News Digest:: November 6, 2023

Legislature 

 Pa. lawmakers look to increase voting access for people behind bars | 90.5 WESA 

 Pa. lawmakers call, again, for ending twice-yearly time changes – pennlive.com 

Bills to expand protections against hate crime pass Pennsylvania House (abc27.com) 

Nearly 70K Pa. school, government retirees have had no COLA increase in 21 years | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 

Business/Jobs  

 Tyson recalls almost 30,000 pounds of chicken nuggets that may have metal in them – pennlive.com 

Google’s antitrust headaches grow with trial targeting Play Store – pennlive.com 

Restaurants thank vets with free food offers on Veterans Day 2023 (phillyburbs.com) 

More fruit pouches for kids are being recalled because of illnesses linked to lead – Delco Times 

COVID-19 

 Vaccine trust plunges in U.S., with misinformation drowning out truth: survey – pennlive.com 

Covid-19 treatments to enter market with hefty price tag | TribLIVE.com 

Crime/Punishment  

 Shooter fires 22 shots into a crowd of kids, killing a boy and wounding 5: police – pennlive.com 

 Man not allowed to have guns used 3D printer to make them, police say – pennlive.com 

Maine mass shooter was alive and on the move for most of massive 2-day search, autopsy suggests – pennlive.com 

Central Pa. pastor who stole from church and skipped town arrested in Colorado: police – pennlive.com 

Education  

 Penn State student alleges Clery Act violations · Spotlight PA State College 

Borrowers weigh personal, professional options as student loan payments resume – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com) 

Why do some school buses have white strobe lights in Pennsylvania? (abc27.com) 

Pennsylvania schools preparing for potential milk carton shortage (abc27.com) 

Boys graduate high school at lower rates than girls, with lifelong consequences | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 

Elections/Politics 

 Who is Daniel McCaffery, running for PA Supreme Court? · Spotlight PA 

Who is Carolyn Carluccio, running for PA Supreme Court? · Spotlight PA 

Four things we’re watching for in Pennsylvania’s General Election (inquirer.com) 

‘High stakes’ school board elections are already influencing 2024 races – POLITICO 

National issues, and money, heat up Pa. school board races – pennlive.com 

Will heated local races boost turnout? What are Pa.’s latest voter registration numbers? We got that. – pennlive.com 

Contributions to Commonwealth, Superior court candidates total at least $2.8 million – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com) 

Beth Ann Rosica: The best defense of democracy is an informed electorate (broadandliberty.com) 

Environment 

 Five for Friday: Breaking down the RGGI rulings and what they mean – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com) 

 Will PA Gov. Josh Shapiro appeal RGGI ruling by Commonweath Court? (timesonline.com) 

Land added to Quakertown Swamp Preserve | The Bucks County Herald 

Transportation 

 Gas prices continue to drop. How long will it last? – pennlive.com 

End right turn on red? With pedestrian deaths rising, some cities consider bans – Delco Times 

Gun Safety 

 Supreme Court takes up ‘red flag’ gun laws – pennlive.com 

After mass shooting in Maine, no clarity on whether gun laws will change | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 

Red-flag law, stronger response to warnings may have stopped Maine massacre, experts say | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 

Health 

 Zoonotic diseases set to kill 12 times more people by 2050: study | Health | wfmz.com 

Matthew Perry Foundation established for late ‘Friends’ actor to help people with addiction | Ap-entertainment | wfmz.com 

Weight-Loss drugs are bringing in even more money than expected | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 

State News  

 Pennsylvania’s rainy day fund rectified | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com 

State makes progress on notoriously slow permitting process | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com 

Pa. electric customers could save with more power-sharing | StateImpact Pennsylvania (npr.org) 

What would recreational marijuana legalization do for Pennsylvania tax revenue? | TribLIVE.com 

Advocates push states, including Pa. to take up ‘survivor-centered’ trafficking laws – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com) 

Pa.’s casino games testing lab ensures fair play is no roll of the dice – pennlive.com 

Garrity warns of new scam targeting property tax/rent rebate recipients | Times Leader 

Pennsylvania’s nursing home crisis is rapidly worsening, new report shows | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 

National News  

 Daylight saving time 2023 is over; when is Daylight Saving time 2024? (phillyburbs.com) 

Addiction can lead to financial ruin. Ohio wants to teach finance pros to help stem the loss | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 

Milk carton shortage hits school lunchrooms in New York, California and other states, USDA says | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 

Trump’s business and political ambitions poised to converge as he testifies in New York civil case | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 

Local News  

 Election 2023: Delco high schoolers recruited to work the polls – WHYY  

Bethlehem Area School Board candidates talk mental health, grading and “book bans” at forum (mcall.com) 

Lehigh Valley Health Network distributes free flu shots to nearly 4,000 at Dorney Park – The Morning Call (mcall.com) 

Allentown City Council approves budget with no tax increase for 2024 (mcall.com) 

Agencies still working near Reading chemical fire, improved access expected Monday | Berks Regional News | wfmz.com 

Upper Darby cuts general fund check to widower to amend mistake (broadandliberty.com) 

Tropical Storm Ida’s impact continues – Daily Local 

Lanco voters broke ‘off-year’ turnout record in 2021; will they do it again? | PA Power and Policy | lancasteronline.com 

‘Just vote and be done’: Thousands use mail-in ballots locally | News | tribdem.com 

Radnor School Board gives final approval of design phase for new elementary school – Mainline Media News 

Pitt 

Innamorato, Rockey seek last votes in Allegheny County executive race | 90.5 WESA 

Election Day in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: What to watch | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 

AI improves safety, efficiency of traffic counting – Pittsburgh Union Progress 

Nurses cheer new agreement with Allegheny General Hospital – Pittsburgh Union Progress 

Pittsburgh Public Schools will change math instruction to be more equitable – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com) 

Pittsburgh land bank closes in on its largest transaction as city officials slow roll key agreement | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 

Philly  

 Gaza conflict not expected to deter Election Day turnout in Philly | Local News | phillytrib.com 

Neglected Strawberry Mansion area to get $25M investment for affordable housing | Local News | phillytrib.com 

Republicans and Working Families battle in final days of Philadelphia City Council campaign (inquirer.com) 

SEPTA bus route changes draw ire of two Philly neighborhoods (inquirer.com) 

A new survey reveals divides in how Philadelphians want the next mayor to fight crime (inquirer.com) 

Washington 

Trump Leads Biden in Nearly Every Battleground State, New Poll Finds – The New York Times (nytimes.com) 

One year out: how a free and fair 2024 presidential election could be under threat – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com) 

Spending mess in Congress could arch over into pivotal 2024 election year – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com) 

U.S. House GOP in spending bills takes aim at federal LGBTQ, racial equity policies  – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com) 

Community voices: Congress needs to continue funding for internet accessibility program – Pittsburgh Union Progress 

Trump Indictments Haven’t Sunk His Campaign, but a Conviction Might – The New York Times (nytimes.com) 

Israel-Hamas conflict: The Gaza death toll surpasses 10,000 : NPR