Legislature
Once a staffer, Kyle Mullins now takes oath as legislator
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/once-a-staffer-kyle-mullins-now-takes-oath-as-legislator-1.2428903
Lawmakers introduce comprehensive pipeline legislative package
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/local/lawmakers-introduce-comprehensive-pipeline-legislative-package/article_9fe483ce-0ed0-11e9-a19b-0f81e28c5703.html
Pa. House Republicans must not play politics with new executive branch oversight committee | Opinion
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2019/01/pa-house-republicans-must-not-play-politics-with-new-executive-branch-oversight-committee-opinion.html
Pennsylvania House’s powerful new ‘oversight committee’ triggers legal and political questions
https://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pennsylvania-house-subpoena-legal-power-20190102-story.html
State lawmakers take their oaths of office
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/local/state-lawmakers-take-their-oaths-of-office/article_683a268a-0eb8-11e9-a7e2-13e7f2fd7b54.html
Editorial: In Pa. a woman’s place is now in House – & Senate
https://www.delcotimes.com/opinion/editorial-in-pa-a-woman-s-place-is-now-in/article_cc19307c-0e97-11e9-83ec-571e184a400b.html
Boback, Peifer gain state chairmanships
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/boback-peifer-gain-state-chairmanships-1.2428910
Redistricting/Gerrymandering
Editorial: Efforts to end gerrymandering must keep advancing
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/efforts-to-end-gerrymandering-must-keep-advancing
Business
A new app gives paid time off to the ‘original gig workers’
http://www.philly.com/news/gig-economy-benefits-house-cleaners-national-domestic-workers-alliance-20190102.html
Plains Paper will close after 60 years; retirement sale planned
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/plains-paper-will-close-after-60-years-retirement-sale-planned-1.2429011
The Children’s Place in Wyoming Valley Mall to close
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/the-children-s-place-in-wyoming-valley-mall-to-close-1.2428950
Crime/Punishment
New program helps low-level criminal offenders navigate their way to a clean slate
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/01/new-program-helps-low-level-criminal-offenders-navigate-their-way-to-a-clean-slate.html
Legal groups launch effort to help people get Clean Slate relief
https://www.tribdem.com/news/legal-groups-launch-effort-to-help-people-get-clean-slate/article_324e7d16-0f06-11e9-ab39-53edb941ed21.html
Police investigate state prison inmate’s suspicious death in Indiana County
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/01/02/SCI-Pine-Grove-inmate-death-Luis-Santiago-Indiana-County-Regional-Medical-Center/stories/201901020129
Sharing meals brings families together, even in prison. Doing without has strained ties.
http://www.philly.com/news/pennsylvania-doc-prison-security-crackdown-vending-food-20190103.html
Make GEDs available to all prisoners
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/make-geds-available-to-all-prisoners-1.2428925
Arrests up, accidents down for New Year’s weekend, Pennsylvania state police report
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/arrests-up-accidents-down-for-new-years-weekend-pennsylvania-state-police-report
Ex-Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski joins prison band, hopes to teach government class to inmates
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-nws-allentown-ed-pawlowski-prison-update-20190102-story.html
Education
Keystone State investing in future scholars with new college investment program
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/babies-get-100-for-being-born-in-pennsylvania
Wallingford-Swarthmore School District leaders appeal for calm about racist letters and photo
http://www.philly.com/education/wallingford-swarthmore-sd-hold-meeting-tonight-about-racist-letters-photo-20190102.html
We Are! … Happy Valley? Penn State applies for trademark on moniker
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2019/01/02/Penn-State-University-Happy-Valley-trademark-licensed-merchandise-college-sports/stories/201901020165
Westmoreland County Community College hosts express enrollment
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14462470-74/westmoreland-county-community-college-hosts-express-enrollment
Due process still crucial
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/due-process-still-crucial-1.2428927
Elections/Politics
House special election for Kavulich’s seat set for March 12
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/house-special-election-for-kavulich-s-seat-set-for-march-12-1.2428872
Special election set for West Philly seat of convicted state lawmaker
http://www.philly.com/news/special-election-th-legislative-district-west-philadelphia-vanessa-lowery-brown-20190102.html
Health Care
Flu is on the rise in the Philly area, but there is still time to get the shot
http://www.philly.com/health/flu-pennsylvania-new-jersey-deaths-20190102.html
Sticker prices: Pittsburgh-area health systems list their charges, even as they doubt it will help consumers
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/healthcare-business/2019/01/02/Sticker-prices-Health-systems-criticize-charges-insurance-upmc-washington-health-system-excela/stories/201901020140
Hospital price lists go public online
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14463000-74/hospital-price-lists-go-public-online
Young invincibles like me should pay our fair share for health care | Opinion
http://www.philly.com/opinion/commentary/health-care-insurance-obamacare-conservative-20190102.html
Local News
Luzerne County overdose deaths break another record
https://www.timesleader.com/news/729174/luzerne-county-overdose-deaths-break-another-record
Requests rising for Luzerne County Court interpreters
https://www.timesleader.com/news/729176/requests-rising-for-luzerne-county-court-interpreters
Luzerne County Council to choose replacement for Brominski soon
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/luzerne-county-council-to-choose-replacement-for-brominski-soon-1.2428949
WB Mayor Tony George highlights 2018 accomplishments
https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/729133/wb-mayor-tony-george-highlights-2018-accomplishments
Second W-B officer joins suit against city over K-9
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/second-w-b-officer-joins-suit-against-city-over-k-9-1.2428954
Councilwoman selected to serve as Nanticoke’s mayor
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/councilwoman-selected-to-serve-as-nanticoke-s-mayor-1.2429007
Workshop to offer overview of local government
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/workshop-to-offer-overview-of-local-government-1.2428915
Dunmore police chief reinstated, cleared by borough investigation
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/dunmore-police-chief-reinstated-cleared-by-borough-investigation-1.2428848
Several options available for disposing of old Christmas trees
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/several-options-available-for-disposing-of-old-christmas-trees-1.2429089
Olyphant adjusts zoning on warehouse land
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/olyphant-adjusts-zoning-on-warehouse-land-1.2429082
Hazle Twp. Municipal Authority remembers Schiavo as friend, advocate
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/hazle-twp-municipal-authority-remembers-schiavo-as-friend-advocate-1.2428973
Maidencreek house demolished for Route 222 improvements
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/maidencreek-house-demolished-for-route-222-improvements
Many municipalities hold line on taxes, space out major projects
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/01/many-municipalities-hold-line-on-taxes-space-out-major-projects.html
As population ages, more Erie County residents living alone
http://www.goerie.com/news/20190103/as-population-ages-more-erie-county-residents-living-alone
Natural Gas
Fracking firms in Pa. are getting billed for millions in impact fees
http://www.philly.com/business/fracking-pennsylvania-impact-fees-supreme-cout-20190103.html
Mariner East 2 gas pipeline in operation
https://www.tribdem.com/news/mariner-east-gas-pipeline-in-operation/article_fa981608-0ef0-11e9-8300-97b6ab723b55.html
Philly
Jeff Brown to close West Philly ShopRite, blames soda tax
http://www.philly.com/news/soda-tax-shoprite-kenney-jeff-brown-haverford-20190102.html
Beverage tax causes ShopRite on Haverford Avenue to close
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/beverage-tax-causes-shoprite-on-haverford-avenue-to-close/article_990199ae-1644-5c1a-ae31-f851a429af28.html
Philly City Council members promote private company’s water- and sewer-line warranty
http://www.philly.com/business/philadelphia-water-sewer-line-warranty-energy-authority-20190102.html
East Passyunk’s iconic Indian logo — homage or ‘casual racism’?
http://www.philly.com/news/east-passyunk-indian-headdress-leni-lenape-logo-20190103.html
City-owned land under contract in Northeast Philly for latest speculative warehouse project
http://www.philly.com/real-estate/arbok-woodhaven-speculative-warehouse-northeast-philadelphia-20190103.html
A judge’s odd analogy could overturn a dozen old Philly murder convictions
http://www.philly.com/news/philadelphia-murder-convictions-judge-renee-cardwell-hughes-larry-krasner-20190102.html
2 Mummers, woman killed in South Philly crash with car driven by possibly suicidal man
http://www.philly.com/news/man-stabbed-head-on-crash-dead-south-philadelphia-20190102.html
Mumia Abu-Jamal’s latest appeals victory sets a problematic precedent | Opinion
http://www.philly.com/opinion/commentary/mumia-abu-jamal-daniel-faulkner-appeals-request-20190103.html
Philly City Council president inaccurately accuses Mummers troupe of wearing blackface
http://www.philly.com/news/philadelphia-city-council-president-darrell-clarke-blackface-mummers-parade-black-20190102.html
Sloppy facts about Mummer’s Jay-Z skit distract from important conversation | Editorial
http://www.philly.com/opinion/editorials/mummers-jay-z-blackface-darrell-clarke-jim-kenney-20190102.html
Jay-Z Mummer: ‘There was no blackface. I am black.’ | Perspective
http://www.philly.com/opinion/commentary/jay-z-mummer-blackface-controversy-20190102.html
Pitt
Pittsburgh warns City Hall visitors that guns are prohibited in building
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14462062-74/pittsburgh-warns-city-hall-visitors-for-a-first-time-that-guns-are
Pittsburgh police commanders’ private business raises ethics questions
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/01/02/pittsburgh-police-ethics-code-dba-training-solutions-conflict-jason-lando-cristyn-zett/stories/201901020146
Walkabout: Pittsburgh’s weather gets a bad rap
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2019/01/02/Pittsburgh-s-weather-gets-a-bad-rap-National-Weather-Service/stories/201901010713
Bad police work: Missteps warrant dimissal of homicide case
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/01/02/Bad-police-work-Missteps-warrant-dimissal-of-homicide-case/stories/201901020043
Autism Speaks meeting will lay out 2019 plans, volunteer opportunities
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14462939-74/autism-speaks-meeting-will-lay-out-2019-plans-volunteer-opportunities
The Housing Authority of Pittsburgh helped 21 families purchase homes in 2018
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14462621-74/the-housing-authority-of-pittsburgh-helped-21-families-purchase-homes-in-2018
State News
Delaware County mayor booted from office over felony conviction
http://www.philly.com/news/morton-mayor-bruce-blunt-delaware-county-removed-district-attorney-katayoun-copeland-20190102.html
U.S. officials discuss Turkey’s request for return of cleric Fethullah Gulen from Pennsylvania
http://www.philly.com/news/nation-world/us-officials-discuss-turkeys-request-return-cleric-fethullah-gulen-pennsylvania-20190103.html
Treasure Hunt ticket worth $150,000 sold in Luzerne County
https://www.timesleader.com/news/729100/treasure-hunt-ticket-worth-150000-sold-in-luzerne-county
‘Creative parking’ at the Farm Show could prove costly
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/01/farm-show-problem-parkers-could-be-towed.html
Washington
After shutdown talks go nowhere, officials to try again
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2019/01/03/government-shutdown-talks-go-nowhere-congress-trump-border-wall/stories/201901030079
Liberal revolt threatens to derail House Democrats on their first day in charge
http://www.philly.com/politics/nation/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-nancy-pelosi-revolt-congress-house-democrats-20190102.html
2 who will represent Berks County in Congress among women being sworn in today
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/2-who-will-represent-berks-county-in-congress-among-women-being-sworn-in-today
New year, new Congress: Key storylines as Pennsylvania lawmakers take oaths
https://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-nws-116th-congress-chatter-20190102-story.html