Legislature
Pa. Senate Democrats holding climate change hearing in Pittsburgh
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20190419/pa-senate-democrats-holding-climate-change-hearing-in-pittsburgh
Lawmakers talk about $15 minimum wage at town hall meeting in Reading
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/lawmakers-talk-about-15-minimum-wage-at-town-hall-meeting-in-reading
Muhlenberg pre-K gives kids boost in learning
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/muhlenberg-pre-k-gives-kids-boost-in-learning
The Barn at Springbrook earns citation for autism awareness
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/local/the-barn-at-springbrook-earns-citation-for-autism-awareness/article_1ca8c632-6204-11e9-be5d-8b3c99caca6a.html
Senator to keynote at Lycoming County Democratic Committee spring banquet
http://www.sungazette.com/news/top-news/2019/04/senator-to-keynote-at-lycoming-county-democratic-committee-spring-banquet/
Penn Hills financial crisis inspires bill aimed at keeping districts from similar fate
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/penn-hills-financial-crisis-inspires-bill-aimed-at-keeping-districts-from-similar-fate/
State bid to insert middlemen into Medicaid transport worries officials
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/social-services/2019/04/18/Transportation-program-changes-worry-rural-Pennsylvania-officials/stories/201904170105
Blow it out your pipes, New York: Lawmaker wants to target states blocking Pa. gas expansion
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/04/blow-it-out-your-pipes-new-york-lawmaker-wants-to-target-states-blocking-pa-gas-expansion.html
Effort to change police use-of-force law could be uphill battle
https://www.witf.org/news/2019/04/effort-to-change-police-use-of-force-law-could-be-uphill-battle.php
ACLU ends longstanding public defense case, says larger issues persist
https://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2019/04/aclu-ends-longstanding-public-defense-case-says-larger-issues-persist.php
Reforms help reduce risk
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/reforms-help-reduce-risk-1.2472009
Administration
Clean Slate Act, pioneered in Pa., is a win for society. | Opinion
https://www.philly.com/opinion/commentary/clean-slate-bill-pennsylvania-criminal-justice-reform-20190419.html
Budget
Amid razor wire and prison blocks, advocates push for more early education money
https://www.timesleader.com/news/740572/amid-razor-wire-and-prison-blocks-advocates-push-for-more-early-education-money
Officials: Pre-K programs key to reducing adult crime
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/officials-pre-k-programs-key-to-reducing-adult-crime-1.2472023
Crime/Punishment
Juvenile shot, critically wounded in McKeesport
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/04/18/Juvnile-shot-critically-wounded-in-McKeesport/stories/201904180196
Traffic stop on Pa. Turnpike in Hempfield nets 20,000 stamp bags of heroin
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/04/18/heroin-pennsylvania-turnpike-hidden-compartment-20-000-stamp-bags-hempfield-cristobal-rosa-robles/stories/201904180179
Nearly 40 years later, Bucks DA charges man in wife’s cold-case murder
https://www.philly.com/news/pennsylvania/william-korzon-gloria-murder-cold-case-warrington-bucks-county-20190418.html
Education
Crestwood announces plans for STEM center
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/crestwood-announces-plans-for-stem-center-1.2472115
Weatherly Area, teachers union agree on contract
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/weatherly-area-teachers-union-agree-on-contract-1.2472090
Policy to arm school employees reinstated, Tamaqua school board says
https://www.philly.com/news/pennsylvania/arming-teachers-tamaqua-guns-school-shooting-20190418.html
Transgender bathrooms, locker rooms: The debate in central Pa., explained
https://www.witf.org/news/2019/04/transgender-bathrooms-locker-rooms-the-debate-in-central-pa-explained.php
Edinboro University’s search for new president down to four candidates
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2019/04/18/Edinboro-University-State-System-of-Higher-Education-presidential-search-Bloomsburg-Mansfield-PASSHE/stories/201904180124
Elections/Politics
Candidates for Berks County commissioner debate at Berks Patriots meeting
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/candidates-for-berks-county-commissioner-debate-at-berks-patriots-meeting
Health Care
Geisinger earns honors for nursing excellence
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/geisinger-earns-honors-for-nursing-excellence-1.2472117
Local News
W-B confident new fire truck can be purchased
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/w-b-confident-new-fire-truck-can-be-purchased-1.2472137
New census estimates show most NEPA counties gained population from 2017-18
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/new-census-estimates-show-most-nepa-counties-gained-population-from-2017-18-1.2472007
Times-Tribune staff adds 11 state journalism awards
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/times-tribune-staff-adds-11-state-journalism-awards-1.2472245
Derry mayor resigns amid allegations of pointing gun at children
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/defense-attorney-police-allegations-against-derry-mayor-have-factual-inaccuracies/
Springdale mulls battery back-ups for new traffic signals
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/springdale-mulls-battery-back-ups-for-new-traffic-signals/
Clean up, beautification days coming to Vandergrift
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/clean-up-beautification-days-coming-to-vandergrift/
West Lawn man used magnets to steal 63 million gallons of water in Reading, police say
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/west-lawn-man-charged-with-stealing-63-million-gallons-of-water-with-magnets
Reading Regional Airport Authority asks Berks County to pay off debt
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/reading-regional-airport-authority-asks-berks-county-to-pay-off-debt
Reading mayor hopefuls no-shows for forum on downtown revitalization
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/reading-mayor-hopefuls-no-shows-for-forum-on-downtown-revitalization
Altoona Water Authority might save $1.2 million
http://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2019/04/altoona-water-authority-might-save-1-2-million/
New Jersey
New Jersey approves $300 million in nuclear subsidies; PSEG had threatened to close reactors
https://www.philly.com/business/nuclear-subsidy-new-jersey-approved-pseg-shutdown-threat-300-million-20190418.html
Philly
FOP leaning toward endorsing Philly Sheriff Jewell Williams because of… DA Larry Krasner? | Clout
https://www.philly.com/politics/clout/philadelphia-sheriff-jewell-williams-fop-rochelle-bilal-democratic-primary-endorsement-20190419.html
Philly to stop incinerating recyclables by the end of the month
https://www.philly.com/science/climate/philadelphia-recycling-waste-management-china-incinerate-20190418.html
Two Philly-born brothers, both priests and military chaplains, to be buried together in Arlington’s Chaplains Hill
https://www.philly.com/news/brother-chaplains-brett-vietnam-arlington-robert-frank-grays-ferry-military-20190419.html
Keeping Philly property taxes at bay: As primary approaches, why aren’t candidates talking about it? | Editorial
https://www.philly.com/opinion/editorials/property-taxes-actual-value-initiative-avi-philadelphia-20190419.html
Williams criticizes Kenney’s decision to slow progress on supervised injection site
https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/williams-criticizes-kenney-s-decision-to-slow-progress-on-supervised/article_fa7c8690-4f28-5520-a5a4-a2c6d28364f6.html
Teen convicted of voluntary manslaughter in killing of Boys’ Latin student on South St. last Easter
https://www.philly.com/news/south-street-shooting-easter-2018-zahmir-white-guilty-manslaughter-william-bethel-boys-latin-20190418.html
‘Miners for Trump’: The story behind the Russian-organized Philly rally highlighted in Mueller’s report
https://www.philly.com/news/mueller-report-miners-for-trump-philadelphia-pennsylvania-march-for-trump-beyond-politics-20190418.html
Acme provided evidence of soda tax damaging sales — even while the city denied it | Stu Bykofsky
https://www.philly.com/opinion/acme-soda-tax-hurting-businesses-20190418.html
Saving Philly’s endangered history, one building at a time | Opinion
https://www.philly.com/opinion/commentary/historical-commission-levis-preservation-philadelphia-20190419.html
Mumia Abu-Jamal is no victim, despite renewed hope for appeal | Christine Flowers
https://www.philly.com/opinion/mumia-abu-jamal-appeal-larry-krasner-20190418.html
Pitt
Pittsburgh’s second equity indicators report shows racial disparities still prominent
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/04/18/City-s-second-equity-indicators-report-shows-racial-disparities-still-prominent-in-Pittsburgh/stories/201904180148
‘A story to tell’ — Norristown family among dozens trapped for hours on Duquesne Incline
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/04/18/Duquesne-Incline-stuck-on-Mount-Washington-hillside-with-passengers-inside-pittsburgh/stories/201904180173
Bid to organize Pitt faculty falls short, but union contests ruling
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2019/04/18/University-of-Pittsburgh-Pitt-Steelworkers-USW-union-labor-election-PLRB-faculty-adjuncts/stories/201904180131
Freedom and Passover 6 months after the Tree of Life massacre
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/freedom-and-passover-6-months-after-the-tree-of-life-massacre/
When the former Civic Arena site is developed, where will people park?
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2019/04/19/Pittsburgh-Penguins-Civic-Arena-Parking-UPMC-Duquesne-University-PPG-Paints-Arena/stories/201904190080
Cocoapreneur Pgh highlights black businesses in Pittsburgh, encourages support
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/cocoapreneur-pgh-highlights-black-businesses-in-pittsburgh-encourages-support/
Pittsburgh police publish policies and procedures online
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/04/18/Pittsburgh-police-publish-policies-and-procedures-online/stories/201904180120
Pittsburgh’s population continues to decline, census shows
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/pittsburgh-now-has-fewer-people-than-sacramento-census-shows/
Why Pittsburgh is mentioned in the Mueller report
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/why-pittsburgh-is-mentioned-in-the-mueller-report/
State News
Delco movie-studio head raises curtain on his latest idea: A theme park next door to Chester.
https://www.philly.com/news/pennsylvania/jeffrey-rotwitt-sun-center-studios-theme-park-chester-pennsylvania-20190418.html
Tornadoes around here are highly unusual. So what explains so many tornado ‘warnings?’
https://www.philly.com/news/tornado-warning-philadelphia-laurel-severe-thunderstorm-watches-20190419.html
Pennsylvania residents seeking disability benefits will have a new step to consider
https://www.philly.com/news/pennsylvania-ssi-social-security-reconsideration-disabled-backlog-evans-20190418.html
Spraying to control black flies to begin along Pennsylvania waterways
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/allegheny-kiski-conemaugh-yough-rivers-among-waterways-to-be-sprayed-for-black-flies/
Report details health of state’s waterways
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/report-details-health-of-state-s-waterways-1.2472025
Storms have been battering Pennsylvania, but what’s fueling the severe weather pattern?
https://www.mcall.com/news/weather/mc-nws-pennsylvania-severe-weather-pattern-20190419-lv3u3ca2lrcmjm7khbwvhl32yi-story.html
Washington
Pa. senators agree on election interference concerns as Mueller report cites Russian effort to organize Pittsburgh rally
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2019/04/18/mueller-report-pennsylvania-russian-election-interference-trump-casey-toomey/stories/201904180139
U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean on Mueller Report: “Congress will come to its own determination about obstruction of justice
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/04/us-rep-madeleine-dean-on-mueller-report-congress-will-come-to-its-own-determination-about-obstruction-of-justice.html
Mueller Report: Rep. Lloyd Smucker of Lancaster County says it’s time to move on
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/04/mueller-report-rep-lloyd-smucker-of-lancaster-county-says-its-time-to-move-on.html