Legislature
Pa. addiction specialists, lawmakers, and officials discuss addiction, settlement funds, stigma – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Opioid fatalities: Pennsylvania leaders discuss ‘jetliner a day’ problem | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Pa. officials: Funding building up, stigma persists in opioid addiction crisis | News | tribdem.com
Two state lawmakers want to audit Philadelphia and Pittsburgh sports stadiums – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Voting laws are on the agenda for the Pa. legislature, but neither party will get their full wish list | PA Power and Policy | lancasteronline.com
Pa. Republicans fight to prolong House majority and pass far-reaching constitutional amendments | WITF
Cutler’s power-grab on special elections disenfranchises W. Pa. voters. Here’s why | Marc Stier – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
The real losers in the fight over the Pa. House are the voters | Ray E. Landis – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Pennsylvania State Department argues against delay in filling 3 Pa. House vacancies | WITF
State awards $50M to improve Philly’s forensic crime lab and police surveillance systems (inquirer.com)
Philadelphia gets $50M to curb gun violence and upgrade forensic lab – Axios Philadelphia
Philly getting a big chunk of federal dollars to address gun violence and violent crime – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)
Montgomery County receives $3.5M in Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency grants (mainlinemedianews.com)
Montgomery County receives $3.5M in Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency grants (timesherald.com)
$5.8 Million In Crime And Deliquency Grants Will Assist Lower Bucks | Yardley, PA Patch
$5.8 Million in State Grants Awarded to 10th Senatorial District – MyChesCo
Bucks County Lawmakers Announce $5.8 Million in Grants for Crime Prevention Measures
Solar Benches Offer Device Charging, Wi-Fi At Delco Libraries | Media, PA Patch
Gov. Wolf’s final food security report notes 37% decrease in food insecurity | Times Leader
Friends, family remember former state Sen. Milton Street – CBS Philadelphia (cbsnews.com)
Business/Jobs
Public officials heed calls to end communication with Post-Gazette until strike demands are met | WITF
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette workers continue to strike before holidays (wtae.com)
Most valuable crops grown in Pennsylvania (abc27.com)
Pump prices in Philly market down a third week in a row, Gas Buddy says (delcotimes.com)
Many Lehigh Valley families are suffering from inflation. That’s not stopping them from making sure children have a happy holiday. – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Starbucks workers begin 3-day walkout at 100 US stores | WITF
Crime/Punishment
Philip Nordo, ex-Philly homicide detective, sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting witnesses (inquirer.com)
Botched executions reached ‘astonishing’ high in 2022, report finds – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
‘I’m lost without my dad’: Families grieve a record year for fatal hit-and-runs in Philly (inquirer.com)
Norristown man, mastermind in gun trafficking network, faces decades in prison (mainlinemedianews.com)
‘Still challenges’ but Delaware County happy with transition at prison (delcotimes.com)
Education
Hearing discusses Pa.’s new graduation requirements | Local News | phillytrib.com
New initiative challenges Philly third graders to read 20 books in 20 weeks | Local News | phillytrib.com
Jefferson Educational Society seeks Michelle Obama for ’23 Erie summit (goerie.com)
Mandatory military instruction affects Black, Latino high school students most frequently, report says | News | phillytrib.com
Philly school board elects ‘new generation of leaders’ | Local News | phillytrib.com
Central Bucks School District’s indefensible treatment of LGBTQ students | Editorial (inquirer.com)
Elections/Politics
National
Gay marriage is no longer a right-wing wedge issue | Dick Polman – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Statewide
Toomey: Trump’s 2024 campaign has had ‘terrible rollout’ (abc27.com)
Polling Firm Founded by DelVal High Schoolers Earns National Cred – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Two Lehigh Valley pols raised more than $1M each for winning state Senate races – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
District/Local
Delaware County Republican Party has new leader (delcotimes.com)
Environment
We can’t forget the health dangers of fracking | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Climate change is coming for the Jersey Shore, retiring coastal expert warns (inquirer.com)
Transportation
11 people seriously injured amid turbulence on Hawaii flight : NPR
New Amtrak trains coming for Northeast routes, including NY, NJ, PA (ydr.com)
Penske adds electric trucks to its fleet (dailylocal.com)
PHL holiday traffic will increase this year. Here are the days expected to be the busiest. – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Gun Safety
Lancaster comes together to remember gun violence victims (abc27.com)
Fiancé of gun violence victim holds vigil in Lancaster city to unite families, bring awareness | Local News | lancasteronline.com
Gun violence lessons from my tennis instructor | Opinion (inquirer.com)
Health
‘Tripledemic’ Data Shows Cold and Flu Season Is Already Among the Worst on Record – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
North Philadelphia overdoses are rising in the opioid crisis. Outreach is underway to a community previously ignored. (inquirer.com)
Western Pa. health systems weathering virus surge are not overwhelmed — yet | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
State News
Hire of Tamir Rice’s killer exposed feuds in PA borough · Spotlight PA State College
Some Pennsylvanians could lose channels during Verizon, Cox renegotiations | Today in Pa. – pennlive.com
Rural Pennsylvania gets $1M for solar panel installations | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
TOOMEY: Farewell To The Senate (Part One) – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Eye on the Capitol: Congressional votes for the week of Dec. 9-15 | News | tribdem.com
Pa. residents bought nearly 71K guns in November, data show | Monday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Pennsylvania Economy League study suggests local tax changes | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
National News
The Year in Pictures 2022 – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
‘Untraditional’ Hanukkah celebrations are often full of traditions for Jews of color (inquirer.com)
Shrinking availability of small mortgages hurts low-income buyers (inquirer.com)
The 2022 World Cup moments in Qatar that surprised and delighted : NPR
Musk asks in poll if he should step down as Twitter CEO, users vote yes : NPR
LIV Golf executive resigns as new league continues ambitious push – pennlive.com
Dress for Success helps women achieve economic independence | Helping the Helpers – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
N.J. casino revenue up 4% in Nov., trails pre-pandemic levels (inquirer.com)
Local News
Celebrating Hanukkah at the Jewish Community Center | News | thetimes-tribune.com
New CWA Board Members: We Work for Ratepayers, Not Politicians – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
‘This is recovery’: State officials discuss action plan for Ida dollars in Montgomery, Delaware counties (mainlinemedianews.com)
Imagination Library in Erie County mails 1 millionth book (goerie.com)
Local LGBTQ community: Dangerous rhetoric prompts concerns, need for ‘safe spaces’ | News | tribdem.com
Imagination seizes reality with creation underway of new $21.7 million Kennett Library and Resource Center – Daily Local
Chester County budget for 2023 includes no tax increase; approved unanimously – Daily Local
Phoenixville to change ambulance services in 2023 (dailylocal.com)
It’s been 12 months, and Harrisburg officials still haven’t respond to a citizens’ petition | PennLive letters – pennlive.com
Harrisburg among nation’s worst markets for renters, with virtually ‘no new apartments’: report – pennlive.com
Hundreds say farewell to New Tripoli firefighters Zachary Paris and Marvin Gruber, “humble heroes” lost in the line of duty (mcall.com)
Donation helps Doylestown Borough’s Broad Commons Park playground plans move forward | The Bucks County Herald
Luzerne County approves month-to-month lease for building it pondered vacating | Times Leader
Overworked public defender’s office to get outside help | News | citizensvoice.com
Wilkes-Barre council to reconsider Toyota SportsPlex contract | News | citizensvoice.com
Developer to break ground on Dunmore senior care home in spring | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Audit cites Carbondale for failing to fully fund pensions | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Luzerne County Council to finish review of Rescue Plan applications by end of year | News | standardspeaker.com
Pitt
Pittsburgh foundation offers another $11.2 million to assist affordable housing programs | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The candidates running to run Allegheny County – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)
Local members of Jewish faith gather to mark the start of Hanukkah – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)
Safety concerns shake Downtown Pittsburgh as businesses fear crime-related issues are threatening the city’s core | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh’s performing arts venues show signs of resilience with surge in single-ticket sales | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Editorial: Enjoy the World Cup? Pittsburgh can be a soccer city | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Philly
What role does Philly’s mayor play in impacting the LGBTQ community? – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
A new approach to primary care for seniors is taking shape in Philadelphia at Patina Health (inquirer.com)
Marita Crawford, Johnny Doc’s close confidante and longtime union political director, to plead guilty to embezzlement charges (inquirer.com)
Washington
As they meet, the Jan. 6 panel will take up criminal referrals against Trump. : NPR
Jan. 6 Panel Will Conduct Final Hearing and Vote on Trump Referrals – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
A guide to the January 6 committee’s big week | CNN Politics