Legislature
Nursing homes need more oversight, state lawmakers say
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/nursing-homes-need-more-oversight-state-lawmakers-say.html
Is the time right for Pa. to legalize pot? ‘Let’s think about this,’ a lawmaker says
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/is-the-time-right-for-pa-to-legalize-pot-lets-think-about-this-a-lawmaker-says.html
Pennsylvania lawmakers split on legalization of recreational marijuana
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/pennsylvania-lawmakers-split-on-legalization-of-recreational-marijuana
Pa. made at least $1M on medical marijuana this year. Could recreational bring a lot more?
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/pa-made-at-least-1m-on-medical-marijuana-this-year-could-recreational-bring-a-lot-more.html
Companies see potential in expanding marijuana market
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/companies-see-potential-in-expanding-marijuana-market
Pa. can’t keep underfunding environmental protection | Opinion
http://www.philly.com/opinion/commentary/pennsylvania-department-environmental-protection-wolf-budget-20181221.html
Law orders domestic violence abusers to turn in firearms
http://www.sungazette.com/news/top-news/2018/12/law-orders-domestic-violence-abusers-to-turn-in-firearms/
Administration
Wolf a realist on issue of recreational pot
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/wolf-a-realist-on-issue-of-recreational-pot-1.2424391
Wolf commutes life sentences of 2 Pennsylvania inmates
http://www.philly.com/news/pennsylvania/wolf-commutes-life-sentences-pennsylvania-inmates-20181220.html
Wolf grants clemency to two more inmates, including one midstate woman
http://www.witf.org/news/2018/12/wolf-grants-clemency-to-two-more-inmates-including-first-female-lifer-since-1990.php
Business
Noose placed in work area, Philly man alleges in racial harassment lawsuit against ArcelorMittal
http://www.philly.com/business/noose-work-area-racial-harassment-philadelphia-arcelormittal-20181220.html
Trump trade policies have created definite winners and losers in Pennsylvania
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/trump-trade-policies-have-created-definite-winners-and-losers-in-pennsylvania.html
Crime/Punishment
Elizabeth Borough chief charged with stealing heroin from property room
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2018/12/20/Elizabeth-Borough-chief-stealing-heroin-property-room-Timothy-Butler/stories/201812200142
Penn Hills and Rankin: different towns, different takes on police consolidation
https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/blog/allegheny-county-police-department-consolidation-rankin-penn-hills/
Johnstown pediatrician admits to sexually assaulting dozens of young patients
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2018/12/20/Pediatrician-Johnnie-Barto-Johnstown-admits-sexual-assault-dozens-young-patients/stories/201812200137
Former officer’s attorney: Local jury can’t be fair in Antwon Rose homicide case
https://www.post-gazette.com/breaking/2018/12/20/Antwon-Rose-Michael-Rosfeld-homicide-Patrick-Thomassey/stories/201812200134
Trial date set for engineer in 2015 Amtrak derailment
http://www.philly.com/news/bostian-amtrak-derailment-train-deaths-track-20181220.html
Critics of youth solitairy confinement want Pennsylvania to limit its use
http://www.witf.org/news/2018/12/critics-of-youth-solitairy-confinement-want-pennsylvania-to-limit-its-use.php
Teen killer gets life sentence again
http://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2018/12/teen-killer-gets-life-sentence-again/
Education
Racist threats circulate in Strath Haven HS and community
http://www.philly.com/news/strathhaven-swarthmore-racist-kkk–20181220.html
From a school bathroom to the world: Chartiers Valley video goes viral
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/south/2018/12/20/School-bathroom-fight-Char-Valley-video/stories/201812190216
Auditor general slams Scranton School Board over appointment
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/auditor-general-slams-scranton-school-board-over-appointment-1.2424260
Public’s only role in SSD: paying taxes
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/public-s-only-role-in-ssd-paying-taxes-1.2424327
A Penn State project helps young and old people talk — and cry — with each other
http://www.philly.com/health/penn-state-aging-faceage-film-young-generations-20181220.html
Lincoln University basketball players arrested in theft plot
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/lincoln-university-basketball-players-arrested-in-theft-plot/article_50bbc6ee-e067-502c-9d76-565617aebe03.html
Health Care
Time at last to repair: A judge’s absurd overreach
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2018/12/21/Time-at-last-to-repair-A-judge-s-absurd-overreach/stories/201812210049
Let’s make black women’s maternal mortality a priority in PA | Opinion
http://www.philly.com/opinion/commentary/black-women-maternal-mortality-philadelphia-pennsylvania-20181220.html
Local News
Air show won’t return to WB/Scranton Airport until 2020
https://www.timesleader.com/news/728195/air-show-wont-return-to-wb-scranton-airport-until-2020
No air show in 2019
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/no-air-show-in-2019-1.2424441
WB council approves parking deal and renewal of downtown business district
https://www.timesleader.com/news/728218/wb-council-approves-parking-deal-and-renewal-of-downtown-business-district
Businessmen say Lackawanna County shut them out of uniform voucher program
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/businessmen-say-lackawanna-county-shut-them-out-of-uniform-voucher-program-1.2423969
Work finally begins on backyard holes in Scranton
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/work-finally-begins-on-backyard-holes-in-scranton-1.2424539
Proposed solar farm would bring in more revenue
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/proposed-solar-farm-would-bring-in-more-revenue-1.2424407
New panel’s goal is to keep Weatherly ambulance afloat
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/new-panel-s-goal-is-to-keep-weatherly-ambulance-afloat-1.2424393
Non-union Westmoreland County workers to get pay raises in 2019
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14429926-74/non-union-westmoreland-county-workers-to-get-pay-raises-in-2019
Tab climbs to more than $350k to settle discrimination cases against Westmoreland sheriff’s office
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14428679-74/tab-climbs-to-more-than-350k-to-settle-discrimination-cases-against-westmoreland
Westmoreland County commissioners balance new $348M budget without raising taxes
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14428645-74/westmoreland-county-commissioners-balance-new-348m-budget-without-raising-taxes
Commissioners approve new Westmoreland County comprehensive plan two years in the making
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14428584-74/commissioners-approve-new-westmoreland-county-comprehensive-plan-two-years-in-the-making
No tax hike in Harmar next year
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14429177-74/no-tax-hike-in-harmar-next-year
Bidding error won’t stop Springdale from paving James Street
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14428635-74/bidding-error-wont-stop-springdale-from-paving-james-street
Berks County sheriff curious about constable payment system
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/berks-county-sheriff-curious-about-constable-payment-system
Berks County commissioners freeze property tax for 2019
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/berks-county-commissioners-freeze-property-tax-for-2019
Cups of Compassion helps thousands in Reading
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/cups-of-compassion-helps-thousands-in-reading
Editorial: Many are making a positive difference in Reading
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/many-are-making-a-positive-difference-in-reading
Opioid Crisis
Cheaper cost, bigger supply make fentanyl the new ‘go to’ drug
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/cheaper-cost-bigger-supply-make-fentanyl-the-new-go-to-drug-1.2424518
Philly
Mayor Kenney signs Philly’s ‘Fair Workweek’ law
http://www.philly.com/news/fair-workweek-philadelphia-law-20181220.html
Drug killings fuel city’s 2018 homicide uptick, officials say
http://www.philly.com/news/philadelphia-murder-increase-richard-ross-larry-krasner-20181221.html
DA’s Office criticizes police detectives, defense attorney in homicide case. Attorney calls accusations ‘ludicrous.’
http://www.philly.com/news/larry-krasner-philadelphia-homicide-detectives-perjury-district-attorney-20181221.html
Teachers at this Philly charter school got a raise and a contract. But unions at charters are unusual
http://www.philly.com/news/charter-schools-teachers-unions-philadelphia-20181221.html
Two years after Wordsworth teen’s death, more details released but no charges
http://www.philly.com/news/wordsworth-philadelphia-david-hess-death-dhs-report-charges-20181220.html
New trial set for man in shooting of Philly cop
http://www.philly.com/news/eric-torres-philadelphia-police-officer-ed-davies-judge-charles-ehrlich-20181220.html
Opioid crisis: Here’s why Philly’s planned crackdown on big pharma sales machine stalled
http://www.philly.com/business/philadelphia-opioid-crisis-drug-sales-big-pharma-marketing-convention-hotels-doctors-20181220.html
Veteran Melissa Robbins joins crowded field in at-large City Council race
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/veteran-melissa-robbins-joins-crowded-field-in-at-large-city/article_4f5c037e-9431-5f1d-907d-647cbaa5829d.html
Philly DA is big gun supporting end of lifelike handgun sales
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/philly-da-is-big-gun-supporting-end-of-lifelike-handgun/article_5db30509-15d9-5f31-93e6-470139273457.html
Pitt
Philly Dems support net neutrality — but not a petition for, you know, net neutrality | Philly Clout
http://www.philly.com/politics/clout/clout-comcast-net-neutrality-mary-gay-scanlon-billy-ciancaglini-dan-fee-aubrey-montgomery-20181221.html
Norfolk Southern sues Pittsburgh seeking $1.1M in costs from 2016 landslide above Station Square
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2018/12/20/Norfolk-Southern-Pittsburgh-lawsuit-Station-Square-2016-landslide-demolition-cleanup-work-transporation/stories/201812200102
CMU buys Pittsburgh Filmmakers building in Oakland for $3.75 million
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/12/21/Carnegie-Mellon-Pittsburgh-Filmmakers-Mellwood-Screening-Room-Oakland/stories/201812210026
“It’s a struggle this year:” Family copes with death of mother of five
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/12/20/Goodfellows-family-death-mother-five-lincoln-lemington-mental-health-nabhi/stories/201812200185
Teachers at Environmental Charter School in Regent Square will unionize
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2018/12/20/Teachers-Environmental-Charter-School-union-unionize-American-Federation-Teachers-Pittsburgh/stories/201812200095
Pitt chancellor to get raise plus $500K bonus; other school officials getting bumps in base pay
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2018/12/20/University-Pittsburgh-Pitt-Patrick-Gallagher-executive-pay-salary-raise-bonus-trustees-higher-education/stories/201812200096
Uber cars are back in self-driving mode in Pittsburgh after a nine-month hiatus
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/tech-news/2018/12/20/uber-back-on-road-self-driving-autonomous-cars-Pittsburgh-crash-tempe-strip-district/stories/201812200052
In Pittsburgh region, ethnic Christmas traditions – of course – involve food
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14430361-74/in-pittsburgh-region-ethnic-christmas-traditions-of-course-involve-food
Paul Muschick: Pittsburgh’s gun control law might not be necessary if we could address gun violence in other ways
https://www.mcall.com/opinion/muschick/mc-opi-pittsburgh-assault-weapon-ban-muschick-20181219-story.html
State News
Falcon pipeline to Shell’s petrochemical plant gets OK from Pa. DEP
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/powersource/2018/12/20/Shell-Falcon-pipeline-ethane-cracker-Pennsylvania-DEP/stories/201812200132
DEP approves permits for pipeline linking MarkWest to cracker
https://observer-reporter.com/business/dep-approves-permits-for-pipeline-linking-markwest-to-cracker/article_d069e680-0492-11e9-84ec-d3c1c1c6382a.html
Site of southwestern Pennsylvania house explosion a complicated laboratory for gas analysis
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/powersource/2018/12/20/house-explosion-gas-analysis-Greene-Clarksville-Peoples-EQT-PUC/stories/201812200018
Worker in Somerset County mine killed in accident
https://triblive.com/local/regional/14428157-74/worker-in-somerset-county-mine-killed-in-accident-troopers-say
Pennsylvania’s underperforming pension funds need new investment approach, state warns
http://www.philly.com/business/pennsylvania-state-school-pension-plan-investment-office-deficit-20181220.html
Dissent is new for board members of Pa.’s state workers pension program. So is an internal order to limit criticism
http://www.philly.com/business/sers-psers-pensions-pennsylvania-apollo-torsella-20181220.html
Auditor General praises Gov. Wolf’s pot comments
https://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/14428657-74/auditor-general-praises-gov-wolfs-pot-comments
DEP grant to revitalize Espy Run in Hanover Twp.
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/dep-grant-to-revitalize-espy-run-in-hanover-twp-1.2424460
Pa. taps nearly $800K in grants to promote beer making, drinking
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/pa-taps-nearly-800k-in-grants-to-promote-beer-making-drinking-1.2424436
Tariffs were meant to help but Pa. farmers are hurting under Trump tariffs
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/tariffs-were-meant-to-help-but-pa-farmers-are-hurting-under-trump-tariffs.html
Pa. firefighter, 53, dies responding to structure fire
https://www.pennlive.com/expo/news/erry-2018/12/47fd0a4dfe3613/coal-township-firefighter-dies.html
Pa. income growth lagging, data show
http://www.witf.org/news/2018/12/pa-income-growth-lagging-data-show.php
Transportation
I-95 construction should end by the time your grandkids are driving
http://www.philly.com/transportation/highway-interstate-penndot-richards-travel-driving-construction-when-finished-20181221.html
Washington
‘A morning of alarm’: Mattis departure sends shock waves abroad
http://www.philly.com/politics/mattis-departure-shock-waves-abroad-trump-syria-20181221.html
Analysis: Under siege, Trump propels the government and markets into crisis
http://www.philly.com/politics/trump-government-markets-crisis-analysis-20181221.html
Democrats cry foul on AG nominee Barr’s call to limit the Mueller probe
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2018/12/20/President-Trump-attorney-general-pick-William-Barr-memo-Mueller-probe/stories/201812200206
Federal agencies prepare to cease operations, uncertain of whether spending bill will make it
http://www.philly.com/politics/federal-agencies-prepare-cease-operations-spending-bill-20181221.html