News Digest:: May 5, 2023

Legislature

Diamonds to lawmakers behind hospital closure reform bills | Times Leader

Local drug prevention organization speaks out about Pa. Senate vote to ban safe injection sites – WPXI

3 welfare fraud bills clear Pa. Senate, head to state House | News | tribdem.com

Langerholc bill seeks special prosecutor for crimes on Philadelphia public transit | News | tribdem.com

Pennsylvania Senate Backs Bill to Narrow Philly Commuter Tax – NBC10 Philadelphia (nbcphiladelphia.com)

Bipartisan support shown for new Pennsylvania rail safety legislation (abc27.com)

Bill to change wage tax for remote workers passes Pa. Senate (audacy.com)

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis visits Delaware County Technical High School – Delco Times

Local leaders call for $5B to protect Pa. kids from lead, asbestos | Thursday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

PA rent, property tax rebates may get budget boost · Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania House passes bill to broaden LGBTQ+ protections | WITF

EMS agencies in 44 Pennsylvania counties send letter to Gov. Shapiro expressing concerns – WPXI

‘Blessing of the balers’ held at Pennsylvania Capitol (abc27.com)

Shapiro touts proposed expansion to property tax, rent rebate program for seniors, Pennsylvanians with disabilities – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Josh Shapiro signs first bill, expands Pa. health insurance coverage for breast cancer screenings | WITF

Trio of Shapiro cabinet picks win Senate confirmation | Friday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Gov. Shapiro Visits Erie, Touts Budget Proposal – Erie News Now | WICU and WSEE in Erie, PA

Clean water advocates call on General Assembly to support pollution reduction efforts, legislation – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Business/Jobs

Dunkin’ to offer free coffee to nurses (abc27.com)

Penn State estimates that about 50 full-time, non-contract employees will lose their jobs this year | WITF

‘A destination’: Boscov’s continues to thrive when other retailers are unable to survive – pennlive.com

The best subscription boxes for mom this Mother’s Day – pennlive.com

Two Pa. plants to close; more than 300 people to be laid off – pennlive.com

COVID-19

Half a million at-home COVID-19 tests sold at CVS may be contaminated with bacteria, FDA says – pennlive.com

Crime/Punishment

35-year-old man killed in hit-and-run in Pa.: report – pennlive.com

Grandpa picking up kids crashes car through middle school wall – pennlive.com

Education

Penn unionizing efforts grow, thousands of student workers organize (inquirer.com)

Elections/Politics

Political affiliation misleading in PA school races · Spotlight PA

Luzerne County: Who’s Running For Office? (politicspa.com)

The 2023 Democratic primary for Allegheny Co. DA. The issues, the candidates – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Candidates vie for 3 district judge seats in Cumberland County – pennlive.com

Environment

Vineyard owners use nature to defeat spotted lanternflies | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

She ripped up her manicured lawn, and challenged the norms of gardening stories : NPR

Transportation

Electric bus transition fraught with complications | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

State News

With pandemic SNAP benefits expired, central Pa. food banks see sharp rise in people seeking help | WITF

May 4: Getting Things Done? – PoliticsPA

Ups and Downs – PoliticsPA

Pa.-bred Angel of Empire’s bloodlines served as an early clue of his talent on the racetrack – pennlive.com

Pa. attorney general announces payouts from TurboTax settlement – pennlive.com

Swastikas found drawn in classroom condemned by central Pa. university president – pennlive.com

Highest-rated free things to do in Pennsylvania, according to Tripadvisor | ABC27

New furry friend coming to the Erie Zoo (abc27.com)

Pennsylvania amusement ride celebrating 50 years of thrills and chills (abc27.com)

Pennsylvania, you could be owed money if you used TurboTax (abc27.com)

Pennsylvania State Rep. faces charges regarding DUI crash (abc27.com)

National News

Biden administration’s controversial rule raising fees for those with good credit goes into effect | National | thecentersquare.com

California, New York attorneys general launch discrimination probe into NFL | California | thecentersquare.com

Americans’ banking fears worst since 2008 financial crisis | National | thecentersquare.com

Wave of transgender health care bans has roots in past debates – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Bernie Sanders unveils push for $17/hr. federal minimum wage, citing state increases – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

500 pounds of ‘illegal dumped pasta’ found in N.J. woods – pennlive.com

New Hampshire’s Old Man of the Mountain Still Bewitches – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Living and Breathing on the Front Line of a Toxic Chemical Zone – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Nikki Haley, on the Trail in South Carolina, Says, ‘Yes, I Am in My Prime’ – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Biden to Name Air Force Chief to Top Military Post, Officials Say – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Senators Make Bid to Extend Expulsion Authority as Title 42 Expiration Looms – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Justice Dept. Intensifying Efforts to Determine if Trump Hid Documents – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Jordan Neely chokehold death: Homeless advocates call for action : NPR

Meet Julie Chávez Rodríguez, Biden’s 2024 campaign manager : NPR

Kentucky Derby: Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. suspended after horse deaths : NPR

Local News

Harrisburg police respond to incident that ends with man exiting building – pennlive.com

Central Pa. waxing salon owner sexually assaulted clients: state police – pennlive.com

New center for veterans opens in downtown Harrisburg (abc27.com)

Renovations almost done at Children’s Lake in Boiling Springs (abc27.com)

Harrisburg play raises awareness about hair discrimination, CROWN Act | ABC27

DUI simulator experience held in Adams County (abc27.com)

Former Lancaster County Drug Task Force leader sentenced for theft (abc27.com)

Lancaster County man sentenced for fatal fentanyl delivery (abc27.com)

This Bethlehem barber is carrying on a three-generation legacy of cutting hair and serving the community (mcall.com)

Brazilian wax salon owner in Schuylkill County arrested (mcall.com)

Allentown City Council will vote on a measure to send social workers to some 911 calls as soon as next month (mcall.com)

George Taylor House featured on ‘Ghost Hunters’ (mcall.com)

Judge sentences man to up to 60 years in prison for leading police on high-speed chase | Poconos and Coal Region | wfmz.com

“Mr. Kippy” shares his passion for reading through storytelling | Good News | wfmz.com

Pitt

Duquesne’s new grant match program targets transfer students as way to boost enrollment | TribLIVE.com

Incorrect, undated mail-in ballots won’t be counted in Westmoreland County | TribLIVE.com

Morning roundup: $1 million winning lottery ticket sold in Charleroi | TribLIVE.com

Bike to Work Day to offer free bikeshare rides, coupons, and beverages to cyclists | TribLIVE.com

Resident looks to block 117-unit apartment development in Shadyside | TribLIVE.com

Pittsburgh man pleads guilty to 2019 birthday party murder in Homewood, gets 10 to 20 years | TribLIVE.com

Not so fast: Appeal challenges zoning board approval of big Shadyside apartment project | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Man killed in Butler County crash was newspaper printer 2 weeks from retirement | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

New Pittsburgh police chief Larry Scirotto: What to know and what comes next | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

When Pittsburgh Symphony’s brand-new piano needed a tuneup, Steinway stepped in | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

What, when, and how much? Proper carb-loading before running in a marathon – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Cat found with severe burns in New Kensington on the road to recovery – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Philly

Philly Proud Boys president Zach Rehl’s sedition conviction for Capitol riot was based largely on his own words (inquirer.com)

Philly mayor 2023: How the front-runners’ TV ad war is getting nastier by the day (inquirer.com)

Police fatally shot an armed man during a foot chase in North Philly, PPD says (inquirer.com)

Reading Terminal Market power outage: List of vendors affected (inquirer.com)

The old Barnes Foundation is the new Maguire Art Museum, which opens May 6 (inquirer.com)

Philly mayor’s race: All the candidates support expanding street sweeping. Here’s what to know about the current sweeping program. (inquirer.com)

Sheriff Bilal backtracks on claim that her primary opponent funded criticism of her office (inquirer.com)

In the Philly mayoral race, candidates have been shaped by their neighborhoods (inquirer.com)

Philadelphia-area commencements feature officials, entertainers | Local News | phillytrib.com

Jeremy Winston Chorale gives inspired concert for Forten family exhibit | Music | phillytrib.com

Philadelphia mayoral race hones in on crime policies | Local News | phillytrib.com

Pennsylvania auditor general calls for financial literacy in public schools | Local News | phillytrib.com

Washington

Pa.’s Casey joins colleagues on bill improving housing for grandparents raising grandkids – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

‘Grandfamily’ legislation would help elders in integrational housing raising children (msn.com)

Sen. Fetterman: Depression isn’t a Dem or GOP issue; it’s a human issue (msnbc.com)

Fetterman talks depression, says he’s ‘fit to serve’ in new interview (msn.com)