Legislature
After a decade of talks, inter-municipal trail system in Kennett area will become a reality | Local News | dailylocal.com
Kutztown Borough awarded $674,844 grant for walkable community project | Local News | berksmontnews.com
Town hall to be held Thursday on vaccine hesitancy | Coronavirus | delcotimes.com
Pa. Senate bill will remove ‘homosexuality’ from state’s crimes code | News | northcentralpa.com
Limiting Pennsylvania governor’s emergency powers is a bad idea (goerie.com)
Halcovage impeachment process begins | News | standardspeaker.com
Pa. doctors could be punished for rejecting vaccine-skeptical parents under advancing House legislation | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Mihalek to co-sponsor legislation to protect data collected for vaccine registration | Local News | observer-reporter.com
How the Pa. Black Caucus wants to dismantle systemic racism (poconorecord.com)
Pa. Black caucus pushes bills to dismantle systemic racism (ydr.com)
Harrisburg Diocese bankruptcy case could collide with bill giving child sex abuse victims a chance to sue | WITF
Pa.’s volunteer fire departments are in crisis. How Pa. lawmakers are moving to help | Mark O’Keefe | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Coronavirus – COVID-19
National
COVID-19’s U.S. toll projected to drop sharply by the end of July | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Libraries still quarantine books, even as cases drop and vaccinations rise (inquirer.com)
U.S. to back waiver of vaccine intellectual property protections at WTO | TribLIVE.com
‘Turning the Corner’: U.S. Covid Outlook Reaches Most Hopeful Point Yet – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
CureVac Covid Vaccine Could Bring Hope to the Unvaccinated World – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Americans Are Taking Outings Again, Giving A lift To Businesses : NPR
Why does COVID-19 cause neurological problems, including ‘brain fog’? Scientists might have an answer – pennlive.com
Public health, medical experts say removing most COVID-19 restrictions a reasonable next step | WITF
COVID mixed messages; sorting fact from fiction | Smart Talk (witf.org)
State
Gov. Wolf Announces Most COVID-19 Mitigation Orders Will Be Lifted By May 31 – CBS Pittsburgh (cbslocal.com)
Pennsylvania leads U.S. in plunge of first COVID-19 vaccine doses given | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Coronavirus vaccine hesitancy among Republicans high in Pa., but few GOP leaders speaking up (inquirer.com)
Republican Sen. Kim Ward endorses covid vaccine for return to normalcy | TribLIVE.com
PA contract with Insight Global not renew after data breach (audacy.com)
PSU’s James Franklin, Gov. Tom Wolf team up to promote COVID vaccines (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
The number of vaccinated Erie police officers, firefighters increases (goerie.com)
College kids urged to get vaccinated; statewide demand lags | WITF
Wolf to Pa.: Want to see Penn State in-person this fall? Get vaccinated | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
A full Beaver Stadium for Penn State football may be possible with enough vaccinations | WITF
Local
Vincent Hughes, Sheryl Lee Ralph-Hughes host vaccination clinics – WHYY
Debate over COVID-19 vaccine requirements intensifies in Harrisburg; Muhlenberg College joins Lehigh University in requiring shots – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
COVID-19 Latest: Allegheny County OK with Wolf’s restriction rollback; Sick leave bill will get public input | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Luzerne County tops 100,000 vaccinations | Times Leader
Wyoming Valley West planning COVID-19 vaccination clinic for students ages 12 and older | coronavirus | citizensvoice.com
Providers say mass vaccinations disappearing, but COVID fight marches on | Coronavirus | thetimes-tribune.com
COVID pandemic death toll for Berks residents reaches 1,000 | Coronavirus | readingeagle.com
Lancaster County mass vaccination site trims hours in the wake of declining demand | Health | lancasteronline.com
Local COVID-19 hospitalizations holding steady; Cambria, Blair each add two deaths | Coronavirus | tribdem.com
York County vaccine rate: How many people have been vaccinated? (ydr.com)
UPMC Hamot COVID nurse survives her own severe bout with virus (goerie.com)
Coca-Cola Park to host COVID-19 vaccinations prior to Thursday’s IronPigs game, with a free ticket as reward – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Montgomery County records 73 new coronavirus cases in daily report | News | mainlinemedianews.com
AHN to host a vaccination clinic Thursday in Aliquippa (timesonline.com)
Bucks County vaccine rate: How many people have been vaccinated? (theintell.com)
Business
Former Hazelwood coke works being considered for green manufacturing plant | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PNC, BNY Mellon share plans to bring remote workers back to the office | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Google Adopts Pandemic Telework Changes : NPR
Staffing crunch may impact Berks restaurants more than lifting COVID restrictions | Local News | readingeagle.com
Employers, employees differ on post-pandemic work arrangements – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
More than 180,000 businesses apply to Restaurant Revitalization Fund in opening days – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Minimum wage: How would $15 an hour impact restaurant owners, workers? (poconorecord.com)
PPL earnings tumble during first quarter, blaming discontinued overseas operations – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Pa. tech firm that makes iPhone components gets $410 million from Apple, could grow in the Lehigh Valley – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Crime/Punishment
‘Please, don’t shoot me’: Complaints and lawsuits piled up for years before a Philly detective was arrested (inquirer.com)
Shade Township supervisors to vote Thursday on disbanding police department | News | tribdem.com
States push back against use of facial recognition by police – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Activists want open data about how Pittsburgh police use ‘less-lethal’ weapons | WITF
Warminster releases settlement with ex-cop accused of child sex abuse (theintell.com)
Honoring fallen law enforcement heroes including those from Wade dump fire | News | delcotimes.com
Education
Pa. superintendents, charter advocates continue to spar over school funding | WITF
Philly-area superintendents press for reforms, say payments to charter schools aren’t sustainable (inquirer.com)
After student push, Pa.’s state university system adopts strategy to address campus racism (inquirer.com)
Small crowd attends hearing on closing Meyers and Coughlin | Education | citizensvoice.com
Officials tour new Lackawanna College campus | Education | thetimes-tribune.com
Penn State Schuylkill sets plans for in-person graduation, fall semester | Education | standardspeaker.com
Columbia Borough School District plans to spend $6M in projects through 2026 | Community News | lancasteronline.com
Chester Upland charter bidders to make their pitch tonight | News | delcotimes.com
Elections/Politics
A week after FBI raid, Rudy Giuliani prepares to host Midstate fundraiser for Mastriano | ABC27
Philadelphia DA primary endorsements: Vega nabs more unions, Krasner more officials – On top of Philly news (billypenn.com)
2021 primary ballot questions: No to partisan bickering, yes to fairly funding fire departments | Endorsement (inquirer.com)
Democratic Primary Election 2021 Pittsburgh City Council District 4 | Election Guide | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
LETTER: Early ballot prep needed | Letters to the Editor | observer-reporter.com
Inquirer endorses Judge Kevin Brobson for Pa. Supreme Court in Republican primary | Endorsement
NRCC Adds Houlahan to 2022 Target List | PoliticsPA
Lugar Center: Fitzpatrick Ranked As Most Bipartisan Member For The 116th Congress | PoliticsPA
How ‘socialism’ stopped being a dirty word for some voters – and started winning elections across America | Opinion | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Environment
Climate report predicts weeks of 90-degree days by mid-century in Pa. | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Report: Pennsylvania will warm 5.9 degrees by midcentury without carbon regulations; critics question integrity of study | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
This report predicts PA’s annual temperature will rise by 6 degrees (poconorecord.com)
Regional groups ask feds to renew Falcon Pipeline scrutiny (timesonline.com)
Ron DeSantis Pushes Coastal ‘Resilience’ While Doing Little To Tackle Climate Change : NPR
Transportation
Wenzell Ave. reopens after bridge replacement and improvement project – WPXI
Duquesne-McKeesport Bridge reopens Thursday morning after closing for possible barge strike | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Harrisburg’s North Second Street won’t become a two-way until 2022 – pennlive.com
Health
Site near Monroeville Mall eyed for new $91 million VA outpatient clinic | TribLIVE.com
Allentown ranked as worst city for people with asthma in U.S. – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
How Food May Improve Your Mood – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
State News
Sen. Toomey vows to find out why U.S. Steel canceled $1.5B Mon Valley Works project | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Comcast diversity program provides tech makeovers, other awards to minority-owned businesses | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Jobless want state to end backlog, pay benefits now | TribLIVE.com
GOP wants to restore work-search rule for jobless benefits | Pennsylvania State News | lancasteronline.com
Northeast Pennsylvania ready to celebrate #570Day on social media | News | thetimes-tribune.com
National chicken wing shortage hits NEPA | Business | standardspeaker.com
EXCLUSIVE: Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff’s Allentown Visit Paints ‘Inspiring’ Image Of Small Community Coming Together – CBS Philly (cbslocal.com)
Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, hears about challenges facing Lehigh Valley business owners – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
League of Women Voters honors Thomas for Pennsylvania mapping proposal (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
‘Democracy requires full representation’: Group pushes for racially equitable redistricting | Thursday Morning Coffee | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Voting laws by state: How other places compare to Georgia (ydr.com)
Trans YOUniting announces Trans Crisis Fund to provide housing and other essential services | LGBTQ | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Chronic Wasting disease spreads. in Pennsylvania (goerie.com)
National News
Here’s a round-up of this week’s redistricting news: May 5, 2021 – Ballotpedia News
JetBlue passenger faces $32,750 in fines for refusing to wear mask, shouting obscenities at crew members | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Federal judge strikes down CDC’s national moratorium on evictions | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Effects of CDC eviction moratorium decision unclear as advocates, landlords fear fallout | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
ICE deportations fell in April to lowest monthly level on record, enforcement data shows | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Explainer: Will juror’s march presence impact Derek Chauvin case? | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Nature at its craziest: Trillions of cicadas about to emerge after years underground | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Chlorine shortage expected this summer | Business | citizensvoice.com
Anti-Olympic petition gains tens of thousands of signatures | Coronavirus | thetimes-tribune.com
How two Black CEOs got corporate America to pay attention to voting rights | Business | phillytrib.com
Local News
Heritage of Green Hills Breaks Ground on State-Of-The-Art Health Care Center | BCTV
Churchill residents voice concerns over proposed e-commerce warehouse | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Prantl’s hit with health citations for opening Squirrel Hill bakery without permit | TribLIVE.com
NAACP: Hollenback Golf Course employee made racist comment | Times Leader
Geisinger shows off new LIFE facility in Wilkes-Barre for seniors | Times Leader
Officials in Hazleton prepare for fire fleet upgrade | News | standardspeaker.com
Berks County hands over letter supporting residential center plan to the Reading Eagle | Berks and Beyond | readingeagle.com
Editorial: Broadband internet access must be addressed | Editorials | readingeagle.com
Reading Area Community College senior co-founds program to help kids eat healtier | Local News | readingeagle.com
Chester County picked for new low-income housing mobility program | Local News | dailylocal.com
If prison leaves East King Street, ‘unique’ redevelopment possibility would replace it, officials say | Local Business | lancasteronline.com
New Lancaster County program aims to resolve foreclosure, debt issues outside of litigation | Local News | lancasteronline.com
‘Resilience is like a muscle’: Books donated to help Greater Johnstown students learn mental toughness | News | tribdem.com
Eateries in the Poconos look forward to lifted restrictions (poconorecord.com)
Filmmaking is thriving in Lancaster County – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Cancer victims sue over toxic gas emissions from B. Braun’s Lehigh Valley plant, claiming 3 died – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Beaver County to survey broadband access to fill gaps (timesonline.com)
Doylestown cancels Memorial Day Parade (buckscountyherald.com)
National Day of Action draws Bucks County citizens to rally against gerrymandering (buckscountyherald.com)
Haycock eligible for $218,498 from American Recovery Plan (buckscountyherald.com)
Radnor continues to debate Raider nickname | Local-news | delcotimes.com
Pitt
Transportation Secretary Buttigieg visiting Pittsburgh today to tout president’s American Jobs Plan | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh film incentives could translate into more jobs for Pittsburghers post-pandemic (wtae.com)
Speakers at public hearing criticize Peduto, City Council for Pittsburgh’s loss of Black population | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Activists call for Pittsburgh to cancel bid for supplies of less-lethal weapons | TribLIVE.com
Pittsburgh residents, council members take up issue of Black flight from city | TribLIVE.com
Philly
Part of Center City hotel high-rise to open, hoping for a visitor rebound (inquirer.com)
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and challenger Carlos Vega meet in only TV debate (inquirer.com)
Biden’s American Families Plan can boost Philly students and teachers | Opinion (inquirer.com)
Mayor Jim Kenney says Philly is ready for a ‘tourism comeback’ (inquirer.com)
Philadelphia region poised for ‘greatest tourism comeback we have ever seen,’ leaders say – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Philadelphia coronavirus restriction easing date should be set, City Council members say (inquirer.com)
Philadelphia DA candidate profile: Larry Krasner (audacy.com)
Philadelphia District Attorney Debate profile: Carlos Vega (audacy.com)
Jazz Pharmaceuticals closes deal for cannabis-based drugmaker – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Philadelphia’s African-American Museum welcomes visitors with new exhibits and safety precautions | Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
New monument in N. Philly honors women helping others survive long Pa. prison sentences | Lifestyle | phillytrib.com
Washington
Biden touts $28.6B restaurant relief program, orders tacos | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Trump, Republicans express outrage over extension of Facebook ban | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Judge blasts William Barr, Justice Dept. for ‘disingenuous’ handling of secret Trump obstruction memo | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Cheney clings to GOP post as Trump endorses replacement | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Elise Stefanik moves to quickly consolidate GOP support as Cheney replacement: ‘The fix is in’ – CNNPolitics
