News Digest :: November 15, 2021

Legislature

Skill games knock on the Pennsylvania Capitol door | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

COVID-19 vaccine mandates get attention in Pennsylvania Legislature as Lehigh Valley hospital doctor speaks out – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Pennsylvania lawmakers, prison reform advocates seek to expand eligibility for compassionate release | WITF

The bipartisan bill aims to give Pennsylvania residents the opportunity to qualify for parole.News | Pittsburgh – Pennsylvania News Today

GOP lawmakers push for more say on air quality advisory board | 90.5 WESA

Bills to Improve Water Quality Introduced in General Assembly | The Legal Intelligencer (law.com)

What to watch for in Pennsylvania politics this week. | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)

Wolf administration gives information on snow squall alerts and safety guidance (abc27.com)

Group to make last bid to get lawmakers to choose ‘people’s maps’ over traditional Pa. politics – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

With Biden signing infrastructure bill, Pa. Dems go on offense to sell it | Monday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Federal bill invests in Pa.; state legislative leaders need to do the same | Opinion (inquirer.com)

Pa. lawmakers have neglected their duty to quality education across the state | Opinion (inquirer.com)

Chris Kelly Opinion: Republican legislature is true enemy of fair funding | Opinion | thetimes-tribune.com

Pa. Senate passes 2 gun bills after fierce debate (audacy.com)

Advocate for ‘Kayden’s Law’ for children’s safety in family court (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

 

Coronavirus – COVID-19

Parents urged to schedule child’s COVID vaccination appointment now – Daily Local

End of COVID-19 crisis stage — fingers crossed — might be near – pennlive.com

The CDC says 95% of Pennsylvania adults have gotten at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. That’s wrong – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

‘People expect me to say I’m doing better’: COVID-19 long haulers struggle with symptoms months after diagnosis | Health | lancasteronline.com

Lots of jabs: Number of kids — and adults — in Pa. getting shots continues to rise | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Austria orders lockdown for unvaccinated in drastic covid step | TribLIVE.com

 

Business/Jobs

Holidays threatened by inflation, labor shortage, supply chain issues (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Quit rates highest among these businesses, BLS data shows – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Pottstown Hospital nurses approve three-year deal – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

DelVal Businesses, Residents Fear Rising Inflation – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Report ranks region the 19th best-paying area for construction workers | Business | citizensvoice.com

Lehigh Valley sees a return of job fairs, but attendance spotty – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Inflation is surging and people are hopping mad | WITF

Almac Group pharmaceutical adding 300 jobs – Mainline Media News

As infrastructure funding comes in, will there be enough workers? The unions say they’re ready | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Inflation hikes prices of Philly cheesesteaks, Wawa hoagies, and soft pretzels (inquirer.com)

 

Crime/Punishment

COVID vaccines offering some relief for kids held in juvenile detention – lehighvalleylive.com

Editorial: New Pardon Project is good news for Berks County (readingeagle.com)

Pennsylvania court forces Philadelphia Police Department to provide misconduct information | Local News | phillytrib.com

Delaware County Black Caucus’ Judicial and Law Enforcement Committee hosted a panel on that discussion Saturday (delcotimes.com)

Philadelphia DA says prosecutors hid evidence for years in a 2003 murder case (inquirer.com)

Pa. should follow Philly’s lead and ban minor traffic stops that criminalize ‘driving while Black’ | Opinion (inquirer.com)

 

Education

Lawsuit over school funding disparities opens | WITF

Why Pennsylvania’s school funding system is on trial (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Central Bucks school support staff feeling forgotten in contract delay (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Central Bucks School Board kowtows to an aggressive minority (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

Scranton strike continues despite late-night negotiations | Education | thetimes-tribune.com

Trail reassigns $2M for future projects | Education | thetimes-tribune.com

Some Berks County students can now get free, in-school COVID tests thanks to a state program (readingeagle.com)

Rusiloski is named president of Delaware Valley University | The Bucks County Herald

Letter: Honor public school employees this week (ydr.com)

Pennsylvania schools need inspiring, not divisive, curricula (goerie.com)

Colleges in Pa., across U.S. absorb historic international enrollment losses | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Sean Hughes, principal of Lower Merion High School, died in a car crash Saturday (inquirer.com)

 

Elections/Politics

How Republicans Have an Edge in the Emerging 2022 Congressional Maps – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Cartwright aims to win third tough reelection with Republicans in hot pursuit | Election | thetimes-tribune.com

The race for this Center City Philadelphia House seat is getting crowded – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

New poll shows Mastriano leading potential GOP gubernatorial field | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)

SEIU Pennsylvania State Council backs Josh Shapiro for governor | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)

Pa’s Shapiro pledges to pass nondiscrimination law if elected governor in 2022 – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Commonwealth Court candidate Lori Dumas reacts to vote recount (abc27.com)

Montco, Bucks Sue State Over Dates on Mail-In Ballots – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

We could lose our democracy to a toxic stew of conspiracy & partisanship. What do next | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

The race for this Center City Philadelphia House seat is getting crowded – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Summer Lee picks up endorsement from the Working Families Party | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)

The American people, not politicians, must continue to choose the president (ydr.com)

Spending bill becomes Dems’ primary weapon | News, Sports, Jobs – Williamsport Sun-Gazette (sungazette.com)

Democrats fear Biden has underestimated problems ? and worsened the party?s standing – The Washington Post

 

Environment

This Colorado ‘solar garden’ is a farm under solar panels : NPR

Infrastructure bill includes billions to get PFAS out of water | ABC27

COP26 climate negotiations go into overtime (abc27.com)

Here’s what world leaders agreed to — and what they didn’t — at the UN climate summit | WITF

Climate talks resume, cautious coal phaseout still on table | WITF

It’s America Recycles Day in Pa. Here’s how you do it, by the numbers | The Numbers Racket – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Biden urged to block fossil fuel project at Independence Historical Park in Philadelphia (inquirer.com)

Nations compromise on coal to strike UN climate agreement (inquirer.com)

 

Transportation

Infrastructure bill’s passage raises hopes for passenger rail’s return – Daily Local

What’s in the $1.2 trillion dollar Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act? : Planet Money : NPR

 

Health

More Americans expected to enroll in Affordable Care Act health plans as costs drop, benefits increase | TribLIVE.com

Doylestown Hospital’s Silverman clinic helps the Bucks County’s neediest (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

How sexual assault survivors are harmed by the Texas abortion law : Shots – Health News : NPR

Midstate health experts stress the importance of diabetic screenings (abc27.com)

Most NEPA hospitals don’t comply with price transparency rule | Investigative | citizensvoice.com

Tower Health’s tax-exempt status is in dispute and attracting attention (readingeagle.com)

Alzheimer’s drug cited as Medicare premium jumps by $21.60 | WITF

 

State News

Rep. Dean brings education conversation to state prison at SCI Phoenix – Daily Local

Sen. Casey officially introduces his Five Freedoms for America’s Children Act, aims to make expanded child tax credit permanent | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Bill on magic mushrooms aims to make Pa. a national leader in psychedelic research (inquirer.com)

How Pa. could benefit from federal infrastructure plan: Train stops, steamrollers and new fishing holes – pennlive.com

Ten years after Sandusky case, more work needed to protect Pa.’s kids, advocate says – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

LIHEAP season is underway (poconorecord.com)

Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission plans regional approach to broadband improvements | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pennsylvania will fully ban sale of Japanese barberry by fall 2023 | TribLIVE.com

 

National News

The infrastructure bill could be a lifeline for students without internet : NPR

Fox News hosts bring on quality people with rational arguments (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

What Gov. Phil Murphy’s victory in NJ means for the state’s businesses – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Wisconsin governor authorizes dispatch of National Guard ahead of Rittenhouse verdict (abc27.com)

Protest killer Kyle Rittenhouse’s case expected to go to the jury soon – pennlive.com

‘Sesame Street’ debuts Asian American muppet (abc27.com)

“Embarrassment.” 29% of military families struggle with food insecurity-over 160,000 troops | National News | thetimes-tribune.com

Progressives want a wealth tax for the super rich. Here’s why it’s hard to pull off | WITF

Charlottesville defendants turn trial into a platform for hate | Dick Polman – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

States, cities face deadline for proving how quickly they’ve helped renters in crisis – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

New Orleans marks anniversary of 4 girls integrating schools | News | phillytrib.com

 

Local News

Brandywine Heights School District program honors veterans (readingeagle.com)

Kutztown Park drive renamed Veterans Way (readingeagle.com)

Students interview three former Chester County mayors | The Unionville Times

Find a way to widen Route 22 or brace for Lehigh Valley’s eventual downturn | Turkeys & Trophies – lehighvalleylive.com

Editorial: New Pardon Project is good news for Berks County (readingeagle.com)

Tower Health fights for its tax-exempt status, and local governments are watching – Daily Local

Neighbors protesting proposed 1.1 million-square-foot warehouse in Dauphin County (abc27.com)

Hazleton community $76,568 during cancer telethon | News | standardspeaker.com

Luzerne Co. budget work sessions continue, amendments proposed | | standardspeaker.com

More than 40 housing developments are underway in central Pa. See where the new homes are coming. – pennlive.com

Former Reading solicitor accuses mayor of sexual harassment, claims he fired her when she rejected his requests – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Whitehall mayor accused of inappropriate behavior – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

HomeFront slates events during National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week | The Bucks County Herald

Connection point: Erie’s Sassafras Street Extension to see major upgrade (goerie.com)

Haverford approves stipends for volunteer firefighters – Delco Times

 

Pitt

With Gainey’s mayoral win, more changes looming in state House for Pittsburgh’s Democratic seats | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh receives its first ‘snow’ of the season | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh’s newest park is a healthy addition | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Port Authority to release South Hills Junction development plans Tuesday | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Western Pa. nonprofit founder recognized by Disney as one of 50 nationwide ‘Magic Makers’ | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Philly

Comcast taps internal veteran Dennis Mathew to lead Philadelphia’s ‘Freedom Region’ – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

New mural honors Cecil B. Moore and teenage protesters who helped end segregation at Philly’s Girard College in 1965 – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Philadelphia failed to meet diverse-contracting goal in 2020 | Local News | phillytrib.com

Philly NAACP Youth Council hosts police reform panel | Local News | phillytrib.com

Philadelphia has explosion in new housing development | Local News | phillytrib.com

Afghan evacuees and Philadelphia residents meet for dinner, friendship and stories of life in a new place (inquirer.com)

Philly needs more affordable housing, not cumbersome changes to zoning rules | Editorial (inquirer.com)

 

Washington

Faith Groups Push to Scrap Mandates in Biden’s Child Care Plan – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Why it’s so hard to do so something about surging gasoline prices : NPR

‘Build Back Better’ Plan Includes Higher Costs for Heating Oil, Natural Gas – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

Congress must raise taxes on the wealthy to pay for Build Back Better | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Yellen says quashing COVID is key to lowering inflation | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

House poised to pass domestic spending plan this week, senior White House official says | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette