Barletta announces his campaign team for his Senate bid, Casey enters 2018 with $8.6 million on hand, Trump is headed to Pennsylvania to campaign for state Rep. Rick Saccone in the PA-18 special election, and the ups & downs from the week that was.  Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

Barletta Announces Campaign Team: Congressman Lou Barletta announced his Senate campaign leadership team.

Casey Ends Year With $8.6 Million on Hand: U.S. Senator Bob Casey announced his campaign raised $2.6 million in the fourth quarter, ending the year with $8.6 million on hand.

Trump to Campaign in PA-18: According to reports, President Trump will come to Pennsylvania next week to campaign for State Rep. Rick Saccone in the special election to replace former Congressman Tim Murphy.

1/12 Ups & Downs: Lewis boycotts a candidate forum over the invitation of a white nationalist, Pennsylvania’s Congressional maps win again in court, Wagner and Bartos start to show working as a team might have its benefits, Barletta jumps out to a lead in PA GOP straw polls, and Wolf works to fight the opioid crisis. See who made this week’s Ups & Downs!

Legislative Election Update
Altoona Mirror: Eichelberger announces plan to run for 9th District seat
Delco Times: Another Dem announces challenge to Brady in 1st
WJAC: Duncansville attorney second candidate to seek McGinnis’ House seat
Bucks County Courier Times: Solebury supervisor endorsed for 178th district special election
Post-Gazette: Summer Lee kicks off campaign to unseat Paul Costa
Post-Gazette: Elizabeth Township chiropractor announces bid for Rick Saccone state House seat

Statewide
StateImpact: After new setback, Constitution Pipeline says it will fight FERC order
StateImpact: MLK’s environmental justice legacy threatened by Trump administration cuts
City & State: Winners and Losers for the week ending January 12, 2018
Capitolwire: GOP claim 2nd Amendment problem with Wolf disaster declaration, administration disagrees.

Philadelphia
KYW: 150,000 Volunteers Participate In Service Projects Across Region On MLK Day
Inquirer: A look inside the tense, vulgar meeting on immigration
Inquirer: Pennsylvania’s population is aging. Who is going to pay for it?
Inquirer: 50 years after Martin Luther King was slain, debate simmers on how to honor him
Philly Mag: City Says It’s Sorry That Your Trash Hasn’t Been Picked Up
Philly Mag: How Close Is Philly to Opening the Nation’s First Safe Injection Site?
WHYY: Drivers deprived of licenses after drug conviction sue to repeal Pa. law
WHYY: 50 years ago Dr. King told these Philly kids to lay a blueprint, and they did

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Groups want independent risk assessment of Sunoco pipeline
Pottstown Mercury: Gerrymandering case sows doubt in big year for Pennsylvania House races
Bucks County Courier Times: Open Records Office: Health department must release more info on medical marijuana applications

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Toomey, other Pa. politicians react to Trump’s vulgar comments
Post-Gazette: Needle exchange advocates ask governor to do more
Post-Gazette: Upheaval in social services pushes up stakes in Pa. governor’s race
Post-Gazette: In unusual move, Pittsburgh Foundation files ‘friend of court’ brief in gerrymandering case
Post-Gazette: Natalia Rudiak reflects on her eight years on Pittsburgh City Council
Post-Gazette: Fitzgerald won’t say if he supports Port Authority using armed officers for fare enforcement
Post-Gazette: Trump visit to support Saccone shows high stakes of District 18 race
WTAE: PennDOT sued for suspending licenses after drug convictions
WESA: Lawsuit Alleges License Suspension Law Illegally Discriminates Against Drug Offenders
Tribune Review: Pennsylvania activists call for needle exchanges during opioid epidemic
Tribune Review: Republican gubernatorial candidates to debate Saturday in Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Metcalfe opposes ‘parent’ replacing ‘mother,’ ‘father’ on birth certificates
Tribune Review: Second Democrat to run as independent for open Pittsburgh City Council seat
KDKA: Republican Laura Ellsworth Gives GOP Voters Someone Different To Support

Southwest
Beaver County Times: 12th Congressional District candidate Tom Prigg to hold town hall in Aliquippa
Beaver County Times: My guns or my ganja? Firearm-owning pot fans face a choice
Altoona Mirror: Former MDJ candidate disbarred
Altoona Mirror: Judge upholds AASD’s business tax

NEPA
Times-Tribune: Wolf: Globe project helps revitalize downtown Scranton, makes government more efficient
Times-Tribune: Forum will focus on Trump’s first and next years
Times Leader: Wolf approves waiver to help more disabled residents
Times Leader: Luzerne County controller audit detects health insurance billing errors

South Central
WHTM: Lawmaker fears disaster emergency’s impact on gun rights
WHTM: Republican lawmakers want Gov. Wolf to change parent titles on birth certificates
Patriot News: Pa. Human Relations Commission’s executive director resigns suddenly
Patriot News: ‘Sing King’s song’: Former Philly mayor says push for equality must continue
WPMT: Law enforcement in Franklin County offer addicts treatment rather than jail time
LNP: Opioid emergency declaration shouldn’t impact gun carrying rights in Lancaster, despite state senator’s claim
LNP: Pennsylvania bill, if approved, will let voters decide whether or not to cut size of 203-member House of Representatives
Carlisle Sentinel: Rep. Sheryl Delozier fears disaster emergency’s impact on gun rights

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Senate panel passes Toomey bill to aid victims of child pornography
Reading Eagle: Berks-area lawmakers respond to Trump’s immigration comments
Reading Eagle: Gov. Tom Wolf speaks at Allentown rally for ‘dreamers
Reading Eagle: Report looks at impact and future of agriculture in Pennsylvania
WFMZ: Wolf touts entrepreneurship opportunities in Schuylkill Co.
WFMZ: Politicians respond to Trump’s alleged comment about Haiti
Morning Call: States tackling shortcomings in sexual misconduct policies
Morning Call: Democrats rally behind ‘Dreamers’ in Allentown

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Will attorney general’s decision affect Erie medical marijuana dispensary?
Erie Times-News: Erie School District close to getting a financial monitor
Erie Times-News: Erie School Board ready to limit size of tax increase
Bradford Era: Pa. Attorney General Shapiro to visit region
Centre Daily Times: Naloxone administration numbers on the rise in Centre County

Opinion
Post-Gazette: Sounding the alarm: Gov. Wolf is right to term opioids an emergency
Post-Gazette: The people’s business: Congress must put aside ideology this week
Altoona Mirror: Candidates should address sexual payouts
LNP: Opioid emergency will require a multilayered and creative response
Tribune-Democrat: Editorial | Shuster has much to do in final year
Patriot News: The state Supreme Court must uphold the Pa. Constitution and fix our electoral map
Patriot News: Congress should take the deal – protect the Dreamers and build the wall | Charlie Gerow
Patriot News: Maybe Trump forgot those ‘s**thole countries’ are America’s economic and security partners? | Kirstin Snow
Tribune Review: Trib editorial: Blameless Pa. taxpayers should pay no more sexual-harassment settlements
Tribune Review: Colin McNickle: Revised homestead exemption faces hurdles
Tribune Review: Democrat challenger Aaron Anthony: Keith Rothfus is taxing your children
Reading Eagle: Editorial: Opioid disaster declaration a needed step
Inquirer: 4 vital transformations Larry Krasner can make in his first year as Philly’s DA | Opinion
Inquirer: New Pennsylvania suburban Democrats expect party clout. Will the women get it?
Inquirer: Gov. Wolf’s opioid triage a start, but keep costs and effectiveness in view | Editorial