A prosecutor moves to oust State Rep. Lowery Brown, while a Court panel recommends suspending a former DA’s license. Here is the Playbook.

December 7th Ups & Downs: A Democratic state Representative from Philadelphia has been convicted on bribery charges, but has yet to resign, while a Republican state Representative from Lancaster County has been ordered to pay $14,000 for ethics violations. The Republican Congressional Representative from York County is reportedly pushing to lead the House Freedom Caucus and two Philadelphia Democrats are seeking a position on the House Ways and Means Committee. All of that and more are in this week’s Ups and Downs.

Harrisburg & DC
Harrisburg Patriot News: Suspension of ex-prosecutor’s law license recommended
Harrisburg Patriot News: Dauphin County district attorney moves for ouster of Philadelphia legislator convicted of bribery
Harrisburg Patriot News: University faculty background checks to be reviewed by Pa. Supreme Court
Harrisburg Patriot News: Pennsylvania’s list of approved conditions for medical marijuana could grow, and here’s how
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Naloxone to be available in 80 sites statewide Dec. 13
Morning Call: Pennsylvania Ethics Commission fines workers comp law firm’s lobbying wings for late disclosure of influence peddling
AP: Senate’s residency fight drags out tension of election
AP: ‘I killed my best friend’: Opioids’ fatal grip on mayor, pal
State House Sounds Bites: Wolf says Lindsey Williams was elected, ought to be seated
StateImpactPA: Gov. Wolf on climate change: ‘We are having real problems’
PLS Reporter: Case hoping to throw out state school funding formula set for trial in 2020
Philly Voice: Trump teases nomination announcement at Army-Navy game, protests planned
 

Philadelphia
KYW Newsradio: Democratic Council members divided on bill aimed at Big Pharma’s role in opioid epidemic
KYW Newsradio: City Councilman, under fire for land deals in his district, calls for reform
KYW Newsradio: SEPTA receives $15 million federal grant for 30th Street Station improvements
KYW Newsradio:Should Philly start its school year after Labor Day? Committee recommends yes, and no
PLS Reporter:Petitions calling for a ban on fracking delivered to Gov. Wolf
PLS Reporter: Public transit advocates rally for fare equity
Billy Penn: Trump’s at the Army-Navy game, so protests are underway in South Philly
Inquirer: Reports of flawed records and improper sales trigger call for investigation of city land deals
Philly.com: How can Philly enforce building codes when 40,000 rental properties don’t have licenses?
Philadelphia Magazine: City Council Passes “Fair Workweek,” $15-an-Hour Minimum Wage Bills
WHYY Newsworks: Philly affirms commitment to slashing emissions as study shows global increase

SEPA
Bucks Local News:Bucks County to host public demonstration of new voting systems in Doylestown
Bucks Local News: Falls Township Supervisors enact zoning ordinance updates regulating PODS and dumpsters, rights of way and tree protection
Pottstown Mercury: DiGiorgio resigns as Chesco GOP committee chair
Pottstown Mercury: Mayor urges local action in wake of recent shootings
Pottstown Mercury: Hearing on Perk Valley regional police force draws crowd
Pottstown Mercury: Pottstown tax hike whittled down to 9.5%
Delco Daily Times: Delco GOP moving forward to replace Andy Reilly as leader
Delco Daily Times: Upper Darby budget holds line on taxes
Delco Daily Times: Fiumara again heads Garnet Valley School Board
Bucks County Courier Times: Commissioners split on $406M costs for Montgomery County campus overhaul
Bucks County Courier Times: Early Central Bucks budget has $3.1 million deficit
Bucks County Courier Times: Pennsbury superintendent won’t be returning after June 30
Daily Local News: Two Chester County airports get substantial funding for upgrades
 

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette:Pittsburgh council balks over six-figure branding proposal
Post-Gazette: Monroeville Council to vote on UPMC East expansion
Tribune Review: Residents express concern with proposed Penn Hills budget
Tribune Review: PAT bus riders rally Downtown, demand lower bus fares
Tribune Review: Derry Township farmer joins ag organization’s state board
Tribune Review: Greensburg to vote on budget with no tax increase
Tribune Review: Harrison approves plans for new First Commonwealth Bank at Highlands Mall
Tribune Review: Allegheny Township taxes to remain flat, sewage rates to go up
WTAE: Elizabeth Borough police Chief Tim Butler placed on administrative leave
Pittsburgh Business Times: Report: Butler County receives $20M for Route 228 work
 

SWPA
Altoona Mirror:Ward sets office sites
Altoona Mirror: Grant would fund Blair Rec plan
Altoona Mirror: Greenfield Twp. gets funds to upgrade park facilities
Beaver County Times: Hopewell Township seeking new manager
Observer-Reporter: Area airports receiving state grants
Observer-Reporter: Charleroi councilman looking for cash influx by privatizing municipal authority
Observer-Reporter: Ringgold votes not to exceed index for any potential tax increases
Observer-Reporter: Washington real estate taxes rising again
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Johnstown adds four police officers, four firefighters
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Windmill farm topic of town hall meeting in Upper Yoder Township
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Somerset airport gets $450,000 for new tanks
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Westmont Hilltop school board president resigns; replacement appointed
 

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Auditor General to probe Crispell trips
Citizens Voice: Nanticoke Mayor Rich Wiaterowski dies; remembered for courage and community service
Standard-Speaker: Beaver Meadows’ final budget vote is Wednesday
Standard-Speaker: Weatherly Area School Board re-elects president
Pocono Record: Pocono airport receives grant
News Item: County commissioners approve health insurance coverage with Geisinger
News Item: Township commissioners willing to settle lawsuit
News Item: C.T. commissioners approve $3.4M budget without tax increase
News Item: Persing elected president of Shamokin Area School Board
News-Item: Southern Columbia reorganization meeting
Times Leader: Election poll book disclosure concern on Tuesday’s Luzerne County Council agenda
Times Leader: Crestwood directors remain mum on ongoing probe after busing issues canceled class
Times-Tribune: Scranton council weekly meetings on break, to resume in January
Times-Tribune: Scranton School Board to hold budget hearings this week
Times-Tribune: Lackawanna County seeks bids for courthouse sidewalk repairs
Times-Tribune: Keystone landfill expansion opponents appeal to Commonwealth Court over zoning issue
Times-Tribune: Lackawanna County Parks and Recreation Director Bill Davis resigns
 

South Central
LNP: U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker and Jess King spent combined $3.6 million in 11th district race
York Dispatch: Old York County Prison deal lets authority off $1.2 million hook
York Dispatch: York gets $180K grant for community development
York Dispatch: More than 500 York County residents sign petition opposing stormwater authority (updated)
Carlisle Sentinel: Gleim announces new office location
Carlisle Sentinel: Even with outsourcing Carlisle school district is facing a $3 million budget deficit
 

Lehigh Valley
WFMZ: Sobriety checkpoint to be established in Lehigh County
WFMZ: Berks homeowners no longer threatened with liens over pipeline project
WFMZ: Sen. Schwank announces funding for community violence projects
WFMZ: Quakertown Borough Council forwards budget without tax increase
Morning Call: How much did the Lehigh Valley’s congressional race cost?
Morning Call: Tamaqua Area says teachers have no legal right to sue over armed staff policy
Morning Call: Curriculum audit: Allentown schools need to do better for vulnerable students
Morning Call: 2 more warehouses approved on 100 acres in Lower Macungie
Morning Call: Fight over Allentown water rate hikes continues with appeal to Superior Court
Morning Call: Ron Angle twice sought a seat on NCC board. Here’s why he was denied.
Express Times: Phillipsburg mayor responds to concerns over probe into apparent social media threat
Express Times: Easton Area School Board president fires back at ‘slanderous, inflammatory and meritless’ allegations
Reading Eagle: Muhlenberg School District fails to inspect lead-contaminated areas at high school
Reading Eagle: Mayoral candidate says she’s running to “grow the goodness” in Reading
Reading Eagle: Meet the candidate: Robert Melendez
Reading Eagle: Boyertown School District marches forward with $5.7 million stadium upgrade project
Reading Eagle: Council approves 3-year police pact
Reading Eagle: Tax rate to remain 0.09 mill in 2019
Reading Eagle: Budget would hold tax rate, raise trash recycling fee
 

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Why Bellefonte’s 2019 tax increase is affected by EMS costs
Centre Daily Times: A ‘keystone’ bike trail connecting parts of Centre County could cost $6 million
Centre Daily Times: Board recommends yearlong suspension for former Centre County DA Stacy Parks Miller
Erie Times-News: City of Erie budgets $20,000 for county summer jobs program
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Mayor: Hard look at services needed to spare taxpayers
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Councilwoman lauds workers’ dedication
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: City council approves tax increase on first reading of budget
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Leidy South project topic of open house
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Everett sets meeting on PGE proposal in Loyalsock valley

Opinion
Inquirer Editorial Board: How many more convictions before things change in Pa.?
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Dubious CLOUD: Law allows foreign governments to access citizens’ data
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: One size never fits all: Homelessness is sometimes about addiction or abuse
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Cashing in: Too many politicians remain to do well
Chris Brennan: The Krasner model: Could wealthy progressives upend the 2019 race for sheriff in Philadelphia?
Trudy Rubin: 4 reasons why Senate Republicans see the Jamal Khashoggi affair as a turning point
Stephen Cozen: If Marc Lamont Hill wasn’t representing Temple in his UN speech, does academic freedom apply?
Jennifer Rich: To combat anti-Semitism, we need more education
John Baer: Doing some holiday driving in Pennsylvania? This column won’t brighten your spirits.