Legislature

Ex-state rep won’t face sexual misconduct charges as criminal investigation ends

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/ex-state-rep-wont-face-sexual-misconduct-charges-as-investigation-ends.html

Ex-state rep’s accuser on why she wanted investigation to end, how she’ll continue to fight

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/ex-state-reps-accuser-vows-to-continue-to-fight-for-justice-for-sexual-assault-victims-explains-her-decision.html

Dauphin County D.A. closes Miccarelli probe; no charges to be filed

https://www.delcotimes.com/news/dauphin-county-d-a-closes-miccarelli-probe-no-charges-to/article_c2889fc8-0557-11e9-818e-fbf16a9892dd.html

Editorial: America, PA take steps with prison reform

https://triblive.com/opinion/editorials/14431685-74/editorial-america-pa-take-steps-with-prison-reform

Administration

Gov. Tom Wolf announces new acting head of PEMA and other second-term staff changes

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/gov-tom-wolf-announces-new-acting-head-of-pema-and-other-second-term-staff-changes.html

Gov. Tom Wolf commutes 2 more life sentences

http://www.goerie.com/news/20181221/gov-tom-wolf-commutes-2-more-life-sentences

Editorial: Wolf right on legalizing pot

https://www.standardspeaker.com/opinion/wolf-right-on-legalizing-pot-1.2424846

Fetterman’s last act as Braddock’s mayor: a home wedding, performed in gym shorts

https://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2018/12/21/John-Fetterman-Braddock-Mayor-lieutenant-governor-resign-wedding-resignation/stories/201812010088

State

Game commission considering earlier deer season start: report

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/game-commission-considering-earlier-deer-season-start-report.html

Schuylkill clerk of courts office cooperates with auditor general probe

https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/schuylkill-clerk-of-courts-office-cooperates-with-auditor-general-probe-1.2424931

Repeat DUI drivers be warned: Tough new laws take effect Sunday in Pa

https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2018/12/21/stiffer-repeat-dui-laws-take-effect-dec-23/2386574002/

Local police positions often hard to fill, even as state considers fees for growing coverage demands

https://www.tribdem.com/news/state-of-emergency-still-good-jobs-local-police-positions-often/article_a7054032-05a5-11e9-8f26-abbd128b1aec.html

Municipal police departments face staffing, budget challenges

https://www.tribdem.com/news/state-of-emergency-municipal-police-departments-face-staffing-budget-challenges/article_78ed9702-05a6-11e9-953a-670d09678181.html

Here’s how many Narcan kits Pennsylvania handed out in Lancaster County on Dec. 13

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/here-s-how-many-narcan-kits-pennsylvania-handed-out-in/article_934934fe-0550-11e9-82cc-734e8762645a.html

State jobless rate rises to 4.2 percent

https://observer-reporter.com/business/state-jobless-rate-rises-to-percent/article_2213f8b0-052c-11e9-a0bc-179b8b666a85.html

UBS reaches $68 million settlement with 40 states, including N.J. and Pa.

http://www.philly.com/business/ubs-settlement-libor-attorney-general-interest-rate-fraud-20181221.html

Number of employed Pennsylvanians reaches new record high

https://www.timesleader.com/news/728222/number-of-employed-pennsylvanians-reaches-new-record-high

Education

Temple pays more than $5 million to settle claims over false reporting by its business school

http://www.philly.com/news/temple-business-rankings-scandal-lawsuit-20181221.html

Chartiers Valley High School student facing charges for attack on fellow student

https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14432708-74/chartiers-valley-high-school-student-facing-charges-for-attack-on-fellow-student

Crime/Punishment

Priest named in Pa. clergy sex abuse probe jailed

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/priest-named-in-pa-clergy-sex-abuse-probe-jailed.html

Diocese of Scranton adds to list of ‘credibly accused’ abusers

https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/diocese-of-scranton-adds-to-list-of-credibly-accused-abusers-1.2424930

Westmoreland County to hire 12 more jail guards

https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14434160-74/westmoreland-county-to-hire-12-more-jail-guards

More space carved out for female inmates at Luzerne County prison

https://www.timesleader.com/news/728298/more-space-carved-out-for-female-inmates-at-luzerne-county-prison

Natural Gas

Washington, Greene near top of shale gas producers

https://observer-reporter.com/business/washington-greene-near-top-of-shale-gas-producers/article_ffd29be6-03ad-11e9-8a56-fbbe7fc27350.html

Natural gas plant moving ahead in Elizabeth after zoning change

https://www.post-gazette.com/business/powersource/2018/12/21/Commissioners-Proposed-natural-gas-power-plant-moved-forward/stories/201812220014

Transportation

$25 million under budget? New highway bid frees up funds

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2018/12/20/Southern-Beltway-1-79-interchange-Pennsyslvania-Turnpike-toll-road-Allegheny-Washisngton-County-border/stories/201812310006

Philly

Philadelphia’s 2 Top Prosecutors Trade War Of Words

https://hosted.ap.org/standardspeaker/article/3fa212449ab74b32a7af275e1607caea/philadelphias-2-top-prosecutors-trade-war-words

Philly developer and contractor charged $160K for not obtaining permits, using fraudulent ones

http://www.philly.com/real-estate/developer-and-contractor-k-philadelphia-permits-v-properties-rock-haven-builders-settlement-20181222.html

Pittsburgh

7th gun in the last 30 days found by TSA at Pittsburgh International Airport

https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14431620-74/tsa-finds-handgun-at-pittsburgh-international-airport-checkpoint

East Busway reopens after landslide cleared

https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14434486-74/landslide-closes-portion-of-east-busway

Some Pittsburgh airport vendors overcharging, controller finds

https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2018/12/21/Pittsburgh-International-Airport-airmall-street-pricing-overcharging/stories/201812210125

Officials: AG should review sale of Hill House properties to UPMC-connected developer

https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/12/21/Officials-allege-conflict-of-interest-in-potential-sale-of-Hill-House-properties/stories/201812210092

Local

Chemicals that tainted water on military bases spreading to other towns in Bucks, Montco

http://www.philly.com/news/pfas-water-contamination-pfos-pfoa-bucks-montgomery-20181222.html

Reading City Council putting proposed limits on mayor’s powers to the voters

https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/reading-city-council-putting-proposed-limits-on-mayors-powers-to-the-voters

Lower Merion invokes eminent domain on two Villanova sites for new field space

https://www.delcotimes.com/news/lower-merion-invokes-eminent-domain-on-two-villanova-sites-for/article_ca1da5c8-05e1-11e9-96a5-b3d24a676aad.html

Upper Darby School Board to vote on tax exemption program

https://www.delcotimes.com/news/upper-darby-school-board-to-vote-on-tax-exemption-program/article_7e85d22e-04a7-11e9-9837-175c119176a7.html

‘It’s still traumatizing’: Grandview 5 golfers struggle to save friendship after hard year

https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2018/12/21/grandview-golfers-still-traumatized-racially-charged-incident/2386006002/

West Manchester police chief received threats after condemning racism in York County

https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2018/12/20/police-chief-received-threats-after-condemning-racism-york-county/2383606002/

In Carlisle, as ranks dwindle, volunteer firefighters make time to serve

https://lancasteronline.com/news/pennsylvania/in-carlisle-as-ranks-dwindle-volunteer-firefighters-make-time-to/article_6c930aa8-be14-55d6-b8ab-ccd234410cf6.html

National

Decade-long rally on Wall Street looks like it’s ending

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/decade-long-rally-on-wall-street-looks-like-its-ending.html

Trump signs sweeping criminal justice reform bill

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/trump-signs-sweeping-criminal-justice-reform-bill.html

Federal shutdown begins after lawmakers fail to reach deal

https://www.delcotimes.com/news/federal-shutdown-begins-after-lawmakers-fail-to-reach-deal/article_fc1924aa-05d0-11e9-8411-6b849fde1497.html

Partial government shutdown compounds risks for US economy

https://www.tribdem.com/news/partial-government-shutdown-compounds-risks-for-us-economy/article_8d07ab6d-60fd-5ffc-815d-2bfbb5599345.html

Congress has legalized hemp; What the future might hold

https://lancasteronline.com/news/pennsylvania/congress-has-legalized-hemp-what-the-future-might-hold/article_6e6d5fab-d2f9-5fde-9585-6eb07a5ea783.html

FDA casts shadow on hemp win, calling cannabidol products illegal

https://lancasteronline.com/news/health/fda-casts-shadow-on-hemp-win-calling-cannabidol-products-illegal/article_bbe7afff-227e-58f8-9ff2-5811fe00742e.html

Federal workers caught in the fray as Trump battles Congress

https://triblive.com/politics/politicalheadlines/14433857-74/federal-workers-caught-in-the-fray-as-trump-battles-congress

Trump said to discuss firing Fed’s Powell after latest rate hike

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2018/12/22/Trump-said-to-discuss-firing-Fed-s-Powell-after-latest-rate-hike/stories/201812220052

Barletta absent often since November election

https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/barletta-absent-often-since-november-election-1.2424901