Legislature
Senator urges pipeline be shut down in wake of latest sinkhole
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/senator-urges-pipeline-be-shut-down-in-wake-of-latest/article_a146ee14-1e2f-11e9-a328-870a8c738990.html
Senator Tim Kearney Appointed to Influential Senate Committees
https://mychesco.com/a/news/pennsylvania/senator-tim-kearney-appointed-to-influential-senate-committees/
Senator Muth Announces PASmart Grants for Schools Across Berks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties
https://mychesco.com/a/education/senator-muth-announces-pasmart-grants-for-schools-across-berks-chester-and-montgomery-counties/
Bucks and Montgomery county schools awarded PAsmart grants
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20190121/bucks-and-montgomery-county-schools-awarded-pasmart-grants
Delozier announces new Criminal Justice Reform Caucus
https://cumberlink.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/delozier-announces-new-criminal-justice-reform-caucus/article_5dbd2a5d-9b00-541e-81e8-1fe05906126a.html
Pennsylvania lawmakers should calculate the high cost of low wages | Editorial
http://www.philly.com/opinion/editorials/governor-tom-wolf-phil-murphy-joseph-scarnati-minimum-wage-new-york-jersey-pennsylvania-20190122.html
Fix state’s transparency website
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/fix-state-s-transparency-website-1.2435916
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Wolf, Fetterman, Shapiro, celebrate legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
https://www.timesleader.com/news/731150/wolf-fetterman-shapiro-celebrate-legacy-of-martin-luther-king-jr
Volunteers dream up a world without gun violence at King Day of Service
http://www.philly.com/news/king-day-of-service-girard-dream-booths-20190121.html
Sharing and caring for others the theme at Kelly Strayhorn Theater MLK Day celebration
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/01/21/Kelly-Strayhorn-Theater-Celebrates-MLK-Day/stories/201901210109
Pitt students make a happy home for Humane Animal Rescue residents
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14529272-74/pitt-students-make-a-happy-home-for-humane-animal-rescue-residents
Annual MLK Day luncheon honors those fighting for justice, voting rights
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/annual-mlk-day-luncheon-honors-those-fighting-for-justice-voting/article_ecf080d2-b3b2-51c9-b422-9b177e64be68.html
Volunteers help elderly, veterans and kids in MLK’s name
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/volunteers-help-elderly-veterans-and-kids-in-mlk-s-name-1.2435928
PSU students turn out to help others on MLK Jr. Day
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/psu-students-turn-out-to-help-others-on-mlk-jr-day-1.2435983
Berks students get to work honoring Martin Luther King Jr.
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/fleetwood-high-school-students-olivet-club-members-get-to-work-honoring-martin-luther-king-jr
Remembering MLK’s visit to Philly’s Girard College, efforts to desegregate the school
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/remembering-mlk-s-visit-to-philly-s-girard-college-efforts/article_f7e9e6f8-1d81-11e9-9d1c-0f21f82c33ef.html
Business
Sears closing Hanover Twp. Warehouse
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/sears-closing-hanover-twp-warehouse-1.2436041
Appellate court to hear Ciavarella’s case
https://www.timesleader.com/news/731130/appellate-court-to-hear-ciavarellas-case-2
Aldi gets ready to open newest Berks County grocery store in Tilden Township
https://www.readingeagle.com/money/article/aldi-schedules-tilden-grand-opening
Crime/Punishment
What happened in the rush to open Pennsylvania’s biggest, most expensive prison?
http://www.philly.com/news/sci-phoenix-graterford-pennsylvania-prison-incarceration-wetzel-wolf-20190122.html
Philly rapper PnB Rock arrested for drugs, gun in Bucks County home
http://www.philly.com/news/pennsylvania/pnb-rock-rapper-arrest-philadelphia-rakim-hasheem-allen-20190121.html
Man who pleaded guilty to slaying teen brother gets parole
https://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/14528189-74/man-who-pleaded-guilty-to-slaying-teen-brother-gets-parole
Education
Schools districts join complaint filed against Sunoco pipeline
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/local/schools-districts-join-complaint-filed-against-sunoco-pipeline/article_1564046c-1da9-11e9-8732-77ebbbb91b06.html
Highlands to seek exceptions to increase property taxes by more than state limit
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14529377-74/highlands-to-seek-exceptions-to-increase-property-taxes-by-more-than-state
Overcrowding drives extra busing costs
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/overcrowding-drives-extra-busing-costs-1.2435980
Westmoreland County schools to form legislative committee
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14529345-74/westmoreland-county-schools-to-form-legislative-committee
Norwin superintendent, asst. superintendent take retirement incentives
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14529327-74/norwin-superintendent-asst-superintendent-take-retirement-incentives
Scranton School District seeks dismissal of coach’s lawsuit
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-school-district-seeks-dismissal-of-coach-s-lawsuit-1.2436070
Weatherly Area votes to not pay CCTI share
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/weatherly-area-votes-to-not-pay-ccti-share-1.2435911
In Pennsylvania, the majority of school funding comes from property taxes; how do other states fund education? [Ask the Eagle reports] https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/across-the-us-school-funding-systems-vary-widely
Two years after Penn State frat death, Greek life research center will rise in Tim Piazza’s honor
http://www.philly.com/education/piazza-penn-state-greek-life-research-endowment-20190122.html
Elections/Politics
Democrats running for president in 2020
http://www.philly.com/news/democrats-president-candidates-campaign-20190121.html
MLK holiday offers stage for Democratic hopefuls
http://www.philly.com/politics/nation/mlk-holiday-offers-stage-democratic-hopefuls-20190121.html
Trump campaign deepens Pa. ties ahead of 2020 election
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2019/01/21/Trump-campaign-deepens-Pa-ties-ahead-of-2020-election/stories/201901210124
Thousands of absentee ballots were rejected as record turnout encountered Pa.’s tight deadlines
http://www.philly.com/politics/pa-absentee-ballot-deadlines-rejected-midterm-election-20190118.html
Government Shutdown
Government shutdown jeopardizes museum’s celebration of 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote
http://www.philly.com/news/government-shutdown-pafa-pennsylvania-academy-fine-arts-women-vote-20190121.html
Temple offering free dental care to furloughed federal workers
http://www.philly.com/health/government-shutdown-free-dental-care-furloughed-federal-workers-temple-university-20190121.html
Trump’s shutdown solution hangs in limbo
http://www.philly.com/politics/nation/trumps-shutdown-solution-hangs-limbo-20190122.html
Pittsburgh Symphony is offering free tickets to furloughed federal employees
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14528008-74/pittsburgh-symphony-is-offering-free-tickets-to-furloughed-federal-employees
For poor, shutdown robs sense of safety
https://www.timesleader.com/news/731132/for-poor-shutdown-robs-sense-of-safety
TSA screener sick-outs hit 10 percent over holiday weekend
https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2019/01/tsa-screener-sick-outs-hit-10-percent-over-holiday-weekend.html
Philadelphia to offer bill payment flexibility amid shutdown
http://www.witf.org/news/2019/01/philadelphia-to-offer-bill-payment-flexibility-amid-shutdown.php
Local News
Nine Luzerne County Council applicants interviewed
https://www.timesleader.com/news/731155/nine-luzerne-county-council-applicants-interviewed
F.M. Kirby Foundation grants distributed locally
https://www.timesleader.com/news/731123/f-m-kirby-foundation-grants-distributed-locally
Hazleton council to review bids for downtown building
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/hazleton-council-to-review-bids-for-downtown-building-1.2435922
Tax lawsuit against Scranton promises long road ahead
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/tax-lawsuit-against-scranton-promises-long-road-ahead-1.2436065
Greenfield Twp. residents air complaints about sewer bill hike
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/greenfield-twp-residents-air-complaints-about-sewer-bill-hike-1.2436019
Harmar wants to buy fire substation to house public works equipment
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14530038-74/harmar-wants-to-buy-fire-substation-to-house-public-works-equipment
Homeless shelters filled beyond capacity in Reading
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/homeless-shelters-filled-beyond-capacity-in-reading
Former Reading managing director pursued similar job in York
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/former-reading-managing-director-pursued-similar-job-in-york
National News
Natural gas pipeline explodes in eastern Ohio
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/powersource/2019/01/21/Texas-Eastern-natural-gas-pipeline-explodes-in-noble-county-Ohio/stories/201901210118
Political shifts, sales slump cast shadow over gun industry
http://www.witf.org/news/2019/01/political-shifts-sales-slump-cast-shadow-over-gun-industry.php
Philly
Inside an immigrant family’s all-or-nothing gamble: Seeking sanctuary in a Philly church
http://www.philly.com/news/a/us-immigration-asylum-philadelphia-church-20180601.html
Are Philly court reporters accurate with black dialect? Study: Not really.
http://www.philly.com/news/court-reporter-stenographer-african-american-english-aave-philly-transcript-study-20190122.html
Mayor Kenney once derided city trade missions. Now he’s a believer.
http://www.philly.com/news/kenney-administration-philadelphia-trade-missions-ireland-uk-canada-germany-china-south-korea-20190122.html
In national skyline survey, 67 percent of people mistook Philly for NYC or Chicago
http://www.philly.com/news/skyline-philadelphia-new-york-development-comcast-technology-center-20190122.html
City controller Rhynhart echoes my pet peeve: mismanagement at Philly animal shelter | Stu Bykofsky
http://www.philly.com/news/columnists/acct-animal-shelter-stu-bykofsky–20190121.html
A Philly repair company charged an 86-year-old $4,650 and gave her nothing
http://www.philly.com/business/repairs-r-us-philadelphia-sears-citi-bank-appliance-scam-20190121.html
Pitt
United by tragedy: Tree of Life members visit Charleston church where mass shooting occurred
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2019/01/21/Tree-of-Life-Pittsburgh-synagogue-members-meet-Charleston-church-shooting/stories/201901210136
Two tragedies, one resolve: New Light members travel to Charleston
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14528335-74/two-tragedies-one-resolve-tree-of-life-members-travel-to-charleston
Housing costs drive latest migration for Somali Bantu refugees, from Lawrenceville to Northview Heights
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/01/21/Somali-Bantu-refugees-Pittsburgh-Lawrenceville-housing-costs-Northview-Heights-Arsenal-school/stories/201901170204
Current and former Rankin residents remember the past, envision the future
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2019/01/18/Rankin-residents-expats-remember-past-envision-future-Growing-up-through-the-Cracks-child-poverty/stories/201901180095
As lawmakers fail to reach deal, many Pittsburghers’ pensions brace for painful cuts
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/career-workplace/2019/01/20/Pension-reform-benefit-cuts-Teamsters-Ironworkers-UMWA/stories/201901200002
It can’t come too soon: Police given more help to combat domestic violence
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/01/22/It-can-t-come-too-soon-Police-given-more-help-to-combat-domestic-violence/stories/201901220018
From 1 ATM to multiple branches, Bank of America eyes expansion in Pittsburgh
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14530225-74/from-1-atm-to-multiple-branches-bank-of-america-eyes-expansion-in
3 injured in crash involving Port Authority bus, car in Pittsburgh’s Strip District
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14528726-74/4-injured-in-crash-involving-port-authority-bus-car-in-pittsburghs-strip
City salt truck rolls onto side in Pittsburgh
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14528466-74/city-salt-truck-rolls-onto-side-in-pittsburgh
State News
Latest phone scam targets? International college students
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2019/01/21/International-students-China-Carnegie-Mellon-University-CMU-deportation-crime-fraud-college/stories/201901210089
Pennsylvania man is recording world languages in a mission to save them
http://www.philly.com/news/wikitongues-dothraki-bantu-language-cornish-brooklyn-catalonia-20190122.html
Layer up: Bone-chilling weather set to moderate toward midweek
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/01/21/Bone-chilling-temperatures-will-rebound-toward-midweek/stories/201901210113
Another sinkhole appears in Chester County neighborhood, exposing Mariner East pipeline
http://www.philly.com/news/pennsylvania/chester-county-sinkhole-mariner-east-pipeline-pennsylvania-20190121.html
After a rain-soaked 2018, farmers brace for another wet year
http://www.philly.com/news/pennsylvania/rain-farmers-pennsylvania-crops-20190121.html
Panel discussion planned for Anthracite Mining Heritage Month
https://www.timesleader.com/news/731115/panel-discussion-planned-for-anthracite-mining-heritage-month
Lonnie Walker IV set for homecoming in Philadelphia
https://www.readingeagle.com/sports/article/lonnie-walker-iv-remains-upbeat-about-nba-prospects
Why is there a pit filled with dead deer in Central Pa.? The Game Commission answers
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/01/why-is-there-a-pit-filled-with-dead-deer-in-central-pa-the-game-commission-answers.html
Authorities say one dead; one missing after explosion and fire in Lehigh Township
https://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-lehigh-township-fatal-fire-20190121-story.html
With raw sewage spilling into waterways, Lehigh County communities ramp up repairs
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-lca-macungie-sewer-overflows-emergency-20190114-story.html
Transportation
40th Street Bridge ramp to Route 28 closes due to water line break
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/01/21/40th-Street-Bridge-ramp-to-Route-28-closes-due-to-water-line-leak/stories/201901210138
To protect concrete from road salt, Drexel engineers have an odd idea: bacteria
http://www.philly.com/health/road-salt-melt-snow-drexel-20190121.html
Felled tree, power lines shuts down section of Harrison road
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14527847-74/felled-tree-power-lines-shuts-down-section-of-harrison-road
COLTS settles lawsuit with bus driver
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/colts-settles-lawsuit-with-bus-driver-1.2436066
On busy, crash-prone Cumberland County artery, future might belong to walkers and bikers
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/01/on-busy-crash-prone-cumberland-county-artery-future-might-belong-to-walkers-and-bikers-rather-than-cars-and-trucks.html