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It's Thanksgiving week, and we want to know what you're thankful for this year. Tell us your reasons here and we'll share some of our favorite responses in the Thanksgiving Day edition of this newsletter. 'Tis the season.
ALL GIFTS DOUBLED
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» SHOT GOAL: More than 90% of federal workers received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Monday's federal deadline set by President Joe Biden, AP reports.
» TRAVEL ADVISORY: Public health officials encourage people who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to delay holiday travel, AP reports.
» DON'T DRINK: American Screening of Shreveport, Louisiana, has recalled 153,336 bottles of its hand sanitizer that contains 70% ethyl alcohol gel because the packaging too closely resembled a water bottle.
Thanks, Patricia S., for this shot of "the turkeys of Armstrong county" in Shady Plain. Send us your gems, use the hashtag #PAGems on Instagram, or tag us @spotlightpennsylvania.
WASTE WEARY: Dozens of coal power plants nationwide, including two in Pennsylvania, plan to stop burning the fossil fuel this decade to comply with more stringent federal wastewater guidelines, according to state regulatory filings. The AP reports the new rule requires power plants to clean coal ash and toxic heavy metals from plant wastewater before it is dumped into streams and rivers.
MENTAL TOLL: New research indicates that childhood exposure to air pollution can impact adult mental health, and links spikes in air pollution with more emergency room visits for mental illness among children, Allegheny Front reports. Western Pennsylvania has some of the worst air quality in the nation.
LAND LACK: First-generation farmers who don’t already have land often cannot acquire enough acreage to farm at the scale needed to make a living. WESA details the financial obstacles faced by newcomers to agriculture, speaking to new farmers as well as ones who left the industry after hardship.
BUGGED OUT: Recently settled lawsuits detail hazardous and unsanitary conditions at the now condemned Bush House Hotel. Courier Times reports Quakertown officials found bed bugs in every room of the boarding house, mold, and electric and fire code issues, among other violations.
MURAL MAKEOVER: Two Emmaus residents won a mural for their hometown after entering HGTV’s “Celebrate Home Town Sweepstakes.” The Morning Call reports the mural includes silhouettes of hikers and bikers on South Mountain and a nod to the area’s weekly farmer’s market.
BUTTER CUP: For a second year, the Department of Agriculture and Pennsylvania Farm Show invite Pennsylvanians to try their hands at crafting a do-it-yourself butter sculpture. The social media contest will be open for submissions from Dec. 3 through Dec. 17.
PUP PAGEANT: Over the weekend, 15,000 dogs from five countries competed for the “Best of Show” title at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center. Photos from WHYY show competition was steep.
THE SCRAMBLER
Unscramble and send your answer to scrambler@spotlightpa.org. We'll shout out winners here, and one each week will get some Spotlight PA swag.
T R I A L C N M I O D H O
Monday's answer: Albatross
Congrats to our daily winners: George S., Craig E., Suzanne S., Lynne E., Ann E., Tish M., Steve D., Don H., Kim C., Patricia M., Susan Z., Susan F., Jessica K., Michelle, T., Bridget C., Craig W., Neal W., Irene R., Vicki U., B.T. F., and Elaine C.
Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and WITF Public Media.
FUTURE VOW: The top Republican in the Senate, Jake Corman, says that he 
TALKS RESUME: After weeks of silence, the Kellogg Company on Monday 
WASTE WEARY: Dozens of coal power plants nationwide, including two in Pennsylvania, 
MENTAL TOLL: New research indicates that 
WEATHER-READY: To help Pennsylvanians manage higher energy bills this winter, the state Office of Consumer Advocate 
