Legislature
Use of CARES funding by cyber charter schools in question
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/education/use-of-cares-funding-by-cyber-charter-schools-in-question/article_931317b6-ad81-547b-943b-e69281eead78.html
Capitol siege lays bare GOP electoral misinformation in Harrisburg
https://www.penncapital-star.com/election-2020/capitol-siege-lays-bare-gop-electoral-misinformation-in-harrisburg/
Rape survivor helped change law to remove obstacle in terminating rapist’s parental rights
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/rape-survivor-helped-change-law-to-remove-obstacle-in-terminating-rapists-parental-rights/article_950f4faa-3267-50b2-baca-bb2d7b009254.html
Fair Districts PA fear potential change to courts could lead to gerrymandering
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/story/news/2021/01/11/fair-districts-pennsylvania-judicial-redistricting-ballot-question/4140271001/
Keystone Mission leader praises new state law for free photo IDs for homeless residents
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/keystone-mission-leader-praises-new-state-law-for-free-photo-ids-for-homeless-residents/article_333d8dc4-108f-5bfd-b4a9-720c19baa844.html
Editorial: Restaurants need state aid right away
https://www.readingeagle.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-restaurants-need-state-aid-right-away/article_9b7ef32c-5119-11eb-b6bf-fb5545b815c6.html
Coronavirus – COVID-19
When can you get the COVID-19 vaccine? Here’s what you need to know
https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2021/01/when-can-you-get-the-covid-19-vaccine-heres-what-you-need-to-know.html
Hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 vaccines haven’t been used in Pa. and N.J. Here’s why, and what’s next.
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19-pa-nj-philly-vaccine-rollout-slow-vaccination-challenges-pace-20210109.html
Mixed progress in Luzerne County’s latest weekly coronavirus update
https://www.timesleader.com/news/815691/mixed-progress-in-luzerne-countys-latest-weekly-coronavirus-update
236 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Luzerne County on Sunday
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/coronavirus/236-new-cases-of-covid-19-reported-in-luzerne-county-on-sunday/article_67dd730e-2174-578f-bf73-b6656221bc13.html
Region adds 570 COVID-19 cases, four deaths
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/coronavirus/region-adds-570-covid-19-cases-four-deaths/article_9f808252-47e9-58a2-b212-f39e35085767.html
Berks coroner reports 11 more COVID-19 deaths
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/berks-coroner-reports-11-more-covid-19-deaths/article_f515c9bc-5365-11eb-a0d8-03b4f4ac02dd.html
Vet contractors before putting lives in their hands
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/editorial/vet-contractors-before-putting-lives-in-their-hands/article_8558453b-b3a2-5f4f-8989-14f64c9aa22b.html
Business
Queen City Family Restaurant, a Reading landmark, closes
https://www.readingeagle.com/money/queen-city-family-restaurant-a-reading-landmark-closes/article_d04603f8-512c-11eb-abdb-77b5c85437a0.html
Security firm hiring more than 125 people in central Pa.
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/01/security-firm-hiring-more-than-125-people-in-central-pa.html
Crime/Punishment
Harrisburg logged more killings in 2020 than in 30 years; Cumberland County homicides doubled
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/01/harrisburg-logged-more-killings-last-year-than-in-30-years-homicides-in-cumberland-county-doubled.html
Education
Scranton School for the Deaf finds success through online ASL classes
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/education/scranton-school-for-the-deaf-finds-success-through-online-asl-classes/article_c5e85a41-e6b4-52a1-bb79-61f120fb0866.html
CMU team to examine autonomous vehicles for people with disabilities
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2021/01/11/Carnegie-Mellon-University-federal-Department-of-Transportation-300-000-grant-people-with-disabilities-autonomous-vehicles/stories/202101080091
Should college students be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine? It’s too early for colleges to decide
https://www.inquirer.com/education/college-coronavirus-vaccine-requirement-2021-students-20210110.html
Penn professor using Nazi rhetoric, gesture during virtual conference leads to calls for ouster
https://www.inquirer.com/news/university-of-pennsylvania-nazi-professor-conference-20210110.html
Elections/Politics
Pennsylvania Republicans weigh the party’s future post-Trump
https://triblive.com/local/regional/pennsylvania-republicans-weigh-the-partys-future-post-trump/
To save America, Republicans must show the way away from Trump. Some have begun. | Maria Panaritis
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/trump-conspiracy-theories-democrats-republicans-pennsylvania-maria-panaritis-20210110.html
Barletta’s Twitter account suspended
https://www.timesleader.com/news/815833/barlettas-twitter-account-suspended
When leaders lie, people die | Mark Singel
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2021/01/when-leaders-lie-people-die-mark-singel.html
It wasn’t a good week for the Republic | Charlie Gerow
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2021/01/it-wasnt-a-good-week-for-the-republic-charlie-gerow.html
Local News
Center that assists child abuse victims in Berks now under county supervision
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/center-that-assists-child-abuse-victims-in-berks-now-under-county-supervision/article_4c459c1a-504d-11eb-b31b-63b0ca76a42a.html
Anticipating downtown redevelopment, Reading Police Department steps up Penn Street corridor community policing program
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/crime/anticipating-downtown-revelopment-reading-police-department-steps-up-penn-street-corridor-community-policing-program/article_64de9a86-51da-11eb-84cc-f7fafa06b9cb.html
‘Free speech’ social media platform with local ties sees web traffic surge
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/free-speech-social-media-platform-with-local-ties-sees-web-traffic-surge/article_bc8d0f82-a5c5-56aa-aca9-3765614ab411.html
Tarentum awards 2 contracts to tear down 16 blighted buildings
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/tarentum-awards-2-contracts-to-tear-down-16-blighted-buildings/
Wilkes-Barre mayor reflects on first year in office, future of the city
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/wilkes-barre-mayor-reflects-on-first-year-in-office-future-of-the-city/article_aff54e47-c575-502e-912d-77a0f5140a70.html
2020 brings increase in Westmoreland overdose deaths
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/2019-brings-increase-in-westmoreland-overdose-deaths/
Nearly $1M in state grants will address mine drainage, stormwater in Westmoreland
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/nearly-1m-in-state-grants-will-address-mine-drainage-stormwater-in-westmoreland/
National News
PGA Championship leaving Trump National in ‘22 tournament
https://www.timesleader.com/news/815864/pga-championship-leaving-trump-national-in-22-tournament
A day before Capitol attack, pro-Trump crowd stormed meeting, threatened officials in rural California
https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2021/01/a-day-before-capitol-attack-pro-trump-crowd-stormed-meeting-threatened-officials-in-rural-california.html
Philly
Philadelphia police detective subject of Internal Affairs investigation after allegedly attending D.C. rally
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/philly-detective-reassigned-trump-insurrection-capitol-20210111.html
SEPTA’s ridership won’t rebound for a long time. Fear of contracting COVID-19 is partially to blame.
https://www.inquirer.com/transportation/septa-covid-19-public-transportation-fears-20210111.html
SEPTA must be able to do more than merely survive the pandemic | Editorial
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/septa-pandemic-ridership-safety-service–20210111.html
COVID-19 vaccines have gone mostly to white Philadelphians. Here’s what the city is doing to change that.
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/racial-disparities-vaccine-distribution-pennsylvania-20210111.html
Philly’s Fink’s hoagie shop appeals city’s COVID-19 enforcement: ‘It’s shaking me down’
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/finks-hoagies-fined-coronavirus-covid-mask-violations-philadelphia-health-inspectors-20210110.html
Pitt
Tenants and landlords ‘running out of options’ as they await federal relief
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/social-services/2021/01/11/Eviction-moratorium-rent-relief-mortgage-assistance-COVID-19-relief-bill-Pennsylvania/stories/202012300117
Allegheny County to allow access to virtual court hearings
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2021/01/10/Allegheny-County-court-rules-COVID-19-public-access-to-virtual-proceedings/stories/202101050131
The last massive vaccine rollout— for polio — started in Pittsburgh
https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/polio/
Report: Pittsburgh eyed among threatened targets of unrest as inauguration approaches
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2021/01/09/Pittsburgh-inauguration-protests-unrest-Washington-Post-Alethea-Group-Wendell-Hissrich/stories/202101090073
Western Pa. officials prep for possible violence prior to Biden’s inauguration
https://triblive.com/local/public-safety-officials-prep-for-possible-violence-in-pittsburgh-leading-up-to-bidens-inauguration/
Meet the person up next for NEXTpittsburgh
https://triblive.com/aande/more-a-and-e/meet-the-person-up-next-for-nextpittsburgh/
Rare sunny days wash over Pittsburgh — one of the cloudiest cities in the U.S.
https://triblive.com/local/regional/rare-sunny-days-wash-over-pittsburgh-one-of-the-cloudiest-cities-in-the-u-s/
State News
Nearly a million Pa. utility customers are past due on their bills because of COVID-19. Who will pick up the cost?
https://www.inquirer.com/business/pennsylvania-pa-utilities-shutoff-puc-virus-coronavirus-covid-20210111.html
Western Pa. residents among virtual presenters set for 2nd Pa. Veteran Farming Conference
https://triblive.com/local/regional/area-residents-among-virtual-presenters-set-for-second-pa-veteran-farming-conference/
Transportation
Pennsylvania Turnpike begins 7.5-mile widening project near Somerset
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2021/01/10/Pennsylvania-Turnpike-Somerset-117-million-project-widening-highway/stories/202101100102
Washington
Pelosi says House will impeach Trump, pushes VP to oust him
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2021/01/11/Pelosi-House-impeachment-Trump-pushes-pence-25th-amendment-capitol-riot/stories/202101110077
Lamb makes case for Trump’s immediate removal
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2021/01/10/Conor-Lamb-donald-Trump-impeachment-PA-congressman-makes-case-immediate-removal/stories/202101100167
Sen. Pat Toomey calls on Trump to resign; Chris Christie calls insurrection incitement an ‘impeachable offense’
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/pat-toomey-trump-resignation-pennsylvania-20210110.html
In wake of attack on Capitol Hill, Berks County lawmakers reflect on deadly day in D.C.
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/in-wake-of-attack-on-capitol-hill-berks-county-lawmakers-reflect-on-deadly-day-in/article_42daba26-51dc-11eb-a161-77cfae13b39b.html
Doctor warns House members, including Rep. Scott Perry, could have been exposed to COVID-19 amid riot
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/01/doctor-warns-house-members-including-rep-scott-perry-could-have-been-exposed-to-covid-19-amid-riot.html
Lawmakers who voted against Biden are getting denounced back home
https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2021/01/lawmakers-who-voted-against-biden-are-getting-denounced-back-home.html
Blood at the Capitol is the latest chapter in the brutal politics of angry white men | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/news/capitol-breach-white-rioters-protesters-georgia-election-20210111.html
Letter: Meuser and his allies bear responsibility for attack
https://www.readingeagle.com/opinion/letters-to-editor/letter-meuser-and-his-allies-bear-responsibility-for-attack/article_27e79196-5270-11eb-91c3-5b95d6c8da33.html
Biden chooses veteran diplomat Burns as CIA director
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2021/01/11/Biden-CIA-director-nominee-veteran-diplomat-William-Burns/stories/202101110079