Legislature
What we know about the firm hired by the GOP to review Pennsylvania’s 2020 election · Spotlight PA
Senate GOP hires firm to review Pennsylvania’s 2020 election | WITF
Who investigates police killings in Pennsylvania, and why there are few checks and balances | WITF
Jake Corman on Election Audit: “We’re Not Looking to Change Results” | PoliticsPA
Gov. Wolf signs legislation modernizing the Office of District Attorney | Times Leader
Medical marijuana: Home-grow proposed by Erie’s Laughlin, Philly’s Street (goerie.com)
Newly Sponsored Bill Aims to Allow Home-Grown Medical Marijuana | (wkok.com)
Pennsylvania bill seeks to help firehouses retain funding | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Pennsylvania Senate approves small business tax reform bill | Pennsylvania | thecentersquare.com
Wolf administration to provide more than $84 Million for Pa. infrastructure improvements (abc27.com)
Gov. Tom Wolf proposes change to boost pay of tipped workers in Pa. (goerie.com)
Editorial: Compromise a lost art in Harrisburg (goerie.com)
Guns, higher wages, union jobs: What Pa. lawmakers did and didn’t do (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Chester County gets $2.5M in grants to support community projects – Daily Local
Coronavirus – COVID-19
Today is the deadline for federal workers to be vaccinated : NPR
How mental health conditions can raise COVID risk : Shots – Health News : NPR
Protests have broken out across Europe in response to COVID-19 restrictions : NPR
GOP embraces natural immunity as substitute for COVID-19 vaccines – pennlive.com
Philadelphians isolated by long COVID find hope and connection through social media (inquirer.com)
Business/Jobs
Holiday spending to be up this year – some saying it could be highest on record (delcotimes.com)
Kellogg’s to restart talks with striking cereal workers | WITF
Philly hotel workers begin strike, call for better wages and working conditions (inquirer.com)
Using the slogan ‘Gopuff yourself,’ company drivers plan a 24-hour strike over pay (inquirer.com)
No lull in hiring this holiday season as unfilled jobs persist in the Valley | TribLIVE.com
As many leave the workplace, they are starting their own businesses in Bucks County (theintell.com)
Crime/Punishment
Dirty Dollars Part 2 (post-gazette.com)
Education
Reform in Harrisburg could have averted teachers strike in Scranton (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Digital gifting to 529 college savings plans is on the rise | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Penn State enrollment numbers mirror national trends | TribLIVE.com
Elections/Politics
Will the Biden agenda help swing district Democrats like Rep. Spanberger? : NPR
Republicans in Georgia draw new congressional lines in their favor : NPR
Democrats Throw Meatballs in the 2021 Election – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
PA Pols Divided Over ‘Build Back Better’ Vote – DV Journal (delawarevalleyjournal.com)
Report: Democracy backsliding across the world amid pandemic | News | tribdem.com
Fitzpatrick’s infrastructure vote was cold calculation, not courage (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Final results show Democrats sweeping Spring-Ford race (dailylocal.com)
State Rep. Kristine Howard announces reelection bid – Daily Local
Over 250 uncounted votes added to Luzerne County election tally | Election | standardspeaker.com
“Vote shaming” letter in Bucks threatens to expose voters’ records (theintell.com)
Environment
PFAS health effects study starts in Bucks and Montgomery County (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Transportation
Editorial: Passenger rail return keeps building momentum (readingeagle.com)
Health
Conflict over abortion laws won’t abate if Roe v. Wade falls | WITF
Tower Health will close urgent care centers on Sundays (inquirer.com)
State News
Build Back Better: What the U.S. House plan means for Pa. (goerie.com)
PSERS top two leaders announced retirement plans on Thursday (abc27.com)
Top 2 Pennsylvania school pension system execs out of jobs (apnews.com)
Pa. customers will see utility refunds in 2022. Here’s what to know (abc27.com)
Erie a reason why Pennsylvania could challenge Silicon Valley (goerie.com)
Shortages? Not for Pennsylvania Christmas trees, mushrooms, wines (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
Heating fuel prices are up: Why, how much and what to do (readingeagle.com)
National News
5 people are dead and 40 injured after driver speeds through parade in Waukesha : NPR
At least 5 dead, 40 injured after SUV speeds into Christmas parade (abc27.com)
2 of 17 kidnapped missionaries are freed in Haiti : NPR
Two Fox News commentators resign over Tucker Carlson’s series on Jan. 6 siege : NPR
Rittenhouse tells Fox News ‘not a racist person,’ backs BLM | News | tribdem.com
New study sheds light on what’s killing young people, especially young men : Goats and Soda : NPR
The U.S. emergency oil stash is in the spotlight as gas price surge : NPR
Guest Opinion: Social media’s Wild West needs regulating (buckscountycouriertimes.com)
People are talking about Web3. Is it the Internet of the future or just a buzzword? | WITF
Hundreds protest Rittenhouse acquittal across US | Across America | phillytrib.com
Local News
Johnstown’s $24M transportation grant is state’s biggest winner | Latest National News | tribdem.com
Seventh Annual Freedom Medal Dinner honors local veterans and community leaders – Delco Times
Exelon moving nuclear plants, including Limerick, to spin-off company (delcotimes.com)
Operation Holiday fundraising begins to help local families in need (dailylocal.com)
‘Shop Small to Win Big’ keeps the focus on local businesses [Shop Small] (dailylocal.com)
Wilkes-Barre city council set to vote on 2022 budget Tuesday | News | citizensvoice.com
Transgender Day of Remembrance observed in Wilkes-Barre | News | citizensvoice.com
Lower Merion commissioners vote to increase tax rate by three percent (mainlinemedianews.com)
DUI: York County district attorney makes changes to ARD diversion program (ydr.com)
Pitt
Pittsburgh City Council considers removing pension offset for nonunion workers | TribLIVE.com
Philly
Philadelphia leaders react to Kyle Rittenhouse acquittal | Local News | phillytrib.com
Washington
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin expects the Senate to pass spending bill by the end of 2021 : NPR
Rittenhouse verdict puts Biden in difficult political spot (abc27.com)
$2T social safety act passes the House, heads to Senate | ABC27
Cap on drug price hikes for privately insured sparks D.C. battle | News | tribdem.com
GOP donors back Manchin and Sinema as they reshape Biden’s agenda | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette