Legislature
Sworn statement could decide if Lindsey Williams takes seat as state senator
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14439885-74/sworn-statement-could-decide-if-lindsey-williams-takes-seat-as-state-senator
STATE OF EMERGENCY | Fire and EMS services look to state for help with dwindling numbers, rising costs
https://www.tribdem.com/news/state-of-emergency-fire-and-ems-services-look-to-state/article_d3361254-072a-11e9-8eb6-7b749d2a2667.html
Administration
A Festivus Airing of Grievances: Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf reads his mean tweets
https://www.pennlive.com/capitol-notebook/2018/12/an-airing-of-the-grievances-gov-tom-wolf-reads-his-mean-tweets.html
Catholic Church
Local Catholic parishioners reflect on grand jury report
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/local-catholic-parishioners-reflect-on-grand-jury-report-1.2425542
Crime/Punishment
Jessup police suspended part-time officer over Ashley misconduct probe
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/jessup-police-suspended-part-time-officer-over-ashley-misconduct-probe-1.2425539
Education
Do smaller class sizes equal success? Woodland Hills officials hope so
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2018/12/24/Woodland-Hills-class-size-first-grade-kindergarten-Wilkins-Edgewood/stories/201812230037
Kiski Area gets $25K for school resource officer, gears up for Harrisburg-based threat reporting
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14439865-74/kiski-area-gets-25k-for-school-resource-officer-gears-up-for-harrisburg-based
Author tells Reading students not to be defined by negatives
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/author-tells-reading-students-not-to-be-defined-by-negatives
For homeless college students, home for the holidays means staying on campus
http://www.philly.com/education/west-chester-university-campus-holiday-dorm-20181224.html
Local News
Luzerne County receives $88,700 from active mining operations
https://www.timesleader.com/news/728418/luzerne-county-receives-88700-from-active-mining-operations
Wilkes-Barre’s Holiday Pop-Up Shops end successful season
https://www.timesleader.com/news/728434/wilkes-barres-holiday-pop-up-shops-end-successful-season
Luzerne County 2018 year in review
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/luzerne-county-2018-year-in-review-1.2425554
Several Luzerne County government offices on 2019 election ballot
https://www.timesleader.com/news/728411/several-luzerne-county-government-offices-on-2019-election-ballot
Couple repays $368k economic development loan
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/couple-repays-368k-economic-development-loan-1.2425587
Computer glitch, late payments responsible for lien filed against Lackawanna County
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/computer-glitch-late-payments-responsible-for-lien-filed-against-lackawanna-county-1.2425590
Westmoreland Cultural Trust selects Marine Corps veteran for interim CEO
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14438380-74/westmoreland-cultural-trust-selects-marine-corps-veteran-for-interim-ceo
Angel trees project benefits more than 200 foster children
https://www.readingeagle.com/life/article/angel-trees-project-benefits-more-than-200-foster-children
Upper Macungie Township puts Independent Park up for sale
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/parkland/mc-nws-upper-macungie-selling-independent-park-20181217-story.html
Power outage hits Broadcasting Square
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/power-outage-hits-broadcasting-square
GoFundMe account raises $5,000 for Womelsdorf family displaced by fire
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/gofundme-account-raises-5000-for-displaced-womelsdorf-family
National News
National parks may be open during shutdown but visitors won’t get full services
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2018/12/23/National-Parks-government-shutdown-visitors-services-Trump-Wall-Flight-93/stories/201812230196
Government shutdown affects Flight 93 National Memorial, Fort Necessity
https://triblive.com/local/regional/14437895-74/government-shutdown-affects-flight-93-national-memorial-fort-necessity
Gettysburg park to remain open during government shutdown
http://www.witf.org/news/2018/12/gettysburg-park-to-remain-open-during-government-shutdown.php
Natural Gas
Release of natural gas at power plant rattles Midvalley residents
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/release-of-natural-gas-at-power-plant-rattles-midvalley-residents-1.2425513
Philly
Is the Philly white elephant on 46th Street really worth more than $10 million?
http://www.philly.com/business/prudent-mutual-building-west-philly-white-elephant-sunk-costs-real-estate-20181224.html
We need better answers on how city will reduce violence | Editorial
http://www.philly.com/opinion/editorials/office-violence-prevention-philadelphia-homicide-20181224.html
Beverage tax fight still rages. Why? | Editorial
http://www.philly.com/opinion/editorials/soda-tax-beverage-sugary-drinks-prek-editorial-20181223.html
Model to aid street people gets results, earns praise for Philly
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/model-to-aid-street-people-gets-results-earns-praise-for/article_9d5303e4-7f82-5fb9-b116-62d3f724b222.html
Pitt
Pittsburgh Perry’s food pantry tackles hunger in the classroom
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2018/12/22/Pittsburgh-Perry-High-School-north-side-food-pantry-market-free-students/stories/201812190017
State News
Former Flyers star, cannabis advocates prepare for the Pa. hemp industry to rocket after Trump’s approval of Farm Bill
http://www.philly.com/business/weed/hemp-pennsylvania-medical-marijuana-20181224.html
Tracking Santa with satellites, radars, jet fighters, and high-tech help from an Exton-based company
http://www.philly.com/business/norad-santa-tracker-agi-exton-pa-20181224.html
Rolling back clean water protections will hurt our communities | Opinion
http://www.philly.com/opinion/commentary/waters-of-the-united-states-trump-administration-clean-water-act-20181224.html
Washington
Trump: Mattis out as of Jan. 1; deputy to be acting chief
http://www.philly.com/politics/nation/trump-mattis-out-jan-deputy-be-acting-chief-20181223.html
Profiting off presidency? Trump empire takes hit since entering office
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/profiting-off-presidency-trump-empire-takes-hit-since-entering-office.html