.com