Legislature
Fracking ban still facing legal challenges – Times Publishing Newspapers, Inc.
Bill Preserves Access To Ventilator Services For Vulnerable Patients – WDAC
Measure Helps To Prepare Future PA Firefighters – WDAC
Reps. Pashinski, Cruz introduce legislation to stretch PA SNAP dollars | Times Leader
State Rep. Cris Dush presents citation | Lifestyle | thecourierexpress.com
PA Supreme Court Selects Former Pitt Chancellor Mark Nordenberg To Chair Legislative Pa. Supreme Court picks former Pitt chancellor to chair powerful redistricting commission | WITF
Pitt’s Nordenberg to lead Pa. legislative redistricting commission | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Pennsylvania lawmakers want control of constitutional amendment process after administration’s error | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Op-Ed: Why is Gov. Wolf shielding his appointees from confirmation hearings? | Opinion | thecentersquare.com
Pa. tipped wage workers rally behind Wolf’s proposed minimum wage hike | WITF
Bill to keep governor’s hands out of constitutional amendment process passes Pa. House panel – pennlive.com
After advertising error, Pa. Legislature moves to bring amendment process in-house | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Roll Call: Senate restores EPA power to regulate methane from oil, gas (goerie.com)
Coronavirus – COVID-19
National
Children Now Account For 22% Of New U.S. COVID Cases. Why Is That? : Coronavirus Updates : NPR
Why Some Kurdish Americans Are Getting Vaccinated, Even During Ramadan : Shots – Health News : NPR
Why Lagging COVID Vaccine Rates Among Rural Hospitals ‘Needs To Be Fixed Now’ : NPR
$100 as a Vaccine Incentive? Experiment Suggests It Can Pay Off. – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
FDA expected to authorize Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for those ages 12 to 15 by next week, sources say – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Pitt and CMU researchers find COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy trends based on occupation | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
State
New Jersey loosens COVID-19 restrictions as Pennsylvania mulls next move; business frustration grows as chamber leader calls Fauci ‘irrelevant’ – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf says he wants to go ‘as fast as I can’ on easing Covid-19 restrictions – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
New Jersey lifting all capacity restrictions on restaurants, outdoor events on May 19 – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Gov. Wolf urges more vaccinations, says he is optimistic Pa. can start to return to normal. ‘We just want to be safe.’ (inquirer.com)
Contact tracing data breach in Pennsylvania warrants investigation, lawmakers say | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
GOP: Wolf should fire vendor that mishandled virus data | WITF
Where are Pa. coronavirus cases rising? Here are the key numbers to watch – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Which states have the most confirmed coronavirus cases (5/3/2021): Where does Pa. stand? – pennlive.com
Wolf presses for more Pennsylvanians to get COVID vaccine | Local News | tribdem.com
Department of Aging: PACE COVID-19 Vaccine Partnership with Walmart has helped more than 25,000 vulnerable older adults (buckscountyherald.com)
Local
Gritty, Flyers launch campaign to battle vaccine hesitancy (poconorecord.com)
Berks COVID vaccine center opens its doors | Berks and Beyond | readingeagle.com
COVID cases in Berks start to fall; 29 new cases are reported, a 6-month low | Coronavirus | readingeagle.com
‘Getting Pittsburgh Vaccinated’ and other Facebook groups offer neighborly resources | TribLIVE.com
New covid cases continue statewide drop, rise in Allegheny and Westmoreland | TribLIVE.com
Coronavirus vaccination efforts stepped up in Luzerne County | Times Leader
Vaccination program for the homebound launched Monday | coronavirus | citizensvoice.com
8 people in Lancaster County died from COVID-19 last week; here’s what state, county data says | Health | lancasteronline.com
School districts prepare to offer vaccine clinic for 12-15-year-olds | Local-news | delcotimes.com
COVID-19: Daily update on coronavirus cases in Erie County (goerie.com)
Mobile vaccine clinic reaches Spanish speakers, next stop York, Gettysburg (ydr.com)
Acting Physician General visits Bryce Jordan Center Vaccination Site, encourages college students to get vaccinated (buckscountyherald.com)
Montgomery County records 320 new coronavirus cases, 7 deaths over three days | News | mainlinemedianews.com
Business
Minimum wage debate still roiling in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
USA Today poverty simulator puts you in the shoes of a low wage worker (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Rutter’s increases starting wage for all field employees (ydr.com)
Google Union Workers Fight for a Say in Company Culture : The Indicator from Planet Money : NPR
Philadelphia union sued for planned strike | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Despite virus, Atlantic City casinos reinvesting millions – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Restaurant takeout boom: Pandemic-fueled food ordering habits not likely to change soon – pennlive.com
Home Depot to hire more than 300 people in Harrisburg, Lancaster areas – pennlive.com
State Treasurer hosts small business roundtable | News | thetimes-tribune.com
How companies rip off poor employees — and get away with it | National News | thetimes-tribune.com
Crime/Punishment
Report: Pa. has 2nd highest number of people in U.S. serving life without parole | Tuesday Morning Coffee | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Philadelphia’s ‘co-responder’ unit will soon pair police officers with mental-health specialists for some calls (inquirer.com)
Police are trained for mental health calls. But is there better way? (poconorecord.com)
Vandergrift gives no update on police conduct investigation | TribLIVE.com
New Pittsburgh police website tracks changes on reform | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Bullock: Change the law and keep traffic stops from turning violent (theintell.com)
Education
Afton H.O.P.E. delivers Earth Day message; earns Pennsbury elementary school national recognition | Yardley Area | buckslocalnews.com
Pandemic boosts enrollment in cyber charter schools, but costs also are rising | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Temple University’s free B4USoar pre-college program plans to double cohort for fall – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Kutztown University gets $250,000 grant for music research center | Local News | readingeagle.com
Susquehanna Township School District retires Indian mascot – pennlive.com
College and university commencements 2021: Pa. schools holding in-person, virtual, drive-in ceremonies – pennlive.com
Breakfast After the Bell programs reduce school absenteeism | Opinion | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Penn-Trafford proposes 2-mill tax hike for next year | TribLIVE.com
‘Take these damn masks off these kids’: Solanco parents protest mask requirement in schools [photos] | Local News | lancasteronline.com
Students, parents organize protest against Greater Johnstown School District | News | tribdem.com
Pennridge High makes a splash, celebrates sports inclusion efforts (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Horizons at Greene Street Friends School set to expand thanks to a $115,000 grant | Local News | phillytrib.com
Board postpones Bancroft vote as leaders warn more school closures to come | Education | thetimes-tribune.com
Science in the Summer adapts to a hybrid program in collaboration with Franklin Institute | Weekend | delcotimes.com
Elections/Politics
Ballot question: Amend Pennsylvania constitution to outlaw race and ethnicity discrimination? – On top of Philly news (billypenn.com)
Conor Lamb moves toward Pennsylvania Senate run – POLITICO
Republican Sean Parnell expected to run for Senate in Pennsylvania – POLITICO
One ritzy fundraiser shows how tough selling lobbying reform in Pa. will be · Spotlight PA
Why Rising Diversity Might Not Help Democrats as Much as They Hope – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Pennsylvania has 4,000 more registered voters than in 2019 – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
DOS: More than 741k Pa. voters have asked for mail-in ballots | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Pennsylvania primary 2021 voter’s guide: Candidates, where to vote, ballot questions, and more (inquirer.com)
Environment
A Giant Organic Farm Faces Criticism That It’s Harming The Environment : NPR
NOAA has released new climate normals, showing a warmer, wetter Lehigh Valley – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
EPA to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, gases used in refrigerators and coolants (inquirer.com)
Transportation
PennDOT invites the public to online meeting on its funding crisis that could result in tolling the Lenhartsville Bridge | Local News | readingeagle.com
Philadelphia International Airport projects a 35% increase in nonstop destinations this year (inquirer.com)
Health
The Heritage of Green Hills in Shillington breaks ground on new Health Care Center | Business | berksmontnews.com
Facing burnout, worker shortages, nurses say COVID-19 shows need for staffing ratios | WITF
COVID-19 proves dangers of ‘corporate’-driven hospital care, need for minimal nurse-to-patient ratios, nurses’ groups say – pennlive.com
During the pandemic, telehealth helped faraway family members attend seniors’ medical visits. Doctors want that to stay. (inquirer.com)
Clean eating is important for your health | Health | readingeagle.com
State News
Pa. to get more than $7 billion in COVID relief, but where will it go? (goerie.com)
PA teachers pension system embroiled in controversy. What to know. (goerie.com)
Activists rally across tri-state area to stop Asian hate – 6abc Philadelphia
PA teachers pension system embroiled in controversy. What to know. (ellwoodcityledger.com)
WaPo: Cohen ‘Probably Will Be Nominated’ For Canada Ambassador | PoliticsPA
PA State Rep. Kenyatta bursts into song when asked about political divide: ‘Which side are you on?’ (msnbc.com)
Pennsylvania senator urges Schuylkill County commissioner to resign amid sexual harassment allegations – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Study: States’ personal income hit 20-year high in 2020 | Monday Morning Coffee | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Pa. state parks visits rise as COVID restrictions begin to lift (inquirer.com)
National News
The Epic Versus Apple Trial Has Begun. Here’s What You Need To Know : NPR
In Denver, Civic-Minded ‘Colorado Sun’ Acquires Suburban Newspaper Chain : NPR
U.S.-Mexico Efforts Targeting Drug Cartels Have Unraveled, DEA Says : NPR
At least 23 dead as elevated train collapses, dropping car onto busy road in Mexico City – pennlive.com
Verizon selling AOL, Yahoo to Apollo Global Management (inquirer.com)
New Apple credit card makes it easier for families to share credit. But should they? | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
How college students are collaborating with NASA to grow plants on the moon | Home & Garden | lancasteronline.com
African Cultural Alliance of North America offers free tax preparation | Business | phillytrib.com
A recruiter joined Facebook to help improve diversity. He says its hiring practices hurt people of color. | Business | phillytrib.com
Local News
Emhoff To Visit Allentown on Wednesday | PoliticsPA
Stonewall, the Lehigh Valley’s last gay club, under contract to be sold, putting future in doubt – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
129 Dauphin County restaurants impacted by pandemic awarded $3 million in grants – pennlive.com
Fundraising underway to help families displaced by apartment fire in West View | TribLIVE.com
Hempfield to apply for federal grant that could benefit township fire department | TribLIVE.com
Free recommendations to improve properties in the Buffalo Creek watershed | TribLIVE.com
Plymouth Township celebrates anniversary of leaving Act 47 status | Times Leader
Police officer, firefighter lauded for rescuing boys from Kingston blaze | News | citizensvoice.com
Public urged to support Chester County’s fallen heroes | Local News | dailylocal.com
Medical marijuana: Firm leases old fireworks site in Summit, plans store (goerie.com)
Hulu shows: Wu-Tang series picks up Spring Grove actor for season two (ydr.com)
Meadow Grounds Lake in Fulton County refilled and reopening (ydr.com)
Pitt
Protester injured by police projectile, then charged for same incident claims mistreatment during preliminary hearing | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
How rising rents and renovations have displaced Pittsburghers and added to the city’s ongoing issues with gentrification | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Tree of Life moves toward a fresh start, taps world-renowned architect to synagogue oversee redesign | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Mayor Peduto’s OnePGH plan is too little, too late | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
City council to hold hearing on loss of Black population in Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Philly
Philadelphia DA candidates rack up endorsements, discuss racial bias | Local News | phillytrib.com
These are Philadelphia’s best public high schools, per U.S. News & World Report – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Philly’s Home & School Council highlights fathers’ voices | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Philadelphia scales back requested water rate increase, to 10.2% (inquirer.com)
Outdoor shows in Philadelphia this spring (inquirer.com)
Philadelphia City Councilmembers question Kenney’s commitment to growing Black-owned businesses in spending plans | Local News | phillytrib.com
Washington
Perry minimizes his Jan. 6 role, stresses corporate criticism in tele-town hall | Politics | cumberlink.com
Sen. Casey backs stronger trade protections, social programs in global battle with China | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
104 Days Of Bidenonomics : Planet Money : NPR
Biden Raises Refugee Cap Far Above Trump’s Limit : NPR
Biden takes infrastructure and safety net plans public: a look at the cost and details of the proposal | Smart Talk (witf.org)