Lieutenant Governor Stack officially kicks off his re-election bid, and the FBI searches Congressman Bob Brady’s email as part of probe into illegal campaign contributions.  Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

Stack Launches Re-Election Bid: Lieutenant Governor Mike Stack launched his re-election bid at Philadelphia City Hall, despite the controversy surrounding his term in office and multiple primary challenges.

FBI Searches Brady’s Emails as Part of Illegal Campaign Contribution Probe: The FBI reportedly searched Congressman Bob Brady’s email account, the clearest sign they are looking into Brady as part of a probe into his campaign allegedly paying former primary opponent Jimmie Moore to exit the race.

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: State lawmakers will get an automatic pay raise
StateImpact: Special report: How the U.S. Government Hid Fracking’s Risks to Drinking Water

Philadelphia
Philly Tribune: Pennsylvania launches website to help seniors and people with disabilities find services
Inquirer: 2018: The year of heading to the ‘burbs? And other real estate predictions
Inquirer: Philly paying millions to resolve allegations of police misconduct
Inquirer: Pa.’s top pension earners take home hundreds of thousands a year
Inquirer: It’s budget season: Will your local taxes increase in 2018?
Inquirer: Philly lawyer who counseled Trump returns to Cozen O’Connor
Inquirer: College professors’ new classroom worry? Their words going viral
WHYY: Allentown grapples with its identity as its indicted mayor begins 4th term while facing trial

SEPA
Daily Local: Pennhurst, 2 others get state funding for redevelopment
Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks nabs $675K in environmental grants from state gas drilling fund
Bucks County Courier Times: Warwick homeowners caught in limbo as military investigates contamination
Pottstown Mercury: Forum on future of Norristown State Hospital scheduled following construction stoppage

Pittsburgh
WESA: Redevelopment Of Former SCI Pittsburgh Site, A Possible Amazon HQ2 Location, On Hold
Tribune Review: Court invalidates Tom Corbett’s 2014 line-item spending vetoes
Tribune Review: New Kensington Police Chief Jim Klein has resigned, mayor confirms
Tribune Review: Pennsylvanians increasingly turning to new protective orders
Tribune Review: LIHEAP, Dollar Energy Fund helping low-income residents with winter heating bills
Tribune Review: Aspinwall property taxes could increase to pay for more police
Post-Gazette: New parole officers coming as DOC, parole merge
Post-Gazette: No tax increase expected in Ross next year
Post-Gazette: McKees Rocks poised for growth, council told
Pittsburgh Business Journal: State’s solar energy program adds back grants

Southwest
Observer-Reporter: Municipalities could benefit from changes in Local Share Account law
Beaver County Times: Judge blocks state’s demand for $200M from insurer
Beaver County Times: Fair Districts PA’s Beaver County chapter sees support growing for its anti-gerrymandering efforts
Beaver County Times: Rural Democrats, left for dead, see an opening in Pennsylvania

NEPA
Times-Tribune: Wolf administration kicks off town-hall sessions in Luzerne
Times Leader: Luzerne County $3.98 million energy projects contract detailed
Standard-Speaker: Streams affected by acid mine water are tested

South Central
Patriot News: Cumberland County DA resigns to become U.S. Attorney
Patriot News: Pa. Supreme Court overturns… wait for it…. a Gov. Tom Corbett veto
Patriot News: U.S. judge blocks Pa. from immediately seizing $200M from insurer to balance state budget
Patriot News: Background checks for gun purchases set Black Friday record
Patriot News: How much does it cost to reimburse a probation officer for $60 pants? About $4,300, so far
Patriot News: U.S. judge blocks Pa. from immediately seizing $200M from insurer to balance state budget
Patriot News: Lebanon County senator announces plans to seek a fourth term of office
Carlisle Sentinel: A decade later, gas drilling tax politics roil Pennsylvania
LNP: Lancaster County Commissioner Craig Lehman will run for lieutenant governor, wants to be part of ‘positive change’
LNP: Gov. Tom Wolf, first lady Frances Wolf welcome ‘new Pennsylvanians’ at Thanksgiving dinner
LNP: Over 240 Cuban doctors have resettled in Lancaster and more are coming; here’s what happens when they get here
WITF: Lancaster County commissioner to run for lieutenant governor
Lebanon Daily News: N. Lebanon supervisors pass resolution opposing a mini-casino

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: 4 Lehigh Valley municipalities say ‘no thanks’ to a potential mini-casino
Morning Call: Pen Argyl officials consider three master plans for Weona Park
Reading Eagle: Montgomery County prohibits gambling expansion
Reading Eagle: Topton man hopes to succeed Dent
Reading Eagle: Costello aims to fix loan forgiveness program

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: No Real ID nightmare for Pa. travelers in new year
Erie Times-News: Erie City Council to start budget sessions
Centre Daily Times: Former Penn State student sues university for more than $75,000

Opinion
Tribune Review: Trib editorial: New PUC oversight must deliver for ratepayers
Tribune Review: Trib editorial: Harrisburg’s unruly students underscore a lost ‘lesson’
Patriot News: An automatic raise for state officials: For what, exactly? | Editorial
Patriot News: Here’s what you need to know about that property tax referendum you just approved | Opinion
Reading Eagle: Editorial: State lawmakers need to earn a raise before taking it
Daily News: Trump, the GOP tax scheme, and the 2 different ‘awfuls’ threatening America | Will Bunch
Inquirer: Poverty in Philly: It’s brutal, but we can help | Editorial
Post-Gazette: Regulate Big Pharma: It gets taxpayer support but returns little