Coronavirus – COVID-19

Wolf Administration says help available for people dealing with isolation, depression
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/wolf-administration-says-help-available-for-people-dealing-with-isolation-depression/

‘We knew it was inevitable’: Pa. child care centers wrestle with COVID surge
https://www.witf.org/2020/12/16/we-knew-it-was-inevitable-pa-child-care-centers-wrestle-with-covid-surge/

Coronavirus complicates bringing Pa.’s homeless in from the cold
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/12/coronavirus-complicates-bringing-pas-homeless-in-from-the-cold.html

Pennsylvania reports over 10K coronavirus cases for 5th time in 7 days
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-reports-over-10k-coronavirus-cases-for-5th-time-in-7-days/

Pennsylvania coronavirus update: 10,049 more cases and 278 more deaths Wednesday
https://www.mcall.com/coronavirus/mc-nws-virus-stats-dec16-20201216-pemwcoqoufej5lzrfskudkotaq-story.html

Allegheny County sees most new coronavirus cases in state
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny-county-sees-most-new-coronavirus-cases-in-state/

Allegheny County’s covid rates still rising as some businesses ignore restrictions
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny-countys-covid-rates-still-rising-as-some-businesses-ignore-restrictions/

Westmoreland covid hospitalizations up but Excela officials say they can handle it
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-covid-hospitalizations-up-but-officials-say-they-can-handle-it/

Westmoreland County surpasses 15K coronavirus cases
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-county-surpasses-15k-coronavirus-cases/

One-day record 485 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in county; deaths at 389
https://www.timesleader.com/news/813296/one-day-record-485-new-cases-of-covid-19-confirmed-in-county-wednesday

Dallas ZIP code appears to be new COVID-19 hot spot
https://www.timesleader.com/news/813340/dallas-zip-code-appears-to-be-new-covid-19-hot-spot

Free drive-through testing to be offered at Mohegan Sun Pocono Casino in Plains Township
https://www.timesleader.com/news/813307/free-drive-through-testing-to-be-offered-at-mohegan-sun-pocono-casino-in-plains-township

Drive-thru COVID testing site coming to Luzerne County
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/coronavirus/drive-thru-covid-testing-site-coming-to-luzerne-county/article_6176767c-e26c-5d91-8922-1f10e927e7b3.html

LVHN to begin vaccinating staff Friday
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/coronavirus/lvhn-to-begin-vaccinating-staff-friday/article_677587d7-45b9-5efb-8d1c-dc4def5ab9a1.html

Berks County coroner adds 7 more COVID deaths for 53 deaths this month
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/berks-county-coroner-adds-7-more-covid-deaths-for-53-deaths-this-month/article_5089d94e-3f95-11eb-943c-6ff889a130fb.html

First COVID vaccines arriving in Berks hospitals, but won’t be available to the public yet
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/first-covid-vaccines-arriving-in-berks-hospitals-but-wont-be-available-to-the-public-yet/article_8e7697d8-3fdb-11eb-bfda-4bdb26f552e7.html

Delco has not received any COVID vaccines
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/coronavirus/delco-has-not-received-any-covid-vaccines/article_77f44c08-3fdb-11eb-8573-e743c56eaf8d.html

Alaska health care worker hospitalized after receiving covid-19 vaccine
https://triblive.com/news/world/alaska-health-care-worker-hospitalized-after-receiving-covid-19-vaccine/

Close, but not yet: Deal near on COVID-19 economic aid that would include stimulus checks to most Americans
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/congress-coronavirus-stimulus-talks-progress-covid-19-20201216.html

Legislature

With a possible COVID-19 eviction surge looming, Pa. must seal eviction records | Opinion
https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/with-a-possible-covid-19-eviction-surge-looming-pa-must-seal-eviction-records-opinion/

Jennifer Storm, a true victims’ advocate | PennLive letters
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2020/12/jennifer-storm-a-true-victims-advocate-pennlive-letters.html

Business

Pa. threatens at least 150 restaurants with fines or closure for allowing indoor dining in defiance of state ban
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19-pa-nj-philly-surge-restaurants-indoor-dining-ban-council-montco-hospitals-20201216.html

Gov. Wolf’s COVID-19 restrictions will decimate small businesses across the state | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/pennsylvania-covid-restrictions-shutdown-restaurant-small-business-economy-20201216.html

‘Pulling the floor out’: As pandemic unemployment expires, people downsize, go into debt
https://www.witf.org/2020/12/16/pulling-the-floor-out-as-pandemic-unemployment-expires-people-downsize-go-into-debt/

Crime/Punishment

COVID surge in Pa. prisons leads to calls for lockdown at all facilities
https://www.penncapital-star.com/criminal-justice/covid-surge-in-pa-prisons-leads-to-calls-for-lockdown-at-all-facilities/

He came to Baltimore from rural Pennsylvania to buy drugs. Now he’s dead and a 13-year-old boy is charged with murder
https://triblive.com/news/world/he-came-to-baltimore-from-rural-pennsylvania-to-buy-drugs-now-hes-dead-and-a-13-year-old-boy-is-charged-with-murder/

Valley View teacher charged with child pornography
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/crime-emergencies/valley-view-teacher-charged-with-child-pornography/article_67c36b2d-608f-5a97-aa0b-9f68d610d311.html

Education

As teachers quarantine, Philly-area schools hunt for substitutes
https://www.inquirer.com/education/substitute-teacher-shortage-pennsylvania-coronavirus-schools-closing-20201217.html

East Penn Black students feel unwanted, invisible, says group calling for anti-racist training
https://www.mcall.com/news/education/mc-nws-east-penn-anti-racist-training-20201216-hjjvkfvo2rh7djltwwmdfnqzay-story.html

Snow day! Plum School District closed Thursday due to weather, playing in snow encouraged
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/snow-day-plum-school-district-closed-thursday-due-to-weather-playing-in-snow-encouraged/

Two more Susquenita School Board members resign, cite infighting
https://www.pennlive.com/perry-county-times/2020/12/two-more-susquenita-board-members-resign-cite-infighting.html

As covid-19 surges, Pennsylvania colleges urged to delay students’ return
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/as-covid-19-surges-pennsylvania-colleges-urged-to-delay-the-start-of-spring-semester/

Duquesne University cutting faculty to reduce costs
https://triblive.com/news/education-classroom/duquesne-university-cutting-faculty-to-reduce-costs/

Health Care

Trump takes a final shot at Obamacare exchanges. How Pa. is impacted
https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/trump-takes-a-final-shot-at-obamacare-exchanges-how-pa-is-impacted/

Local News

Private contributions to support Lackawanna County veterans treatment court, participants
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/private-contributions-to-support-lackawanna-county-veterans-treatment-court-participants/article_f9115699-7452-5fcf-8630-33c710362592.html

14 Scranton firefighters test positive for COVID-19
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/14-scranton-firefighters-test-positive-for-covid-19/article_5d69513a-4c3e-5c98-b6ca-4805ef89c7ad.html

COLTS employees step up for working families in need at holiday
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/colts-employees-step-up-for-working-families-in-need-at-holiday/article_2e02c195-4985-50e4-9bd1-33738c157bc0.html

County, city getting it right on health agency
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/editorial/county-city-getting-it-right-on-health-agency/article_6e18d0bb-bcf0-5bd5-812b-864270508ed8.html

Delaware County is set to pay $410,000 to two firms to help regain control of its embattled, privately run county jail
https://www.inquirer.com/news/george-w-hill-correctional-facility-delaware-county-vote-de-privatize-20201216.html

Luzerne County Head Start invests in virus-killing air purifiers
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/luzerne-county-head-start-invests-in-virus-killing-air-purifiers/article_3336d5c8-fd26-5f13-93df-2d08282d48e5.html

Maddon and volunteers give food to 500 families at drive-through event
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/maddon-and-volunteers-give-food-to-500-families-at-drive-through-event/article_02bfb736-0334-59aa-be56-bcae12a368eb.html

Despair plus guns equals death for too many youth in Harrisburg | Social Views
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2020/12/despair-plus-guns-equals-death-for-too-many-youth-in-harrisburg-social-views.html

National News

Ten states, led by Texas attorney general, sue Google over ‘monopolistic power’
https://www.inquirer.com/business/google-lawsuit-anti-competitive-20201216.html

Opioid Crisis

Misplaced blame for opioid epidemic harms pain patients | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/opioid-use-pain-patients-coronavirus-regulations-20201216.html

Philly

Police shot a Philly man, then accused him of rape. He was exonerated after 19 years.
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-wrongful-conviction-exoneration-police-misconduct-tremaine-hicks-20201216.html

Pa. Supreme Court dismisses petition seeking to remove DA’s Office from handling Mumia Abu-Jamal’s appeals
https://www.inquirer.com/news/mumia-abu-jamal-larry-krasner-maureen-faulkner-supreme-court-decision-20201216.html

Philly DA candidate Carlos Vega points to gun and violence statistics, saying he will make the city safer
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-district-attorney-former-prosecutor-carlos-vega-announces-candidacy-larry-krasner-20201216.html

Who’s on the mayor’s short list for Philly school board? Panel releases names.
https://www.inquirer.com/education/philadelphia-school-board-district-nominating-panel-20201216.html

Biden’s inauguration will look different. Meet the Philly woman who’s helping plan it.
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/joe-biden-inauguration-erin-wilson-20201216.html

Pitt

Advocates demand virtual access to Allegheny County criminal courts, ‘It’s not difficult’
https://triblive.com/local/advocates-demand-virtual-access-to-allegheny-county-criminal-courts-its-not-difficult/

Carnegie Museum workers vote to join United Steelworkers union
https://triblive.com/aande/museums/carnegie-museum-workers-vote-to-join-united-steelworkers-union/

Pittsburgh council on track to adopt 2021 budget that doesn’t cut police funding
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-council-on-track-to-adopt-2021-budget-that-doesnt-cut-police-funding/

Pittsburgh restaurant raided after police reported illegal alcohol sales
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-restaurant-raided-after-police-reported-illegal-alcohol-sales/

State News

Peco should step up on solar to make the Philly region healthier | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/peco-energy-default-plan-solar-philadelphia-pennsylvania-20201216.html

Marijuana milestone: more than 100 dispensaries open in Pa.
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/marijuana-milestone-more-than-100-dispensaries-open-in-pa/

Washington

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos heads for the exits, leaving a legacy of turmoil
https://www.penncapital-star.com/education/education-secretary-betsy-devos-heads-for-the-exits-leaving-a-legacy-of-turmoil/