The Pennsylvania GOP hires a compliance officer, while two Democrats have announced bids to run in the 1st Congressional District. Here is the Playbook.

Debbie Wachspress Announces Bid for PA1: The Pennsbury School Board member and Democratic hopeful said she opposes the tax cuts passed under President Donald Trump’s administration and supports a “public option” for healthcare insurance.

Harrisburg & DC   
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Following sexual harassment scandal, state GOP hires new oversight official 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Advocates for poor Pennsylvanians sue over elimination of cash assistance program 
Inquirer: The turnout gap between voters with and without disabilities grew in 2018 — representing 2.35 million people
Inquirer: Advocates sue Pa. to stop plan to cut General Assistance funding for the poor
Inquirer: Equifax to pay up to $700M in data breach settlement; millions of Pennsylvanians to benefit
AP: Lawmakers spend $10M annually on publicly funded messaging
AP: Court issues split decision on natural gas drilling rules
AP: Review urged after 3 parolees charged in separate homicides
WITF: Casey calls for immigration reform after tour of border facilities
WITF: Bucks family’s struggle with Pa.’s mental health system
PLSReporter: Shapiro touts $650 million settlement in Equifax data breach 
PLSReporter: VIDEO: Rep. Grove pushes for adaptive testing in schools 
PLSReporter: DHS secretary rebukes call for Medicaid work requirements
PLSReporter: Citing single subject rule, groups file suit to halt General Assistance repeal
WHYY Newsworks: Don’t have your lunch money? 1 Pa. school district threatens foster care
KDKA: Pa. County To Parents With School Lunch Debt: ‘Nobody’s Coming To Take Your Kids In The Middle of The Night’
StateImpactPA: Landowner sues Sunoco, saying horizontal drilling for Mariner East contaminated his water well 
StateImpactPA: This rare butterfly has found refuge at an unlikely place: a Pennsylvania military base

Philadelphia
WHYY Newsworks: 10 arrested during climate change sit-in at Pa. Democratic HQ 
WHYY Newsworks: Fire-damaged South Philadelphia refinery files for bankruptcy again
Philly Voice: D.A. Larry Krasner takes the stand during former client’s appeal hearing 
Inquirer: In Philly courtroom where DA Krasner won’t try cases, he’s called to witness stand   
Inquirer: These workers will pay thousands more for a hospital stay because Hahnemann is closing 
Inquirer: Developer PMC halted construction at waterfront apartment tower for weeks over work without permits
Inquirer: Penn Law professor Amy Wax under fire for remarks about race and immigration 
Inquirer: The turnout gap between voters with and without disabilities grew in 2018 — representing 2.35 million people
KYW Newsradio: Pa. DAs push back against Krasner’s case to outlaw death penalty 
KYW Newsradio: First-ever bill on regulating PFAS has passed US House
StateImpactPA: Refinery’s closure sparks calls for a ‘just transition’ in Philadelphia
Roxborough Review: Sen. Tartaglione secures grant for fresh produce for schools
Philadelphia Business Journal: Former Philadelphia City Council candidate switches law firms

SEPA 
Bucks Local News: In Bucks County, Wolf Administration announces collaboration, funding to improve care for opioid overdose survivors
Delco Daily Times: Scanlon tours lower Schuylkill; discusses refinery
Delco Daily Times: Philly refinery owner files for bankruptcy – again
Delco Daily Times: Water World: Is water company consolidation a good deal for customers?
Daily Local News: Plastic bag ban: Uncharted waters for West Chester
Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County receives $650K grant for warm hand-off program 
Bucks County Courier Times: David Hauschild drops out of Warminster race
Pottstown Mercury: School taxes going up again for most property owners

Pittsburgh  
KDKA: New Local GOP Chair Says He’ll Rebuild Republican Party In Allegheny Co.
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh abortion clinics promise to carry on despite proposed Title X restrictions
Post-Gazette: Mayor’s office says Mon-Oakland road details ‘fully transparent’
Post-Gazette: Protesters target Mon-Oakland Connector proposal
WESA: Lawmakers Weigh In On Legal Effort To End Capital Punishment In Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh Business Times: SBA loans in Pittsburgh region down almost 20 percent
Pittsburgh Business Times: Grants planned to help fund Ohio River cracker plant
City Paper: U.S. Steel’s market value drops $5.5 billion thanks to Trump’s tariffs 

SWPA
Observer-Reporter: Pennsylvania women in poverty almost double men for five years straight
Beaver County Times: IRS delays decision on Beaver County lien
Beaver County Times: Nearly 1,300 pounds of prescription drugs collected in 2019
Altoona Mirror: Shannon to speak at Tea Party event

NEPA
Citizens Voice: County council to choose Kelleher’s replacement soon
Citizens Voice: Sports betting in Pa. boosts revenue 
Times-Tribune: Dems set schedule to pick their Scranton mayor candidate  
Times-Tribune: What do you want in Scranton’s next mayor? 
Times-Tribune: Courtright’s friend charged in federal corruption case 
Times-Tribune: City Council interviews 14 candidates for temporary mayor 
Times-Tribune: State senators appeal ruling in fracking moratorium case

South Central  
York Dispatch: VIDEO: Congressional candidate Tom Brier
York Daily Record: FBI file on ex-York Mayor Charles Robertson now online
Patriot News: PennLive reader panel seeks community members, students to talk education
Patriot News: Raw sewage was discharged into Harrisburg waterways on 150 days last year

Lehigh Valley    
Morning Call: As pensions fail, Congress ponders, and career savings evaporate
Morning Call: Lehigh Valley to lose $380 million in transportation funding 
Reading Eagle: A week after the Reading mayor’s last-minute change of heart, the pride flag is raised at City Hall 
Reading Eagle: Berks County clerk of courts says digitizing criminal files will save $100,000 a year 
Express Times: Township supervisor missing from meetings skips hearing to remove her from office

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: State to test air quality near Erie Coke plant
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Poor 2020 census response would hurt county
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Everett talks education 

Opinion  
Inquirer Editorial Board: Commissioner Ross was right to fire cops for racist Facebook posts. But many will probably be rehired. 
Bucks County Courier Times Editorial: Thumbs up for Brian Fitzpatrick, down for Michael Pitcher
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: No mincing words
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: FaceApp’s trap 
Mike Folmer: PA state budget: spending and spending and spending…
John L. Micek: ‘We should not allow history to repeat:’ How Pa.’s faithful are speaking up on the border crisis | Monday Morning Coffee
John L. Micek: State programs offer a ‘lifeline’ to those who need it most, HHS boss Miller says. In Trump’s America, that’s critical 
Jennifer Glass: Equal pay: Two myths that persist 
Dick Polman: Trump’s racist tweets are a terrible taste of what we’re in for in 2020 
Amy B. Jordan: To boost kids’ TV, major networks should help fund public broadcasting