State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown resigns her seat “under protest”, while the residency feud continues over SD-38. Here is the Playbook.

Harrisburg & DC
AP: State lawmaker convicted of bribery resigns ‘under protest’
AP: GOP skeptical in residency dispute with new Senate Democrat
AP: Cosby lawyers detail 11 alleged trial errors as they appeal
AP: Pennsylvania urged to crack down on drug benefit managers
WHYY Newsworks: A new coal mine is opening in Pennsylvania. Is Trump to thank?
WHYY Newsworks: Lawsuit: Pa. should end ‘good moral character’ requirement for cosmetology licenses
WESA: Many PA Voters Had No Choice At The Polls, Some Say The Electoral Map Is To Blame
PLSReporter: With conviction, Brown resigns House seat “under protest”
PLSReporter: Pennsylvania’s Auditor General takes on prescription drug “middlemen” in new report
PLSReporter: Outgoing budget secretary strikes optimistic tone at mid-year budget briefing
PLSReporter: VIDEO: Jen Swails to take over as Secretary of the Budget as Albright steps down
Billy Penn: Everything Harrisburg is trying to fix PA’s gun laws
StateImpactPA: Judge denies emergency petition for Mariner East shutdown
Inquirer: The man in charge of Pa.’s commutation system says it’s broken. Can it be fixed?  
Inquirer: Pa. auditor general wants to take a whack at firms that negotiate drug benefits for the Medicaid program
Harrisburg Patriot News: Rate of opioid use and other drug use soars among pregnant women in Pa.  

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Facing criticism for remaining in office, convicted Pa. lawmaker resigns
Inquirer: Philly home values are rising. Will taxes keep rising with them?
Inquirer: Temple trustees condemn controversial remarks by Marc Lamont Hill, but affirm his right to free speech
Inquirer: Following a $165K windfall, Kenney cracks down on public land flipping
WHYY Newsworks: Will ‘big soda’ be a player in Philly’s 2019 elections?
Billy Penn: A welcome flip-flop: Philly’s Mayor will start paying his interns
Philadelphia Tribune: Isaiah Thomas, 34, announces third bid for City Council seat
Philadelphia Magazine: The 30th Street SEPTA Station Is Getting a Major Overhaul
KYW Newsradio: How the season of giving could land Philadelphia city employees in trouble
KYW Newsradio: Philly officials work to answers Wolf’s call on paperless voting machines
KYW Newsradio: City Controller reports Philly’s beverage tax hauled in $137M
KYW Newsradio: Criminal justice reform advocates push for community-driven approach of participatory defense
KYW Newsradio: Amtrak’s split-flap schedule board may not depart 30th Street Station after all
Philadelphia Business Journal: Phila. business community upset over new Fair Workweek legislation

SEPA
Montgomery Media: Pennridge Regional police ink new five-year contract
Montgomery Media: DEP holds hearing for proposed compressor station in West Rockhill
Montgomery Media: Telford approves tax increase
Montgomery Media: Cheltenham proposed 3.6 percent tax increase
Daily Local News: Officials set $127 million maximum for Avon Grove school construction projects
Bucks County Courier Times: U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick asks Gov. Wolf to halt Rockhill Quarry
Bucks County Courier Times: Adelphia pipeline public comment period ends this week
Pottstown Mercury: Pottstown council OKs 9.5% tax hike for 2019
Pottstown Mercury: Study recommends intersection fixes in Pottstown region
Pottstown Mercury: Court rejects another plea from pipeline foes
KYW Newsradio: Pa. Supreme Court ruling breathes new life into Lower Merion School District appeal

Pittsburgh
WESA: Williams Submits 100-Page Filing In Effort To Resolve Residency Dispute
WESA: Many PA Voters Had No Choice At The Polls, Some Say The Electoral Map Is To Blame
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh councilmen introduce bill to increase funding for gun violence prevention
Post-Gazette: Amid residency uncertainty, state senator-elect Lindsey Williams makes herself at home in new office
Post-Gazette: No more commenting on Monroeville’s Facebook page, council says
Post-Gazette: Parents of Antwon Rose II sue Pitt police for not terminating Michael Rosfeld
Post-Gazette: Peters Township Council approves body cams for police
Post-Gazette: McKeesport approves budget with no tax increase
Post-Gazette: Castle Shannon approves budget with slight tax increase
Post-Gazette:From modular to affordable, housing dominates Pittsburgh URA agenda
City Paper: Stark racial disparities exist for teens tried as adults in Allegheny County. Can anything be done to change it?
City Paper: International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers fights to protect and empower its workers
PLSReporter: Pittsburgh City Council introduces electronic and hazardous waste recycling legislation
Pittsburgh Business Times: One of Pittsburgh’s biggest private equity firms buys company it sold 5 years ago
KDKA: Auditor General Urging Crackdown On Pharmacy Benefit Managers
Tribune Review: Braddock Council considering 6 candidates to replace Mayor Fetterman
Tribune Review: Leechburg mayor: Convicted police chief Diebold to be fired soon

SWPA
Observer-Reporter: Solomon jumps into 37th District Senate race
Altoona Mirror: Union pay raises irk Tomassetti
Altoona Mirror: Diocese details sex abuse payments
Beaver County Times: Midland works to fix pension problem
Beaver County Times: Midland has full council ready to make changes
Post-Gazette: Peters Township Council approves body cams for police  
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Johnstown council to consider increasing real estate transfer tax for 2019
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Apprenticeships pave road to employment, officials say

NEPA
News Item: Shoch to bow out of county government
News Item: City approves $4 million budget that includes no tax increase; adoption slated for Dec. 26
News Item: Zerbe Township supervisors welcome new member
Times Leader: Luzerne County Council opts for no tax hike in 2019
Times Leader: Luzerne County government litigation settlements proposed
Times Leader: Luzerne County farmer to lead Pa. Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Rancher Committee
Standard-Speaker: Dorrance Twp. supervisors say no to development
Citizens Voice: No tax increase for county property owners
Citizens Voice: County will hire firm to probe election director controversy
Citizens Voice: Dallas School Board approves new position
Times-Tribune: Scranton School Board discusses cost-saving measures, including 4-day week
Times-Tribune: Expo features new state-mandated voting systems; officials concerned with potential costs
Times-Tribune: AG opens investigation into suspended Dunmore police chief

South Central
Harrisburg Patriot News: Rate of opioid use and other drug use soars among pregnant women in Pa.
Harrisburg Patriot News: Gov. Tom Wolf’s second term will come with a new budget secretary
Harrisburg Patriot News: Hot-tempered Pa. firefighter tasered at city council meeting: reports
Carlisle Sentinel: Budget approval on the agenda for Carlisle borough council meeting Thursday
PA Post: Berks County law enforcement hope new technology can help curb gun violence

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Reading City Council approves 2019 budget with no tax increases
Reading Eagle: Spring Township adopts 2019 budget, holds tax rate
Reading Eagle: $2.06 million budget toes line on taxes
Reading Eagle: Exeter OKs 6.8 percent tax hike for 2019
Express Times: PennEast notches ‘milestone’ in push to begin building pipeline in 2019
Morning Call: What are Lehigh Valley lawmakers saying about money for a border wall?  
Morning Call: Allentown Council has amended the budget. What would those cuts mean for services?
Morning Call: Ex-Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski loses bid for evidence his lawyer claimed was withheld

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Reserve fund nearly drained; council continues to whittle
Erie Times-News: Harborcreek supervisor won’t seek reelection
Erie-Times News: Ray Massing to retire as Erie Parking Authority director
Erie Times-News: Erie School District’s state-ordered plan coming in 2019

Opinion
Inquirer Editorial Board: Tax returns might help clear some of Trump’s legal clouds
Inquirer Editorial Board: We’re not hearing the full truth on city’s financial deals
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: When the robots come…: Companies should invest in workers, not machines
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Fighting over art: Museums should better scrutinize acquisitions
Kenyatta Johnson: Setting the record straight on city-property sales
Will Bunch: America knew how to deal with a crook like Spiro Agnew. Why is Trump so hard?
Solomon Jones: Philly’s new fight against white poverty should serve as a catalyst to help people of color, too
Reuben Jones: PA’s new sentencing algorithm is a weapon of mass incarceration
Dan Simpson: Christmas can bring peace (if we want it)
Tony Norman: Whatever happened to the Republican Party?
Carol Kuniholm: Pa. lawmakers need to try again on real reform in 2019
Lowman S. Henry: If you liked 2018, you’ll love the next Democratic grab at redistricting