Legislature
GOP lawmakers say Pa. Gov. Wolf is out of bounds in calling for no high school sports until 2021
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/08/pa-gop-lawmakers-say-gov-wolf-is-out-of-bounds-in-calling-for-no-high-school-sports-until-2021.html
Mullery asks utility commission to deny water bill hike
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/mullery-asks-utility-commission-to-deny-water-bill-hike/article_d61ff186-db90-541b-b24e-b2e58c03bffe.html
Lawmakers looking to make online raffles legal during COVID
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20200806/lawmakers-looking-to-make-online-raffles-legal-during-covid
Make cyber ed school district core function
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/editorial/make-cyber-ed-school-district-core-function/article_1e0a3527-a2d6-53a1-80f6-78445a24a4c0.html
I’m an LGBTQ leader. Losing allies is not good | Opinion
https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/im-an-lgbtq-leader-losing-allies-is-not-good-opinion/
Coronavirus – COVID-19
Break quarantine, risk legal action, Pa. warns people exposed to COVID-19
https://www.penncapital-star.com/covid-19/break-quarantine-risk-legal-action-pa-warns-people-exposed-to-covid-19/
Pa. wants to expand coronavirus testing but faces a shortage of supplies and lab result delays, Wolf and Levine say
https://www.inquirer.com/news/coronavirus-covid-19-pa-philly-testing-cases-contact-tracing-nj-20200806.html
Gov. Wolf says other states with coronavirus surges are causing Pa. test result delays
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/gov-wolf-says-other-states-with-coronavirus-surges-are-causing-pa-test-result-delays/
Pa.’s COVID-19 testing capacity increasing, but processing delays undercut progress
https://www.witf.org/2020/08/06/pa-s-covid-19-testing-capacity-increasing-but-processing-delays-undercut-progress/
COVID-19 update: Allegheny County reports 100 new cases, 12 more hospitalizations
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/08/06/COVID-19-Allegheny-County-data-cases-deaths-pittsburgh-pennsylvania/stories/202008060107
22 new COVID-19 cases, 1 new death in Luzerne County
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/coronavirus/22-new-covid-19-cases-1-new-death-in-luzerne-county/article_22354db5-7260-5828-b74b-91183c60f87f.html
35 new coronavirus positives for Berks County
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/35-new-coronavirus-positives-for-berks-county/article_b729c0fe-d7e1-11ea-bfcb-bb9c0f6dcf81.html
Westmoreland adds 9 new covid-19 cases, no deaths
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-adds-9-new-covid-19-cases-no-deaths/
Nine additional COVID-19 testing sites added across the state
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/08/06/Nine-COVID-testing-sites-pittsburgh-pennsylvania/stories/202008060106
‘Everyone’s fearful of exposure’: How families and daycare centers balance children’s needs with virus risks
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/08/daycare-centers-adapt-to-covid-19-realities-families-weigh-options.html
Pennsylvania’s not on NY quarantine list, but some Southern Tier officials still worried
https://www.ydr.com/story/news/local/2020/08/07/ny-quarantine-pennsylvania-workers-allowed-essential-travel/3298388001/
Administration
Gov. Wolf recommends no high school sports until 2021
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/highschool/2020/08/06/gov-wolf-recommends-pennsylvania-high-school-sports-jan-1/stories/202008060111
Gov. Wolf’s recommendation to postpone high school sports gets mixed reactions
https://triblive.com/local/regional/gov-wolfs-recommendation-to-postpone-high-school-sports-gets-mixed-reactions/
Wolf recommends delaying school, youth sports to January 2021
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/wolf-recommends-delaying-school-youth-sports-to-january-2021/article_e376771e-30cf-5a9c-b183-18982ba410d1.html
Berks athletic directors react to Gov. Wolf urging high school sports to be delayed until 2021
https://www.readingeagle.com/sports/high-school/berks-athletic-directors-react-to-gov-wolf-urging-high-school-sports-to-be-delayed-until/article_2f22f660-d838-11ea-a1a4-d3bbb5bf6f8b.html
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf recommends no high school sports until after Jan. 1, catching PIAA, school officials off guard
https://www.mcall.com/coronavirus/mc-nws-coronavirus-wolf-pema-thursday-20200806-po4dq6gdgzd3pgbkdmvocyyya4-story.html
Reaction to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s surprise announcement on high school sports: ‘It hurts. It hurts a lot’
https://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-spt-pennsylvania-sports-reaction-20200806-jrqtdubmi5gbrcdglw45k7o5pe-story.html
As 90,000 Pennsylvanians await unemployment checks, the state’s tone deaf response is just another glitch | Editorial
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/unemployment-benefits-covid-labor-and-industry-jobless-20200807.html
Business
PNC Bank will terminate all credit insurance on consumer loans
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/money/2020/08/07/PNC-Bank-terminate-credit-insurance-consumer-loans/stories/202008050035
Restaurants back down from ultimatum, request meeting with Gov. Wolf
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/restaurants-back-down-from-ultimatum-request-meeting-with-gov-wolf/
First Commonwealth Bank to close 29 locations, including 4 in Alle-Kiski Valley
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/first-commonwealth-bank-to-close-29-locations-including-3-in-alle-kiski-valley/
General Dynamics provides answers about Medico acquisition
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/general-dynamics-provides-answers-about-medico-acquisition/article_8335a6ef-c0c1-596c-93ae-dec10e42ab66.html
Education
North Hills OKs plan to begin classes online only for first 5 weeks
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/north-hills-oks-plan-to-begin-classes-online-only-for-first-5-weeks/
New Kensington-Arnold delays start of school year to Sept. 8
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/new-kensington-arnold-delays-start-of-school-year-to-sept-8/
Upper Darby goes all virtual for fall school opening
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/upper-darby-goes-all-virtual-for-fall-school-opening/article_2565f316-d76b-11ea-855c-b34953e4df39.html
More schools move to virtual openings amid pandemic
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/more-schools-move-to-virtual-openings-amid-pandemic/article_63fd959c-d82a-11ea-8937-bf36b43715c8.html
State teachers union president urges Bucks County to change social distancing guidelines
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20200807/state-teachers-union-president-urges-bucks-county-to-change-social-distancing-guidelines
‘We are not medical professionals’: When it comes to testing for COVID-19, Lancaster County schools say it’s beyond their control
https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/we-are-not-medical-professionals-when-it-comes-to-testing-for-covid-19-lancaster-county/article_ac994764-d817-11ea-87df-574ebdcd09c1.html
Riverside teachers union claims hybrid plan ignores teacher input
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/education/riverside-teachers-union-claims-hybrid-plan-ignores-teacher-input/article_f2ceb55a-20ef-5998-8bdf-ec3074ce71ae.html
New look at W-B Area construction shows major progress
https://www.timesleader.com/news/795527/new-look-at-w-b-area-construction-shows-major-progress
What does Reading School District’s reopening look like?
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/what-does-reading-school-districts-reopening-look-like/article_1ce57aac-d803-11ea-bf9f-07ecf1a98ac4.html
Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County approves hybrid mix of in-school and online home-based education
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/coronavirus/career-technology-center-of-lackawanna-county-approves-hybrid-mix-of-in-school-and-online-home/article_453907d9-001f-5704-bef9-7be52353cbb7.html
Former New Ken-Arnold superintendent kept on as ‘consultant,’ gets a year’s pay in severance agreement
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/former-new-ken-arnold-superintendent-kept-on-as-consultant-gets-a-years-pay-in-severance-agreement/
EDITORIAL: School districts need help to find a new normal
https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/opinion/editorials/2020/08/07/editorial-school-districts-need-help-find-new-normal/3308297001/
School prohibits wearing pajamas for online classes: report
https://www.pennlive.com/life/2020/08/school-prohibits-wearing-pajamas-for-online-classes-report.html
Lincoln U. board unanimously authorizes negotiations on a new contract for ousted president
https://www.inquirer.com/education/lincoln-university-vote-president-brenda-allen-20200806.html
Texas Tech women’s basketball coach Marlene Stollings fired one day after report of abuse
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/Pitt/2020/08/07/Texas-Tech-women-s-basketball-coach-fired-abuse-Marlene-Stollings/stories/202008070089
Health Care
Remote devices monitor cardiac patients at home, but not everyone can afford them
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2020/08/06/remote-devices-monitoring-cardiology-patients-telehealth-health-care-COVID-19/stories/202008060166
Local News
O’Hara, Etna residents can take advantage of county program to fight blight
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/ohara-etna-residents-can-take-advantage-of-county-program-to-fight-blight/
Upper Burrell Supervisors shelve proposal for a fire tax
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/upper-burrell-supervisors-shelve-proposal-for-a-fire-tax/
Anti-racial profiling ordinance lacks support for approval by WB Council
https://www.timesleader.com/news/795547/anti-racial-profiling-ordinance-lacks-support-for-approval-by-wb-council
More questions on Mackey restraint
https://www.timesleader.com/news/795550/more-questions-on-mackey-restraint
Prominent civil rights activist calls for justice for Shaheen Mackey
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/prominent-civil-rights-activist-calls-for-justice-for-shaheen-mackey/article_c341260a-f16b-5786-b2ab-838eb2552ae1.html
Rally to support Wilkes-Barre police scheduled for this afternoon
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/rally-to-support-wilkes-barre-police-scheduled-for-this-afternoon/article_afae089c-10aa-5a62-91af-6de85e1a9971.html
Westmoreland leaders say covid-19 grant awards will take longer than expected
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-leaders-say-covid-19-grant-awards-will-take-longer-than-expected/
State reimburses Westmoreland for some voting machine expenses, talks to start Friday on finding next elections bureau head
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/state-reimburses-westmoreland-for-some-voting-machine-expenses-talks-to-start-friday-on-finding-next-elections-bureau-head/
Harrisburg residents want review board over police, but state law doesn’t allow it
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/08/harrisburg-residents-want-review-board-over-police-but-state-law-doesnt-allow-it.html
York City officer’s resignation letter takes aim at mayor, police commissioner
https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/local/2020/08/06/york-city-officers-resignation-letter-takes-aim-mayor-police-commissioner/3307435001/
Local attorney banned from courthouse for suspected COVID-19 exposure
https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/local-attorney-banned-from-courthouse-for-suspected-covid-19-exposure/article_879bdcc4-d862-11ea-a88b-bfb2ed36e57a.html
Philly
Starting Sept. 1, Philly employers can no longer ask job applicants their salary history
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/philadelphia-to-enforce-salary-history-ban-september-20200806.html
Philly mail delays are raising alarms about the 2020 election: ‘This is a huge problem’
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/mail-voting-phiadelphia-post-office-delays-20200806.html
Retired Philly cops want to ‘counter-punch’ George Soros for boosting Larry Krasner in the 2017 DA race
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/clout/philadelphia-district-attorney-larry-krasner-george-soros-retired-cops-20200807.html
Philadelphia Museum of Art workers have voted decisively to unionize
https://www.inquirer.com/arts/philadelphia-museum-of-art-labor-union-vote-20200806.html
Everybody Eats will give away free groceries in Southwest Philly on Saturday
https://www.inquirer.com/food/everybody-eats-philly-volunteers-food-giveaway-southwest-kingsessing-20200806.html
West Philly block struggling with drugs, gun violence where 6-year-old was shot
https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/west-philly-block-struggling-with-drugs-gun-violence-where-6-year-old-was-shot/article_f53486b1-3424-5950-879a-6adcdbc41c1e.html
Free internet coming for 35,000 Philly families: city, schools, Comcast to spend $17M on digital equity plan
https://www.inquirer.com/education/comcast-free-internet-access-students-philadelphia-school-district-20200806.html
Philly needs free AC and other tools to beat brutal heatwaves | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/heat-wave-philadelphia-pennsylvania-air-conditioning-support-cooling-20200806.html
Pitt
Port Authority may struggle with staffing to meet return to full bus service Aug. 23
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2020/08/06/Port-Authority-full-service-driver-shortage-COVID-19/stories/202008060157
Pittsburgh Public Schools now recommending no fall contact sports
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/highschool/2020/08/07/Pittsburgh-Public-Schools-fall-sports-wpial-pandemic-pennsylvania-governor/stories/202008070092
Pittsburgh Public Schools plans to postpone fall sports in City League
https://tribhssn.triblive.com/pittsburgh-public-schools-plans-to-postpone-fall-sports-in-city-league/
Peduto sends letter to Congress, advocates for bills that help entertainment venues stay afloat
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/peduto-sends-letter-to-congress-advocates-for-bills-that-help-entertainment-venues/
Mayor appoints new city treasurer
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2020/08/06/Pittsburgh-director-department-finance-treasurer-Douglas-Anderson/stories/202008060141
Burgh’ers Brewery creates ‘Black is Beautiful’ beer, helps Urban League
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/burghers-brewery-creates-black-is-beautiful-beer-helps-urban-league/
Controller audit reveals issues with city, Parks Conservancy contracts, revenue sharing
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2020/08/06/Controller-audit-reveals-issues-with-City-Parks-Conservancy-contracts-revenue-sharing/stories/202008060127
Pittsburgh Promise to allow gap year for students affected by COVID-19
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2020/08/06/Pittsburgh-Promise-scholarship-gap-year-students-COVID-19-pandemic/stories/202008060100
Keep Market Square vibrant
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2020/08/07/Keep-Market-Square-vibrant-Downtown-Local-Restaurants/stories/202008010013
Allegheny County Jail oversight board to review how inmates are disciplined
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/allegheny-county-jail-oversight-board-to-review-how-inmates-are-disciplined/
State News
Deadlocked Pa. panel rejects Peco proposal for COVID-19 bill relief for low-income customers
https://www.inquirer.com/business/pennsylvania-rejects-peco-covid-utility-bill-relief-20200807.html
This PUC rule on utility shutoffs unfairly impacts Black and Brown people. It must be repealed | Opinion
https://www.penncapital-star.com/civil-rights-social-justice/this-puc-rule-on-utility-shutoffs-unfairly-impacts-black-and-brown-people-it-must-be-repealed-opinion/
Pain and questions linger 15 years after six Alpha Company guardsmen from Philly area were killed in Iraq
https://www.inquirer.com/news/alpha-company-pennsylvania-national-guard-iraq-six-philadelphia-area-soldiers-killed-20200807.html
For Pa. and N.J. law school graduates, bar exams will be held despite COVID and questions about the testing ordeal.
https://www.inquirer.com/business/diploma-privilege-bar-exam-penn-state-conway-bar-association-schwager-20200807.html
How have 55 acres been saved every day since 2010 in Pennsylvania?
https://www.pennlive.com/life/2020/08/how-did-55-acres-get-saved-every-day-since-2010-in-pennsylvania.html