Legislature
Santarsiero named to Bucks govt. transition team; team makes first selections
https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20191223/santarsiero-named-to-bucks-govt-transition-team-team-makes-first-selections
End backlog for state park conservation
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/end-backlog-for-state-park-conservation-1.2575045
Administration
Pennsylvania’s head boomer and a WWE heel air your Festivus grievances
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2019/12/23/john-fetterman-tom-wolf-pennsylvania-mean-tweets-video-festivus/stories/201912230083
Business
Chewy building new facility in Lackawanna County
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/chewy-building-new-facility-in-lackawanna-county-1.2575107
Using old oil and gas wells as collateral, Diversified gets $200M from hungry investors
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/powersource/2019/12/22/Using-old-oil-and-gas-wells-as-collateral-Diversified-gets-200M-from-hungry-investors/stories/201912180145
Why Trump’s steel tariff didn’t save U.S. Steel workers from layoffs
https://triblive.com/business/why-trumps-steel-tariff-didnt-save-u-s-steel-workers-from-layoffs/
Crime/Punishment
Delco funeral home director pocketed nearly $900K meant for burials, DA says
https://www.inquirer.com/news/william-oleary-funeral-home-embezzlement-delaware-county-20191223.html
Philly man arraigned on charges in W-B homicide
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/philly-man-arraigned-on-charges-in-w-b-homicide-1.2575208
Police: SCI-Dallas inmate ran murder-for-hire plot from prison
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/police-sci-dallas-inmate-ran-murder-for-hire-plot-from-prison-1.2575100
York County man accused of killing parents says he was off medication
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/york-county-man-accused-of-killing-parents-says-he-was-off-medication/
Appeal of man convicted of 1988 lawmaker slaying rejected
https://www.witf.org/2019/12/24/appeal-of-man-convicted-of-1988-lawmaker-slaying-rejected/
Education
Patriots DE Chase Winovich pays off school lunch debt for West Jefferson Hills students
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2019/12/23/Patriots-Chase-Winovich-NFL-Thomas-Jefferson-West-Jefferson-School-district-lunch-debt/stories/201912230126
Plum School District students raise more than $42,000 in 20th year of Make-A-Wish telethon
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2019/12/23/Plum-School-District-students-raise-more-than-42-000-in-20th-year-of-Make-A-Wish-telethon/stories/201912230068
Lower Burrell school nixes holiday parties, replaces with ‘Kids for Kids’ market fundraiser
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/lower-burrell-school-nixes-holiday-parties-replaces-with-kids-for-kids-market-fundraiser/
Scranton School District solicitor says no to payroll tax
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-school-district-solicitor-says-no-to-payroll-tax-1.2575186
Health Care
AG Shapiro files petition on behalf of laid-off Ellwood City Medical Center workers
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/healthcare-business/2019/12/23/Ellwood-City-Medical-Center-Josh-Shapiro-Attorney-General-Americore-Health-Grant-White/stories/201912230119
Attorney General: Fix Ellwood hospital or step aside
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20191223/attorney-general-fix-ellwood-hospital-or-step-aside/1
Local News
Cummings, O’Malley name Cerra Lackawanna County Tax Claim Bureau head
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/cummings-o-malley-name-cerra-lackawanna-county-tax-claim-bureau-head-1.2575141
Scranton Mayor-elect Cognetti gives birth to baby girl
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-mayor-elect-cognetti-gives-birth-to-baby-girl-1.2574875
One of the wealthiest counties in Pennsylvania says it’s finally close to ending homelessness
https://www.inquirer.com/news/homelessness-chester-county-decade-to-doorways-pa-montgomery-bucks-delaware-20191224.html
New Kensington Council schedules special meeting to adopt budget, tax increase
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/new-kensington-council-schedules-special-meeting-to-adopt-budget-tax-increase/
Berks Latino Workforce Development Corp. forms to fill workforce development gap
https://www.readingeagle.com/business-weekly/berks-latino-workforce-development-corp-forms-to-fill-workforce-development/article_f3b4911a-259a-11ea-ab8a-afcb502e02a3.html
Reading City Council reintroduces ordinances to help city development
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/reading-city-council-reintroduces-ordinances-to-help-city-development/article_2f345b40-25e0-11ea-87d2-53c816f6a376.html
County security guards now armed
https://www.timesleader.com/news/766857/county-security-guards-now-armed
Wilkes-Barre Mayor George defends use of city car for personal use
https://www.timesleader.com/news/766919/wilkes-barre-mayor-george-defends-use-of-city-car-for-personal-use
Wilkes-Barre’s newest firefighters graduate training
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/wilkes-barre-s-newest-firefighters-graduate-training-1.2575135
Lost or forgotten bikes, long piling up in Bethlehem police headquarters, get rehabbed and gifted to kids
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-bethlehem-holiday-bikes-for-kids-20191224-rtxwh2g3srgjpdpemlyio5ptke-story.html
Philly
Why the next Philly police contract may not be negotiated behind closed doors
https://www.inquirer.com/jobs/labor/philly-fop-police-union-contract-activists-reform-20191224.html
A South Philly street’s Christmas tradition still pumping despite deflating Santa
https://www.inquirer.com/news/smedley-street-christmas-display-south-philly-santas-20191224.html
For Philly’s Christmas Eve, a feast of wishes | Editorial
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/christmas-wish-kenney-wawa-refinery-injection-site-20191224.html
Philadelphia is 1,000 miles away from Iowa, but it’s hosting an official Iowa caucus
https://www.inquirer.com/news/iowa-satellite-caucus-philadelphia-penn-pennsylvania-dnc-primary-2020-democrats-20191224.html
For black folks, impeachment doesn’t mean much | Solomon Jones
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/black-african-american-opinion-impeachment-poverty-philadelphia-20191223.html
The rhythms and rush of Christmas in Philly | Mike Newall
https://www.inquirer.com/news/columnists/christmas-philly-jolly-trolley-dads-stuffings-christmas-village-20191224.html
Two teenagers shot, one fatally, in afternoon Philly shootings
https://www.inquirer.com/crime/north-philadelphia-shootings-teenagers-children-homicide-20191223.html
3 men critical after 3 separate North Philadelphia shootings
https://www.inquirer.com/news/shooting-critical-temple-hospital-germantown-huntingdon-20191224.html
Why Philly City Councilwoman Helen Gym is standing by her indicted colleague Bobby Henon
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/philadelphia/helen-gym-bobby-henon-philadelphia-city-council-20191223.html
Two women grew up in the former Soviet Union. Their paths tragically crossed in Northeast Philadelphia.
https://www.inquirer.com/news/fatal-crash-yulia-sherman-romualda-gulbiniene-northeast-philadelphia-hit-and-run-20191223.html
How the PES refinery shutdown is a good opportunity for Philly | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/south-philly-refinery-pes-university-of-pennsylvania-20191224.html
Society Hill bike lanes raise questions about whether the Kenney administration really supports Vision Zero | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/society-hill-bike-lane-emily-fredericks-transportation-traffic-20191224.html
Pitt
Menorah parade, festival add to Hanukkah tradition in Pittsburgh
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/12/23/Menorah-parade-festival-add-to-Hanukkah-tradition-in-Pittsburgh/stories/201912240070
Menorah Parade illuminates the streets of Pittsburgh
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/menorah-parade-illuminates-the-streets-of-pittsburgh/
City to residents: Christmas tree recycling season is around the corner
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/12/23/Pittsburgh-Christmas-Tree-recycling-season-hours-information-locations/stories/201912230071
Lottery ticket worth over $1M sold at Penn Hills grocery store
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2019/12/23/Winning-Match-6-Lotto-ticket-sold-Penn-Hills-Shop-n-Save/stories/201912230089
Allegheny County Health Department warns of bad air quality in region
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/allegheny-county-health-department-warns-of-bad-air-quality-in-region/
Polluted air plagues Clairton, Mon valley again
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/environment/2019/12/23/clairton-air-pollution-coke-works-mon-valley-health-department/stories/201912230118
Lawsuit: School bus driver abandoned kids two miles from school
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/12/23/Lawsuit-School-bus-driver-abandoned-kids-two-miles-from-school/stories/201912230121
Councilwoman Harris probed for taking city curios
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/12/23/Councilwoman-Darlene-Harris-accused-curios-Chinese-Bruce-Kraus/stories/201912230117
Pittsburgh police investigate allegation that Darlene Harris took city property
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-police-investigate-allegation-that-darlene-harris-took-city-property/
PUC denies (mostly) city’s request for bridge work delays
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/12/23/PUC-Public-Utility-Commission-West-Ohio-Street-Bridge-Norfolk-Southern/stories/201912230096
Cops: Pittsburgh Uber driver shot assailant in self-defense
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/cops-pittsburgh-uber-driver-shot-assailant-in-self-defense/
Allegheny County Sheriff’s deputies distribute free poinsettias in Downtown Pittsburgh
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/allegheny-county-sheriffs-deputies-distribute-free-poinsettias-in-downtown-pittsburgh/
State News
Report looks at impact of coal mining on ‘neighbors on the surface’
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/report-looks-at-impact-of-coal-mining-on-neighbors-on-the-surface/
Fred Rooney, former Lehigh Valley congressman, dies at 94
https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/capitol-ideas/mc-nws-pa-former-lehigh-valley-congressman-fred-rooney-dies-20191223-dauz62n7q5dz7j2vqviembz474-story.html
How choices by Trump’s Justice Department could jeopardize domestic violence and rape crisis services across Pennsylvania.
https://www.penncapital-star.com/criminal-justice/how-choices-by-trumps-justice-department-could-jeopardize-domestic-violence-and-rape-crisis-services-across-pennsylvania/
Transportation
Delay in funding change may have saved Westmoreland’s paratransit system
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/delay-in-funding-change-may-have-saved-westmorelands-paratransit-system/
Berks County travelers among record number to hit the road for holidays
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/berks-county-travelers-among-record-number-to-hit-the-road/article_2c6273d8-25a0-11ea-8d17-db703e2bf880.html
BARTA changes in 2020 to include expanded Berkshire Mall service, altered Broadcasting Square schedule
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/barta-changes-in-to-include-expanded-berkshire-mall-service-altered/article_70b648f0-2598-11ea-948a-a77021f114d9.html
Washington
McConnell, Pelosi dig in on impasse over Trump’s Senate trial
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2019/12/23/Mitch-McConnell-Nancy-Pelosi-impasse-over-Donald-Trump-Senate-trial-impeachment/stories/201912230093
Let states decide on pot: Feds should not interfere on marijuana reform
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/12/24/Let-states-decide-on-pot-Feds-should-not-interfere-on-marijuana-reform/stories/201912140010
Cartwright announces $3M in HHS funds for The Wright Center
https://www.timesleader.com/news/766917/cartwright-announces-3m-in-hhs-funds-for-the-wright-center
Gun research overdue gift
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/gun-research-overdue-gift-1.2575047