Legislature
PA election laws could change after House power shift · Spotlight PA
In the Pennsylvania House, both parties now claim a majority — and authority to set election dates (broadandliberty.com)
Pa. House Democrats accuse GOP leader Bryan Cutler of inappropriate transfer of money | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pennsylvania Rep. Cutler moved $50M from Speaker’s account; Democrats cry foul (abc27.com)
Local lawmaker lauds Children’s Health Insurance Program – Daily Local
Governor Wolf reflects on tenure, COVID as he prepares to leave office (abc27.com)
State grant puts 2.5-mile Little Conestoga Creek trail 2 years ahead of schedule | Local News | lancasteronline.com
Wolf admin announces $5M for traffic signal tech to make Pa. roads safer | Wednesday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Upper Darby gets $363,000 grant to coordinate traffic signals (delcotimes.com)
Business/Jobs
Businesses relying far more on contractors than before Covid-19 – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
TD Bank surpasses M&T as largest SBA lender in eastern Pennsylvania – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Amazon no longer tips its drivers when customers say, ‘Alexa, thank my driver’ : NPR
As Center City restores vibrancy, Philadelphia companies juggle future of office space – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Lehigh Valley produces $47 billion in goods in 2021 (mcall.com)
COVID-19
Long Covid Has Played Role in More Than 3,500 Deaths in US, CDC Says – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
How COVID warped our time perception : Shots – Health News : NPR
The most common COVID symptoms have changed. Here’s what they are now – pennlive.com
Crime/Punishment
‘The Old Boys Club’ dominates federal prisons where women face sexual assault : NPR
Grand jury investigating abuse allegations at Delaware County Juvenile Detention Center chooses not to file charges | WITF
Closing Berks County immigrant detention center is not enough (inquirer.com)
Education
Wingard: Moving to North Philadelphia; an intentional approach to community engagement | Commentary | phillytrib.com
Temple University’s president will be living in North Philly for the first time in decades (inquirer.com)
Pay increases for administrators: Erie School Board to vote on plan (goerie.com)
Millcreek board awards McDowell renovation bids, reversing prior vote (goerie.com)
Catherine Hershey Schools expands into Lancaster city in $8.5 million real estate purchase | Local News | lancasteronline.com
Central Bucks’ lawyers call ACLU of PA probe a ‘fishing expedition’ (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Harrisburg school district leaning toward hiring own officers instead of using city cops – pennlive.com
Some Penn State Law faculty say main campus presence needed in possible law schools merger | TribLIVE.com
Scranton School Board passes budget with tax hike; will not hold hearing to close Adams | Education | thetimes-tribune.com
Weatherly school board president questioned about ‘white history month’ Facebook repost | News | standardspeaker.com
Quakertown school district could go virtual if too many teachers sick (inquirer.com)
NPR Student Podcast Challenge 2023 announcement, rules and key dates : NPR
Elections/Politics
National
What is stopping Gov. Ron DeSantis from announcing a run for president? : NPR
Report: Meadows’ Texts Show Perry, Keller, Kelly Efforts To Reverse Trump 2020 Defeat (politicspa.com)
Pa. U.S. Rep. Scott Perry among lawmakers on text chain about efforts to overturn 2020 election – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Trump’s nonsense wins yet another news cycle | Greg LaRose – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Election security advocates seek federal investigation of Trump ally efforts to copy voting software (inquirer.com)
Statewide
Governor-elect Josh Shapiro to celebrate inauguration in Lancaster County (abc27.com)
Chambersburg votes Doug Mastriano must pay his police bill | WITF
Doug Mastriano has $1M left from his Pennsylvania governor’s campaign (inquirer.com)
District/Local
Allegheny County is moving ahead with special elections for vacant state House seats – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)
Allegheny Co. Councilor Bennett jumps into county executive race; vows progressive reforms – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
DA Sanguedolce gives status update on paper shortage probe | Times Leader
County report of election board member Fusaro’s actions differs from her account | Election | citizensvoice.com
Election board member Fusaro publicly denies allegations in county report | News | standardspeaker.com
Allegheny County is moving ahead with special elections for vacant state House seats – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Philadelphia mayor’s race: Jeff Brown is first candidate to run TV ads (inquirer.com)
Environment
Bucks County, Montco residents get PFAS test results (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Transportation
PennDOT preps as winter storm approaches | News | citizensvoice.com
Report: Reliability, low fares, short trips key to transit in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Gun Safety
10 years after Sandy Hook, every step forward is a step fraught : NPR
Health
To prevent medical debt, the U.S. could learn from Germany’s health care system : Shots – Health News : NPR
CVS, Walgreens to pay out $450M to Pennsylvania in opioid settlement | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
WATCH VIDEO | Marking a ‘milestone’ in Conemaugh hospital project | News | tribdem.com
Respiratory virus surge impacting local schools | TribLIVE.com
Thomas Jefferson University names Baligh R. Yehia president for health care operations (inquirer.com)
Battle over secret tape in UPMC lawsuit dominates hearing | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
State News
Oversight of PA marijuana card approvals under scrutiny · Spotlight PA
Pa. youth center had ‘dangerous’ lack of oversight, report says (abc27.com)
Toomey blocks legislation aimed to fight global money laundering (delcotimes.com)
Pa. Sen. Pat Toomey on GOP, his career before John Fetterman takes office (inquirer.com)
State seeking public’s help to identify broadband service gaps | News | tribdem.com
Army sergeant killed at Georgia base was an Afghan veteran from Pennsylvania | WITF
Will Gov. Josh Shapiro change management of Pa. retirement funds? (inquirer.com)
Taylor Swift fans getting second chance to buy concert tickets in Pennsylvania – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)
Taylor Swift tickets: Ticketmaster has second chance for Philadelphia, Pittsburgh shows (inquirer.com)
National News
US storm brings tornadoes, blizzard-like conditions; 2 dead – Daily Local
Massive winter storm lumbers across the U.S. : NPR
Scientists announce a fusion breakthrough with big implications for clean energy – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX Engaged in Fraud for Years, Prosecutors Say – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
The Geminids meteor shower will peak on Tuesday night : NPR
Ukraine says it shot down Russian drones in pre-dawn attack on Kyiv : NPR
A new stamp of Rep. John Lewis has been issued by USPS : NPR
We are dangerously reliant on China for minerals and metals needed for national security | Opinion – pennlive.com
Local News
Winter weather advisory warns central Pa. will get snow, sleet and wind gusts Thursday – pennlive.com
‘Potpourri of precipitation’: Winter storms set to collide over region, bringing snow and sleet | News | tribdem.com
Lancaster County, Pa. town finds compromise on local library funding | WITF
Residents evacuated just before gas explosion flattened Susquehanna Twp. home with a ‘sonic boom’ | WITF
French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust preserves 4.45 more acres; connects trails in Kimberton, East Pikeland – Daily Local
Harrisburg City Council approves 2023 budget (abc27.com)
Delco’s $125k Diversity Officer Gives First Report to Council – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Spearhead Project Earth plans to clean up Burlington Island (theintell.com)
East Lansdowne celebrates ordinance with lead abatement group (delcotimes.com)
Lower Macungie planners unanimously recommend Topgolf, mixed-use developments – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Potential landfill expansion worries some in Lehigh Valley (mcall.com)
Luzerne County Council continues to whittle away proposed tax hike | News | citizensvoice.com
Breakdown shows city OT over budget, reimbursements will reduce cost | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Scranton and Dunmore homeowners to see average $576 increase in annual water/sewer bill | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Water levels rise as HCA eyes exit of second stage of drought contingency plan | News | standardspeaker.com
Pitt
Ice storm warning issued for areas north, east of Pittsburgh | TribLIVE.com
Pittsburgh Public Schools 2023 budget stabilizes district for another year, future funding still uncertain | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Pittsburgh City Councilman introduces proposal to erase medical debt – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)
City Council eyeing proposal to relieve medical debt for thousands of Pittsburghers | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Rich Fitzgerald touts Allegheny County’s successes at quarterly council address | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A family business transaction in McKees Rocks creates route for conflict resolution | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
City Council yields to park funding requests absent from mayor’s budget proposal | Infrastructure | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Allegheny County Council adopts $3B budget after debate over amendments | TribLIVE.com
‘Our hearts are broken’: Children killed in Sewickley house fire identified | TribLIVE.com
Commission questions design of proposed music venue and garage at former Civic Arena site | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Mayor Ed Gainey revamps Pittsburgh’s arts commission and public art funding allocation | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Philly
New affordable housing units are coming to Grays Ferry and Point Breeze | Local News | phillytrib.com
Philly Board of Ed president honored with lifetime achievement award – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Philly Board of Ed president honored with lifetime achievement award – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
WNBA expansion: Does Philly have the right arena? Data analysis (inquirer.com)
Philly Pops musicians say they are prepared to strike if needed amid talk of closure (inquirer.com)
Railing at Philadelphia City Hall stolen; worth up to $20,000 (inquirer.com)
Washington
Biden signs gay marriage law, calls it ‘a blow against hate’ – Daily Local
Biden signs Respect for Marriage Act, recognizing marriage equality in federal law (cbsnews.com)
Lawmakers announce ‘framework’ on bill to keep gov’t open – Daily Local
Despite Trump’s Lobbying, McCarthy’s Speaker Bid Remains Imperiled on the Right – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Panel probing Jan. 6 Capitol attacks to vote Monday on criminal referral plans : NPR
The giant U.S. scandal we don’t talk about | Will Bunch Newsletter (inquirer.com)
