Legislature
Governor Wolf’s final budget address prioritizes education | WHP (local21news.com)
Gov. Wolf visits Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary in Erie to outline plan for $1.9 billion increase in education | ABC27
Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed budget would boost Erie area school funding (goerie.com)
DelVal Pols Push Back on Gov. Wolf’s ‘Deficit Spending’ Budget – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Governor’s budget proposal seeks more funds for 100 poorest schools, including some area districts | News | tribdem.com
Funding can stabilize State System of Higher Education | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Poorer cities, growing suburbs get most out of Gov. Wolf’s schools plan | WITF
Gov. Wolf’s Pa. 2022 budget: What’s next, who does it help? (poconorecord.com)
Pennsylvania’s 2022 budget address is déjà vu all over again; here’s why that’s a bad thing | John Baer – pennlive.com
Pa. senators discuss legalizing marijuana with current, former law enforcement | Local News | ncnewsonline.com
House and Senate speak to Gov. Tom Wolf’s final budget address – pennlive.com
Pennsylvania enacts new legislative maps – Ballotpedia News
Pennsylvania lawmakers host first hearing on legalizing recreational marijuana | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Pa. House unanimously passes $25M in grants for EMS (abc27.com)
Bill Creating $25M Grant Program for EMS Agencies on Way to Governor to Sign – Fire Engineering: Firefighter Training and Fire Service News, Rescue
Op-Ed: Pennsylvania should not rely solely on feds to cap abandoned wells | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
As Pa. grows more diverse, lawmakers propose office to welcome newcomers | Thursday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
GOP lawmakers celebrate Act 77 ruling, though what’s next is unclear – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
E-scooter bill would clear way for more Pennsylvania cities to join Pittsburgh | TribLIVE.com
Redistricting results in new lawmakers for some local residents | Election | standardspeaker.com
Schuylkill County lawmakers, officials concerned with district shifts | Election | standardspeaker.com
Coronavirus – COVID-19
Under pressure to ease up, Biden weighs new virus response | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Why Democratic Governors Are Turning Against Mask Mandates – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
As some states drop mask mandates, CDC keeps guidelines | ABC27
CDC encouraged by COVID-19 trends, reviewing pandemic guidelines; two deaths reported in Cambria County | Coronavirus | tribdem.com
CDC preps guidance for governors on relaxing COVID rules, but states forge ahead – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Hospital leaders hopeful as covid cases decline, staffing remains an issue | TribLIVE.com
Covid continues decline in Western Pa., expert says ‘worst of pandemic is largely over’ | TribLIVE.com
Central Bucks School District and Council Rock shutdown public COVID-19 dashboards on websites (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
AstraZeneca sees $4B in COVID vaccine sales as revenue soars | Coronavirus | tribdem.com
Allegheny County reaches a grim milestone: 3,000 deaths from COVID-19 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Luzerne County acting manager lifting COVID-19 limited access protocols | Times Leader
State Rep. Manny Guzman appointed to House Appropriations Committee (readingeagle.com)
Parkland school district ending mandatory masking, Bethlehem Area School District considering same as COVID cases decrease – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Business/Jobs
The economy is surging but so is inflation, and that’s a problem for Biden : NPR
U.S. inflation might have hit a 40-year high in January (inquirer.com)
More gas price increases likely, according to most analysts (readingeagle.com)
Inflation, hiring challenges on a collision course. Here’s how businesses are responding. – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal allocates $8M for Ben Franklin Technology Partners offices statewide – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Peloton to lay off more than 100 workers in Bucks County amid slumping sales – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Parx Casino sees profit in workforce diversity, customer base (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Talking Business with Becky Bradley: Yes, we’re facing huge development pressure. No, we’re not sitting idle. – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Gracedale considers day care for workers’ kids to ease staff shortage – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Crime/Punishment
York City police announce new unit to tackle gun violence (ydr.com)
60,000 bees stolen from Giant’s pollinator field in Cumberland County | WITF
Crime rates, population can’t solely determine size of Pittsburgh’s police force, public safety director nominee says | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Will cracking down on illegal guns reduce crime? | Pro/Con (inquirer.com)
Education
State System chancellor praised for progress, scorned for degree program cuts at House hearing | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
New research raises questions about pre-K : NPR
School Districts Must Make an Important Decision: Mask or Not? – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Watch for these conflicts over education in 2022 | Analysis – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
PA budget won’t fix crisis in Intellectual Disability / Autism system (ydr.com)
If not now, when will Pa. fully fund its intellectual disability system? | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
What is a self-directed democratic school? | Smart Talk (witf.org)
Jacqueline Miller nominated for PA Teacher of the Year | The Bucks County Herald
North Penn board calls for civility over threatening voicemail (mainlinemedianews.com)
Central Bucks cancels trip to D.C. over concerns that unvaccinated students could feel excluded (inquirer.com)
We have a lot to learn from teachers’ unions | Opinion (inquirer.com)
Transgender Penn swimmer deemed eligible for Ivy League championships – pennlive.com
Elections/Politics
BREAKING: Supreme Court Suspends Candidate Petition Circulation Period | PoliticsPA
Court puts hold on Pennsylvania primary petition gathering (abc27.com)
State Supreme Court Puts Candidates’ Petition Gathering on Hold – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Can Name Recognition Help Barletta Overcome Cash Crunch? | PoliticsPA
Carville-Backed SuperPAC Could Help Lamb Close Fundraising Gap | PoliticsPA
McCormick Counters Oz, Receives Pompeo Endorsement | PoliticsPA
Guest Opinion: We’re only free if capitalism is equitably regulated (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
1 in 5 Patriot Front applicants say they have ties to the military | WITF
Why do Pa. courts have a say on mail-in voting? They probably shouldn’t | Bruce Ledewitz – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
States, including Pa., target ballot drop boxes in fight over voting rights | Analysis – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Environment
How Billions in Infrastructure Funding Could Worsen Global Warming – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Pennsylvania must properly fund efforts to clean up waterways (ydr.com)
National parks try to make progress on long-deferred maintenance – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Transportation
10 bridges listed in poor condition in York County to watch (ydr.com)
Nation’s largest flight school ready for take off at Allegheny County Airport | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Health
Research finds genetic connection to higher breast cancer deaths in Black women | Health | phillytrib.com
State News
Infrastructure bill sends $245M to Pennsylvania for abandoned mines clean up | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Guy Ciarrocchi: It’s time to become the leader in providing the nation’s energy needs (broadandliberty.com)
A state earned income tax credit would aid Pa. working families (poconorecord.com)
Grossman: Poconos and the Pennsylvania State Planning Board (poconorecord.com)
Pa. residents are ‘drinking better, not more’ driving liquor sales growth during pandemic, industry group says – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Changes outlined for Pennsylvania trout stocking in 2022 – pennlive.com
National News
Gap continues to widen for housing affordability, inventory – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
U.S.’s Nathan Chen wins gold in men’s figure skating at the Beijing Olympics : NPR
U.S. snowboarder Chloe Kim wins her second gold at the 2022 Beijing Olympics : NPR
India’s most populous state begins voting in test for ruling party : NPR
TikTok says misgendering transgender people is against its rules : NPR
Dollywood employees will soon be eligible for free tuition : NPR
Colorado Springs settles suit over fatal police shooting of De’Von Bailey : NPR
Ottawa Protesters Turn a Quiet Capital Upside Down – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
COVID-19 truck blockade in Canada shuts down Ford plant | Coronavirus | tribdem.com
Experts hail big step forward in fusion technology in UK | News | tribdem.com
The National Rifle Association is losing members, according to internal documents | WITF
‘I can’t get no support from these guys’: closed Social Security offices pose a hardship for many | WITF
Local News
How Micah Parsons became Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite (abc27.com)
What Would Losing Covanta Mean for City of Chester, Delaware County? – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Lancaster city council rift between Diaz, Smith-Wade-El and other members on display as council chooses new member | PA Power and Policy | lancasteronline.com
Sewers, demolition, Savocchio Park: Erie City Council OKs $8M in ARP funds (goerie.com)
Scranton wants to spruce up Biden Street | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Residents experience mail service disruption as post office runs into ‘employee availability issues’ – pennlive.com
Pitt
Seven local urban farming projects funded by Department of Agriculture | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Singer Billie Eilish partners with 412 Food Rescue to donate meals ahead of concert in Pittsburgh (wtae.com)
Snow is back early Thursday and winds will make it feel like mid 20s – WPXI
Pittsburgh City Council’s Private Debate On Pay Hike May Have Violated State’s Sunshine Law – CBS Pittsburgh (cbslocal.com)
Philly
These 3 Philadelphia hospitals made Healthgrades’ best 50 ranking – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
It’s time to rethink how Philly redraws councilmanic districts | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
Philly playground exhibit honors city’s Black leaders, legends – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Legislation to halt demolitions in NW Philly could bring court challenge | Local News | phillytrib.com
Safehouse is in settlement talks with the U.S. Department of Justice | Local News | phillytrib.com
Water main break in Philadelphia floods several blocks (inquirer.com)
Washington
Biden administration to roll back some states’ Medicaid waivers : Shots – Health News : NPR
With evictions on the rise, House Democrats team up to push new housing protections : NPR
VAWA: Bipartisan senators announce compromise on expired act : NPR
Violence Against Women Act gets revitalized push by lawmakers, advocates | ABC27
Efforts to ban Congress members’ stock trades pick up steam : NPR
A Product of Public Universities, Michelle Childs Would Be an Unconventional Supreme Court Pick – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Jan. 6 panel subpoenas former Trump White House trade adviser Peter Navarro | WITF
National Archives asks Justice Department to investigate Trump’s handling of White House records | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
