Legislature
More women, lots of new faces: Pennsylvania, meet your newest General Assembly
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/01/more-women-lots-of-new-faces-pennsylvania-meet-your-newest-general-assembly.html
State lawmakers prepare for New Year’s Day swearing-in
http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2018/12/state-lawmakers-prepare-for-new-years-day-swearing-in.php
Local native set to become state senator
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/local-native-set-to-become-state-senator-1.2428363
Wishes for 2019: Leaders tell us their hopes, dreams
https://www.timesleader.com/news/729024/wishes-for-2019-leaders-tell-us-their-hopes-dreams
York County legislators lay out priorities for 2019-20 session
https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/news/local/2018/12/31/york-county-legislators-lay-out-priorities-2019-20-session/2449402002/
Redistricting
Group sharing suggestions for redistricting reform in Pa.
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/group-sharing-suggestions-for-redistricting-reform-in-pa-1.2428365
Administration
Wanting to get things done, Wolf prepares for a second term
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2018/12/31/Tom-Wolf-Pennsylvania-Governor/stories/201812310106
Business
Bomb-proof seats, fast-food software: New uses for old pillmaker sites in Philly suburbs
http://www.philly.com/business/ussg-pharma-vanguard-merck-exton-gsk-conshohocken-king-prussia-20190101.html
Gap in Viewmont closing by month’s end
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/business/gap-in-viewmont-closing-by-month-s-end-1.2428282
Catholic Church
Vatican spokesman, deputy resign amid crisis period for pope
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2018/12/31/Vatican-spokesman-deputy-resign-amid-crisis-period-for-pope/stories/201901010680
Crime/Punishment
Teen, 2 adults the victims of weekend triple shooting in northwest Reading, police say
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/teen-two-adults-the-victims-of-weekend-triple-shooting-in-northwest-reading-police-say
Man dies at Lehigh County corrections center, authorities say
https://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-lehigh-county-work-release-death-inmate-20181231-story.html
Education
Scranton case could impact law that allows economic furlough of teachers
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-case-could-impact-law-that-allows-economic-furlough-of-teachers-1.2428451
West Scranton High School students use 3-D printer to honor local vets
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/west-scranton-high-school-students-use-3-d-printer-to-honor-local-vets-1.2428450
What the average teacher earns in every Pa. public school district
http://www.witf.org/news/2018/12/what-the-average-classroom-teacher-earns-in-every-pa-public-school-district.php
Elections/Politics
Former sportscaster Conigliaro seeks 114th District seat
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/former-sportscaster-conigliaro-seeks-114th-district-seat-1.2428463
Health Care
Hospitals must post ‘chargemaster’ prices online. How useful will that be?
http://www.philly.com/news/hospital-prices-online-transparency-cms-20181231.html
Local News
Area hotel developers owe back taxes on properties
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/area-hotel-developers-owe-back-taxes-on-properties-1.2428362
Salvaging Scranton Lace brick by brick
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/salvaging-scranton-lace-brick-by-brick-1.2428407
Hazleton to decide soon on reserved parking
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/hazleton-to-decide-soon-on-reserved-parking-1.2428300
Jeannette, Penn Borough fire departments consider merging
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14457161-74/jeannette-penn-borough-fire-departments-consider-merging
Harrison approves salary, pay increases for several township employees
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14457453-74/harrison-approves-salary-pay-increases-for-several-township-employees
Allegheny Family Network offering free community shuttle in Highlands School District area
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14456806-74/allegheny-family-network-offering-free-community-shuttle-in-highlands-school-district-area
National News
Gab.com, social platform favored by alleged Tree of Life gunman, boasts amid probe
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2018/12/31/Gab-robert-bowers-tree-of-life-epik-monster-anti-semitism/stories/201812310115
Amid an export boom, the US is still importing natural gas
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/powersource/2018/12/31/Amid-an-export-boom-the-US-is-still-importing-natural-gas-LNG-shale/stories/201901010619
Opioid Crisis
Reporting opioid abuse: Tipline is a new strategy for fighting an epidemic
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/01/01/Reporting-opioid-abuse-Tipline-is-a-new-strategy-for-fighting-an-epidemic/stories/201901010640
Philly
City settles for $350K with woman who claims supervisors knew for years her harasser was a problem
http://www.philly.com/news/sexual-harassment-settlement-city-commissioners-philadelphia-francisco-martinez-20181231.html
Government shutdown shines a light on Philly’s federal workers living paycheck to paycheck
http://www.philly.com/news/government-shutdown-workers-shutdownstories-20181231.html
Immigrants are welcome in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia | Opinion
http://www.philly.com/opinion/border-wall-trump-immigration-policy-20181231.html
A night with Philly’s ‘violence interrupter’ teams who offer services to curb bloodshed
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/a-night-with-philly-s-violence-interrupter-teams-who-offer/article_359aa47e-5b17-51d1-bd30-073720494816.html
Pitt
Out with a splash: Pittsburgh area closes 2018 with precipitation record
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2018/12/31/Pittsburgh-rainfall-precipitation-2018-record-New-Year-forecast-First-Night-fireworks/stories/201812310091
Pittsburgh Creche organizers hoping to raise enough funds to endow display
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2018/12/31/Pittsburgh-Creche-fund-raising-Pittsburgh-Foundation/stories/201812310105
Jewish Federation gets $70,000 gift for victims of terror fund
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14457870-74/jewish-federation-gets-70000-gift-for-victims-of-terror-fund
State News
Chester County preserves 500th farm in open-space initiative
http://www.philly.com/news/pennsylvania/chester-county-farm-preservation-upper-oxford-west-fallowfield-pennsylvania-20181231.html
Yes, it did more than rain in 2018
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/yes-it-did-more-than-rain-in-2018-1.2428462
$1 million lottery ticket sold in Spring Township
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/1-million-lottery-ticket-sold-in-spring-township
New year will bring new, higher prices for consumers
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/new-year-will-bring-new-higher-prices-for-consumers
Every newborn in Pa. will get a college savings account and 12 other changes that could affect you in 2019
https://www.pennlive.com/expo/news/g66l-2019/01/a055e721463490/every-pa-baby-will-get-a-colle.html
Area counties report jobs, business investment in 2018
http://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2019/01/area-counties-report-jobs-business-investment-in-2018/
Major pension overhaul — with reduced benefits — going into effect for new state workers, teachers
https://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pennsylvania-state-workers-pension-law-20181231-story.html
Washington
House Democrats ready strategy to reopen government, deny Trump wall money
http://www.philly.com/news/nation-world/house-democrats-ready-strategy-reopen-government-deny-trump-wall-money-20190101.html
House Democrats bracing for a robust freshman class
http://www.philly.com/politics/nation/democratic-congress-freshmen-tensions-nancy-pelosi-20190101.html
Elizabeth Warren announces exploratory committee for 2020 presidential run
http://www.philly.com/politics/election/elizabeth-warren-takes-big-move-toward-presidential-run-20181231.html