PA Capitol Report: Top 10 Stories On Harrisburg/PA Politics Last Week


— 2021 Year In Review

— PennLive – Charles Thompson: 20 Pennsylvanians To Watch In 2022

— PA’s Role In Jan. 6 Assault On U.S. Capitol

— Spotlight PA: Jan. 6 Assault On U.S. Capitol: A Complete Guide To What We Know About Pennsylvania’s Role

— PA Cap-Star: Assault On U.S. Capitol Lays Bare PA Republican Misinformation Coming From Harrisburg

— YorkDR: Analysis: Republican Candidates For Governor Weren’t Asked The Most Important Question During Their Debate – Will You Uphold The Will Of The People In Election Results?

— Inquirer: Republican Candidates For PA U.S. Senate Seat Won’t Say If They Would Have Backed PA’s 2020 Election Results

—  WITF: PA Voters, Candidates, Policy Are Still Influenced By The Assault On The U.S. Capitol

— PA Cap-Star: A Year After Assault On U.S. Capitol That Left 9 People Dead, Election Review Efforts Continue In PA

— The Hill: Dick Cheney Visits U.S. Capitol For Jan. 6, Criticizes Republican Leadership

— Politico: They Stormed The Capitol, Now They’re Running For Office [PA’s Republican Sen. Mastriano Used As Headline Example] 

— AP: ‘Hatred In The Eyes’: How Racist Rage Animated Jan. 6 Assault On U.S. Capitol

— Inquirer Column: How One U.S. Capitol Police Officer’s Experience Underscores The Role Of Race In The Assault On The U.S. Capitol

— Inquirer: Hate Crimes Are Soaring In PA, White Supremacists Have A New Recruitment Tool: Video Games

— ExploreClarion.com: Racism Issues Remain A Concern At Franklin Area Schools

— The Guardian: University Of Pennsylvania Professor Makes Xenophobia, White Supremacits Comments About Asians

— The Guardian: Insurrection Index: More Than 1,000 Public Figures Aided Fmr President’s Effort To Overturn 2020 Election [PA Elected Officials Included]

— USA Today: ‘This Is Insane’: As Congress Relives Assault On Capitol, Efforts To Rewrite History Stir Fury On Capitol Hill

— ErieT: Members Of Congress Reveal Details Of Their Escape From Assault On U.S. Capitol [PA Included]

— York DR: 64 Pennsylvanians Arrested For Charges Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol, Where Are They Now?

— Inquirer: 62 [Actually 64] Pennsylvanians Charged In Assault On U.S. Capitol, Judges Starting To Weigh Their Punishments

— PennLive: A Year After Assault On U.S. Capitol, 6 PA Defendants Have Been Sentenced To Prison, 54 Others Await Their Fate

— TribLive: 17 From Western PA Charged So Far In Assault On U.S. Capitol

— WHYY: 1 Year, 6 Arrests Later, Bucks County Still Debating Its Part In Assault On U.S. Capitol

— Inquirer: Bucks County Man Gets 14 Days In Jail For Role In Assault On U.S. Capitol

— PG: 2 From Beaver County Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol Get A Month In Jail

— ScrantonT: Supporters Ask Federal Judge To Go Easy On Lackawanna County Man Charged In Assault On U.S. Capitol

— MCall: A Year After The Assault On U.S. Capitol, Lehigh Valley Participants Accepting The Consequences

— WilliamsportS: Locals Face Their Fate With Charges Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol

— Inquirer: Philly Police Detective And Apparent QAnon Adherent Still On Limited Duty Awaiting Disciplinary Hearing

— PennLive: Republicans Remain Ambivalent And Silent About Jan. 6 Assault On U.S. Capitol

— CourierT: Republican Cong. Fitzpatrick Recounts On Jan. 5 Assault On U.S. Capitol

— WHYY: Bucks County School District Tells Teachers Not To Discuss Assault On U.S. Capitol

— Reuters: Biden To Call Fmr President A Threat To Democracy On U.S. Capitol Attack Anniversary

— PG – Gene Collier: Promise Of Accountability For Assault On U.S. Capitol Unfulfilled

— ErieT Guest Essay: The Attack On Our Democracy Is Not Over, PA Must Protect And Strengthen Voting Rights – Rep. Joanna McClinton, PA House Democratic Leader

— Inquirer Guest Essay: Lingering Echoes Of Assault On U.S. Capitol Underscore Need To Pass The Freedom To Vote Act

— PA Cap-Star Guest Essay: PA Republicans Continue To Mislead Public On 2020 Election – J.J. Abbott

— PA Cap-Star Guest Essay: There’s A Clear & Present Danger To Our Democracy Taking Root Right Here In Pennsylvania – Cong. Houlahan (D)

— PennLive Guest Essay: Ask Every Candidate This Question: Are You Willing To Tell The Truth? – Mark Singel

— ScrantonT Editorial: Battle For The Soul Of America

— LancasterOnline Editorial: We Need To Hold To Account Those Who Participated In Assault On U.S. Capitol And Those Who Enabled It

— LancasterOnline Editorial: 1 Year After Assault On U.S. Capitol, Our Democracy Remains In Peril

— LancasterOnline Editorial: Insurrections In Assault On U.S. Capitol Must Be Held Accountable

— PG Editorial: Epiphany And Apocalypse On January 6 Assault On U.S. Capitol

— New Voting Districts – Senate, House

— PennLive: How Do PA’s Proposed Voting District Maps Affect You?  See Interactive Map

— Spotlight PA: How To Comment On Pennsylvania’s Proposed Voting District Maps

— AP: Stalemates, Court Battles On New Voting Districts Could Squeeze Primary Election Date

— PA Cap-Star: Redistricting Chair Nordenberg Defends Proposed Voting Districts Against Republican Attacks

— MCall -Ford Turner: Proposed Voting Districts That Split Allentown Hurt Minority Election Chances Instead Of Helping Them Critics Say

— Spotlight PA: Proposed Voting District Maps Don’t Do Enough To Increase Hispanic Representation, Residents Say

— MCall – Ford Turner: Homes Of Senators Scavello, Boscola May End Up In Same District, But Scavello Says Election Faceoff Won’t Happen

— MCall – Ford Turner: Redistricting Tug-Of-War Over Communities Continues; Bethlehem And Slate Belt Get Attention

— WBTimes: Redistricting Could Give Luzerne County A New Look In Harrisburg

— PennLive: Proposed House Voting Districts Map ‘Unwelcome Gift’ To Cumberland County, Officials Say

— PA Cap-Star Guest Essay: PA Republicans Are Planning A Voting District Redo Thru Another Constitutional Amendment – Power Is Everything And Almost Nothing Is Out Of Bounds – Fair Districts PA

— PennLive Guest Essay: 30 Years Of Racial Inequity vs. Pennsylvania’s Only Growing Populations – By Salewa Ogunmefun

— PA Cap-Star: New Voting District Maps Can Restore Representation For PA’s Growing Latino Communities – Erika Almiron

— MCall Guest Essay: How New State Voting District Maps Would Hurt Bethlehem And Northampton County – Sen. Boscola (D)

— PennLive Guest Essay: Too Many Towns Are Split In Proposed House Voting District Map – By House Republican Leader Benninghoff

— Inquirer Guest Essay: Stop Accusations Of Retaliation And Partisanship Over New PA Voting District Maps

— PennLive Guest Essay: PA’s New Congressional Voting District Maps Should Not Be Drawn To Favor One Political Party – By Rep. Conklin (D)

— YorkDR Guest Essay: Gerrymandering Won’t Save Unpopular Candidates – Commonwealth Foundation

— PG – Salena Zito: This Rural Rep Is Worried About New Voting Districts [Rep. Topper (R)]

— PG Editorial: Attacks On Nordenberg Are Cynical, Offensive Over Proposed Voting Districts

— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Republican Lawmaker Says Failing To Approve A Congressional Map Could Carry Unwanted Consequences For PA

— Governor’s Race

— YorkDR: Analysis: Republican Candidates For Governor Weren’t Asked The Most Important Question During Their Debate – Will You Uphold The Will Of The People In Election Results?

— PG: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Sen. Corman Hires Kellyanne Conway As Advisor [Cementing His Link To Former President]  [Corman Actively Worked To Overturn The 2020 Election Results]

— AP: Big Republican Gubernatorial Field Crowds Onto Stage For First Time  [Many Had Direct Role In Trying To Overturn Nov. 2020 Election Results In PA]

— WHYY: Lower Taxes, School Choice, Local Control: Republican Field For PA Governor Makes Its Pitch

— PA Cap-Star: In First Debate, Republican Candidates For Governor Promise Lower Taxes, School Choice

— SunburyDI: Some Differences, Largely Agreement Among Crowded Republican Governor Field

— PennLive – Jan Murphy: How Do You Separate 13 Republican Candidates For Governor?

— City & State: 13 Republican Candidates Take The Stage For First Gubernatorial Debate

— PennLive – John Baer: Republican Cong. Scott Perry, The Governor’s Race And Other Big Questions Facing PA Politics In The Next 6 Months

— AP: Republican Senator Mastriano Who Pushed To Overturn November 2020 Election Results Enters Governor’s Race

— YorkDR: Republican Sen. Mastriano, With Ties To Assault On U.S. Capitol, Running For Governor

— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Republican Sen. Mastriano Enters Governor’s Race

— PennLive Guest Essay: Ask Every Candidate This Question: Are You Willing To Tell The Truth? – Mark Singel

— TribLive: Republican Melissa Hart Announces Bid For Governor

— WESA: Republican Melissa Hart Says Economy’s Key In Governor’s Race, With Abortion, Election Integrity Less Urgent

— WESA: Western PA Republican Melissa Hart Joins Governor’s Race

— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Republican Lawmaker Rep. Diamond Says He’s Running For Lt. Governor [He actively worked to overturn the 2020 election results and opposed COVID mitigation measures]

Lawrence County Republican Committee To Sponsor Jan. 12 Gubernatorial, U.S. Senate Candidate Debate

— AP: Democrat Shapiro Backs Pittsburgh Area Lawmaker To Be Running Mate

— PG: Rep. Davis Launches Campaign For Lt. Governor Backed By Democrat Shapiro

— Inquirer: Democrat Josh Shapiro Wants Rep. Austin Davis To Be His Lt. Governor

— Inquirer: Who Is Shapiro’s Pick For Lt. Governor – Rep. Austin Davis?

— ErieT: PA Governor’s Race: Everything You Need To Know About Who’s Running In 2022

— U.S. Senate Race

— Inquirer: Republican Candidates For PA U.S. Senate Seat Won’t Say If They Would Have Backed PA’s 2020 Election Results

Lawrence County Republican Committee To Sponsor Jan. 12 Gubernatorial, U.S. Senate Candidate Debate

— Inquirer: Philly Building Trades Unions Back Democrat Conor Lamb In U.S. Senate Race

— PA Cap-Star: Republican U.S. Senate Hopeful Bartos Tees Off On ‘Carpet Baggers’ In Nominating Race

— AP: Republican U.S. Senate Candidate McCormick Resigns Hedge Fund Job

— WHYY: Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate Dr. Val Arkoosh Tests Positive For COVID

— YorkDR: U.S. Senate Race In PA: Here’s Who’s Running, So Far

— Nov. 2 Election

— MCall: Lehigh County Candidate For Judge Appeals Fight Over Counting Undated Mail-In Ballots To PA Supreme Court

— MCall: Judge Disqualifies Allentown Constable-Elect Who Was Convicted Of Impersonating A Police Officer

— PennLive: Northumberland DA Tries To Bar Newly Elected Shamokin From Council Post Because Of A Criminal Record

— Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout

— PA Cap-Star: A Year After Assault On U.S. Capitol That Left 9 People Dead, Election Review Efforts Continue In PA

— AP: Dominion Voting Systems Asks Court To Require PA Republicans To Use Accredited Lab In Election ‘Investigation’

— TribLive: Senate Committee To Hold Hearings On Its Audit Of 2020, 2021 Elections

— City & State: House Democratic Leader Introduces Sweeping Election Reform Bill

— WHYY: A Year After The Assault On U.S. Capitol, PA Democrats Say There Is Work To Do To Protect Voting Rights

— PA Cap-Star: Pittsburgh Pols Remember Assault On U.S. Capitol – Warn Of Danger Ahead

— TribLive: Murrysville Democrats Hold Vigil On U.S. Capitol Attack, Call For Federal Voting Rights Law

— MCall: Commonwealth Court: Flawed Lehigh County Mail Ballots Should Not Be Counted In Close Judge Race, But Not Final Word

— MCall – Paul Muschick: Undated PA Mail Ballots: Could Someone Settle This Once And For All?

— PA Cap-Star: I’ll Soon Be A U.S. Citizen Living In PA, This Is Why Our Democracy Is Worth Defending – Laila Martin Garcia

— PG Editorial: Congress Must Reform The Way it Counts Electoral Votes

— PennLive: ACLU Sues Fulton County Over Missing Records From 2020 Election Review

— TribLive: Interim Westmoreland Election Chief Given Bonus As Search For New Director Restarts

— TribLive Editorial: Why Can’t Westmoreland Hire An Elections Director?

— Inquirer: Hate Crimes Are Soaring In PA, White Supremacists Have A New Recruitment Tool: Video Games

— Courier: Republican Middletown Twp. Official In Bucks County Resigns Amid Exposure Of Hate, Conspiracy-Filled Posts

— Harrisburg Potpourri

— PennLive – John Baer: Republican Cong. Scott Perry, The Governor’s Race And Other Big Questions Facing PA Politics In The Next 6 Months

— PG: PA Politics In 2022: On The Brink Of Political Change

— PA Cap-Star: Republican Senate Leader Says Bill To Extend Legal Window For Child Sexual Abuse Survivors Unlikely To See Vote

— PennLive: Lawmaker Once Called PA’s ‘No. 1 Conservative’ To Retire [Rep. Metcalfe]

— ScrantonT Editorial: Every Day Is Christmas At The Capitol In Harrisburg

— Lt. Gov. Fetterman Sets May 17 Special Election Date To Fill Sen. Sabatina’s Seat In Philadelphia

— Inquirer: Democrats In Northeast Philly Face Off For Special Election For Senate, House

— TribLive Editorial: Some New State Laws Show Refreshing Common Sense

— PennLive: Justice Renee Jubelirer Picked As President Judge Of Commonwealth Court

— AP: Brobson Takes Oath As State’s Newest Supreme Court Justice

— PennLive: For Fmr Auditor General DePasquale, Bowl Game Trip Turns Into Good Samaritan Role In Brawl That Goes Viral [DePasquale ran against Republican Cong. Scott Perry who is a leader in overturning 2020 election results]

— YorkDR: Fmr Auditor General DePasquale Protects Woman During Peach Bowl Brawl – Viral Video

— ErieT: Democratic Businessman Seeks Republican Cong. Mike Kelly’s Congressional Seat [Kelly Was A Leader In Trying To Overturn 2020 Election Results]

— TribLive: Pittsburgh On Short-List For 2025 Republican Convention

— Dept. Of Labor & Industry: Detects Escalation In Unemployment Compensation Fraud, Examination Continues

— ABC27: Why Isn’t State Using Cybersecurity Measure That Prevents 99.9% Of Hacker Attacks On Unemployment System?

— TribLive: PA Casinos Not Ready To Cut Smoking From Gambling Experience

— ScrantonT Editorial: Ban Smoking In Casinos

— PennLive Editorial: Gov. Wolf, Legislature Must Raise Wages Now For Workers Caring For People With Disabilities

— PG Guest Essay: How Officials Use Tax Dollars In Lobbying Efforts – Commonwealth Foundation

— ErieT: Is PIAA Subject To Right-To-Know Law?  State, Appeals Court Say Yes, But PIAA Still Fighting

— MCall: Matt Tuerk, Grandson Of Cuban Immigrant, Sworn In As Allentown Mayor

— PG Editorial: A New Mayor, A New Era For Pittsburgh

— WBTimes Editorial: Republican Cong. Meuser Asked Right Questions About Immigrant Flights In Wilkes-Barre  [Unlike Lou Barletta Who Wanted To Spread Fear]

— WilliamsportS: More Details Emerge On ICE Complex In Williamsport

— Budget 2022

— AP: Wolf Heads Into Last Budget Season With Flush State Coffers

— Dept. Of Revenue Reports December Revenues $464.3 Million Over Estimate; Fiscal Year To Date $1.5 Billion Over Estimates

— Independent Fiscal Office: Reports December Revenues $564.4 Million Above Its Estimates; Fiscal Year To Date $1.76 Billion Over Estimates

— PG Editorial: PA Turnpike Testing The Limits With Its Tolls

— COVID Pandemic Worsens Again In PA

— MCall: PA Adds 170,475 COVID Cases This Week, With Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe Among Top Rates

— PennLive: PA COVID Hospitalizations Shatter All-Time High, Hospitals Turning To Military Help, Other Tactics

— Inquirer: About 90% Of COVID Patients In PA’s Hardest-Hit Hospitals Are Unvaccinated

— MCall: Record 6,446 Hospitalized With COVID Thursday, Lehigh, Northampton Have Top Infection Rates

— PG: Allegheny County Posts Highest One-Day COVID Count

— PG: ‘We Don’t See Light At The End Of The Tunnel’ As COVID Surge Strains Allegheny Health Network Forbes Hospital

— PG: ‘It Will Overwhelm Us’: A Year After Vaccines Arrived, Surge Of COVID Cases Triggers More Of The Tough Phone Calls

— MCall: 28,000 New Cases Break Another Record As Childhood Hospitalizations Triple In A Month

— PA Cap-Star: Health Dept. Reports ‘Steep Increase’ In COVID Cases; People Should Not Panic

— Dept. Of Health Weekly Update On COVID Trends In Cases, Hospitalizations, Vaccinations

— ScrantonT: PA Recorded 200,000 New COVID Cases In Last 2 Weeks Setting New Record

— ScrantonT: No End In Sight In Latest COVID Surge

— TribLive: COVID Positivity Rate In Allegheny Skyrockets To 26% As Omicron Spreads

— WESA: COVID Positivity Rate Hits All-Time High In Allegheny County

— WHYY: COVID Cases ‘Skyrocketing’ In Philadelphia Says Health Commissioner

— CitizensV: Restrictions Returning As COVID Cases Surge In Luzerne County

— PG: PA Hospitalizations Nearing All-Time High As Nearly 25,000 Cases Added In One Day

— PennLive: COVID Infections, Hospitalizations Spike Over Holidays In PA

— ErieT: Erie Hospitals Prepare Following Record Surge In New COVID Cases

— Inquirer: COVID Surge Has Overwhelmed Some PA Hospitals, Now Workers Getting Sick

— Inquirer: Main Line Health Pauses Elective Surgeries, Procedures Amid COVID Surge

— CourierT: Bucks, Montgomery Counties See Rising Vaccine Demand With Holiday COVID Surge

— Gov. Wolf Announces Efforts To Increase Hospital, Long-Term Care Capacity Thru Regional Support Sites, Strike Teams

— AP: Pennsylvania Seeks More Hospital Beds, Staff In COVID Surge

— PG: Wolf Expands Medical Help To PA Hospitals As COVID Cases Rise

— PA National Guard Supports Federal COVID Response Teams In PA

— PG: Spiking COVID Cases Prompt Activation Of PA National Guard At Scranton, York Hospitals

— YorkD: Federal Team Arrives To Aid York Hospital As County Reports 2,000 More COVID Cases

— WITF: Medical Strike Teams Arrive At WellSpan York Hospital To Help With COVID Surge

— TribLive: Hospitals Across Pittsburgh Region Brace As COVID Surge Delivers More Patients

— CitizensV: Wilkes-Barre Paramedics Get No Compensation For COVID-Related Work Loss

— CitizensV: NE PA COVID Testing Sites Overloaded As Local Infections Surge

— CitizensV: COVID Testing Site Relocates To Accommodate Higher Demand In Luzerne County

— ErieT: Long Lines Seen At Erie County COVID Testing Sites

— Inquirer: Philly Officials Warn Residents Against Using Pop Up COVID Testing Sites In Center City

— Inquirer: Philadelphia’s New Vaccine Mandate Starts Today, Here’s What You Need To Know

— Inquirer: Thousands Of Philly Employees Remain Unvaccinated As Jan. 14 Deadline Approaches

— PennLive: UPMC Using Lottery To Distribute Scarce COVID Blocker To People Not Helped By Vaccine

— ErieT: New COVID Antibody Cocktail Available From Erie Hospitals

— CourierT: Bucks County Pharmacies Overwhelmed As Omicron Drives COVID Cases

— WESA: Oral COVID Medications Have Shipped, But Good Luck Getting A Prescription In PA

— MCall: Lehigh Valley Transit Cancels Bus Routes Monday Due To COVID Absences

— MCall: Lehigh Valley Transit Forced To Cancel Bus Trips Again Amid COVID Driver Shortage

— PG: COVID Surge Causing Gaps In Pittsburgh Transit Trips Due To Operator Illness

— PG: Allegheny County Courts Delay Jury Trials Through End Of Month Citing COVID Concerns

— CitizenV: Luzerne County Restaurants Close Dining Rooms Again As COVID Cases Surge

— TribLive: Pittsburgh Diocese Releases New COVID Safety Protocols Amid Surge

— Gov. Wolf: Encourages Pennsylvanians To Sign Up For Health Care Coverage Before Jan. 15

— MCall: Map: Where Flu Rates Are Highest In Pennsylvania

— Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan Declares State Of Emergency, Mobilizes National Guard To Respond To COVID Surge [Pennsylvania Can’t]

— COVID – Schools

— PennLive: Kids’ COVID Hospitalizations Reach All-Time High, Although Overall Risk Remains Low

— PG: UPMC Children’s Hospital In Pittsburgh Opens 2nd COVID Unit As Cases Surge

— PG: PA Teachers Union Encourages School To Boost COVID Mitigation Efforts Amid Surge

— MCall: Lehigh Valley School Districts, Health Networks Grapple With More Children Testing Positive For COVID

— MCall: Lehigh Valley School Districts Review COVID Safety Policies In Light Of Surge

— MCall: More Than Half Of 700 Students Absent From Lehigh Valley District Were COVID-Related

— YorkD: York County Schools Break Grim COVID Records In Week Since Winter Break

— ScrantonT: Attendance Plummets In NE PA Schools As COVID Cases Soar

— PG: Pittsburgh Public Schools Move More Schools To Remote Learning Due To COVID-Related Staff Shortages

— WESA: 17 Pittsburgh Public Schools Close Due To Staff Shortages Caused By COVID

— TribLive: COVID-Related Staffing Shortages At Pittsburgh Public Schools Require Remote Learning

— TribLive: Teacher Shortage Stokes COVID Threat For Western PA Schools Fighting To Stay In The Classroom

— Inquirer: Philly Shifts School Closing Threshold From 3% to 10% Students And Staff Must Test Positive For COVID

–KYW: 81 Philly Schools Going Virtual Due To COVID-Related Staff Absences

— WESA: Pittsburgh Public Schools To Transport Students To 5 Vaccination Clinics Jan. 8

— ErieT: Erie’s St. Luke School Halts In-Person Classes Due To COVID

— ErieT: Erie School District Installs $250,000 Air Purification System To Battle COVID

— MCall: Catasauqua H.S. Going Virtual Due To COVID Cases

— PennLive: School District Of Lancaster To Shut Down Monday Due To High Number Of COVID Cases

— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Central Dauphin To Close Secondary Schools, COVID Blamed

— TribLive: Fox Chapel School District Reports Nearly 170 COVID Cases, In-Person Instruction Continues

— TribLive: Pine-Richland Considers Segregating Masked, Unmasked Students

— Inquirer: Central Bucks School District Cancels School Citing COVID-Related Teacher Absences

— WHYY: Central Bucks School District In Deep Need Of Substitutes, Urges Community Members To Apply

— CourierT: How COVID Surge, Staff Shortages Impacting Bucks County Schools

— TribLive: Bus Driver Shortage Causing ‘Emergency’ At Woodland Hills School District

— YorkD: 8 York County Libraries Close To In-Person Browsing Due To COVID

— AltoonaM Editorial: Pandemic’s Effect On Kids Should Be Focus

— PennLive: Bucknell U. To Unenroll Students Who Do Not Get A Pre-arrival COVID Test Or Required Booster Shot

— LancasterOnline: Elizabethtown, Franklin & Marshall Push Back In-Person Instruction Due To COVID Surge

— TribLive: Duquesne Students Must Show Negative COVID Test Before Returning

— CentreDT: ‘Reckless’: Penn State Community Criticizes University’s Decision To Start Spring Semester In Person

— TribLive – Deb Erdley: Slippery Rock U. Program For Students With Intellectual Disabilities Offers Greensburg Woman Chance To Thrive

— PG: Music Aspirations Hit A Hard Reality At Rural Lock Haven University

— WLVR: The Latest Way To Earn A Varsity Letter In PA?  Competitive Gaming

— Opioid Settlement

— AG Shapiro Announces 10 More Counties Sign On To Opioid Settlement

— MCall: Northampton County Signs On To Opioid Settlement

School Funding/Administration

— City & State: PA School Funding Trial Could Be A Watershed Moment For Teachers

— PA Cap-Star: PA School Funding Trial Resumes In Court, Here’s What To Know

— TribLive: Leechburg Schools Placed On Lockdown After Threat Made On Social Media

— TribLive: Teen Charged In Snapchat Threat That Locked Down Leechburg Schools

— ExploreClarion.com: Racism Issues Remain A Concern At Franklin Area Schools

— PG: Elizabethtown College President Resigns, Citing COVID Demands Among Reasons

— Inquirer: From Boosters To Travel Restrictions, Philly-Area Colleges Differ In COVID Protocols For New Semester

— Inquirer: As Temple Grew In Popularity, Its Share Of Black Students Shrank: ‘We Dropped The Ball’

— The Guardian: University Of Pennsylvania Professor Makes Xenophobia, White Supremacits Comments About Asians

— YorkDR: Enrollment In PA Colleges Continue To Decline

— Gun Violence/Law Enforcement

— WHYY: Philly DA Focuses On Gun Violence During 2nd Inauguration Ceremony

— Inquirer: What Does It Mean To Take A Public Health Approach To Reducing Gun Violence?

— Inquirer Editorial: A New Year Requires A Better Plan To Tackle Gun Violence Crisis

— Inquirer Guest Essay: Why Don’t Philly Officials Support Independent Reviews Of Police-Involved Shootings?

— TribLive: Allegheny County Medical Examiner Rules Jim Rogers’ Death Was Accidental After Being Tased Repeatedly By Pittsburgh Police

— PG Editorial: Jim Rogers’ ‘Accidental’ Death In Pittsburgh Police Custody Leaves Questions

— WilliamsportS Editorial: Realistic Goals On Police Reform Deserve Optimism

— AP: Philadelphia Man Free After 37 Years Due To ‘Sex For Lies’ False Witness Testimony

— AP: Federal Judge Vacates 1984 Philadelphia Murder Conviction

— PA Cap-Star: Report: Unaffordable Cash Bail Is ‘A Statewide Crisis’ In PA

— First Lady Wolf Discusses Clemency, Expungement, Clean Slate For Women With Criminal Records

–WESA: Allegheny County Jail Violating Solitary Confinement Ban, Oversight Board Says

— ScrantonT: Concealed Carry Gun Permits Remain In High Demand In Lackawanna County

— PennLive: Harrisburg Killings Drop In 2021, Defying National Trend

— ScrantonT: Lackawanna County Man Threatened To Shoot Up Unemployment Compensation Office

— PG: Allegheny County Courts Delay Jury Trials Through End Of Month Citing COVID Concerns

— ErieT: First Women Take Office To Serve As DAs In Erie, Crawford Counties

— PA Economy

— PG: Pittsburgh Office Market Struggles To Overcome Impacts Of COVID Pandemic

— Inquirer: COVID’s Legacy Could Empty Out The Office Towers Of Philly’s Center City

— MCall: Lehigh Valley Transit Cancels Bus Routes Monday Due To COVID Absences

— MCall: Lehigh Valley Transit Forced To Cancel Bus Trips Again Amid COVID Driver Shortage

— PG: COVID Surge Causing Gaps In Pittsburgh Transit Trips Due To Operator Illness

— WilliamsportS: Sen. Aument, Yaw Leading Group Of Senators To Loan Businesses Affected By Pandemic Hundreds Of Millions In Taxpayer-Backed Gifts, Tax Breaks, Zero-Interest Loans  [Proposed A Year Ago]

— CitizenV: Luzerne County Restaurants Close Dining Rooms Again As COVID Cases Surge

— Dept. Of Labor & Industry: Detects Escalation In Unemployment Compensation Fraud, Examination Continues

— PA Cap-Star: PA Investigating ‘Aggressive And Sophisticated’ Unemployment Fraud Efforts

— ABC27: Why Isn’t State Using Cybersecurity Measure That Prevents 99.9% Of Hacker Attacks On Unemployment System?

— ScrantonT: Lackawanna County Man Threatened To Shoot Up Unemployment Compensation Office

— Gov. Wolf: Launches $350 Million PA Homeowner Assistance Fund With American Rescue Plan Monies, Applications Accepted Starting Feb. 1

— Inquirer: Philadelphia Ending Rental Assistance Program Because It Ran Out Of Money

— TribLive: At Carnegie Mellon, A Bipartisan Effort To Address PA’s Antonymous Vehicle Industry

— WHYY: Montgomery County Will Count Number Of People Experiencing Homelessness

— Inquirer: Tale Of Two Raw Pet-Food Companies Locked In A Legal Battle In Rural PA

TAP HERE for all articles in January 10 EXPRESS Update