Legislature

Pennsylvania GOP lawmaker opens door to minimum wage deal
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-gop-lawmaker-opens-door-to-minimum-wage-deal-2/

Pa. Senate leader: Time to discuss minimum wage hike
https://www.philly.com/news/jake-corman-time-increase-pennsylvania-minimum-wage-republicans-senate-20190225.html

Transportation secretary on Real ID backlog: ‘We’re ramping up’
https://triblive.com/news/regional/transportation-secretary-on-real-id-backlog-were-ramping-up/

Controversial state police funding plan offered as a conversation starter, acting commissioner says
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/02/controversial-state-police-funding-plan-offered-as-a-conversation-starter-acting-commissioner-says.html

Read a draft of Pennsylvania’s nuclear bailout bill
http://www.witf.org/news/2019/02/read-a-draft-of-pennsylvanias-nuclear-bailout-bill.php

Contribution limits would end old game
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/contribution-limits-would-end-old-game-1.2449912

Administration

We need Gov. Wolf’s Restore Pennsylvania plan to fix infrastructure | Opinion
https://www.philly.com/opinion/commentary/restore-pennsylvania-infrastructure-tom-wolf-20190226.html

Fight the blight: State leaders come to Aliquippa to discuss new program Restore Pennsylvania
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20190225/fight-blight-state-leaders-come-to-aliquippa-to-discuss-new-program-restore-pennsylvania

Business

True Value’s ‘unprecedented’ new facility in Hanover Twp. expected to employ hundreds
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/true-value-s-unprecedented-new-facility-in-hanover-twp-expected-to-employ-hundreds-1.2450048

UPDATED: True Value announces 1 million-square-foot distribution center in Hanover Township
https://www.timesleader.com/news/734440/true-value-company-announces-plans-for-1-million-square-foot-distribution-center-in-hanover-township

New coffeehouse coming soon to downtown W-B
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/new-coffeehouse-coming-soon-to-downtown-w-b-1.2449977

What’s in store for Century III Mall?
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/money/2019/02/24/Century-III-Mall-West-Mifflin-bankruptcy-Moonbeam-Capital-Investments-redevelopment/stories/201902240066

Mount Airy approaches finish line on $40 million expansion
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/business/mount-airy-approaches-finish-line-on-40-million-expansion-1.2449908

Alliance helped area businesses get $188M in contract awards
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/alliance-helped-area-businessesget-188m-in-contract-awards-1.2449992

Incubator gets $158K grant
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/incubator-gets-158k-grant-1.2449996

Job fair connects Berks employers with those who need a second chance
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/job-fair-connects-berks-employers-with-those-who-need-a-second-chance

Berks experts see shift toward regional, national owners as mergers pace continues
https://www.readingeagle.com/business-weekly/article/berks-experts-see-shift-toward-regional-national-owners-as-mergers-pace-continues

Catholic Church

The Vatican’s treasurer, Cardinal George Pell, has been found guilty of child-sex charges
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2019/02/25/Catholic-Cardinal-George-Pell-found-guilty-child-sex-abuse-offenses-Australia/stories/201902250132

Pope’s sex abuse summit: What it did and didn’t do
https://www.timesleader.com/news/734504/popes-sex-abuse-summit-what-it-did-and-didnt-do

Crime/Punishment

Mother, inmates seek answers in woman’s prison death
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/02/25/Mother-inmates-seek-answers-in-woman-s-prison-death/stories/201902220097

Indiana County Jail inmate death ruled a suicide
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2019/02/25/indiana-county-jail-suicide-robert-taylor-allegheny-county-medical-examiner/stories/201902250124

Keep corrections officers safe
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/letters/2019/02/26/Keep-Pennsylvania-corrections-officers-safe-mail-drugs-PSCOA-Jason-Bloom/stories/201902260048

Corrections Dept. has no plans to give inmates original copies of their mail
http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2019/02/corrections-sec-says-he-has-no-plans-to-give-inmates-original-copies-of-their-mail.php

Despite drop in inmate numbers, Pennsylvania prisons ran up overtime
https://www.meadvilletribune.com/news/despite-drop-in-inmate-numbers-pennsylvania-prisons-ran-up-overtime/article_e0deb1ed-049b-52b8-a163-12d1394fa8d6.html

Baserman honored: SCI-Somerset officer killed on job remembered on anniversary of his death
https://www.tribdem.com/news/baserman-honored-sci-somerset-officer-killed-on-job-remembered-on/article_3192d93e-3982-11e9-942d-af90ac8583a8.html

Education

Scranton school directors fill one vacancy as another board member resigns
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-school-directors-fill-one-vacancy-as-another-board-member-resigns-1.2450015

Bieber closure leaves Schuylkill Valley club scrambling
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/bieber-closure-leaves-schuylkill-valley-club-scrambling

Town hall to address Penn Hills debt crisis set for Feb. 28
https://triblive.com/news/pittsburgh-allegheny/town-hall-to-address-penn-hills-debt-crisis-set-for-feb-28/

Central Bucks West student gets science grant for complex problems
https://www.theintell.com/news/20190226/central-bucks-west-student-gets-science-grant-for-complex-problems

Penn students join dining-hall workers to condemn lack of Black History Month observance
https://www.philly.com/news/black-history-month-university-pennsylvania-dining-workers-20190225.html

Editorial: Albright a great destination for black history artifacts
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/albright-a-great-destination-for-black-history-artifacts

Elections/Politics

Here is how you can obtain an absentee ballot for the 114th District special election
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/here-is-how-you-can-obtain-an-absentee-ballot-for-the-114th-district-special-election-1.2449855

Gaming

More sports-betting sites come online, revenue increases, and more Pa. gambling notes
https://www.pennlive.com/expo/news/g66l-2019/02/db0dc763d45371/so-how-did-pas-casinos-fare-for-table-games-sports-betting-revenue-in-january.html

Health Care

UPMC protests non-Highmark Blues plans’ refusal to contract
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/healthcare-business/2019/02/25/UPMC-Highmark-Blue-Cross-Shield-health-care-insurance-divorce-federal-court-lawsuit-injunction/stories/201902220114

UPMC’s legal gambit: Fighting the state AG is another slap to consumers
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/02/25/UPMC-legal-gambit-Fighting-Pennsylvania-Josh-Shapiro-another-slap-consumers/stories/201902250011

Wilkes-Barre General furloughs ‘small number’ of employees
https://www.timesleader.com/news/734508/wilkes-barre-general-furloughs-small-number-of-employees

Exhibit A for corporate greed? Central Pa. woman’s med goes from free to $375,000
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/02/exhibit-a-for-corporate-greed-central-pa-womans-med-goes-from-free-to-375000.html

Local News

WB saturation patrols lead to arrests
https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/734473/wb-saturation-patrols-lead-to-arrests

Heavy winds cause damage to building in Nanticoke
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/heavy-winds-cause-damage-to-building-in-nanticoke-1.2449972

Scranton starting Beautiful Block grants for exterior home upgrades
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-starting-beautiful-block-grants-for-exterior-home-upgrades-1.2450038

DA: Missing Old Forge restaurateur Robert Baron “by no means” a cold case
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/da-missing-old-forge-restaurateur-robert-baron-by-no-means-a-cold-case-1.2450076

Hempfield Township Supervisors halt formation of public safety commission, ask for more information
https://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/hempfield-township-supervisors-halt-formation-of-public-safety-commission-ask-for-more-information/

Tinted windows proposed to enhance security at Latrobe police station
https://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/tinted-windows-proposed-to-enhance-security-at-latrobe-police-station/

Reading City Council hires candidate for key City Hall post
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/reading-city-council-hires-candidate-for-key-city-hall-post

3 Berks municipalities to share $100,000 in development grants
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/3-berks-municipalities-to-share-100000-in-development-grants

Marijuana

Fetterman: Pennsylvanians mixed on legalizing recreational pot
https://triblive.com/news/valley-news-dispatch/fetterman-pennsylvanians-mixed-on-legalizing-recreational-pot/

New Kensington opens medical marijuana dispensary, as ‘listening tour’ for recreational use rolls along
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/healthcare-business/2019/02/25/John-Fetterman-medical-marijuana-listening-tour-dispensary-New-Kensington/stories/201902250113

New Kensington medical marijuana dispensary opens
https://triblive.com/news/valley-news-dispatch/new-kensington-medical-marijuana-dispensary-opens/

Pot seller MedMen’s workplace ‘replete with racial, homophobic, misogynistic slurs,’ lawsuit claims
https://www.philly.com/business/weed/marijuana-firm-medmen-lawsuit-racial-homophobic-misogynistic-slurs-20190225.html

National News

Wisconsin governor orders troops to leave southern border, drawing congressman’s ire
https://www.philly.com/politics/nation/wisconsin-governor-tony-evers-national-guard-mexico-border-scott-walker-adam-kinzinger-20190226.html

Washington state to sue over Trump’s new abortion policy
https://www.philly.com/politics/nation/washington-state-suing-president-donald-trump-abortion-restrictions-20190225.html

United Methodist Church on edge of breakup over LGBT stand
https://www.philly.com/news/nation-world/united-methodists-breakup-lgbt-gay-clergy-same-sex-weddings-20190225.html

Natural Gas

CNX violated state law in operations of Utica well that lost pressure, agency says
https://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/cnx-violated-state-law-in-operations-of-utica-well-that-lost-pressure-agency-says/

Opioid Crisis

CBSD hosts drug awareness event at Central Bucks South
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20190226/cbsd-hosts-drug-awareness-event-at-central-bucks-south

Philly

Emails show how Philly officials tried to help Amazon escape proposed cashless store ban
https://www.philly.com/news/amazon-go-cashless-store-philadelphia-lobbying-20190226.html

Would Philly, N.J. take a cue from Puerto Rico’s plan to not pay $6 billion in bonds?
https://www.philly.com/business/phillydeals/puerto-rico-debts-bondholders-philadelphia-new-jersey-20190226.html

A black history tour of Philadelphia is good for any time of year
https://www.philly.com/news/black-history-tour-philadelphia-markers-20190226.html

Without cell-phone evidence, judge orders man held on 3rd-degree murder in fatal shooting
https://www.philly.com/news/district-attorney-larry-krasner-marquise-noel-murder-case-supplemental-preliminary-hearing-20190225.html

Continue the fight for transit equity, started by Octavius Catto and Rosa Parks | Opinion
https://www.philly.com/opinion/transit-equity-public-transportation-septa-20190225.html

Here’s a big list of candidates running for mayor, City Council in Philly’s May primary
https://www.philly.com/news/philadelphia-primary-election-mayor-city-council-at-large-kenney-butkovitz-may–20190225.html

Why doesn’t the Republican Party believe Philadelphia deserves the two-party system? | Editorial
https://www.philly.com/opinion/editorials/republican-party-mayor-philadelphia-primary-editorial-20190226.html

Pitt

Opposition mounting toward double-stack trains through North Side
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2019/02/25/Opposition-mounting-toward-double-stack-trains-through-North-Side/stories/201902250118

Allegheny County DA seizes $10M worth of cocaine hidden in cars
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/02/25/cocaine-ring-drug-trafficking-pittsburgh-philadelphia-jermaine-clark-terry-suggs-allegheny-county/stories/201902250139

Perry High School’s Class of ’77: After racial tensions, they stood united
https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/perry-high-school-class-1977-desegregation-schools-integration/

Pittsburgh school board member ‘disappointed’ with inconclusive report on forgery
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2019/02/25/Pittsburgh-Public-Schools-Amazon-Kevin-Carter-signature-investigation-report/stories/201902250105

Port Authority ConnectCard recharging system to shut down ‘a few days’ next week
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2019/02/25/Port-Authority-ConnectCard-Pittsburghers-for-Public-Transit-closed-for-computer-upgrade/stories/201902250122

Pittsburgh Public to expand community schools program
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2019/02/25/Pittsburgh-Public-Schools-community-schools-Langley-Anthony-Hamlet/stories/201902160012

None hurt after bricks rain down from facade of apartment building in Perry South
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/02/25/City-emergency-crews-partial-building-collapse-PIttsburgh-Perry-South/stories/201902250084

Weight loss system to pay $2 million in refunds to Pittsburgh-area consumers
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/money/2019/02/25/Pittsburgh-s-NutriMost-weight-loss-refunds-Federal-Trade-Commission-fat/stories/201902250104

Bike lanes, traffic improvements coming to Smallman Street in Pittsburgh’s Strip
https://triblive.com/news/pittsburgh-allegheny/bike-lanes-traffic-improvements-coming-to-smallman-street-in-pittsburghs-strip/

State approves $402,000 grant for rehab of North Side recreation center
https://triblive.com/news/pittsburgh-allegheny/state-approves-402000-grant-for-rehab-of-north-side-recreation-center/

Local children are eligible for cash prizes by opening a free savings account
https://triblive.com/news/pittsburgh-allegheny/local-children-are-eligible-for-cash-prizes-by-opening-a-free-savings-account/

Driverless vehicles the subject of tech talk in Pittsburgh
https://triblive.com/news/pittsburgh-allegheny/driverless-vehicles-the-subject-of-tech-talk-in-pittsburgh/

Air quality monitor measuring SO2 emissions installed in West Mifflin
https://triblive.com/news/pittsburgh-allegheny/air-quality-monitor-measuring-so2-emissions-installed-in-west-mifflin/

State News

Duquesne Light says it could be a few more days in the dark for thousands
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2019/02/25/Weather-winds-gusts-Pittsburgh-power-outages-trees-Duquesne-Light-West-Penn/stories/201902250090

West Penn Power: Fixing electric lines will be a ‘multiday event’ in Westmoreland Co., region
https://triblive.com/news/westmoreland/west-penn-power-fixing-electric-lines-will-be-a-multiday-event-in-westmoreland-co-region/

High winds topple trees and bring down utility wires across Berks County
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/trees-and-wires-topple-in-berks-as-wind-swirls

Re-build the wall? Dems see opportunity and danger in Pennsylvania and other Midwestern states
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2019/02/25/Re-build-the-wall-Dems-see-opportunity-danger-in-Midwest-presidential-elections-trump-pennsylvania/stories/201902250095

Washington

Trump warns Republicans as Congress prepares to vote on rejecting his national emergency
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2019/02/25/Trump-Republicans-Congress-vote-block-national-emergency-declaration-US-border/stories/201902250149

How will Pennsylvania’s House lawmakers vote on a resolution opposing the president’s border national emergency?
https://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/capitol-ideas/mc-nws-pa-house-lawmakers-vote-national-emergency-20190225-story.html

Fellow Republicans: Support this gun safety bill | Opinion
https://www.philly.com/opinion/commentary/gun-violence-conservatives-nra-firearms-20190225.html

Democrats block a ‘born alive’ abortion bill in the Senate
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2019/02/25/Senate-Democrats-vote-block-born-alive-abortion-bill-doctors-fails-medical-care/stories/201902250152

Bob Casey joins Republicans on bill to require medical care for abortion survivors
https://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/capitol-ideas/mc-nws-senate-abortion-vote-casey-toomey-20190225-story.html