Legislature
Scranton exit from Act 47 on track for January 2022
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-exit-from-act-47-on-track-for-january-2022/article_578519a9-9f51-512e-9322-e81fc0c213bd.html
Frustration grows with Pennsylvania’s ‘confusing’ vaccine rollout
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/frustration-grows-with-pennsylvanias-confusing-vaccine-rollout/
What we know about efforts to extend the Pa. ban on evictions and foreclosures
https://www.poconorecord.com/story/news/2021/01/25/pa-evictions-what-we-know-extending-ban/6663088002/
Renewed calls to speed up Pa. broadband expansion
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/tech-news/2021/01/25/Pennsylvania-counties-expand-broadband/stories/202101250009
Thousands of drug, alcohol recovery homes in Pa. still operate without state oversight
https://www.inquirer.com/health/opioid-addiction/spl/pennsylvania-recovery-homes-oversight-ddap-opioid-addiction-20210125.html
Pennsylvania prosecutors use human trafficking law to charge pimps, but advocates say focus should now turn to sex ‘buyers’
https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-human-trafficking-prosecutions-20210122-67idcu57avfszdwaruqqfys4i4-story.html
Another problem with judicial districts: The threat of judicial extremism | Marc Stier
https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/another-problem-with-judicial-districts-the-threat-of-judicial-extremism-marc-stier/
Fair judges should represent Pa. citizens
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/letters/2021/01/24/Fair-judges-should-represent-Pa-citizens/stories/202101240080
Don’t Gerrymander PA’s Court System | PennLive letters
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2021/01/dont-gerrymander-pas-court-system-pennlive-letters.html
State Rep. Jeff Pyle is slammed for a transphobic post mocking ex-health secretary Rachel Levine
https://www.inquirer.com/news/jeff-pyle-rachel-levine-transgender-secretary-health-joe-biden-philadelphia-covid-19-20210124.html
Pa. Victim Advocate, Jen Storm, resigns
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2021/01/22/Pennsylvania-Victim-Advocate-Jennifer-Storm-resigns/stories/202101220151
Coronavirus – COVID-19
MAP: Where to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Pennsylvania
https://www.mcall.com/coronavirus/mc-nws-coronavirus-vaccine-pa-locations-20210125-qrlpcmmnhfdb7fqpwbsl4ts3ti-htmlstory.html
Wait time: Lining up COVID-19 vaccine a mixed bag for seniors as eligibility expands
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/covid-19/2021/01/24/Coronavirus-COVID-19-vaccine-pandemic-Allegheny-County-senior-experience-UPMC-Allegheny-Health-Network/stories/202101220182
Getting vaccinated: What you need to know
https://triblive.com/news/getting-vaccinated-what-you-need-to-know/
How do physicians verify patients’ vaccine eligibility?
https://triblive.com/local/regional/how-do-physicians-verify-patients-vaccine-eligibility/
Bucks, Montgomery County hospitals work to give COVID vaccine amid ‘temporary choke point’ in supply
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/story/news/2021/01/23/bucks-montgomery-county-hospitals-covid-vaccine-rollout/6669541002/
Pennsylvania surpasses 800,000 coronavirus cases
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/coronavirus/pennsylvania-surpasses-800-000-coronavirus-cases/article_cdad694b-8cf7-554f-81cd-b83881638432.html
Westmoreland County vaccine plan remains shot in the dark for now
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-county-vaccine-plan-remains-shot-in-the-dark-for-now/
123 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Luzerne County on Sunday
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/coronavirus/123-new-cases-of-covid-19-reported-in-luzerne-county-on-sunday/article_f3af7aea-b9f6-59e6-a620-0084e2de1c81.html
Four more COVID-19 deaths announced in Berks
https://www.readingeagle.com/coronavirus/four-more-covid-19-deaths-announced-in-berks/article_22901e2a-5e64-11eb-ab2d-77b0512e8dd6.html
Monoclonal antibodies can help high-risk people with COVID-19. But getting the drug to patients remains challenging.
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/monoclonal-antibodies-can-help-high-risk-people-with-covid-19-getting-drug-patients-remains-challenging-20210124.html
2 in 5 Americans live where COVID-19 strains hospital ICUs
https://www.timesleader.com/news/817352/2-in-5-americans-live-where-covid-19-strains-hospital-icus
Mexican President López Obrador tests positive for the COVID-19
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/world/2021/01/24/Mexico-President-Lopez-Obrador-tests-positive-COVID-19-coronavirus-Mexican/stories/202101240195
Administration
John Fetterman talks marijuana, voters, style in CBS interview
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/john-fetterman-talks-marijuana-voters-style-in-cbs-interview/
Business
Pa. reopens federal benefits for workers still unemployed due to COVID-19
https://www.inquirer.com/news/unemployment-covid-benefits-pennsylvania-extension-20210124.html
Extension of unemployment benefits to resume in Pennsylvania
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2021/01/23/Pandemic-Emergency-Unemployment-Compensation-Program-Pennsylvania-Congress-stimulus-package/stories/202101230045
Extended unemployment benefit payments to restart, Pa. officials say
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/extended-unemployment-benefits-payments-to-restart-pa-officials-say/
Cable, internet costs are heading higher — even cord-cutters will take a hit at a time when more folks are homebound
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/money/2021/01/25/Cable-TV-internet-prices-pandemic-home-streaming-competition-regulation/stories/202101150160
Alle-Kiski job fair official: ‘There have been jobs here the whole time’
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/alle-kiski-job-fair-official-there-have-been-jobs-here-the-whole-time/
Education
Financial, operations concerns continue in 2021 for Pa. school leaders
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2021/01/24/Financial-operations-concerns-continue-in-2021-for-Pa-school-leaders/stories/202101190115
The wait for a vaccine is frustrating teachers and adding uncertainty to school reopening plans
https://www.inquirer.com/education/covid-vaccine-teachers-philadelphia-pennsylvania-schools-reopening-20210123.html
Want kids back in school? There’s a PAC for that
https://www.witf.org/2021/01/25/want-kids-back-in-school-theres-a-pac-for-that/
‘My reputation and character have been destroyed’: Allentown School District teacher suspended for attending protests says lawsuit is inevitable
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-nws-allentown-suspended-teacher-cnn-20210123-tjb4tdw3evaglfovtp4be7nr3m-story.html
Gaming
‘A trying time’: Pandemic dealt the state’s casinos a bad hand in 2020
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2021/01/25/Casinos-Pennsylvania-Rivers-Meadows-Racetrack-Casino-Live-Casino-Pittsburgh-COVID-19-gaming-gambling/stories/202101220157
Local News
Scranton likely to explore officially renaming a street after Joe Biden
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-likely-to-explore-officially-renaming-a-street-after-joe-biden/article_92fd8503-9d5b-5a0f-947a-1b08ee4a96ad.html
Lackawanna County’s last Pearl Harbor survivor dies at 98
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/lackawanna-countys-last-pearl-harbor-survivor-dies-at-98/article_d7f1a90d-7124-5138-9f1f-326e75d080ea.html
These 11 municipalities in Berks County raised property taxes for 2021
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/these-11-municipalities-in-berks-county-raised-property-taxes-for-2021-map/article_d4dd5cea-5cdf-11eb-a5a8-ebe46479928a.html
‘COVID has been a real hindrance’ but wheels of justice still turning
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/covid-has-been-a-real-hindrance-but-wheels-of-justice-still-turning/article_d7dc8332-5cf1-11eb-91b0-1b496416359f.html
Army Corps secures $750,000 to fix sinkholes at Natrona lock and dam site
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/army-corps-secures-750000-to-fix-sink-holes-at-natrona-lock-and-dam-site/
Snail mail: High volume, COVID slow deliveries
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/snail-mail-high-volume-covid-slow-deliveries/article_bf15f890-8b66-59b2-8708-3149376f7170.html
Public input sought on potential ATV park on 10,000 acres in Newport Township area
https://www.timesleader.com/news/817341/public-input-sought-on-potential-atv-park-on-10000-acres-in-newport-township-area
Proposed ballot questions on charter amendments up for vote on Tuesday
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/proposed-ballot-questions-on-charter-amendments-up-for-vote-on-tuesday/article_ea84cb40-70d0-517b-ac32-ca5dd441ffa7.html
Home rule in Mahanoy City moving forward
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/home-rule-in-mahanoy-city-moving-forward/article_fc0a9f56-b495-517a-8e9f-a7161ac5699c.html
National News
Gun, ammo sales surged in 2020 — and turmoil around the election starts 2021 off the same way
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2021/01/25/gun-sales-control-Biden-semiautomatic-rifles-handguns-fear-uncertainty/stories/202101250010
5 killed, including pregnant woman, in Indianapolis shooting that mayor condemns as ‘mass murder’
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2021/01/25/5-Killed-in-Indianpolis-Shooting-That-Mayor-Condemns-as-Mass-Murder/stories/202101250045
Philly
The pandemic took a big bite out of Philly’s tax base. What happens if suburbanites keep working from home?
https://www.inquirer.com/business/philadelphia-wage-business-tax-coronavirus-remote-work-20210124.html
For 11 million undocumented people, including 50,000 in Philly, Biden offers a chance to step from the shadows
https://www.inquirer.com/news/joe-biden-immigration-citizenship-philadelphia-20210124.html
Man shot at City Hall subway station
https://www.inquirer.com/crime/shooting-philadelphia-city-hall-subway-station-20210125.html
‘This couldn’t come at a better time’: Philly launches grant program for gyms, restaurants hit by pandemic
https://www.penncapital-star.com/working-the-economy/this-couldnt-come-at-a-better-time-philly-launches-grant-program-for-gyms-restaurants-hit-by-pandemic/
Pitt
At summit on racial justice, parallels seen between Jonny Gammage, George Floyd cases
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2021/01/23/Jonny-Gammage-George-Floyd-Brentwood-Pittsburgh-Racial-Justice-Summit-Kyna-James-police-accountability/stories/202101240147
City reviewing allegations that police officers drank on duty during election night
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2021/01/24/pittsburgh-investigating-review-allegations-police-officers-drank-on-duty-election-night/stories/202101240177
An appreciation: Joanne Rogers, Pittsburgh’s favorite neighbor
https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2021/01/24/joanne-rogers-fred-rogers-fox-chapel-documentary-roberta-schomburg/stories/202101240014
State Rep. Ed Gainey launches official mayoral campaign
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2021/01/23/Ed-Gainey-launches-official-mayorial-campaign/stories/202101230054
Billboard battle was a waste
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2021/01/25/Billboard-battle-was-a-waste/stories/202101220035
No-knock ban should be passed
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2021/01/24/No-knock-ban-should-be-passed/stories/202101210035
High covid numbers could delay return to hybrid classes until April for Pittsburgh students
https://triblive.com/news/education-classroom/high-covid-numbers-could-delay-return-to-hybrid-classes-until-april-for-pittsburgh-students/
Pitt study examines racial differences in postpartum blood pressure
https://triblive.com/news/health-now/pitt-study-examines-racial-differences-in-postpartum-blood-pressure/
State News
DEP urged to better regulate longwall mining
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/environment/2021/01/24/longwall-mining-Citizens-Coal-Council-Act-54-Department-of-Environmental-Protection/stories/202101190144
Transportation
Westmoreland bus upgrades on hold as ridership remains low during pandemic
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/westmoreland-bus-upgrades-on-hold-as-ridership-remains-low-during-pandemic/
Washington
Pa. Dems call for Rep. Scott Perry to resign over reports he tried to help Trump overturn Biden win
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2021/01/25/Pa-Democrats-call-for-Rep-Scott-Perry-to-resign-after-reports-he-urged-Trump-to-use-a-Philly-native-lawyer-against-Biden-win/stories/202101250046
President Biden’s economic relief package could cut childhood poverty in half — but it’s only temporary
https://www.inquirer.com/news/childhood-poverty-president-biden-pandemic-relief-philadelphia-20210125.html
Democratic, GOP lawmakers lobby White House for a more targeted relief bill
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/covid-19-stimulus-bill-white-house-democrats-republicans-20210125.html
Include states, cities in next pandemic bill
https://www.citizensvoice.com/opinion/editorial/include-states-cities-in-next-pandemic-bill/article_738c2246-30ea-5700-93b0-59e12d9abdfa.html
Democrats press ahead with second impeachment trial; GOP divided on how to defend Trump
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/second-impeachment-trial-trump-democrats-republicans-20210125.html
Biden plans to reverse Trump’s ban on transgenders joining military
https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2021/01/biden-plans-to-reverse-trumps-ban-on-transgenders-joining-military.html