Legislature
Backlog of REAL ID applications hits Pennsylvania
https://triblive.com/news/regional/backlog-of-real-id-applications-hits-pennsylvania/
Could the time be right for legal marijuana in Pennsylvania?
https://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2019/02/22/could-the-time-be-right-for-legal-marijuana-in-pennsylvania/
Caltagirone finds new way to fund childhood cancer research
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/caltagirone-finds-new-way-to-fund-childhood-cancer-research
State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie offers bill aimed at getting schools, employers together on job-readiness
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/state-rep-ryan-mackenzie-offers-bill-aimed-at-getting-schools-employers-together-on-job-readiness
Under the Radar: Lawmaker proposes video game tax for school safety funding
https://www.tribdem.com/news/under-the-radar-lawmaker-proposes-video-game-tax-for-school/article_e3d0ef78-8e27-57b8-90da-50b89dca3d73.html
State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe says reducing carbon dioxide emissions will kill his vegetables
https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/state-rep-daryl-metcalfe-says-reducing-carbon-dioxide-emissions-will-kill-his-vegetables/Content?oid=13785614
Fraud costly, but political rhetoric cheap
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/fraud-costly-but-political-rhetoric-cheap-1.2449518
Administration
3rd time a charm? Wolf’s police fee plan gets new attention
http://www.witf.org/news/2019/02/3rd-time-a-charm-wolfs-police-fee-plan-gets-new-attention.php
State police fee proposal concerns Erie County municipalities
https://www.goerie.com/news/20190225/state-police-fee-proposal-concerns-erie-county-municipalities
Business
Institute Insights: Opportunities abound for successful careers in trades
https://www.timesleader.com/news/734404/institute-insights-opportunities-abound-for-successful-careers-in-trades
Catholic Church
Local sex abuse survivors frustrated by lack of ‘action steps’ as Pope Francis ends Vatican summit
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2019/02/24/Local-clergy-sex-abuse-survivors-say-Pope-Francis-Rome-VanSickle-Faluszczak-Erie-Pittsburgh-Greensburg-diocese/stories/201902240198
Bishop of Allentown addresses Vatican abuse summit during Berks stop
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/bishop-of-allentown-address-vatican-abuse-summit-during-berks-stop
Crime/Punishment
Deceased witness’s testimony allowed at Lackawanna prison guard’s sexual assault trial
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/deceased-witness-s-testimony-allowed-at-lackawanna-prison-guard-s-sexual-assault-trial-1.2449772
How State College shooter dodged a DUI conviction 10 days before his killing spree
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/02/how-state-college-shooter-dodged-a-dui-conviction-10-days-before-his-murder-spree.html
‘It can happen anywhere’: The State College shooting spree, one month later
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/02/state-college-shooting-one-month-later.html
Education
Snow days cause some school districts in Lackawanna County to move graduations
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/snow-days-cause-some-school-districts-in-lackawanna-county-to-move-graduations-1.2449779
Central Pennsylvania African American Museum donates collection to Albright College
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/central-pennsylvania-african-american-museum-donates-collection-to-albright-college
State: No decision on community college in Erie until July at earliest
https://www.goerie.com/news/20190225/state-no-decision-on-community-college-in-erie-until-july-at-earliest
Elections/Politics
‘Moderate’ Westmoreland County Democrats showcase candidates at Sunday rally
https://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/moderate-westmoreland-county-democrats-showcase-candidates-at-sunday-rally/
Local News
Completion of Oxford Street Bridge repairs highlighted in Luzerne County infrastructure update
https://www.timesleader.com/news/734421/completion-of-oxford-street-bridge-repairs-highlighted-in-luzerne-county-infrastructure-update
Dress for Success gets much-needed help from Leadership WB group
https://www.timesleader.com/news/734360/dress-for-success-gets-much-needed-help-from-leadership-wb-group
Rich past on display at church’s Black History Month event
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/rich-past-on-display-at-church-s-black-history-month-event-1.2449646
County council to fill board seats
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/county-council-to-fill-board-seats-1.2449636
Wyoming Borough approves new fire chief
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/wyoming-borough-approves-new-fire-chief-1.2449668
Scranton mayor raised big bucks in non-election year
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/scranton-mayor-raised-big-bucks-in-non-election-year-1.2449633
Scranton council questions necessity of no-parking zone in front of proposed apartments
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-council-questions-necessity-of-no-parking-zone-in-front-of-proposed-apartments-1.2449777
MLK Awards honor heroes of activism
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/mlk-awards-honor-heroes-of-activism-1.2449768
LERTA district one step closer in Mahanoy City
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/lerta-district-one-step-closer-in-mahanoy-city-1.2449598
Harmar finds cheaper way to comply with anti-pollution program
https://triblive.com/news/valley-news-dispatch/harmar-finds-cheaper-way-to-comply-with-anti-pollution-program/
Work to extend Tredway Trail in Allegheny Township set to start in late April
https://triblive.com/news/valley-news-dispatch/work-to-extend-tredway-trail-in-allegheny-township-set-to-start-in-late-april/
House collapses in Reading
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/house-collapses-in-reading
Harrisburg City Council tabled vote to rehire Maverick as city’s lobbyist
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/02/city-council-tabled-vote-to-rehire-maverick-as-harrisburgs-lobbyist.html
Your View from county planning commission: We are running out of land for development in the Lehigh Valley
https://www.mcall.com/opinion/yourview/mc-opi-bradley-land-20190220-story.html
National News
Countering evil: Good Americans must marginalize hate groups
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/02/24/Countering-evil-Good-Americans-must-marginalize-hate-groups/stories/201902240073
Utah politicians defy the will of the people
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2019/02/25/Utah-politicians-defy-the-will-of-the-people/stories/201902250012
Editorial: Deaths of black pioneers lend added meaning to month
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/editorial-deaths-of-black-pioneers-lend-added-meaning-to-month
Natural Gas
Opponents of pipeline project in Hegins Twp. start online forum
https://www.republicanherald.com/news/opponents-of-pipeline-project-in-hegins-twp-start-online-forum-1.2449726
Opioid Crisis
Pain patients on opioids also are getting rescue drug naloxone to prevent overdose
https://www.philly.com/health/narcan-pain-patients-naloxone-pennsylvania-physician-guidlines-20190225.html
More people are surviving opioid overdoses, but what challenges do they face?
https://www.theintell.com/news/20190224/more-people-are-surviving-opioid-overdoses-but-what-challenges-do-they-face/2
Philly
Philadelphia to pull boys out of Glen Mills Schools, citing Inquirer report
https://www.philly.com/crime/glen-mills-schools-pa-abuse-investigation-cancel-20190225.html
Almost 40 SEPTA projects stalled over Pa. Turnpike lawsuit
https://www.philly.com/transportation/septa-projects-halted-pennsylvania-turnpike-suit-truckers-penndot-20190225.html
Roche agrees to buy Philadelphia biotech Spark Therapeutics for $4.8 billion
https://www.philly.com/business/roche-spark-therapeutics-gene-therapy-purchase-20190225.html
Pitt
Back to basics: No more team slogans on Port Authority bus banners
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2019/02/24/Port-Authority-Katharine-Eagen-Kelleman-bus-banners-no-slogans/stories/201902240081
Condemned building collapses in Spring Garden
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/02/24/Condemned-building-collapse-north-side-spring-garden-Pittsburgh/stories/201902240182
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto plants tree in Israel for victims of Tree of Life massacre
https://triblive.com/news/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-mayor-bill-peduto-plants-tree-in-israel-for-victims-of-tree-of-life-massacre/
Allegheny County fielding dozens of calls about downed trees blocking roads, downed power lines
https://triblive.com/news/pittsburgh-allegheny/allegheny-county-fielding-dozens-of-calls-about-downed-trees-blocking-roads-downed-power-lines/
State News
High winds put more than 100,000 in the dark in region. So why exactly was it so gusty?
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/02/24/High-winds-power-outages-landslides-Western-Pennsylvania-Duquesne-Light-West-Penn/stories/201902240185
Thousands lose power in Westmoreland as high winds rip through area
https://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/thousands-lose-power-in-westmoreland-as-high-winds-rip-through-area/
High winds knock down trees, knock out power in many Alle-Kiski Valley towns
https://triblive.com/news/valley-news-dispatch/high-winds-knock-down-trees-knock-out-power-in-many-alle-kiski-valley-towns-sunday/
Thousands without power Monday morning as high wind damage lingers
https://triblive.com/news/regional/90k-without-power-monday-morning-as-high-wind-damage-lingers/
Several thousand still without power, downed trees, wires close roads
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/02/several-thousand-still-without-power-downed-trees-wires-close-roads.html
Medical marijuana dispensary coming to New Kensington on Monday
https://triblive.com/news/valley-news-dispatch/medical-marijuana-dispensary-coming-to-new-kensington-on-monday/
35 farms preserved during board meeting
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/35-farms-preserved-during-board-meeting-1.2449597
Judge denies motion to dismiss police shooting lawsuit
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/judge-denies-motion-to-dismiss-police-shooting-lawsuit-1.2449765
Tax-refund recipients respond to critics: ‘Stop shaming me’
https://www.readingeagle.com/money/article/color-of-money-tax-refund-recipients-respond-to-critics-stop-shaming-me
Attorney General Shapiro warns about scammers during tax season
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20190225/attorney-general-shapiro-warns-about-scammers-during-tax-season/1
Giffords Law Center says Pa. improves from C to C+ on latest gun-safety scorecard
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20190224/giffords-law-center-says-pa-improves-from-c-to-c-on-latest-gun-safety-scorecard
16 hate groups have been active in the Lehigh Valley since 2000. But something changed last year.
https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/expo/news/g66l-2019/02/1950fcf067163/16-hate-groups-have-been-active-in-the-lehigh-valley-since-2000-but-something-changed-last-year.html
Transportation
Central Scranton Expressway work to take a bit longer
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/central-scranton-expressway-work-to-take-a-bit-longer-1.2449769
‘This road is so dangerous,’ couple say of stretch of Route 724 in Union Township
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/this-road-is-so-dangerous-couple-say-of-stretch-of-route-724-in-union-township
Where to !%$@# park? Wescosville lot can’t accommodate former Bieber commuters
https://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-bus-rider-parking-wescosville-post-bieber-20190222-story.html
Washington
Wall’ ploy hurts defense
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/wall-ploy-hurts-defense-1.2449520