Legislature
Should Pennsylvania eliminate school taxes? Reader debate includes proposal for major ‘vice tax’
https://www.mcall.com/opinion/readers-react/mc-opi-let-school-property-taxes-20190831-vdoxs7m6tzcrxeuot43a63kfdy-story.html
Scranton director wants to close city schools, send students to Harrisburg for rally
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-director-wants-to-close-city-schools-send-students-to-harrisburg-for-rally-1.2527129
Fighting Gun Trafficking Gets Ensnared In Political Fight
https://hosted.ap.org/thetimes-tribune/article/1f68eda172554693b36785c3497d1f1a/fighting-gun-trafficking-gets-ensnared-political-fight
Report: Pennsylvanians say they’re fed up with secrecy and manipulation surrounding redistricting — and they can fix it.
https://papost.org/2019/08/30/report-pennsylvanians-say-theyre-fed-up-with-secrecy-and-manipulation-surrounding-redistricting-and-they-can-fix-it/
State
Editorial: Retreat closing follows sound justice reforms
https://www.standardspeaker.com/opinion/retreat-closing-follows-sound-justice-reforms-1.2526818
Researchers working to stop threat of spotted lanternfly, expert tells Christmas tree growers
https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/researchers-working-to-stop-threat-of-spotted-lanternfly-expert-tells/article_15a4ca82-ca6b-11e9-9501-3b31bae86c28.html
Report challenges internet providers’ advertised speeds
https://observer-reporter.com/ap/state/report-challenges-internet-providers-advertised-speeds/article_e014f67f-e258-5c04-8431-b86efaec5bc0.html
Vaping, e-cigarettes linked to 215 cases of severe lung illness in 25 states, including Pa., N.J.
https://www.inquirer.com/health/vaping-e-cigarette-lung-illness-pa-nj-20190831.html
New Jersey law could open up Boy Scouts to abuse lawsuits from Pennsylvania
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/new-jersey-law-could-open-up-boy-scouts-to-abuse-law-suits-from-pennsylvania/
Pennsylvania law doesn’t prohibit children on ATVs
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/state-law-doesnt-prohibit-children-on-atvs/
Criminal defense counsel represents DEP in Mariner East probe
https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2019/08/30/criminal-defense-counsel-represents-dep-in-mariner-east-probe/
Pa. to test appetite for more mini-casinos
https://papost.org/2019/08/30/pa-to-test-appetite-for-more-mini-casinos/
Education
Allentown School District wants to cut charter costs to fill budget hole
https://www.inquirer.com/news/charter-school-costs-pennsylvania-allentown-tom-wolf-funding-20190830.html
Despite increase, Pottstown remains most underfunded district in the region
https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/despite-increase-pottstown-remains-most-underfunded-district-in-the-region/article_a4cea6a4-cab8-11e9-a1a6-83b146d59e27.html
Utilities
PPL sends nearly 50 workers to Fla.
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/ppl-sends-nearly-50-workers-to-fla-1.2526944
PECO accepting applications for Green Region Grant program
https://www.delcotimes.com/business/peco-accepting-applications-for-green-region-grant-program/article_7bada3a3-5180-5711-96d7-31a4a3c8b308.html
UGI drops natural gas rate
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/ugi-drops-natural-gas-rate-1.2526869
Transportation
Labor Day gas prices should be the lowest in three years, AAA predicts
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/labor-day-gas-prices-no-chore-in-berks-nationally
2 more roundabouts, widening of Route 222 in Maidencreek Township to start soon, take 3 years to complete
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/route-222-north-upgrades–in-maidencreek-township-set-to-start-sept-9
Philly
Parents consider buying bulletproof backpacks as gun violence shapes their children’s lives
https://www.inquirer.com/news/bulletproof-backpack-bullet-resistant-back-to-school-officemax-office-depot-disney-20190831.html
Why yellow grids are on some Philly-area utility poles
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/yellow-grids-peco-utility-poles-reflectors-drivers-20190831.html
Philly is trying to stop illegal dumping by tracking who hauls contractors’ trash
https://www.inquirer.com/news/short-dumping-illegal-philadelphia-trash-contractor-construction-permit-litter-20190830.html
In 1990s, Philly’s now-interim top cop wore T-shirt: ‘L.A.P.D. We Treat You Like a King’
https://www.inquirer.com/news/christine-coulter-acting-police-commissioner-rodney-king-lapd-t-shirt-20190830.html
No charges for Metro PCS store worker who fatally shot would-be robber in Southwest Philly
https://www.inquirer.com/news/metro-pcs-robbery-elmwood-permit-nra-20190831.html
A Philly Starbucks wrote ‘ISIS’ on a Muslim man’s cup
https://www.inquirer.com/news/starbucks-islamophobia-muslim-bigotry-racism-philadelphia-20190830.html
Pittsburgh
Allegheny County to ‘stress test’ prospective voting systems
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/allegheny-county-to-stress-test-prospective-voting-systems/
Cranberry Toyota dealership pays school lunch debt totaling more than $22,000
https://triblive.com/local/regional/cranberry-toyota-dealership-pays-school-lunch-debt-totaling-more-than-22000/
National conference on abandoned mine lands coming to Pittsburgh
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/national-conference-on-abandoned-mine-lands-coming-to-pittsburgh/
North Allegheny takes advantage of lower interest rates to redo bond issue
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/north/2019/08/30/North-Allegheny-refinance-bond-issue/stories/201908300157
Elections board appears likely to pick ES&S voting machines for use beginning in 2020
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2019/08/30/Elections-board-appears-likely-to-pick-ES-S-voting-machines-for-use-beginning-in-2020/stories/201908300152
Local
Reading acted like ‘bully’ in legal battle over DoubleTree parking garage, judge says
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/judge-says-city-acted-like-a-bully-in-latest-legal-battle-over-doubletree-parking-garage
‘This is the point of no return’: Lehigh County executive says taxes must increase in 2020
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/saucon-valley/mc-nws-lehigh-county-budget-20190830-ttykxqamqbcffhwtbxziuhccd4-story.html
Slinky makes history in Clifton Heights
https://www.delcotimes.com/business/slinky-makes-history-in-clifton-heights/article_b6c4810a-cb38-11e9-84a5-bf39f455f17c.html
New parking meters draw complaints in Chester
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/new-parking-meters-draw-complaints-in-chester/article_eb3ccd04-caa0-11e9-a20d-d7ab8caf7e30.html
Lancaster County officials warn of spike in drug overdoses
https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/lancaster-county-officials-warn-of-spike-in-drug-overdoses/article_7e22ff52-cb6f-11e9-af40-8b2759002dca.html
Judge Traci McDonald-Kemp makes history in Washington County
https://observer-reporter.com/news/election/judge-traci-mcdonald-kemp-makes-history-in-washington-county/article_1b3094f4-cb42-11e9-92b4-0f3dd0564e51.html
Berks County commissioners discuss constable system costs
https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/berks-county-commissioners-discuss-constable-system-costs/article_4b438f98-cb1f-11e9-8918-c3287f6315c2.html
Chester County commissioners establish pipeline safety advisory board
https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/local/chester-county-commissioners-establish-pipeline-safety-advisory-board/article_1eecb222-7efc-546f-944c-68be6e8609a0.html
