Legislature
Pa. GOP denounces state environment board’s effort to join regional greenhouse emissions tax credit plan | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Report: Pennsylvania taxpayers spend tens of millions on government lobbying | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Pennsylvania’s elected officials receive automatic pay raises (broadandliberty.com)
‘Show me the maps!’ Critics say of Pa. redistricting process (abc27.com)
Tree of Life in Pittsburgh awarded $6.6M to help rebuild synagogue (abc27.com)
‘It is a Hanukkah present’: Wolf directs $6.6 million to Tree of Life reimagining project | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Tree of Life allocated $6.6M in state funds for redevelopment efforts – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Ex-Harrisburg official raises $10M for ‘Yelp for government’ review service (inquirer.com)
RCAP grants include funds for King’s renovation of old TL building | Times Leader
Four local projects are getting a total of $6 million in state grants. (readingeagle.com)
Governor Wolf announces $10 million to help Codorus Greenway project in York (ydr.com)
State awards city of York $10 million for Codorus Greenway Project | WITF
In a deadly year, $3.6M in state grant money to aid Philly’s gun violence prevention efforts – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 542 Receives $745,000 – BCTV
Alvernia secures $1 million grant for Reading CollegeTowne (berksweekly.com)
Erie bayfront market plan snags $3 million RACP state grant (goerie.com)
Parents of overdose victims tell Pennsylvania legislators some treatment centers are ‘predatory’ (readingeagle.com)
Coronavirus – COVID-19
Early Omicron Reports Say Illness May Be Less Severe – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Data scientists expose COVID racial disparities : Shots – Health News : NPR
Lancaster pediatrician discusses uptick in COVID cases, how to handle situation with your kids (abc27.com)
New York City to impose vaccine mandate on private employers (abc27.com)
Omicron spreads uncertainty about holiday travel and dampens recovery for airlines | WITF
Poll: Pa. residents sharply divided on employer vaccine mandates | Tuesday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Case counts spike in Monroe County, highest daily rate yet (poconorecord.com)
Court orders hospital to allow ivermectin treatment in York COVID case (ydr.com)
Business/Jobs
Why the four-day workweek could be the next front in the talent battle – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Redfin shows housing market as hot as ever as inventory slides – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Sheetz convenience stores names new president and CEO – pennlive.com
Lehigh Valley Coke workers go on strike over benefits – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Crime/Punishment
It’s time for Pennsylvania to tackle youth incarceration. | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
Temple will increase its police force following recent shootings near campus, but some worry about overpolicing (inquirer.com)
13 Philly cops were pulled from street duty because of questions about their roles in gun arrests, officials say (inquirer.com)
Write-in candidate for Allentown constable has extensive record of criminal charges and convictions, court records show – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Education
Caffrey gets another year as WB Area School Board president | Times Leader
Yanni replaces Gilmartin as Scranton School Board president; first Black board member takes seat | Education | thetimes-tribune.com
Allentown School District approves East Side middle school and replacement for Harrison-Morton – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Penn State extending indoor mask policy into spring semester as cases increase – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Central Bucks district book ban? What ‘Woke Bucks County’ wants in effort to ‘reclaim our schools’ (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Elections/Politics
Who wants to run for governor as a Republican in 2022? | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
Dr. Oz entry, Parnell exit shuffle busy GOP Senate field (broadandliberty.com)
Inside the growing alliance between anti-vaccine activists and pro-Trump Republicans | WITF
Inside Dr. Oz’s Shameless Flip-Flop on Abortion (dailymagazine.news)
Laughlin won’t run for PA governor, set to endorse Republican Dave White (goerie.com)
Sen. Scott Martin hints he will officially join Pa. governor’s race ‘soon’ | PA Power and Policy | lancasteronline.com
SDOL board member Luis Morales considers joining 96th District race to represent Lancaster city in Harrisburg | PA Power and Policy | lancasteronline.com
Transportation
With snow predicted this week, will PennDOT be able to clear the roads with limited staff? – pennlive.com
Health
Opinion | Opioids Feel Like Love. That’s Why They’re Deadly in Tough Times. – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Doylestown Hospital returns to profitability thanks to federal funds – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Francis Collins on medical advances, vaccine hesitancy and Americans’ ill health : Shots – Health News : NPR
Malaria report shows impact of COVID-19 and complacency on fight to eradicate it : Goats and Soda : NPR
Lawmakers’ fight over fentanyl comes down to prosecution and sentencing reform | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
As overdose deaths rise in Philly, New York begins a lifesaving effort that we’ve so far failed to take | Editorial (inquirer.com)
Editorial: Worsening overdose crisis demands action (readingeagle.com)
Penn Vet opens institute to study diseases spread from animals to humans | Smart Talk (witf.org)
Addressing healthcare racism against Black women is key to ending U.S. HIV epidemic | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
State News
What’s fueling the surge in profits at Pennsylvania banks – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
State Approves Pipeline Modification As Part of Marsh Creek Settlement – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
PA Energy Pros Dismiss Liz Warren’s Complaints: ‘It’s Econ 101, Not Rocket Science’ – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Sunoco ordered to dredge lake, pay $4M over Pa. pipeline spill | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Sunoco to pay $4.3M for spill that polluted Chester County state park; pipeline construction rerouted – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Pa. review of medical cannabis vape products confuses and worries patients | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Brian Fitzpatrick boosts effort to help first responders, teachers (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
National News
Pandemic-Era ‘Excess Savings’ Are Dwindling for Many – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Opinion | American Families Are Drowning in Care Costs. Here’s How to Change That. – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Instagram unveils new teen safety tools ahead of Senate hearing : NPR
Fired CNN anchor Chris Cuomo steps away from his SiriusXM show : NPR
Rep. Devin Nunes is resigning from Congress to be CEO of Trump’s new media company : NPR
A prosecutor criticizes school officials after the deadly shooting in Michigan : NPR
Justice Department sues Texas over new redistricting maps | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Justice Department is suing Texas over the state’s redistricting plans | WITF
Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit collapses, dies in California – pennlive.com
Guest Opinion: The new age of the robber barons (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Local News
A decrease in gas prices for Midstate drivers can bring a sigh of relief Christmas season (abc27.com)
York takes honest look at gun violence problems with community forum (abc27.com)
Luzerne County mail ballot return rate questioned | Times Leader
Rush Twp. has no tax increase in tentative ’22 budget | News | standardspeaker.com
Reading officials say a new hotel may be coming to downtown (readingeagle.com)
The Pennsylvania Farm Show is back in-person for 2022, baby | Today in Pa. – pennlive.com
York County taxes going up nearly $150 for the average homeowner in 2022 (ydr.com)
Will $5M upgrade of Place Marie’s empty upper floors spark more of same downtown? | Local Business | lancasteronline.com
Manheim Council approves preliminary budget with no tax increase | Community News | lancasteronline.com
Pitt
Penguin’s new owner has history of urban development. What that means for Pittsburgh. | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Sala Udin named Pittsburgh Public Schools board president after new school directors take oath | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Community asks Pittsburgh Public Schools to boost student support funding in 2022 budget | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh city solicitor steps down to join Port Authority | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Western Pa. veterans remember Pearl Harbor as they travel to Oahu for 80th anniversary | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pitt continues to sort through vaccine mandate | TribLIVE.com
Churchill to vote this month on controversial Amazon distribution center | TribLIVE.com
Philly
ABC’s ‘Abbott Elementary,’ about Philly public schools, premieres, starring Quinta Brunson (inquirer.com)
‘We don’t have a crisis of crime.’ DA Larry Krasner says Philly tourists should feel safe despite a record number of killings (inquirer.com)
Gaming and Leisure Properties acquiring Live! Casino and Hotel Philadelphia real estate as part of $1.81B deal – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Two Pa. casino properties purchased as part of $1.81B deal – pennlive.com
5 Pennsylvania health systems to introduce music therapy programs for hospital workers – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Philly Officials Draw Ire for Participating in Pro-PLO Event – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Yorktown, Jefferson Manor residents say plans for new student apartments near Temple University may pose environmental threat (inquirer.com)
Council President Darrell L. Clarke wants to give lawmakers more influence over development (inquirer.com)
PHA looking for developer for affordable homes in Brewerytown | Local News | phillytrib.com
Former Commerce Director says his remarks were taken out of context | Local News | phillytrib.com
Philly to test new tech in bid to stop delivery drivers from parking illegally | Local News | phillytrib.com
Washington
Biden Expected to Offer Warnings and Alternatives in Call With Putin – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Why is the Biden administration increasing the cost of building houses? : Planet Money : NPR
Biden’s Supreme Court commission steers clear of controversial issues in draft report : NPR
Biden calls on Congress to lower drug costs by passing Build Back Better bill : NPR
U.S. plans diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
