Legislature
New laws for a new year: Sunday hunting, voting by mail, tobacco 21, a state amphibian and more
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/01/new-laws-for-a-new-year-sunday-hunting-voting-by-mail-tobacco-21-a-state-amphibian-and-more.html
How Pennsylvanians vote, when they hunt among 2019 changes that will affect us in 2020
https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/capitol-ideas/mc-nws-pa-new-laws-20200101-6fbgisssqjeyrd6viti2bh335u-story.html
Administration
How Gov. Tom Wolf used his veto power in 2019
https://papost.org/2019/12/31/how-gov-tom-wolf-used-his-veto-power-in-2019/
Why are we putting fossil fuel profits before children’s lives? | Opinion
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2020/01/why-are-we-putting-fossil-fuel-profits-before-childrens-lives-opinion.html
Business
Business leaders look to 2020
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/business-leaders-look-to-2020-1.2578046
Hershey is retiring fleet of Kissmobiles
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/hershey-is-retiring-fleet-of-kissmobiles/
Crime/Punishment
State inmate charged with conspiring to kill former prosecutor
https://www.timesleader.com/news/767648/state-inmate-charged-with-conspiring-to-kill-former-prosecutor
Suicide, fatal OD add to Delco prison woes
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/local/suicide-fatal-od-add-to-delco-prison-woes/article_46b081d0-2bf4-11ea-959b-d3eeee1d363d.html
Education
Meet the African American man charged with bringing Glen Mills back from the dead
https://www.penncapital-star.com/civil-rights-social-justice/meet-the-african-american-man-charged-with-bringing-glen-mills-back-from-the-dead/
Scranton School Board to appoint new director Thursday
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-school-board-to-appoint-new-director-thursday-1.2578002
Elections/Politics
Every Pa. county will have new voting machines — with paper trails — in 2020
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/pa-new-voting-machines-for-2020-with-paper-trails-20200101.html
Final Pennsylvania county OKs new paper-trail voting system
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2019/12/31/Final-Pennsylvania-county-OKs-new-paper-trail-voting-system/stories/201912310127
Health Care
2 more Pa. deaths reported as flu cases continue to increase
https://triblive.com/local/regional/2-more-deaths-reported-as-flu-cases-continue-to-increase/
Local News
Grant awarded to Lackawanna County court advocates for children
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/grant-awarded-to-lackawanna-county-court-advocates-for-children-1.2578150
Carmen Pellegrino, West Scranton pizza icon, dies
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/carmen-pellegrino-west-scranton-pizza-icon-dies-1.2577974
Wyoming County adopts $15.4M budget
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/wyoming-county-adopts-15-4m-budget-1.2578159
Discarded cigarettes caused about $500K in damages to Mohnton Fire Co. Social Quarters
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/discarded-cigarettes-caused-about-k-in-damages-to-mohnton-fire/article_6b289960-2bfb-11ea-8f66-bb72e616d394.html
For New Year’s, Butler County town is in Harmony with Germany
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/north/2019/12/31/For-New-Year-s-Butler-County-town-is-in-Harmony-with-Germany/stories/201912310134
East Deer adopts $1.4M budget with no tax increase
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/east-deer-adopts-1-4m-budget-with-no-tax-increase/
Local leaders offer their Happy New Year wishes
https://www.timesleader.com/news/767720/local-leaders-offer-their-happy-new-year-wishes
Judge’s order moves along suit by Wilkes-Barre officer for possession of K-9 dog
https://www.timesleader.com/news/767724/judges-order-moves-along-suit-by-wilkes-barre-officer-for-possession-of-k-9-dog
Shavertown fire company ceases aluminum can collection
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/shavertown-fire-company-ceases-aluminum-can-collection-1.2578041
Welcome to 2020: New year brings plenty of big stories
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/welcome-to-2020-new-year-brings-plenty-of-big-stories-1.2578063
Hazleton seeking $3M in grants
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/hazleton-seeking-3m-in-grants-1.2578113
For Spartikus the dog, New Year’s marks 500 days without a home in the Lehigh Valley
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-spartacus-the-dog-20200101-57krlyhfr5akrgftdjh7xb4fh4-story.html
Hempt Farm tract in Cumberland County ‘will be developed,’ but not before its zoning is figured out
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/01/hempt-farm-tract-in-cumberland-county-will-be-developed-but-not-before-its-zoning-is-figured-out.html
National News
West Virginia correctional officer cadets fired after giving Nazi salute in class photo
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/01/west-virginia-correctional-officer-cadets-who-gave-nazi-salute-in-class-photo-fired.html
New Jersey
#MeToo in New Jersey: State senator forms committee to fight toxic harassment culture in politics
https://www.inquirer.com/news/me-too-new-jersey-reform-loretta-weinberg-phil-murphy-20191231.html
Philly
Mayor Kenney pocket vetoes six bills as his first term ends
https://www.inquirer.com/news/mayor-jim-kenney-pocket-veto-philadelphia-city-council-20191231.html
Inside man to trailblazing outsider: Mayor Jim Kenney goes bold with police commissioner in second term
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/philadelphia/mayor-jim-kenney-police-commissioner-appointment-different-from-first-term-20191231.html
New Year’s Eve homicides make 2019 the worst for killings in Philly since 2007
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-crime-homicide-police-kenney-outlaw-new-york-20200101.html
The Mummers Parade 2020 is today. Here’s what to know.
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/mummers-parade-2020-new-years-day-philadelphia-20200101.html
The most curious things we learned about Philly over the past year
https://www.inquirer.com/news/strange-philly-facts-philadelphia-cream-cheese-self-uniting-weddings-20200101.html
Here are the year’s significant achievements of 10 Philly Latinos
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philly-latino-communities-achievements-year-goals-20200101.html
How will the economy, home prices, and the new tax abatement affect Philly in 2020? Experts weigh in.
https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/philly-residential-real-estate-predictions-2020-recession-housing-inventory-tax-abatement-20200101.html
Two Philly elementary schools to remain closed because of asbestos damage
https://www.inquirer.com/news/asbestos-philadelphia-school-district-mcclure-carnell-elementary-20191231.html
At a Philly public school, blind children finally have a fantastic place to play
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-playground-for-blind-children-20191231.html
2020 Philadelphia is way ahead of 2010 Philadelphia, but still behind the rest of the nation | Editorial
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/end-year-decade-statistics-data-crime-economy-politics-health-philadelphia-20200101.html
New case tests big question: Can Philly kids sue after getting sick in school buildings?
https://www.witf.org/2019/12/31/new-case-tests-big-question-can-philly-kids-sue-after-getting-sick-in-school-buildings/
Pitt
Reflecting on the past, looking toward the future: Pittsburgh rings in 2020 at First Night
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/12/31/Reflecting-on-the-past-looking-toward-the-future-Pittsburgh-rings-in-2020-at-First-Night/stories/201912310150
First Night attendees in Pittsburgh enjoy New Year’s Eve events
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/hundreds-of-first-night-attendees-enjoy-new-years-eve-events/
Pittsburgh homicides hit lowest in 20 years
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-homicides-hit-lowest-in-20-years/
County police release more detailed account of Wilkinsburg police shooting
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/12/31/Allegheny-County-police-Romir-Talley-Wilkinsburg-police-shooting-details/stories/201912310117
Wilkinsburg man was shot 7 times by police, investigators say
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/wilkinsburg-man-was-shot-7-times-by-police-investigators-say/
Long-term I-579 ramp closures begin Saturday
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2019/12/31/Long-term-Interstate-579-ramp-closures-Pittsburgh-cap-crosstown-boulevard/stories/201912310103
‘Why? Why did you do this?’ a mother asks her son, accused of killing a 90-year-old man
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/12/31/samuel-rende-pittsburgh-homicide-anthony-tony-miller-mother-hazelwood/stories/201912310137
Karen Kane named managing editor of the Post-Gazette
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/career-workplace/2020/01/01/Karen-Kane-managing-editor-Pittsburgh-Post-Gazette-Keith-Burris/stories/202001010124
Deceased Allegheny County Jail inmate identified
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/12/31/Deceased-inmate-Alfred-Cox-Allegheny-County-Jail-Wilkes-Barre/stories/201912310124
State News
104th Pa. Farm Show features new foods, old favorites
https://www.post-gazette.com/life/food/2020/01/01/Pennsylvania-Farm-Show-new-foods-2020/stories/201912230108
From Yuletide icon to dinner for goats: Christmas tree recycling gets creative
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2020/01/01/From-Yuletide-icon-to-dinner-for-goats-Christmas-tree-recycling-gets-creative-in-the-Lehigh-Valley/stories/201912310101
Investigation into deer-torture video nearly complete, Pa. game warden says
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/12/31/Investigation-deer-torture-video-Pennsyvlania-brookville-game-warden/stories/201912310107
As we enter a new decade, some Western Pa. things never change
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/as-we-enter-a-new-decade-some-western-pa-things-never-change/
Newsmaker of the decade: Survivors of sexual abuse – brave, loud and saving others
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/12/newsmaker-of-the-decade-survivors-of-sexual-abuse-brave-loud-and-saving-others.html
Overdose deaths in Westmoreland, Allegheny counties on course to drop again
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/overdose-deaths-in-westmoreland-county-on-course-to-drop-again/
Decade in review: Photos, stories that shaped Western Pa. during 2010s
https://triblive.com/local/regional/decade-in-review-photos-stories-that-shaped-western-pa-during-2010s/
Northeast PA says goodbye to another soggy year
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/northeast-pa-says-goodbye-to-another-soggy-year-1.2578180
Stories to look for in 2020 that will affect Berks County
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/stories-to-look-for-in-that-will-affect-berks-county/article_981c8664-2b12-11ea-a9da-e399b7327cd8.html
Transportation
Roundabouts in Oley and Ruscombmanor townships confusing but working to reduce accidents
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/roundabouts-in-oley-and-ruscombmanor-townships-confusing-but-working-to/article_b73661a4-2c0d-11ea-a003-734b97c87d07.html
The gift of safer roads: Police report fewer traffic incidents over Christmas
https://www.poconorecord.com/news/20191231/gift-of-safer-roads-police-report-fewer-traffic-incidents-over-christmas