Legislature
Racial disparities plague Pennsylvania’s life-without-parole system — but can it be fixed?
http://www2.philly.com/philly/news/life-without-parole-pennsylvania-philly-mass-incarceration-prison-industrial-complex-death-by-incarceration-20180918.html#loaded
Leaders seek change in law to give abuse victims ‘opportunity for justice’
http://www.tribdem.com/news/watch-video-leaders-seek-change-in-law-to-give-abuse/article_3c5ee02c-baea-11e8-b525-03de7952b03e.html
Wolf calls on lawmakers to pass victim-centered bills amid upcoming rally for child sex abuse victims
http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pennsylvania-wolf-victim-bills-rally-20180917-story.html
Former county commissioner, state Sen. Gerald LaValle dies at 86
http://www.timesonline.com/news/20180917/former-county-commissioner-state-sen-gerald-lavalle-dies-at-86
End doubts on campaign record access
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/end-doubts-on-campaign-record-access-1.2386939
Business
Coca-Cola is eyeing the cannabis market
http://www2.philly.com/philly/business/cannabis/coca-cola-is-eyeing-the-cannabis-market-20180917.html
Bon-Ton may be on verge of a comeback
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/bon-ton-may-be-on-verge-of-a-comeback-1.2386953
GE Transportation, Wabtec merger likely to happen in early 2019
http://www.goerie.com/news/20180918/ge-transportation-wabtec-merger-likely-to-happen-in-early-2019
Clergy Sex Abuse
Plaintiffs sue all Pa. dioceses seeking clergy abusers’ names, records
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2018/09/17/roman-catholic-church-diocese-sex-abuse-lawsuit-allegheny-county-pennsylvania/stories/201809170097
Groups gather to try to mend hearts broken by abusive priests
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2018/09/17/Groups-gather-to-try-to-mend-hearts-broken-by-abusive-priests/stories/201809170170
Crime/Punishment
DA: Yeadon man brutally killed dad during spat, dumped body in Montgomery County
http://www2.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/da-arrest-made-in-slaying-of-yeadon-man-found-near-montco-golf-course-20180917.html
Juvenile killer Christian Kenyon rejects sentence offer
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/juvenile-killer-christian-kenyon-rejects-sentence-offer-1.2387010
Reverse jail book ban
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/reverse-jail-book-ban-1.2386941
District attorney: Berks County prison inmate plotted to have a county detective ‘assassinated’
http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/da-john-adams-berks-county-prison-inmate-plotted-to-have-a-county-detective-assassinated/1
Education
School safety questions arise at Dallas meeting
https://www.timesleader.com/news/718631/school-safety-questions-arise-at-dallas-meeting
Parents voice concerns over children walking to school
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/parents-voice-concerns-over-children-walking-to-school-1.2386987
Superintendent termination hearings can be costly, time-consuming and divisive
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2018/09/17/superintendent-termination-hearings-daniel-castagna-west-mifflin-school-district-pa-school-code-section-1080/stories/201809140178
Is performance of Harrisburg school superintendent ‘exemplary’?
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/09/harriburg_superintendent_raise.html#incart_river_index
WPIAL votes to hold hearing with Connellsville, Penn Hills officials over allegations of racial slurs at soccer game
https://tribhssn.triblive.com/wpial-votes-to-hold-hearing-with-connellsville-penn-hills-officials-over-allegations-of-racial-slurs-at-soccer-game/
Hempfield residents remain unhappy about school district’s assessment-appeal policy
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14090447-74/hempfield-residents-remain-unhappy-about-school-districts-assessment-appeal-policy
Residents at Gov. Mifflin School Board air concerns about proposed Cumru boys home
http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/residents-at-gov-mifflin-school-board-air-concerns-about-proposed-cumru-boys-home
Abington Heights board president stepping down after state rules change
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/abington-heights-board-president-stepping-down-after-state-rules-change-1.2386945
Edinboro looks to the future — in eSports
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/2018/09/17/Edinboro-University-esports-collegiate-video-gaming-NACE-college-Pennsylvania-computers/stories/201809170107
Some students quit mental health medication when they get to college. Here’s why that’s so dangerous.
http://www2.philly.com/philly/health/college-mental-health-stopping-medications-mental-illness-20180918.html
Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center nursing program drama ends
https://www.timesleader.com/news/718574/wilkes-barre-area-career-and-technical-center-nursing-program-drama-ends
Elections/Politics
Trump endorses Keith Rothfus in weekend tweet
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14088792-74/trump-endorses-keith-rothfus-in-weekend-tweet
Lt. Governor Nominee Jeff Bartos Talks Jobs, Free Speech At Penn State
http://radio.wpsu.org/post/lt-governor-nominee-jeff-bartos-talks-jobs-free-speech-penn-state
GOP candidate in House race calls on incumbent Tina Davis to resign
http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20180917/gop-candidate-in-house-race-calls-on-incumbent-tina-davis-to-resign
Health Care
After a deadly flu season, the CDC urges people to act now
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2018/09/17/After-a-deadly-flu-season-the-CDC-urges-people-to-act-now/stories/201809170164
Independence Blue Cross discloses data breach by employee
http://www2.philly.com/philly/business/consumer_news/independence-blue-cross-data-breach-website-20180917.html
Local News
Repairs underway on River Common fishing pier
https://www.timesleader.com/news/718599/repairs-underway-on-river-common-fishing-pier
Family Services Association holds it 123rd Annual Meeting
https://www.timesleader.com/news/718603/family-services-association-holds-it-123rd-annual-meeting
Outside flood prep assistance needed due to Luzerne County road and bridge crew cuts, official says
https://www.timesleader.com/news/718593/outside-flood-prep-assistance-needed-due-to-luzerne-county-road-and-bridge-crew-cuts-official-says
Meet officer Nate Welby: 6-year-old battling cancer made junior police officer
https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/718623/meet-officer-nate-welby-6-year-old-battling-cancer-made-junior-police-officer
Keystone Landfill opponents get day in court over expansion plans
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/keystone-landfill-opponents-get-day-in-court-over-expansion-plans-1.2386921
Scranton City Council approves contract for street-sign survey
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-city-council-approves-contract-for-street-sign-survey-1.2387007
Land plans are topic for board
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/land-plans-are-topic-for-board-1.2386972
Ceremony marks renaming of post office for fallen Canonsburg officer
https://observer-reporter.com/news/localnews/ceremony-marks-renaming-of-post-office-for-fallen-canonsburg-officer/article_5106237e-ba8f-11e8-97bc-db97dfef8298.html
Harrison’s interim manager leaves, permanent hire expected soon
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14089511-74/harrisons-interim-manager-leaves-permanent-hire-expected-soon
Reading loses two City Hall officials in one day
http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/reading-loses-two-city-hall-officials-in-one-day
Berks County commissioner says deadline extended in negotiations with Berks Heim unions
http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/berks-county-commissioner-says-deadline-extended-in-negotiations-with-berks-heim-unions
Christmas in Birdsboro to be reborn
http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/christmas-in-birdsboro-to-be-reborn
Lehigh County executive, commissioners back review of cash bail system
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-lehigh-county-bail-reform-20180912-story.html
Allentown zoners OK variance for 95 apartments at 8th and Walnut streets
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-nws-allentown-city-center-apartments-parking-20180917-story.html
National News
A survey finds that more than 2 million U.S. teens are vaping marijuana
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2018/09/17/A-survey-finds-that-more-than-2-million-U-S-teens-are-vaping-marijuana/stories/201809170166
US slashes number of refugees to 30,000 for next year
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/presidential/20180917_ap_db40014c014b45f88b28f0e135a7c24d.html?arc404=true
Robert Mueller seeks to have Michael Flynn sentenced as soon as Nov. 28
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2018/09/17/Robert-Mueller-seeks-to-have-Michael-Flynn-sentenced-as-soon-as-Nov-28/stories/201809170178
Allegations against Brett Kavanaugh feel like Anita Hill 2.0. But there are key differences.
http://www2.philly.com/philly/news/brett-kavanaugh-christine-blasey-ford-anita-hill-clarence-thomas-arlen-specter-similarities-differences-year-of-the-woman-sexual-assault-20180917.html
Let cities try safe injection sites: A crisis calls for urgent, unconventional solutions
http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2018/09/18/Let-cities-try-safe-injection-sites-A-crisis-calls-for-urgent-unconventional-solutions/stories/201809180022
Philly
Black male leaders call for cease-fire to halt city shootings
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/black-male-leaders-call-for-cease-fire-to-halt-city/article_8cb69084-2a8d-5110-b9b4-eadd81d096d0.html
NAACP demands SEPTA boss meet with workers
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/naacp-demands-septa-boss-meet-with-workers/article_05a44cfa-8eaf-5ebb-bcee-ce0401c2dd5a.html
Betsy DeVos, in Philly Monday, decries ‘abandoned truth’
http://www2.philly.com/philly/education/betsy-devos-philly-free-speech-twitter-truth-20180917.html
Man, 23, gunned down in North Philly
http://www2.philly.com/philly/news/man-23-gunned-down-in-north-philly-20180917.html
City Council’s construction tax drama over; now the work begins | Editorial
http://www2.philly.com/philly/opinion/editorials/philadelphia-construction-tax-jim-kenney-city-council-20180918.html
Pitt
Feds reviewing Pittsburgh Shrine Circus accident that injured seven
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/09/17/Pittsburgh-Shrine-Circus-camel-accident-injuries-USDA-review-PPG-Arena/stories/201809170124
Investigation continues into camel chaos at Shrine Circus in Pittsburgh
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14089378-74/police-investigating-what-spooked-a-camel-that-injured-7-at-shrine-circus
Carnegie Library building digital collection of locally produced music
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2018/09/17/Carnegie-Library-local-music-stacks-rabble-jacquea-mae/stories/201809170117
Deadline remains for Penn Hills families to move out of condemned apartments
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14089982-74/deadline-remains-for-penn-hills-families-to-move-out-of-condemned-apartments
Pittsburgh woman whose false claims put two people in jail pleads guilty
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2018/09/17/Eboni-Sanders-Thomas-Mowbray-false-charges-pittsburgh-police-patrese-thompson/stories/201809170123
Dogs from shelters in Florence’s path arrive in Pittsburgh
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14089351-74/dogs-from-shelters-in-florences-path-arrive-in-pittsburgh
Transportation
Dallas roundabout down to single lane
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/dallas-roundabout-down-to-single-lane-1.2386962
Local residents can enroll in expedited TSA screening program
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/local-residents-can-enroll-in-expedited-tsa-screening-program-1.2387013
Washington
Trump declassifies documents related to FBI Russia probe
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20180917_ap_655dbf3cb3e246ebb057ec024483e9d9.html?arc404=true
Trump imposes tariffs on $200B more of Chinese goods
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/presidential/20180917_ap_e671049739bd4063a798fc4fbcad7f4c.html?arc404=true