Legislature
2019 was a big year for voting rights and election reform in Pennsylvania and New Jersey
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/pennsylvania-new-jersey-voting-election-reform-20191231.html
New overtime rule affects 61,000 in Pennsylvania
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/new-overtime-rule-affects-61000-in-pennsylvania/
Honoring Deana: New Year will bring tougher DUI laws, local lawmaker says
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/honoring-deana-new-year-will-bring-tougher-dui-laws-local/article_b31e98ca-2b22-11ea-905d-336cf502b0b6.html
Bucks area lawmakers’ 2019 bills took aim at water, education and taxes
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20191230/bucks-area-lawmakers-2019-bills-took-aim-at-water-education-and-taxes
Lawmakers want answers about future of Avonmore’s Akers plant
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/lawmakers-want-answers-about-future-of-avonmores-akers-plant/
Fund auditor, end invites
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/fund-auditor-end-invites-1.2577536
Business
2 more stores close at Westmoreland Mall
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/2-more-stores-close-at-westmoreland-mall/
Reading the tea leaves: What 10 cannabis bigwigs predict 2020 will bring to the world of weed
https://www.inquirer.com/business/weed/cannabis-marijuana-legalization-predictions-2020-pennsylvania-new-jersey-bachtel-cresco-mauff-jushi-uhl-420edx-tuttleman-matrixnv-20191231.html
Fast-growing marijuana industry poised for growth in Pennsylvania
https://www.readingeagle.com/business-weekly/fast-growing-marijuana-industry-poised-for-growth-in-pennsylvania/article_2597d28c-28ed-11ea-9957-3b1576ba8396.html
Retailer Gordmans coming to NEPA in February, hiring in January
https://www.timesleader.com/news/767621/retailer-gordmans-coming-to-nepa-in-february-hiring-in-january
U.S. Postal Service to hold job fairs in Berks County
https://www.readingeagle.com/money/u-s-postal-service-to-hold-job-fairs-in-berks/article_ee70354e-2b42-11ea-8981-3b711eeed2e9.html
Crime/Punishment
Jailed security guard hangs himself on Christmas Day just hours before 5 inmates overdose
https://www.inquirer.com/news/austin-mulhern-suicide-george-w-hill-jail-delaware-county-20191230.html
Allegheny County Jail inmate dead
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/12/30/Allegheny-County-Jail-inmate-found-dead-pittsburgh/stories/201912300097
State police in Berks County plan traffic enforcement for New Year’s
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/state-police-in-berks-county-plan-traffic-enforcement-for-new/article_de37aa9c-2b36-11ea-87ff-57f220813cf8.html
Education
U.S. should strengthen bilingual education | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/bilingual-education-united-states-second-language-learning-20191231.html
Local News
Awarded state grant, UNC eyes Pine Brook revitalization
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/awarded-state-grant-unc-eyes-pine-brook-revitalization-1.2577504
Lawsuit to force Lackawanna County reassessment continues
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/lawsuit-to-force-lackawanna-county-reassessment-continues-1.2577780
Honesdale closes park for timber project
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/honesdale-closes-park-for-timber-project-1.2577524
Local communities get funding for revitalization projects
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/local/local-communities-get-funding-for-revitalization-projects/article_05c08cce-2b18-11ea-90d2-bb50badb2706.html
Reading Parking Authority passes $5.8 million budget for 2020
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/reading-parking-authority-passes-million-budget-for/article_ccd536d2-2b56-11ea-a885-d3f77017cc4b.html
Property tax hike needed to maintain services, New Kensington officials say
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/property-tax-hike-needed-to-maintain-services-new-kensington-officials-say/
Most Luzerne County unions paying at least 12% toward health insurance, analysis shows
https://www.timesleader.com/news/767623/most-luzerne-county-unions-paying-at-least-12-toward-health-insurance-analysis-shows
Developer: Wilkes-Barre train station could soon be beyond saving
https://www.timesleader.com/news/767612/developer-wilkes-barre-train-station-could-soon-be-beyond-saving
Lower than average homicide rate in 2019
https://www.timesleader.com/news/767616/lower-than-average-homicide-rate-in-2019
Vough: County courts at a ‘high level’
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/lawsuit-to-force-lackawanna-county-reassessment-continues-1.2577780
Wilkes-Barre issues rabid cat warning
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/wilkes-barre-issues-rabid-cat-warning-1.2577648
Projects planned for Kline Twp.
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/projects-planned-for-kline-twp-1.2577614
Sunbury pastor ‘disappointed’ over lack of leadership in addressing child abuse after recent death
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/12/sunbury-pastor-disappointed-over-lack-of-leadership-in-addressing-child-abuse-after-recent-death.html
National News
Police officer made up story about profanity written on McDonald’s coffee cup: chief
https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2019/12/police-officer-made-up-story-about-profanity-written-on-mcdonalds-coffee-cup-chief.html
Opioid Crisis
Attorneys should go after the Sacklers’ billions overseas
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/2019/12/31/Keeping-it-in-the-family/stories/201912200065
Philly
Danielle Outlaw’s long journey to Philadelphia
https://www.inquirer.com/news/danielle-outlaw-police-commissioner-portland-oakland-philadelphia-profile-20191231.html
Philadelphia’s new police commissioner is Danielle Outlaw of Portland, Ore.
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/danielle-outlaw-philadelphia-police-commissioner-20191230.html
Enthusiasm, hope and ‘old guard’ warnings follow naming of Philly’s first black female police head
https://www.inquirer.com/news/danielle-outlaw-philadelphia-police-commissioner-first-black-woman-what-it-means-20191230.html
Will Commissioner Danielle Outlaw bring the radical change that Philadelphia Police needs? Fingers crossed. | Editorial
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/danielle-outlaw-philadelphia-police-department-commissioner-20191230.html
As anti-Semitism rises, Philadelphia must find new ways to promote community and civility | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/anti-semitism-hate-jewish-new-york-20191231.html
You’ll have to fill out the 2020 Census soon. Here’s what it will ask.
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/2020-census-questions-citizenship-20191230.html
Police release names of 2 victims killed by vehicles Sunday, seek hit-run driver
https://www.inquirer.com/news/hit-run-girard-pedestrian-marcus-sumner-roosevelt-boulevard-crash-lisherrah-rankins-20191230.html
Woman found dead in pool of blood had been shot, police say
https://www.inquirer.com/crime/philadelphia-homicides-woman-shot-killed-east-germantown-20191230.html
As a pediatrician, my advice for parents worried about Philly’s asbestos problem | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/philadelphia-schools-asbestos-lead-environmental-hazards-20191230.html
Pitt
Former Pittsburgh Post-Gazette building sold to DiCicco Development
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2019/12/30/Block-Communications-Pittsburgh-Post-Gazette-Boulevard-of-the-Allies-building-sold-DiCicco-Development/stories/201912270121
‘A method to her madness’: City council says farewell to Darlene Harris
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/12/30/Pittsburgh-City-council-Darlene-Harris-departure-farewell/stories/201912300079
Pittsburgh City Council lauds, roasts outgoing member Darlene Harris
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-city-council-lauds-roasts-outgoing-member-darlene-harris/
First Night Pittsburgh: What you need to know about parking and traffic
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/12/30/first-night-pittsburgh-street-closings-parking-downtown/stories/201912300094
Remains of Pittsburgh man killed in Korean War accounted for
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2019/12/30/Remains-of-Pittsburgh-man-killed-in-Korean-War-accounted-for/stories/201912310069
Dry January curious? Alcohol-free pop-up bar to open in Pittsburgh
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/dry-january-curious-pop-up-alcohol-free-bar-to-open-in-pittsburgh/
Group seeks to bring outdoor climbing to Pittsburgh
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/group-seeks-to-bring-outdoor-climbing-to-pittsburgh/
Pittsburgh police officer injured during Hill District arrest
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-police-officer-injured-during-hill-district-arrest/
State News
Horses help vets, first responders take reins against PTSD
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2019/12/31/Horses-help-veterans-first-responders-PTSD-pennsylvania/stories/201912300098
How $18M for trails in Montgomery County will connect Exton to Philly
https://www.inquirer.com/science/climate/montgomery-county-trails-hiking-biking-20191230.html
Should Amazon pay warehouse workers while they wait for security screenings? Pa. Supreme Court will decide.
https://www.inquirer.com/news/amazon-security-checks-pay-pa-supreme-court-20191231.html
ICE facility in Pa., is immoral and perhaps illegal
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/12/31/div-class-libPageBodyLinebreak-Shut-it-down-div/stories/201912130054
Board issues letter to Lancaster County judge over his traffic stop behavior
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/board-issues-letter-to-lancaster-county-judge-over-his-traffic-stop-behavior/
First Day Hikes promote healthy start to new year
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/first-day-hikes-promote-healthy-start-to-new-year-1.2577596
What’s the top-selling liquor in your Pennsylvania county?
https://www.penncapital-star.com/working-the-economy/whats-the-top-selling-liquor-in-your-pennsylvania-county/
Transportation
Next leg of Mon-Fayette Expressway from Jefferson Hills to Duquesne finally moving forward
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2019/12/25/Mon-Fayette-Expressway-Pennsylvania-Turnpike-Jefferson-Hills-Duquesne/stories/201912170149
Airport sets new passenger record
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/airport-sets-new-passenger-record-1.2577622
World News
Iraqi supporters of Iran-backed militia attack U.S. Embassy
https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/iraq-us-embassy-baghdad-shiite-militia-supporters-20191231.html