News Digest :: May 6, 2022

Legislature

SCOTUS opinion could put the General Assembly in the driver’s seat on abortion rights – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

Supreme Court Roe v. Wade leak has Pa. Democrats rallying behind abortion rights in 2022 elections (inquirer.com)

State rep. wants students to take classes they want no matter where they live – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Politics and Civic Engagement – WHYY

$10M program to help substance use disorder treatment professionals repay student loans | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)

With months left in tenure, Wolf admin official looking to make most of the time that’s left – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

$5 Million Investment in Cheyney University’s ThinkUbator Biotechnology Initiative   – PennWatch

 

Coronavirus – COVID-19

WHO: Nearly 15 million deaths associated with COVID-19 – Daily Local

FDA restricts J&J’s COVID-19 vaccine due to blood clot risk (abc27.com)

Department of Health switches to weekly COVID-19 updates; state’s positivity still climbing | Coronavirus | tribdem.com

Coronavirus levels in wastewater double in Allegheny County | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Business/Jobs

Hospital association sues DHS over pro-union language in Medicaid contracts | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Staff shortages causing Midstate pharmacies to close, change hours (abc27.com)

Workers at 2 NEPA nursing homes walk picket line | Business | thetimes-tribune.com

SBA eyes larger role with veteran-owned small businesses – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Stocks Slide, Erasing Wednesday’s Gains – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Jobs Report Expected to Show Gain of 380,000: Live Updates – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Fed approves biggest interest rate hike in 22 years | Business | citizensvoice.com

Amazon’s new labor issue: What to do with too many workers (inquirer.com)

 

Education

Drexel University extends President John Fry’s contract by 5 years – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Unionville’s music education program receives national recognition – Daily Local

Student loan interest rates are about to go up : NPR

 

Elections/Politics

Pa. election: Millions registered to vote, thousands of mail-in ballots requested (abc27.com)

Pennsylvania mail ballots should be returned as soon as possible, election officials say (inquirer.com)

Donald Trump to campaign for Mehmet Oz in Pa. Republican Senate race: How to watch (inquirer.com)

Abortion debate animates race between GOP candidates in 17th Congressional District | 90.5 WESA

After Hours: Natalie Bencivenga interviews Conor Lamb | After Hours | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)

Pennsylvania State House District 24: Martell Covington, La’Tasha D. Mayes, and Randall Taylor | Election Guide | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)

Mehmet Oz: Protecting Pennsylvanians starts at our borders (broadandliberty.com)

Mastriano-penned 2002 paper justifying civilian casualties raises eyebrows among war scholars – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Rep. Brendan Boyle Spent $6,500 in Campaign Funds at Disney World Last Quarter – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

GIORDANO: Ban No Excuse Mail-in Ballots, Drop Boxes For Fair Elections – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Trump backs Bognet in northeast Pennsylvania congressional primary (poconorecord.com)

Voter intimidation, delayed primary results possible, PA official says (ydr.com)

Deadline looms for Pa. mail-in ballot applications; returns near 19% so far | News | tribdem.com

Poll: Most Pa. voters ‘dissatisfied’ with state’s election system | Friday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Berks commissioners set the record straight on ballot drop boxes (readingeagle.com)

York County removes its only mail-in ballot drop box less than two weeks before the May primary | fox43.com

With the GOP brass behind her, here’s how Lisa Scheller plans to get to the finish line and challenge Susan Wild for Congress a 2nd time – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Kevin Dellicker has trouble being concise, but he has a simple message for why Republicans should choose him to challenge Susan Wild – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

The Republican race for Pennsylvania governor: WPSU talks with Jake Corman | WITF

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum backs Corman in Pa Governor’s race | WDVM25 & DCW50 | Washington, DC (localdvm.com)

The Republican race for Pennsylvania governor: WPSU talks with Charlie Gerow | WITF

The Republican race for Pennsylvania governor: WPSU talks with Nche Zama | WITF

 

Environment

Bird flu takes unheard-of toll on bald eagles, other birds (abc27.com)

Opinion: Areas of PA have been blocked from energy independence (poconorecord.com)

Pa. DEP ‘re-evaluating’ oil and gas air pollution rule as deadline looms | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Health

Nearly half of LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide, survey finds : NPR

 

State News

One year from full implementation, nearly 7M Pennsylvanians without REAL ID | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

PA Politicians Push ‘Abortion On Demand’ Legislation After SCOTUS Leak – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Pennsylvania groups react to leaked draft SCOTUS opinion overturning Roe v. Wade | WITF

Houlahan tours LCH in Kennett, praises local health care workers – Daily Local

Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry’s baseless conspiracy theories have real-life consequences, election experts say | WITF

Houlahan, Meuser at Reading luncheon (readingeagle.com)

This week’s biggest Winners & Losers – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

Lights, camera, state action? Pennsylvania moviemakers want more incentive | Today in Pa. – pennlive.com

PA attorney general targeted PennDOT task force member for failing to disclose his criminal history (wtae.com)

 

National News

I argued Planned Parenthood v. Casey in 1992. The Supreme Court’s Roe opinion is worse than I imagined. (inquirer.com)

7 persistent claims about abortion, fact-checked : NPR

U.S. provided intelligence that helped Ukraine sink Russian warship, sources say | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Ukrainian farmers struggle after Russian forces damage and destroy farmland : NPR

 

Local News

Literacy forum calls on community to combat illiteracy | News | thetimes-tribune.com

Reading youth arts group regains nonprofit status, continues anti-violence work | WITF

As abortion rights come under attack, Lancaster County residents demand action – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Montgomery County receives hundreds of ARPA proposals (mainlinemedianews.com)

Delaware County Council presents its 2022 State of the County address (delcotimes.com)

Officials reject apartment plan at Quality Inn in West Goshen – Daily Local

Wehr’s Dam renovations set to move forward, six years after residents voted to do so – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

State College Borough Council encourages residents to participate in “No Mow May” | WITF

Residents slam tree chopping, sidewalk removal for River Street project in Forty Fort | News | citizensvoice.com

POLLUTION SOLUTION? U.S. infrastructure law may pay for cleanup of Jeddo Tunnel minewater | News | standardspeaker.com

Previously inaccessible areas of Bernhart Park could pose danger as lake is lowered (readingeagle.com)

 

Pitt

Airbnb announces ‘anti-party crackdown’ in wake of Pittsburgh shooting | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Bus video gives more info about Pittsburgh bridge collapse | WITF

Mayor Gainey launches bridge repair and infrastructure funding program | TribLIVE.com

The Gainey family has a long history of firsts in Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Interactive

Warehouse in roaring Strip District eyed for possible residential, office use | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Philly

Philadelphia’s poverty could be solved with better tax policy and jobs, business leaders say (inquirer.com)

PPA relinquishes claim for repayment from the school district | Local News | phillytrib.com

Mothers in Charge rallies for peace in the community | Local News | phillytrib.com

Parker introduces bill to address illegal dumping punishment | Local News | phillytrib.com

Overtime for Philly workers continues to rise | Local News | phillytrib.com

Fitzgerald unveils plan to curb gun violence in Philly | Local News | phillytrib.com

SEPTA is touting new ‘outreach specialists’ to help with crime and disorder (inquirer.com)

Philly residents plagued by illegal dumping tell city to invest in solutions (inquirer.com)

 

Washington

Karine Jean-Pierre to be next White House press secretary | News | phillytrib.com

Racial justice coalition demands that Biden order study of reparations | News | phillytrib.com

First lady Jill Biden travels to Slovakia-Ukraine border to meet refugees : NPR