Coronavirus – COVID-19
Pa. coronavirus recovery: New suit seeks additional SNAP benefits for lowest-income Pa. residents https://whyy.org/articles/pa-coronavirus-recovery-puc-deadlocks-so-utility-shutoff-moratorium-continues/
With CDC out of data collection, some state hospital groups can’t get COVID-19 info https://whyy.org/npr_story_post/with-cdc-out-of-data-collection-some-state-hospital-groups-cant-get-covid-19-info/
Pa. winemakers call for clarity in new COVID-19 mitigation restrictions even as they look to comply https://whyy.org/articles/pa-winemakers-call-for-clarity-in-new-covid-19-mitigation-restrictions-even-as-they-look-to-comply/
Safe pregnancy as COVID-19 surges: What’s best for mom and baby? https://whyy.org/npr_story_post/safe-pregnancy-as-covid-19-surges-whats-best-for-mom-and-baby/
How many have really been infected with coronavirus? I pricked my finger to help find out. https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid19-antibody-test-positive-nih-flu-20200718.html
U.S. bungles coronavirus testing again, this time with delayed results due to hotspots, lack of federal coordination https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/us-coronavirus-testing-mired-in-another-round-of-failures-worsening-outbreaks-20200717.html
Officials ask public to continue following coronavirus safety measures; Montco educators ask for clarity on state reopening guidance https://www.inquirer.com/news/coronavirus-covid-19-pa-philadelphia-nj-cases-schools-lebanon-county-spread-20200717.html
Congressional Democrats demand White House restore hospital data collection to CDC https://www.witf.org/2020/07/17/congressional-democrats-demand-white-house-restore-hospital-data-collection-to-cdc/
Pa. names counties to watch for coronavirus cases, including some in central Pa. https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/07/pa-names-counties-to-watch-for-coronavirus-cases-including-some-in-central-pa.html
COVID-19 case reported in YMCA day care https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/coronavirus/covid-19-case-reported-in-ymca-day-care/article_94071aa9-0d53-5dba-9528-e914940e836c.html
Lackawanna sees renewed double-digit COVID-19 case rise https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/coronavirus/lackawanna-sees-renewed-double-digit-covid-19-case-rise/article_54e98563-d603-5002-b6c8-6d122682df9f.html
Global virus numbers show normal life still far away https://www.tribdem.com/coronavirus/global-virus-numbers-show-normal-life-still-far-away/article_c93469bb-d9b4-5867-8f8c-2326fba7fbf6.html
Pennsylvania coronavirus update: 1,032 more cases added Friday; most in more than 2 months https://www.mcall.com/coronavirus/mc-nws-virus-friday-healthdata-20200717-jvlodzcr3zccpjswzyemojuxte-story.html
Stress rises for unemployed as extra $600 benefit nears end https://www.mcall.com/business/careers-finance/sns-stress-for-unemployed-extra-benefits-near-end-20200717-32r5ne5lanc5jpvq3unazqrgw4-story.html
Legislature
In the Philly region, fired cops have shuffled to new departments. New laws aim to change that. https://www.inquirer.com/news/police-officers-fired-rehired-police-misconduct-michael-schmalz-warminster-rockledge-20200717.html
Pennsylvania GOP Lawmakers Call For Investigation Into Unresolved Unemployment Claims https://www.wesa.fm/post/pennsylvania-gop-lawmakers-call-investigation-unresolved-unemployment-claims
Philly Dem Boyle pitches bill allowing municipalities to set their own minimum wage https://www.penncapital-star.com/working-the-economy/philly-dem-boyle-pitches-bill-allowing-municipalities-to-set-their-own-minimum-wage/
Pa. lawmakers want voters to weaken governor’s emergency powers, boost their own https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-governor-powers-voters-20200716-f7zbfmjubberncmyo4dlwgkqlm-story.html
Changing the rules to combat racism https://www.chestnuthilllocal.com/2020/07/16/changing-the-rules-to-combat-racism/
Administration
Wolf asserts emergency powers to justify withholding federal money from Lebanon County https://whyy.org/articles/wolf-asserts-emergency-powers-to-justify-withholding-federal-money-from-lebanon-county/
Restaurants to fight back; some sports teams ask Health Department to allow fans in the stands https://www.witf.org/2020/07/17/some-sports-teams-in-the-state-ask-health-department-to-allow-fans-in-the-stands/
Wolf announces new citizens oversight panel for law enforcement https://www.penncapital-star.com/criminal-justice/wolf-announces-new-citizens-oversight-panel-for-law-enforcement/
Majority of people who have applied for unemployment compensation have received payment: Labor & Industry https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/07/majority-of-people-who-have-applied-for-unemployment-compensation-have-received-payment-labor-industry.html
Business
Fast food fight: The story of a protest you never saw, and the Black employees who made it happen https://whyy.org/articles/fast-food-fight-the-story-of-a-protest-you-never-saw-and-the-black-employees-who-made-it-happen/
Urban Outfitters faces a racial reckoning for what Black employees say is a toxic workplace https://www.inquirer.com/business/retail/urban-outfitters-anthropology-racial-racism-complaints-instagram-george-floyd-20200718.html
Put your two cents in: Banks and stores appeal to customers to mitigate the nationwide coin shortage https://www.post-gazette.com/business/career-workplace/2020/07/18/coin-shortage-affecting-businesses/stories/202007160145
Bars introduce cheap eats to comply with coronavirus ‘meal’ restrictions https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/bars-introduce-cheap-eats-to-comply-with-coronavirus-meal-restrictions/
Home Depot to require customers to wear face masks at U.S. stores https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/07/home-depot-to-require-customers-to-wear-face-masks-at-us-stores.html
Crime/Punishment
Allentown officers seen on video in controversial detention won’t face charges https://whyy.org/articles/allentown-officers-seen-on-video-in-controversial-detention-wont-face-charges/
This Philly man was indicted by a virtual grand jury in N.J., a process criticized by defense attorneys, prosecutors https://www.inquirer.com/news/new-jersey-virtual-grand-juries-coronavirus-defense-attorneys-say-unconstitutional-20200717.html
State Police Liquor Control issues 44 warnings for pandemic compliance https://triblive.com/local/regional/state-police-liquor-control-issues-44-warnings-for-pandemic-compliance/
First Westmoreland prison inmate tests positive for covid-19 https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/first-westmoreland-prison-inmate-tests-positive-for-covid-19/
Amish teen still not found; police ask for public’s help https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-amish-teen-still-missing-20200717-u3a77lriojadlccvw7sinh6rzy-story.html
Education
Penn State sets goal to increase diversity to 50% on its board of trustees within five years https://www.inquirer.com/education/penn-state-diversity-board-tuition-classes-20200717.html
State Health, Education Secretaries Issue New School Guidance, Say Hybrid Schooling Is Best Option https://www.wesa.fm/post/state-health-education-secretaries-issue-new-school-guidance-say-hybrid-schooling-best-option
Penn State freezes tuition, reduces room and board https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2020/07/17/Penn-State-freezes-tuition-reduces-room-and-board/stories/202007170109
Penn State shifts gears on fall opening plans and now will offer half of its classes at least partially online https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/07/penn-state-shifts-gears-on-fall-opening-plans-and-now-will-offer-half-of-its-classes-at-least-partially-online.html
West Shore School District to start classes online in the fall https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/07/west-shore-school-district-to-start-classes-online-in-the-fall.html
Scranton School District to seek approval for major tax increase https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/education/scranton-school-district-to-seek-approval-for-major-tax-increase/article_194715b3-57a9-5a30-b91e-7c2bb8bc8f7a.html
‘Changing landscape and a moving target’: Area schools develop plans to return while dealing with a dynamic health situation https://www.tribdem.com/news/changing-landscape-and-a-moving-target-area-schools-develop-plans-to-return-while-dealing-with/article_31da5452-c893-11ea-8b4c-67c0fbb75edb.html
8 Berks County school districts raise taxes in their 2020-21 budgets https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/8-berks-county-school-districts-raise-taxes-in-their-2020-21-budgets/article_fe2c04ae-c5d4-11ea-9577-4f9617532294.html
Montgomery County official: ‘no way possible to guarantee that any school will be free of the coronavirus’ https://www.pottsmerc.com/news/montgomery-county-official-no-way-possible-to-guarantee-that-any-school-will-be-free-of/article_fec8de3e-c799-11ea-8d6a-7792957a9b48.html
Elections/Politics
Parnell Closes Funding Gap, Outraises Lamb In PA-17 https://www.wesa.fm/post/parnell-closes-funding-gap-outraises-lamb-pa-17
Mayor of Portland to Trump: Get your troops out of the city https://triblive.com/news/world/mayor-of-portland-to-trump-get-your-troops-out-of-the-city/
DePasquale jumps out to fundraising lead in PA-10 over Perry https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/depasquale-jumps-out-to-fundraising-lead-in-pa-10-over-perry-friday-morning-coffee/
Gov. Wolf’s refusal to release Lebanon County’s CARES money is an ‘incredible insult,’ GOP foes contend https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/07/gov-wolfs-refusal-to-release-lebanon-countys-cares-money-is-an-incredible-insult-gop-foes-contend.html
Roderick Random: Race leans Democratic, money pours that way https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/columnists/roderick-random-race-leans-democratic-money-pours-that-way/article_f3c8a503-c008-559e-93f1-ac60b9316b20.html
Day of protest at Berks Family Residential Center calls for release of families https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/day-of-protest-at-berks-family-residential-center-calls-for-release-of-families/article_c9f1b390-c850-11ea-939d-b749da8780cc.html
Democrat Finello takes on better-funded Republican Fitzpatrick in 1st District race https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20200718/democrat-finello-takes-on-better-funded-republican-fitzpatrick-in-1st-district-race
Gaming
Coronavirus main cause of 18% drop in PA gaming revenue https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20200717/coronavirus-main-cause-of-18-drop-in-pa-gaming-revenue
Local News
Central Pa. city looks to youth for guidance, more equitable future. https://papost.org/2020/07/17/central-pa-city-looks-to-youth-for-guidance-more-equitable-future/
Capital Area Greenbelt now extends from Wildwood Park to Fort Hunter https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/07/capital-area-greenbelt-now-extends-from-wildwood-park-to-fort-hunter.html
Fun and friends prevail at Harveys Lake day camp despite coronavirus concerns https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/coronavirus/fun-and-friends-prevail-at-harveys-lake-day-camp-despite-coronavirus-concerns/article_c4191dd3-a140-5bce-a15f-db7cd52dc872.html
More than 100 become new citizens during Scranton drive-by ceremony https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/coronavirus/more-than-100-become-new-citizens-during-scranton-drive-by-ceremony/article_3a4adccc-eff5-507c-bb39-f142e909c67c.html
Records office finds county violated RTK law https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/records-office-finds-county-violated-rtk-law/article_1a7623c6-cace-5cd0-8bf3-7754e43c7650.html
Lackawanna County grants defray pandemic-prompted costs, benefit community projects https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/lackawanna-county-grants-defray-pandemic-prompted-costs-benefit-community-projects/article_5c98a5f0-1d04-594d-ba7f-6b4d13bdf33d.html
Lackawanna Trail discusses reopening plans https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/education/lackawanna-trail-discusses-reopening-plans/article_a3261f49-0911-5eb0-94f4-3ea31ea2c4ab.html
Upper Darby rolls out new beautification effort https://www.delcotimes.com/news/upper-darby-rolls-out-new-beautification-effort/article_cf5eeb5a-c791-11ea-aa23-4b6251e0ccff.html
National News
John Lewis, lion of civil rights and Congress, dies at 80 https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/john-lewis-lion-civil-rights-congress-dies-80-20200718.htmln
A timeline of events in the life of Rep. John Lewis https://www.phillytrib.com/news/across_america/a-timeline-of-events-in-the-life-of-rep-john-lewis/article_bb6db0c8-c8b2-11ea-a568-dbd1fc3f1677.html
Doctors and dentists still flooding U.S. with opioid prescriptions https://whyy.org/npr_story_post/doctors-and-dentists-still-flooding-u-s-with-opioid-prescriptions/
These Ocean City bars, restaurants have temporarily closed after employees had, or could have, COVID-19 https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2020/07/these-ocean-city-bars-restaurants-have-temporarily-closed-after-employees-had-or-could-have-covid-19.html
Natural Gas
More sinkholes develop alongside Mariner East construction in Chester County https://whyy.org/articles/more-sinkholes-develop-alongside-mariner-east-construction-in-chester-county/
State investigating new sinkholes along Mariner East pipeline https://www.inquirer.com/business/pennsylvania-investigating-new-sinkholes-mariner-east-pipeline-20200717.html
Philly
Philly is so far behind on trash pickup that one City Council member calls it a looming ‘public health crisis’ https://www.inquirer.com/news/trash-piling-up-in-phialdelphia-coronavirus-staff-shortages-20200717.html
Philadelphia’s labor movement faces a reckoning over the city’s powerful police union https://www.inquirer.com/jobs/labor/police-unions-reform-philadelphia-20200720.html
’Tis the season: Tinsel pop-up bar returns to Center City for Christmas in July https://whyy.org/articles/tis-the-season-tinsel-pop-up-bar-returns-to-center-city-for-christmas-in-july/
Is a ‘floating cinema’ coming to Philly with social distancing boats? Yeah, probably not https://billypenn.com/2020/07/17/floating-cinema-scam-beyond-cinema-social-distancing-boats-philadelphia/
100 degrees possible Monday as Philly weather takes a ‘dangerously hot’ turn https://www.inquirer.com/weather/heat-wave-philadelphia-deaths-weather-20200717.html
Pa. Attorney General sues to shut down three Philly tow-truck companies he says used pit bulls and threats to ‘extort’ customers https://www.inquirer.com/news/tow-truck-philadelphia-lawsuit-josh-shapiro-20200717.html
Pitt
DEP issues Code Orange air quality alert with weekend heat expected to rise https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2020/07/17/Air-quality-warning-code-orange-allegheny-county-southwest-pennsylvania-weather-pa-department-environmental-protection/stories/202007170117
No flight of fancy: Allegheny County Airport sees growth during COVID-19 pandemic https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2020/07/17/Allegheny-County-Airport-COVID-19-pandemic-Pittsburgh-International-Airport-Christina-Cassotis/stories/202007170112
State News
Pennsylvania Sports Teams Ask To Allow Fans In The Stands https://www.wesa.fm/post/pennsylvania-sports-teams-ask-allow-fans-stands
June Jobless Rate Slid Down In Pennsylvania, Payrolls Jumped https://www.wesa.fm/post/june-jobless-rate-slid-down-pennsylvania-payrolls-jumped
Washington
Justice Ginsburg says cancer has returned, but won’t retire https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/ruth-bader-ginsburg-cancer-returns-scotus-supreme-court-20200717.html
Pentagon bans Confederate flag in way to avoid Trump’s wrath https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/pentagon-trump-confederate-flags-military-installations-policy-20200717.html
Judge: Trump must follow DACA ruling https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2020/07/18/Judge-Trump-must-follow-DACA-ruling/stories/202007180038
Mnuchin urges swift passage for aid bill https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2020/07/18/Mnuchin-urges-swift-passage-for-aid-bill/stories/202007180037