Legislature
Committees taking shape in Pennsylvania Capitol
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/committees-taking-shape-in-pennsylvania-house
Study calls for gun safety
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/study-calls-for-gun-safety-1.2438303
Knowles, Heffley announce committee appointments
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/knowles-heffley-announce-committee-appointments-1.2438341
Administration
Role of Pa. lieutenant governor continues to be essential | Mark S. Singel
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2019/01/role-of-pa-lieutenant-governor-continues-to-be-essential-mark-s-singel.html
Eliminate the lieutenant governor office? Not so fast | Charlie Gerow
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2019/01/eliminate-the-lieutenant-governor-office-not-so-fast-charlie-gerow.html
Business
This Elkins Park company has a plan to reduce employees’ health-care costs
http://www.philly.com/business/direct-primary-care-r-health-pareto-captive-philadelphia-new-jersey-20190128.html
Education
Students use new app to anonymously report concerns
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/students-use-new-app-to-anonymously-report-concerns-1.2438389
Diocese of Greensburg will use National Catholic School week to recruit for its 13 schools
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14551211-74/diocese-of-greensburg-will-use-national-catholic-school-week-to-recruit-for
Parochial schools across area, country celebrating Catholic Schools Week
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20190128/parochial-schools-across-area-country-celebrating-catholic-schools-week
Elections/Politics
In Pa’s 37th senate district, Dems recommend Pam Iovino, GOP nominates D. Raja
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2019/01/27/Democrats-Pennsylvania-37th-state-senate-district-recommend-Pam-Iovino-nomination/stories/201901270186
Voters in state Senate District 37 will choose between Democrat Pam Iovino and GOP’s D. Raja
https://triblive.com/news/adminpage/14550327-74/voters-in-state-senate-district-37-will-choose-between-democrat-pam-iovinoand
Iovino, Raja will be candidates in 37th District special election
https://observer-reporter.com/news/election/iovino-raja-will-be-candidates-in-th-district-special-election/article_07765ff4-225d-11e9-a530-4f423cbfa452.html
Republican State Committee member runs for state Senate
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/01/republican-state-committee-member-runs-for-state-senate.html
Retired Army colonel throws hat in ring for state Senate
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/01/retired-army-colonel-throws-hat-in-ring-for-state-senate.html
Sen. Kamala Harris kicks off presidential run, says the powerful seek to divide America
http://www.philly.com/politics/nation/sen-kamala-harris-kicks-off-presidential-run-says-powerful-seek-divide-america-20190128.html
Who are the Democrats running for president in 2020?
https://www.pennlive.com/expo/news/g66l-2019/01/5e7b4a8a1a5365/who-are-the-democrats-running-for-president-in-2020-.html
Government Shutdown
Federal contractors still facing uncertain future
https://www.timesleader.com/news/731629/federal-contractors-still-facing-uncertain-future
Trump sets odds of reaching a deal on wall at less than 50-50
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/01/trump-sets-odds-of-reaching-a-deal-on-wall-at-less-than-50-50.html
Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site resume normal staff operations
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/01/gettysburg-national-military-park-and-eisenhower-national-historic-site-resumes-normal-staff-operations.html
Cost of shutdown in Pa. shows potential impact if it happens again
http://www.witf.org/news/2019/01/cost-of-shutdown-in-pa-shows-potential-impact-if-it-happens-again-1.php
Local News
Luzerne County accepting applications for blighted property database
https://www.timesleader.com/news/731608/luzerne-county-accepting-applications-for-blighted-property-database
Luzerne County Children and Youth fiscal discrepancies discussed
https://www.timesleader.com/news/731601/luzerne-county-children-and-youth-fiscal-discrepancies-discussed
Report: Spending for W-B fire, police departments exceeded budgets in 2018
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/report-spending-for-w-b-fire-police-departments-exceeded-budgets-in-2018-1.2438388
Bill Corcoran Jr. on the POWER! of networking
https://www.timesleader.com/news/731624/bill-corcoran-jr-on-the-power-of-networking
Scranton’s longtime economic development director retiring
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-s-longtime-economic-development-director-retiring-1.2438464
Former mayor Connors suspends his pride for celebrity roast fundraiser
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/former-mayor-connors-suspends-his-pride-for-celebrity-roast-fundraiser-1.2438415
Scranton stormwater study still outstanding
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-stormwater-study-still-outstanding-1.2438417
Fundraiser helps the show go on for young performers
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/fundraiser-helps-the-show-go-on-for-young-performers-1.2438402
Hazleton closes tightly under budget
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/hazleton-closes-tightly-under-budget-1.2438352
Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley shows off its much larger shelter as renovations begin
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14550367-74/animal-protectors-of-allegheny-valley-shows-off-its-much-larger-shelter-as
Westmoreland hopes to have third-party rental sites collect occupancy tax
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14551212-74/westmoreland-hopes-to-have-third-party-rental-sites-collect-occupancy-tax
Former Leechburg police chief released from county jail after serving sentence
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14549558-74/former-leechburg-police-chief-released-from-county-jail
Wyobooming: Big development fuels regional optimism
https://www.readingeagle.com/money/article/wyobooming-big-development-fuels-regional-optimism
Paid parental leave gets nod in Montgomery County
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/paid-parental-leave-gets-nod-in-montgomery-county
Editorial: Reading needs the Royals, and the team needs support
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/reading-needs-the-royals-and-the-team-needs-support
Bucks, Montco websites can bolster transparency — if officials, residents take advantage
https://www.theintell.com/news/20190127/bucks-montco-websites-can-bolster-transparency—if-officials-residents-take-advantage
‘A loss for all of us’: Somerset County Commissioner John P. Vatavuk dies
https://www.tribdem.com/news/a-loss-for-all-of-us-somerset-county-commissioner-john/article_626c4a4a-2280-11e9-ad37-8b7091fdd66f.html
10 new Chester County sheriff’s deputies sworn in
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/local/new-chester-county-sheriff-s-deputies-sworn-in/article_64b5a586-20c2-11e9-8f4f-c3e56a209176.html
Marijuana
Medical marijuana dispensary could displace Reading dance studio
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/medical-marijuana-dispensary-could-displace-reading-dance-studio
National News
The measles outbreak that just shouldn’t be | Opinion
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2019/01/the-measles-outbreak-that-just-shouldnt-be-opinion.html
N.Y. lawmakers expected to ease statute of limitations for molestation
https://www.tribdem.com/news/n-y-lawmakers-expected-to-ease-statute-of-limitations-for/article_34c6e060-b669-57a4-81ff-82f10d83e4b7.html
Opioid Crisis
Welcome help in opioid battle
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/welcome-help-in-opioid-battle-1.2438301
Philly
Millennials rely on the Free Library for more than books
http://www.philly.com/news/free-library-millennials-pew-20190128.html
Philadelphia says goodbye to its iconic 30th Street Station flipboard
http://www.philly.com/news/philadelphia-amtrak-train-station-flipboard-brendan-boyle-20190127.html
Pitt
PWSA gearing up to accelerate lead line replacements
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/01/28/PWSA-Pittsburgh-accelerate-lead-line-replacements-water-health/stories/201901270183
Sign of the times: UPMC lettering on U.S. Steel Tower getting an LED upgrade
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2019/01/28/Pittsburgh-Downtown-UPMC-lettering-signs-upgrade-LED-neon-skyscraper/stories/201901280017
Ideas going nowhere: A high-tech city should support its inventors
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/01/28/Ideas-going-nowhere-A-high-tech-city-should-support-its-inventors/stories/201901280015
State News
State parks and forests face $1 billion maintenance funding shortfall
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/environment/2019/01/28/State-parks-and-forests-face-1-billion-maintenance-funding-shortfall/stories/201901270203
Sown in China, grown on high seas, ‘Product of USA’ mushrooms are killing American farms
http://www.philly.com/business/kennet-square-mushroom-farm-bankruptcy-chinese-imports-shiitake-20190128.html
Pa. Supreme Court rules UPMC must protect workers’ data. Doing so is another matter.
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/tech-news/2019/01/28/upmc-workers-data-breach-gary-lynch-cybersecurity-pittsburgh-hackers-employee-private-information/stories/201901090004
PUC takes a step toward helping more people afford to heat their homes | Editorial
http://www.philly.com/opinion/editorials/peco-pgw-puc-energy-climate-change-editorial-liheap-20190128.html
NEPA native serving as Alaska’s governor
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/nepa-native-serving-as-alaska-s-governor-1.2438333
Berks offering private property owners grants to attack spread of spotted lanternfly
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/an-offensive-against-one-of-the-spotted-lanternflys-favorite-trees
GoFundMe campaign set up for State College shooting spree survivor
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/01/gofundme-campaign-set-up-for-state-college-shooting-spree-survivor.html
Pennsylvania Coal Region’s industry burned out. What remains are pockets of poverty where sick people get sicker.
https://www.mcall.com/business/healthcare/mc-nws-health-coal-country-project-20181216-htmlstory.html