Legislature
Gov. Wolf announces $15 million for gun violence prevention, calls for community safety (abc27.com)
Gov. Tom Wolf announces $15 million for gun violence prevention to fund community programs | WITF
Pennsylvania Senate moves forward a measure targeting local gun laws | WITF
Flynn wants to allow turnpike bill payment with online apps | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Wolf joins Pittsburgh leaders to tout Pennsylvania’s fiscal improvements | TribLIVE.com
As deadline looms for new congressional map, Senate works to broker deal with governor | PHL17.com
Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto tally illustrates gridlock with Pa. Republicans (goerie.com)
Pennsylvania lawmakers make new push to privatize liquor sales (abc27.com)
Pennsylvania lawmakers make new push to privatize liquor sales | PAhomepage.com
Pa. House of Representatives’ Scholarship accepting applications from graduating seniors (abc27.com)
This week’s biggest Winners & Losers | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
Coronavirus – COVID-19
Japan is ramping up COVID-19 restrictions as omicron cases surge : NPR
How long does a COVID booster shot offer protection against omicron? : Goats and Soda : NPR
Lower Merion officials asks whether township could have vaccine, mask mandates – Mainline Media News
Town Hall: Readers split on whether to impose new COVID mitigations (poconorecord.com)
Business/Jobs
Workers are out sick in record numbers, exacerbating labor shortage woes | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
U.S. jobless claims rise to 286,000, highest since October | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Bucks County offering bonuses to Neshaminy Manor nurses, new hires (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Crime/Punishment
Sharon Hill’s borough council fires the officers charged with killing Fanta Bility (inquirer.com)
Mychalejko: It’s time to make Guantánamo Bay prison history (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Raid dismantles drug ring responsible for rash of overdoses. (readingeagle.com)
Education
Bill automatically increasing funding for Pa.’s school choice advances in Senate – pennlive.com
Biden admin unveils changes to attract foreign STEM students (inquirer.com)
Unionville student named one of top 300 student scientists in nation – Daily Local
Penn pledges to work with NCAA, support transgender swimmer | WITF
NCAA adopts new policy for transgender athletes | WITF
Pa.’s substitute teacher shortage is now a crisis as pandemic drags on (poconorecord.com)
Elections/Politics
SEIU endorses Malcolm Kenyatta’s bid for U.S. Senate (inquirer.com)
Pa. Democrat Party silent on Palihapitiya donations after Uyghurs comments (broadandliberty.com)
Democrats’ issue No. 1 in Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race? Kill the filibuster | WITF
Op-Ed: Can the Pennsylvania GOP ride a Republican wave? (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Support requiring voters to show a photo ID (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Rep. Jamie Raskin could be the Democrats’ best shot in 2024 | Will Bunch (inquirer.com)
Gubernatorial candidate Corman visits Hanover Area High School | Times Leader
Rep. Jerry Knowles announces he will not run for reelection in 2022 (readingeagle.com)
Transportation
Berks will join lawsuit against PennDOT bridge tolling plan (readingeagle.com)
Health
Flu activity high across the state, Pa. Health Department reports (abc27.com)
3 deaths now linked to hepatitis outbreak at West Norriton restaurant (dailylocal.com)
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria kill 1.2 million a year — more than HIV/AIDS : Goats and Soda : NPR
State News
Unemployment fraud problems continue for state, laid-off claimants in Pennsylvania | WITF
AG Shapiro and GOP candidates call for pension plan to disclose investigation results (inquirer.com)
State lawmakers mull pension reforms as PSERS remains under scrutiny (inquirer.com)
DelVal Representatives Tout Money to Fix Area Bridges – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Pa. site just recorded highest rate ever of tick-carried virus anywhere in U.S. – pennlive.com
National News
Meat Loaf had some memorable moments in Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
‘I’m so sorry’: Adele to reschedule Las Vegas shows as COVID delays production | ABC27
Georgia DA requests special grand jury in Trump election inquiry | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
First month without the expanded child tax credit has left families in distress : NPR
What the Joe Rogan podcast controversy says about the online misinformation ecosystem : NPR
U.S. charges Belarus officials with air piracy in reporter’s arrest : NPR
Home prices rose faster than ever in 2021. The typical home gained $50,000 in value : NPR
Red Cross cyberattack compromised sensitive data on over 500,000 people : NPR
Local News
South tower restoration complete at Scranton City Hall | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Berks County commissioners move forward on prison project (readingeagle.com)
Snow is over for now, but below-freezing temperatures are sticking around central Pa. – pennlive.com
Jon Whaley: Former GOP mayoral candidate tapped as interim county planning director (goerie.com)
Johnstown Redevelopment Authority uses state money for blight demolition | Local News | tribdem.com
Pitt
Pittsburgh school van shooting a call for action | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Self-driving tech companies in Pittsburgh push for looser rules on vehicle testing | WITF
Judge denies motion to suppress statements made by defendant in Tree of Life case | TribLIVE.com
Pittsburgh officials say 50 trucks still cleaning snow and ice | TribLIVE.com
Philly
Bobby Henon resigns from Philadelphia City Council: What’s next for 6th District (inquirer.com)
Thank you, Meek Mill — a phrase I never expected to say | Jenice Armstrong (inquirer.com)
City Council returns with redistricting, fire safety legislation | Local News | phillytrib.com
Philadelphia Police Department to open non-fatal unit | Local News | phillytrib.com
Washington
Robert Hill: Historically denied voting rights imperiled again | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Schumer insists failed votes on elections and filibuster were right thing to do : NPR
McConnell: Black people vote at similar rates to ‘Americans’ (inquirer.com)
Poll: Biden approval hits new low at one-year mark | Times Leader