Legislature

Pennsylvania redistricting: House Republicans propose first congressional map (inquirer.com)

Renters in parts of Pa. shut out of rent relief as counties elsewhere sit on millions in unused aid (inquirer.com)

Pa.’s school mask mandate fight reaches the state Supreme Court: Is it a ‘modified quarantine’ or illegal overreach? (inquirer.com)

Pa. Supreme Court grapples with the legality of state school masking mandate | WITF

Proposed redrawing of Pennsylvania’s congressional map draws mixed reviews | WITF

Lawmakers to take first steps toward new congressional map | WITF

Doug Mastriano wants to stop giving raises to public officials | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)

Lehigh Valley doctor involved in ivermectin case as Pennsylvania lawmakers consider bill on controversial drug – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Coronavirus – COVID-19

Vaccine protection v. omicron: Drop in effectiveness – WHYY

U.S. OKs new COVID-19 antibody drug for high-risk patients (inquirer.com)

Pa. COVID hospitalizations, cases rising, still delta variant driven (inquirer.com)

For the nonprofit sector, the pandemic offers lessons in resilience | Rebuilding Philly (inquirer.com)

COVID surge: Pennsylvania hospital chain runs out of beds | WITF

COVID-19 cases spike even as US hits 200M vaccine milestone – pennlive.com

Packed hospitals in rural Pa. sound alarm over surging COVID-19 cases – pennlive.com

New study finds people who survive a COVID-19 hospitalization still more likely to die within a year – pennlive.com

Even without omicron, COVID-19 cases are still high in Allegheny County | 90.5 WESA

Pfizer says COVID booster offers protection against omicron | 90.5 WESA

‘Fully vaccinated’ definition doesn’t need to change, experts say | TribLIVE.com

COVID-19 cases continue to surge in and around Allegheny County | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Surge in COVID patients prompts St. Luke’s to restrict visitors again – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Delaware County officials say COVID cases and severity increasing, reinforce need for vaccinations and mitigation measures (delcotimes.com)

Business/Jobs

U.S. businesses advertised near-record 11 million open jobs (inquirer.com)

From glass bottles to botanicals, Pa. distillers spell out supply chain struggles | WITF

Is there a Christmas tree shortage? The answer depends on whom you ask – pennlive.com

Crime/Punishment

Mumia Abu-Jamal arrested for killing Daniel Faulker 40 years ago – WHYY

Rohingya refugees sue Facebook for $150B, alleging role in violence (inquirer.com)

Whitehall man who made online threats to government buildings sentenced to federal prison | TribLIVE.com

Education

Philly school board announces members of superintendent search panel – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Penn State trustees to meet Thursday to elect next university president – pennlive.com

Police conduct searches at 4 Pittsburgh Public School buildings after online threat | TribLIVE.com

Pittsburgh Public Schools board may consider property tax increase | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Hazleton Area secondary schools settle after stabbing affects attendance | Education | standardspeaker.com

Kutztown School Board adopts controversial equity policy (readingeagle.com)

Elections/Politics

Dr. Oz’s Pa. Senate race could be skewed by his doctor brand | The Grammarian (inquirer.com)

Big donor in high court race eyeing candidates for governor in Pennsylvania | WITF

Republicans say voter ID will increase voters’ trust in elections; researchers say otherwise – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

A new poll finds major warning signs for Biden and fellow Democrats | 90.5 WESA

Environment

Opinion: Why environmental justice matters in Philly right now – WHYY

Infrastructure

Hurricane Ida destroyed affordable Pa. rental units, so many families are still living in hotels (inquirer.com)

New federal infrastructure funds would go toward helping Pa. communities with poor internet access | WITF

PennDOT proposes new design for Parkway West interchange with Route 22 in Robinson | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Federal infrastructure money won’t help repair Erie County’s aging bridges (goerie.com)

Health

We need to embrace a public health mantra: ‘none of us, unless all of us’ | Expert Opinion (inquirer.com)

Philadelphia HIV detection and treatment dropped because of COVID-19 (inquirer.com)

What should happen if abortion returns to the states? An expert explains | Thursday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Preventing veteran suicide this holiday starts with a caring message – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

The U.S. is facing a youth mental health crisis. (readingeagle.com)

State News

Sharply split State Employees Retirement System board defeats effort to cancel Gov. Wolf’s vaccination bonus for some staff – pennlive.com

With snow predicted this week, will PennDOT be able to clear the roads with limited staff? | TribLIVE.com

Pennsylvania’s child care crisis demands lasting solutions (goerie.com)

Christian Yingling leads next generation of militia in Pennsylvania (buckscountycouriertimes.com)

National News

Explainer: What caused Amazon’s outage? Will there be more? (inquirer.com)

California plans to be abortion sanctuary if Roe overturned (inquirer.com)

Father, son arrested on suspicion of starting massive California wildfire – pennlive.com

Woman pulled from vehicle in Niagara Falls rapids is dead, police say – pennlive.com

Months after frantic evacuation, Afghans wait and worry at US military bases – pennlive.com

North Carolina delays 2022 primaries to give redistricting challenges more time | 90.5 WESA

Local News

This W.Pa diaper bank needs your help | Helping the Helpers – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Student-run Project Market reopens to public at Milton Hershey School – pennlive.com

I-83 and Paxton Street reopen after construction equipment accident shuts down lanes – pennlive.com

Toy Store provides Christmas cheer for hundreds of Dauphin County Social Services clients – pennlive.com

Mullery bill would eliminate automatic pay raises for elected officials | Times Leader

Luzerne County Council rejects proposed cut of new IT staffers | Times Leader

FEMA deadline is extended for Northampton, Bucks, other counties in the wake of Ida – The Morning Call (mcall.com)

Construction to begin next week on $21 million library in Kennett Square – Daily Local

State grants aid local history preservation (dailylocal.com)

Pitt

Pgh Mayor-elect Ed Gainey puts controversial transit project on hold – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Nonprofits recognized for helping Pittsburghers through the pandemic | 90.5 WESA

Allegheny County health director: ‘I don’t expect the situation to improve soon’ | TribLIVE.com

Meet Pittsburgh’s unofficial Santa Claus | TribLIVE.com

After a year away, sugar plums back at Benedum Center for PBT’s ‘Nutcracker’ | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Philly

Philly Council committee votes to extend eviction diversion – WHYY

Philly Police Commissioner Outlaw squashes resignation rumors – WHYY

Hilco open to community benefits agreement at PES refinery site – WHYY

11 Things To Do This Week in Philly / South Jersey / Del. – WHYY

‘Mad or nah?’: Philly residents on broken streetlights – WHYY

Philadelphia police officials say they’re working to address violent crime – WHYY

SEPTA police to work overtime as crime increases – WHYY

Mayor Kenney acknowledges Philadelphia has ‘a gun crisis’ but sidesteps questions about DA Larry Krasner’s crime comments (inquirer.com)

Here’s a way, born in Northeast Philadelphia, to fight catalytic converter thieves (inquirer.com)

Washington

Senate votes to block Biden’s vaccine-or-test mandate – WHYY

Canada joins U.S. and allies in Beijing Olympics boycott (inquirer.com)

Can Biden and NATO prevent Putin from invading Ukraine? Summit puts it to the test. | Trudy Rubin (inquirer.com)

Capitol Hill Republicans slam treatment of accused Jan. 6 insurrectionists held at D.C. jail – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Taxpayers subsidizing local news: A scam, a way to kill free press, or a lifeline? | John Baer – pennlive.com

Supreme Court friendly to religion takes up private school fees | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Meadows sues as Jan. 6 panel proceeds with contempt case | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Biden to pay tribute to ‘American giant’ Bob Dole at Capitol | News | tribdem.com

Biden to decry democracy ‘recession’ at White House summit | News | tribdem.com