Legislature
PA moves to formalize LGBTQ protections · Spotlight PA
DeFrank Named Costa’s Chief of Staff (politicspa.com)
Langerholc bill proposes added review of public housing applications | News | tribdem.com
Josh Shapiro addresses gun violence and public health at American Health Summit | WITF
Yudichak lands job with government consulting group | News | citizensvoice.com
Wolf announces more than $10.3 million will support affordable housing | News | citizensvoice.com
Business/Jobs
Pennsylvania natural gas price up 95%, new wells up 42% | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Wage growth continues in tight labor market – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
McDonald’s franchise owners Santonastasso Enterprises violated child labor laws : NPR
Erie retailers struggling to find holiday workers (goerie.com)
Comcast will increase rates on cable, Internet: Here’s what to know – pennlive.com
COVID-19
China announces roll-back of strict anti-COVID-19 measures : NPR
Crime/Punishment
Phone scammers impersonating U.S. Marshals, Border Patrol (mcall.com)
South Philly shooting of Sahmya Garcia, 20, raises domestic violence concerns (inquirer.com)
Education
Greater Johnstown Board again elects Pentz, Murray to head group | Local News | tribdem.com
Parkland School district parents blast Jarrett Coleman over lawsuits (mcall.com)
Student-run credit union opens at Kiski Area High School | TribLIVE.com
Beaver County educator named Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Elections/Politics
National
Senate Democrats just picked up one more vote. Here’s what that means : NPR
Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock defeats Republican Herschel Walker in Georgia runoff | WITF
Supreme Court to Hear Case That Could Transform Federal Elections – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Supreme Court to hear Independent State Legislature Theory case : NPR
How U.S. Supreme Court case could alter U.S. House seats | WITF
McConnell criticizes Trump’s calls to terminate the Constitution : NPR
DOJ subpoenas state election officials for Trump documents (abc27.com)
2022 midterms offer lessons for Republicans (ydr.com)
Statewide
Shapiro Tabs Trio To Senior Posts (politicspa.com)
Shapiro taps longtime aides to top jobs in governor’s office (abc27.com)
Philadelphia Schools’ Uri Monson is named Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro’s budget secretary (inquirer.com)
Jentleson, Pierce Named to Fetterman Team (politicspa.com)
What is the state of the Pennsylvania GOP? (abc27.com)
PODCAST: The GOP’s Future, In Delco and PA – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
District/Local
Philadelphia Tribune joins new voter engagement coalition | Local News | phillytrib.com
Every Voice, Every Vote: $1.5M project aims to engage Philadelphia voters (inquirer.com)
The political lineage of York County, which produced John Fetterman (ydr.com)
8 Democrats to vie for late Rep. Tony DeLuca’s seat | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Environment
UN summit: Don’t repeat mistakes on nature, scientists warn – Daily Local
Former Boy Scout camp in Roxborough gets $3M, will preserve land (inquirer.com)
Transportation
Pa. announces money to help get dirty diesel trucks out of high-traffic communities | WITF
Gun Safety
State judge places hold on Oregon’s gun law, state to appeal : NPR
Health
Addicted babies, their moms find help through recovery at PA hospitals (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Pleas issued for blood donations as supply suffers holiday season shortage | TribLIVE.com
COVID, RSV, sickness worrying CDC Director Walensky ahead of Philadelphia visit (inquirer.com)
State News
Pennsylvania infrastructure barely gets passing grade in new review | WITF
Delaware, PA, NY, NJ governors to vote on ‘Water Code’ amendments (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Boyle Named Ranking Member of House Budget Committee (politicspa.com)
Rep. Brendan Boyle to be House Budget Committee’s top Democrat (inquirer.com)
Pennsylvania rural development boosted by USDA grants | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
National News
The Trump Organization is found guilty of a criminal tax fraud scheme : NPR
Across Germany, 25 are arrested on suspicion of planning armed coup : NPR
Hertz will pay $168 million to customers it falsely accused of stealing its cars : NPR
China’s aid recipients have to pay it back. Is that a big drawback? : Goats and Soda : NPR
Morocco shocks Spain, is first Arab team in World Cup’s round of 8 : NPR
USS Arizona survivor: Honor those killed at Pearl Harbor | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Editorial: Don’t mind Facebook’s empty threats: Pass the JCPA | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Local News
Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County rejects Wawa’s appeal (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Mayor to meet with Latinos Working Together in NEPA | Business | citizensvoice.com
Scranton City Council appoints Smurl to fill vacancy | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Pitt
Community weighs in on search for new Pittsburgh police chief (nextpittsburgh.com)
Camila Rivera-Tinsley won’t stop fighting for gender equity (nextpittsburgh.com)
VisitPittsburgh brings back the 10 Days of #LovePGH Giveaways – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)
Pittsburgh Regional employees sue over covid-19 vaccine mandate | TribLIVE.com
Pittsburgh unemployment near record lows, but region is slow to regain workers | TribLIVE.com
Pittsburgh council approves $220K annual snow removal technology contract | TribLIVE.com
W.Pa. LGBTQ community, allies share hope, reservations on Respect for Marriage Act | TribLIVE.com
Philly
Philly building permit requests dip after 2021 boom (inquirer.com)
Philadelphia city controller election: A look at who’s running (inquirer.com)
Action News announces Jim Gardner’s replacement for 6 p.m. newscast – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Philly Pops fun is going away. What happens next for the arts is serious business. (inquirer.com)
Philly considers mandatory breaks for tower crane operators (inquirer.com)
Campus Apartments unveils updated plans for West Philly HQ (inquirer.com)
Philadelphia Councilmember Jimmy Harrity’s ‘Fresh Prince’-styled bio (inquirer.com)
Washington
Doug Emhoff hosts a roundtable on antisemitism at the White House : NPR
Jan. 6 committee likely to make criminal referrals related to Capitol attack : NPR
Big Tech, free speech advocates join to oppose journalism bill | TribLIVE.com
Congress can help keep kids out of poverty | Editorial (inquirer.com)