Legislature

Outraged’ by officer promotions, State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams urges Philly’s top cop to rescind them https://www.inquirer.com/news/state-senator-anthony-hardy-williams-outraged-by-philadelphia-police-promotions-20191215.html

With Pa. House vote looming, CNN’s Van Jones appears in Philly to call for criminal justice reform  https://www.penncapital-star.com/featured/with-pa-house-vote-looming-cnns-van-jones-appears-in-philly-to-call-for-criminal-justice-reform/

Philly DA Krasner: Gutted Pa. House probation bill is unconstitutional and harmful | Opinion https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/philly-da-krasner-gutted-pa-house-probation-bill-is-unconstitutional-and-harmful-opinion/

Voices for dignity: A look at poverty in Erie https://www.goerie.com/news/20191215/voices-for-dignity-look-at-poverty-in-erie

 

Business

America’s top foundations bankroll attack on Big Tech https://www.post-gazette.com/business/tech-news/2019/12/14/America-nonprofit-Foundations-big-Tech-google-facebook-amazon/stories/201912150019

Philly online retailer launches private-label sportswear collection for the girl-on-the-go | Elizabeth Wellington  https://www.inquirer.com/columnists/addison-bay-otg-fashion-athleisure-entrepreneur-philadelphia-20191213.html

 

Crime/Punishment

FBI Pittsburgh office seeking White Oak bank robbery suspect https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/12/14/FBI-Pittsburgh-seeking-White-Oak-bank-robbery-suspect/stories/201912140085

Cash and liquor seized from ‘illegal speakeasy’ https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/12/14/speakeasy-homewood-secrets-night-club-selling-liquor/stories/201912140062

Fighting back against porch pirates targeting holiday packages https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/fighting-back-against-porch-pirates-targeting-holiday-packages-1.2571488

 

Education

La Salle puts women’s soccer program on probation after school investigation into freshman’s hazing allegations https://www.inquirer.com/sports/la-salle-hazing-womens-soccer-kayla-miller-people-paul-royal-20191214.html

‘We don’t believe in punishment’: Student-led youth court could come to Harrisburg school https://whyy.org/articles/we-dont-believe-in-punishment-student-led-youth-court-could-come-to-harrisburg-school/

Public school funding a hot topic for Democratic candidates at Pittsburgh forum  https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/public-school-funding-a-hot-topic-for-democratic-candidates-at-pittsburgh-forum/

 

Elections/Politics

South Jersey Democratic Congressman Jeff Van Drew, impeachment foe, expected to become a Republican https://www.inquirer.com/politics/jeff-van-drew-switching-republican-trump-impeachment-20191214.html

` Army-Navy game fans try to keep the politics at home https://whyy.org/articles/army-navy-game-fans-try-to-keep-the-politics-at-home/

Pending Allegheny County GOP ad hits Democrats on liberal policies https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2019/12/15/Allegheny-County-GOP-TV-ad-hits-Democrats-policies/stories/201912140053

Inside the swing county of swing-state Pennsylvania https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2019/12/14/swing-dauphin-county-state-Pennsylvania-presidential-election-2020/stories/201912150010

 

Environment

Group continues to push PECO on solar power, green jobs  https://www.pottsmerc.com/business/group-continues-to-push-peco-on-solar-power-green-jobs/article_871f1b8a-1dd7-11ea-a4c8-53a9b15c05cc.html

 

Gaming

Hempfield casino to feature FanDuel sports betting partnership https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/hempfield-casino-to-feature-fanduel-sports-betting-partnership/

 

Health

‘Not disposable people’: Patients on ventilators caught in the middle as nursing homes bleed money  https://www.inquirer.com/business/health/ventilator-nursing-home-patients-medicaid-pennsylvania-20191215.html

St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children now owned by Drexel University and Tower Health https://www.inquirer.com/business/health/st-chris-childrens-hospital-tower-drexel-philadelphia-20191215.html

Sackler-owned opioid maker goes global with OD treatment  https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2019/12/15/Sackler-owned-opioid-maker-goes-global-OD-treatment-Mundipharma-Purdue-Pharma/stories/201912150163

PrEP, a drug proven to prevent HIV, still slow to catch on https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/prep-a-drug-proven-to-prevent-hiv-still-slow-to-catch-on/

 

Local News

Coroner: Freight train hits SUV, killing woman in Berks County  https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/freight-train-suv-woman-dead-norfolk-southern-berks-county-20191214.html

West Deer resident says he can’t escape streetlight’s glare into his home  https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/west-deer-resident-says-he-cant-escape-streetlights-glare-into-his-home/

‘Super load’ delayed near Port Matilda for three hours Saturday; will resume trip Sunday https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/12/super-load-delayed-near-port-matilda-for-three-hours-saturday-will-resume-trip-sunday.html

Social media threat forces central Pa. school to cancel performance of ‘The Lion King Jr’ https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/12/social-media-threats-force-central-pa-school-to-cancel-performance-of-the-lion-king-jr.html

Steady rain can’t stop thousands from laying wreaths at Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery  https://www.pennlive.com/weather/2019/12/steady-rain-couldnt-stop-thousands-from-laying-wreaths-at-fort-indiantown-gap-national-cemetery.html

Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority stormwater fee projects explained https://www.timesleader.com/news/765921/wyoming-valley-sanitary-authority-stormwater-fee-projects-explained

Beyond the Byline: Elected officials should have welcomed new Wilkes president https://www.timesleader.com/news/765911/beyond-the-byline-elected-officials-should-have-welcomed-new-wilkes-president

Scranton’s streets of stone survive https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-s-streets-of-stone-survive-1.2571745

Berks History Center celebrates 150 years of caring for the county’s treasures https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/berks-history-center-celebrates-150-years-of-caring-for-the-countys-treasures

Dems, GOP clash over details of Delco budget plan  https://www.delcotimes.com/news/local/dems-gop-clash-over-details-of-delco-budget-plan/article_96b04de2-1e8d-11ea-82fd-8bb5303274dd.html

Radnor OKs 2020 budget with 6 percent tax increase https://www.delcotimes.com/news/radnor-oks-budget-with-percent-tax-increase/article_980bf9fb-3c4d-5418-9b91-c713bd9905f1.html

 

National News

West Point investigating hand symbol with possible links to white power used by cadets during Army-Navy game https://www.inquirer.com/news/west-point-investigating-hand-gesture-with-links-to-white-power-used-at-army-navy-game-philadelphia-20191215.html

Shooting shows New Jersey’s gun laws aren’t stopping imports https://www.inquirer.com/news/new-jersey/jersey-city-shooting-gun-laws-20191214.html

Under pressure, Hallmark Channel pulls gay-themed wedding ads https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2019/12/14/Under-pressure-Hallmark-Channel-pulls-gay-themed-wedding-ads/stories/201912140076

 

Philly

The grand, beloved old Strawbridge’s building is about to get a historic marker https://www.inquirer.com/news/grand-beloved-old-strawbridges-building-is-about-get-historic-marker-20191126.html

Greg Lingo swore he was done with Upper Darby. Then he realized he wasn’t – and wrote a movie. | Maria Panaritis  https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/greg-lingo-crabs-in-a-bucket-upper-darby-jeremy-piven-comedy-maria-panaritis-20191215.html

Police supervisor critical after Center City crash https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-police-superisor-critically-injured-20191215.html

Army-Navy game shares a rich history in Philadelphia https://billypenn.com/2019/12/14/army-navy-game-shares-a-rich-history-in-philadelphia/

Philly Mayor Kenney quiet about police commissioner appointment as year draws to a close https://www.penncapital-star.com/featured/philly-mayor-kenney-quiet-about-police-commissioner-appointment-as-year-draws-to-a-close/

 

Pitt

Democratic presidential candidates discuss education issues at Pittsburgh forum https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2019/12/14/Pittsburgh-Democratic-presidential-candidates-public-education-forum/stories/201912140066

Pittsburgh Diocese: 26 parishes to merge into 8 next year https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2019/12/14/Catholic-Diocese-Pittsburgh-26-parishes-churches-merge-bishop-zubik/stories/201912140067

Pittsburgh Jews exploring partnership with Polish counterparts https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2019/12/15/Pittsburgh-Jews-exploring-partnership-Polish-counterparts/stories/201912120169

Unsung heroes: Pittsburgh men, decades-long study impact HIV/AIDS research  https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/unsung-heroes-pittsburgh-men-decades-long-study-impact-hiv-aids-research/

 

State News

Panels proposal to end grand jury reports draws opposition https://www.witf.org/2019/12/14/panels-proposal-to-end-grand-jury-reports-draws-opposition/

Donations, volunteers needed: Salvation Army in Pa. is falling short of Christmas campaign fundraising goals https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/12/donations-volunteers-needed-salvation-army-in-pa-is-falling-short-of-christmas-campaign-fundraising-goals.html

From Bondage to Freedom | Slavery lingered across Pennsylvania decades after practice abolished by law https://www.tribdem.com/news/from-bondage-to-freedom-slavery-lingered-across-pennsylvania-decades-after/article_6305fb62-1e6b-11ea-ac14-c76cbf12fdde.html

Washington

Trump administration’s immigration fees would hurt immigrants in Philly and nationwide | Opinion  https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/immigration-fees-trump-administration-philadelphia-pennsylvania-20191215.html

A tale of 2 migrations: Before and after new Trump policies  https://whyy.org/articles/a-tale-of-2-migrations-before-and-after-new-trump-policies/

‘There’s really no comparison’: In polarized Washington, Trump impeachment vote has little precedent https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2019/12/14/Trump-impeachment-Bill-Clinton-Democrats-Republicans-polarized-Washington/stories/201912150023

Legislators looking to lower prescription costs, improve health care https://www.timesleader.com/news/765909/legislators-looking-to-lower-prescription-costs-improve-health-care