Today in PA | A PennLive daily news briefing with Claudia Dimuro

Pa. Republican majorities voted in favor of putting a stop to Gov. Tom Wolf’s pandemic disaster emergency declaration. The House of Representatives may vote on the Voting Rights Protection Act as early as next week. Pa. plans to address its health disparities in marginalized and rural communities with a $36 million award from the CDC. While the Department of Labor & Industry’s rollout of the new u...

Pa. experts weigh in on COVID-19 herd immunity. Over 13 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been given in the state. Pa. Jobless advocates are frustrated with new unemployment system errors. McDonald’s plans to hire thousands of new employees across Pa. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The statewide positive test has fallen below 3%. Though, one Pa. county still has a high transmission rate of COVID-19.  Pennsylvania farmers markets have teamed up with Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration to bring awareness to the state’s food assistance programs.  Governor Tom Wolf and Democratic lawmakers also joined forces to make a pitch for $1 billion-plus investment in Pa. schools.  And a Pennsy...

A Christian college located near Philadelphia closed its social work program partly due to the fact that it found the guidelines of the accrediting agency to conflict with its theological beliefs. Meanwhile, veterinarians and volunteers find themselves tasked with caring for over 400 animals that were all rescued from the same property. The restoration of the Chesapeake Bay watershed just got some...

A man in Philadelphia was fatally attacked as he was helping one of his fellow employees who had gotten into a car crash. Police in Northwest Philadelphia have been ordered to end stopping individuals for “quality-of-life” violations starting August. The USFL has announced its plans to return with new teams in spring 2022, sparking rumors of a second pro-football franchise for Philadelphia. And if...

A woman was shot in her car yesterday on Pittsburgh’s North Side. A newly introduced Senate bill would allow for the state Game Commission to decide for itself which Sundays would be open to hunting. One Pennsylvania forest gained some new acreage. Plus, if you got nothing going on in mid-June, you could always go to the Bigfoot Festival. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A serial killer has confessed to unsolved murders that took place in Beaver County during the 1970s. Meanwhile, state tax collections continue to bounce back as the pandemic eases away. Only one county in the entire state is showing a substantial spread of COVID-19. And a local high school gets an early dismissal after what looks like a bobcat invades the premises. See acast.com/privacy for privac...

The U.S. Justice Department ruled that the Hazelton Police Department must take the steps to cater to those who do not speak English. State lawmakers are looking to begin to chip away at Governor Tom Wolf’s COVID-19 disaster declaration. The first few days of June continues on its rainy track. Finally, three dogs from Pennsylvania are semifinalists in the 2021 American Humane Hero Dog Awards. See...

A hiker that went missing in the Pennsylvania portion of the Appalachian Trail was found safe and sound. The state Department of Agriculture announced that it is using insecticide to beat back invasive spotted lanternflies. The Pennsylvania unemployment benefits system is currently in transition until next week. And this one farm will let you play with goats at no charge. See acast.com/privacy for...

Restaurants throughout the state and across the country are being forced to drop certain menu items and to raise prices as food rises in cost. The Peach Bottom Power Station will hold an emergency siren test this week. The WWE will return to the PPG Paints Arena this summer. And the lucky individual who catches Bigfoot could get a $3 million bounty, courtesy of Oklahoma. See acast.com/privacy for...

A Plains Township man is claiming self-defense after assaulting a woman and stabbing a man with a box cutter. Unfortunately for drivers, traffic for Memorial Day Weekend is expected be twice as high as last year. The National Guard will soon take over COVID-19 contact tracing responsibilities after the previous vendor was fired over a massive data breach. Plus, a historic park is officially saved...

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has dropped legal action against the 40 restaurants which defied COVID-19 mitigation orders during the pandemic. The state Senate Finance Committee has passed two tax credit bills which seek to help businesses recover from the coronavirus outbreak. Cocktails-to-go may become a permanent option at restaurants and bars throughout the state. And seriously—why are...

Two bills restricting abortion rights have advanced through the Pennsylvania House Health Committee. The Tarentum Bridge will be closed next month for renovations. Police are urging residents in a Pittsburgh suburb to not take selfies with any of the bears roaming the neighborhood. And according to one study, Pennsylvania is one of the grossest states in the nation. See acast.com/privacy for priva...

A Pennsylvania House committee voted to permanently pass medical marijuana law changes that were brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, the Wolf administration announced that the work search requirement will be reinstated for those receiving unemployment compensation. UPMC renames its hospitals located within the Harrisburg region. And May’s blood supermoon is on the rise. See acast...

The state Department of Labor and Industry has found that Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate and payroll saw very little change in April. A Bethlehem man who punched his girlfriend told the police to shoot him so he wouldn’t have to go back to jail. The Water Sports Foundation predicts this upcoming Memorial Day weekend could be busy and accident-prone with concerns to boats. Plus, nature lovers are...

A Philadelphia man has plead guilty for a 2019 shooting in which a stray bullet hit a 2-year-old-girl. A guard has been charged for his part in a drug sale operation going on in Allegheny County Jail. Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy DeFoor is calling for a close watch on how COVID-19 relief dollars are spent in the state. And EMS workers in Pittsburgh get the comic book superhero treatment. S...

A former official in Philadelphia has been sentenced for embezzling $150,000 meant for nonprofit and community endeavors. A teacher in Juniata County can’t receive any sick day donations from his co-workers as he and his family recover from a house fire. Voters in Pennsylvania have backed an amendment to the state constitution that would ban discrimination based on race and ethnicity. Finally, a c...

A man in East Stroudsburg shot at would-be robbers invading his home, injuring one and killing another. A man who not only faked being an Army combat veteran but also stole $17,000 from an American Legion post has landed a six- to 12-year prison sentence. Penn State’s Faculty Senate voted to drop all gendered and binary terms from course and program descriptions. And one Pennsylvanian city finds i...

The head of the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association is looking for an apology from Governor Tom Wolf over comments he made in a letter to state employees. The Port Authority intends to increase its vehicle capacity in May before returning to full capacity in June. A new website provides helpful tips for the prevention of ticks. Plus, a Bucks County historic park will officially be conserved an...

According to prosecutors, a Butler Township man who is suspected of two homicides and is a person of interest in a third meets the definition of a “serial killer.” The list of Pennsylvania lawmakers who spent the most on food, lodging, and other expenditures is now available for the public to see. Over 1,000 pounds of frankenfish were pulled out of the Susquehanna River. And a WWII veteran connect...

The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office has begun investigating a data breach at a company overseeing COVID-19 contact tracing that may have left the private information of approximately 72,000 people compromised. Amazon Air has landed at Pittsburgh International Airport. The Pittsburgh Penguins are readying themselves for the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. And a pastor from Alle...

A Pittsburgh man who attacked mounted police and a cop car with a stop sign during a riot over the death of George Floyd has pleaded guilty to charges such as aggravated assault on officers. Worries over gas prices in Pennsylvania and the rest of the East Coast continue after the Colonial Pipeline suffered from a ransomeware attack. One driver has filed a lawsuit against the Pennsylvania Turnpike,...

The Humane Society recently released its annual list of puppy mill entries from around the country, ranking Pennsylvania near the top of the list. The state Attorney General’s office took over nearly $18 million in student debt fees, taking it out of the hands of private debt collectors. Indoor and outdoor event capacities will increase starting May 17. Plus, a man who grew his hair out for two ye...

A 15-year-old boy was charged as an adult in connection with the homicide of another teenager that took place in Pittsburgh last month. A man linked to a series of explosions in Carbon County had previously brought a large, homemade explosive device into a dollar store. The Pennsylvania Senate is currently considering a bill that would give parents the option of holding their children back a year...

The Pa. state department recently announced switching to a better map to find COVID-19 vaccines. Regal Cinemas is reopening its chain of movie theater locations in central Pa. Green Day and more of your favorite artists are coming to put on in-person concerts this summer and fall. Do you want to camp in Pennsylvania without having your own RV or tent? There are some options for you! See acast.com/...