Legislature
Local projects share more than $4 million in funds from taxes paid by casino
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/local-projects-share-more-than-4-million-in-funds-from-taxes-paid-by-casino-1.2586304
House passes Matzie bill consolidating historical regulations
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20200122/house-passes-matzie-bill-consolidating-historical-regulations
Mullery: Report shows state not prepared to close White Haven Center
https://www.timesleader.com/news/770325/mullery-report-shows-state-not-prepared-to-close-white-haven-center
Phillips-Hill’s anti-sex-trafficking legislation heads to Wolf’s desk
https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/politics/2020/01/22/phillips-hills-anti-sex-trafficking-legislation-heads-to-gov-s-desk/4531956002/
House committee passes Kail bill addressing child visitation
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20200122/house-committee-passes-kail-bill-addressing-child-visitation
Speculation grows about Pennsylvania House speaker Mike Turzai’s future
https://triblive.com/news/politics-election/speculation-grows-about-pennsylvania-house-speaker-mike-turzais-future/
State Rep. Joseph Petrarca to hold 2 free concealed carry events
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/state-rep-joseph-petrarca-to-hold-two-free-concealed-carry-events/
Karen Wolk Feinstein: Let’s prioritize medical assistance for vulnerable seniors
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2020/01/22/Karen-Wolk-Feinstein-Let-s-prioritize-medical-assistance-for-vulnerable-seniors/stories/202001220022
Rolling dice on health
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/rolling-dice-on-health-1.2586295
Pennsylvania Democrats and Republicans play long game on voting laws | John Baer
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/01/pennsylvania-democrats-and-republicans-play-long-game-on-voting-laws-john-baer.html
Talk cheap on property tax reform
https://www.altoonamirror.com/opinion/editorials/2020/01/talk-cheap-on-property-tax-reform/
Administration
After Glen Mills, Gov. Tom Wolf proposes extra $5 million to regulate juvenile programs
https://www.inquirer.com/news/governor-wolf-glen-mills-budget-juvenile-justice-pa-20200122.html
Business
Foreign investor likely buyer of the Westinghouse campus in Cranberry
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2020/01/22/Westinghouse-Electric-Cranberry-Columbia-Property-Trust/stories/202001220175
AG agents raid Dunmore building
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/ag-agents-raid-dunmore-building-1.2586225
Crime/Punishment
Pennsylvania drug detective accused of trading official actions for sex
https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-detective-accused-trading-actions-for-sex-20200122.html
Education
Philadelphia union scientist to test Scranton schools for environmental concerns
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/philadelphia-union-scientist-to-test-scranton-schools-for-environmental-concerns-1.2586291
U.S. Supreme Court hears landmark case over public funding for religious schools. What does it mean for Pennsylvania?
https://www.inquirer.com/education/supreme-court-school-choice-espinoza-vouchers-blaine-pennsylvania-20200122.html
W-B Area has spent $31M so far on new consolidated high school
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/w-b-area-has-spent-31m-so-far-on-new-consolidated-high-school-1.2586396
Reading School Board president says no Sunshine Act violation with board appointment
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/reading-school-board-president-says-no-sunshine-act-violation-with/article_6696e7f4-3d6b-11ea-b861-bf9dd12e3a4d.html
Task force, King’s partner to combat human trafficking
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/task-force-king-s-partner-to-combat-human-trafficking-1.2586394
State College police investigating reported sexual assault at Penn State fraternity
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2020/01/22/reported-sexual-assault-Penn-State-fraternity-Alpha-Epsilon-Pi/stories/202001220107
Elections/Politics
Cartwright talks about reelection plans at city event
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/cartwright-talks-about-reelection-plans-at-city-event-1.2586366
Republicans are denouncing Brian Fitzpatrick’s primary opponent for ‘discriminatory’ social media posts, secret recordings
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/clout/bucks-county-republicans-brian-fitzpatrick-andrew-meehan-20200122.html
Pictured in New Hampshire: Warren surrogate Mayor Kenney campaigns
https://www.inquirer.com/photo/pictured-new-hampshire-warren-surrogate-mayor-kenney-campaigns-20200122.html
W.Pa. House candidate who made offensive Facebook posts is staying in the race
https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/w-pa-house-candidate-who-made-offensive-facebook-posts-is-staying-in-the-race/
Pa. Republican Rep Cris Dush joins race for Auditor General
https://www.penncapital-star.com/blog/pa-republican-rep-cris-dush-joins-race-for-auditor-general/
Local News
Lackawanna County Commissioners table vote on tax hike
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/lackawanna-county-commissioners-table-vote-on-tax-hike-1.2586440
Plans for veterans memorial in Archbald marching ahead
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/plans-for-veterans-memorial-in-archbald-marching-ahead-1.2586398
Office star expected in Scranton today
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/office-star-expected-in-scranton-today-1.2586363
Reading council confirms Pedro Cortes as new managing director
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/reading-council-confirms-pedro-cortes-as-new-managing-director/article_15793b6e-3d53-11ea-9e68-d79985ebe6b4.html
Mayor Eddie Moran and Reading City Council withdraw lawsuit against city’s charter board
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/mayor-eddie-moran-and-reading-city-council-withdraw-lawsuit-against/article_e71f1f0a-3d6f-11ea-9cd8-032e18909b44.html
It’s Haverford Township vs. billboards as trial opens in Delco
https://www.inquirer.com/news/haverford-billboards-bartkowski-trial-delaware-county-lower-merion-20200122.html
Everhart Park in West Chester gets a new playground
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/local/everhart-park-in-west-chester-gets-a-new-playground/article_12a9be52-3d4b-11ea-8bbc-4b5237f86677.html
Bucks hires extra legal help as it sets limits on outside legal billing
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20200122/bucks-hires-extra-legal-help-as-it-sets-limits-on-outside-legal-billing
Oakmont police collecting expired, unwanted medications
https://plum.triblive.com/oakmont-police-collecting-expired-unwanted-medications/
Derry Township proposes stormwater pond on tech center land
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/derry-township-proposes-storm-water-pond-on-tech-center-land/
Tax hike stands after Westmoreland commissioners stick with budget
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/tax-hike-stands-after-westmoreland-commissioners-stick-with-budget/
Westmoreland County man assists in son’s search for kidney donation
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-county-man-assists-in-sons-search-for-kidney-donation/
Wilkes-Barre mourns death of Mr. Peanut, national icon with local roots
https://www.timesleader.com/news/770298/wilkes-barre-mourns-death-of-mr-peanut-national-icon-with-local-roots
Iconic Planters mascot Mr. Peanut, a W-B native, dead at 104
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/iconic-planters-mascot-mr-peanut-a-w-b-native-dead-at-104-1.2586405
Business group thanks artists for ‘window wonderland’
https://www.timesleader.com/news/770339/business-group-thanks-artists-for-window-wonderland
Levee meetings not open to public
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/levee-meetings-not-open-to-public-1.2586408
Wilkes-Barre’s draft financial report points to positive end-of-year balance
https://www.timesleader.com/news/770355/wilkes-barres-draft-financial-report-points-to-positive-end-of-year-balance
County election board picks chairman, seeks poll workers
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/county-election-board-picks-chairman-seeks-poll-workers-1.2586389
Area homeless count takes place during frigid temperatures
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/area-homeless-count-takes-place-during-frigid-temperatures-1.2586372
Schuylkill County must return $111K-plus to state
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/schuylkill-county-must-return-111k-plus-to-state-1.2586352
Lehigh County 911 center workers fired or resigned because they violated policy, county says
https://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-10-lehigh-comm-center-employees-gone-20200123-iqd3anboxvalrasqg6klnorwrm-story.html
Allentown Parking Authority defends ban on backing in, pledges greater public outreach on garage rules
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-nws-allentown-parking-authority-meeting-followup-20200122-hwvvc7s5brbzfd4b26s6pn3a2i-story.html
National News
A Seattle shooting leaves 1 dead and 7 injured, police say
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2020/01/22/Seattle-shooting-1-dead-multiple-people-injured-downtown-suspect/stories/202001220188
Firefighting plane crashes in Australia, killing 3 Americans
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/world/2020/01/23/Australia-fires-air-tanker-crashes/stories/202001230089
Disability rules: Proposed change to Social Security plan has high cost
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2020/01/23/Disability-rules-Proposed-change-to-Social-Security-plan-has-high-cost/stories/202001160055
Opioid Crisis
As opioid crisis entered public view, more pills than ever entered county
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/as-opioid-crisis-entered-public-view-more-pills-than-ever-entered-county-1.2586241
Philly
Wrongly convicted, Terrance Lewis dreamed of getting out of prison for 21 years. The reality was nothing like he expected.
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/a/terrance-lewis-philadelphia-exonerated-murder-prison-21-years-reclaiming-life-larry-krasner-20200123.html
Philly has added ‘Snowcats’ to tackle smaller streets. So where’s all the snow?
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-snow-plow-snowcats-side-streets-20200122.html
SEPTA to end A/B stops on the Market-Frankford Line
https://www.inquirer.com/news/septa-ending-ab-service-market-frankford-line-el-20200122.html
Did Gritty punch a 13-year-old boy in the back? Philadelphia detectives are investigating
https://www.inquirer.com/business/comcast/flyers-gritty-assault-boy-philadelphia-police-investigation-20200122.html
Bishop Nelson Perez of Cleveland named Philadelphia’s next archbishop, replacing Charles Chaput
https://www.inquirer.com/news/nelson-perez-archbishop-philadelphia-charles-chaput-cleveland-retire-20200123.html
Man, 20, killed in West Philly shooting
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-homicide-shot-dead-west-philadelphia-20200123.html
Philly Art Museum CEO apologizes to staff after women’s complaints about former executive
https://www.inquirer.com/arts/philadelphia-museum-of-art-timothy-rub-apology-helmer-20200122.html
‘Their timeline is aggressive’: Hilco plans to clean up polluted South Philly refinery site, city says
https://www.inquirer.com/business/energy/hilco-philadelphia-refinery-auction-redevelopment-plans-pes-20200122.html
Requiring reporting of lost and stolen firearms and safe storage of guns should not require courage | Editorial
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/gun-violence-philadelphia-gun-control-harrisburg-preemption-nra-20200122.html
Pitt
Council sends Burgess’ ‘hateful activities’ bill for legal opinion
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2020/01/22/Council-sends-Burgess-hateful-activities-bill-for-legal-opinion/stories/202001220140
Pittsburgh councilors question legality, motivation for new hateful activities bill
https://www.witf.org/2020/01/23/pittsburgh-councilors-question-legality-motivation-for-new-hateful-activities-bill/
Pa. Supreme Court rules in favor of Pittsburgh police on overtime during 2016 marathon
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2020/01/22/Pa-Supreme-Court-rules-in-favor-of-Pittsburgh-police-overtime-during-2016-marathon/stories/202001220166
Safety in class: PPS must explain how a child was burned
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2020/01/23/Safety-in-class-PPS-must-explain-how-a-child-was-burned/stories/202001160045
Port Authority to hire consultant for 25-year service plan
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2020/01/22/Port-Authority-25-year-plan-Michael-Baker-International-Inc-future-transit-service/stories/202001210099
Market Square ice house to raise funds for heating bills
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2020/01/22/Market-Square-ice-house-to-raise-funds-for-heating-bills-Dollar-energy-dynegy-pittsburgh/stories/202001220138
Pittsburgh to begin landslide remediation projects next month in Squirrel Hill, Duquesne Heights
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2020/01/22/Pittsburgh-Squyirrel-Hill-Dusuesne-Heights-landslides-Commercial-Street-Greenleaf-Street-retaining-walls/stories/202001220110
PNC Park undergoing $1.9M seat rehab ahead of 2020 Pirates season
https://triblive.com/sports/pirates-prepare-for-piratefest-coming-season-with-1-9-million-rehab-of-pnc-park-seating/
State News
Studies warned of potential racial bias in vehicle searches just before Pa. State Police ended the research
https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/spl/pennsylvania-state-police-racial-bias-traffic-stops-vehicle-searches-20200123.html
After a record 210 days, a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl can leave Pa. immigrant detention center, but her dad can’t
https://www.inquirer.com/news/7-year-old-guatemalan-girl-maddie-can-leave-immigrant-detention-court-rules-her-dad-cant-20200122.html
Detained families will have a voice in Berks County Residential Center’s licensing case
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/detained-families-will-have-a-voice-in-berks-county-residential/article_59096540-3d38-11ea-9b71-57f072b9becb.html
DEP issues Code Orange air quality alert for Pittsburgh region
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2020/01/23/DEP-issues-Code-Orange-air-quality-alert-pittsburgh/stories/202001230091
A DUI in Pennsylvania could cost you your Second Amendment rights
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/a-dui-in-pennsylvania-could-cost-you-your-second-amendment-rights/
Homemade pipe bombs raise concerns in Pennsylvania town
https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/two-pipe-bombs-removed-thorndale-pennsylvania-no-injuries-20200123.html
Funeral arrangements set for Nanticoke doctor
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/funeral-arrangements-set-for-nanticoke-doctor-1.2586310
Pennsylvania Dairy Investment grants will support two Berks County farms, new state cheese month
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/pennsylvania-dairy-investment-grants-will-support-two-berks-county-farms/article_daaf1ccc-3d45-11ea-a171-b7a7744a2cad.html
State awards grant money to 2 area dairies
https://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2020/01/state-awards-grant-money-to-2-area-dairies/
Timing isn’t everything in ‘highest-rate’ DUI cases, Pa. Supreme Court says
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/01/timing-isnt-everything-in-highest-rate-dui-cases-pa-supreme-court-says.html
Who are the real winners and losers in the Pa. Lottery’s jackpots? | Opinion
https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/who-are-the-real-winners-and-losers-in-the-pa-lotterys-jackpots-opinion/
‘There’s always room for improvement,’ says Penn State/Hershey exec honored for LGBTQ leadership
https://www.penncapital-star.com/civil-rights-social-justice/theres-always-room-for-improvement-says-penn-state-hershey-exec-honored-for-lgbtq-leadershp/
Washington
Showing video and texts, Democrats argue President Trump pressured Ukraine help ‘cheat’ in U.S. election
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2020/01/22/Showing-video-and-texts-Democrats-argue-President-Trump-pressured-Ukraine-help-cheat-in-U-S-election/stories/202001220184
Trump will become the first president to speak at March for Life in person
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2020/01/22/March-for-Life-Trump-first-president-attend-anti-abortion/stories/202001220193