Legislature
Open process
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/open-process-1.2574128
What is private equity and why are Pa. lawmakers concerned about the tens of millions of dollars of your money tied up in it?
https://www.penncapital-star.com/working-the-economy/what-is-private-equity-and-why-are-pa-lawmakers-concerned-about-the-tens-of-millions-of-dollars-of-your-money-tied-up-in-it/
End effort to rig state courts
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/end-effort-to-rig-state-courts-1.2574126
Editorial: Crackdown on ‘ghost guns’ targets offenders
https://www.readingeagle.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-crackdown-on-ghost-guns-targets-offenders/article_acebde00-2342-11ea-8fa3-2b308510c858.html
Administration
Gov. Wolf signs county probation and parole reform bills
https://www.timesleader.com/news/766687/gov-wolf-signs-county-probation-and-parole-reform-bills
Business
Keystone Landfill seeks alternative leachate disposal method
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/keystone-landfill-seeks-alternative-leachate-disposal-method-1.2574476
Super Saturday brings holiday shoppers out in droves at Westmoreland Mall
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/super-saturday-brings-holiday-shoppers-out-in-droves-in-westmoreland/
Crime/Punishment
Teen shot multiple times, bullets hit cars in Allentown early Saturday
https://www.mcall.com/news/police/mc-nws-man-walks-into-sacred-heart-allentown-gunshot-wound-20191221-ngqmfqrtjffshfcjnhp3fkhlxq-story.html
Education
Vo-tech schools serving Westmoreland, A-K Valley districts get nearly $82K in grants
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/vo-tech-schools-serving-westmoreland-and-alle-kiski-valley-districts-get-nearly-82k-in-state-grants/
How your school district monitors and protects students online
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20191222/how-your-school-district-monitors-and-protects-students-online
A teachable, impeachable moment: Social studies instructors seize on living history
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2019/12/22/impeachment-teachers-schools-trump-pittsburgh-harrison-sewickley-academy/stories/201912220018
Jeannette school closet helps students in need
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/jeannette-school-closet-helps-students-in-need/
Elections/Politics
Get ready for money to pour into Pa. legislative races because the winners get to draw congressional maps
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-2020-legislative-elections-redistricting-20191222.html
Health Care
Organ transplants using live donors soar at UPMC
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/organ-transplants-using-live-donors-soar-at-upmc/
Family says medical costs devastating
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/family-says-medical-costs-devastating-1.2574171
Local News
Attorney Kevin Hayes likely to become Scranton city council solicitor
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/attorney-kevin-hayes-likely-to-become-scranton-city-council-solicitor-1.2574413
Jeep enthusiasts turn passion into community service
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/jeep-enthusiasts-turn-passion-into-community-service-1.2574288
Chris Kelly: Christmas carols with a Scranton twist
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/chris-kelly-christmas-carols-with-a-scranton-twist-1.2574183
Audit: Chesco Deeds clerk got $200K in automatic overtime
https://www.dailylocal.com/news/audit-chesco-deeds-clerk-got-k-in-automatic-overtime/article_86579830-2408-11ea-b123-771cc019b14d.html
Outgoing troika of GOP Council members talk about what they accomplished, change in courthouse
https://www.delcotimes.com/news/local/outgoing-troika-of-gop-council-members-talk-about-what-they/article_f0dbb04a-2414-11ea-9a7c-378f685d8bd9.html
‘Officer’ Rudy, newest member of Gilpin’s police force, has a nose for trouble (and snacks)
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/officer-rudy-newest-member-of-gilpins-police-force-has-a-nose-for-trouble-and-snacks/
Laney’s Legacy of Hope donates $100,000 for pediatric cancer research
https://www.readingeagle.com/laney-s-legacy-of-hope-donates-for-pediatric-cancer-research/article_5de9d10c-2420-11ea-bfd8-a3cce7523061.html
Memorial service recognizes area’s homeless population
https://www.timesleader.com/news/766706/memorial-service-recognizes-areas-homeless-population
Incoming W-B mayor plans to prioritize homelessness
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/incoming-w-b-mayor-plans-to-prioritize-homelessness-1.2574404
5 who inspired the Wyoming Valley in 2019
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/5-who-inspired-the-wyoming-valley-in-2019-1.2574246
National News
U.S. government set to triple fees for genealogy records
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2019/12/22/Federal-government-fees-increase-records-family-tree-roots-historians-genealogists/stories/201912190175
Vaping waste becoming a new headache for schools, cities
https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2019/12/vaping-waste-becoming-a-new-headache-for-schools-cities.html
Oregon bans cannabis-infused alcoholic beverages
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/12/oregon-bans-cannabis-infused-alcoholic-beverages.html
Natural Gas
California considers marijuana tax tied to the amount of a joint’s THC content
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/12/california-considers-marijuana-tax-tied-to-the-amount-of-a-joints-thc-content.html
New Jersey
How power broker George Norcross and friends got waterfront land for cheap
https://www.inquirer.com/news/george-norcross-camden-land-waterfront-liberty-nj-20191222.html
Philly
Michael Bloomberg talks Gritty, Trump, and health care in Philly campaign stop
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/michael-bloomberg-philadelphia-presidential-campaign-headquarters-trump-2020-election-20191221.html
Pitt
‘It breaks our hearts’: 14 homeless people who died on Pittsburgh streets honored at vigil
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/social-services/2019/12/21/homeless-died-Pittsburgh-s-streets-honored-annual-vigil/stories/201912210048
As the war in Afghanistan rages on, Al Villanueva and other Pittsburgh veterans watch — and question
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2019/12/21/al-villanueva-steelers-war-afghanistan-peace-talks-negotiations-pittsburgh-veterans/stories/201912170160
Man shot, killed by Wilkinsburg police officer
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/12/22/Man-shot-killed-Wilkinsburg-police-officer-foot-chase-Penn-Wood/stories/201912220126
Hundreds turn out for Pittsburgh fraternity’s 26th annual Christmas toy giveaway
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/hundreds-turn-out-for-pittsburgh-fraternitys-26th-annual-christmas-party/
Philly isn’t alone in promoting questionable cops | John N. Mitchell
https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/philly-isnt-alone-in-promoting-questionable-cops-john-n-mitchell/
State News
State orders fixes for ‘dirty’ brown public water supply in Aliquippa
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2019/12/22/pennsylvania-DEP-orders-fixes-for-Aliquippa-water-contaminants/stories/201912190202
A year of reckonings in the Amish, Mennonite communities
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2019/12/22/Coverings-Amish-Mennonite-Charity-Sexual-abuse-Jeriah-Mast-daniel-kurtz/stories/201912210004
How safe is hunting in Pennsylvania?
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/how-safe-is-hunting-in-pennsylvania/article_79a43726-2285-11ea-a590-3f0ff37bdea1.html
Pa. pension employees are taking pricey trips to Beverly Hills. But the costs are hidden. Why?
https://www.penncapital-star.com/working-the-economy/pa-pension-employees-trips-beverly-hills-los-angeles/
In Pa.’s epicenter of the Civil War, a growing sense of LGBTQ pride
https://www.penncapital-star.com/civil-rights-social-justice/in-pa-s-epicenter-of-the-civil-war-a-growing-sense-of-lgbtq-pride/
Transportation
Transit authority on track to start running Westmoreland bus service in January
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/transit-authority-on-track-to-take-start-running-westmoreland-bus-service-in-january/
Washington
What impeachment? Congress focuses on trade, retirement savings and robocalls
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2019/12/22/Impeachment-Congress-trade-retirement-savings-paid-leave-prescription-drug-prices/stories/201912220014
‘This is a big deal.’ How impeachment may mark Trump’s legacy.
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/trump-impeachment-legacy-bill-clinton-richard-nixon-20191222.html
Trump slams ‘unfair’ Pelosi delay, rallies young conservatives
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/donald-trump-impeachment-nancy-pelosi-turning-point-usa-speech-20191222.html
Casey, Toomey among legislators seeking increased radon protections in public housing
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/12/casey-toomey-among-legislators-seeking-increased-radon-protections-in-public-housing.html