Legislature
Gov. Wolf heads into last budget season with flush state coffers (abc27.com)
Redistricting disputes between Pa. politicians, local leaders continue (abc27.com)
Longtime Pa. lawmaker to retire – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Pa. State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe announces retirement (abc27.com)
Court asked to require accredited lab in GOP ‘investigation’ in Pennsylvania | WITF
3 Chester County park upgrades get $900,000 in state funding (dailylocal.com)
Coronavirus – COVID-19
Biden urges concern, not alarm as omicron rises | News | phillytrib.com
The coronavirus in Pennsylvania, by the numbers | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
Israel sets COVID-19 record as rule changes create whiplash : NPR
CDC says a test to get out of COVID isolation is not needed : NPR
Guest editorial | ‘The results of the vaccines are very good’ | Editorials | tribdem.com
Rural communities across Pa. take advantage of free COVID testing (abc27.com)
Supreme Court confirms justices have received COVID-19 booster | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Oral COVID-19 medications have shipped, but good luck getting a prescription in Pennsylvania | WITF
The CDC now recommends Pfizer boosters after 5 months, down from 6 | WITF
Erie’s COVID-19 test sites see long lines, positivity rate climbs (goerie.com)
Business/Jobs
A record 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs in November | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Supply Chain Woes Prompt a New Push to Revive U.S. Factories – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
IRS sets new business mileage rates for 2022 – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Crime/Punishment
64 Pennsylvania residents arrested for U.S. Capitol rioting (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
On Second Thought . . . How About Funding Police Again? – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Pennsylvania man free after 37 years due to ‘sex for lies’ false witness | WITF
Nationwide vigils called for justice in death of Pocono teen (poconorecord.com)
Education
MCCC gets $1.1M grant for wellness center in Pottstown (dailylocal.com)
Omicron variant impacts school districts, as students return to classes in 2022 (abc27.com)
‘Slight uptick’ as schools welcome students back after holiday break | Coronavirus | tribdem.com
Central Dauphin changing school schedules due to ‘COVID’s impact on transportation’ (abc27.com)
Lehigh Valley school mask rules – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Enrollment at Pennsylvania colleges continue to decline. Check by school (poconorecord.com)
Elections/Politics
Shapiro endorses Pa. lieutenant governor candidate – pennlive.com
Shapiro backs Pittsburgh-area lawmaker to be running mate (abc27.com)
Here’s where election-denying candidates are running to control voting : NPR
The only person to beat Obama in an election will leave Congress : NPR
U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania: Here’s who is running, so far (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Who wants to run for governor as a Republican in 2022? | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
Environment
Transportation
Virginia officials defend response to snowy gridlock on I-95 : NPR
The crashes are cleared that stranded drivers in freezing temperatures on I-95 : NPR
Sen. Tim Kaine: ‘Miserable’ commute became a survival project – pennlive.com
Support for Scranton-to-NYC passenger train project picks up steam | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Health
Temple University Hospital finds new CEO in-house – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Where are flu rates highest in Pennsylvania? Map – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Chester County hospitals to receive strike teams to help with pandemic – Daily Local
This new ovarian cancer treatment could improve survival rates | 5 Questions (inquirer.com)
UPMC Children’s expands covid unit as precautionary step | TribLIVE.com
State News
Casinos in Pennsylvania not ready to stop people from lighting up while gambling – WPXI
Pennsylvania recovers more than $3M in labor violations | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Snow to fall in central Pennsylvania as the Pennsylvania Farm Show is set to open Saturday (ydr.com)
Season’s 1st winter snowfall headed to Western Pennsylvania | TribLIVE.com
National News
How Gunfire Is Killing More American Children – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Chicago public school classes are canceled after teachers union backs remote learning : NPR
Albany County DA Drops Criminal Complaint Against Andrew Cuomo – Gothamist
Hogan named co-chair of Appalachian Regional Commission | Maryland | thecentersquare.com
U.S. arrests, charges suspect in Haitian president slaying | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Trump cancels Florida press conference scheduled for Jan. 6 | TribLIVE.com
Local News
Lancaster police Chief Bey reflects on a year on the job | Local News | lancasteronline.com
Newtown business owners want more safety measures on Sycamore Street (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Berks County commissioners acknowledge Sunshine Act violation (readingeagle.com)
Harrisburg killings drop in 2021, defying national trend – pennlive.com
Study shows rural home sales increased 7% during pandemic (poconorecord.com)
Restrictions returning as COVID-19 cases surge in Luzerne County | coronavirus | citizensvoice.com
Newport commissioners voice support for $6B gasoline plant | News | citizensvoice.com
Pitt
Jim Rogers’ ‘accidental’ death leaves questions | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh to close for 5 days due to staffing shortages | TribLIVE.com
Philly
Philly Health Department warns of possible COVID-19 testing scam | Local News | phillytrib.com
Philadelphia trash collection delayed by staffing shortages (inquirer.com)
City to honor Visit Philly’s Jeff Guaracino on the day of his funeral | Local News | phillytrib.com
Washington
Shapiro backs Pittsburgh-area lawmaker to be running mate (abc27.com)
House Jan. 6 committee seeks to question Fox News’ Sean Hannity about the Capitol riot | WITF
‘Preserving Democracy’ documentary to air on anniversary of Capitol riots | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Manchin wary of changing Senate rules to advance voting bill | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette