Former Philly Deputy Mayor Nina Ahmad ends 2017 with over half a million on hand in challenge to Brady, Eichelberger is likely to enter the race for PA-9, and the U.S. Circuit Court rules in favor of Pennsylvania’s Congressional lines.  Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

Ahmad Ends 207 with $564k in Brady Challenge: Former Philadelphia Deputy Mayor Dr. Nina Ahmad announced she ended 2017 with $564,000 on hand after raising $579,000 in her primary challenge of Congressman Bob Brady.

Eichelberger “Strongly Considers” a Run for PA-9: State Sen. John Eichelberger is considering a run to replace retiring Congressman Bill Shuster, with an announcement coming on Saturday.

Federal Court Keeps Pa. Congressional Lines: In a 2-1 decision the U.S. Circuit Court ruled that Pennsylvania’s Congressional lines do not violate current law.

Legislative Election Update
Inquirer: Could Mayor Kenney’s labor aide oust longtime Dem party boss Bob Brady from Congress?
Post-Gazette: Politicians lining up to replace Shuster in Congress
Pottstown Mercury: Democrat announces candidacy for 155th House Dist. seat
Tribune Review: Bob Brooks, ex-Murrysville mayor, to run for 54th state House seat

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Opioid emergency prompts 2nd amendment dispute between Wagner, Wolf
State House Sound Bites: House Leader Dave Reed isn’t saying no to a congressional bid
StateImpact: Water study finds some Pa. radium levels exceed tough California limit
StateImpact: Settlement requires coal plants to get permits with tighter pollution controls

Philadelphia
KYW: Gov. Wolf Declares Pennsylvania’s Opioid Addiction Epidemic Public Health Emergency
KYW: Lawyer: By Declaring Opioid Epidemic A Statewide Emergency In Pennsylvania, Firearm Rights Were Limited In The Process
WHYY: Wolf opioid order could open door to better treatment, prevention in Philadelphia
WHYY: Report calls for overhaul of Pa. charter law
Philly Tribune: Gov. Tom Wolf declares ‘state of emergency’
Inquirer: Change-driven DA Krasner hires criminal justice lifer as top deputy
Inquirer: Rhynhart lets go of 10 staffers, wants more gone
Philly Mag: Krasner Announces Rest of DA’s Office Leadership Hires in Internal Email

SEPA
Times Herald: PennDOT sued for suspending licenses after drug convictions
Pottstown Mercury: Pennsylvania issues disaster declaration over opioid crisis
Bucks County Courier Times: Child welfare loophole remains open
Delco Times: New Concord councilman suggests rotating leadership
Delco Times: Ridley votes to stay within state tax hike guidelines

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Re-elected Shaler commissioners sworn in
Tribune Review: Trump expected to campaign in 18th District for Saccone
Tribune Review: Jeannette Council vote on former Monsour Medical Center site leaves plans in doubt
Tribune Review: Lost and found: Pittsburgh Councilwoman Darlene Harris’ missing creche reappears
Post-Gazette: Congressional task force lays out a plan for fighting opioid addiction
Post-Gazette: $3 million from state will help Greene County training facility move away from coal
Post-Gazette: Court won’t rule on proper use of money from drilling Pa. forests
Post-Gazette: Local opioid initiatives need federal support
Post-Gazette: Billionaire Thomas Tull to move his headquarters to Pittsburgh, become permanent resident here
Post-Gazette: Weeks after Christmas, Darlene Harris has found her missing Nativity
Post-Gazette: Trump to visit Western Pa. next week, report says
Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania’s Casey exposes Trump’s written plan to dismantle ACA

Southwest
Observer-Reporter: Gov. Wolf tours Ruff Creek training facility
WJAC: Wolf turns to disaster emergency to deal with opioid crisis
Tribune-Democrat: Lawmakers eye changes to strengthen sexual harassment policies at Capitol
Beaver County Times: Beaver County religious group says it won’t take stance on cracker plant
Beaver County Times: Commissioners conflict over conflict counsels
Beaver County Times: DePasquale: Aliquippa School District ‘barely treading water’

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Wolf issues disaster declaration over opioid emergency
Times Leader: Wilkes-Barre council approves additional costs for Solomon Creek project
Times Leader: Mullery slams GOP for asking League of Women Voters to drop redistricting case
Times-Tribune: In letter to county, Judge Andy Jarbola says agreement guaranteed ADA raises
Times-Tribune: No word yet on state attorney general review of Scranton sewer sale
Standard-Speaker: On spending plan, council must start over

South Central
WHTM: Governor declares opioid state of emergency, announces 13 new initiatives
WPMT: Pa. lawmakers mull work requirements on Medicaid recipients after Trump administration approval
WPMT: Removal of ‘Mother’ and ‘Father’ designations from PA Birth Certificates irks some lawmakers
Patriot News: State of emergency: Pa. officials commend, criticize governor’s opioid declaration
Patriot News: PennDOT sued for suspending driver’s licenses after drug convictions
Patriot News: Pa. road map for agriculture’s future comes ‘at critical intersection’ for the industry
Patriot News: Starting next month your paycheck could be larger: Here’s why
Patriot News: Former Harrisburg District Judge Marsha Stewart dies
Patriot News: Candidates are out in force at Pa. Farm Show; ‘it’s a good place to show up’
Carlisle Sentinel: Carlisle School District’s early projection is for $4.8 million deficit in 2018-19

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: What Medicaid work requirements could mean for Pennsylvania
Morning Call: Five takeaways from Gov. Wolf’s opioid disaster declaration
Morning Call: What Pennsylvania can learn from states that have declared disaster emergencies over opioids
WFMZ: Potential major changes coming for those on Medicaid
Reading Eagle: Pennsylvania license suspensions challenged in lawsuit

North by Northwest
Meadville Tribune: Crawford County official: Opioid announcement ‘a marvelous step forward’
Erie Times-News: Erie School Board hires firm for strategic plan
Erie Times-News: Erie County’s small-town mayors lead by example
Centre Daily Times: State police seized more than $41 million in prohibited drugs in 2017
Centre Daily Times: Centre County drug court is up and running

Opinion
LNP: New state laws will give a boost to nonprofits
LNP: Lancaster’s new mayor faces challenges in the city’s neighborhoods
Erie Times-News: Our view: Wolf right to sound opioid alarm
Delco Times: Editorial: Wolf calls in cavalry in the opioid war
Daily News: Don’t buy the hype on Mariner East 2 shutdown: Pa. is still in back pocket of Big Oil and Gas | Will Bunch
Inquirer: Krasner keeps promise on disrupting the D.A.’s office, fails on transparency | Editorial
Tribune Review: An arctic cold-snap observation: Extreme conditions call for jury-duty leeway
Tribune Review: Trib editorial: Now’s not the time for congressional earmarks
Post-Gazette: A political matter: Where to combat the ill effects of gerrymandering
Patriot News: Don’t laugh: the Pa. House could actually vote to shrink itself | John L. Micek