Legislature
Pa. House falls short in attempt to override vetoed school sports fans bill
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-football/2020/09/23/tom-wolf-veto-high-school-sports-fans-pennsylvania-house-override/stories/202009230144
Pa. House falls short in effort to override Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto of high schools sports bill
https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2020/09/pa-house-falls-short-in-effort-to-override-gov-tom-wolfs-veto-of-high-schools-sports-bill.html
Who flipped on the veto override? 24 Democratic votes sustained Gov. Wolf’s veto on high school sports bill
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/09/who-flipped-on-the-veto-override-24-democratic-votes-sustained-gov-wolfs-veto-on-high-school-sports-bill.html
Two dozen Democrats flip as House fails to override Wolf sports crowd veto
https://www.penncapital-star.com/covid-19/two-dozen-democrats-flip-as-house-fails-to-override-wolf-sports-crowd-veto/
Legislature OKs bill to loosen virus limits on restaurants, bars
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/09/23/Pennsylvania-Senate-approves-bill-loosen-coronavirus-restrictions-restaurants-bars/stories/202009230104
Pa. House sends bill to governor’s desk easing restrictions on restaurants and bars: ‘Let them try to compete’
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/09/pa-house-sends-bill-to-governors-desk-easing-restrictions-on-restaurants-and-bars.html
Bar service a no-no: Gov. Wolf plans to veto restaurant bill, encourages certification
https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2020/09/23/gov-wolf-vetoes-hb-2531-which-would-loosen-restaurant-restrictions/3511091001/
Trench digging for pipeline wins approval rather than HDD
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/local/trench-digging-for-pipeline-wins-approval-rather-than-hdd/article_8faf76fa-fde7-11ea-9421-cba5cfd4d3da.html
Farmers call for increased mental health resources amidst COVID-19 pandemic
https://www.witf.org/2020/09/23/farmers-call-for-increased-mental-health-resources-amidst-covd-19-pandemic/
Legislators pick wrong straw man
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/editorial/legislators-pick-wrong-straw-man/article_b13265b5-0b66-5a3c-8a1a-61c091a4db52.html
Property tax amendment needs to be refined
https://www.lewistownsentinel.com/opinion/editorials/2020/09/property-tax-amendment-needs-to-be-refined/
Breonna Taylor
Dismay over Breonna Taylor spills into America’s streets
https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/breonna-taylor-protests-across-america-20200924.html
Protesters march in Pittsburgh, call for justice for Breonna Taylor
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2020/09/23/Breonna-Taylor-protests-Downtown-Pittsburgh-protest-march-justice-Freedom-Corner/stories/202009230182
Hundreds march through Downtown Pittsburgh in wake of Louisville police decision
https://triblive.com/local/hundreds-march-through-downtown-pittsburgh-in-wake-of-louisville-police-decision/
Protesters peacefully march through Philadelphia in the wake of the grand jury ruling in Breonna Taylor’s death
https://www.inquirer.com/news/breonna-taylor-protests-philadelphia-grand-jury-indictment-20200923.html
Louisville officers shot amid protests over lack of charges in Breonna Taylor’s death
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2020/09/23/Grand-jury-report-decision-Breonna-Taylor-death-Louisville-Daniel-Cameron-reaction/stories/202009230128
Coronavirus – COVID-19
50,000 residents download Pennsylvania’s covid app in 24 hours
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/50000-residents-download-pennsylvanias-covid-app-in-24-hours/
Pa.’s failure to mandate quicker death reporting before the coronavirus fueled wild data fluctuations, mistrust
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/spl/pa-death-data-coronavirus-edrs-rachel-levine-20200924.html
United Way of PA releases results of COVID-19 impact survey
https://www.timesleader.com/news/803344/united-way-of-pa-releases-results-of-covid-19-impact-survey
Wilson School District reports positive coronavirus test of high school faculty member
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/wilson-school-district-reports-positive-coronavirus-test-of-high-school-faculty-member/article_b76c44a8-fda0-11ea-ba7f-6f1db848213e.html
Northern York high school student tests positive for COVID-19
https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/local/2020/09/24/northern-york-high-school-student-tests-positive-covid-19/3514335001/
4 more covid-19 cases reported at Westmoreland Manor
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/4-more-covid-19-cases-reported-at-westmoreland-manor/
Penn State Berks reporting coronavirus cases; all Berks County campuses now dealing with infections
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/penn-state-berks-reporting-coronavirus-cases-all-berks-county-campuses-now-dealing-with-infections/article_d6d6717e-fd8c-11ea-b324-7be7a66b0b41.html
Fitzgerald says county will enforce its own gathering limits; nearly 900 cases in Pa.
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/09/23/covid-19-coronavirus-allegheny-county-western-pennsylvania-cases-deaths-data-pandemic-59/stories/202009230117
Allegheny County adds 46 new coronavirus cases, 3 deaths
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny-county-adds-46-new-coronavirus-cases-3-deaths/
Westmoreland County records 2nd highest single-day total of coronavirus cases
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-county-records-2nd-highest-single-day-total-of-coronavirus-cases/
Young adults account for a growing number of COVID-19 cases, CDC says
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19-young-adults-asymptomatic-community-spread-20200923.html
Trick-or-treating classified ‘higher-risk activity’
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/coronavirus/trick-or-treating-classified-higher-risk-activity/article_bd2f40ba-a730-5e1c-8ef5-9bab9d3ce4a4.html
Missouri governor, opponent of mandatory masks, has COVID-19
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/missouri-governor-covid-19-mike-parson-20200923.html
Business
Westmoreland commissioners dole out $4.3 million in covid-19 relief grants
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-commissioners-dole-out-4-3-million-in-covid-19-relief-grants/
GetGo celebrates store opening near Jeannette, presents grants to 2 school districts
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/getgo-celebrates-store-opening-near-jeannette-presents-grants-to-2-school-districts/
For some restaurants and bars, new state rules are a mixed bag
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/coronavirus/for-some-restaurants-and-bars-new-state-rules-are-a-mixed-bag/article_66391532-c2b0-5a6e-84e1-a92fcf5b9ea9.html
Crime/Punishment
More Pennsylvania inmates accused of fraudulently seeking jobless checks
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/more-pennsylvania-inmates-accused-of-fraudulently-seeking-jobless-checks/
Reading police shooting of transgender suspect was ‘reasonable force,’ district attorney says
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/reading-police-shooting-of-transgender-suspect-was-reasonable-force-district-attorney-says/article_64653bbe-fdc5-11ea-a7f1-f3e0abd5c92e.html
Former Allentown Cadets band leader expected to plead guilty today to sex assault
https://www.mcall.com/news/police/mc-nws-george-hopkins-yea-sexual-assault-hearing-20200924-eo3p52o7bve4bot2e73pu2tuw4-story.html
Education
Area schools continue to study, adjust attendance policies
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/area-schools-continue-to-study-adjust-attendance-policies/article_7c87641c-875d-5b4d-bbb0-296760af1ed8.html
PIAA approves football championships, brackets
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-football/2020/09/23/PIAA-approves-football-championships-brackets/stories/202009230171
PIAA votes to hold state championships in fall sports, but District 11 might not participate in football
https://www.mcall.com/sports/varsity/mc-spt-piaa-board-september-meeting-20200923-ge52chsacff4tfjq2imfqdywmi-story.html
PIAA board discusses postseason plans, spectator policy and more during meeting
https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2020/09/piaa-board-discusses-postseason-plans-spectator-policy-and-more-during-meeting.html
Local districts permitted to set spectator guidelines
https://www.citizensvoice.com/sports/local-districts-permitted-to-set-spectator-guidelines/article_cacfff92-05da-50b9-b9f6-c947301fd380.html
Hanover Area increasing spectator limit for Friday’s football game; WVW sticking at 250
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/coronavirus/hanover-area-increasing-spectator-limit-for-fridays-football-game-wvw-sticking-at-250/article_c343b19d-dee4-5ed4-87a1-d47af6fe74f5.html
Lehigh Valley schools allowing more fans at football games after court ruling
https://www.mcall.com/news/education/mc-nws-lehigh-valley-schools-football-games-crowd-sizes-20200923-4fq2vvle3beibkhyau4v6pde5a-story.html
Pennsylvania colleges take a hit in undergraduate enrollment
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-colleges-take-a-hit-in-undergraduate-enrollment/
Cal U. seeking high school grads for tuition-free teaching program
https://observer-reporter.com/news/localnews/cal-u-seeking-high-school-grads-for-tuition-free-teaching-program/article_67a5615e-fc4a-11ea-a995-ab88967cc054.html
Elections/Politics
New F&M poll shows Biden up 6 points in Pennsylvania
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/election/new-f-m-poll-shows-biden-up-6-points-in-pennsylvania/article_461a39b8-5d2c-52f8-81f4-cc0805cd7809.html
Biden maintains an edge over Trump in new Pa. poll, as pessimism over coronavirus and the economy looms
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/trump-biden-pennsylvania-poll-franklin-marshall-college-20200924.html
New poll shows Biden still leading, but little change in presidential race among Pennsylvania voters
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/new-poll-shows-biden-still-leading-but-little-change-in-presidential-race-among-pennsylvania-voters/
Donald Trump won’t commit to peaceful transfer of power if he loses presidential election
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/trump-biden-peaceful-transfer-power-20200923.html
There’s an election in 40 days and we still don’t know for sure what the rules are
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/pennsylvania-2020-election-rules-supreme-court-20200923.html
Rule changes in swing states like Pennsylvania mean more votes will count, results may take longer
https://www.witf.org/2020/09/23/rule-changes-in-swing-states-mean-more-votes-will-count-results-may-take-longer/
Poll shows fewer than one third of Pennsylvania Republican voters will trust mail-in ballot results
https://www.witf.org/2020/09/24/poll-shows-fewer-than-one-third-of-pennsylvania-republican-voters-will-believe-mail-in-ballot-results/
What’s a “naked ballot” and why it will lead to your Pa. mail-in ballot being rejected
https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/whats-a-naked-ballot-and-why-it-will-lead-to-your-pa-mail-in-ballot-being-rejected/Content?oid=18052157
Health Care
The next Supreme Court justice must protect the Affordable Care Act | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/supreme-court-ruth-bader-ginsburg-affordable-care-act-insurance-20200923.html
AHN opens new ‘neighborhood’ hospital in Harmar
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/ahn-opens-new-neighborhood-hospital-in-harmar/
Local News
D&L Railroad nets federal funds to bolster local rail infrastructure
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/d-l-railroad-nets-federal-funds-to-bolster-local-rail-infrastructure/article_46eb3e56-954e-5feb-90a8-3f2e7fcc678c.html
Upper Darby has its first Black fire chief, who stands alone – for now | Maria Panaritis
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/derrick-sawyer-upper-darby-fire-chief-philadelphia-fire-commissioner-maria-panaritis-20200924.html
Bethlehem mayor asks council to approve first female police chief
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/bethlehem/mc-nws-bethlehem-police-chief-recommendation-20200923-sryxmpgzjzgd5g4qet6ekypcg4-story.html
Chester Police Commissioner Otis Blair retires after 27 years
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/chester-police-commissioner-otis-blair-retires-after-27-years/article_e8d9ea7c-fde1-11ea-88ba-b70118ccecbd.html
Chester County controller, commissioners spar over test-kit investigation
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/chester-county-controller-commissioners-spar-over-test-kit-investigation/article_9e2a9e9e-fdd8-11ea-bfcd-3b7c40edfb3a.html
New community park, playground open in Topton
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/new-community-park-playground-open-in-topton/article_b15932f6-fdd7-11ea-8600-4b827bb332a9.html
Lower Burrell fire department unveils refurbished truck
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/lower-burrell-fire-department-unveils-refurbished-truck/
Wilkes-Barre’s August balance positive, budget shortfall expected at year’s end
https://www.timesleader.com/news/803346/wilkes-barres-august-balance-positive-budget-shortfall-expected-at-years-end
WB Pension fund bounces back from downturn
https://www.timesleader.com/news/803348/wb-pension-fund-bounces-back-from-downturn
County’s first 2020 tax auction Thursday morning at arena
https://www.timesleader.com/news/803303/countys-first-2020-tax-auction-thursday-morning-at-arena
Our opinion: A militia is the last thing Mountain Top needs
https://www.citizensvoice.com/opinion/editorial/our-opinion-a-militia-is-the-last-thing-mountain-top-needs/article_d70728de-ac30-51cc-8f6e-588b30fe85e9.html
Industrial buildings eyed for Hazleton mine land
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/industrial-buildings-eyed-for-hazleton-mine-land/article_d0bf227b-2706-5abf-8010-471aa10c4f86.html
National News
Ruth Bader Ginsburg remembered as prophet for justice, American icon
https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/ruth-bader-ginsburg-supreme-court-justice-20200923.html
Philly
Confederate monuments are falling across the nation, but in Philly, a memorial to Southern troops still stands
https://www.inquirer.com/news/confederate-monument-philadelphia-national-cemetery-confederacy-union-graves-20200924.html
Giant gives $1.2 million to Please Touch Museum to revitalize its grocery store exhibit and seed new funding
https://www.inquirer.com/family/please-touch-museum-philadelphia-new-grocery-store-giant-co-20200924.html
Philly’s chief homicide prosecutor said a driver tried to run him off the road. Police tracked her down, arrested her, and towed her car.
https://www.inquirer.com/news/road-rage-anthony-voci-khasandra-franklin-kelly-driver-philadelphia-police-department-david-fisher-20200923.html
SEPTA manager fired for alleged overtime fraud
https://www.inquirer.com/transportation/septa-manager-fired-overtime-wage-theft-20200923.html
Philly caught up on trash pickup. But sanitation workers worry about a second coronavirus wave
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philly-trash-recycling-pickup-delays-collection-20200923.html
Activists call for Comcast and other providers to guarantee faster, free internet for students
https://www.inquirer.com/news/internet-school-coronavirus-comcast-school-district-of-philadelphia-20200923.html
Philly is opening 17 early voting locations across the city. Here’s where.
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/philadelphia-early-voting-locations-2020-election-20200918.html
Philadelphia Weekly might rebrand to become more conservative
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philly-weekly-conservative-alt-right-journalism-dan-mcdonough-20200923.html
Racist tobacco industry lawsuit hurts Philadelphia’s kids of color most of all | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/cigarillos-flavored-cigarettes-lawsuit-philadelphia-health-20200923.html
Why Philly residents are mad you can’t search city property owners by name anymore
https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/why-philly-residents-are-mad-you-can-t-search-city-property-owners-by-name-anymore/article_cf59cf8f-d5ba-5a7a-afd7-ba91b1c53dd8.html
Pitt
Pittsburgh’s five-member Art Commission recommends removing Christopher Columbus statue
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2020/09/23/Pittsburgh-Arts-Commission-Christopher-Columbus-statue-remove-schenley-park/stories/202009230127
Pittsburgh Art Commission recommends removal of Columbus statue from Schenley Park
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-art-commission-recommends-removal-of-christopher-columbus-statue-from-schenley-park/
Study: Air pollution linked to more strokes in people with Afib
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/09/24/JAMA-Network-Open-UPMC-study-air-pollution-pm25-particulates-linked-strokes-Afib-heart/stories/202009230137
Allegheny County officials concerned about local drop in testing
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny-county-officials-concerned-about-local-drop-in-testing/
PPS board approves resolution geared toward school police transparency
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2020/09/23/Pittsburgh-Public-Schools-board-approval-resolution-school-police-transparency/stories/202009230167
$100K will go toward improvement of South Side parklet
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2020/09/23/Pittsburgh-improvement-funding-South-Side-parklet-Cindy-Esser-Plaza-URA-NIF-program/stories/202009230139
Pittsburgh police: 1 man dead, 2 others injured in Homewood shooting
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-police-1-man-dead-2-others-injured-in-homewood-shooting/
Pittsburgh schools will join districts suing JUUL, other e-cigarrette makers
https://triblive.com/news/education-classroom/pittsburgh-schools-will-join-districts-suing-juul-other-e-cigarrette-makers/
Pitt dean says U.S. is in a great racial crisis
https://triblive.com/news/education-classroom/pitt-dean-says-u-s-is-in-a-great-racial-crisis/
State News
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Here’s how to Be SMART about saving lives | Opinion
https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/september-is-national-suicide-prevention-month-heres-how-to-be-smart-about-saving-lives-opinion/
Transportation
Turnpike’s Beaver Valley interchange to remain closed through weekends
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2020/09/23/Pennsylvania-Turnpike-Beaver-Valley-interchange-closed-construction/stories/202009230120