The Democratic and Republican candidates have been selected for the special election in HD-190. Here is the Playbook.

HD190: Darryl Thomas Selected as Dem Nominee: The Democrat believes there are workable solutions available to reduce crime and economic disparities as well as other achievable initiatives.

Harrisburg & DC
Inquirer: As government shutdown drags on, Pennsylvanians feeling the pain, Wolf says
WESA: Sen. Pat Toomey On The Shutdown, Gun Control Legislation, Steel Tariffs
AP: Casey to back bill to fund government, not border wall
AP: Pennsylvania takes steps to allow commercial help production
AP: States move to ease restrictions on child sex-abuse lawsuits
Harrisburg Patriot News: How the federal government shutdown is affecting Pennsylvania
Harrisburg Patriot News: Citizens’ group accuses legislative panel of violating open meetings law
Morning Call: In a surprise move, Pennsylvania is throwing the door wide open for industrial hemp production
WITF: Lancaster County tops list for charging heroin dealers with homicide
Bucks County Courier Times: House launches PFAS task force; Rep. Fitzpatrick to co-chair  
PLSReporter: Members, friends and family join for Karen Coates memorial
PLSReporter: State reps pursue solutions for lead testing in Philadelphia hearing
PLSReporter: With TMI closure ticking down, General Assembly looks into nuclear deal
PLSReporter: Bipartisanship, involvement highlight state lawmakers’ meeting with community
PLSReporter: Freshman Focus: Rep. Louis Schmitt  
Philly Voice: Pennsylvania is the fourth most-decorated literary state in the U.S.
StateImpactPA: Pa. might set maximum limits on a toxic chemical in drinking water. Some ask: What’s there to decide?
StateImpactPA: Residents question air-quality notification delay after Clairton Coke Works fire
Post-Gazette: Statewide reporting system for school threats receives hundreds of reports in first week
Post-Gazette: President Trump renominates Pittsburgh lawyer for federal judgeship
Post-Gazette: Lamb and Joyce step into committee and caucus roles in the new Congress
Reading Eagle: Pennsylvania senators stand firm in shutdown positions  

Philadelphia
Billy Penn: Democratic party bosses handpick replacement for disgraced West Philly state rep
Billy Penn: The union that represents Inquirer staff filed a grievance against their employer, alleging management lied about cutting off pensions
Inquirer: City officials to enforce required reporting of missing or stolen guns
Inquirer: Government shutdown: How federal workers in Philly can get help, from food to finances
Inquirer: Paul Vallas for mayor? Mayor of Chicago, that is
Inquirer: Grants slashed after Mayor’s Fund hit with loan payments tied to corruption scandal
Inquirer: Philly property owner asked about his tax abatement and got sudden reassessment. Was it legal?
Inquirer: The ‘Fight for $15′ is winning at Philly-area hospitals
Inquirer: As Philly neighborhoods gentrify, house theft is a growing problem
Inquirer: First Center City Philadelphia marijuana dispensary opens Thursday  
KYW Newsradio: New security measures at City Hall put to the test as council resumes    
KYW Newsradio: Prosecutors, defense attorneys ask judge to rescind Mumia Abu-Jamal’s appeal  
KYW Newsradio: Hidden homelessness: What overnight census of people living on the street misses  

SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: House launches PFAS task force; Rep. Fitzpatrick to co-chair
Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks conducting homeless count next week; seeks volunteers to help
Pottstown Mercury: Rep. Comitta to co-host Q&A on Mariner East safety concern
Pottstown Mercury: Upper Pottsgrove names Reddick new township manager
KYW Newsradio: Chester County DA: Task force brought in 77 drug dealers in past 2 months
Inquirer: Paid parental leave is coming to Montgomery County staff, the first suburban area in Southeastern Pa. to adopt it
Delco Daily Times: Delco asked to join legal action against pipeline
Daily Local News: West Chester police get new contract calling for 5.25 percent wage hike

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: President Trump renominates Pittsburgh lawyer for federal judgeship
Post-Gazette: Lamb and Joyce step into committee and caucus roles in the new Congress
Post-Gazette: Hearing on gun bills in Pittsburgh moved to lobby of City-County Building
Post-Gazette: Statewide reporting system for school threats receives hundreds of reports in first week
Post-Gazette: Pilot recycling program gives South Hills residents an alternative to glass in the trash
Post-Gazette: The face of city snow removal will retire in the spring
StateImpactPA: Ahead of public event in Pittsburgh, StateImpact reporters discuss what ‘zero carbon’ might mean  
Tribune Review: Allegheny County Executive Fitzgerald nominates his economic development director to airport authority
Tribune Review: Parts of Flight 93 memorial remain open during federal government shutdown
Tribune Review: Aid is available for federal employees in Sewickley area
WESA: ‘Everybody Deserves A Second Chance’: Post-Prison, Twanda Carlisle Finds Work In Summer Lee’s Office
WESA: Lawmakers Try Out New Ways Of Assessing Impact Of State Dollars
KDKA: Pittsburgh Diocese’s Independent Reconciliation Compensation Program Goes Live
The Incline: Want Pittsburgh City Council to hear your voice? Here’s what you need to know.

SWPA
Beaver County Times: Lawmakers receive House committee assignments
Beaver County Times: Commissioners back plan to pay firefighters for missing work
Beaver County Times: ATI’s Midland plant still hampered by Trump tariffs
Observer-Reporter: McGuffey approves preliminary 2019-2020 budget
Altoona Mirror: Burns re-elected to post
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Tax-appeal settlement approved for portion of former SCI-Cresson site   
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Jones preparing to pursue ‘lifelong passion’ as Cambria County coroner
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Bedford County sheriff to step down, run for commissioner

NEPA
Times-Tribune: State auditor general hears suggestions for Scranton School District
Times-Tribune: Wilkes-Barre General Hospital nurses set strike date
Times-Tribune: Commissioners, Prison Board meet today
Citizens Voice: County council interviews final applicants for vacant seat  
Citizens Voice: Luzerne County Council approves $150K settlement  
Citizens Voice: George attends first work session as W-B mayor
The Times Leader: Luzerne County Council asked to weigh in on Wilkes-Barre General Hospital labor dispute  
The Times Leader: Applications now available for state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program  
The Times Leader: Meuser named to House Education & Labor, Veterans’ Affairs, Budget committees

South Central   
WITF: Lancaster County tops list for charging heroin dealers with homicide
Harrisburg Patriot News: Remembering top House staffer Karen Coates: ‘She understood the glass ceiling she was breaking’
Harrisburg Patriot News: Should owners of wall that collapsed in Harrisburg be forced to clean up the multi-million dollar mess?
Carlisle Sentinel: Superintendent: “Nothing new” regarding Bible distribution debate in Mechanicsburg Area School District  
Carlisle Sentinel: Joyce named to House Homeland Security, Small Business Committees
York Daily Record: York Water customers will get a break in their bill before rate goes up in 2020   
York Dispatch: Vice President Commissioner Doug Hoke will seek fourth term on York County board  
LNP | LancasterOnline: Manor Township to consider marijuana decriminalization  
LNP | LancasterOnline: School District of Lancaster superintendent discussed education funding at policy hearing [watch]  

Lehigh Valley  
Reading Eagle: U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser gets committee assignments
Morning Call: Allentown attorney enters Lehigh County judge race
Morning Call: School counselor announces bid for Bethlehem City Council
Morning Call: Allentown spent $3 million over budget on health care for 2018
Morning Call: Third candidate enters crowded race for Northampton County district attorney
Morning Call: Northampton County assumes day-to-day control of Gracedale
Morning Call: Lower Nazareth Township considers referendum on open space tax
Morning Call: Raises, higher health care contributions in Parkland Education Association’s new contract
Express Times: Prosecutor joins race for Northampton County district attorney

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Erie lawyer Ed Smith announces for judge
Erie Times-News: Food bank assists federal workers impacted by shutdown
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Jersey Shore outdoorsman seeks commissioner seat

Opinion
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Good faith: Democrats must strike a deal with Trump on immigration
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: The state must act: Decisive action could preserve health care access
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Using power: Trump could solve American disappearance in Syria
Inquirer Editorial Board: Why we should be paying attention to how the world sees Philly
Trudy Rubin: The parallel paralyses of a Brexiting Britain and a shutdown America
Dan Simpson: Our leaders are failing us
Lori Bruce: Safe Haven laws are failing women and children
Ana Meyers: Public charters can help a lagging education system
John L. Micek: New Pa. House bill would give voters the choice to get rid of prevailing wage | Wednesday Morning Coffee