News Digest :: November 4, 2022

Legislature

Wolf signs 66 bills; includes fentanyl strips, autonomous cars, switch blades (abc27.com)

Wolf signs hastily passed $2 billion tax package that encourages natural gas production in Pa. · Spotlight PA

‘Sweetheart deal’ of $2B tax credit program rushed through Legislature | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Wolf signs $2 billion tax credit package that boosts natural gas industry – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

Pennsylvania vehicle registrations may be suspended for unpaid tolls (abc27.com)

Tom Wolf signs law to suspend vehicle registrations over unpaid Pa. Turnpike tolls | WITF

Bill signed by Tom Wolf will lift Pa. driver’s license suspensions for some old convictions | WITF

Wolf signs law to yank Turnpike toll scofflaws’ vehicle registrations | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Wolf signs bill making switchblades legal in Pa. – pennlive.com

State legislature won’t act on proposed hotel fee in Allegheny County | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Lawmakers announce $3M pilot mental health program for schools (yahoo.com)

The Culture War Is Alive And Well In This Pennsylvania School District | HuffPost Latest News

Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner impeachment could stall (goerie.com)

$1 Million State Grant Will Fix Falls Township Fire Company Firehouse | Levittown, PA Patch

$50,000 Grant To Assist Solebury With Carversville Flood Control | New Hope, PA Patch

Another $4.5M in state funds coming to Scranton | National News | kpvi.com

Area nonprofit organizations awarded over $5 million for revitalization projects | News | thetimes-tribune.com

 

Business/Jobs

U.S. employers keep hiring at solid pace, adding 261,000 jobs in October (inquirer.com)

The Fed raises interest rates again, signals more coming despite pressure to slow the pace – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Slower job growth could help to ease inflation : NPR

Live! Casino Philadelphia breaks sports betting record as Phillies wagers surge – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Minority businesses miss out on millions as states miss spending goals – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

It’s not just buying a car — owning one is getting pricier, too : NPR

Minimum wage falls further behind the cost of living every day (ydr.com)

Asia markets rise, except Japan, ahead of US jobs report – Delco Times

Area stores have enough turkeys but a shortage looms | News | standardspeaker.com

What Pennsylvania’s business tax cuts mean for the Lehigh Valley – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

As interest rates rise, mortgage services company to lay off 100 in Coraopolis office | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Crime/Punishment

Bucks, Montco DAs Announce Arrests in Gun Trafficking Ring – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)

 

Education

Schools clash with parents over bans on student cellphones | Pennsylvania State News | lancasteronline.com

Allentown Acting Superintendent Carol Birks talks priorities, healing and her professional record (mcall.com)

More than 100 rally in wake of Penn State’s decision to cancel Center for Racial Justice | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Southeast Delco School Board rescinds hoodie ban after a dress code protest led to arrests (inquirer.com)

 

Elections/Politics

National

This group is pushing to get more mothers running for office : NPR

Inflation is hitting Pa. Latinos hard – and they’ll vote that way | Friday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Environmental groups help voters connect the dots on economic, environmental issues ahead of Election Day – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Here’s what to do if your vote is challenged on Election Day | Analysis – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Be patient during Election Week and help save democracy | Al Schmidt – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Trump will announce a 2024 White House bid ‘soon’: Kellyanne Conway – pennlive.com

Voters must reject the threat to democracy posed by election deniers on the ballot | Editorial (inquirer.com)

Statewide

1.4 million Pennsylvanians asked to vote by mail. Here’s what that means for Election Week 2022 counting. · Spotlight PA

Op-Ed: Early vote data suggests trouble for Dems in PA | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

On health care, Shapiro talks more funding, Mastriano looks to deregulation | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Oprah Winfrey backs Fetterman over longtime friend Oz (abc27.com)

Josh Shapiro and John Fetterman hold a rally at Penn State | WITF

Shapiro speaks of opportunity for Pa., delivers dire warnings about his opponent – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Doug Mastriano rallies supporters in Centre County a week before the election | WITF

Former Pa. officials warn U.S. Supreme Court of ‘bad faith’ in elections, citing Doug Mastriano (inquirer.com)

A quarter of local election officials, received violent threats after 2020 election, survey finds – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Voter Registration Update: On the eve of critical midterms, Dems show signs of life  – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Centre, Northhampton counties predicted past PA elections correctly (ydr.com)

Fetterman opens up about stroke recovery during Wilkes-Barre campaign stop | News | standardspeaker.com

Why is Florida the apple of Pennsylvania conservatives’ eyes? – pennlive.com

Pennsylvania, democracy is our birthright. Don’t let anyone take it from us | Opinion (inquirer.com)

District/Local

Lawrence challenger: ‘I am running for the rights of people’ | Chester County Press

Interfaith group rails against ‘voter suppression’ and Christian nationalism in rally | Local News | lancasteronline.com

Campaign finance filings show strong Republican support for State Rep. candidate April Weaver | Local News | lancasteronline.com

Here are Harrisburg’s closest House and Senate races to watch on Tuesday – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

50K Lancaster county voters applied for mail-in ballots (abc27.com)

Voter turnout in Allegheny County reflects disparities and inequalities (nextpittsburgh.com)

Allegheny County officials preview Election Day tabulating process | TribLIVE.com

Republican Scott Perry faces Democrat Shamaine Daniels in race for U.S. Congressional 10th District | WITF

Jill Biden, Susan Wild speak to volunteers in Pa.’s 7th District (poconorecord.com)

Mail-in ballots: 200+ in Erie to go uncounted due to undated envelopes (goerie.com)

Poll workers find ways to deal with change, election judge says | Election | citizensvoice.com

Most mail-in ballots requested in Schuylkill County returned, elections bureau chief says | News | standardspeaker.com

In 7th district race, Wild, Scheller court Lehigh Valley’s Latino voters (mcall.com)

 

Environment

The EPA awards grants to monitor air quality in 37 states : NPR

 

Transportation

Windfall of federal infrastructure funds could be a boon for minority contractors – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Building a bridge to Johnstown: Pitt reaches out to UPJ campus for STEM collaboration | News | tribdem.com

 

Health

CDC issues new opioid prescribing guidelines for managing pain : Shots – Health News : NPR

Erie County reports rise in RSV, flu and COVID-19 cases (goerie.com)

Babies sick with RSV strain central Pa. hospitals, with intensive care in short supply – pennlive.com

Local experts welcome new CDC guidelines on prescribing opioids | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

State News

Supreme Court denied request to review constitutionality of Pa.’s legislative maps – pennlive.com

Reducing emissions in Pennsylvania with natural gas replacing coal trickier than a decade ago | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Electricity prices in Lancaster County rising (abc27.com)

Pennsylvania to receive $26.6 million to clean and redevelop abandoned mine lands | WITF

 

National News

The FBI warns of a ‘broad’ threat to synagogues in New Jersey : NPR

Kyrie Irving has been suspended for at least 5 games for antisemitism, Nets say : NPR

Landmark Ethiopia truce could one day end war but there are reasons for caution : NPR

War fallout and aid demands overshadow climate talks in Egypt : NPR

Why Western leaders are unhappy with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s China visit : NPR

US Embassy officials visit Brittney Griner in Russia prison | News | phillytrib.com

Twitter employees brace for layoffs as Elon Musk consolidates power at social platform (inquirer.com)

 

Local News

West Earl supervisors consider introducing a fire tax | Community News | lancasteronline.com

Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, police depts. to hold gun turn-in events (mainlinemedianews.com)

Veterans Day parade in Poconos to pay tribute to local heroes (poconorecord.com)

Pa. dominates the top 10 places to retire in 2022: York earns a spot (ydr.com)

$10 billion opioid settlement with drugstores to benefit Erie County (goerie.com)

Ruth L. Bennett Community Farm in Chester receives $750,000 grant from USDA (delcotimes.com)

 

Pitt

Light Up Night 2022 stretches into an entire weekend of holiday fun (nextpittsburgh.com)

Voters to decide whether Allegheny County Council members can keep seats while running for other office | TribLIVE.com

New Pittsburgh Cultural Trust CEO eager to return to where career started | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Despite economic chill, Pittsburgh’s startup economy remains strong, experts say | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Officials: Pittsburgh police didn’t fulfill request for protection at funeral where mass shooting occurred | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Soccer and sports medicine complex in Coraopolis ready to open | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

Philly

Johnson returns to City Council after being acquitted | Local News | phillytrib.com

Report details group’s efforts to combat poverty in Philly | Local News | phillytrib.com

McCaffery: As the Phillies bolt for Houston, they still can’t be counted out – Mainline Media News

Election day is coming, and I’m worried. Here’s why. | Opinion (inquirer.com)

Par Funding overseer is collecting millions for investors two years after the fraud case began (inquirer.com)