Legislature
Gov. Tom Wolf’s pledge helped Cheyney U. keep its accreditation; lawmakers say promise was made ‘in secret’
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/11/gov-tom-wolfs-pledge-helped-cheyney-u-keep-its-accreditation-lawmakers-say-promise-was-made-in-secret.html
At Muhlenberg High School, Gov. Tom Wolf signs bills into law to aid child sex abuse victims
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/gov-tom-wolf-signs-bills-into-law-to-aid-child-sex-abuse-victims
Newly-signed bills end time limits for child abuse victims to file criminal charges in Pennsylvania
https://www.witf.org/2019/11/26/newly-signed-bills-end-time-limits-for-child-abuse-victims-to-file-criminal-charges/
Report highlights Pa. transportation challenges
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/report-highlights-pa-transportation-challenges/article_bd31c7cc-f537-5e2f-ad44-ce2d5aaa68ae.html
Browne: State agrees to $374 million funding plan for I-78 work in Lehigh County, including new interchange
https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/capitol-ideas/mc-nws-pa-interstate-funds-20191126-efs2kcwrhfcwplttdtkdeb4hya-story.html
Total lack of accountability in state raises
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/total-lack-of-accountability-in-state-raises-1.2564419
Editorial: Deana’s Law could spare another family from DUI agony
https://www.delcotimes.com/opinion/editorial-deana-s-law-could-spare-another-family-from-dui/article_271d331a-104a-11ea-89c8-df658aab1964.html
Business
Here are a few things you can do to make the most of this Small Business Saturday
https://www.inquirer.com/business/small-business/tips-small-business-saturday-what-you-can-do-20191127.html
Crime/Punishment
Judge sides with prosecution in legal battles over Pittsburgh synagogue shooting case
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/11/26/robert-bowers-pittsburgh-tree-of-life-mass-shooting-discovery-lawyers/stories/201911260125
Montgomery County woman killed by ex-boyfriend in violent domestic dispute, DA says
https://www.inquirer.com/news/jeanne-edwards-lower-moreland-township-murder-montgomery-county-20191126.html
Jury finds Christy guilty on all counts
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/jury-finds-christy-guilty-on-all-counts-1.2564550
Former cop pleads guilty, will not have to register as sex offender
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/former-cop-pleads-guilty-will-not-have-to-register-as-sex-offender-1.2564553
Criminal sentences are down in PA, and three more takeaways from an annual report
https://www.penncapital-star.com/criminal-justice/criminal-sentences-are-down-in-pa-and-three-more-takeaways-from-an-annual-report/
Education
Seeking new contract and millions in retroactive pay, Scranton teachers picket
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/seeking-new-contract-and-millions-in-retroactive-pay-scranton-teachers-picket-1.2564395
Kiski School announces new scholarship
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/kiski-school-announces-new-scholarship/
I-LEAD Charter School enrollment up, turnover down
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/i-lead-enrollment-up-turnover-down
Penn State and Pa.’s public colleges are among the nation’s costliest — and are surprisingly empty
https://www.inquirer.com/business/student-debt-pennsylvania-colleges-penn-state-20191127.html
Temple faculty and administration reach tentative contract agreement
https://www.inquirer.com/education/temple-faculty-contract-raises-staff-20191127.html
Kutztown University and its president honored for supporting employees who serve in military
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/kutztown-university-and-its-president-honored-for-supporting-employees-who-serve-in-military
Elections/Politics
Pekarovsky resigns as county Democratic chair, cites flak over Yudichak switch
https://www.timesleader.com/news/763943/pekarovsky-resigns-as-county-democratic-chair-cites-flak-over-yudichak-switch
Chairman of Luzerne County Democratic Party resigns
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/chairman-of-luzerne-county-democratic-party-resigns-1.2564547
Bozinski has ‘big tent’ vision for Luzerne County Democrats
https://www.timesleader.com/news/763945/bozinski-has-big-tent-vision-for-luzerne-county-democrats
Health Care
How to encourage vaccination against HPV cancers? Drexel study suggests taking a cue from anti-vaxxers.
https://www.inquirer.com/health/gardasil-hpv-anti-vaccine-misinformation-facebook-drexel-study-20191127.html
Pennsylvania hires California firm for state-based health-insurance exchange
https://www.inquirer.com/business/pennsylvania-hired-getinsured-health-insurance-exchange-20191126.html
Local News
Commissioners to meet today, likely to vote on 2020 Lackawanna County budget
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/commissioners-to-meet-today-likely-to-vote-on-2020-lackawanna-county-budget-1.2564295
Friends of the Poor Thanksgiving dinner features food, community
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/friends-of-the-poor-thanksgiving-dinner-features-food-community-1.2564426
Luzerne County Council approves new prison inmate health care contract
https://www.timesleader.com/news/763932/luzerne-county-council-approves-new-prison-inmate-health-care-contract
County council debates 911 upgrade, voting machine purchase
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/county-council-debates-911-upgrade-voting-machine-purchase-1.2564500
Wilkes-Barre officers relying on ruling in Luzerne County case to fight dismissal of their suit
https://www.timesleader.com/news/763935/wilkes-barre-officers-relying-on-ruling-in-luzerne-county-case-to-fight-dismissal-of-their-suit
Linking farmers to consumers: Fayette County food operation gets into poultry processing business
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2019/11/26/Republic-Food-Enterprise-Russell-Redding-agriculture-farm-fayette-county-chicken/stories/201911260165
Volunteers spruce up Leechburg’s Riverfront Park
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/volunteers-spruce-up-leechburgs-riverfront-park/
Trump should pay costs of Hershey rally, some residents say, but township disagrees
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/11/trump-should-pay-costs-of-hershey-rally-some-residents-say-but-township-disagrees.html
Independent audit: Allentown projected to run $48 million deficit over next five years if it doesn’t take action
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-nws-allentown-financial-audit-novak-report-review-20191126-jvd7ckfuffhxbnkieatmxzn5ji-story.html
West Chester looks to go green in near future
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/local/west-chester-looks-to-go-green-in-near-future/article_a0908694-108a-11ea-8527-ef404bccb74c.html
Philly
39 arrested at PHL in nationwide airline catering worker protest against American Airlines
https://www.inquirer.com/business/philadelphia-airport-protest-unite-here-american-airlines-20191127.html
Here’s how MANNA makes 10,000 pies — and enough Thanksgiving dinner to feed 5,000 people
https://www.inquirer.com/food/manna-thanksgiving-philadelphia-volunteer-holiday-pie-in-the-sky-fundraiser-20191127.html
Philadelphia’s voting machines challenged in federal court
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2019/11/26/Philadelphia-s-voting-machines-challenged-in-federal-court/stories/201911260184
Jill Stein wants a federal court to block Philadelphia’s voting machines
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/jill-stein-philadelphia-voting-machines-2020-20191126.html
Black men in Philadelphia can reduce gun violence, if we work together | Solomon Jones
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/philadelphia-gun-violence-black-men-community-initiative-manupphl-20191126.html
New use for bankrupt Philly refinery? City wants something ‘cleaner, safer for Philadelphians’
https://www.inquirer.com/business/energy/pes-philly-refinery-reuse-1300-acre-city-advisory-report-20191126.html
Teaching at a Philly school left me so ‘utterly broken’ I had to quit | Perspective
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/philadelphia-school-district-teacher-quit-testimony-20191126.html
Two Philly prison guards acquitted in caught-on-video inmate beating case
https://www.inquirer.com/news/curran-fromhold-philly-jail-guards-beating-robert-berger-nathaniel-morris-trial-20191126.html
Rochelle Bilal vows to ‘remove the dark cloud’ over Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office
https://www.inquirer.com/news/sheriff-elect-rochelle-bilal-philadelphia-transition-team-jewell-williams-20191126.html
Philadelphia’s controversial 10-year tax abatement soon could change for the first time. Here’s what you need to know.
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-10-year-tax-abatement-20191127.html
Philadelphia leaders push for safer youth placements
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-city-hall-residential-program-task-force-glen-mills-dhs-pa-20191126.html
How SEPTA won me back after years of car commuting | Perspective
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/septa-philadelphia-congestion-car-commuting-parking-lots-20191127.html
Pitt
Arts center employee claims she was fired for blowing the whistle on expenditures
https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/art-architecture/2019/11/27/Former-controller-pittsburgh-arts-center-lawsuit-fired-sankey/stories/201911260142
Mayor Peduto: Pittsburgh Center for the Arts must be restructured
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/peduto-says-pittsburgh-arts-center-must-be-restructured/
Supreme fight: City asks state’s highest court to jump into Mount Washington billboard battle
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2019/11/26/Lamar-Sprint-Mount-Washington-billboard-National-Flag-Foundation/stories/201911260157
Applications open for city’s Snow Angels shoveling assistance program
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/11/26/Applications-open-for-city-s-Snow-Angels-shoveling-assistance-program/stories/201911260131
Two plead guilty to murder in ’03 Downtown garage shooting that turned fatal 15 years later
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/11/26/michael-lahoff-pittsburgh-murder-guilty-paralyzed-downtown-garage-armstrong-fulton/stories/201911260153
New Module homes a ‘milestone’ for Garfield development
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/new-module-homes-a-milestone-for-garfield-development/
State News
In Pa., N.J., and across the country, overdoses, suicides, and alcoholism are leading Americans to earlier deaths
https://www.inquirer.com/health/dying-young-overdoses-alcoholism-suicide-liver-death-pennsylvania-philadelphia-study-20191126.html
‘Tis the season: Pa. alcohol sales spike as holidays approach
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/alcohol-sales-ramp-up-as-holidays-approach/
Ed Rendell: ‘The one time I was wrong’ | Perspective
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/ed-rendell-pennsylvania-governor-tax-raise-first-term-20191127.html
Grand jury reports have proven to be a tool for justice in Pennsylvania — ask the Catholic Church | Editorial
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/investigating-grand-jury-report-clergy-sex-abuse-reform-attorney-general-josh-shapiro-20191127.html
Pa. task force urges end to public grand jury reports
https://www.witf.org/2019/11/26/pa-task-force-urges-end-to-public-grand-jury-reports/
Medical marijuana user faces uphill legal fight
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/medical-marijuana-user-faces-uphill-legal-fight-1.2564554
State could see record bear harvest
https://www.poconorecord.com/news/20191126/state-could-see-record-bear-harvest
Transportation
Scottdale, Smithton on radar for improved transportation plan
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/scottdale-smithton-on-radar-for-improved-transportation-plan/
PennDOT removes traffic island, paves in Dallas Twp.
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/penndot-removes-traffic-island-paves-in-dallas-twp-1.2564429
Travelers in Berks County and beyond, beware: Traffic will be particularly heavy this Thanksgiving season
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/travelers-in-berks-county-and-beyond-beware-traffic-will-be-particularly-heavy-this-thanksgiving-season
HIA is one of the first airports in the world to offer flights on this regional jet with first class seating
https://www.pennlive.com/life/2019/11/hia-is-one-of-the-first-airports-in-the-world-to-offer-flights-on-this-regional-jet-with-first-class-seating.html
Washington
Pa’s Casey, Scanlon and Wild join Dems defying Devos over student loan forgiveness
https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/pas-casey-scanlon-and-wild-join-dems-defying-devos-over-student-loan-forgiveness/
House Judiciary Committee sets Dec. 4 impeachment hearing
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2019/11/26/House-Judiciary-Committee-sets-Dec-4-impeachment-hearing/stories/201911260185
As Trump cases arrive, Supreme Court’s desire to be seen as neutral arbiter will be tested
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/trump-supreme-court-scotus-financial-records-20191127.html
Protecting our protectors: Govt. must study health effects of military service
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/11/27/Protecting-our-protectors-Govt-must-study-health-effects-of-military-service/stories/201911130031
Where’s Guy?’ Protesters want Reschenthaler to hold town halls
https://www.witf.org/2019/11/27/wheres-guy-protesters-want-reschenthaler-to-hold-town-halls/