Legislature
Completion of D&L trail into Wilkes-Barre promoted
https://www.timesleader.com/news/741279/completion-of-dl-trail-into-wilkes-barre-promoted
Proposal in works to expand D&L Trail
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/proposal-in-works-to-expand-d-l-trail-1.2474923
York County GOP lawmakers tout regulation reform package
https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/politics/2019/04/24/york-county-lawmakers-tout-regulation-reform-package/3561505002/
Pashinski to discuss issues at Mountain Top Senior Center today
https://www.timesleader.com/news/741294/pashinski-to-discuss-issues-atmountain-top-senior-center-today
Boback, Toohil chosen to serve on board of state children’s fund
https://www.timesleader.com/news/741303/boback-toohil-chosen-to-serve-on-board-of-state-childrens-fund
Heidelberg Township takes no stance on code-enforcement bill
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/heidelberg-township-takes-no-stance-on-code-enforcement-bill
Millions on the line for neighboring municipalities if TMI closes, local officials say
https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/2019/04/24/millions-line-neighboring-municipalities-if-tmi-closes-local-officials-say/3559139002/
PennDOT
PennDOT could fix more roads, bridges, if gas tax didn’t fund police, Auditor General says
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2019/04/25/PennDOT-Auditor-General-Eugene-DePasquale-audit-more-road-money-state-police-deficient-bridges/stories/201904250115
Auditor general: Billions in transportation funding diverted to Pennsylvania state police
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/auditor-general-billions-in-transportation-funding-diverted-to-pennsylvania-state-police/
PennDOT audit finds $4.25 billion diverted from repairing Pa. roads, bridges: auditor general
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/04/penndot-audit-finds-425-billion-diverted-from-repairing-pa-roads-bridges-auditor-general.html
$4.2 billion diverted from PennDOT road and bridge repairs to fund state police, new audit reveals
https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/lehigh-county/2019/04/42-billion-diverted-from-penndot-road-and-bridge-repairs-to-fund-state-police-new-audit-reveals.html
PennDOT to study how wind could affect vehicles on high, long thruway bridge over Susquehanna River
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/04/penndot-to-study-how-wind-could-affect-vehicles-on-high-long-thruway-bridge-over-susquehanna-river.html
Pipelines
Businesses oppose proposal to alter flow of Laurel Pipeline
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20190426/businesses-oppose-proposal-to-alter-flow-of-laurel-pipeline
Sinkhole forms in Delco along pipeline route
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/sinkhole-forms-in-delco-along-pipeline-route/article_c2ce46b2-6787-11e9-9c1d-03bdb4b3ff84.html
Administration
State labor secretary visits MBIT
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20190425/state-labor-secretary-visits-mbit
Business
Boeing rolls out first Chinook in upgrade program Army is trying to kill
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/local/boeing-rolls-out-first-chinook-in-upgrade-program-army-is/article_8540d0b6-6774-11e9-9ae4-aba83620667e.html
Crime/Punishment
Penn State ex-president Spanier asks court to overturn conviction
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/04/25/Penn-State-child-sex-abuse-Sandusky-Graham-Spanier-court-conviction/stories/201904250121
Mike Fleck finds out Friday if he’ll be following his old pal Ed Pawlowski to prison
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-nws-allentown-mike-fleck-sentencing-preview-20190419-tkcpzlsyvffjfl44muljb77t5i-story.html
Education
3 Highlands teachers receive grants from school retiree group
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/2-highlands-teachers-share-grant-from-school-retiree-group/
Highlands Elementary school to showcase technology
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/highlands-elementary-school-to-showcase-technology/
Allentown School Board says ‘no’ to borrowing money for broke district
https://www.mcall.com/news/education/mc-nws-allentown-school-board-20190426-pihackljjzgkzkbu7vybsls3gy-story.html
W-B Area Wolfpack members get a morning of team building
https://www.timesleader.com/news/741308/w-b-area-wolfpack-members-get-a-morning-of-team-building
Dunmore coach Jack Henzes to resign
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/sports/dunmore-coach-jack-henzes-to-resign-1.2474812
Armstrong teachers celebrate their students and own children
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/armstrong-teachers-celebrate-their-students-and-own-children-1.2474767
Springfield HS alum donates $1 million to honor his lunch lady mom, bus-driver mother-in-law
https://www.philly.com/education/springfield-kobebryant-schwarzman-abington-namingrights-20190425.html
School police disagree on box cutter case
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/school-police-disagree-on-box-cutter-case-1.2474949
Pottstown School Board addresses tension over recent shootings
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/pottstown-school-board-addresses-tension-over-recent-shootings
Bloomsburg University president, accused of sexual harassment, was previously forced out of two jobs
https://www.philly.com/news/pennsylvania/bloomsburg-university-president-bashar-hanna-sexual-harassment-kutztown-delaware-valley-20190426.html
PHEAA will tap surplus for student grants
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/pheaa-will-tap-surplus-for-student-grants/
Rape survivor brings her message of empathy to Albright College
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/rape-survivor-brings-message-to-albright-college
University of Scranton hosts Take Back The Night
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/university-of-scranton-hosts-take-back-the-night-1.2474983
Elections/Politics
Westmoreland labor council endorses Democrats seeking local political office
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-labor-council-endorses-democrats-seeking-local-political-office/
Health Care
UPMC’s unworthy quest: A string of losses in pursuit of Pyrrhic victories
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/04/26/UPMC-unworthy-quest-losses-Pyrrhic-victories-Josh-Shapiro-Highmark-David-Goliath/stories/201904260035
Local News
Wilkes-Barre residents complain to council about feral cats and delinquent recycling fees
https://www.timesleader.com/news/741284/wilkes-barre-residents-complain-to-council-about-feral-cats-and-delinquent-recycling-fees
Feral cats a hot topic at W-B council meeting
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/feral-cats-a-hot-topic-at-w-b-council-meeting-1.2475012
New life for old buildings?
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/new-life-for-old-buildings-1.2474953
HCA votes to revise, rebidon improvement project
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/hca-votes-to-revise-rebidon-improvement-project-1.2474947
Biden keeps Scranton’s skin in game
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/biden-keeps-scranton-s-skin-in-game-1.2474875
License plate reader helps catch parking scofflaws in Reading
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/license-plate-reader-catching-parking-scofflaws-in-reading
Developer pitches plan for converting Village Greens Golf Course into huge apartment complex
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/developer-pitches-plan-for-converting-sinking-spring-golf-course-into-huge-apartment-complex
Editorial: Exeter making moves toward transformation
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/editorial-exeter-making-moves-toward-transformation
Higher property values could pay for return of commuter rail to Phoenixville
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/higher-property-values-could-pay-for-return-of-commuter-rail/article_593b9349-2d84-5745-bfd6-92a42641c1b3.html
National News
Boston Celtics legend John Havlicek passes away at the age of 79
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/other-sports/2019/04/25/Boston-Celtics-legend-John-Havlicek-passes-away-at-the-age-of-79/stories/201904250187
A ‘kissing bug’ case in Delaware raises alarm for the summer
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2019/04/25/blood-sucking-kissing-bug-Delaware-girl-face-CDC-confirmed-first-case-disease/stories/201904250196
How many worker deaths have there been in the last year? No agency has the answer.
https://www.philly.com/news/worker-deaths-philadelphia-killed-on-the-job-workers-memorial-day-20190426.html
Judge gives U.S. 6 months to identify children split at border
https://triblive.com/news/world/judge-gives-u-s-6-months-to-identify-children-split-at-border/
U.S. measles outbreak results in quarantine at two Los Angeles universities
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/04/us-measles-outbreak-results-in-quarantine-at-two-los-angeles-universities.html
Cuban immigrants detained by ICE in York for more than a year, despite federal court ruling
https://www.witf.org/news/2019/04/cuban-immigrants-detained-by-ice-in-york-for-more-than-a-year-despite-federal-court-ruling.php
Opioid Crisis
Fentanyl killed a Penn physician’s son. Now she works to save other families from the same pain.
https://www.philly.com/health/fentanyl-penn-anaesthesiologist-overdose-crisis-narcan-training-20190425.html
Philly
In face of parents’ objections, Philly school board holds off charter school moving to East Falls
https://www.philly.com/news/philadelphia-school-board-lab-charter-move-east-falls-mifflin-20190426.html
Two councilmen seek to limit how much money Philly can raise by increasing property assessments
https://www.philly.com/news/revenue-neutral-property-tax-assessment-20190425.html
‘Disappearing Blackness’: The campaign to show how African American history in Philly is being erased
https://www.philly.com/news/historic-sites-philadelphia-kenny-gamble-international-records-faye-anderson-preservation-common-field-20190426.html
What Pew found when it stress-tested Philly’s pension system
https://www.philly.com/news/philadelphia-pensions-debt-pew-hybrid-funding-20190425.html
Salad chain Sweetgreen to accept cash following Philly’s cashless store ban
https://www.philly.com/business/sweetgreen-cashless-philadelphia-cash-store-ban-20190425.html
Krasner: Reimburse Philadelphians whose property was wrongly seized
https://www.witf.org/news/2019/04/da-krasner-philadelphians-whose-property-was-wrongly-seized-should-be-reimbursed.php
CHOP plans new medical office tower within its dense University City health campus
https://www.philly.com/real-estate/commercial/chop-office-tower-university-city-physician-administrative-building-perkins-will-20190425.html
An easy fix to clean up Philly: political term limits | Editorial
https://www.philly.com/opinion/editorials/john-green-sheriff-city-council-term-limits-indictment-editorial-20190426.html
What some Center City streets could look like if cars were banned | Opinion
https://www.philly.com/opinion/commentary/cars-streets-transportation-philadelphia-20190425.html
Overdose prevention sites are a tool for racial justice | Opinion
https://www.philly.com/opinion/commentary/drug-policy-racism-harm-reduction-20190425.html
Kate Smith called for racial tolerance in this forgotten 1945 radio address
https://www.philly.com/arts/kate-smith-racist-radio-address-flyers-statue-20190425.html
Kate Smith statue shows that racism is sometimes a felony, sometimes a misdemeanor | Stu Bykofsky
https://www.philly.com/opinion/stu-bykofsky-michael-coard-benjamin-franklin-william-penn-racism-20190425.html
Pitt
Pittsburgh getting $200,000 from state for purchase of electric vehicles
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-getting-200000-from-state-for-purchase-of-electric-vehicles/
Carnegie Science Center rushes to avoid losing hundreds of parking spaces
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2019/04/25/Carnegie-Science-Center-parking-zoning-board-of-adjustment-North-Shore/stories/201904250050
Pittsburgh autonomous vehicle companies issue report on local testing
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-autonomous-vehicle-companies-issue-report-on-local-testing/
Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner enters not guilty plea to felony charge
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/04/25/Allegheny-County-Controller-Chelsa-Wagner-Khari-Mosley-Detroit-police-pleads-not-guilty-felony/stories/201904250125
Pittsburgh Jewish leader to bear torch at Israeli ceremony
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2019/04/25/Pittsburgh-Jewish-leader-to-bear-torch-at-Israel-ceremony/stories/201904230148
Newly promoted Pittsburgh EMS deputy chief makes history twice over
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/04/25/Amera-Gilchrist-pittsburgh-ems-first-woman-black-person-deputy-chief/stories/201904230134
Stolen Breeches Bible will be returned to Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2019/04/25/Stolen-Breeches-Bible-will-be-returned-to-Carnegie-Library-of-Pittsburgh/stories/201904250133
Via Airlines to trim just-started Birmingham flights
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2019/04/25/Via-Airlines-Pittsburgh-International-Airport-Birmingham-Florida/stories/201904250126
Joe Biden makes play for blue collar votes with Pittsburgh rally
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/biden-makes-play-for-blue-collar-votes-with-pittsburgh-rally/
State News
Suspected carbon monoxide sickens Indiana Twp group home residents
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2019/04/25/Suspected-carbon-monoxide-sickens-Indiana-twp-group-home-residents/stories/201904250186
10 people at Indiana Twp. group home checked out after fumes fill building
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/11-people-at-indiana-township-group-home-checked-out-for-carbon-monoxide-poisoning/
DEP awards $1 million to clean energy vehicle projects in Pittsburgh region
https://triblive.com/local/regional/dep-awards-1-million-to-clean-energy-vehicle-projects-in-pittsburgh-region/
Draft report: Lackawanna County residents produce more waste per person than other NEPA county residents
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/draft-report-lackawanna-county-residents-produce-more-waste-per-person-than-other-nepa-county-residents-1.2475114
Require job site cleanups; Harrison Avenue Bridge debris still litters river
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/require-job-site-cleanups-harrison-avenue-bridge-debris-still-litters-river-1.2474877
Justice Dept. reversal could cost states, including Pa., millions in lottery profits: AP analysis
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/04/justice-dept-reversal-could-cost-states-including-pa-millions-in-lottery-profits-ap-analysis.html
Critics pan EPA draft of PFAS cleanup guidance
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20190426/critics-pan-epa-draft-of-pfas-cleanup-guidance/1
Transportation
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton airport hits new March record
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/wilkes-barre-scranton-airport-hits-new-march-record-1.2474711
Berks County commissioners propose hiring expert to examine Reading Regional Airport future
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/berks-county-commissioners-propose-hiring-expert-to-examine-reading-regional-airport-future
New study says even light rain increases the risk of a fatal car crash. But how does Pennsylvania stack up?
https://www.mcall.com/news/weather/mc-nws-study-links-fatal-car-accidents-but-pa-numbers-below-average-20190426-vauff3hkv5erlmueumni3qtwpm-story.html
Washington
Southeast Pa. Democrats in Congress step carefully amid talk of impeachment | Clout
https://www.philly.com/politics/clout/trump-mueller-biden-dean-scanlon-boyle-houlahan-indivisible-digiorgio-20190426.html
White House press secretary holds 1st press briefing since March 11, but for kids
https://www.philly.com/politics/nation/sarah-sanders-white-house-press-briefing-take-our-daughters-sons-work-20190425.html