Legislature

Pennsylvania provides state money for public defense for the first time – LebTown

New law aims to make guardianship a last resort in Pa., but some experts say it doesn’t go far enough – LebTown

Pennsylvania needs $5.4 billion to bring underfunded schools up to par, commission finds | State | tiogapublishing.com

Commission’s deep dive into how Pennsylvania funds K-12 education ends with split vote, call for spending $5.4 billion more | News & Features | ArcaMax Publishing

Blueprint for changing Pa. school funding system draws partisan divide – pennlive.com

Pa. commission adopts $5.4 billion plan to revamp education funding | WITF

A Democratic shake-up in the Mon Valley: Brewster not running again | 90.5 WESA

Two Democrats seeking western Pa. Senate seat after Brewster announces retirement – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Education and Access the Focus of Joint Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Hearing – Ellwood City, PA news

Upper Main Line YMCA hosts Governor Josh Shapiro to Celebrate the Expansion of Tax Credits for Families (vista.today)

Pennsylvania provides state money for public defense for the first time | News | dailyitem.com

Pa. provides state funds for public defense for first time · Spotlight PA

State Sen. Jim Brewster to retire at end of year – CBS Pittsburgh (cbsnews.com)

Business/Jobs

eBay to pay $3M in harassment campaign against Massachusetts couple : NPR

Owner of abandoned, dilapidated Pa. mall fails to pay $150K fine – pennlive.com

Little League International CFO is no longer with the organization – pennlive.com

Pa. facility to close; 68 people to be laid off – pennlive.com

124 people to be laid off at Pa. healthcare company – pennlive.com

COVID-19

COVID-19 still rising, but flu takes good turn in Pa.: weekly update – pennlive.com

What’s Going Around: Strep throat, RSV, flu, COVID | ABC27

Crime/Punishment

Elderly couple found dead in their home after heater hit 1,000 degrees – pennlive.com

Personal assistant stole nearly $3M from elderly N.J. couple: prosecutors – pennlive.com

Both drivers killed in head-on collision in Pa. – pennlive.com

Pennsylvania mother charged for deadly DUI bus crash that killed her baby (abc27.com)

Education

Biden announces plan to cancel some student loan balances under $12,000 – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

A new student loan forgiveness policy is starting sooner than expected : NPR

Education and Access the Focus of Joint Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Hearing – Ellwood City, PA news

Students Sue Harvard, Calling It a ‘Bastion’ of Antisemitism – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Pa. commission adopts $5.4 billion plan to revamp education funding | WITF

Elections/Politics

Two Democrats seeking western Pa. Senate seat after Brewster announces retirement – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Environment

The Midwest Braces for a Blizzard, and More Severe Storms Will Slam the South – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Cold Weather Tracker: Mapping Freezing Temperatures Across the U.S. – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

What Is the ‘Wind Chill Index,’ Anyway? – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Transportation

Pennsylvania funds $40M to replace diesel trucks with EVs | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Alaska Airlines cancels all flights on the Boeing 737 Max 9 through Saturday : NPR

Health

Country music singer ‘Jelly Roll’ pleads with Congress to act on fentanyl crisis – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pa.’s respiratory virus activity levels have gone from low to high | WITF

What’s Going Around: Strep throat, RSV, flu, COVID | ABC27

Pennsylvanians get 4 extra days to sign up for subsidized health insur | WITF

State News

Josh Shapiro announces plan to prioritize agriculture in 2024 | WITF

PA becomes first state to partner with OpenAI on AI pilot program – City & State Pennsylvania (cityandstatepa.com)

Pennsylvania receives $26 million USDA grant to support its food supply chain – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Pennsylvania’s pandemic fiscal Band-Aid falling off | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Farmworker housing crisis looms | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Horse racing industry gets $198M taxpayer subsidy | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com

Pa. commission adopts $5.4 billion plan to revamp education funding | WITF

Pa.’s respiratory virus activity levels have gone from low to high | WITF

National News

Biden announces plan to cancel some student loan balances under $12,000 – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Read Biden’s Full Statement on the Strikes in Yemen – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

New turmoil over possible shutdown in D.C. amid warnings of a WIC food program shortfall – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

60-foot-long, Illegal tunnel under NYC synagogue destabilized nearby buildings, city says – pennlive.com

NASA’s moon mission delay won’t require new funding request | National | thecentersquare.com

DOD inspector general to investigate communication breakdown | National | thecentersquare.com

Texas files response in concertina border barrier lawsuit with Supreme Court | Texas | thecentersquare.com

15 G.O.P. Governors Shut Out Food Aid for 8 Million Children – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Guantánamo Bay is still open. This week, pressure ramped up to close it : NPR

TSA found a record number of guns at checkpoints in 2023 : NPR

Changes to road designs can save lives. Why don’t more cities do it? : NPR

Local News

What to know about Joe Biden’s visit to Allentown area (mcall.com)

Some Lehigh Valley school districts to dismiss early amid Biden’s visit Friday | Lehigh Valley Regional News | wfmz.com

Radnor’s new police Community Support Unit hopes to help build a safer community – Mainline Media News

Suspect arrested for gang-related gunfire in city leading to shooting of Scranton officer | News | standardspeaker.com

White Haven to start bicentennial year with a bang | News | standardspeaker.com

Pitt

Allegheny County expands pilot child care program by $500K | TribLIVE.com

Late Pittsburgh activists honored with Spirit of King Awards ahead of MLK Day | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Police charge Allegheny County Jail guard with smuggling drugs into lockup | TribLIVE.com

Pennsylvania will take part in new summer meal program for low-income children | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

What will come after Pittsburgh Promise college scholarship ends? | 90.5 WESA

Philly

Philly DA Krasner sues state to overturn special transit prosecutor law as unconstitutional – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)

Sheraton Great Valley Hotel and historic White Horse Tavern sell for $14.5M – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Penn Medicine and Doylestown Health are pursuing merger – Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Zoning approved for new North Philly police station | Local News | phillytrib.com

New deputy police chief selected for Kensington | Local News | phillytrib.com

Washington

Casey campaign announces a $3.6 million haul in fourth quarter fundraising – The Record Online (therecord-online.com)

PA Senate Race poll: Bob Casey extends early lead over Dave McCormick (yourerie.com)

McCormick, Casey announce big campaign hauls in U.S. Senate race | TribLIVE.com

Sen. Casey pens letter to baby formula manufacturer following recall – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)