Legislature

Bucks County Arts Community Awarded $307K In Covid Recovery Funds | New Hope, PA Patch

Chester County Arts and Cultural Organizations Secure State Funding for Recovery – MyChesCo

Berks County Organizations Receive Arts and Culture Recovery Program Grant Funding from the State – BCTV

Sen. Judy Schwank Announces $5.3 Million in Grant Funding for Water Infrastructure Projects – BCTV

Pa. awards nearly $9.5 million for water and sewer projects in Berks (yahoo.com)

Drilling under Pennsylvania’s ‘Gasland’ town has been banned since 2010. It’s coming back. | Business | dailygazette.com

Bench at Serra Catholic High School dedicated in honor of Samantha Kalkbrenner – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Law to prevent abuse during court-ordered child visitations passes PA Senate | The Bucks County Herald

$307,414 in arts and culture grants awarded locally | The Bucks County Herald

State grants Thompson Memorial $45,617 for security improvements | The Bucks County Herald

Gas company to resume drilling in Pa. community after DEP lifts moratorium – Butler Eagle

Drilling under Pennsylvania’s ‘Gasland’ town has been banned since 2010. It’s coming back. (wbng.com)

Chester County Municipalities Secure Over $6.5M in State Funding for Water and Sewer System Upgrades – MyChesCo

State Awards $2.3M For Water And Sewer Projects In Central Bucks Co. | Doylestown, PA Patch

PA regulators grant approval for natural gas company to resume drilling after water pollution ban | The California Sun

Senator Santarsiero, State Reps Announce $307,414 in Arts & Culture Grants | The Online Culture Channel

Mayor Jim Kenney’s education legacy: local control and more money (inquirer.com)

Drilling under Pennsylvania’s ‘Gasland’ town has been banned since 2010. It’s coming back. – WTOP News

Criminal Reform Act Updates ‘Technical Violation’ Laws for Penns – WENY News

White Oak garage gets safety upgrade thanks to $30K grant – The Mon Valley Independent

An update on the student loan interest deduction proposal | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Business/Jobs

Xfinity notifies its customers of data breach | WITF

Comcast Xfinity customers may have had their personal information compromised in data breach – pennlive.com

Eat on the deck all year long at this Cumberland County restaurant – pennlive.com

COVID-19

COVID after the emergency: How the pandemic response evolved in 2023 : Shots – Health News : NPR

Crime/Punishment

Pa. mom who killed sons, ages 9 and 13, goes to prison for life: DA – pennlive.com

Harrisburg man wanted for double homicide arrested: U.S. marshals – pennlive.com

3 people arrested in murder-for-hire, arson plot in Pa.: reports – pennlive.com

Pa. music teacher charged with owning child pornography – pennlive.com

Pa. journalist arrested in FBI child exploitation sting: police – pennlive.com

Two killed in possible murder-suicide in Pa. township: reports – pennlive.com

Teen died after N.J. school bus staff failed to help him as he choked, parents allege – pennlive.com

Education

West Chester University names Lorraine Bernotsky next president – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

An update on the student loan interest deduction proposal | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Pennsylvania philanthropists give millions in ‘education innovation’ awards | National | thecentersquare.com

After great debate, Scranton School Board decides against tax increase for 2024 | Education | thetimes-tribune.com

Elections/Politics

How a new way to vote is gaining traction in states — and could transform US politics – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Economy, inflation and health care are top concerns among Latino voters in Pa. – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Environment

Study: Known carcinogen hexavalent chromium found in California wildfire ash : NPR

Transportation

Toyota recalls 1 million vehicles over possible air-bag problem – pennlive.com

More US auto buyers are turning to hybrids as sales of electric vehicles slow – pennlive.com

Pa. motorists will see savings at the pump as state gas tax falls – pennlive.com

State considers subsidizing electric school bus transition | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Electric vehicles present new security risks | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Work zone speed enforcement cameras are here to stay in Pa. – pennlive.com

Municipalities ill-equipped to apply for transportation grants | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Gun Safety

Philly’s gun violence rates are dropping but more work is needed to strengthen youth empowerment, leaders say | Local News | phillytrib.com

Health

Spotlight PA makes info publicly available on why patients qualify for medical marijuana – pennlive.com

What to know about abortion policy across the US heading into 2024 – pennlive.com

Addiction warning signs during the holidays | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

DUI rules cause headaches for medical marijuana patients | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

State News

Santa’s reindeer cleared for Christmas travel – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Meek Mill joins Josh Shapiro for Pa. probation reform, clean slate law | WITF

Pennsylvania budget done | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Committee OKs insurance payout reporting limit for seniors | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Federal judge orders Pa. U.S. Rep. Perry to disclose 1,700 messages to special counsel Jack Smith – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Plans brewing over how to spend ‘digital equity’ broadband funds | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Pennsylvania expands its child care tax credit – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pennsylvania shrinks by 10,000 people in 2023 | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

National News

Taxman to waive nearly $1 billion in late-payment penalties | National | thecentersquare.com

These are the 15 states that received the most unaccompanied minors from the border | National | thecentersquare.com

California to lose four Congressional seats after 2030 Census, TX and FL to gain | California | thecentersquare.com

New Mexico launches wastewater drug testing for high schools finds coke, fentanyl | New Mexico | thecentersquare.com

How passengers spent frigid Boston cruise that was supposed to go to the Bahamas – pennlive.com

Local News

News pilot and photographer killed in TV helicopter crash in N.J. forest are identified – pennlive.com

Tractor-trailer carrying almost 20 tons of ice cream overturns, shutting down Pa. road – pennlive.com

Offset Paperback Manufacturers to close in Back Mountain | Business | citizensvoice.com

Montgomery County closes out 2023 approving $43M in contracts (mainlinemedianews.com)

Retiring Lehigh County DA Jim Martin looks back on his career (mcall.com)

Dump truck carrying scrap metal hits I-83 bridge, closes ramp: PennDOT – pennlive.com

Pitt

Pittsburgh to open drop-off sites for Christmas tree recycling | TribLIVE.com

Pittsburgh Public Schools’ 2024 budget, with no tax increase, is approved by board | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

New policies aimed at LGBTQ+ students may be coming in a Beaver County school district | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Jak’s, a traditional Bulgarian bakery, opens in Bloomfield | TribLIVE.com

Pittsburgh Museum of Illusions offers exhibits that challenge the eye | TribLIVE.com

New second southbound Route 28 lane opens at Highland Park Bridge | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh’s space company Astrobotic sets new lunar launch date | TribLIVE.com

Philly

Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton schedules special election for seat Feb. 13 | Local News | phillytrib.com

Parker names experienced finance and budget directors | Local News | phillytrib.com

Inside the proposed merger of Jefferson Health and Lehigh Valley Health Network – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

City sends Philadelphia 76ers arena design propsoal back to developers for changes – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Suspect believed to be the ‘Fairmount Park rapist’ arrested after 20 years, officials tout DNA advancement | Local News | phillytrib.com

Washington

Rejecting the progressive tag, Sen. Fetterman says he’s ‘just a very strong Democrat’ – pennlive.com

Casey, Fetterman, Deluzio call on Yellen to halt U.S. Steel acquisition – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Eye on the Capitol: How Casey, Fetterman, Kelly voted last week | Local News | ncnewsonline.com

Casey, Fetterman, Deluzio Blast News of U.S. Steel Sale To Japanese Company (politicspa.com)

U.S. Steel: Fetterman, Casey criticize the company’s proposed $14B sale to Nippon Steel – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Senators line up to oppose sale of US Steel to Japanese firm | Raleigh News & Observer (newsobserver.com)

Casey, Fetterman skeptical of $14.9B sale of U.S. Steel – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

Senator Bob Casey Secures Key Provisions in National Defense Authorization Act – MyChesCo