Budget
Pa. Senate sends $34 billion budget bill to Gov. Tom Wolf, but last-minute glitch delays signing
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/06/pa-senate-sends-34-billion-budget-bill-to-gov-tom-wolf-for-enactment.html
Inches from finish line, House budget talks falter over education
https://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2019/06/inches-from-finish-line-house-budget-talks-falter-over-education.php
With deadline looming, the Pa. Budget stalls in the state House over education
https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/with-deadline-looming-the-pa-budget-stalls-in-the-state-house-over-education/
Winners and losers in Pa.’s $34 billion state budget package
https://www.witf.org/news/2019/06/winners-and-losers-in-pas-34-billion-state-budget-package.php
Keeping ‘the lights on’: Pennsylvania’s libraries poised to get first state funding boost in a decade
https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/keeping-the-lights-on-pennsylvanias-libraries-poised-to-get-first-state-funding-boost-in-a-decade/
Philly’s proposed plastic bag ban could get derailed after last-minute budget move by GOP lawmakers
https://www.inquirer.com/news/plastic-bag-ban-philly-harrisburg-amendment-corman-squilla-20190627.html
Berks delegation to state Senate splits 3-1 on $34 billion state budget
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/berks-delegation-to-state-senate-splits-3-1-on-34-billion-state-budget
Legislature
Pa. lawmakers approve election changes
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2019/06/27/Pennsylvania-lawmakers-approve-election-changes/stories/201906270194
Pa. Legislature approves $90M for new voting machines; bill would end straight party voting
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/06/pennsylvania-house-approves-state-funding-for-voting-machine-replacements-bill-now-moves-to-the-senate.html
Rep. Marshall’s bill expanding 50/50 raffles to college games goes to governor’s desk
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20190627/rep-marshalls-bill-expanding-5050-raffles-to-college-games-goes-to-governors-desk
Lt. Gov. John Fetterman expects to move forward after Senate dispute
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/lt-gov-john-fetterman-expects-to-move-forward-after-senate-dispute/
Ex-state Rep. Stephen Stetler pleads no contest to misdemeanor of violating election laws
https://www.ydr.com/story/news/crime/2019/06/27/former-state-representative-stephen-stetler-pleads-no-contest-misdemeanor-violating-election-laws/1583668001/
Redistricting/Gerrymandering
Pennsylvania group to keep pushing for independent redistricting commission
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-group-to-keep-pushing-for-independent-redistricting-commission/
Court rules for unfair elections
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/court-rules-for-unfair-elections-1.2501795
SCOTUS decision doesn’t impact Pa.’s redistricted Congressional map
https://www.witf.org/news/2019/06/scotus-decision-doesnt-impact-pennsylvanias-redistricted-congressional-map.php
Administration
Gov. Wolf’s veto of EITC expansion – a move of colossal injustice | PennLive letters
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2019/06/gov-wolfs-veto-of-eitc-expansion-a-move-of-colossal-injustice-pennlive-letters.html
Business
Chester County’s unemployment rate is so low that some industries face a ‘labor shortage’
https://www.inquirer.com/business/jobs-chester-county-pennsylvania-vanguard-manufacturing–20190627.html
Aldi project in Wyoming County moving forward
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/aldi-project-in-wyoming-county-moving-forward-1.2501801
BASF to cut 6,000 jobs to drive down costs amid slowdown
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20190627/basf-to-cut-6000-jobs-to-drive-down-costs-amid-slowdown
Education
After several votes, Allentown School Board finally passes budget with 1.75% tax hike and plea for charter schools to take tuition reduction
https://www.mcall.com/news/education/mc-nws-allentown-school-board-20190628-yehbohuprnb37fi2s6dcsvtzay-story.html
Harrisburg School District receiver cleans house, ousts superintendent, solicitor, a dozen more jobs
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/06/harrisburg-school-district-receiver-cleans-house-fires-a-dozen-employees-including-solicitor.html
Marywood University receives $1.2 million federal grant for STEM scholarships
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/marywood-university-receives-1-2-million-federal-grant-for-stem-scholarships-1.2501857
Gaming
Rivers Casino receives approval for online sports betting
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/06/27/Rivers-Casino-receives-approval-for-online-sports-betting-Pittsburgh/stories/201906270121
Health Care
Karen Kane: Is Highmark’s Holmberg hypocritical?
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/karen-kane/2019/06/28/Karen-Kane-Highmark-David-Holmberg-hypocrite-health-care-cross-network-access-UPMC-Jeffrey-Romoff/stories/201906280049
Pennsylvania’s top health official stresses need for vaccinations
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/pa-s-top-health-official-stresses-need-for-vaccinations/
Local News
Farmers Market opens on high note
https://www.timesleader.com/news/748214/farmers-market-opens-on-high-note
Mailing of school tax bills pushed back due to Luzerne County cyber attack
https://www.timesleader.com/news/748190/mailing-of-school-tax-bills-pushed-back-due-to-luzerne-county-cyber-attack
Cyber attack will delay school tax bills
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/cyber-attack-will-delay-school-tax-bills-1.2501890
Haggerty ‘baffled’ prosecutors see him as biased
https://www.timesleader.com/news/748174/haggerty-baffled-prosecutors-see-him-as-biased
UNICO selects group’s first female president
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/unico-selects-group-s-first-female-president-1.2501906
Nanticoke’s annual fireworks event moves to new spot this weekend
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/nanticoke-s-annual-fireworks-event-moves-to-new-spot-this-weekend-1.2501904
Area Big Brothers Big Sisters program closing
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/area-big-brothers-big-sisters-program-closing-1.2501789
Fell Twp. challenges quarry zoning, raises environmental concerns
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/fell-twp-challenges-quarry-zoning-raises-environmental-concerns-1.2501971
County Waste awarded 5-year garbage pact in White Haven
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/county-waste-awarded-5-year-garbage-pact-in-white-haven-1.2501819
Longtime Tunkhannock mayor stepping down
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/longtime-tunkhannock-mayor-stepping-down-1.2501769
Throop celebrating 125 years this weekend
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/throop-celebrating-125-years-this-weekend-1.2501828
Lackawanna County approves payment of more prison-probe legal bills
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/lackawanna-county-approves-payment-of-more-prison-probe-legal-bills-1.2501747
Visibility is everything: Poconos shows off LGBTQ Pride
https://www.poconorecord.com/sports/20190627/visibility-is-everything-poconos-shows-off-lgbtq-pride
Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department to begin operating Monday
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/allegheny-valley-regional-police-department-to-begin-operating-monday/
Greater Reading LGBT youth can face homelessness after coming out
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/greater-reading-lgbt-youth-can-face-homelessness-after-coming-out
Election officials throw out complaint against Berks County sheriff
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/election-officials-throw-out-complaint-against-berks-county-sheriff
Maxatawny authority moves to begin soliciting bids for Bowers water project
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/maxatawny-authority-moves-to-begin-soliciting-bids-for-bowers-water-project
Supervisors agree to work with developer on allowing commercial development along stretch of Route 100
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/supervisors-agree-to-work-with-developer-on-allowing-commercial-development-along-stretch-of-route-100
National News
Protect those who serve: The police suicide rate has become a ‘crisis’
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/06/28/Protect-those-who-serve-police-suicide-rate-crisis/stories/201906280047
Natural Gas
Shale gas impact fees raise $252 million, breaking record
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/powersource/2019/06/27/Shale-gas-impact-fees-raise-252-million-breaking-record-Marcellus-Utica/stories/201906270133
PA communities in line to get share of $251.8 million in natural gas fees
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/pa-communities-in-line-to-get-share-of-251-8-million-in-natural-gas-fees/
Washington, Greene to receive $14M in impact fees this year
https://observer-reporter.com/news/localnews/washington-greene-to-receive-m-in-impact-fees-this-year/article_ff4529ca-98f7-11e9-a396-e399b4b29166.html
Gas impact fee revenue rises to 7-year high, boosted by stripper wells
https://www.witf.org/news/2019/06/gas-impact-fee-revenue-rises-to-7-year-high-boosted-by-stripper-wells.php
New Jersey
New Jersey lawmakers pass tweak to Airbnb tax that would offer relief for some Shore rentals
https://www.inquirer.com/news/shore-rental-tax-airbnb-new-jersey-20190627.html
Philly
Eight months after Kensington’s disaster declaration, progress is tempered by the realities of the opioid crisis
https://www.inquirer.com/health/resilience-project-philadelphia-kensington-disaster-declaration-opioid-crisis-20190627.html
SEPTA commits $34 million to build new Ardmore train station
https://www.inquirer.com/news/ardmore-train-station-new-septa-regional-rail-amtrak-20190628.html
Gritty’s gay pride parade mix-up and the FOP flies ads for a new DA | Clout
https://www.inquirer.com/news/gritty-gay-pride-fop-larry-krasner-police-philadelphia-nutter-street-politics-2020-20190628.html
School District will pay Drexel $7M for a new school building in W. Phila.
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-school-board-drexel-powel-construction-belmont-20190628.html
Philadelphia delays ban on cashless stores until October
https://www.inquirer.com/business/philadelphia-cashless-store-ban-delay-jim-kenney-amazon-20190627.html
Hahnemann University Hospital’s inner turmoil: A timeline of changes, layoffs, and closing
https://www.inquirer.com/business/health/hahnemann-university-hospital-closing-timeline-20190626.html
Pennsylvania orders Hahnemann University Hospital to ‘cease and desist’ closure until there’s a plan
https://www.inquirer.com/business/hahnemann-hospital-closure-philadelphia-cease-and-desist-20190627.html
Pitt
Judge: City overcharged Pittsburgh police for health insurance
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/06/27/pittsburgh-police-officers-health-insurance-overpay-judge-donald-walko/stories/201906270101
Pitt moves forward with Bigelow Boulevard, Scaife Hall projects
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2019/06/27/University-Pittsburgh-Bigelow-Boulevard-Board-Trustees-Property-and-Facilities-Committee-Scaife-Hall/stories/201906270104
The next urban renaissance? Allegheny Conference envisions a more diverse, inclusive future
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/career-workplace/2019/06/27/Allegheny-Conference-Pittsburgh-renaissance-diversity-inclusion-tech-economy/stories/201906270180
Broken promises: City district should finally deliver on U Prep
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/06/28/Pittsburgh-Milliones-University-prep-education-deliver/stories/201906280040
Pittsburgh named most ‘undervalued city’ in the U.S.
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-named-most-undervalued-city-in-u-s/
Live Nation, Hanover officials dodge questions about KeyBank Pavilion traffic
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/live-nation-hanover-officials-dodge-questions-about-keybank-pavilion-traffic/
Celebrate Pittsburgh’s soul, city native, tech leader tells summit attendees
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/celebrate-foster-pittsburghs-soul-city-native-tech-leader-tells-summit-attendees/
State News
This neighborhood with tainted wells has been on bottled water for three years. No end is in sight.
https://www.inquirer.com/news/pfas-water-contamination-bucks-county-pennsylvania-20190628.html
Severe storm hits area, dropping hail; Kennywood closes early due to flooding
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2019/06/27/Severe-storm-Pittsburgh-hail-Kennywood-closes-flooding/stories/201906270191
Thunderstorms bring down trees, wires in Vandergrift area, cars damaged
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/thunderstorms-bring-down-trees-wires-in-vandergrift-area/
Have an old criminal record? Today, Pennsylvania starts sealing 30 million of them automatically.
https://www.inquirer.com/news/clean-slate-criminal-record-sealing-expungement-pennsylvania-philadelphia-20190628.html
One of Pennsylvania’s largest estates, founded by Quakers, is up for sale
https://www.inquirer.com/news/furness-architecture-fox-clarion-homes-realty-mansion-20190628.html
Altoona diocese challenges ruling that could open floodgates to abuse litigation
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2019/06/27/Diocese-Altoona-Johnstown-sexual-abuse-grand-jury-lawsuit/stories/201906270110
Sprint, T-Mobile promise more 5G in Pennsylvania, but would rural residents benefit?
https://www.inquirer.com/business/sprint-wireless-t-mobile-merger-rural-5g-20190627.html
Bell Acres bears latest in string of regional sightings
https://triblive.com/local/sewickley/bell-acres-bears-latest-in-string-of-regional-sightings/
ACLU lawsuit alleges Pennsylvania state troopers illegally profiled Latinos, acted as immigration officers
https://www.mcall.com/news/police/mc-nws-aclu-pennsylvania-state-police-latino-profile-immigration-20190627-foom3eph6zf4njycdjgddwyfru-story.html
Pa. activists see 50th anniversary of Stonewall riots as ‘another call to action’
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/06/pa-activists-see-50th-anniversary-of-stonewall-riots-as-another-call-to-action.html
These states have the highest costs for nursing home care. How does Pa. rank?
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/06/these-states-have-the-highest-costs-for-nursing-home-care-how-does-pa-rank.html
Nineteen Pa. counties are actively collaborating with ICE to deport immigrants in local custody, new report finds
https://www.penncapital-star.com/civil-rights-social-justice/nineteen-pa-counties-are-actively-collaborating-with-ice-to-deport-immigrants-in-local-custody-new-report-finds/
Transportation
Airport posts more record-breaking passenger numbers
https://www.timesleader.com/news/748224/airport-posts-more-record-breaking-passenger-numbers
Airport awards paving contract, breaks record
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/airport-awards-paving-contract-breaks-record-1.2501845
AAA: More than 60,000 W-B area residents will travel for July 4 holiday
https://www.timesleader.com/news/748222/aaa-more-than-60000-w-b-area-residents-will-travel-for-july-4-holiday
More cars expected all week on Turnpike for July 4 holiday
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/more-cars-expected-all-week-on-turnpike-for-july-4-holiday/
PA Turnpike expects 3.5% rise in Fourth holiday travel
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/pa-turnpike-expects-3-5-rise-in-fourth-holiday-travel/
Washington
Kamala Harris confronts Joe Biden on race, Democrats clash on health care in heated second debate
https://www.inquirer.com/news/democratic-debate-2020-joe-biden-bernie-sanders-kamala-harris-thursday-20190628.html
Democratic debate highlights: Kamala Harris and Joe Biden on busing, race; Eric Swalwell says to ‘pass the torch’
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/democratic-debate-2019-live-updates-joe-biden-bernie-sanders-pete-buttigieg-kamala-harris-20190627.html
‘I do not want anyone else to suffer:’ Pa. congresswoman shares story of partner’s death by suicide to spur awareness | Perspective
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/susan-wild-suicide-speech-mental-health-care-20190627.html