Legislature
Obstacles remain for child sex abuse victims in Pennsylvania
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/obstacles-remain-for-child-sex-abuse-victims-in-pennsylvania-1.2577231
Leaving a trace: Shapiro is smart to get out ahead of ‘ghost guns’
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/12/30/Leaving-a-trace-Shapiro-is-smart-to-get-out-ahead-of-ghost-guns/stories/201912180040
Crime/Punishment
Man shot outside West Mifflin bar
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/12/29/Man-shot-outside-West-Mifflin-bar/stories/201912290134
Plea deal possible for Brenda Smith, Rittenhouse hedge fund manager accused of stealing $63 million
https://www.inquirer.com/news/brenda-smith-ponzi-hedge-fund-mark-carrow-george-heckler-citrin-cooperman-20191230.html
Pittsburgh man shot in Homestead home invasion
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-man-shot-in-homestead-home-invasion/
Elections/Politics
Rep. Reschenthaler predicts GOP will win back the House in 2020
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2019/12/29/Reschenthaler-predicts-GOP-win-back-House-2020-election/stories/201912270137
Health Care
My patient’s ‘routine’ colonoscopy wasn’t so routine. Here’s how I should have prepared him.
https://www.inquirer.com/health/expert-opinions/colonoscopy-routine-screening-polyp-preparing-20191230.html
High stake in Obamacare
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/high-stake-in-obamacare-1.2577154
Local News
State audit of Scranton 2016 sewer sale may never get off ground; Pa. Auditor General cites state budget cuts reduced his staff
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/state-audit-of-scranton-2016-sewer-sale-may-never-get-off-ground-pa-auditor-general-cites-state-budget-cuts-reduced-his-staff-1.2577323
Dickson City receives grant for dog park
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/dickson-city-receives-grant-for-dog-park-1.2576860
Green Ridge residents allowed to intervene in developer’s attempt to contest conditional approval
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/green-ridge-residents-allowed-to-intervene-in-developer-s-attempt-to-contest-conditional-approval-1.2577259
Monday Update: Light project at Hillside Park softball field nearing completion
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/monday-update-light-project-at-hillside-park-softball-field-nearing-completion-1.2577271
Delco to study salaries, benefits of county employees
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/local/delco-to-study-salaries-benefits-of-county-employees/article_6ec6c5fe-29aa-11ea-9d9d-9fb12a8835aa.html
Bucks to move adult probation office to Bristol Township
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20191230/bucks-to-move-adult-probation-office-to-bristol-township
Reading underground: 250-mile sewer system stands the test of time
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/reading-underground–mile-sewer-system-stands-the-test-of/article_92a603d8-212e-11ea-be07-3fe90885995d.html
Volunteer firefighter hanging up gear after nearly half-century with Temple Fire Company
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/volunteer-firefighter-hanging-up-gear-after-nearly-half-century-with/article_da1ab4c6-28d5-11ea-94fc-4f19b1842ee6.html
Deer Lakes Hockey Club holds event to raise awareness about suicide
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/deer-lakes-hockey-club-holds-event-to-raise-awareness-about-suicide/
Luzerne County urging residents to sign up for 911 safety program
https://www.timesleader.com/news/767487/luzerne-county-urging-residents-to-sign-up-for-911-safety-program
Luzerne County seeking a drug and alcohol director
https://www.timesleader.com/news/767469/luzerne-county-seeking-a-drug-and-alcohol-director
Good food, good beer, good cause
https://www.timesleader.com/news/767474/good-food-good-beer-good-cause
Tax hike, new hires among county’s top stories
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/tax-hike-new-hires-among-county-s-top-stories-1.2577274
Luzerne County saw fewer homicides in 2019, with a 100% clearance rate
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/luzerne-county-saw-fewer-homicides-in-2019-with-a-100-clearance-rate-1.2577306
National News
Poverty grew in 30% of counties despite strong national economy
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/poverty-grew-in-30-of-counties-despite-strong-national-economy-1.2577256
Philly
Racist property deeds kept thousands of Philly homes off-limits to all but white buyers, study finds
https://www.inquirer.com/news/racial-covenants-deed-philadelphia-segregation-african-american-history-20191230.html
Philadelphia had more shootings in 2019 and homicides stayed high
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-crime-levels-2019-shootings-homicides-police-20191230.html
‘Absolutely disgusting’: Catholics in Philadelphia react to the latest child sex-abuse scandal
https://www.inquirer.com/news/catholic-church-priests-sexual-child-abuse-philadelphia-20191229.html
Local Jewish community condemns latest anti-Semitic attack in New York
https://www.inquirer.com/news/anti-semitic-violence-philadelphia-jews-machete-attack-new-york-orthodox-20191230.html
Lifting up Philly’s struggling citizens must be a priority in the year ahead | Editorial
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/community-benefit-agreements-philly-neighborhoods-losing-population-20191229.html
Pitt
Warm hearts in Pittsburgh help heat a cold home
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2019/12/29/Veterans-Shepherds-Heart-J-A-HVAC-pittsburgh-braddock-webb/stories/201912270118
In a region that has long accepted pockets of high child poverty, some leaders are no longer resigned to a future without solutions for kids.
https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/the-issue-of-our-time-growing-up-through-the-cracks-allegheny-county-conference-community-development/
Pittsburghers react to Hanukkah stabbing attack in New York
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/12/29/Pittsburgh-reaction-New-York-Hanukkah-stabbing/stories/201912290135
Pittsburgh’s historic Oliver Bath House scheduled for renovations in 2020
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburghs-historic-oliver-bath-house-scheduled-for-renovations-in-2020/
State News
New effort to protect Pennsylvania’s state bird from mosquitoes
https://www.pennlive.com/life/2019/12/new-effort-to-protect-pennsylvanias-state-bird-from-mosquitoes.html
It costs $15 to park at the Pa. Farm Show. Why?
https://www.pennlive.com/life/2019/12/it-costs-15-to-park-at-the-pa-farm-show-why.html
Pa. Game Commission looking for dogs that chased, killed deer
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/12/pa-game-commission-looking-for-dogs-that-chased-killed-deer.html
Washington
US Rep John Lewis of Georgia says he has pancreatic cancer
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/john-lewis-cancer-us-rep-20191229.html
A ‘real rush’ of Trump rule changes are expected ahead of the 2020 election. What they mean to you | Analysis
https://www.penncapital-star.com/featured/a-real-rush-of-trump-rule-changes-are-expected-ahead-of-the-2020-election-what-they-mean-to-you-analysis/