Headlines:
• Department of Labor & Industry working to resolve issues with new unemployment system: Acting Labor & Industry Secretary Jennifer Berrier said the department has "come a long way" in the two days since the launch of the new unemployment system. She also said the state's new Teleclaims system, which allows unemployment filing by phone, is now operational. (Source: Penn Capital-Star)
• Eight Lancaster County affordable housing initiatives receive state funding: They are receiving $1.6 million from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, part of $45 million distributed statewide through the the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) fund. (Source: LNP)
• Pennsylvania GOP legislators propose sweeping election changes: Among the proposals are stricter voter ID requirements, in-person early voting, and signature verification of mail-in ballots. A spokesperson for Gov. Tom Wolf called the plan "an extremist proposal" intended to undermine trust in elections. (Source: Spotlight PA)
• Activists push for legislative gift ban: Pennsylvania is one of eight states with no partial or full gift ban. (Source: Spotlight PA)
• Pa. legislator looking to draft legislation banning police use of tear gas: State Rep. Christopher Rabb, D-Philadelphia, said tear gas and similar crowd-control agents are banned in war, and should not be used by Pennsylvania police. (Source: FOX 43)
• National/world roundup: Rep. Adam Schiff calls for inquiry into former Trump DOJ investigation of Democratic lawmakers and their families. (Source: NBC News) Bipartisan group reaches deal on infrastructure plan to present to Congress. (Source: UPI) G-7 countries pledge 1 billion vaccines to struggling countries. (Source: AP) Criticisms increase over FDA's approval of new Alzheimer's drug. (Source: Reuters)
