Legislature

Election reform subject of many bills in Harrisburg
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/election-reform-subject-of-many-bills-in-harrisburg

Case validates severance tax
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/case-validates-severance-tax-1.2429815

A simpler plan: The case for same-day voter registration
https://www.pennlive.com/as-i-see-it/2019/01/a-simpler-plan-the-case-for-same-day-voter-registration.html

Sen. Lisa Boscola closes Whitehall office, sets community hours
https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/lehigh-county/2019/01/sen-lisa-boscola-closes-whitehall-office-sets-community-hours.html

State senator takes another run at Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania
http://www.goerie.com/news/20190107/state-senator-takes-another-run-at-sunday-hunting-in-pennsylvania

Special election set for April 2 to fill Pa. Senate seat left vacant by Guy Reschenthaler
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2019/01/05/Special-election-April-2-pennsylvania-Senate-seat-left-vacant-Guy-Reschenthaler/stories/201901050061

Special election to fill Guy Reschenthaler’s Pennsylvania Senate seat to be set for April 2
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14471869-74/special-election-to-fill-guy-reschenthalers-pennsylvania-senate-seat-to-be-set

The Rundown: State Rep. Jim Cox the only committee chairman from Berks County
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/the-rundown-state-rep-jim-cox-the-only-committee-chairman-from-berks-county

Ed Palattella: Sonney brings much to education panel
http://www.goerie.com/opinion/20190107/ed-palattella-sonney-brings-much-to-education-panel

Business

Firm plans to build warehouse in Hazle Twp.
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/firm-plans-to-build-warehouse-in-hazle-twp-1.2430193

Education

Data: Local ‘underperforming’ students faring better than Pa. rate
https://www.timesleader.com/news/729407/data-local-schools-serving-underperforming-students-better-than-pa-rate

Neshaminy School District faces Human Relations Commission hearing over Redskins name
http://www.philly.com/education/neshaminy-native-american-redskins-discrimination-20190105.html

School board stonewalls needed audit
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/school-board-stonewalls-needed-audit-1.2430167

North Schuylkill, teachers union reach early agreement
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/north-schuylkill-teachers-union-reach-early-agreement-1.2430181

Elections/Politics

Scavo throws hat in the ring for vacant 114th seat
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scavo-throws-hat-in-the-ring-for-vacant-114th-seat-1.2430296

Government Shutdown

Shutdown impact could intensify as political stalemate pushes into week 3
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14474936-74/shutdown-impact-could-intensify-as-political-stalemate-pushes-into-week-3

Health Care

Nurses plan forum on staffing concerns
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/nurses-plan-forum-on-staffing-concerns-1.2430280

Demolition work nearly complete for new hospital in Dickson City
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/demolition-work-nearly-complete-for-new-hospital-in-dickson-city-1.2430360

Local News

Stormwater fee meeting planned in the Back Mountain
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/stormwater-fee-meeting-planned-in-the-back-mountain-1.2430234

So, you want to be a county council member?
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/so-you-want-to-be-a-county-council-member-1.2430251

Look ahead: What to watch for as the year progresses
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/look-ahead-what-to-watch-for-as-the-year-progresses-1.2430191

Hillside Farms barn project making progress
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/hillside-farms-barn-project-making-progress-1.2430261

MONDAY UPDATE: End in sight for long-running locomotive restoration
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/monday-update-end-in-sight-for-long-running-locomotive-restoration-1.2430294

UniFirst buys New Kensington property, proceeds to aid new city playground
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14474839-74/unifirst-buying-property-building-new-playground-in-new-kensington

Springdale Township could face state fines for not properly testing water, failing to document
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14474840-74/springdale-township-could-face-state-fines-for-not-properly-testing-water-failing

Berks County municipalities get extension on signing up for animal control services
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/berks-county-municipalities-get-extension-on-signing-up-for-animal-control-services

Reading residents, organizers dissect “no snitching” culture
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/reading-residents-organizers-dissect-no-snitching-culture

Neighbors shocked by 70-foot utility poles, fight electric company
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/01/neighbors-shocked-by-70-foot-utility-poles-fight-electric-company.html

Seven hospitalized over carbon monoxide leak in Harrisburg
http://www.witf.org/news/2019/01/seven-hospitalized-over-carbon-monoxide-leak-in-harrisburg.php

Opioid Crisis

Healthy MOMS program offers support for expecting moms struggling with opioids
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/healthy-moms-program-offers-support-for-expecting-moms-struggling-with-opioids-1.2430363

Philly

South Philly dog walker killed after getting punched in park: ‘It’s really shaken the neighborhood’
http://www.philly.com/news/dog-walker-punched-dead-south-philadelphia-gold-star-park-20190106.html

Larry Krasner’s first year as Philly DA: Staff turnover, fewer cases, plenty of controversy
http://www.philly.com/news/larry-krasner-philadelphia-district-attorney-staff-reform-cases-first-year-20190106.html

Removed in secret, hidden for years, Philly schools’ art collection belongs in the public eye, officials now say
http://www.philly.com/education/philly-schools-art-collection-paintings-display-20190106.html

Philly house where fire killed grandmother and 2 children had no smoke detectors
http://www.philly.com/news/philadelphia-fire-grandmother-grandchildren-20190106.html

Philly start-up Houwzer draws $4.5M from Navy basketball great David Robinson and local investor Ira Lubert
http://www.philly.com/news/houwzer-david-robinson-navy-nba-ira-lubert-20190107.html

You may be paying too much property tax. It’s up to our elected officials to fix it | Editorial
http://www.philly.com/opinion/editorials/property-assessments-philadelphia-opa-darrell-clarke-20190107.html

New ideas needed to attack Philadelphia’s relentless gun violence | Editorial
http://www.philly.com/opinion/editorials/gun-violence-philadelphia-police-20190106.html

Pitt

City officials don’t expect gun rally to cause major disruptions
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2019/01/06/open-carry-rally-gun-rights-gun-control-pittsburgh/stories/201901060192

Hundreds of protesters, many armed, expected to rally in Downtown Pittsburgh
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14477426-74/hundreds-of-protesters-many-armed-expected-to-rally-in-downtown-pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Public Schools optimistic about reducing student suspensions
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2019/01/05/Pittsburgh-Public-Schools-RAND-Corporation-restorative-practices-student-suspensions-discipline/stories/201901050005

With a mission to address loneliness, the ‘Hug Train’ makes a stop in Pittsburgh
https://www.post-gazette.com/life/lifestyle/2019/01/06/Arie-Moyal-Hug-Train-free-hugs-loneliness-mental-health-Pittsburgh-stop/stories/201901060187

Making Pittsburgh livable, viable: 12 women to meet in 2019
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2019/01/07/12-Women-to-Meet-in-2019-Pittsburgh-livability/stories/201901070053

County police officers honored for actions at Tree of Life
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2019/01/05/County-police-officers-honored-for-actions-at-Tree-of-Life/stories/201901040162

Oakmont shop’s project goes viral, makes blankets to comfort Tree of Life families
https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/art-architecture/2019/01/07/Oakmont-Yarns-by-Design-project-goes-viral-blankets-afgan-squares-Tree-of-Life-Pittsburgh/stories/201901030007

Unfounded criticism: City police officers’ moonlighting follows the rules
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/01/07/Unfounded-criticism-City-police-officers-moonlighting-follows-the-rules/stories/201901070013

Mac Miller tribute fund raises more than $370K for youth programs, community-building
https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14476255-74/mac-miller-tribute-fund-raises-more-than-370k-for-youth-programs-community-building

State News

Washington County gas outage ‘uncomfortable but not unbearable,’ with temperatures above freezing
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/washington/2019/01/06/Gas-outage-uncomfortable-but-not-unbearable-with-temperatures-above-freezing-in-Donora/stories/201901060201

Gas restored to most customers in Donora outage
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14475223-74/columbia-gas-seeks-to-restore-service-in-donora

Long-term care insurance premiums are rising again in Pennsylvania, by a lot. Here’s why.
http://www.philly.com/business/long-term-care-insurance-premiums-higher–20190107.html

Record rain brought pain throughout southwestern Pa.
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/environment/2019/01/05/Record-rainfall-pittsburgh-Alcosan-golf-courses-pennsylvania/stories/201901060088

For many Orthodox Christians, Monday is Christmas Day — a solemn, religious observance
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14476709-74/for-many-many-christians-monday-is-christmas-day-a-solemn-religious

Husband dies while trying to rescue wife from burning Pa. home
https://triblive.com/state/pennsylvania/14475376-74/husband-dies-while-trying-to-rescue-wife-from-burning-pa-home

Feds nab more than 700 people in NEPA for immigration violations
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/feds-nab-more-than-700-people-in-nepa-for-immigration-violations-1.2430078

DEP urges testing homes, basements for deadly radon gas
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/dep-urges-testing-homes-basements-for-deadly-radon-gas

Bees star in sprawling display at Pennsylvania Farm Show
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/bees-star-in-sprawling-display-at-pennsylvania-farm-show

Transportation

Next up: Sewickley Twp., as work continues to repair roads, landslides from 2018
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14477300-74/next-up-sewickley-twp-as-work-continues-to-repair-roads-landslides-from

Two fatal crashes raise concern about safety of intersection in fast-growing area
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/01/two-fatal-crashes-raise-concern-about-safety-of-intersection-in-fast-growing-area.html