Legislature
Legislature finalizes, Shapiro signs deal on remaining Pa. budget issues – pennlive.com
PA Environment Digest Blog: Senate Environmental Committee Meets Dec. 12 On 2 Environmental Hearing Board Nominees, Bill Creating An Independent Energy Information Office (paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com)
Senator Anthony Williams Reacts to Resignation of University of Pennsylvania’s President, Liz Magill – MyChesCo
Private schools, child care legislation pass in Pennsylvania as lawmakers move past budget feud (wacotrib.com)
Pa. budget update: Lawmakers wrap up process, pass bills to fund community colleges & libraries | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pending PA bill aims to curb ‘parental alienation’ (publicsource.org)
Legislative Roundup – Lower Bucks Times
Berks organizations receive $284,845 in state funding for security and law enforcement projects | Berks Regional News | wfmz.com
Shorter weeks, longer days? Pa. poised to give schools flexibility | WITF
Senate passes bill mandating armed school security officers in Pa. schools – pennlive.com
Pennsylvania lawmakers grapple with hate speech in education (wskg.org)
Voter registration applications are up 65% since Pa. started automatic registration at PennDOT centers | News | meadvilletribune.com
Pennsylvania Secretary of State talks 2023 election, need to recruit poll workers (mytwintiers.com)
Expansion of Pa. permits to grow, sell medical marijuana headed to governor’s desk – pennlive.com
Tuition relief pilot program moving through legislature | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
DUI rules cause headaches for medical marijuana patients | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
A Q&A with PA House Speaker Joanna McClinton – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)
Resolution calling 2023 the ‘Taylor Swift Era’ squeaks through Pa. House – pennlive.com
Lawmakers begin work on an abortion rights amendment for Pennsylvania’s Constitution – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Senate passes protections bill for pregnant, postpartum incarcerated people – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Pa. Legislature passes education bills without Level Up funding – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Business/Jobs
Your name could get you a free sub at Firehouse Subs. Here’s how. – pennlive.com
Crime/Punishment
Off-duty Pa. cop charged with manslaughter after knocking down witness at shooting scene: AG – pennlive.com
Teen ‘snapped,’ beat 68-year-old man to death in central Pa. garage: court docs – pennlive.com
16-year-old girl missing in central Pa.: police – pennlive.com
Education
Private schools, child care legislation pass in Pennsylvania as lawmakers move past budget feud (wacotrib.com)
Shorter weeks, longer days? Pa. poised to give schools flexibility | WITF
Tuition relief pilot program moving through legislature | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Pa. Legislature passes education bills without Level Up funding – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
After being bullied, a Philly student was threatened with deportation by his principal. Here’s what happened next – pennlive.com
Emergency declaration to demolish part of the former William Penn High School (abc27.com)
Elections/Politics
Is PA-17 in Play in 2024? (politicspa.com)
Pa. voter registration applications up 65% | News | bradfordera.com
Democrat Bill Petulla launches campaign for Pa. 28th House District – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
PA Building Trades Council back Kenyatta for auditor general, Stollsteimer for attorney general – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Environment
PA Environment Digest Blog: Senate Environmental Committee Reports Independent Energy Information Office Bill; Democrats Attempt To Table Environmental Hearing Board Nominee (paenvironmentdaily.blogspot.com)
Delaware botanical garden donates plant waste to help injured birds | WITF
Crop Damage on the Rise in Pennsylvania | Morning Ag Clips
Transportation
Municipalities ill-equipped to apply for transportation grants | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Risk manager: Road design, not speed limit, key to stopping pedestrian deaths | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Despite concerns, $290 electric vehicle fee proposal advances | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
State News
Shapiro signs final budget bill after late night votes in the Pa. Legislature – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
A look back at what Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro did in 2023 | WITF
Shapiro signs ceremonial bill for task force on flood insurance issues – Insurance News | InsuranceNewsNet
What Josh Shapiro did on his 1st year as PA’s governor · Spotlight PA
December 14 Playbook: And To All, A Good Night (politicspa.com)
New rules for Pa. hunters to limit the spread of chronic wasting | WITF
Unionized nurses at 2 Pennsylvania community hospitals to strike | WITF
National News
Existing home sales on track for worst year since at least 2008 | National | thecentersquare.com
States receive 14-day block against NCAA transfer rule, retaliation rule | Colorado | thecentersquare.com
Complaints about U.S. airlines climb at record pace : NPR
Black lung benefits should be easier for coal miners to access, lawmakers and advocates say – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Veterans’ assistance program passes U.S. House, with Pa. U.S. Rep. Scott Perry voting against – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
San Francisco’s Woes Are Well Known. Across the Bay, Oakland Has Struggled More. – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Local News
Abandoned Allentown home caught fire twice in three years. Neighbors claim blight, delays and negligence are the cause (mcall.com)
Hanover Area consultant recommends consolidating four elementary schools into one school with $65M to $80M price tag | News | citizensvoice.com
Pa. man’s massive Christmas display draws crowds and code office – pennlive.com
I-81 shut down in Cumberland County after tractor-trailer catches fire – pennlive.com
Warren Co. Prosecutor: Driver fled from police from NJ to Pa. and back before crashing into school bus | Regional | wfmz.com
Ex-Pa cop whose criminal record has been cleared is back in law enforcement – pennlive.com
64-year-old man dies in central Pa. motorcycle crash: coroner – pennlive.com
Pitt
Pittsburgh considers extending lease on police HQ for 6 years, with option to buy | TribLIVE.com
Feds say owner of Pa. snow, ice removal company padded bills; seek forfeiture of his Mt. Washington mansion | TribLIVE.com
Pittsburgh City Council tweaks mayor’s budget proposal, to vote on spending plan next week | TribLIVE.com
Allegheny County opens emergency shelter on first Code Blue night when temperatures drop | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
New questions in Jim Rogers’ death as Pittsburgh hires high-profile pathologist | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Philly
Philadelphia poised to add automatic speed cameras to additional roadways | Local News | phillytrib.com
Body in Philadelphia warehouse IDed as inmate who escaped in 4th city breakout this year | Local News | phillytrib.com
Former Eagles player Malcolm Jenkins on money, social justice, and grit in Philly | Local News | phillytrib.com
Prosecution of retail theft in Philadelphia down, data says | Local News | phillytrib.com
SEPTA Transit Police union authorizes strike in Philadelphia | Local News | phillytrib.com
Washington
Black lung benefits should be easier for coal miners to access, lawmakers and advocates say – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)