Legislature
In Season of Sharing, Pa. Must Show It Cares | Co-authored by: Senator-Elect Amanda M. Cappelletti, Senator-Elect Carolyn T. Comitta, Senator-Elect John Kane, and Senator-Elect Nikil Saval
https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/in-season-of-sharing-pa-must-show-it-cares-opinion/
Employers worry Pa. Gov. Wolf’s $145M pandemic relief plan could cause more problems than it solves
https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/12/employers-worry-pa-gov-wolfs-145m-pandemic-relief-plan-could-cause-more-problems-than-it-solves.html
Wolf announces $145 million COVID-19 grant fund for small businesses
https://www.penncapital-star.com/blog/wolf-announces-145-million-covid-19-grant-fund-for-small-businesses/
Pa. state legislators urge Trump to sign $900B stimulus package
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2020/12/24/Trump-stimulus-check-round-2-PA-state-legislature-bill-900-billion-package/stories/202012230155
Fidelity Bank plans downtown Scranton HQ, one of several projects to receive state grants
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/fidelity-bank-plans-downtown-scranton-hq-one-of-several-projects-to-receive-state-grants/article_a92aa44e-2d23-579d-90b2-fc62f9dc84e4.html
Albright College, Alvernia University receive state grants
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/albright-college-alvernia-university-receive-state-grants/article_e9f9ead8-4562-11eb-8a84-8b60c40275bb.html
Falls Township Board of Supervisors advance massive U.S. Steel redevelopment project with KOIZ designation
https://www.buckslocalnews.com/news/yardley_area/falls-township-board-of-supervisors-advance-massive-u-s-steel-redevelopment-project-with-koiz-designation/article_c4649f9a-4466-11eb-bb3e-730911413727.html
Cameras at Pennsylvania road construction sites nab nearly 192,000 violators in first eight months
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-work-zone-cameras-20201223-fynvdegtnfbvtnrd7exereyuru-story.html
As he seeks to overturn Pa.’s election, Trump invites GOP senators to White House lunch
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2020/12/24/Pennsylvania-election-overturn-Donald-Trump-invites-GOP-senators-White-House-lunch/stories/202012240118
Representative Greg Rothman continues to embarrass his constituents | PennLive letters
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2020/12/representative-greg-rothman-continues-to-embarrass-his-constituents-pennlive-letters.html
Coronavirus – COVID-19
Pa. has yet to announce which essential workers will get COVID-19 vaccine first
https://www.witf.org/2020/12/23/pa-has-yet-to-announce-which-essential-workers-will-get-covid-19-vaccine-first/
Pa. residents 75 and older to be in next COVID vaccination group, secretary of health says
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/pa-residents-75-and-older-to-be-in-next-covid-vaccination-group-secretary-of-health/article_5c1640bc-4536-11eb-9b4e-873f0279f914.html
Allegheny County adds 830 coronavirus cases, could hit 50K later this week
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny-county-adds-830-coronavirus-cases-could-hit-50k-later-this-week/
Allegheny County Health Department receives vaccine, finalizing distribution plan
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny-county-health-department-receives-vaccine-finalizing-distribution-plan/
Westmoreland County adds 327 new coronavirus cases
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-county-adds-327-new-coronavirus-cases/
Region records another 654 cases; six deaths from COVID-19
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/coronavirus/region-records-another-654-cases-six-deaths-from-covid-19/article_4332ca6f-7030-505b-a3eb-82e6e682c9db.html
291 more COVID cases in Berks County, Pa. reports
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/291-more-covid-cases-in-berks-county-pa-reports/article_89f33e3e-4515-11eb-96f3-b778479cd229.html
More than 2,000 tested at Mohegan Sun Pocono site
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/coronavirus/more-than-2-000-tested-at-mohegan-sun-pocono-site/article_ce6da3b7-bfda-555c-a25b-881a83f5a80b.html
As elderly Greensburg couple battles covid in hospital, family asks public to ‘be smart’
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/as-elderly-greensburg-couple-battles-covid-in-hospital-family-asks-public-to-be-smart/
‘Historic milestone’: 1 million Americans have received a covid vaccine, CDC says
https://triblive.com/news/health-now/historic-milestone-1-million-americans-have-received-a-covid-vaccine-cdc-says/
Coronavirus stimulus bill includes holiday gifts to Pa. brewers, racetracks, and other local interests
https://www.inquirer.com/news/stimulus-earmarks-pennsylvania-covid-relief-bill-20201224.html
Administration
Pa. Treasurer announces ‘major system upgrades’ to process of locating unclaimed property
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/12/state-treasurer-announces-major-system-upgrades-to-process-of-locating-unclaimed-property.html
Business
NEPA restaurants join suit to overturn indoor dining ban
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/coronavirus/nepa-restaurants-join-suit-to-overturn-indoor-dining-ban/article_33040b9e-4bac-5861-a80c-9ffbf906b8fd.html
Growing number of businesses defying governor’s COVID-19 mandate
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/coronavirus/growing-number-of-businesses-defying-governors-covid-19-mandate/article_1f51900b-8483-5395-b448-5712f0b734ac.html
‘We will be open’: Berks County restaurants ordered to close for violating COVID dine-in restrictions remain defiant
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/we-will-be-open-berks-county-restaurants-ordered-to-close-for-violating-covid-dine-in/article_87a776ba-4536-11eb-b227-fb7b8268ecfe.html
Pa. shuts down 40 restaurants, including in Lehigh Valley, where defiant owners refused to follow closure order
https://www.mcall.com/business/mc-biz-coronavirus-restaurant-inspections-enforcement-20201223-5finwwdp7rfrbfmflnmx6mjdtm-story.html
Online holiday shopping is crushing warehouse workers during the pandemic. But overtime is a powerful lure.
https://www.inquirer.com/news/covid-shipping-deliveries-christmas-package-ups-fedex-amazon-postal-service-philadelphia-pennsylvania-new-jersey-20201224.html
Wind Creek launches online sportsbook in Pennsylvania
https://www.mcall.com/business/mc-biz-wind-creek-bethlehem-launches-online-sportsbook-20201224-ffax2dvzi5b57agbyqfyzk5jvm-story.html
Crime/Punishment
Dauphin County director of corrections gets his job back, will be disciplined following investigations
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/12/dauphin-county-director-of-corrections-reinstated-following-investigations.html
Education
Educators: Go play!
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2020/12/24/Educators-Go-play-Snow-Day-Education-Winter/stories/202012180031
The travesty of America’s failed coronavirus response as seen from the steps of a school | Maria Panaritis
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/coronavirus-covid-virtual-school-pennsylvania-darby-township-maria-panaritis-20201224.html
Elections/Politics
Thousands of ballots will be audited as part of Pa.’s post-election review
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2020/12/24/Pennsylvania-Thousands-ballots-audited-Pennsylvania-post-election-review/stories/202012240119
Here’s the Pa. election lawsuit over mail ballots that could overturn a race — but not the presidency
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/pennsylvania-mail-ballots-lawsuit-election-ziccarelli-brewster-20201223.html
Despite Trump’s intense hunt for voter fraud, officials in key states have so far identified just a small number of possible cases
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/trump-voter-fraud-election-2020-complaints-cases-20201223.html
Meuser, Keller, should state intentions
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/editorial/meuser-keller-should-state-intentions/article_f227f2b0-e658-544a-946b-afc93450c61e.html
Local News
Delays slow mail deliveries during busy holiday season
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/delays-slow-mail-deliveries-during-busy-holiday-season/article_a6a5213a-2056-56ea-8d0f-e477b0137bcc.html
Berks boy donates 500 boxes of cereal and blankets to homeless shelter
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/berks-boy-donates-500-boxes-of-cereal-and-blankets-to-homeless-shelter/article_b2f1c646-4567-11eb-b445-0364dcba1b3f.html
Good news happened in 2020 (yes, really); here are 14 examples
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/good-news-happened-in-2020-yes-really-here-are-14-examples/article_5a28b618-4473-11eb-8712-f3d393fe7da5.html
Reading ministry’s food distribution reaches hundreds of families in need
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/reading-ministrys-food-distribution-reaches-hundreds-of-families-in-need/article_8e1a0dd2-4540-11eb-be59-137a7df732b9.html
Berks County library system launches collection for those with learning needs
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/berks-county-library-system-launches-collection-for-those-with-learning-needs/article_72d1dcc4-4524-11eb-a38a-0f6516dd1d74.html
Brown: WB collects nearly a quarter million dollars in delinquent fees
https://www.timesleader.com/news/814054/brown-wb-collects-nearly-a-quarter-million-dollars-in-delinquent-fees
Duncan’s Refuge, a homeless shelter and program at New Roots, honors relative’s route to recovery
https://www.timesleader.com/news/814042/duncans-refuge-a-homeless-shelter-and-program-at-new-roots-honors-relatives-route-to-recovery
Community rallies to help Kingston family
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/community-rallies-to-help-kingston-family/article_a69a8f3b-22b8-530a-a0b0-6a2d87e3d31b.html
$1M RACP project grant for Haverford Township Free Public Library
https://www.mainlinemedianews.com/mainlinetimes/1m-racp-project-grant-for-haverford-township-free-public-library/article_577d1ef4-45d6-11eb-9402-03b4c04e6a0c.html
Philly
Philly police were ‘simply not prepared’ for George Floyd protests, review finds
https://www.inquirer.com/news/george-floyd-protests-philadelphia-report-jim-kenney-danielle-outlaw-20201223.html
Philadelphia can refuse to issue parade permits during a pandemic, a federal judge has ruled
https://www.inquirer.com/news/parades-pandemic-mayor-jim-kenney-us-attorney-william-mcswain-federal-judge-ruling-20201223.html
Man charged with attempted murder of Philly cop
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-police-gun-devon-smith-attempted-murder-20201223.html
Extreme heat in Philly should be a year-round concern | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/extreme-heat-urban-neighborhoods-philadelphia-climate-change-20201224.html
Pitt
Pittsburgh officials: First responders could be hit hardest if federal lawmakers don’t send COVID-19 relief
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2020/12/24/Pittsburgh-First-responders-public-safety-police-fire-ems-suffer-layoffs-federal-COVID-19-relief-funds/stories/202012230132
Pittsburgh will open five centers for Christmas tree recycling
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2020/12/23/Pittsburgh-Christmas-tree-recycling-five-centers/stories/202012230156
4 Allegheny County restaurants defy orders to close for violating covid restrictions
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/4-allegheny-county-restaurants-defy-orders-to-close-for-violating-covid-restrictions/
‘Reimagined’ Bigelow Boulevard to open on Pitt campus
https://triblive.com/local/reimagined-bigelow-boulevard-to-open-on-pitt-campus/
State News
Some homeowners now have more time to seek coronavirus-related mortgage relief
https://www.witf.org/2020/12/24/some-homeowners-now-have-more-time-to-seek-coronavirus-related-mortgage-relief/
Pennsylvania’s political highlights and (far more) lowlights from 2020, a year like no other | John Baer
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/12/pennsylvanias-political-highlights-and-far-more-lowlights-from-2020-a-year-like-no-other-john-baer.html