Legislature
Pa. Senate committee to conduct 2020, 2021 election audit hearings this spring | Today in Pa. – pennlive.com
Pa. House expected to vote on proposed congressional map as redistricting lawsuit looms · Spotlight PA
Proposed Pennsylvania legislative maps don’t do enough to increase Hispanic representation, residents say · Spotlight PA
New legislative maps can restore representation for Pa.’s growing Latino communities | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Redistricting chair Nordenberg defends proposed state House map against GOP attacks | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Pennsylvania Republicans are planning a redistricting redo in time for the 2024 election | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Pennsylvania redistricting: Republicans push for more power to draw maps (inquirer.com)
State lawmaker seeks to bolster Pennsylvania parents’ rights | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Pennsylvania redistricting: How new maps would hurt Bethlehem – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Pa. Bill Would Allow AV Tests With No Human Driver (govtech.com)
A new bill could put fully autonomous vehicles on PA roads. Does it pass the business ethics test? – Technical.ly Pittsburgh
Philly Gains a House Seat in Redistricting Plan | Philadelphia Public Record (phillyrecord.com)
Public weighs in as Pa. House, Senate district proposals split cities | fox43.com
Pennsylvania redistricting tug-of-war over communities continues – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Lehigh Valley getting attention, as lawmakers debate fate of state legislative districts | Pennsylvania News | wfmz.com
YAW: What Critics Get Wrong About Energy Choice – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Guest editorial | Gov. Wolf and the legislature must raise wages now for home workers caring for people with disabilities | Editorials | tribdem.com
Coronavirus – COVID-19
CDC criticized for failing to communicate, promises to do better : Shots – Health News : NPR
Federal agencies prepare to act against unvaccinated employees (abc27.com)
‘It will overwhelm us’: Surge of COVID cases triggers more of the tough phone calls – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Interactive
Stay home or work sick? Omicron poses a conundrum | TribLIVE.com
About 90% of COVID-19 patients in some of Pa.’s hardest-hit hospitals are unvacccinated. Result is on grim display, doctors say – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
One year, 350,000 doses later: What Penn Medicine’s vaccine rollout taught it about equity | Health | phillytrib.com
Struggling to find COVID testing? You aren’t alone in Central Pa. (ydr.com)
COVID forecast to peak in Pennsylvania, strain hospitals in February (theintell.com)
Montgomery County adds nearly 2,000 more coronavirus cases, 4 deaths in two-day period (mainlinemedianews.com)
Business/Jobs
How will the labor market evolve in 2022? Here’s what experts predict. – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Unemployment sinks to 3.9% as many more people find jobs | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Will 2022 bring another round of small-business relief? Congress is working on a deal – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)
Amid latest COVID surge, some central Pa. restaurants noticing drop in business – pennlive.com
Crime/Punishment
Pa. state police review actions to end bias-based practices – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Advocates say Allegheny County Jail violated solitary confinement ban hundreds of times | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
‘My whole body hurts’: Incarcerated woman at Allegheny Co. jail spends recreational time shackled – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Prison violence punishes LBT women, and it can kill – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Allegheny County Jail circumventing ban on solitary confinement, non-lethal weapons, critic says | TribLIVE.com
Man accused of shooting into Democratic Party headquarters in Montgomery County enters pleas | WITF
Delaware County to take over George W. Hill Correctional Facility on April 6 (delcotimes.com)
Education
Tests and staffing: What it takes to keep schools open during omicron : NPR
Teachers’ union asks for pause to in-person instruction if more mitigation measures aren’t taken (broadandliberty.com)
Harrisburg School District moving to remote learning until Jan. 18 (abc27.com)
Souderton Parents Protest Mask Mandate – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
North Hills School District keeping its current mask policy | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Here are the schools in Philadelphia, South Jersey, and the suburbs that have gone virtual as COVID surges (inquirer.com)
Staffing shortage closing 20 Pittsburgh Public schools, programs Monday | TribLIVE.com
Elections/Politics
Janet Diaz joins 50th District race to represent Lancaster city, setting up a hotly contested race between top city Democrats | PA Power and Policy | lancasteronline.com
Special election slated for Pennsylvania’s 5th Senate District (inquirer.com)
Janet Diaz joins 50th District race to represent Lancaster city, setting up a hotly contested race between top city Democrats | PA Power and Policy | lancasteronline.com
Val Arkoosh Says the U.S. Senate Needs a Doctor | PoliticsPA
Mastriano Joins Crowded GOP Field in Governor’s Race – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Conservative firebrand Doug Mastriano enters Pennsylvania’s governor’s race | TribLIVE.com
Doug Mastriano announces run for Pennsylvania governor – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
PA Dems file FEC complaints against Dr. Oz, David McCormick | City & State PA (cityandstatepa.com)
Pennsylvania politics in 2022: On the brink of political change | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Biden, Obama among those to eulogize Senate titan Harry Reid at memorial service : NPR
Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson is running for reelection | WITF
Election experts: Still more to be done on state, federal elections before 2022 midterms – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Pa. ACLU files lawsuit over missing financial information in 2020 Fulton County election review – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
With Trump’s first choice in Pa. Senate race gone, another Republican readies a bid (yahoo.com)
Schillinger: Elect regular people who support in-person instruction (theintell.com)
Environment
A New Year’s Resolution for Pa.: Go big on reducing methane emissions – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Transportation
PA Turnpike Tolls Could Be Paid Via App Under Proposed Bill | Pittsburgh, PA Patch
Local officials seek state, federal funds to support ‘transformational’ growth in autonomous systems like self-driving vehicles | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Health
Pennsylvanians urged to enroll for health care ahead of Jan. 15 deadline – Daily Local
Deadline to apply for health insurance under Affordable Care Act nears | News | thetimes-tribune.com
Pennsylvanians Have until January 15 to Enroll in 2022 Health Care Coverage – BCTV
Pope on COVID vaccines says health care a ‘moral obligation’ – Daily Local
With one hospital closed and another set to close later this month, Chester County Hospital a major player in health care – Daily Local
‘Flurona’ is real, but don’t panic — it’s common to get two viruses at once (inquirer.com)
The new mental health hotline is a key step — but it must be properly funded | Opinion (inquirer.com)
State News
Pa. unemployment hack: State bought system with multi-factor authentication but didn’t turn it on (abc27.com)
Casey, Senate hopeful Lamb say end the filibuster. Manchin, Sinema want to protect historic rule | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Congressman Burks wants the state to keep the COVID-19 inspection site open in Bern Township. – Pennsylvania News Today
Pennsylvania taps federal funding for homeowner mortgage assistance | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
2022 Pennsylvania Farm Show opens to the public (abc27.com)
Pennsylvania Farm Show 2022 opens without the typical crowd and traffic, but ‘we look forward to this anyway’ – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
These humble Pa. county pension plans beat PSERS’ returns by keeping it simple (inquirer.com)
I’ll soon be a U.S. citizen living in Pa. This is why our democracy is worth defending | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Pa. says it’s investigating ‘aggressive and sophisticated’ unemployment fraud efforts – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Refugees now part of Lancaster’s Pennsylvania Dutch image (theintell.com)
PIAA open-records fight: Organization still fighting Right-to-Know Law (theintell.com)
National News
A space heater caused the deadly fire in a Bronx high-rise apartment building : NPR
Bronx apartment fire kills 19, including 9 children | WITF
Chicago public schools remain in limbo as negotiations with the union continue : NPR
Prospects are dim in upcoming U.S.-Russia talks over Ukraine : NPR
U.S. and Russia Will Discuss European Security, but Without Europeans – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
US, Russian diplomats meet amid rising tensions over Ukraine | ABC27
‘Nothing Will Be the Same’: A Prison Town Weighs a Future Without a Prison – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Opinion | Steve Bannon Is Onto Something – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
Australian judge reinstates Djokovic’s visa : NPR
Unlike Britney, many still struggle to leave legal guardianship : Shots – Health News : NPR
Comedian Bob Saget dead at 65 (abc27.com)
Without stars or telecast, Golden Globes carry on with social media (abc27.com)
Local News
Delco Press Club hosts tour of Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum – Delco Times
The Mercury’s Sound Off for Saturday, January 8 – The Mercury (pottsmerc.com)
Luzerne County Council to hold first regular meeting of 2022 on Tuesday | Times Leader
McBride promises transparency, oversight as council chairwoman | News | citizensvoice.com
Young Republican leaders take reins of Luzerne County Council | News | citizensvoice.com
Trash and recycling collections are slowed by COVID-19 in Berks. (readingeagle.com)
BARTA cuts back Monday schedule due to driver shortage (readingeagle.com)
Berks officials apologize to Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (readingeagle.com)
Major Lehigh Valley project slowed by lawsuit, ‘mistrust’ – The Morning Call (mcall.com)
Letters: Require reporting guns lost, safer crossings in Newtown (theintell.com)
Pitt
Pittsburgh named as finalist to host 2024 Republican National Convention, says report | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Allegheny County jury trials suspended in January due to Omicron variant | News | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper (pghcitypaper.com)
Some Allegheny County residents say Health Department hasn’t taken enough steps to improve air quality | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Gainey tells GOP Pittsburgh ‘would be excited to host’ 2024 presidential convention, but not everyone agrees | WITF
As officials make pitch, Pittsburgh in the running to host 2024 RNC | Monday Morning Coffee – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
Philly
Officials Allot Additional Federal Resources in Probe of Deadly Philadelphia Rowhome Fire – NBC10 Philadelphia (nbcphiladelphia.com)
Philadelphians gather in vigil on anniversary of insurrection to push for expanded voting rights | Local News | phillytrib.com
‘A matter of life and death’: Fairmount house that caught fire lacked safety fixes found in newer PHA properties | Local News | phillytrib.com
Fairmount fire: Where to donate to help those affected (inquirer.com)
Fire victims left lasting impression at Philadelphia school | Local News | phillytrib.com
First Bank of U.S. museum restoration gets $100,000 crypto donation (broadandliberty.com)
Philly’s vaccine mandate for city employees takes effect Jan. 14. Thousands remain unvaccinated. (inquirer.com)
The real cause of Philadelphia’s deadly fire is our unequal society. Let’s make this a turning point | Will Bunch (inquirer.com)
Activists welcome law to increase say on Philadelphia zoning | Local News | phillytrib.com
Philly principal empowers single moms through her nonprofit | Local News | phillytrib.com
CDC opens free site in Southwest Philadelphia to ease the run on COVID tests | Health | phillytrib.com
Washington
Biden to deliver State of the Union address on March 1 | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Invoking Jan. 6, Dems pivot to fight for voting legislation – Daily Local
Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan refuses to cooperate with Jan. 6 panel | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pelosi opens door to more coronavirus aid in spending plan amid omicron spread – pennlive.com
