Legislature
Yudichak, Barletta team up with Miss Keystone on book for kids
https://www.timesleader.com/news/727576/727576
Lawmakers, King’s College graduate debut SHINE book
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/lawmakers-king-s-college-graduate-debut-shine-book-1.2421766
The GOP’s war on democracy makes an unwelcome stop in Pennsylvania | Will Bunch
http://www2.philly.com/columnists/lindsey-williams-pennsylvania-state-senate-republican-challenge-20181213.html
Listen to voters
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/letters/2018/12/14/Listen-to-voters/stories/201812140062
Highly moral cosmetologists
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/highly-moral-cosmetologists-1.2421703
Redistricting
Pa. legislature wouldn’t change its redistricting process. So Pa. residents are drawing maps for them (for cash prizes)
http://www2.philly.com/news/pennsylvania-gerrymandering-contest-committee-congress-20181214.html
Administration
Gov. Wolf appoints advisory group to improve home health care working conditions
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/career-workplace/2018/12/13/Pennsylvania-Gov-Tom-Wolf-executive-order-home-health-care-aides-workers-advisory-group/stories/201812130117
Gov. Tom Wolf proposes tougher air pollution regulations
https://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/14401817-74/gov-tom-wolf-proposes-tougher-air-pollution-regulations
Business
Final cut for Harry’s Market in Wilkes-Barre, closing after 73 years
https://www.timesleader.com/news/727569/final-cut-for-harrys-market-in-wilkes-barre-closing-after-73-years
Firm purchases nearly 50 acres in Jermyn for trucking facility
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/business/firm-purchases-nearly-50-acres-in-jermyn-for-trucking-facility-1.2421659
Catholic Church
Bishop asks pope to oust abusive Pa. priest
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/bishop-asks-pope-to-oust-abusive-pa-priest.html
Crime/Punishment
20- to 40-year sentence in Chester County road-rage killing
http://www2.philly.com/news/pennsylvania/david-desper-road-rage-chester-county-bianca-roberson-20181213.html
State charges father-and-son plumbers with fraud
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14404384-74/state-charges-father-and-son-plumbers-with-fraud
Two Scottdale men get probation in illegal slot machine case
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14403160-74/two-scottdale-men-get-probation-in-illegal-slot-machine-case
“Major” synthetic marijuana ring busted in Berks
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/major-synthetic-marijuana-ring-busted-in-berks
21 homicides this year the most in Reading since 2005; DA calls for more police officers
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/berks-da-reading-needs-to-make-boots-on-the-ground-a-priority-with-police-department
Education
Pennsylvania’s new list of struggling schools looks beyond usual suspects
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/pennsylvania-s-new-list-of-struggling-schools-looks-beyond-usual/article_b4db3d53-916a-550d-9b3e-f246b3041a53.html
Sem students send message to vandals
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/sem-students-send-message-to-vandals-1.2421826
Seven Lackawanna County schools to receive help from state
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/seven-lackawanna-county-schools-to-receive-help-from-state-1.2421664
16 local schools on new state improvement lists
https://www.timesleader.com/news/727565/16-local-schools-on-new-state-improvement-lists
Abington Heights High School wins PennDOT plow art contest
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/abington-heights-high-school-wins-penndot-plow-art-contest-1.2421865
Unwed, pregnant teacher fired from Catholic school asks bishop for her job back
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/unwed_pregnant_teacher_at_cath.html
Nanticoke Area earns spot on Advanced Placement list
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/nanticoke-area-earns-spot-on-advanced-placement-list-1.2421830
Which Lehigh Valley schools need to improve? Pennsylvania releases list
https://www.mcall.com/news/education/mc-nws-pennsylvania-schools-improvement-list-20181213-story.html
Chester Upland elementary school gets library, thanks to help from Widener students
http://www2.philly.com/education/stetser-elementary-chester-upland-school-district-widener-university-library-20181213.html
Penn State among state, national institutions that received bomb threats
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2018/12/13/Penn-State-University-bomb-threats-FBI-universities-courthouses-newspapers-police-University-Park/stories/201812130152
College students want to fight rape culture with a porn filter. But are the two related?
http://www2.philly.com/news/porn-ban-penn-princeton-rape-culture-sexual-violence-20181214.html
Elections/Politics
Old Forge lawyer to seek 114th House seat as Republican
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/old-forge-lawyer-to-seek-114th-house-seat-as-republican-1.2421655
Gaming
Pittsburgh’s appetite for sports betting apparent at Rivers Casino’s launch
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/12/13/Rivers-Casino-sports-betting-Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh-sportsbook-wagers-bettors/stories/201812130147
Place your bets: Rivers Casino opens Pittsburgh’s first legal sports book
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14403380-74/place-your-bets-rivers-casino-opens-pittsburghs-first-legal-sports-book
Want to place a sports bet at Rivers Casino? Here’s how it works.
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/sean-gentille/2018/12/13/rivers-casino-pittsburgh-gambling-how-to-place-sports-bets/stories/201812130154
Q-and-A: A local bookie explains his sports-betting operation and why the Rivers Casino won’t kill it
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/12/13/Bookie-bookmaker-Rivers-Casino-legal-sports-betting-wagers-Pennsylvania-gambling/stories/201811010286
Game on: SugarHouse becomes first Philly-area casino to offer sports betting
http://www2.philly.com/business/sugarhouse-sports-betting-philly-parx-new-jersey-20181213.html
Local News
Luzerne County ethics code gift provision raised in election trip controversy
https://www.timesleader.com/news/727589/luzerne-county-ethics-code-gift-provision-raised-in-election-trip-controversy
WVSA hosts information session on controversial stormwater fee
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/wvsa-hosts-information-session-on-controversial-stormwater-fee-1.2421749
Wyoming Valley Levee trail repair project complete
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/wyoming-valley-levee-trail-repair-project-complete-1.2421745
Martz leader Scott Henry dies
https://www.timesleader.com/news/727549/martz-leader-scott-henry-dies
Judge Thomas Vanaskie retiring from 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/judge-thomas-vanaskie-retiring-from-3rd-circuit-court-of-appeals-1.2421633
Jessup turns focus to residential development
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/jessup-turns-focus-to-residential-development-1.2421848
Carbon Co. commissioners approve 2019 budget
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/carbon-co-commissioners-approve-2019-budget-1.2421682
Irwin OKs budget, funds fire company, holds tax rate
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14404001-74/irwin-oks-budget-funds-fire-company-holds-tax-rate
South Greensburg gets nearly $100,000 for playground renovation
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14403351-74/south-greensburg-gets-nearly-100000-for-playground-renovation
New Stanton sewage plant expansion moving ahead
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14403138-74/new-stanton-sewage-plant-expansion-moving-ahead
Kiski Valley sewage officials trying to take aim at delinquent customers
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14403034-74/kiski-valley-sewage-officials-trying-to-take-aim-at-delinquent-customers
‘This block is very hot’: Neighbors saddened, scared by fatal shootings in Reading
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/neighbors-saddened-scared-by-fatal-shootings-in-reading
Berks Heim purchase offers could be finalized by February
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/berks-heim-purchase-offers-could-be-finalized-by-february
Study: Berks GDP sees steady growth
https://www.readingeagle.com/money/article/study-berks-gdp-sees-steady-growth
National News
A 7-year-old migrant girl died of dehydration while in Border Patrol custody, CBP says
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2018/12/13/7-year-old-Guatemalan-migrant-girl-died-dehydration-Border-Patrol-custody/stories/201812130216
Natural Gas
Workers at Washington County gas plant injured in fire
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/washington/2018/12/13/Gas-plant-workers-injured-after-explosion-in-Washington-County/stories/201812130167
Opioid Crisis
4,500 kits containing overdose reversal drug distributed in hours
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/4500-kits-containing-overdose-reversal-drug-distributed-in-hours.html
From lagging to leading: Doctors group says PA is now a trailblazer in opioid response
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2018/12/13/American-Medical-Association-Pennsylvania-Wolf-opioids-report/stories/201812130145
Health director: Overdose drug kits distributed quickly and points to need for Narcan
https://www.timesleader.com/news/727567/health-director-overdose-drug-kits-distributed-quickly-and-points-to-need-for-narcan
As State Gives Out Opioid Overdose Drug, Many Sites Run Out
http://radio.wpsu.org/post/state-gives-out-opioid-overdose-drug-many-sites-run-out
Free Narcan event heavily attended in Erie
http://www.goerie.com/news/20181214/free-narcan-event-heavily-attended-in-erie
Philly
Thousands of Philly homeowners could get tax breaks under new proposal in City Council
http://www2.philly.com/news/assessment-tax-relief-clarke-philadelphia-city-council-20181213.html
It’s official: in 2019, Philly students won’t go back to school until after Labor Day
http://www2.philly.com/news/calendar-philadelphia-labor-day-winter-break-school-board-20181214.html
District aims to help schools under new benchmark model
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/district-aims-to-help-schools-under-new-benchmark-model/article_ebf1ea33-91fc-532f-8705-20ed36a3f6ca.html
America will likely be majority-minority in 30 years. New census figures show Philly region is following the trend.
http://www2.philly.com/news/minority-majority-census-philadelphia-american-community-survey-20181214.html
This Philly baby was born with cataracts. His case shows the wait for benefits is improving
http://www2.philly.com/news/ssa-disability-benefits-appeal-philadelphia-wait-baby-cataracts-20181213.html
Philadelphia school kids will get added protections from lead paint perils
http://www2.philly.com/news/philadelphia/lead-paint-philadelphia-schools-protections-toxic-city-20181213.html
Council punts on pharma bill banning gifts to doctors
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/council-punts-on-pharma-bill-banning-gifts-to-doctors/article_0794a437-eb05-5d66-96a5-502e93e919d4.html
Philly’s riskiest, deadliest roads in Black and Brown neighborhoods
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/philly-s-riskiest-deadliest-roads-in-black-and-brown-neighborhoods/article_1d03b88e-2edf-5cbd-9f42-dd5eddf8fedf.html
Will Trump’s ‘Opportunity Zone’ tax break help residents along North Broad — or push them out?
http://www2.philly.com/real-estate/housing/opportunity-zones-trump-philadelphia-north-broad-investment-gentrification-20181214.html
Whose side is Philly District Attorney Larry Krasner really on? | Opinion
http://www2.philly.com/opinion/commentary/larry-krasner-district-attorney-philadelphia-crime-victims-20181213.html
Grocery stores should expand SNAP-matching programs to feed Philadelphia | Opinion
http://www2.philly.com/opinion/commentary/snap-farm-bill-philadelphia-hunger-philly-food-bucks-20181213.html
Pitt
Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese outlines plan to compensate victims of clergy sex abuse
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2018/12/13/Pittsburgh-Roman-Catholic-diocese-sexual-clergy-abuse-victims-compensation-fund/stories/201812130127
Pittsburgh’s clergy sexual abuse compensation fund to open in January
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14403200-74/pittsburghs-clergy-sexual-abuse-compensation-fund-to-open-in-january
Allegheny County judge resigns after being removed from cases
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/12/13/Judge-Donna-Jo-McDaniel-resigns-Allegheny-County-sex-offenders/stories/201812130201
Auditor: Port Authority buses are late too often, but they’re getting better
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2018/12/13/port-authority-transit-pennsylvania-audit-depasquale-pittsburgh-bus-rail/stories/201812130135
Port Authority buses run late one-third of the time, auditor says
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14403111-74/port-authority-buses-run-late-one-third-of-the-time-auditor-says
Rabbi Myers, anti-Semitism experts reflect on Tree of Life massacre
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/12/13/Rabbi-Myers-anti-Semitism-experts-reflect-on-Tree-of-Life-massacre/stories/201812140074
First housing money OKed from Pittsburgh’s Housing Opportunity Fund
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2018/12/13/Housing-Opportunity-Fund-Pittsburgh-Urban-Redevelopment-Authority/stories/201812130113
Wow Air says it is laying off employees, cutting airplanes
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2018/12/13/Wow-Air-lay-off-employees-cut-airplanes-Pittsburgh-International-Airport-Iceland/stories/201812130134
Incomes grow as Pittsburgh’s population shrinks, PEW analysis finds
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14401897-74/incomes-grow-as-pittsburghs-population-shrinks-pew-analysis-finds
State News
Body of Export Jason McClary, soldier killed in IED attack, is returned home
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2018/12/13/staff-sergeant-jason-mcclary-funeral-jobe-export-pa-killed-afghanistan-ied/stories/201812130104
Report: Pa. DHS failing vulnerable children due to lack of oversight at placement facilities
http://www2.philly.com/news/report-pennsylvania-juvenile-abuse-dhs-glen-mills-wordsworth-philadelphia-20181213.html
Bear attacks, drags Pa. woman outside home
http://www2.philly.com/news/pennsylvania/bear-attacks-drags-woman-outside-home-20181214.html
Hoax email bomb threats disrupt schools, businesses nationwide
http://www2.philly.com/news/email-bomb-threats-hoax-false-alarm-20181213.html
W-B woman wins Publishers Clearing House prize
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/w-b-woman-wins-publishers-clearing-house-prize-1.2421743
South Scranton Wine/spirits store reopens today
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/south-scranton-wine-spirits-store-reopens-today-1.2421901
Transportation
Separate corporate flight entrance eyed at Arnold Palmer airport
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14404647-74/separate-corporate-flight-entrance-eyed-at-arnold-palmer-airport
Washington
Court: Trump can’t let companies deny birth control coverage
http://www2.philly.com/news/nation-world/court-trump-cant-let-companies-deny-birth-control-coverage-20181213.html
Congress passes overhaul of sexual harassment policies
http://www2.philly.com/politics/nation/congress-passes-overhaul-sexual-harassment-policies-20181213.html