Legislature

Five-year report assesses impacts under 25-year-old mining law https://www.post-gazette.com/news/environment/2020/01/05/Mining-report-assesses-impacts-southwestern-Pennsylvania-longwall/stories/202001030138

Why you can still smoke at some Pennsylvania bars https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/why-you-can-still-smoke-at-some-pennsylvania-bars/

Administration

DCED year in review: Investing in jobs/communities for a prosperous PA https://www.timesleader.com/news/768069/dced-year-in-review-investing-in-jobs-communities-for-a-prosperous-pa

$3.5 billion in unclaimed property waiting to be claimed https://www.readingeagle.com/news/billion-in-unclaimed-property-waiting-to-be-claimed/article_f83612ee-2f19-11ea-b1cf-a304d9de01a8.html

Business

After data breach, should Wawa bosses get the Target treatment? https://www.inquirer.com/business/phillydeals/wawa-data-breach-target-should-ceo-go-20200105.html

How are we supposed to get around the Lehigh Valley with all these warehouses and trucks? And won’t automation kill those jobs eventually? https://www.mcall.com/your-call/mc-biz-your-call-warehouse-congestion-20200103-k5yycj3d6rgqdmzejuyim2seky-story.html

Crime/Punishment

Fire at Mayfair home with infant twins inside was arson, investigators rule https://www.inquirer.com/news/philly-mayfair-arson-fire-dog-bed-infant-twins-20200105.html

Trial scheduled to start in 2016 Wilkinsburg mass slaying https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2020/01/05/Trial-starts-2016-Wilkinsburg-mass-slaying-shooting-pittsburgh-Cheron-Shelton-robert-thomas/stories/202001040001

Crochet class a comfort for female Lackawanna County Prison inmates https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/crochet-class-a-comfort-for-female-lackawanna-county-prison-inmates-1.2579306

Education

Common Core school standards keep failing, but they don’t have to | Opinion https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/common-core-education-standards-us-reading-scores-20200105.html

Northeast Woman: McNichols Plaza principal makes school fun to better kids’ lives https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/lifestyles/northeast-woman-mcnichols-plaza-principal-makes-school-fun-to-better-kids-lives-1.2578783

Elections/Politics

Small cracks have appeared in GOP unity on impeachment trial https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/gop-impeachment-trial-senate-trump-ukraine-20200104.html

Pittsburgh campaign rules curb contributions, but punish some candidates https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2020/01/05/pittsburgh-campaign-finance-rules-contribution-limits-Peduto-Darlene-Harris/stories/201912240088

Pa.’s Toomey, Eight GOP U.S. House lawmakers urge Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade https://www.penncapital-star.com/featured/pa-s-toomey-eight-gop-u-s-house-lawmakers-urge-supreme-court-to-overturn-roe-v-wade/

Democrats celebrate ‘historic day’ in county leadership https://www.dailylocal.com/news/democrats-celebrate-historic-day-in-county-leadership/article_f76c3864-2e3f-11ea-9339-474e70748cc6.html

New Era arrives in Delco as Dems take control of county government https://www.delcotimes.com/news/local/new-era-arrives-in-delco-as-dems-take-control-of/article_fc21d058-2f2a-11ea-b369-eb2fe1ea8684.html

Environment

States say Pennsylvania isn’t doing its share to clean up the Chesapeake https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-chesapeake-20200105-6ibgljbunrg3jjipckeztd5pby-story.html

Why doesn’t the threat of global climate change get that Y2K apocalyptic urgency? | Opinion https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/why-doesnt-the-threat-of-global-climate-change-get-that-y2k-apocalyptic-urgency-opinion/

Farm Show

Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg offers low-stimulation shelters for first time https://www.readingeagle.com/news/pennsylvania-farm-show-in-harrisburg-offers-low-stimulation-shelters-for/article_7b111864-2f22-11ea-a3be-4755bcbe1f48.html

Hemp won’t get you high at the Pennsylvania Farm Show | Opinion https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2020/01/hemp-wont-get-you-high-at-the-pennsylvania-farm-show-opinion.html

Health

Vaping and vaccines to forefront in 2019 healthcare debates https://whyy.org/articles/vaping-and-vaccines-to-forefront-in-2019-healthcare-debates/

Local News

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bridge seeks more mentors to work with area youth https://www.timesleader.com/news/768076/big-brothers-big-sisters-of-the-bridge-seeks-more-mentors-to-work-with-area-youth

NYC eyeing Francis E. Walter Dam for drinking water, a move that could impact tourism https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/nyc-eyeing-francis-e-walter-dam-for-drinking-water-a-move-that-could-impact-tourism-1.2579439

A different path to Scranton mayor’s office https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/a-different-path-to-scranton-mayor-s-office-1.2579300

Evans touts potential of Local Downtown Historic District https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/evans-touts-potential-of-local-downtown-historic-district-1.2579487

Shelters, other options available in Schuylkill County https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/shelters-other-options-available-in-schuylkill-county-1.2579385

Berks County road fatalities reach highest level in 11 years https://www.readingeagle.com/news/berks-county-road-fatalities-reach-highest-level-in-years/article_70b0553c-2e60-11ea-b3af-5b476e1a0c30.html

Drug overdoses in Bucks on downward trend https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20200105/drug-overdoses-in-bucks-on-downward-trend

National News

US sends veteran firefighters to battle Australia wildfires https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/australia-wildfires-us-sending-assistance-20200104.html

United Methodist Church announces proposal to split over gay marriage https://whyy.org/npr_story_post/united-methodist-church-announces-proposal-to-split-over-gay-marriage/

Church doesn’t track minority survivors of clerical abuse https://www.phillytrib.com/religion/church-doesn-t-track-minority-survivors-of-clerical-abuse/article_195724e2-0da1-5687-ab7d-65870ad7f1e4.html

Study: Changing American families mean more multi-unit housing https://www.dailylocal.com/news/study-changing-american-families-mean-more-multi-unit-housing/article_d8e9789d-fabd-5b43-83f7-43250be6016a.html

Philly News

Philly’s new police commissioner has both defended and ended ICE partnerships https://www.inquirer.com/news/danielle-outlaw-police-philadelphia-ice-immigration-20200106.html

Two Mummers associations condemn ‘expressions of hate’ days after blackface incident https://www.inquirer.com/news/string-band-fancy-brigade-association-condemn-blackface-mummers-philadelphia-new-years-20200105.html

For one last time, Philly’s combo batting cages/concert venue Everybody Hits packs the house https://www.inquirer.com/news/everybody-hits-batting-cages-concert-venue-closing-20200104.html

Prominent South Sudan peace activist with ties to Philadelphia released from prison https://www.inquirer.com/news/south-sudan-activist-peter-biar-ajak-released-prison-pardon-philadelphia-la-salle-20200105.html

New leader seeks to reform Philly D.A.’s Victim Services Unit https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/new-leader-seeks-to-reform-philly-d-a-s-victim/article_1eee574d-78f5-592e-b198-60bf24cd7abb.html

Pitt News

One page a day: After 7-plus years, groups in Squirrel Hill, elsewhere celebrate complete Talmud study https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2020/01/04/Daf-Yomi-celebrating-Talmud-study-squirrel-hill-pittsburgh/stories/202001040005

State News

A new way of identifying state game lands https://triblive.com/sports/a-new-way-of-identifying-state-game-lands/

Pa. Turnpike toll hikes are pitting Philly suburban commuters against the state. End this now. | Maria Panaritis https://www.inquirer.com/news/columnists/pa-turnpike-toll-increases-maria-panaritis-20200103.html

Protesters rally and march against U.S. war with Iran in Philly and throughout Pennsylvania https://www.inquirer.com/news/iran-anti-war-rally-city-hall-philadelphia-police-terrorism-20200104.html

5 dead, at least 50 injured in crash on Pa. Turnpike in Mt. Pleasant Twp.; highway closed in both directions https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/fatal-crash-on-pa-turnpike-in-mt-pleasant-closes-highway-in-both-directions/

Northeast Pennsylvania has a hip new real estate buyer class: millennials https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/northeast-pennsylvania-has-a-hip-new-real-estate-buyer-class-millennials-1.2579218

Washington

Trump says 52 targets already lined up if Iran retaliates https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/us-iran-donald-trump-tweet-warning-20200105.html

To produce citizenship data, Homeland Security to share records with Census https://whyy.org/npr_story_post/to-produce-citizenship-data-homeland-security-to-share-records-with-census/

White House to notify Congress of Soleimani strike under War Powers Act https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2020/01/04/White-House-Notify-Congress-Soleimani-Strike-War-Powers-Act/stories/202001040054

World News

Iran general steps out of Soleimani’s shadow to lead proxies https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/iran-esmail-ghaani-qassem-soleimani-us-airstrike-20200104.html

Rockets fired after day of mourning for slain Iranian leader https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/qassem-soleimani-funeral-baghdad-iran-us-airstrike-20200104.html

‘Revenge is coming’: Thousands mourn slain Iranian leaders https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2020/01/04/Rockets-fired-after-day-of-mourning-for-slain-Iranian-leader/stories/202001040044