Lawmakers were sworn in to start their 2-year General Assembly term. Here is the Playbook.

2018 Ups & Downs: The election has come and gone that will bring some familiar faces into 2019, while a slew of newly elected officials have also burst onto the scene. Here’s the annual Ups & Downs.

Harrisburg & DC
AP: Lawmakers sworn in at start of 2-year General Assembly term
AP: The Latest: Lawmakers sworn in for coming legislative term
AP: New year means higher Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls, again
AP: Wanting to get things done, Wolf prepares for a second term
AP: Top GOP senator says he favors swearing in Democrat Williams
AP: Court rules mothers’ drug use in pregnancy isn’t child abuse
AP: Lawmakers report $43M increase in unspent cash reserves
Inquirer: More Democrats, more women – but the GOP still rules in Pa. legislature
StateImpactPA: Powerless: What it looks and sounds like when a gas driller overruns your land
PLSReporter: Torres to Aging, Boockvar to take over State as Wolf makes second term cabinet switches
PLSReporter: Much ado about rules: Cutler tackles sexual harassment, amendment filibusters in rule changes  
PLSReporter: Members from Fair Districts PA spend their holiday in the Capitol  
PLSReporter: Turzai, Scarnati hold top positions as members sworn in on New Year’s
Pottstown Mercury: House session opens with Turzai elected speaker
Pottstown Mercury: Abortions hit record low in Pennsylvania
Daily Local News: DePasquale: Government shutdown impacting Pennsylvanians
Harrisburg Patriot News: Every newborn in Pa. will get a college savings account and 12 other changes that could affect you in 2019
Harrisburg Patriot News: More women, lots of new faces: Pennsylvania, meet your newest General Assembly
Harrisburg Patriot News: Pennsylvania General Assembly reconvenes for a working holiday
Harrisburg Patriot News: Pa. State House makes a number of serious rules changes on opening day
Harrisburg Patriot News: As Pa. mulls recreational marijuana, treatment experts stress: it can be addictive
Harrisburg Patriot News: 19 for ’19: From Gritty to Fetterman, Pennsylvanians you’ll be talking about in 2019
Harrisburg Patriot News: These Pennsylvania officials were jailed, convicted or arrested in 2018     

Philadelphia
KYW Newsradio: Philly breaks decade-old record murder rate
Philly Voice: Pennsylvania’s Mary Gay Scanlon video on border wall funding has gone viral
Philly Voice: Watch this documentary about State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta’s Election Day in North Philly
Philly Clout: Local 98 re-emerges with new tactics for a new year, as a federal probe lingers  
Inquirer: Government shutdown shines a light on Philly’s federal workers living paycheck to paycheck
Inquirer: As N.J. and Pa. fall behind in voting access, governors call for reform
Inquirer: More Democrats, more women – but the GOP still rules in Pa. legislature
Inquirer: City settles for $350K with woman who claims supervisors knew for years her harasser was a problem
Philadelphia Magazine: Philly’s 20 Biggest Winners of 2018
Philadelphia Magazine: Philly’s 20 Biggest Losers of 2018
PLSReporter: Challengers announce for 2019 Philadelphia elections

SEPA
Delco Daily Times: Senate protesters deliver petitions to Killion office
Delco Daily Times: Former state Rep. Gannon suspended from practicing law for two years
Delco Daily Times: Mariner East 2 pipeline up and running, but foes not happy
Delco Daily Times: Morton holds line on taxes; trash, sewer fees going up
Montgomery Media: Lower Moreland hikes taxes by 13 percent
Bucks Local News: Bucks County judge rules to uphold tax ordinance; government shut-down averted in Morrisville Borough
Bucks Local News: PUC approves rate increase for PECO Energy; grants utility’s request to refund $68M in savings from federal tax cut

Pittsburgh
WESA: There Used To Be One Woman In The State House From Allegheny County. Now There Are Six
WESA: With Democratic House Control, A Look At How Freshmen Lawmakers Get Assignments
WESA:  McDonald-Roberts, A Fixture In Local Government, To Step Down From City Next Month
WESA: In 2019, PA Legislature Will Stay In GOP Control, Gain Three DSA-Endorsed Members
City Paper: Pittsburgh received $2 million to rehabilitate buildings into affordable, for-sale homes
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh housing authority development chief to leave agency for Washington, D.C.   

SWPA
Beaver County Times: A new year, a new county? Commissioners muse about their 2019 resolutions for running Beaver County
Beaver County Times: New Year’s resolution: For self improvement, turn to area colleges
Beaver County Times: Egley votes no as 2019 budget passes
Beaver County Times: Beaver County Jail to contract with Susquehanna Accounting and Consulting
Observer-Reporter: Magisterial district judge announces candidacy for Washington County bench
Observer-Reporter: North Franklin Township to disband police department
Observer-Reporter: Monessen Council approves 2019 general fund budget with tax increase
Observer-Reporter: Charleroi Council approves budget with tax increase
Altoona Mirror: Solicitor ‘shined brightest’ during city’s darkest hour
Altoona Mirror: Commissioners approve new wage for nonunion workers
Altoona Mirror: Area counties report jobs, business investment in 2018
Altoona Mirror: Freshmen lawmakers reshape Legislature
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Rigby sworn in as state representative

NEPA
Times-Tribune: Local woman takes oath today after long fight for Allegheny Senate seat
Times-Tribune: Former sportscaster Conigliaro seeks 114th District seat
The Times Leader: Wishes for 2019: Leaders tell us their hopes, dreams
The Times Leader: Luzerne County Councilman Brominski resigning

South Central
Harrisburg Patriot News: Every newborn in Pa. will get a college savings account and 12 other changes that could affect you in 2019
Harrisburg Patriot News: More women, lots of new faces: Pennsylvania, meet your newest General Assembly
Harrisburg Patriot News: Pennsylvania General Assembly reconvenes for a working holiday
Harrisburg Patriot News: Pa. State House makes a number of serious rules changes on opening day
Harrisburg Patriot News: As Pa. mulls recreational marijuana, treatment experts stress: it can be addictive
Harrisburg Patriot News: 19 for ’19: From Gritty to Fetterman, Pennsylvanians you’ll be talking about in 2019
Harrisburg Patriot News: These Pennsylvania officials were jailed, convicted or arrested in 2018
Carlisle Sentinel: Lisa Grayson announces bid for county judge seat   
Carlisle Sentinel: South Middleton School District projects tax increase but no major shortfall in 2019-20
York Dispatch: York County legislators lay out priorities for 2019-20 session   
York Dispatch: Central York debt could curb program needs, raise taxes for years to come
LNP | LancasterOnline: Rep. Bryan Cutler introduces his ‘hero’ as lawmakers swear-in for new 2019-20 session
LNP | LancasterOnline: Airbnb: Lancaster County rental hosts earned $5 million in 2018 as tax issue continues
LNP | LancasterOnline: Here’s what Lancaster County’s state lawmakers are working on for 2019-20

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Pennsylvania Legislature reconvenes with record number of female lawmakers
Morning Call: Pennsylvania politics: Through the looking glass of 2018 into 2019
Morning Call: Major pension overhaul — with reduced benefits — going into effect for new state workers, teachers
Reading Eagle: U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon introduces first bill
Reading Eagle: Berks County reflects statewide pattern: Higher life expectancy in the suburbs, lower in urban areas  

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Multiple local offices up for election in 2019
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Lawmakers sworn in at start of 2-year General Assembly term
Williamsport Sun Gazette: $4.2M contract Ok’d for system
Centre Daily Times: What will downtown State College look like in 2019? Development projects are underway
Erie Times-News: Merski sworn-in as state representative

Opinion
Inquirer Editorial Board: Our wish for 2019: Challenge state, city lawmakers
Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon and Rep.-Elect Madeleine Dean: The new colossus: Building a wall between the people and effective government
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: A matter of dignity: Airplane restrooms should be wheelchair friendly
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Reporting opioid abuse: Tipline is a new strategy for fighting an epidemic
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Buried in boxes: Recycle or reuse all of that cardboard
Inquirer Staff: How Inquirer opinion contributors saw the most controversial moments of 2018
Brian O’Neill: Re-mapping districts likely a hopeless task
David M. Shribman: The end of history?
Solomon Jones: Legalizing marijuana won’t benefit people of color
Rachel Kramer Bussel: I can’t go a day without my smartphone — but I want that to change
Miriam Enriquez and Feyisola Alabi: Immigrants are welcome in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia
Brandon Judd: Border Patrol should not be held responsible for deaths following harrowing journey