Legislature
Compensation for abuse: Payouts must not derail legislative action
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2018/12/20/Compensation-for-abuse-Payouts-must-not-derail-legislative-action/stories/201812200043
Administration
Gov. Wolf says it’s time for Pennsylvania to ‘take a serious look’ at legalizing recreational marijuana
http://www.philly.com/business/marijuana-recreational-use-pennsylvania-governor-says-time-consider-20181219.html
Gov. Wolf calls for ‘serious’ look at legalizing recreational pot
https://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/14424680-74/gov-wolf-calls-for-serious-look-at-legalizing-recreational-pot
State launches online tip line for misuse of prescription opioids
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2018/12/19/Pennsylvania-launches-online-tip-line-misuse-prescription-opioids-crisis/stories/201812190189
Business
Jeannette glass plant feels impact of trade war
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14425219-74/jeannette-glass-plant-feels-impact-of-trade-war
Catholic Church
Some Catholic clergy abuse victims shut out of new compensation funds
http://www.philly.com/news/catholic-clergy-abuse-victims-shut-out-compensation-fund-philadelphia-archdiocese-chaput-20181220.html
Former Seton LaSalle counselor faces sex abuse allegation
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2018/12/19/Former-Seton-Lasalle-counselor-faces-allegation/stories/201812190186
Crime/Punishment
This road rage verdict delivers justice for Bianca Roberson, but it leaves us baffled | Maria Panaritis
http://www.philly.com/news/columnists/road-rage-killing-bianca-roberson-david-desper-chester-county-prison-west-goshen-20181219.html
Superior Court sends another sex offender case back for resentencing, removes Judge Donna Jo McDaniel
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/12/19/State-Superior-Court-Judge-Donna-Jo-McDaniel-sex-offender-opinion/stories/201812190213
Death penalty off table in W-B slaying
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/death-penalty-off-table-in-w-b-slaying-1.2424058
Man pleads guilty to supplying drugs that caused two fatal overdoses
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/man-pleads-guilty-to-supplying-drugs-that-caused-two-fatal-overdoses-1.2423987
Education
NEPIRC launches manufacturing video contest for students
https://www.timesleader.com/news/728065/nepirc-launches-manufacturing-video-contest-for-students
After tax hike vote, Scranton School Board takes surprise vote for new director
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/after-tax-hike-vote-scranton-school-board-takes-surprise-vote-for-new-director-1.2424092
Scranton School District seeks dismissal of furloughed teachers lawsuit
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-school-district-seeks-dismissal-of-furloughed-teachers-lawsuit-1.2424106
Scranton third-grader collects more than 400 items in winter coat drive
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-third-grader-collects-more-than-400-items-in-winter-coat-drive-1.2424103
Report questions accuracy of Pa. school district data on homeless students
http://www.witf.org/news/2018/12/report-questions-accuracy-of-pa-school-district-data-on-homeless-students.php
Health Care
ACA lawsuit moves forward on heels of Obamacare open enrollment. What happens next?
http://www.philly.com/health/aca-texas-lawsuit-preexisting-conditions-20181220.html
62 cases of the flu reported in Berks
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/62-cases-of-the-flu-reported-in-berks
Local News
Pedri: Vehicle registration fee will take effect soon in county
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/pedri-vehicle-registration-fee-will-take-effect-soon-in-county-1.2424022
Luzerne County manager briefs citizens on projects in annual public forum
https://www.timesleader.com/news/728105/luzerne-county-manager-briefs-citizens-on-projects-in-annual-public-forum
Luzerne County promoting suicide awareness, especially for males
https://www.timesleader.com/news/728072/luzerne-county-pushing-suicide-awareness-particularly-for-men
Luzerne County citizens group formed
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/luzerne-county-citizens-group-formed-1.2424024
WBS Pens fans warm up to arena’s new metal detectors
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/wbs-pens-fans-warm-up-to-arena-s-new-metal-detectors-1.2424054
City offers free parking during holiday season
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/city-offers-free-parking-during-holiday-season-1.2424010
Lackawanna County Commissioners OK salary hike for top jobs starting in 2020
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/lackawanna-county-commissioners-ok-salary-hike-for-top-jobs-starting-in-2020-1.2424014
Officers become holiday angels during ‘Shop with a Cop’ in North Huntingdon
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14424405-74/officers-become-holiday-angels-during-shop-with-a-cop-in-north-huntingdon
North Huntingdon officials OK $86,000 payday for officers over salaries while on military leave
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14425967-74/north-huntingdon-officials-ok-86000-payday-for-officers-over-salaries-while-on
Leechburg demolition clears blighted properties, raises money for more work
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14423813-74/leechburg-demolition-clearing-blighted-properties-raising-money-for-more-work
Reading to add more security cameras in hopes of deterring crime
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/reading-to-add-more-security-cameras-in-hopes-of-deterring-crime
Editorial: Looking forward to better news on a velodrome in Berks
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/editorial-looking-forward-to-better-news-on-a-velodrome-in-berks
Community encouraged to contribute to Reading’s security camera program
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/community-encouraged-to-contribute-to-readings-security-camera-program
With a new federal courthouse finally being built, Harrisburg council wants more local workers on it
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/harrisburg-council-unhappy-that-more-local-labor-isnt-building-the-federal-courthouse.html
Are doorbell cameras a worthwhile defense against Lehigh Valley porch pirates?
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-cameras-porch-package-theft-20181217-story.html
Marijuana
Work to do before dispensary opens
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/work-to-do-before-dispensary-opens-1.2424040
National News
Inquiry will review DeVos’ revival of troubled accreditor
http://www.philly.com/politics/nation/inquiry-will-review-devos-revival-troubled-accreditor-20181219.html
Natural Gas
Prosecutor, citing Beaver County explosion, begins investigating Mariner East pipeline work
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/powersource/2018/12/19/Prosecutor-begins-investigating-Mariner-East-pipeline-work/stories/201812190187
Chester County district attorney investigating Mariner East pipeline complaints
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/chester-county-district-attorney-investigating-pipeline-complaints
West Virginia man, 61, dies after explosion at Washington County natural gas processing plant
https://triblive.com/local/regional/14423910-74/west-virginia-man-dies-after-explosion-at-washington-county-fracking-plant
Opioid Crisis
Meth goes hand-in-hand with opioids in much of Pennsylvania
http://www.philly.com/news/meth-rural-opioid-overdose-pennsylvania-dea-drugs-addiction-20181219.html
Two more suspected drug overdoses in Scranton reported Wednesday, the 10th in about a week
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/two-more-suspected-drug-overdoses-in-scranton-reported-wednesday-the-10th-in-about-a-week-1.2423846
Philly
How to prepare Philly and Puerto Rico for the next climate disaster? Penn Design students took on the challenge.
http://www.philly.com/news/puerto-rico-evacuee-hurricane-maria-irma-penn-design-school-solutions-20181220.html
Philly cop, cleared in fatal August shooting, shot someone else in 2012, records show
http://www.philly.com/news/philadelphia-police-shooting-nicoletti-jeffrey-dennis-tacony-20181220.html
Dominican association’s bodega owner promises to stop selling toy guns – and asks others to do the same
http://www.philly.com/news/toy-gun-viral-video-dominican-grocery-association-bodega-violencia-pistola-20181219.html
4 men now charged in last month’s quadruple slaying in West Philly
http://www.philly.com/news/quadruple-murder-west-philadelphia-basement-malcolm-street-four-arrests-20181219.html
Developer hopes 15-acre gift, $54M SEPTA station will draw projects to 400-acre Delaware River steel-mill site on I-95
http://www.philly.com/business/claymont-steel-site-septa-train-station-land-acres-20181220.html
Ogontz man to stand trial in shooting death of woman driving van on North Broad Street
http://www.philly.com/news/timothy-barnes-tyisha-timmons-ogontz-van-shooting-20181219.html
# 1 Killer in Philadelphia could very well be poverty | Editorial
http://www.philly.com/opinion/editorials/life-expectancy-health-jobs-inequality-20181220.html
Kenney extends Philly’s emergency response to opioid crisis in Kensington
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/kenney-extends-philly-s-emergency-response-to-opioid-crisis-in/article_17096bcc-6d46-5a3f-9ad2-8ea17699b0f2.html
Business leaders discuss importance of growing Philadelphia’s job base
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/business-leaders-discuss-importance-of-growing-philadelphia-s-job-base/article_18f22fb6-7dff-5c31-8c4e-b17df7d0d942.html
Philadelphia asks doctors to prescribe non-opioids first
https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-asks-doctors-to-prescribe-non-opioids-first/
Philly signs agreement to buy solar energy
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/philly-signs-agreement-to-buy-solar-energy/article_af431ccf-53e1-5d4f-94c2-8d355daaab98.html
Pitt
City paid detectives’ bar tab night of brawl with Pagans
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/12/19/City-paid-detectives-bar-tab-night-of-brawl-with-Pagans-kopy-s-south-side/stories/201812190223
Pittsburgh Public Schools passes 2019 budget with no tax increase
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2018/12/19/Pittsburgh-Public-Schools-district-budget-fund-balance-property-taxes-income/stories/201812190016
Pittsburgh Public Schools to hold the line on property taxes in 2019
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14424889-74/pittsburgh-public-schools-to-hold-the-line-on-property-taxes-in-2019
Suspended Elizabeth Borough police chief resigns amid DA’s probe
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/south/2018/12/19/Suspended-Elizabeth-Borough-police-chief-Tim-Butler-resigns-probe/stories/201812190121
Former county councilman to get new hearing
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2018/12/19/Charles-Chuck-McCullough-Nauhaus-recusal-Allegheny-County-Council/stories/201812190178
Protesters urged to carry guns at rally against Pittsburgh regulations
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14423646-74/gun-owners-plan-armed-protest-against-proposed-pittsburgh-firearms-regulations
New Hays bald eagle webcam will have Pittsburgh view as a backdrop
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14424643-74/new-hays-bald-eagle-webcam-will-have-downtown-pittsburgh-view-as-a
Pittsburgh expands neighborhood recycling locations for Christmas tree disposal
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14423719-74/pittsburgh-expands-neighborhood-recycling-locations-for-christmas-tree-disposal
East Pittsburgh mayor: Regional police force ‘probably going to happen’
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14423406-74/east-pittsburgh-mayor-regional-police-force-probably-going-to-happen
State News
State police fatally shoot man during stolen chainsaw purchase in Erie County
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2018/12/19/State-police-fatally-shoot-man-during-controlled-purchase-in-Erie-County/stories/201812190226
After water contamination, elevated chemical levels in Bucks, Montco residents’ blood
http://www.philly.com/news/after-water-contamination-elevated-chemical-levels-bucks-montco-residents-blood-20181220.html
Make public notice part of response
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/make-public-notice-part-of-response-1.2423990
Transportation
Cross Valley Expressway’s River Street on-ramp nearing completion
https://www.timesleader.com/news/728107/cross-valley-expressways-river-street-on-ramp-nearing-completion
Pa. Turnpike expects 6.3M vehicles during holiday travel period
https://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/14424236-74/pa-turnpike-expects-63m-vehicles-during-holiday-travel-period
Washington
Critics and allies alike denounce Trump’s call to pull troops from Syria
http://www.philly.com/politics/critics-allies-denounce-trump-troops-syria-20181220.html
Senate approves bill to keep government running into 2019
http://www.philly.com/politics/nation/senate-approves-bill-keep-government-running-into-20181220.html