Legislature
Wolf lays out his issues with proposed congressional map | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Congressman pushes back on Pennsylvania bridge tolling plan (broadandliberty.com)
Useful hearings for the Pennsylvania Fireworks Act – Pennsylvania News Today
Technical High School Purchasing New Equipment Through Grant – LevittownNow.com
Fifteen Pennsylvania laws from 2021 that could affect your life | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Labor complaint claims Coffee Tree Roasters barista was fired for supporting union | 90.5 WESA
Coronavirus – COVID-19
Record number of new COVID-19 cases recorded in the U.S. : NPR
COVID spike hitting Chester County hard – Daily Local
CDC is monitoring over 90 cruise ships amid COVID outbreaks : NPR
Cumberland County EMS worker attests COVID vaccine hospitalizations are ‘deadly rumor’ (abc27.com)
Fauci defends CDC guidelines, says ‘We’re still in the middle of a pandemic’ (abc27.com)
COVID-19 directly damages, creates scar tissue on the kidneys, study finds (abc27.com)
Lehigh Valley COVID testing centers seeing hours-long waits – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Berks County seeks to keep COVID testing center open (readingeagle.com)
COVID vaccine clinic scheduled in Reading (readingeagle.com)
Experts say vaccinated people with health problems still face serious covid risks | TribLIVE.com
Studies indicate J&J booster protects against severe illness from omicron | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
ICU beds filling up at region’s hospitals as COVID cases surge | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
WHO chief worried about ‘tsunami’ of omicron, delta cases | News | phillytrib.com
MCIC hosts COVID-19 vaccination clinic Thursday (goerie.com)
Business/Jobs
Veteran-owned businesses in Chester County and region get state support – Daily Local
Seafood demand high despite soaring prices | News | citizensvoice.com
$4 per gallon gas possible in spring before relief arrives, outlook says | TribLIVE.com
Innovation, partnership build rising tide of opportunity for Erie businesses (goerie.com)
Crime/Punishment
After 4 Killings, ‘Officer of the Year’ Is Still on the Job – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Pot smell alone can’t justify warrantless search, Pa. court rules – pennlive.com
Court rules pot smell alone can’t justify warrantless search | WITF
Erie crime: Police await more officers, programs as shootings grow (goerie.com)
Education
COVID concerns prompt Reading schools to go virtual for a week (readingeagle.com)
Elections/Politics
Pennsylvania Candidates Line Up to Replace Sen. Toomey (theepochtimes.com)
‘Slow-motion insurrection’: How GOP seizes election power | WITF
Children coming from border get attention in PA governor’s race | State | thetimes-tribune.com
The GOP PA Senate Primary is already bonkers (msnbc.com)
Kim Clear rises in local politics with hard work, drive to give back (goerie.com)
Environment
Transportation
Op-Ed: Pennsylvania should embrace its heritage by restoring railways (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Health
WellSpan York to receive ‘strike teams’ following Gov. Wolf’s call for federal support (abc27.com)
Midstate EMS departments continue to recruit among omicron surge (abc27.com)
Where are flu rates highest in Pennsylvania? Map – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
State News
Shapiro: Most Pa. counties have joined opioid settlement | News | tribdem.com
Luzerne among 50 counties to sign on to statewide opioid settlement | News | standardspeaker.com
Pa. senator asks governor about flights of undocumented immigrants (wgal.com)
Meuser: HHS discussed flights of ‘traumatized’ minors to AVP | Times Leader
Pennsylvania increases spending through targeted contracts | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Infrastructure projects in Pa. need more private sector collaborations | Opinion (inquirer.com)
Hidden danger: Registered sex offenders often go undetected in care homes | TribLIVE.com
Photos of the Year for 2021 by PennLive’s Sean Simmers – pennlive.com
In Focus: 2021 – A Year in Post-Gazette Visuals – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Interactive
National News
Hong Kong Police Charge 2 With Sedition Ater Wednesday Arrests : NPR
Ghislaine Maxwell verdict: Former Epstein confidant is found guilty : NPR
Ghislaine Maxwell convicted in Epstein sex abuse case (abc27.com)
50 pop culture highlights from 2021: Movies, TV and reads to remember : NPR
Myanmar Military Employs Massacres And Scorched Earth Tactics Against Opponents : NPR
Stigma persists around hunger in military as pandemic numbers remain high | TPR
Waiting for a Elizabeth Holmes trial verdict? Experts say fraud is complicated : NPR
Let’s stop swearing at the president and remember who we are (goerie.com)
Local News
Officials cut ribbon for new Bucks County Regional Police Headquarters | The Bucks County Herald
Christkindlemarkt sets near-record – Times News Online (tnonline.com)
Vigils for Christian Hall set year after police shot Pocono teen (poconorecord.com)
South Jersey, Bucks County teens share predictions for the new year (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Chester County residents share 2021 reflections with hope for future as New Year dawns – Daily Local
New Kennett library will get mural to honor Harriet Tubman – Daily Local
New transitional housing program for formerly incarcerated women coming to Harrisburg (abc27.com)
History made under the dome | Times Leader
Sanguedolce takes oath as elected district attorney | Times Leader
Hazleton area overfills trailer bound for Kentucky tornado victims | News | standardspeaker.com
Scott commissioners OK $13.4 million budget | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Lebanon County Commissioner dies after being hospitalized with COVID-19 | WITF
Receiver evaluates Chester parking meter contract (delcotimes.com)
Pitt
State police release more details in Pittsburgh man’s killing in Venango | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh restaurants and bars temporarily close amid rise in COVID cases | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Century III Mall as an endangered site worth preserving? | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Philly
Gabe Kaminsky: Philly’s indoor dining vax mandate hurts everyone (broadandliberty.com)
Philadelphia tourism leader Jeff Guaracino dies at 48 | Obituaries | phillytrib.com
Washington
Biden, Putin to speak directly amid Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine border : NPR
Biden, Putin to hold call as Russia-Ukraine tension smolders (abc27.com)
Guest Opinion: Joe Manchin is the Grinch who stole Christmas (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Capitol Police Sergeant reflects on anniversary of Jan. 6 riot : NPR