NewsRegional & State News
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Justin Berl
‘We’re not panicking’; Steelers regrouping after loss
The key to Pittsburgh’s ability to hang around in what looks to be a very competitive AFC North is how quickly the pieces start fitting together.By Will Graves/The Associated Press -
Chris O’Meara
Tamaqua school district that shunned mask mandate reverses decision
A Pennsylvania school district that openly flouted a statewide mask mandate for K-12 schools has reversed course and says it will require universal masking for students and others inside school buildings. The Tamaqua Area School Board voted 6-3 on Tuesday night to comply with the masking order from the state Health Department, which requires students, staff and visitors to cover their faces while indoors.
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Jaime Dunaway
Pennsylvania high court OKs ‘comfort dogs’ for witnesses
Judges can limit any potential prejudice to a defendant by blocking jurors’ view of the dog and giving appropriate jury instructions, the court said.
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Jeffrey Stockbridge
For advocates, ‘a sense of relief’ with Chambersburg law banning discrimination against LGBTQ people
In a four-hour meeting on Monday, the borough council voted 7-3 to make it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, employment and public accommodation.
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Keith Srakocic
Turnpike’s $104M in unpaid tolls draws senators’ scrutiny
The turnpike laid off hundreds of toll collectors last year and speeded up its long-planned conversion to a cashless, all-electronic tolling system.
Politics & Policy
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Commonwealth Media Services
Pa. state Democratic lawmaker quietly stripped of committee leadership, Capitol access
State Rep. Kevin Boyle of Philadelphia has been sidelined over what he called “incorrect information” about him. Democratic leaders have not disclosed the reason for their move.
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Marc Levy
Pa. commission votes to scale back ‘prison gerrymandering’ reform made last month
The commission voted to narrow the number of state prisoners it will count as residents of their home district, rather than the one where they’re locked up.
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Matt Rourke
Justices ponder victim rights amendment that’s been in limbo
The state Supreme Court justices heard oral argument regarding whether the so-called Marsy’s Law amendment should have been split into more than just one ballot question.
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Julio Cortez
Pennsylvania appeals court judge candidates talk temperament, not cases
ight candidates for four seats on Pennsylvania’s statewide appeals court endured an hour of lightning round questions during an online campaign forum on Monday.
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Barletta signs anti-tax pledge in GOP campaign for governor
Lou Barletta is running in a crowded field for the GOP nomination next May.
Health
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Min Xian
Some Central Pa. hospitals see uptick in COVID-19 hospitalizations, especially among the unvaccinated
“About a month ago, Penn Highlands hospitals were caring for just a handful of COVID-19 positive inpatients, but now we’re caring for almost 40 per day.” -
Quinn Glabicki for Spotlight PA / PublicSource
Pa. lawmakers know a dementia care crisis is coming. Will they agree on a response?
“The problem is now. It’s today. It’s not coming, it’s here.”
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Courtesy of Tom Sofield
Dauphin, Bucks among counties to test out mental health pilot program
‘Assisted outpatient treatment’ is intended to give people structure and keep them out of jail.
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Kimberly Paynter
How a children’s COVID vaccine could offer a new normal for schools
Experts agree a vaccine for younger students won’t suddenly trigger a return to normal, pre-pandemic schooling.
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As Warren County COVID-19 cases increase, hundreds of students request masking exemptions
Warren County is seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases with the school year beginning this month. Close to 20% of new cases so far in September are among students in Warren County School District, where hundreds have been in quarantine.
National & World News
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Brendan Smialowski
The U.S. is donating more COVID vaccines and wants other rich nations to pitch in
The pledge will come at the start of a virtual summit aimed at boosting commitments from other nations and the private sector. The goal: vaccinate 70% of the world’s population within a year.
By Tamara Keith/NPR -
Marta Lavandier
Is the worst over? Modelers predict a steady decline in COVID cases through March
The delta surge appears to be peaking nationally, but modelers remain concerned about Pennsylvania.
By Rob Stein and Carmel Wroth/NPR -
Chris O’Meara
US sues to stop deal between American Airlines and JetBlue
The airlines argue that the Justice Department has no evidence that their agreement is leading to higher fares.
By David Koenig/The Associated Press
Energy & environment
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Matt Rourke
Pa. won’t hit climate goals without increasing efforts now, report says
The state’s new Climate Action Plan focuses on cutting emissions in the state’s three most-polluting sectors: electricity generation, industrial energy use, and transportation.
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Emma Lee
How much do energy industry jobs pay? A look at the data
Data on clean energy jobs is important in Pennsylvania, where there is tension between a robust fossil-fuel industry and what scientists say is the need to cut carbon emissions to mitigate the effects of climate change.
By Karin Kirk, Yale Climate Connections -
Matt Rourke
‘Squash it, smash it … just get rid of it’: Spotted lanternfly continues to spread in Pa.
Julie Urban with Penn State’s Department of Entomology said they are more noticeable right now because they are in their “teenage phase.” She said that means they are feeding a lot and ready to reproduce.
By Julia Agos -
Allyson Ruggieri
Need help paying a past due utility bill? Call before the end of September
About 750,000 residential accounts are at risk of termination statewide.
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Study shows significant health benefits from Pa. joining RGGI, but some harms for neighboring states
The team at Penn State found that the commonwealth could reduce health impacts caused by power plant pollution by between $18 and 40 billion dollars over the next nine years.
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Photo courtesy of Jackie Bieber
Efforts to prevent suicide center on awareness campaign and legislation
September is suicide prevention month, an opportunity to draw awareness to this national crisis and highlight the warning signs.
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Gene J. Puskar
The flu season poses unique challenge to the COVID fight
The flu virus is around all year, but is most common in the United States during the fall and winter months.
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Ross D. Franklin
Republicans move forward with calls for 2020 election review
Republican legislators in Pennsylvania have been pushing for a review of the 2020 presidential election; one that many have described as modeled after the audit conducted in Arizona recently.