Legislature

How inaction in Harrisburg stalled a Philadelphia gun-control law until 2020
https://www.penncapital-star.com/paforward/how-inaction-in-harrisburg-stalled-a-philadelphia-gun-control-law-until-2020/

Pennsylvania’s state parks have more visitors and less money — and fresh hopes to change that
https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania-state-parks-plan-funding-report-dcnr-pa-20191221.html

Bill seeks to regionalize how Pa. elects its Commonwealth, Superior, and Supreme court judges
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/12/bill-seeks-to-regionalize-how-pa-elects-its-commonwealth-superior-and-supreme-court-judges.html

Justice forms unifying issue
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/justice-forms-unifying-issue-1.2573881

Amendment goes halfway
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/amendment-goes-halfway-1.2573883

Administration

Wolf signs bill to improve probation services
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/wolf-signs-bill-to-improve-probation-services-1.2573862

Lt. Gov. Fetterman wants to use clemency to free wrongfully convicted. But the Board of Pardons is pushing back.
https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania-board-pardons-lieutenant-governor-john-fetterman-attorney-general-josh-shapiro-20191220.html

Pardons board rejections leave Lt. Gov. John Fetterman “dismayed”
https://www.penncapital-star.com/criminal-justice/pardons-board-rejections-leave-lt-gov-john-fetterman-dismayed/

Decision on SCI-Retreat won’t come until January
https://www.timesleader.com/news/766553/decision-on-sci-retreat-wont-come-until-january

State delays decision on SCI-Retreat
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/state-delays-decision-on-sci-retreat-1.2573932

Business

Lawsuit challenges state police over new ‘ghost gun’ policy
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/12/20/Lawsuit-PA-state-police-ghost-gun-policy-Josh-Shapiro/stories/201912200151

Karen Kane: Musings on change and community
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/karen-kane/2019/12/20/Giant-Eagle-blue-plastic-bags-recycle-musings-change-community/stories/201912200038

Wawa has called in the FBI to probe its nine-month-long data breach
https://www.inquirer.com/news/wawa-data-breach-credit-debit-card-fbi-investigation-20191221.html

Crime/Punishment

Woman who recorded traffic stop sues North Braddock police, claiming false arrest
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/12/20/Keaira-Booker-sues-North-Braddock-police-recorded-traffic-stop-false-arrest/stories/201912200120

Education

Official: Neshaminy spent $331k defending nickname
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20191220/official-neshaminy-spent-331k-defending-nickname

3,600 teddy bears collected by classmates of slain Berks County children donated to pediatric hospital
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-berks-children-hanged-teddy-bear-give-away-20191220-ibrkfq3fknej7lbrhtzx5lxnjm-story.html

New Ken-Arnold student left on W.L. Roenigk bus, 2nd pupil in 10 days
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/new-ken-arnold-student-left-on-w-l-roenigk-friday-second-student-in-10-days/

New Kensington-Arnold School Board continues to pave way for hefty property tax hike
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/new-ken-arnold-school-board-continues-to-pave-way-for-hefty-property-tax-hike/

I-LEAD Charter School could close at the end of the school year
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/local/i-lead-charter-school-could-close-at-the-end-of/article_214f9194-2341-11ea-bdc9-2f26c24aa63b.html

Oops! Lehigh University sends congratulatory emails to applicants who weren’t accepted
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/bethlehem/mc-nws–20191220-ztwhjbxz7vba5hd7pduvtv63cu-story.html

Dickinson College considers removing names of slaveholders from campus
https://www.witf.org/2019/12/20/dickinson-college-considers-removing-names-of-slaveholders-from-campus/

Elections/Politics

Sen. John DiSanto intends to seek re-election to a second term
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/12/sen-john-disanto-intends-to-seek-re-election-to-a-second-term.html

Health Care

Cancer patients’ desire to avoid opioids puts them at risk of harms including overdose, Penn study finds
https://www.inquirer.com/health/opioids-cancer-fear-addiction-study-penn-nursing-school-20191221.html

Obamacare sign-ups steady as debate persists over its future
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/obamacare-sign-ups-20191220.html

Lehigh Valley Health Network acquires Coordinated Health, makes inroads into Lackawanna County
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/lehigh-valley-health-network-acquires-coordinated-health-makes-inroads-into-lackawanna-county-1.2573819

Local News

Scranton officials may move OECD out of City Hall
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-officials-may-move-oecd-out-of-city-hall-1.2574016

RODERICK RANDOM: Women victors on shoulders of quirky pioneers
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/roderick-random-women-victors-on-shoulders-of-quirky-pioneers-1.2573889

West Reading plans to repaint gateway bridge over Penn Avenue
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/west-reading-plans-to-repaint-gateway-bridge-over-penn-avenue/article_3ed5f564-2346-11ea-9f65-8f2ca2f169d1.html

Hempfield considers new fire detection systems for township-owned buildings
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/hempfield-considers-new-fire-detection-systems-for-township-owned-buildings/

Luzerne County Court shrinking pending civil case docket
https://www.timesleader.com/news/766635/luzerne-county-court-shrinking-pending-civil-case-docket

Public hearing set on re-evaluation of Francis Walter Dam
https://www.timesleader.com/news/766623/public-hearing-set-on-re-evaluation-of-francis-walter-dam

National News

EPA offers first guidance on PFAS in groundwater
https://www.inquirer.com/news/pfas-groundwater-epa-guidelines-contamination-water-20191220.html

DHS watchdog finds no wrongdoing in deaths of 2 migrant kids
https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/dhs-watchdog-deaths-migrant-kids-us-mexico-border-20191221.html

Supreme Court won’t consider efforts to criminalize homeless for sleeping outside
https://www.inquirer.com/news/homeless-supreme-court-housing-mary-scullion-20191220.html

Brushing aside climate concerns, U.S. clears way for gas pipeline in Philadelphia area
https://www.inquirer.com/business/ferc-approves-adelphia-gateway-gas-pipeline-philadelphia-bucks-county-20191220.html

Military academies find no racism intent in hand gestures
https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/army-navy-game-hand-signals-20191220.html

Opioid Crisis

Wyoming County gets $600k grant to fight opioid crisis
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/wyoming-county-gets-600k-grant-to-fight-opioid-crisis-1.2574050

In West Chester, opioid victims remembered at candlelight vigil
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/local/in-west-chester-opioid-victims-remembered-at-candlelight-vigil/article_03e9a570-2352-11ea-ac4c-8b15e2bb75e5.html

Philly

This Kensington outreach worker saved dozens from overdose. Then the trauma became too much. | Mike Newall
https://www.inquirer.com/news/columnists/elvis-rosado-prevention-point-kensington-opiod-crisis-naloxone-20191221.html

L&I: St. Laurentius church in Fishtown not as dangerous as development team claims
https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/licenses-and-inspections-philly-st-laurentius-fishtown-church-engineers-report-20191220.html

After rowhouses exploded, neighbors rushed to help: ‘It’s really a South Philly thing’
https://www.inquirer.com/news/south-philadelphia-fire-explosion-neighbors-20191220.html

Body recovered from South Philly explosion debris
https://www.inquirer.com/news/south-philadelphia-fire-house-collapse-rescue-search-20191220.html

Man, 22, fatally shot in Tioga
https://www.inquirer.com/news/man-shot-dead-venango-tioga-20191221.html

Suspect in custody in hit-run death of woman, 82, in Northeast Philly
https://www.inquirer.com/news/yulia-sherman-hit-run-death-bustleton-northeast-20191221.html

Guess who’s home from federal prison in time for the holidays? Chaka Fattah Jr. | Jenice Armstrong
https://www.inquirer.com/news/chaka-fattah-prison-release-jenice-armstrong-20191220.html

Gentrification, soda tax, police body cameras, environmental injustice: What research taught us about Philadelphia in 2019 | Brain Trust
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/philadelphia-research-round-up-end-year-2019-policy-20191221.html

Shot and left for dead, a gunshot victim feels revictimized by the agencies charged to help | Helen Ubiñas
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/helen-ubinas-luis-berrios-victims-compensation-assistance-guns-violence-philadelphia-20191221.html

Pitt

tate delivers $2.2 million parks across across Allegheny County
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2019/12/20/State-delivers-2-2-million-to-parks-across-across-Allegheny-County/stories/201912200037

Allegheny County awards Familylinks $1 million contract to combat homelessness
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/allegheny-county-awards-familylinks-1-million-contract-to-combat-homelessness/

A green takeoff: New airport terminal to be environmentally friendly
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2019/12/20/Pittsburgh-International-Airport-LEED-Gensler-modernization-landside-terminal/stories/201912200130

Chelsa Wagner to stand trial again in Detroit
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/12/20/Chelsa-Wagner-Detroit-hotel-police-retry-stand-trial-again-felony-charge/stories/201912200108

Marisa Tomei set to join Jason Momoa in Pittsburgh-filmed ‘Sweet Girl’
https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/movies/2019/12/20/Oscar-winner-Marisa-Tomei-Jason-Momoa-Pittsburgh-filmed-Sweet-Girl-Netflix/stories/201912200117

Steelers safety Kameron Kelly waived after early morning arrest, altercation with police
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/12/20/Pittsburgh-Steelers-safety-Kameron-Kelly-arrested-altercation-fight-police-South-Side-bar/stories/201912200109

Allegheny Land Trust gets closer to purchase of Churchill country club
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2019/12/20/Allegheny-Land-Trust-gets-closer-to-purchase-of-Churchill-country-club/stories/201912200034

Pittsburgh’s longest-serving crossing guard caught off guard by mayor’s honor
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburghs-longest-serving-crossing-guard-caught-off-guard-by-mayors-honor/

Pittsburgh Menorah parade highlights Hanukkah Festival
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-menorah-parade-highlights-hanukkah-festival/

Pittsburgh police receive water shut-off notice
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-police-receive-water-shut-off-notice/

Strip District street to close for 30 months
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/street-in-pittsburghs-strip-district-to-close-for-30-months/

State News

Poorest Pa. families struggle through holidays as cash welfare stuck at 1990 levels
https://www.witf.org/2019/12/20/poorest-pa-families-struggle-through-holidays-as-cash-welfare-stuck-at-1990-levels/

Washington

Cartwright’s priorities included in FY2020 funding bills
https://www.timesleader.com/news/766637/cartwrights-priorities-included-in-fy2020-funding-bills

Impeachment vote was anything but personal | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/president-trump-impeachment-house-of-representatives-madeleine-dean-20191220.html

Sen. Bob Casey calls for the release of girl held for months at Berks County center
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/sen-bob-casey-calls-for-the-release-of-girl-held/article_345aaba4-236c-11ea-a9df-2f3a97310be1.html