Peduto starts re-election campaign, Murphy’s bill finally becomes law and Evankovich announces he won’t seek another term. Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

HD-54: State Rep. Evankovich Will Pass on Fifth Term: The lawmaker won’t run for re-election.

Peduto to Begin Re-Election Campaign Today: The Mayor of Pittsburgh will be seeking a second term.

PA-18: Murphy’s Mental Health Bill Signed Into Law: Rep. Tim Murphy’s legislation was part of the 21st Century Cures Act.

Pittsburgh Native to Perform National Anthem at Trump Inauguration (VIDEO): Jackie Evancho was a runner-up in 2010 on America’s Got Talent.

Statewide
Capitolwire: Talks have begun about how to close PA’s $600 million budget hole, but a lot of details are still required
Capitolwire: POINT OF ORDER: Could PA’s budget hole of at least $600 million have been avoided?
StateImpactPA: DEP ignores concerned citizen, while discussing improving public outreach
StateImpactPA: Philadelphia launches $1 billion green jobs plan
StateImpactPA: Shell asks for local support for chemical plant
State House Sound Bites: Study’s findings speak to frustrations of Trump supporters

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Philly doc linked to 4 opioid deaths won’t get his medical license back
Inquirer: Race for city Controller heats up on Day One
Inquirer: Controller: Widespread misuse of city petty cash
Daily News: What does Penn’s president have in common with former Alabama Gov. George Wallace?
WHYY Newsworks: Long live climate science! Hail to heroes of the Resistance!
WHYY Newsworks: Upland councilman charged with taking up to $133,000 in kickbacks from tech firm owner

SEPA
Bucks County Courier-Times: Bucks County Consumer Protection, FBI warn of phone scam
Bucks County Courier-Times: Cosby lawyers: 13 potential witnesses against their client are ‘bandwagon jumpers’
Delco Daily Times: Upland Councilman Mitchell charged in $133,000 kickback scheme

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Tax incentive deals meet resistance with Pittsburgh school board
Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania budget battle takes shape with deficit of $600M projected
Post-Gazette: Potter Township delays approval of land permit for Shell cracker; asks for more information
Post-Gazette: U.S. Rep. Murphy joins call to investigate CDC over emails
Tribune-Review: Pittsburgh Mayor Peduto begins re-election bid with a party
Tribune-Review: Wolf administration pledges to seek spending cuts to fill estimated $600M budget gap

Southwest
Altoona Mirror: Lean budget year could bring changes
Altoona Mirror: UPMC nurses OK strike notice
Beaver County Times: Giving habits change as finances become tighter, Beaver County charities say
Beaver County Times: State sets date for Ambridge teachers to return to work

NEPA
Times Leader: Brominski questions Luzerne County prison deputy warden hiring
Times Leader: Luzerne County manager to hold first annual public forum Thursday
Times-Tribune: Giglio to retire as magisterial district judge

South Central
Patriot-News: Unions plan special delivery to ‘Senator Grinch’
Patriot-News: ‘We have no means to avoid those furloughs’ at Labor & Industry, budget secretary says
Patriot-News: Travel on Pa. Turnpike in 2017 will take a bigger toll on your wallet
Patriot-News: Pa. House Majority Leader Dave Reed calls for a redesign of state government in 2017-18
York Dispatch: New armory delayed by federal, state funding
York Dispatch: Deadline approaching for property tax, rent rebate program

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Tax crackdown coming in Allentown NIZ
Morning Call: Jury begins deliberations in ex-congressional aide’s indecent assault trial
Morning Call: Draft lawsuit shows Allentown mayor’s strategy in battle against city council
Reading Eagle: People unhappy with company answers, format of pipeline meeting in Oley Township
Reading Eagle: Judge’s ruling victory for Stouchsburg residents opposed to sewer plan in Marion Township

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Board: Erie bayfront hotels tax exempt
Erie Times-News: Erie-region lawmakers consider Congressional probes into Russian hacking allegations
Centre Daily Times: Patton Township supervisors adopt budget with no tax increase

Opinion
Inquirer: Alabama’s community college system is better than Pennsylvania’s
Inquirer: Bill of Rights at 225: Fourth Amendment all too relevant in digital age
Daily News: Pony up for Philly preservation
Patriot-News: With Fattah conviction, Pa. Democrats need to take a hard look at themselves
Post-Gazette: A promise made: Wilkinsburg students deserve scholarships, too
Post-Gazette: Aleppo falls: Syrian rebels lost an enclave but aren’t finished yet

Blogs
Keystone Crossroads: Ontario celebrates diversity, but still works to close achievement gaps
Keystone Crossroads: A system of support: How Ontario sets its teachers up to succeed
Keystone State Education Coalition: PA Ed Policy Roundup Dec 14: Pension costs to climb higher than expected for school districts