The Congressional Leadership Fund plans to open two offices in PA-18 as both sides look to invest in the March special election, and don’t miss the ups and downs from the week.  Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

Congressional Leadership Fund to Open Two Offices for PA-18 Special Election: The Congressional Leadership Fund, House Speaker Paul Ryan’s PAC, will reportedly open two offices in the 18th Congressional district for the March 13th special election.

1/5 Ups & Downs: Two more Harrisburg officials are accused of sexual harassment, both step down, the current Congressional map gets a good review from the Commonwealth Court, unemployment compensation workers start coming back to work, and the Turnpike Commission gets its second audit in as many years. See who made this week’s Ups & Downs!

Legislative Election Update
Morning Call: Northampton DA John Morganelli is running for Congress

Post-Gazette: Four Dems vying to grab Rothfus’ U.S. House seat

Statewide
City & State: Leaks show Krasner firings targeted top staff, ‘Porngate’ prosecutors
State House Sound Bites: Endorsements trickling in for gubernatorial hopefuls
StateImpact: Changing climate and Philly’s freezing temperatures
StateImpact: Mariner East 2 shutdown is latest in a spate of challenges to major Sunoco project

Philadelphia
Philly Tribune: Pa. House GOP members propose massive welfare reform
Inquirer: In Philly, no homicides in the first 5 days of 2018
Inquirer: Krasner dismisses 31 from Philly DA’s Office in dramatic first-week shakeup
Inquirer: How a profitable Point Breeze property flip raises questions about Philadelphia land policy, ‘councilmanic prerogative’
Inquirer: Speak no evil: Pa. Senate’s security force cloaked in secrecy
Philly Mag: Report: Larry Krasner Dismisses More than 30 Prosecutors
Philly Mag: Michael Wolff, Author of Trump Tome “Fire and Fury,” Is Coming to Philly
WHYY: Philly’s new DA fires 31 from office
WHYY: Pennsylvania Turnpike toll increase takes effect
WHYY: Full of optimism, Gov. Wolf prepares for re-election

SEPA
Times Herald: Local officials turn up heat to ensure safety of pipeline process
Pottstown Mercury: Opioid crisis, redistricting on 2018 agenda for Pa. lawmakers
Pottstown Mercury: McGrath reelected supervisors’ chairwoman in Amity
Daily Local: Costello goes on attack after Sessions’ marijuana crackdown
Intelligencer: Toomey touts tax reform bill at Hatboro manufacturing plant

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Medical marijuana seen at risk following move by Sessions
Post-Gazette: So it begins? National groups investing in Pa-18 special election
Post-Gazette: Another candidate emerges in Pittsburgh District 8 council race
Post-Gazette: State Senate’s security force shrouded in secrecy
Tribune Review: Special election date set for vacant Pittsburgh City Council District 8 seat
Tribune Review: Pennsylvania Turnpike toll increase now in effect
Tribune Review: North Irwin write-ins take council seats

Southwest
Beaver County Times: Officials announce $3.3 million investment to revitalize Aliquippa
Beaver County Times: Wolf signs Marshall bill renaming Chippewa Township bridge for fallen state trooper
Altoona Mirror: Shuster successor may see changing district
Altoona Mirror: Candidate says no to straw polls
Herald-Standard: Initiative to bring together state cabinet members, locals to be held in Charleroi

NEPA
Times Leader: Luzerne County Council filling numerous seats on outside boards
Times Leader: Wilkes-Barre seeking new vendors for pay-by-phone parking
Times-Tribune: New owner of Scranton sewer system seeks key pair of missing easements
Times-Tribune: Local income disparity widens

South Central
WHTM: Farm Show lease deal ‘in final stages’
Carlisle Sentinel: Full of optimism, Gov. Wolf prepares for re-election
Patriot News: Animal rights activists cancel 2018 Pa. Farm Show protest
Patriot News: York County’s Scott Wagner proves to be gubernatorial favorite in home turf’s regional GOP caucus vote
Patriot News: Harrisburg targets properties for demolition in 2018, including former lt. gov.’s house
Patriot News: ‘I’m very proud of what I’ve been able to do’: Gov. Wolf set for campaign
Patriot News: Safest place to be this week may be at the Farm Show, at least according to crime stats
Patriot News: It’ll cost more to use the Pa. Turnpike as 2018 toll increase goes into effect
Patriot News: Domestic violence, size of legislature on state lawmakers’ 2018 agenda
LNP: Lancaster County charities worry tax overhaul could reduce donations
LNP: A Real ID will cost Pennsylvania residents $60.50; PennDOT makes plans to handle rush of customers
LNP: Turnpike tolls increase today; Here’s how much it costs to get around the state from Lancaster County
LNP: Game Commission field officers now called game wardens, mostly what public has called them all along
LNP: Full of optimism, Gov. Wolf prepares for re-election
York Dispatch: Opioid crisis, redistricting on state lawmakers’ 2018 agenda

Lehigh Valley
WFMZ: Senator Toomey visits Montgomery County, praises tax benefits
Reading Eagle: PA Farm Show kicks off in the cold
Reading Eagle: Berks County has new president judge
Morning Call: Two dozen Lehigh Valley towns say ‘No” to mini casinos
Morning Call: Whitehall must find new leader if Hozza takes Lehigh County job
Morning Call: Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski sticks to the details, avoids legal problems in State of the City speech

North by Northwest
Meadville Tribune: Gun rights of medical marijuana patients called into question
Loch Haven Express: Thompson hits tax reform highlights
Erie Times-News: Barber Institute CEO supports effort to raise support staff wages
Daily Item: Pa. agencies scrambling over sexual harassment

Opinion
Daily Local: Costello: Letter contained falsehoods
Patriot News: This ‘Fire and Fury’ has united Republicans – and that’s good for Trump | Charlie Gerow
Patriot News: Yes, Trump can’t help himself. But he should have risen above the ‘Fire and Fury’ | Kirstin Snow
Patriot News: There’s some good news in that GOP tax cut, too | Editorial
Inquirer: They’re stacking up to take down Stack
Inquirer: Gambling priest had enabler: The state of Pennsylvania | Editorial
Tribune Review: Trib editorial: U.N. budget cut long overdue
Tribune Review: Trib editorial: State police must change self-investigation policy on use of lethal force
Post-Gazette: At the source: Stopping opioid flow is a bipartisan effort
Post-Gazette: The mayor’s new term: Keeping eye on basics will bolster Peduto’s success
LNP: Turnpike toll increases are more than motorists should have to bear