The Department of State certified state Sen. Jim Brewster as the winner in his reelection bid for SD-45, although Republicans point to a pending federal court case as proof that the race isn’t over yet, plus Gov. Tom Wolf announced he’s out of quarantine and feeling great. Here is the Playbook. 

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.

Harrisburg & DC   
AP: Over 1,200 vaccine shots given in Pennsylvania; more coming
Spotlight PA: An inmate died of the coronavirus, but Pa. corrections never told his family
New York Times Magazine: He Wanted to Count Every Vote in Philadelphia. His Party Had Other Ideas.
CNBC: Pennsylvania state treasurer warns of dire fiscal circumstances with no stimulus 
Newsweek: Anthony Scaramucci Says Donald Trump ‘Does Not Care About His Legacy’ 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: With focus on Pa.’s election code, advocates call for action on state’s primaries
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa.’s Toomey spearheading push to end emergency pandemic lending program, report
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Levine: Rebel restaurant owners are ‘putting themselves’ at risk
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Philly radio host Stigall targets Levine in transphobic rant, report
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa.’s Shapiro joins states suing Google over alleged search manipulation | Friday Morning Coffee
Patriot News: McLaughlin announces run for Pa. Supreme Court
Patriot News: Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf out of quarantine; ‘I’m feeling great’
Patriot News: Coronavirus complicates bringing Pa.’s homeless in from the cold: Special report
Patriot News: Countdown to homelessness as eviction crisis looms and a panhandler’s story: Coming Friday
Patriot News: Snow doesn’t stop COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Pa.
Patriot News: Where are Pennsylvania’s 529,335 coronavirus cases? Dec. 17 map, county-by-county breakdown
WITF: This Pa. mayor’s trip to Puerto Rico during the pandemic drew criticism, attention to Latino health disparities
WITF: Here’s What PA Hospital Leaders Say About Masks, Business Closures And New Public Health Measures
NBC10: Toomey Calls Stimulus Checks Inefficient But Not a Deal Killer for Relief Bill
PLSReporter: With results certified, Dems claim victory in Brewster race; GOP calls for patience amid pending court decision
PLSReporter: Following deadly winter storm crash, Wolf asks Pennsylvanians stay off the roads
PLSReporter: 634,000 more Pennsylvanians facing food insecurity as a result of pandemic, for a total 2 million experiencing hunger
PLSReporter: Dec. 17 COVID-19 Update: Hospitalizations double spring peak, vaccine distribution on track
WESA: Rural Hospitals Lack State, County Support In Pandemic, Says Bradford Doctor
Fox News: Pennsylvania brewery owner stays open despite coronavirus restrictions: ‘Relief’ doesn’t exist
National Journal: 2020 redistricting outlook
CNHI News: Thousands of Pennsylvanians falling far behind on utility bills
WHYY Newsworks: Pa.’s free pre-K program provides a meaningful math and language boost, says new study
Politico: Relief bill could slam door on Biden’s ability to extend emergency economic support
Philly Voice: Pennsylvania, New Jersey join anti-trust lawsuit against Google
CNN: Hill leaders struggle to finalize deal amid looming shutdown threat

Philadelphia 
KYW Newsradio: Philadelphia 911 dispatchers say they are inadequately protected against COVID-19
KYW Newsradio: Pa. officials: With high number of COVID-19 cases, ability to do proper contact tracing is limited 
Billy Penn: Rocked by COVID outbreak, Philly 911 dispatchers say police department treats them like ‘collateral damage’ 
Billy Penn: Why Philly shut down its homeless COVID hotels, and why advocates are furious
Inquirer: Philly’s overworked 911 dispatchers are on the ‘brink of a collapse.’ City Council promises fixes.
Inquirer: SEPTA awards $3M contract for bus network revamp, eyeing a faster and easier-to-use system
Inquirer: PREIT loses control of Center City’s Fashion District mall to its California-based partner
Inquirer: Jameel Rush named Inquirer’s vice president of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Inquirer: MacKenzie Scott gives $30 million of Amazon wealth to two Philly institutions that serve low-income communities
Inquirer: More than 1,200 Pa. health workers vaccinated; health secretary urges Pennsylvanians to stay home for Christmas; Congress close on relief bill
Inquirer: Philadelphia urgent care centers are still coping with shortages of COVID-19 tests
WHYY Newsworks: SEPTA selects San Francisco firm to redesign bus network

SEPA
Delco Daily Times: County hires firm to oversee prison transition 
Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County won’t raise taxes for 2021
Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County sees surge in hospitalized COVID patients
WHYY Newsworks: Montco announces new grant program ‘specifically for the restaurant industry’
WHYY Newsworks: Montco officials on COVID-19: Vaccine offers hope, but public must continue to ‘hunker down’
Montgomery Media: Montgomery County approves 2021 budget with property tax hike
Daily Local News: Local officials call on legislature to lift moratorium on policies to reduce plastic pollution
Daily Local News: West Chester battling financial woes 

Pittsburgh 
KDKA: Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto Calls For Federal Ghost Gun Regulations 
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pittsburgh: Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Reports 55 New COVID-19 Related Deaths 
Post-Gazette: COVID-19 Update: Allegheny County reports record of 55 new deaths
Tribune Review: Allegheny County reports record 55 new covid deaths
City Paper: An ongoing tally of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths in Allegheny County
WESA: City School Board Rejects Proposed Tax Increase, Approves $670M Budget

SWPA 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Sankey and Rigby to serve as deputy whips
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: State opens 100th medical marijuana dispensary
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Hospitals still ‘significantly challenged’; Conemaugh says while ICU beds filled, ‘we … have capacity’
Beaver County Times: Beaver County sees COVID-19 spike; Levine urges holiday caution 
Tribune Review: Westmoreland commissioners approve budget with no tax hike
Observer-Reporter: Peters man accused of vandalizing Rep. Mihalek’s district office waives charges
Observer-Reporter: Commissioners will vote on changing emergency food allocation’s designee
Observer-Reporter: Canonsburg approves 2021 budget with tax increase
Observer-Reporter: Pennsylvania hospitals report no adverse effects from COVID-19 vaccine
Observer-Reporter: New COVID-19 deaths reported in Washington, Greene, Fayette counties
KDKA: COVID-19 In Washington County: Angelo’s Restaurant Opening For Indoor Dining In Defiance Of Gov. Wolf’s Orders
Altoona Mirror: News in brief from around the region
Altoona Mirror: PUC recognizes efforts to bridge digital divide for rural regions

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Wilkes-Barre council passes amended budget, disappointing mayor
Citizens Voice: More than 500 new COVID-19 cases reported in county on Thursday
Times-Tribune: GCMC begins administering COVID-19 vaccine to frontline medical workers
The Times Leader: One-day record 534 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in county; 9,966 statewide

South Central 
WITF: Harrisburg Budget Discussions End With Slightly Less Additional Funding For Police Department
LNP | LancasterOnline: Unemployment claims in Lancaster County rise, with more expected due to pandemic restrictions
LNP | LancasterOnline: Lancaster County healthcare workers begin getting COVID vaccine
LNP | LancasterOnline: Lancaster County surpasses 23,000 COVID-19 cases [Thursday’s COVID-19 update]
Philadelphia Gay News: Gettysburg passes nondiscrimination ordinance
Carlisle Sentinel: Carlisle chamber seeks funding for small biz relief as pandemic impact continues
Carlisle Sentinel: DOH: 166 new cases of COVID-19 and seven additional deaths for Cumberland County in Thursday’s report 
York Dispatch: Seven more die in York County due to COVID-19
York Daily Record: Lebanon “Mask Up” uses its final dollars

Lehigh Valley      
Morning Call: Lehigh Valley lawmakers want coronavirus-hammered Pennsylvania restaurants to keep sales tax they collect
Morning Call: COVID-19 vaccine arrives at LVHN and St. Lukes, health care workers get shots soon afterward
Morning Call: Pennsylvania coronavirus update: Nearly 10,000 new cases, 224 deaths
WFMZ: Berks commissioners adopt 2021 budget with no tax hike
WFMZ: Phillipsburg Town Council members say local businesses should be able to set their own rules amid pandemic
WFMZ: LVHN, St. Luke’s administer their first doses of the Pfizer vaccine
WFMZ: Berks hospitals receive first doses of COVID-19 vaccine 
Reading Eagle: Berks County commissioners adopt 2021 county budget with no tax increase
Reading Eagle: 354 new COVID cases in Berks County, Pa. says
Express Times: 1st COVID-19 vaccines given in Lehigh Valley: ‘Light at the end of the dark, long tunnel’
Express Times: Pa. coronavirus update: Nearly 10K new cases; 2 out of every 5 tests positive over last week; Lehigh Valley to hit 30K cases | Pa. COVID-19 county map (12/17/20)

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Council to dive into proposed 1-mill budget hike
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Finance committee sides against proposed police contract
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: County OKs agreement with city on central processing center
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Lycoming County 167 new COVID-19 cases. Tioga County sees 73 new cases, Clinton 44, Sullivan 2.
Erie Times-News: Erie County Community College work continues
Erie Times-News: COVID-19 vaccine arrives at Erie hospitals
Centre Daily Times: ‘It’s about fairness.’ Some Centre County restaurants defy Pa.’s indoor dining ban
Centre Daily Times: Dec. 17 update: Centre County reports 103 COVID-19 cases to pass 8,000; Pa. adds 9,966

Opinion  
John Baer: Government is supposed to work for us, but it’s doing a terrible job 
Larry Platt: Josh Shapiro’s Mic Drop 
Inquirer Editorial Board: Tax and regulatory reform can help small businesses survive and thrive in Philadelphia 
Inquirer Editorial Board: COVID-19 imposes a new death sentence in Pa. prisons
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Getting serious about cops 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Who can stand?
Hannah Fierle: We need paid parental leave for all Pennsylvanians This is how to make it happen
Inga Saffron: As we contemplate the end of the pandemic, here’s what we should keep
Paul Koenig: A Proportional Response: The need for balanced Electoral College reform
Jenice Armstrong: Here’s hoping a terminally ill firefighter’s last wish is granted before it’s too late 
Ernest Owens: Black Americans Don’t Trust the COVID Vaccine. It’s Up to Doctors to Change That
Anthony O’Brien: During COVID pandemic, private business outperforms the government 
Lorene Cary: Let’s Say Black Lives Mattered 
Tony Norman: POTUS sings the blues (and makes me wanna’ holla!)
Trudy Rubin: To compete with China, Biden needs bipartisan cooperation and strong alliances 
John J. Zurlo: I just got the COVID vaccine. Here’s why. | Expert Opinion