Legislature

State to hold hearing on rail passenger and freight service in Western Pa.
https://triblive.com/local/regional/state-to-hold-hearing-on-rail-passenger-and-freight-service-in-western-pa/

State Sen. Elder Vogel Jr.’s family farm recognized by state Department of Agriculture
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20190816/state-sen-elder-vogel-jrs-family-farm-recognized-by-state-department-of-agriculture

Redistricting/Gerrymandering

In the war against gerrymandering, an army of voters meets a dug-in foe
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2019/08/17/political-voting-redistricting-gerrymandering-voters-pennsylvania-wisconsin/stories/201908180026

Administration

Wolf to sign sweeping executive order to reduce gun violence
https://www.timesleader.com/news/752859/wolf-to-sign-sweeping-executive-order-to-reduce-gun-violence

Business

Unreliable internet makes life difficult for rural businesses
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/unreliable-internet-makes-life-difficult-for-rural-businesses-1.2521653

Crime/Punishment

Police: Juvenile threatened to ‘shoot up’ Wilkes-Barre Township Walmart
https://www.timesleader.com/news/752802/police-juvenile-threatened-to-shoot-up-wilkes-barre-township-wal-mart

Education

Permanent cure point of hard medicine
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/permanent-cure-point-of-hard-medicine-1.2521466

Solar as a crop? Penn State to install state’s largest solar array on 500 acres of farmland.
https://www.inquirer.com/business/solar-energy-farms-pennsylvania-penn-state-crops-20190818.html

Health Care

Sexually active teens and young women report pressure to get pregnant, UPMC study finds
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2019/08/17/Sexual-coercion-pregnancy-teens-young-women-UPMC-study-reproductive-abuse/stories/201907180159

Local News

Luzerne County Council evaluating Pedri’s performance
https://www.timesleader.com/news/752844/luzerne-county-council-evaluating-pedris-performance

Challenger Baseball celebrates opening of new field
https://www.timesleader.com/news/752853/challenger-baseball-celebrates-opening-of-new-field

Kline Twp. secures another grant to fix roads
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/kline-twp-secures-another-grant-to-fix-roads-1.2521570

St. Margaret Mary Festival proceeds to help ministries, Lower Burrell fire companies
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/thousands-attend-st-margaret-mary-festival-money-will-help-ministries-lower-burrell-fire-companies/

Resident convinces Upper Burrell to reconsider street paving list
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/upper-burrell-resident-convinces-township-to-reconsider-street-paving-list/

Reading skatepark site of extreme sports big wheels, little wheels in action
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/reading-skatepark-site-of-extreme-sports-big-wheels-little-wheels-in-action

YMCA of Bucks receives $20,000 from 1847Financial
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20190817/ymca-of-bucks-receives-20000-from-1847financial

West Chester police officers may get body cameras
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/west-chester-police-officers-may-get-body-cameras/article_4ad43980-bf9f-11e9-a7b6-bf743b044465.html

National News

Portland, Oregon ‘ground zero’ for protests between right, left-wing
https://www.inquirer.com/wires/ap/portland-oregon-ground-zero-protests-between-right-left-wing-20190818.html

New Jersey

Water distribution continues as lead problem assessed
https://www.inquirer.com/news/new-jersey/lead-contaminated-water-newark-new-jersey-bottled-water-distribution-20190817.html

Philly

Meet the Philadelphians behind the 2020 presidential campaigns
https://www.inquirer.com/news/2020-presidential-staffers-from-philadelphia-pennslyvania-biden-booker-erin-wilson-lauren-hitt-20190818.html

Pitt

Rabbi, other survivors urge no death penalty for synagogue killer
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/08/17/Rabbi-survivors-tree-of-life-mass-shooting-pittsburgh-no-death-penalty/stories/201908170014

After 4 police shootings in a month, Allegheny County Council plans to move forward on police review board
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/08/17/police-review-board-allegheny-county-council-shootings/stories/201908180072

Microburst confirmed in Millvale, Lawrenceville areas; about 2,000 without power
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2019/08/17/WEATHER-Heavy-rain-delays-Steelers-Chiefs-game-pittsburgh/stories/201908170054

Doctors associate vaping with four lung-injury cases in Pittsburgh
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2019/08/16/Vaping-associated-lung-injury-Pittsburgh-CDC-UPMC-liquids-cannabinoids-poison/stories/201908160150

2 firefighters injured in 5-alarm West Oakland apartment fire
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/firefighters-battle-4-alarm-apartment-fire-in-pittsburgh/

State News

Pennsylvania leaders need to figure out how to jumpstart innovation economy | Editorial
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/innovation-economy-pennsylvania-brookings-report-editorial-20190818.html

Funerals held for 4 children killed in day care fire
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2019/08/17/Funerals-Saturday-for-4-children-killed-in-day-care-fire/stories/201908170041

A ride to remember: 9/11 trail event to raise funds, awareness
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/08/18/September-11-National-Memorial-Trail-bike-ride-fundraiser/stories/201908140006

Report challenges internet providers’ advertised speeds
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/report-challenges-internet-providers-advertised-speeds-1.2521740

PA Treasury goes viral with new Twitter account
https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/2019/08/17/pa-treasury-goes-viral-new-twitter-account/2031711001/

Transportation

Altoona-Blair County Airport — Ridership improves; subsidy at risk
http://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2019/08/altoona-blair-county-airport-ridership-improves-subsidy-at-risk/