Legislature
The Briefing: State legislators share New Year’s resolutions
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/the-briefing-state-legislators-share-new-years-resolutions
A record number of women will join the Pa. General Assembly. But we have a long way to go. | Opinion
http://www.philly.com/opinion/commentary/women-state-representatives-pennsylvania-gender-equality-20181231.html
The Rundown: Pennsylvania lawmakers to be sworn in this week
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/the-rundown-pennsylvania-lawmakers-to-be-sworn-in-this-week
Sound new DUI law takes effect
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/sound-new-dui-law-takes-effect-1.2427924
Catholic Church
Dioceses have gone bankrupt after opening window to sex abuse lawsuits
https://triblive.com/news/catholicchurchscandal/14448813-74/dioceses-have-gone-bankrupt-after-opening-window-to-sex-abuse-lawsuits
How experts plan to help Pa. dioceses navigate victim compensation
https://triblive.com/news/catholicchurchscandal/14448854-74/how-experts-plan-to-help-pa-dioceses-navigate-victim-compensation
Crime/Punishment
Illegal alien may have siphoned $15K from Western Pennsylvania bank accounts, feds say
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14454712-74/illegal-alien-may-have-siphoned-15k-from-western-pennsylvania-bank-accounts-feds
Prison GED program’s first class offered exclusively to male inmates, class for females to follow
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/prison-ged-program-s-first-class-offered-exclusively-to-male-inmates-class-for-females-to-follow-1.2427959
Pair shot at embattled Hanover Twp. Nightclub
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/pair-shot-at-embattled-hanover-twp-nightclub-1.2427955
Standards needed on for-profit prisoner transport
https://www.citizensvoice.com/opinion/standards-needed-on-for-profit-prisoner-transport-1.2427897
State police plan traffic enforcement for New Year’s in Berks
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/state-police-plan-traffic-enforcment-for-new-years-in-berks
Education
How Pa. schools charted a new course in education policy | Opinion
http://www.philly.com/opinion/commentary/pennsylvania-education-pedro-rivera-schools-20181231.html
‘You need all teachers’: Schools with diverse student populations still struggle to hire minority educators
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2018/12/29/Pittsburgh-Public-Schools-Allegheny-County-Woodland-Hills-teacher-student-diversity-recruiting/stories/201812290004
Hazleton Area School District lands on AP District Honor Roll
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/hazleton-area-school-district-lands-on-ap-district-honor-roll-1.2427914
Editorial: Hamburg school’s partnership with manufacturer worth emulating
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/editorial-partnership-of-school-manufacturer-worth-emulating
School can be sued by mom whose son ran head-first into concrete gym wall: Pa. Supreme Court
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/school-can-be-sued-by-mom-whose-son-ran-head-first-into-concrete-gym-wall-pa-supreme-court.html
Construction to start on Keystone College retail project
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/construction-to-start-on-keystone-college-retail-project-1.2428041
1,000 diseases at their fingertips: Marywood buying high-tech anatomy viewer with foundation grant
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/1-000-diseases-at-their-fingertips-marywood-buying-high-tech-anatomy-viewer-with-foundation-grant-1.2428027
Health Care
Doctors at 3 Philly-area hospitals are pushing back after working for weeks without pay
http://www.philly.com/news/pennsylvania/prime-healthcare-philadelphia-hospitals-lower-bucks-roxborough-suburban-community-20181229.html
Flu makes presence known in states close to Pa.
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/flu-makes-presence-known-in-states-close-to-pa
Lehigh Valley hospitals to post standard price tags for health services beginning Tuesday
https://www.mcall.com/business/healthcare/mc-nws-cms-hospital-prices-20181227-story.html
Local News
County blight committee will take action in 2019
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/county-blight-committee-will-take-action-in-2019-1.2427956
Luzerne County prison enacts new program targeting opioid addiction
https://www.timesleader.com/news/728925/luzerne-county-prison-enacts-new-program-targeting-opioid-addiction
CAN DO officials eye continued success in 2019
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/can-do-officials-eye-continued-success-in-2019-1.2427904
Avoca litigation may be moved to New York City federal court
https://www.timesleader.com/news/728948/avoca-litigation-may-be-moved-to-new-york-city-federal-court
Scranton Cultural Center makes repairs, eyes more
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/scranton-cultural-center-makes-repairs-eyes-more-1.2427986
Fate of Castle House in Scranton still up in air
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/fate-of-castle-house-in-scranton-still-up-in-air-1.2428022
National News
Minimum wage is rising in 20 states but not Pennsylvania
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/minimum-wage-is-rising-in-20-states-but-not-pennsylvania.html
Natural Gas
Mariner East 2 pipeline is up and running, Sunoco says
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/mariner-east-pipeline-is-up-and-running-sunoco-says/article_dbcff470-0cfc-11e9-9b42-07e2eb146b0d.html
Philly
Who started the Mummers Parade? A Philly councilman’s childhood antics played a role.
http://www.philly.com/news/philadelphia/mummers-parade-history-philadelphia-shooters-john-baizley-bart-mchugh-20181231.html
Pitt
Mothers of slain children gather for dinner, conversation and healing
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2018/12/30/Mothers-slain-children-gather-dinner-gun-violence-Pittsburgh-therapy/stories/201812290069
As hate group activity moves online, tracking membership proves challenging
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2018/12/31/white-supremacist-nationalist-hate-groups-pittsburgh-pennsylvania-tracking-recruitment-neo-nazi/stories/201812300033
Pittsburgh’s First Night events come with Downtown road closures , parking restrictions
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/12/31/First-Night-celebrations-Downtown-road-closures-and-parking-restrictions/stories/201812280152
Expect heavy police presence, ‘zero tolerance’ for shenanigans at Pittsburgh’s First Night
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14454537-74/heavy-police-presence-zero-tolerance-for-shenanigans-at-first-night
Pittsburgh region on track to break yearly rainfall record
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14456094-74/pittsburgh-region-on-track-to-break-yearly-rainfall-record
State News
Of Trump, Saudis, and a $500-million bet by Pennsylvania teachers pension fund
http://www.philly.com/business/psers-saudi-trump-million-infrastructure-pennsylvania-school-pensions-20181231.html
Survey: More than 18,000 Pa. households lack heat or use unsafe heating sources
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2018/12/31/Pennsylvania-heating-public-utility-commission-liheap-cold-weather-survey/stories/201812290059
Weird New Year’s Eve ‘drops’ in Pennsylvania: Sleds, pickles, britches, and Bucky Beaver
http://www.philly.com/arts/new-years-drop-peeps-pa-pennsylvania-20181231.html
Overdose deaths drop dramatically, bringing hope that awareness is working
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14456377-74/overdose-deaths-drop-dramatically-bringing-hope-that-awareness-is-working
DCNR plans New Year’s Day hikes
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/dcnr-plans-new-year-s-day-hikes-1.2427905
Start the new year off on the right foot with a First Day Hike in Berks
https://www.readingeagle.com/life/article/first-day-hikes-are-scheduled-in-berks-county
Geography plays role in life expectancy
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/geography-plays-role-in-life-expectancy
These Pennsylvania officials were jailed, convicted or arrested in 2018
https://www.pennlive.com/expo/news/erry-2018/12/be47d1061e9753/these-pennsylvania-officials-w.html
Transportation
Dig deeper: Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls increase by 6 percent Jan. 6
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2018/12/31/Pennsylvania-Turnpike-tolls-increase-6-percent-11th-consecutive-increase/stories/201812310008
Washington
Federal government shutdown enters second week with no resolution in sight
http://www.philly.com/politics/nation/government-shutdown-president-trump-nancy-pelosi-congress-republicans-democrats-20181231.html