SD45: State Certifies Brewster Win: On Wednesday, the Department of State certified state Sen. Jim Brewster as the winner in his reelection bid for SD-45. However, Republicans indicated they won’t swear him in until further legal proceedings.

McLaughlin Announces Candidacy for PA Supreme Court: Maria McLaughlin was the highest vote-getter of the nine candidates running for the state’s Superior Court in 2017.

Scanlon Introduces Legislation That Would Criminalize Intimidation of Election Officials and Poll Workers: Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon introduced the Protecting Our Election Workers Act of 2020 and also sent a letter to Attorney General Bill Barr requesting the Department of Justice investigate threats made at election officials during the 2020 election.

Harrisburg & DC   
Inquirer: Pa. threatens at least 150 restaurants with fines or closure for allowing indoor dining in defiance of state ban
Inquirer: Biden’s inauguration will look different. Meet the Philly woman who’s helping plan it.
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Trump takes a final shot at Obamacare exchanges. How Pa. is impacted 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. Senate tees up constitutional amendment opening civil window for sex abuse survivors 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: COVID surge in Pa. prisons leads to calls for lockdown at all facilities 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: COVID-19 in Pa.: Health Dept. confirms 10,049 new cases, 278 new fatalities 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: New report gives Pa. a D-Minus for its civil forfeiture laws | Thursday Morning Coffee
Washington Post: The Trailer: Two electoral college contests for two Americas
PLSReporter: Pa. college enrollments decrease for yet another year, national report finds 
PLSReporter: Officials urge Pennsylvanians to stay home, limit travel amidst winter storm 
PLSReporter: Dec. 16 COVID-19 Update: 6,295 hospitalized; 1,264 in the ICU
KDKA: Pa. Senator Pat Toomey Calls It ‘Wildly Inappropriate’ For Republicans To Obstruct Joe Biden’s Win
KDKA: Around The Table: Biden’s Speech Following Electoral College Vote
KDKA: Attorney General Josh Shapiro Shuts Down Student Loan Forgiveness Scam, Gets $74,000 In Refunds 
WESA: PA Restaurant Group Wants Latest COVID Restrictions Reversed
Patriot News: Pa. urges colleges to delay bringing students back to campus in spring as COVID-19 cases spike 
Patriot News: Former Penn State President Graham Spanier persists in fight against Jerry Sandusky-related conviction 
Patriot News: Pa. Supreme Court rejects plea by murdered cop’s widow to oust Philly DA’s office from Mumia Abu-Jamal case
Post-Gazette: AG’s office halts Pa. operations of company accused of illegal student loan forgiveness scheme
National Journal: Val Arkoosh Mulls 2022 Senate Bid 
CNHI News: Lawmakers could let voters decide whether to allow lawsuits for abuse survivors in 2021
Politico: Sen. Bob Casey says he sees an opportunity for Biden and McConnell to cut deals  
The Center Square: Lawmaker reintroduces impeachment resolution for Pennsylvania governor

Philadelphia  
Inquirer: Biden’s inauguration will look different. Meet the Philly woman who’s helping plan it.
Inquirer: Philly DA candidate Carlos Vega points to gun and violence statistics, saying he will make the city safer
Inquirer: Pa. Supreme Court dismisses petition seeking to remove DA’s Office from handling Mumia Abu-Jamal’s appeals
Inquirer: Who’s on the mayor’s short list for Philly school board? Panel releases names.
Inquirer: Police shot a Philly man, then accused him of rape. He was exonerated after 19 years.  
KYW Newsradio: Philly City Council explores economic impact of COVID-19, including long-term effect on wage tax
KYW Newsradio: Kenney now has a list of candidates for Philadelphia’s school board
KYW Newsradio: Pa. Supreme Court denies widow’s appeal to remove Philly DA from Abu-Jamal case
KYW Newsradio: Winter storm dumps snow on Philly region; Officials ask public to stay home to prevent strain on hospitals
KYW Newsradio: Subcontractors at Philadelphia International Airport call on Congress to include them in stimulus package
Philadelphia Citizen: Hope Matters 
Philadelphia Business Journal: As first doses of Covid-19 vaccine arrive in Philadelphia, Temple Health System sets plan in motion
Billy Penn: Nearly 30% of Philly’s remote learning centers have closed for COVID. Staff are raising safety concerns.

SEPA
Daily Local News: New round of grants designed to help county’s small businesses 
Daily Local News: CCEDC steps in to help small businesses in Chester County struggling during pandemic
Delco Daily Times: Delco has not received any COVID vaccines
Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks seeks state help on gym, restaurant shutdowns
Inquirer: Delaware County is set to pay $410,000 to two firms to help regain control of its embattled, privately run county jail
Montgomery Media: Montgomery County hospitals receiving coronavirus vaccine this week

Pittsburgh 
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh council on track to adopt 2021 budget that doesn’t cut police funding 
Tribune Review: Advocates demand virtual access to Allegheny County criminal courts, ‘It’s not difficult’ 
Tribune Review: Allegheny County’s covid rates still rising as some businesses ignore restrictions 
Tribune Review: Allegheny County sees most new coronavirus cases in state
WESA: Allegheny County Residents Told To ‘Shun’ Businesses That Don’t Comply With COVID-19 Mitigation 
WESA: Will Giving Pittsburghers Guaranteed Income Reduce Inequality? These Researchers Think So
Post-Gazette: PPS board declines to raise taxes, increasing district deficit 
Post-Gazette: Donation to add acreage to North Park in Hampton 
Post-Gazette: COVID-19 Update: Allegheny County reports state’s highest daily case increase
City Paper: What local LGBTQ organizers and legislators say must be done post-election 
City Paper: Allegations of sexual misconduct against a former Pittsburgh Post-Gazette journalist were an open secret. Did the universities he worked for help keep it that way?
City Paper: Study shows most COVID-era diners are, in fact, as terrible to service workers as presumed
City Paper: An ongoing tally of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths in Allegheny County
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pennsylvania: Wolf Administration To Provide Nearly $4 Million CARES Act Funding To Local Counties 
KDKA: Hunter Biden The Focus Of Federal Investigation In Pittsburgh Involving U.S. Attorney Scott Brady And FBI  
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pittsburgh: December On Track To Be Allegheny County’s Deadliest Month 
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pittsburgh: Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Reports 1,074 New COVID-19 Cases And 13 Additional Deaths

SWPA 
Altoona Mirror: Blair OKs budget in 2-1 decision
Observer-Reporter: Emery retiring as Washington County president judge, but seeking to remain as senior judge 
Observer-Reporter: New COVID-19 deaths reported in Washington, Greene, Fayette counties
Beaver County Times: Beaver County reaches 6,593 COVID cases
Post-Gazette: Butler Area School Board, parents file lawsuit against Wolf, cabinet members
Tribune Review: Westmoreland covid hospitalizations up but Excela officials say they can handle it
Tribune Review: Westmoreland County surpasses 15K coronavirus cases
KDKA: COVID-19 In Washington County: Monongahela Valley Hospital Worker Gets County’s First Coronavirus Vaccination
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: UPDATED | Cambria, state set records for COVID-19 deaths, free local testing begins Friday

NEPA
Times-Tribune: Scranton City Council adopts amended $114.5M budget for 2021 
Times-Tribune: Region sets new record for single-day COVID-19 case increase
The Times Leader: Judge Amesbury announces retirement; moving to senior status 
The Times Leader: Dallas ZIP code appears to be new COVID-19 hot spot 
The Times Leader: One-day record 485 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in county; deaths at 389
Citizens Voice: Wilkes-Barre mayor makes final offer on budget compromise 
Citizens Voice: Judge Amesbury announces retirement from Luzerne County bench  

South Central 
Patriot News: Dauphin County Commissioners pass 2021 budget that includes no tax increase 
Patriot News: Harrisburg district judge asked for police chief, pulled pill bottle from car during son’s arrest: court records
York Dispatch: York County adopts $236.3 million budget, keeps taxes flat in 2021 
York Dispatch: York County has seven additional COVID-19 deaths, 421 new cases
Carlisle Sentinel: Carlisle passes budget without tax increase despite the pinch from COVID-19 
Carlisle Sentinel: DOH: 195 new cases of COVID-19 and 9 additional deaths for Cumberland County in Wednesday’s report
LNP | LancasterOnline: Lancaster County eyes another $3.2 million in aid to struggling businesses 

Lehigh Valley      
Morning Call: Upper Milford Township Supervisor Joyce Moore announces campaign for Lehigh County commissioner
Morning Call: Bethlehem councilman wants to suspend open container laws during restaurant ban, but a quick fix isn’t likely
Morning Call: Bethlehem passes budget, boosting money for police, but also hiking taxes to help deal with pandemic
Morning Call: Pennsylvania coronavirus update: 10,049 more cases and 278 more deaths Wednesday
Reading Eagle: First COVID vaccines arriving in Berks hospitals, but won’t be available to the public yet
Reading Eagle: Berks County coroner adds 7 more COVID deaths for 53 deaths this month
Express Times: Bethlehem passes budget with 5% tax hike and new stormwater fee
Express Times: Pa. coronavirus update: State’s COVID-19 death toll tops 13K; 10K new cases, 270 deaths reported Wednesday; Lehigh Valley passes 800 deaths, nears 30K cases | Pa. COVID-19 county case map (12/16/20)
WFMZ: Bethlehem City Council approves 2021 budget with 5% tax increase 

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: What State College’s mayor, council president said in statement supportive of state’s COVID-19 efforts
Centre Daily Times: Dec. 16 update: Pa. reports more than 10,000 new COVID-19 cases; Centre County adds 105
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Finance committee skeptical of mayor’s tax-reduction plan
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Lycoming County 165 new COVID-19 cases
Erie Times-News: Erie’s 2021 budget approved by City Council
Erie Times-News: COVID grants available to Erie County businesses
Erie Times-News: Senator to highlight Opportunity Zones in Erie
Erie Times-News: Erie nursing homes expect vaccine within weeks

Opinion  
Jennifer Stefano: Gov. Wolf’s COVID-19 restrictions will decimate small businesses across the state
Paul Muschick: Ridiculous lawsuit against Pennsylvania claims ‘a face mask is a symbol of oppression’
York Dispatch Editorial Board: Gov. Wolf fumbles ball when he prohibited parents at Penn State’s Senior Day
Arthur E. Morris and Eric J. Epstein: Three Mile Island cleanup needs to be fully funded
Ben Safran and Terri Burgin: Peco should step up on solar to make the Philly region healthier 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Spend the OD money now 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Warden corrects misstep on access to books
Christine Flowers: Why only some accomplished women deserve ‘respect’
Jeffrey A. Singer and Josh Bloom: Misplaced blame for opioid epidemic harms pain patients 
Mary Beth Schluckebier and Shane Taylor: With a possible COVID-19 eviction surge looming, Pa. must seal eviction records
Chris Kelly: Silence only helps the virus
Lloyd E. Sheaffer: It’s a time to heal – and to move forward together 
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Evicting Donald Trump