Rep. Tom Marino announces his resignation from Congress to take a job in the private sector, while the GOP has their candidate for HD-114. Here is the Playbook.

Breaking: Rep. Marino Resigns: The Republican Congressman was just re-elected to a fifth term in the House in November, but is stepping away to take a job in the private sector.

HD114: Bridget Malloy Kosierowski Selected as Dem Candidate: The Democrat believes that citizens should not be responsible to shoulder or share the tax burden of large corporations.

HD114: GOP Committee Recommends Frank Scavo For Nomination: The Old Forge School Board President vows to make ending school district property taxes for senior citizens a top priority.

Senate Dems Release Committee Assignments: All five of the newly elected Senators are going to chair a committee this session coupled with serving on multiple additional committees.

PoliticsPA sends our condolences to the family of longtime Pennsylvania House of Representatives Staffer, Karen Coates, who died yesterday after a brief illness. Touching tributes from members on both sides of the aisle have been pouring out since the news was made public.  

Harrisburg & DC
AP: Congressman who worked on Trump’s PA campaign is resigning
AP: 5-term Republican Congressman Tom Marino of Pennsylvania is resigning, taking job in private sector
AP: Sports betting in Pennsylvania hits $16M in first full month
AP: Pennsylvania’s casinos reach new revenue record in 2018
PLSReporter: Karen Coates, chief of staff to Turzai, passes away  
PLSReporter: Representative wants to change food safety laws to allow outdoor dining with dogs
PLSReporter: DePasquale announces plan to save taxpayers money through criminal justice reform
PLSReporter: Transcript: Cutler talks redistricting, minimum wage and statute of limitations
Inquirer: They won swing districts, but most Pa., N.J. Dems are holding firm against Trump during shutdown  
Inquirer: More than 4,100 federal workers have applied for unemployment benefits in Pa. and N.J. since the government shutdown
WITF: Industrial hemp could become common sight in Pa. once again
KYW Newsradio: Pa. officials look to reduce prison re-entry rate  
StateImpactPA: ‘Reviving the River’ series: Which streams in the Delaware Watershed are too dirty for swimming and fishing?
StateImpactPA: Pittsburgh-area legislators want hearing on Clairton Coke Works
WESA: PA Doesn’t Let State Money Fund Abortions. Now, Providers Are Suing
Harrisburg Patriot News: How much for that doggie in the window? Pa. lawmaker wants to ban pet store sales of puppy mill dogs, other pets | Thursday Coffee  
Harrisburg Patriot News: Top Pennsylvania House of Representatives staffer dies after brief illness; Karen Coates was 55
Morning Call: Karen Coates, Pennsylvania House’s first female chief of staff, dies at 55

Philadelphia
Inquirer: SEPTA giving free rides to TSA workers
Inquirer: A top U.S. law firm is doubling Philly office, adds a star cybercrime federal prosecutor
Inquirer: MLK event canceled at Philly’s shuttered Liberty Bell due to shutdown; corporate rescue runs out of time
Inquirer: Philly investor Richard Vague wants to help the 2020 Democratic nominee for president — or run himself
Philadelphia Magazine: Mayor Kenney Announces New Gun Violence Prevention Initiative
WHYY Newsworks: Philly judge makes $135,000 gaming city land sales
WHYY Newsworks: City devotes $4.4 million to ‘holistic’ anti-violence programs
WHYY Newsworks: Philly controller questions tax assessments; finance director points to improvement
PLSReporter: Sports betting comes to Turf Club in South Philadelphia
KYW Newsradio: Pa. officials look to reduce prison re-entry rate
KYW Newsradio: Hundreds of Philly TSA agents waiting for shutdown to end, paychecks to start
KYW Newsradio: Center City’s first medical cannabis dispensary hosts free open house

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Rep. Madeleine Dean joins House Judiciary Committee
Bucks County Courier Times: Opioid forum offers avenues to escape addiction
Bucks County Courier Times: Upper Moreland School District challenging cancer center’s tax-exempt status
Daily Local News: Murphy named director of Chester County Emergency Services
Daily Local News: Brandywine mourns loss of Phyllis Wyeth, noted philanthropist, conservationist

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Western Pennsylvania members land congressional committee assignments
Post-Gazette: In a debate over judicial power, dismissal of federal gun charge reversed by higher court
Post-Gazette: New hotline will give sex harassment, assault victims a forum for #MeToo questions
WESA: Some Utilities, Banks Extending Financial Help To Government Employees During Shutdown
WESA: Wagner Launches Bid For Third Term, Promising Advocacy On UPMC/Highmark Split
StateImpactPA: Pittsburgh-area legislators want hearing on Clairton Coke Works
Tribune Review: Carlynton board approves 2019-20 proposed preliminary budget
Tribune Review: North Hills Community Outreach offering help to people impacted by government shutdown

SWPA
Observer-Reporter: Petrosky, Banaszak announce candidacies for district judge seat
Observer-Reporter: City targeted in new lawsuit by demolition contractor
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Westmont school board tabs Joseph Nibert as new member
Beaver County Times: Former Republican commissioner Nichols seeking Democratic nomination  
Beaver County Times: Beaver County plans to stay digital for voting  

NEPA
The Times Leader: Hazleton mayor touts decreasing crime, development in State of City address
The Times Leader: Crestwood board OKs Gorham’s exit, new superintendent named
The Times Leader: WBA moves high school project forward, limits tax hike, renews Bear Creek charter
Times-Tribune: Scranton mayor denies any wrongdoing regarding FBI probe

South Central   
Harrisburg Patriot News: Top Pennsylvania House of Representatives staffer dies after brief illness; Karen Coates was 55
Harrisburg Patriot News: Dauphin County Judge Jeannine Turgeon shifting to senior judge status
Harrisburg Patriot News: Dueling marches pit abortion rights against an end to Roe v. Wade
Harrisburg Patriot News: Harrisburg School District postpones emergency meeting
Harrisburg Patriot News: PHEAA finds its next CEO inside its Harrisburg headquarters
Carlisle Sentinel: Aides, supporters argue case with Carlisle School Board
York Dispatch: Smucker attends Trump meeting, introduces bill to prevent future government shutdowns
York Dispatch: York County empowers women in local rally and expo  

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Bid by angry residents to get Allentown council to roll back tax hike falls flat
Morning Call: After hardball negotiations with Northampton County, Chrin trust ponies up more money for farmland preservation
Morning Call: Sounding Board: What should Gov. Wolf’s priorities be for his second term?
Reading Eagle: Community group calls for term limits for elected officials in Reading  
Reading Eagle: Sinking Spring revitalization committee seeks input about business district  
Reading Eagle: Smart-grid company tries to woo Kutztown Borough Council  

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Congressman Marino announces resignation
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Kilgus seeks bench seat
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Lycoming receives big tax windfall
Erie Times-News: Erie County launches Choose Erie website, data center
Erie Times-News: Plan proposed to demolish Erie County’s Pleasant Ridge Manor East

Opinion
Inquirer Editorial Board: Birth control win in the courts is encouraging — but why are we still fighting about this?
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Get out the vote: Now is the right time to revamp registration rules  
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Cruel and unnecessary: Japan should end its whaling industry
Inquirer Staff: More than ‘I Have a Dream’: 7 black advocates on how Martin Luther King Jr. inspires their work in Philly
Christine Flowers: The myth of toxic masculinity: From Gillette ad to new male-centric guidelines for psychologists
William K. Marimow: Vanguard’s John Bogle leaves behind a legacy of grit, integrity and friendship
Will Bunch: L.A. teacher strike may be cutting edge of a revolution against what’s rotten in America
Brian O’Neill: Single-stream and prosper?