Today in PA | A PennLive daily news briefing with Claudia Dimuro

Analysts are saying Pennsylvania’s state gas tax is the reason why pump prices remain so high. Speaking of gas, a man was charged with stealing over $100,000’s worth of fuel from Lancaster County. Seems like there’s some stormy weather on the way. And if you’re looking for someone special to cozy up to this winter, your chances of that are pretty high, if you’re in this one Keystone State location...

One thing that a lot of people seem to agree on is how early Christmas decorations go up each year, with one study finding that Pennsylvania is among the states that put up Yuletide baubles the earliest.

Pittsburgh officials worry as the number of the city’s police dwindle. Eligible individuals can get up to $50,000 in home repairs under a new state program. Low-cost carrier services are expanding at one airport. Finally, a Pennsylvania sports venue is the third “dirtiest” in the U.S.

Some Pennsylvanian gun dealers are questioning a recent report about the source of firearms linked to crimes in the state. Inflation has caused the dollar amount of pretty much everything to go up, including, evidently, state officials’ salaries. It’s the return of the Heinz. Plus, the PLCB found that Keystone State residents prefer this spirit the most.

Temple University students were once again the victims of an off-campus home invasion. Reports of counterfeit Adderall have been popping up in over 25 states, Pennsylvania among them. The state has reached a settlement with Grubhub over price transparency. And the votes are in: a Pennsylvania brewery’s tour is the best in the nation.

Out of all the great food that American families bust out on Thanksgiving, these are the side dishes Pennsylvanians prefer to go with their turkey.  

Drivers—tis the season, so remember to be wary of snow squalls. The last of the spotted lanternflies are laying their eggs, giving ample opportunity to mitigate the spread of the invasive species by destroying these eggs before they hatch. The deadline to enter into the state Liquor Control Board’s rare whiskey lottery is today. Plus, this city’s been deemed one of the best for Thanksgiving celebr...

Pennsylvania got a C-minus for its infrastructure on an annual “report card.” Civilians in Philadelphia will now be able to pick up some of the duties of cops so the latter can concentrate on major crime. St. Luke’s will provide sports medicine to all high school championship events across the state. And when a man peeked into a blue bin that he noticed was left by the side of a road, he was defin...

Pennsylvania is poised to receive millions from the recent Walmart opioid settlement. Folks in Luzerne County are still puzzled over a paper shortage that caused widespread issues on Election Day. Nonstop flights from Pittsburgh to the Big Easy are coming back. Finally, Pennsylvania is supposedly “wrestling-obsessed.”

Philadelphia is readying itself for the potential arrival of a bus carrying migrants from Texas. PennDOT and local cops are teaming up to crack down on aggressive driving throughout the state. Keep your eyes to the skies for a chance to see some meteors this week. And a woman spotted something very freaky on some home security footage after hearing strange noises one night.

According to one recent study, a city in Pennsylvania is the absolute second best in the whole country to be a sports fan in.

A freshly inked law has put new requirements in place for public agencies that have experienced data breaches. Berks County recently saw two new warm-weather records. The doe license application process of pink envelopes is no more. Lastly, a list of America’s “winter wonderlands” includes two places in Pennsylvania.

Staffing issues are a challenge in combatting the rise in reports of child abuse throughout the state. The Syrian refugee who plotted to bomb a Pittsburgh church has been sentenced. A bunch of businesses in York County are giving out free items such as food and drinks to veterans in honor of Veterans Day. Plus, these are some of Pennsylvania’s most underrated attractions.

A homeless man managed to board a school bus that was headed to a high school last week. A strike was avoided after Temple University Hospital nurses came to an agreement with management. A Pennsylvania Consumer advocate says PPL Electric Utilities’s spring billing error was brought about by an attempt to update customer addresses. And a Philadelphia man “never really liked chicken,” yet ate 40 of...

What caused 48 people at a charter school to fall ill remains unknown. A new law will lift the license suspensions of those with non-traffic violations such as low-level drug convictions prior to 2018. A program in Pittsburgh that makes it easier for delivery drivers to get a parking spot may be getting extended. Finally, according to U.S. News, five cities in Pennsylvania are great for retirement...

Six men were charged for being a part of a gun trafficking ring that operated throughout Bucks and Montgomery counties. CVS and Walgreen’s announced last week that they would be willing to pay about $5 billion each in opioid settlements, part of which Pennsylvania may be poised to receive. PennDOT’s looking for snowplow drivers ahead of winter. And a mall temporarily closed after a deer casually w...

Gas prices are on the rise again as the holidays draw nearer. There’s an event this weekend at a university which is hoping to help families start exploring the outdoors together. For the 10th year in a row, a free Thanksgiving turkey giveaway will be held in Easton. Finally, a study has found Pennsylvania’s most beloved fictional pooch.

A student protest against a school’s new dress code policy erupted into conflict. Bethlehem has passed an ordinance which, according to its council sponsor, is meant to inspire voter trust in politicians. Friendly reminder that life jackets are now mandatory on all of the state’s waterways. And a nun is praying for a Phillies win.

Sometimes fast food is just a dietary necessity. And when it comes to hitting this sometimes necessity, Pennsylvanians have favorite fast food chains they gravitate towards the most.

Don’t worry—Pennsylvania is still among the top 10 U.S. states with the highest reports of UFO sightings.

Apparently, there are two cities in Pennsylvania that are absolutely perfect for vampires to live in.

Merriam-Webster defines cryptids as “an animal (such as Sasquatch or the Loch Ness Monster) that has been claimed to exist but never proven to exist.” Can you guess which of these guys Pennsylvanians love the most?

One city wants to be a seven-year rent ban for those convicted of a violent crime. Be on the lookout for a brand of milk that may be contaminated with listeria. Hummingbirds are among other species are “at the tipping point.” Plus, a farmer has made a slasher film about…a farmer protecting his land from elected officials.

Bills updating Megan’s Law as well as others have been sent to Governor Tom Wolf’s desk ahead of the election. Philadelphia’s businesses are hoping the upcoming World Series brings an economic boost to the city. Attention all singers: the Pennsylvania Farm Show is looking for someone to perform the national anthem. Lastly, here are the times and places where your chances of seeing a UFO in Pennsyl...

The math and reading scores of Philadelphia’s students are still amongst the lowest in the country. A Harrisburg resident gave a home invader multiple warnings before shooting him. Philadelphia’s light poles were greased in the name of “public safety” or, in other words, in preparation for a Phillies’ win. Finally, nowhere in Pennsylvania ranked among the U.S.’s best cities for Halloween.