Legislature

City officials demand state funding for Philly schools plagued by asbestos
https://kywnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/state-funding-requested-for-asbestos-infested-philly-schools

Despite progress, Pa. still has work to do to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, environmental experts tell lawmakers
https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/despite-progress-pa-still-has-work-to-do-to-clean-up-the-chesapeake-bay-environmental-experts-tell-lawmakers/

Dairy industry woes show need for Farm Bill fixes, lawmakers told
https://www.meadvilletribune.com/news/dairy-industry-woes-show-need-for-farm-bill-fixes-lawmakers/article_d6f251c1-b6b5-5938-808c-fbfee8887ebf.html

Borowicz wants county to protect gun owners’ rights
https://www.lockhaven.com/news/local-news/2020/01/borowicz-wants-county-to-protect-gun-owners-rights/

Business

Allegheny Technologies seeks tariff exclusion as USW contract talks begin
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/allegheny-technologies-seeks-tariff-exclusion-as-usw-contract-talks-begin/

New West Chester hotel closer to construction
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/local/new-west-chester-hotel-closer-to-construction/article_c2599954-3255-11ea-bd8e-1bbb231fd743.html

Crime/Punishment

New Delco DA drops case against man who won clemency after serving 25 years for murder but had unresolved shoplifting charges
https://www.inquirer.com/news/david-sheppard-delaware-county-da-jack-stollsteimer-commutation-john-fetterman-pennsylvania-philadelphia-20200108.html

Delco DA ends bid to keep man in prison who won clemency after 25 years
https://www.witf.org/2020/01/09/delco-da-ends-bid-to-keep-man-in-prison-who-won-clemency-after-25-years/

63 people, ages 11 months to 77 years, lost their lives to violence in central Pa. last year
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/01/violence-claims-63-lives-in-central-pennsylvania-in-2019.html

Education

WPIAL considering two proposals for new football alignment
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-football/2020/01/08/WPIAL-football-alignment-proposals-Amy-Scheuneman/stories/202001080163

State backs #ProtectYourBrain campaign and other campus anti-opioid efforts
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2020/01/08/Pennsylvania-grants-universities-fight-opioids-prevention-Duquesne-Robert-Morris-Indiana-heroin/stories/202001080119

Online education in Pennsylvania could get more competitive thanks to state community colleges
https://www.inquirer.com/education/community-college-distance-education-transfer-competition-20200108.html

All 14 community colleges in PA. sign agreement with Southern New Hampshire.
https://www.timesleader.com/news/768666/all-14-community-colleges-in-pa-sign-agreement-with-southern-new-hampshire

IUP, Duquesne, Robert Morris to bolster addiction prevention programs
https://triblive.com/local/regional/iup-duquesne-robert-morris-to-bolster-addiction-prevention-programs/

This is what happens when community college is made free | Opinion
https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/this-is-what-happens-when-community-college-is-made-free-opinion/

Elections/Politics

Democrat George Scott says he’s running for state Senate seat in Harrisburg: report
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/01/democrat-george-scott-says-hes-running-for-state-senate-seat-in-harrisburg-report.html

Exclusive: ex-Democratic Congressional candidate George Scott is running for state Senate seat in Harrisburg
https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/exclusive-ex-democratic-congressional-candidate-george-scott-is-mounting-a-bid-for-a-state-senate-seat-in-harrisburg/

West Shore attorney announces bid for Pa. House seat
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/01/west-shore-attorney-announces-bid-for-pa-house-seat.html

Lehigh County commissioner says he’s running for state House
https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/elections/2020/01/lehigh-county-commissioner-says-hes-running-for-state-house.html

Marsicano to announce for 8th Congressional District run
https://www.timesleader.com/news/768598/marsicano-to-announce-for-8th-congressional-district-run

Former Hazleton mayor Marsicano to run for Eighth District seat in Congress, challenging Cartwright
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/former-hazleton-mayor-marsicano-to-run-for-eighth-district-seat-in-congress-challenging-cartwright-1.2580913

State Sen. Doug Mastriano announces re-election campaign for 33rd district seat
https://cumberlink.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/state-sen-doug-mastriano-announces-re-election-campaign-for-rd/article_ec1cbcb5-e02e-5196-9cc0-0e5972252cf6.html

Health Care

Allegheny County is epicenter of flu season in Pennsylvania
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2020/01/09/Allegheny-County-is-epicenter-of-flu-season-in-Pennsylvania/stories/202001080143

Western Pa. reports largest number of flu cases in state
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20200109/western-pa-reports-largest-number-of-flu-cases-in-state

U.S. cancer death rates recently dropped by the most ever in one year. Will Pa., N.J. see the same trend?
https://www.inquirer.com/health/cancer-death-rates-american-cancer-society-pennsylvania-new-jersey-philadelphia-20200108.html

Western Pa. hospitals participate in state’s first Donor Day
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/area-hospitals-participate-in-states-first-donor-day/

Highmark announces new leadership for Northeast and Central Pennsylvania
https://www.timesleader.com/news/768661/highmark-announces-new-leadership-for-northeast-and-central-pennsylvania

Local News

City of Scranton, Marketplace at Steamtown fighting over flickering streetlight fix
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/city-of-scranton-marketplace-at-steamtown-fighting-over-flickering-streetlight-fix-1.2580919

In Dunmore, 11 firefighters hired without civil service certification want judge to grant it
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/in-dunmore-11-firefighters-hired-without-civil-service-certification-want-judge-to-grant-it-1.2581135

New Delco council begin plans for the future
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/local/new-delco-council-begin-plans-for-the-future/article_75f205d8-3282-11ea-b8c7-5fdf3945cc18.html

Once ‘sleepy’ King of Prussia is booming with development
https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/commercial/king-of-prussia-development-building-economy-20200108.html

New Arnold mayor sets sights on fixing city’s ‘horrible’ roads
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/new-arnold-mayor-sets-sights-on-fixing-citys-horrible-roads/

Irwin officials making plans for splash park
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/irwin-officials-making-plans-for-splash-park/

Uncivil discourse? New council members urge better social media etiquette
https://www.timesleader.com/news/768635/uncivil-discourse-new-council-members-urge-better-social-media-etiquette

Local NAACP announces events to honor MLK Day
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/local-naacp-announces-events-to-honor-mlk-day-1.2580950

Women to ‘rise together’ for annual march
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/women-to-rise-together-for-annual-march-1.2581040

Dental Associates of NEPA approved for $19K loan
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/dental-associates-of-nepa-approved-for-19k-loan-1.2580963

State auditor general calls for investigation of West Hazleton VFRA funds
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/state-auditor-general-calls-for-investigation-of-west-hazleton-vfra-funds-1.2581006

Beaver County sees economic growth amid cracker construction
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20200108/beaver-county-sees-economic-growth-amid-cracker-construction

Philly

Philly is now shaming ‘bad actor’ businesses that break the city’s labor laws
https://www.inquirer.com/jobs/labor/philadelphia-labor-office-enforcement-violations-wage-theft-20200109.html

Man killed at South Philly corner store remembered as kind and hardworking father
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/south-philly-store-shooting-porter-street-jd-hoyu-20200109.html

Point Breeze and Tioga-Nicetown: Why one Philadelphia neighborhood has surged while the other languishes
https://www.inquirer.com/news/point-breeze-tioga-nicetown-gentrification-philadelphia-census-neighborhood-change-20200109.html

Philly health officials crack down on 149 businesses for selling tobacco products to kids
https://www.inquirer.com/health/cigarettes-vaping-cigars-teens-crack-down-violation-philadelphia-sales-20200108.html

Philly will spend record amount in 2020 to have recycling hauled
https://www.inquirer.com/science/climate/philadelphia-recycling-waste-management-20200108.html

First up for Philly police commissioner Danielle Outlaw: Actually stopping crime | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/philadelphia-police-commissioner-danielle-outlaw-homicide-rate-20200108.html

Pitt

Judge says parents can sue the Pittsburgh Diocese over abuse reporting
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2020/01/08/Judge-says-parents-can-sue-diocese-over-abuse-reporting/stories/202001080150

Pitt basketball beats North Carolina, wins first ACC road game in nearly three years
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/Pitt/2020/01/08/Pitt-North-Carolina-basketball-ACC-Jeff-Capel/stories/202001080162

Qatar Airways temporarily suspends Pittsburgh International Airport cargo flights
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2020/01/09/Qatar-Airways-Pittsburgh-International-Airport-cargo-subsidies/stories/202001080146

Mount Washington transit tunnel closed to inbound traffic due to faulty sewer drain
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2020/01/08/Mount-Washington-transit-tunnel-closed-to-inbound-traffic-due-to-faulty-sewer-drain/stories/202001080138

Brian O’Neill: Real estate assessments are stuck on tilt
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/brian-oneill/2020/01/09/Allegheny-County-real-estate-assessments-sales-prices/stories/202001090032

State News

PA’s unemployment compensation tax rate reduced
https://www.timesleader.com/news/768572/pas-unemployment-compensation-tax-rate-reduced

Md. governor directs his AG to ‘commence litigation’ against Pa., EPA
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/01/md-governor-directs-his-ag-to-commence-litigation-against-pa-epa.html

Transportation

Work zone safety: Program aims to slow down drivers
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2020/01/09/Work-zone-safety-Program-aims-to-slow-down-drivers/stories/202001010094

Washington

After White House briefs Senate on Iran strike, Pa. senators split on Trump’s strategy
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2020/01/08/Bob-Casey-Pat-Toomey-Trump-Iran-Congress-war-Soleimani/stories/202001080090

Casey, Toomey weigh in on Iran
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/casey-toomey-weigh-in-on-iran-1.2581034

Lawmakers from NEPA sound off on Iran
https://www.poconorecord.com/news/20200108/lawmakers-from-nepa-sound-off-on-iran

Pennsylvania’s senators split on reasons behind killing of Iranian general
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/pennsylvanias-senators-split-on-reasons-behind-killing-of-iranian-general/

Ruth Bader Ginsburg declares she’s ‘cancer-free’
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/ruth-bader-ginsburg-cancer-free-supreme-court-20200108.html