Both Pennsylvania Senators vote in favor of the new Criminal Justice Reform bill, while the Luzerne County GOP has a new chair. Here is the Playbook.

Casey, Toomey Vote for Criminal Justice Reform Bill: Toomey voted no on cloture on the First Step Act, but voted yes on final passage.

Justin Behrens Elected Luzerne County GOP Chair: He hopes to use strong grassroots effort to develop the county GOP.

Harrisburg & DC
AP: Wolf calls for ‘serious’ look at legalizing recreational pot
AP: Prosecutor opens investigation on Mariner East pipeline work
AP: Wolf commutes convicted drug dealer’s 125-year sentence
York Daily Record: A timeline of Pennsylvania history at state Capitol features one woman, no person of color
AP: 2 Pennsylvania chiefs ousted in separate investigations
PLSReporter: “Let us stand strong together”: Inside Philadelphia and the southeast’s ascension in the House Democratic caucus  
PLSReporter: Schlossberg resolution would change the official pet of PA
Inquirer: Pa. officials announce new online tool for reporting suspicious prescriptions
WITF: Pa. auditor says DCED got better at recouping cash from bad investments
WHYY Newsworks: Report questions accuracy of Pa. school district data on homeless students
KYW Newsradio: Senate overwhelmingly passes First Step Act, Pennsylvania Rep. weighs in    
Harrisburg Patriot News: Reporting suspicious prescription drug activity to law enforcement made easier through new online tool
StateImpactPA: Chester County district attorney opens criminal investigation into Mariner East pipeline project
Morning Call: Pennsylvania taps nearly $800,000 in grants to promote beer drinking and making
Morning Call: Pennsylvania launches online tool to report suspicious opioid pill mills
Golf: The Partner: In the beginning, Fred was an unlikely golf buddy. By his mysterious end, he was something else

Philadelphia
WHYY Newsworks: Philadelphia asks doctors to prescribe non-opioids first
WHYY Newsworks: Philly’s dirtiest blocks get surveillance cameras as city steps up fight against illegal dumping
KYW Newsradio: Turmoil surrounds January 2019’s Philly Women Rally
KYW Newsradio: Mayor Kenney, city youth discuss ways to reduce Philly’s uptick in violent crimes
KYW Newsradio: Senate overwhelmingly passes First Step Act, Pennsylvania Rep. weighs in
Inquirer: Some Catholic clergy abuse victims shut out of new compensation funds
Inquirer: ‘Drunk History’ toasts to Philly marriage-equality pioneer Edith Windsor
Inquirer: That controversial ‘sex-positive’ club in Tacony never closed and neighbors no longer care
PLSReporter: Philadelphia releases new guidelines for post-op prescriptions, signs green energy deal
Philadelphia Magazine: Why You’ll Soon See Postcards to Hand to the Homeless in Center City

SEPA
Philadelphia Magazine: Chesco DA Launches Criminal Investigation of Sunoco Mariner East Pipeline Project
Delco Daily Times: Developer donates 15.5 acres to Delaware for creation of a $54 million transit center
Bucks County Courier Times: Coroner: Falls boy’s death ruled a homicide
Council Rock board eyes possibility of larger tax increase
Bucks Local News: State Human Relations Commission schedules hearing on Neshaminy team name and related imagery
Bucks Local News: Bucks County Register of Wills installed as president of state association of elected county officials
Bucks Local News: Pennsbury Education Foundation announces winter grant awards
Montgomery Media: Upper Gywnedd: Township manager ‘has left’; search on for replacement
Pottstown Mercury: DA Hogan opens criminal investigation of Mariner East pipeline construction
Pottstown Mercury: Costello: Shutdown certain unless Trump gives direction
Pottstown Mercury: Upper Pottsgrove buys 20-acre parcel for open space
Pottstown Mercury: Upper Pottsgrove holds line on taxes with $3.4M budget
Pottstown Mercury: Upper Pottsgrove cops get 3-year pact, 10% raises
Daily Local News: 14 Chesco tech firms get more than $1.1 million in tax credits

Pittsburgh
WESA: City Council Introduces New Gun Bills, Advocates Threaten Lawsuit
WESA: Allegheny County Council Considers Bill To Form Police Review Board
KDKA: Franklin Park Council Tables Vote On Fracking Lease
City Paper: Gov. Tom Wolf hints at openness to recreational marijuana legalization in state  
PLSReporter: Allegheny County Council introduces legislation to create police review board
Post-Gazette: Superior Court sends another sex offender case back for resentencing, removes Judge Donna Jo McDaniel
Post-Gazette: Leechburg fires police chief who pleaded guilty to felony sex crimes
Post-Gazette: Former county councilman to get new hearing
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Public Schools passes 2019 budget with no tax increase
Tribune Review: Protesters urged to carry guns at rally against Pittsburgh regulations
Tribune Review: Carnegie budget vote slated for Dec. 27; no tax increase expected
Tribune Review: Murrysville approves $14.7 million budget for 2019 with no tax hike
Tribune Review: Tax hike could fill Penn Hills budget shortfall
Tribune Review: Incoming state Rep. Valerie Gaydos has firm roots in the Sewickley Valley

SWPA
Beaver County Times: New voting machines by 2020 unavoidable
Beaver County Times: Aliquippa Economic Development Corp., Beaver Falls’ Tiger Pause reap benefits from state tax credits program
Altoona Mirror:  Wolf approves tax credits for local tech companies
Altoona Mirror: Bedford budget, tax rate approved
Altoona Mirror: Commissioners consider shelter funds
Altoona Mirror: Hornberger eyes commissioner post
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Cambria Township adopts 2019 budget with no tax increase
Observer-Reporter: County commissioners consider 40 who made the local share list
Observer-Reporter: Washington County commissioners announce 2019 Local Share Account recommendations
Observer-Reporter: Charleroi’s budget includes modest tax hike for 2019

NEPA
Times-Tribune: State issues permits for three new medical marijuana dispensaries in Scranton
Times-Tribune: Scranton parking garage repairs on schedule
Citizens Voice: Flood authority chairman not happy with sanitary authority plan
Citizens Voice: Tenants leery of W-B council, WestGUARD parking plan
Standard Speaker: Former post office to be a dispensary
Standard Speaker: Board rejects DOJ proposal
Standard Speaker: Project bill questioned by East Union Twp.
Times Leader: Prosecutors won’t seek death penalty in Wilkes-Barre man’s homicide

South Central
Harrisburg Patriot News: 5 people will oversee Harrisburg’s finances: Who are they and what will they do?
Harrisburg Patriot News: Harrisburg council unhappy that more local labor isn’t building the federal courthouse
Harrisburg Patriot News: After battling murderers in Dauphin County for years, prosecutor leaves for federal job
York Daily Record: A timeline of Pennsylvania history at state Capitol features one woman, no person of color
York Dispatch: Former York County solicitor Glenn Smith returning to private practice  
York Dispatch: $707K in state tax credits to benefit York City revitalization  
York Dispatch: York City Council passes $108M budget adding funding for Penn Market  
York Dispatch: Sen.-elect Kristin Phillips-Hill opens Springfield Township office  

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Allentown Council defers loan payment to balance 2019 budget
Morning Call: Allentown teacher grants to fund music, poetry and STEM programs
Reading Eagle: Berks County deputies to help patrol Reading streets in response to triple fatal shootings   
Reading Eagle: Reading district courts lead state with more than $1 million in paid work to constables
Reading Eagle: Alsace Township adopts budget with no tax increase
Reading Eagle: Reading to add more security cameras in hopes of deterring crime
Express Times: DA to announce attempted homicide charge involving 2 college students

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Williamsport mayor seeks to sell properties
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Loyalsock Township OKs no-tax-hike 2019 budget
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Lycoming County to consider extending $72K lobbyist contract for levee
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Ramp, security at City Hall nearly ready to go to bid
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: 4-year contract for East Lycoming staff approved by district
Erie Times-News: Millcreek supervisors approve budget, tax credits for firefighters

Opinion
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Compensation for abuse: Payouts must not derail legislative action
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Memo to Democrats: Build something
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Reason for hope: AMA lauds Pennsylvania’s steps to combat opioids
Inquirer Editorial Board: State charter school law way overdue for reform
Abraham Gutman: The First Step Act is a rare win in the Trump era. Liberals should celebrate.
Paul Muschick: Here’s an idea to reduce opioid overdose deaths
Solomon Jones: Russia’s election trolls found it all too easy to manipulate black voters
Antony Davies and James R. Harrigan: Come back to the people, Democrats
Trudy Rubin: In the Christmas season, some ways to counter hatred and support human rights
Dan Simpson: American lobbyists fund violence abroad
Jim Plousis: The day Donald “Santa” Trump bused kids in Georgia to holiday cheer
Daniel Templar: Local Boy Scouts committed to service and safety
Ronnie Polaneczky: Christmas comes early to St. Anne’s, thanks to a casino