Tax bill poised to pass, cyclists petition city for upgrades, Philly's best holiday lights | Morning Newsletter

Pennsylvania House Democrats spent nearly a quarter million dollars in taxpayer money to secretly settle a sexual harassment complaint against a Berks County lawmaker, according to a document obtained by The Inquirer and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Fear not, Sweet Lucy's fans: the Northeast barbecue staple did have a fire Monday evening but it did not burn down, as some social media posts suggested. They're hoping to reopen soon.

South Jersey icon Riletta Cream, an educator and former Camden County freeholder, died Monday at 91. The city she loved certainly loved her back, writes columnist Kevin Riordan.

The Sixers lost to the Sacramento Kings last night and their string of recent losses have left reporter Keith Pompey wondering: are the Sixers as good as we thought?

Six Eagles were named to the Pro Bowl last night, including injured quarterback Carson Wentz and four Birds who earned spots in the starting lineup.

The next mayor of Atlantic City, Frank Gilliam, is ready to make change, and he's starting with pot, sports betting and progressive politics.

Mayor Kenney is expected to sign the controversial bill aimed at cracking down on stop-and-go beer delis today. Here's what's next for store owners and their neighborhoods.

Former presidential candidate Jill Stein has been swept into the Senate intelligence committee's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election; she says she's cooperating with authorities.

A group of cyclists called the Pedal Posse Divas have built  a roving community and now they are on a mission: get more black women on bikes!

Today is signing day for high school athletes, the day they announce to what schools they'll bring their talents next year. Find out which students are headed to Penn State, Temple, and Villanova.

Mural Arts has given a bridge over Kensington a bright, colorful makeover as part of its initiative to use public art as harm reduction.

As they prep for a game Christmas Day, Eagles coach Doug Pederson has to keep home field advantage in mind when deciding who to rest up for the post-season, writes columnist Mike Sielski.

Beware of the at-home genetic testing kit under your tree this year. If it comes with a health-risk report, you may get more information than you bargained for about dangerous genes.

In Sullivan County, one of the state's least populated, shooting is a high school sport. The county's even sent two shooters to the last two summer Olympics.

Ben Franklin by day and Santa by night? Impersonator Robert DeVitis is donning his bifocals this holiday season to ring the Salvation Army kettle bell.

Without U.S. Army Corps of Engineers intervention in dredging the Schuylkill River, Boathouse Row could go dark, writes Paul Laskow, chair of the Schuylkill Navy River Restoration Committee.

Thanks to a new study, we know even more about cycles of poverty and trauma and how to break them, writes Jeanne Felter, director of the master's program in community and trauma counseling at Thomas Jefferson University.

Temple University is feeling the ripple effect of multiple student deaths so far this year. The Temple News created a compelling three-part story on the university's response and the lives lost. 

Meek Mill's incarceration has brought a lot of attention to probation and parole reform, but NextCity takes the issue a step further to explore how court supervision can actually stymie parolees' success.

Getting a new phone for the holidays? Stop by Fast Company's list of the 25 best new apps of the year and download away.

If you're into Twitter or Facebook you've probably seen the "White Guy Blinking" gif used to perfectly encapsulate shock and amusement. Thrillist actually found the guy (his name's Drew) and he explains what life is like as a living meme. 

Calling all punks: Doc Martens are cool again, and Quartzy tells the long storied history of the shoes and subcultures. Who knew a boot could tell us so much?