Legislature
Pa. shifts how it measures schools, but will parents buy in?
http://www.witf.org/news/2018/12/pa-shifts-how-it-measures-schools-but-will-parents-buy-in.php
Top lawmaker reiterates prediction that budget deficit will be manageable
http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2018/12/top-lawmaker-reiterates-prediction-that-budget-deficit-will-be-manageable.php
The Wall That Heals scheduled to be displayed in Plymouth in 2019
https://www.timesleader.com/news/727799/the-wall-that-heals-scheduled-to-be-displayed-in-plymouth-in-2019
Fair funding in formula only
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/fair-funding-in-formula-only-1.2423109
Administration
Wolf: Getting new voting machines is ‘right thing’
https://www.timesleader.com/news/727861/wolf-getting-new-voting-machines-is-right-thing
Business
F.M. Kirby Center has best year ever for ticket sales
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/f-m-kirby-center-has-best-year-ever-for-ticket-sales-1.2423191
Help (desperately) wanted: Berks restaurants having trouble attracting, retaining employees
https://www.readingeagle.com/money/article/for-berks-restaurants-its-help-desperately-wanted
Crime/Punishment
Westmoreland warden’s job safe but performance to continue to be monitored
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14416593-74/westmoreland-wardens-job-safe-but-performance-to-continue-to-be-monitored
Two more charged in Berks synthetic drug ring surrender to police
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/two-more-charged-in-berks-synthetic-drug-ring-surrender-to-police
Education
Tax hike, borrowing likely in 2019 Scranton School District budget
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/tax-hike-borrowing-likely-in-2019-scranton-school-district-budget-1.2423168
Charges pending but no hate crime in Chartiers Valley bathroom fight
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14416003-74/charges-pending-but-no-hate-crime-in-chartiers-valley-bathroom-fight
Police: Criminal charges pending in altercation at Chartiers Valley High School where student wearing hijab was attacked
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2018/12/17/Chartiers-Valley-High-School-bathroom-fight-social-media-video-investigation-Collier-police/stories/201812170080
WPIAL willing to revert football back to 4 classes
https://tribhssn.triblive.com/wpial-willing-to-revert-football-back-to-4-classes/
Wilson School District revises procedures to check athletes’ eligibility
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/wilson-school-district-revises-procedures-to-check-athletes-eligibility
A year after fraternity member suicide, Greek groups at Penn work to prevent future tragedy
http://www.philly.com/health/greek-life-fraternity-sorority-mental-health-penn-suicide-nicholas-moya-20181218.html
Misericordia to host autism symposium
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/misericordia-to-host-autism-symposium-1.2423133
Lackawanna College signs Bloomsburg pact
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/lackawanna-college-signs-bloomsburg-pact-1.2423273
Student debt tops $1.46 trillion, more than doubling since 2009: report
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/student-debt-tops-146-trillion-more-than-doubling-since-2009-report.html
Elections/Politics
Montgomery County to debut new voting machines in May
https://whyy.org/articles/montgomery-county-to-debut-new-voting-machines-in-may/
Health Care
Latest Obamacare ruling is an assault on logic | Opinion
http://www.philly.com/health/consumer/commentary-latest-obamacare-ruling-is-an-assault-logic-20181217.html
Jesuits
Jesuits’ list of accused priests includes 11 who worked at St. Joseph’s University or Prep in Philly
http://www.philly.com/news/clergy-abuse-catholic-church-jesuit-list-of-priests-accused-20181217.html
Four Jesuits who served in Pittsburgh accused
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2018/12/17/Four-Jesuits-who-served-in-Pittsburgh-accused/stories/201812170096
4 Jesuit priests who served in Pittsburgh among those accused of sexual abuse
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14416404-74/4-jesuit-priests-who-served-in-pittsburgh-among-those-accused-of-sexual
New priest named in church sex abuse scandal
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/new-priest-named-in-church-sex-abuse-scandal-1.2423200
Local News
Pedri to hold manager’s forum Wednesday
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/pedri-to-hold-manager-s-forum-wednesday-1.2423097
Wilkes-Barre spent $7,782 to investigate harassment claim by former police chief Lendacky
https://www.timesleader.com/news/727878/wilkes-barre-spent-7782-to-investigate-harassment-claim-by-former-police-chief-lendacky
Two key Everhart Museum employees resign
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/two-key-everhart-museum-employees-resign-1.2423100
City budget passes with property tax hike
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/city-budget-passes-with-property-tax-hike-1.2423147
Namath visit helps Maddon raise $100K for community center
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/namath-visit-helps-maddon-raise-100k-for-community-center-1.2423156
Residents split on Westmoreland County comprehensive plan at public meeting
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14416600-74/residents-split-for-against-westmoreland-county-comprehensive-plan-at-public-meeting
No property tax increase in 2019 Harrison spending plan
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14417082-74/no-property-tax-increase-in-2019-harrison-spending-plan
Reading leaders, 2 residents call for plan to stem city violence
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/reading-leaders-2-residents-call-for-plan-to-stem-city-violence
Traffic plans drive Harrisburg in the right direction | Editorial
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2018/12/traffic-plans-drive-harrisburg-in-the-right-direction-editorial.html
Allentown’s property tax rate will go up next year. What will you pay?
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-nws-allentown-tax-increase-what-will-you-pay-20181217-story.html
National News
Run-up to Flynn sentencing tinged with unexpected drama
http://www.philly.com/politics/nation/run-up-flynn-sentencing-tinged-with-unexpected-drama-20181218.html
Report: Russia still using social media to roil U.S. politics
http://www.witf.org/news/2018/12/report-russia-still-using-social-media-to-roil-us-politics.php
New Jersey
N.J. Democratic lawmakers pull controversial redistricting proposal in face of widespread opposition
http://www.philly.com/politics/nj-redistricting-gerrymandering-proposal-dead-20181217.html
Philly
Entrepreneur or hustler? A Chester man uses phone number of defunct N. Philly funeral home to broker services.
http://www.philly.com/news/baker-funeral-home-phone-number-leychawne-johns-north-philly-20181218.html
Upcoming trial in drag race keeps focus on a dangerous and sometimes deadly Philly tradition
http://www.philly.com/news/drag-racing-bustleton-northeast-philadelphia-ryan-farrell-20181218.html
A toy gun? Not my grandson, says N. Philly man, taking matters into his own hands | Jenice Armstrong
http://www.philly.com/columnists/toy-gun-not-my-grandson-says-n-philly-man-taking-matters-into-his-own-hands-jenice-armstrong-20181217.html
An African American synagogue in Philly: ‘We don’t want people to come to shul and go to sleep’
http://www.philly.com/news/african-american-synagogue-beth-el-west-oak-lane-bat-mitzvah-20181217.html
This city program turned high schoolers into auto mechanics and changed their lives
http://www.philly.com/news/government-jobs-apprenticeships-workforce-development-philadelphia-20181217.html
Better mental health care is possible — if we prioritize it | Opinion
http://www.philly.com/opinion/commentary/mental-health-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-norway-20181217.html
Black woman takes the lead at KIPP Philadelphia
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/black-woman-takes-the-lead-at-kipp-philadelphia/article_d8a589cb-9b11-5f91-8ba2-6f4b108b80a5.html
Philadelphia records most homicides in over a decade
https://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/14416651-74/philadelphia-records-most-homicides-in-over-a-decade
Councilman calls for creating independent fiscal office
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/councilman-calls-for-creating-independent-fiscal-office/article_64c3dd8f-5149-577f-990a-89c4e0f805bf.html
CAPP+ seeks to create healthier homes for children with asthma
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/capp-seeks-to-create-healthier-homes-for-children-with-asthma/article_b33bfe47-3288-55e6-a6bb-7598a67e3d38.html
As sports betting begins in Philly, local gamblers relish the convenience
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/as-sports-betting-begins-in-philly-local-gamblers-relish-the/article_9af355d5-e26f-5246-a231-f50876d6c946.html
Pitt
County council members to introduce a county civilian police review bill
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2018/12/17/county-police-misconduct-civlian-oversight-antwon-rose-michael-rosfeld-consolidation/stories/201812170133
A lifelong Steelers fan bet $11,000 on the Patriots. He’s doing just fine.
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/12/17/Steelers-Patriots-Rivers-Casino-sportsbook-betting-wager-fan/stories/201812170138
Allegheny County’s 100-plus police departments have unequal resources
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2018/12/18/Allegheny-County-s-100-plus-police-departments-have-unequal-resources-uneven-policies-and-pay/stories/201812180078
Diocese sued again over alleged abuse
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2018/12/17/Diocese-priest-abuse-Monroeville-st-bernadette/stories/201812170122
Lawsuit accuses former priest of abuse in Monroeville parish
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14416891-74/lawsuit-accuses-former-priest-of-abuse-in-monroeville-parish
You can now check out laptops for up to three weeks — for free — at any Carnegie Library
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2018/12/17/carnegie-library-pittsburgh-grow-with-google-laptop-wifi-internet-sundar-pichai/stories/201812170124
Carnegie Library will lend laptops, Wi-Fi hotspots through Google partnership
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14416237-74/carnegie-library-will-lend-laptops-wi-fi-hotspots-through-google-partnership
Pitt student found dead on roof of dormitory identified
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/12/17/Pitt-student-found-on-roof-of-dormitory-identified/stories/201812170153
All 4 cops involved in Kopy’s bar brawl on paid leave
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14415744-74/all-4-cops-involved-in-bar-brawl-removed-from-narcotics-unit
Sixth Avenue entrance to Wood Street T station closed for about a month
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14415803-74/sixth-avenue-entrance-to-wood-street-t-station-closed-for-about-a
Paul Muschick: Pittsburgh gun control plan raises question: Are AR-15s assault weapons?
https://www.mcall.com/opinion/muschick/mc-opi-what-is-the-definition-of-assault-rifle-muschick-20181217-story.html
State News
Where do you live? It may give clues to how old you’ll grow, census data suggest.
http://www.philly.com/health/life-expectancy-project-philadelphia-new-jersey-census-tract-20181218.html
Toms Run Nature Reserve is expanding
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2018/12/17/Western-Pennsylvania-Conservancy-Toms-Run-Nature-Reserve-Dixmont-State-Hospital/stories/201812170126
Pittsburgh Glass Works not required to extinguish underground East Deer fire
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14416790-74/pittsburgh-glass-works-not-required-to-extinguish-underground-east-deer-fire
Fayette County group rallies for husband of Connellsville native, former Green Beret facing murder charges
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14416721-74/fayette-county-group-rallies-for-husband-of-connellsville-native-former-green-beret
Congress legalized hemp; what that means for Pa.
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/congress-legalized-hemp-what-that-means-for-pa-1.2423102
Nonprofits gets state funds to help revitalize communities, aid those in need
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/nonprofits-gets-state-funds-to-help-revitalize-communities-aid-those-in-need-1.2423099
Low-interest loans available for Pa. homeowners affected by August floods
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/low-interest-loans-available-for-pa-homeowners-affected-by-august-floods.html
Northampton County issues warning over jury duty phone scam
https://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-pol-northampton-county-phone-scam-20181217-story.html
Transportation
Route 28 work, and lane restrictions, extended until Spring
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14416653-74/route-28-work-and-lane-restrictions-extended-until-spring
Oil production cuts fail to stop falling gasoline prices
https://triblive.com/local/regional/14416206-74/oil-production-cuts-fail-to-stop-falling-gasoline-prices