A former homicide prosecutor announced his candidacy for the Democratic primary against Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. Here is the Playbook. 

Vega Announces Bid for Philly DA: The former homicide prosecutor who worked in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office for 35 years said that he will decrease the murder rate and has a nine point plan to “make us safer from gun violence.”

NRCC Blasts Lamb For Proxy Vote Shortly After Baby Announcement: The National Republican Congressional Committee criticized Rep. Conor Lamb for voting by proxy just one day after he and his wife announced the birth of their son.

Harrisburg & DC   
AP: High court opening tops Pennsylvania’s 2021 judicial races 
AP: Vaccinations grow in Pennsylvania; 2nd vaccine arriving soon 
AP: Pennsylvania man accused of casting dead mother’s ballot 
AP: Pennsylvania’s jobless rate falls again, dips below US rate 
AP: Heavily criticized veterans’ home sued over COVID outbreak
Spotlight PA: Pa. election officials are burnt out and leaving their jobs after 2020 ‘nightmare’
Spotlight PA: Reform of secrecy law for Pa. utilities faces long odds despite agreement that it’s a problem 
Washington Examiner: ‘Keep punching till your arms fall off’
Erie Times-News: Rep. Kelly wants no mail-in voting in 2021 in Pa., and beyond
Patriot News: Pa. Senate GOP leader calls for a special committee to review 2020 election
Patriot News: Most Pa. state government employees saw pay raises in 2020; some didn’t
Patriot News: Pennsylvania holds off on joining regional program to cap emissions from cars, trucks by raising fuel costs 
Patriot News: Pa. vaccinates nearly 18,000 medical workers against COVID-19, nursing home vaccinations begin next week
Patriot News: All Pa. counties continue to have substantial spread of COVID-19, but positive test rate dips
Patriot News: Pa. reports 156 more COVID-19 deaths over 2-day period
Patriot News: Twitter now puts label on Trump’s tweets that Biden is now president every time he mentions election fraud
Morning Call: Federal stimulus package won’t erase PennDOT’s funding gap or plans for new tolls or taxes
Pittsburgh Business Times: Operation Warp Speed official Paul Mango says it continues to ramp up vaccine effort 
Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania to release COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan
Post-Gazette: Pa. workers navigate often unreliable jobless benefits
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Senate GOP leader proposes special panel to review 2020 election
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Looking ahead: The 2021 Farm Show | Tuesday Morning Coffee
Inquirer: Congress’ coronavirus relief bill may bring welcome changes to old PPP biz loans and fund new borrowers
Inquirer: Lawsuit alleges veterans at state-run nursing home were abandoned during first COVID-19 wave 
Inquirer: Delaware County man charged with registering dead relatives to vote in presidential election
PLSReporter: Trump campaign asks SCOTUS to review Pa. Supreme Court mail-in ballot decisions 
PLSReporter: Dec. 21 COVID-19 Update: Health systems challenged even as cases “plateau” 
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pennsylvania: Enrollment At Cyber Charter Schools Up Nearly 60 Percent
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pennsylvania: Coronavirus Numbers Appear To Be Plateauing, Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine Says 
StateImpactPA: Penn State looking to grow its role as an ‘Energy University’
National Journal: Biden Is a 2020 and 2022 Problem for Senate Republicans
KYW Newsradio: Levine describes next phase of COVID-19 vaccine delivery, while urging safety during holidays
WHYY Newsworks: ‘Your feelings are valid’: Pa. officials offer resources for anxiety, depression amid holiday season
Politico: Top Trump brass launch campaign firm

Philadelphia 
Billy Penn: Jim Kenney’s no good, very bad year: As pandemic and protests roiled Philadelphia, the mayor had regrets 
Billy Penn: Philadelphia students helped register young voters in advance of the Georgia runoffs 
Billy Penn: Philly’s new mobile testing truck is designed to contain COVID clusters with rapid response 
Philadelphia Magazine: COVID Clobbered Philly’s Economy. Who’s Bouncing Back — and Who’s on the Brink?
Philadelphia Gay News: Study finds age, religion, politics impact acceptance
KYW Newsradio: City unveils custom truck that brings COVID-19 testing to you
WHYY Newsworks: Federal judge orders Philly to test all staff and prisoners at city jails
Inquirer: Former Philly controller’s employee gets prison for bribes
Inquirer: Philly will test all inmates and staff as coronavirus surges in prisons
Inquirer: There’s 1 requirement to sit on the Philly school board nominating panel. Not everyone met it.
Inquirer: One-size-fits-all approach to rent relief leaves tenants and landlords without assistance
Inquirer: SEPTA union considering legal action over COVID-19 quarantine policy
Philadelphia Business Journal: Why PPP loans were ‘critical’ for small Philadelphia-area colleges
Philadelphia Business Journal: Former Philadelphia City Controller fraud investigator gets prison time for committing one himself

SEPA
Daily Local News: Shusterman secures $10 million in grants in her first term 
Daily Local News: West Chester restaurant one of a few defying Wolf’s order on indoor dining ban
KYW Newsradio: Delco man charged with using dead mother’s name to cast ballot for Trump
Inquirer: Delaware County man charged with registering dead relatives to vote in presidential election
Bucks County Courier Times: Local authority awards $12.4 million in state PFAS grants 
Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County judicial emergency extended through March

Pittsburgh 
WESA: Challenger Seeks To Take On Pittsburgh Council Incumbent In South Hills 
WESA: Pittsburgh City Council Passes Budget, Revives Parks Tax As Year Winds Down 
WESA: Tablets Offer Those Incarcerated At County Jail Connection To Outside, But Not Without Issues
KDKA: Congressman Mike Doyle: COVID-19 Relief Bill Will Help Western Pennsylvania, But Not Enough 
KDKA: U.S. Congressman Conor Lamb, Wife Hayley Celebrate New Baby 
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pennsylvania: Restaurants Rally To Reopen Indoor Dining In Defiance Of Gov. Wolf’s Coronavirus Orders 
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pittsburgh: Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Reports 2-Day Total Of 1,412 New Cases, 3 Additional Deaths 
Post-Gazette: City adopts budget, but with no federal relief in sight, hundreds of jobs in limbo 
Post-Gazette: Some restaurant owners, local officials call for keeping dining rooms open
Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania to release COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan
Pittsburgh Business Times: Operation Warp Speed official Paul Mango says it continues to ramp up vaccine effort 
City Paper: Bethani Cameron announces Pittsburgh City Council run for District 4 
City Paper: McKeesport checkpoints and warrantless searches in response to shot police officer potentially unconstitutional, say experts 
City Paper: An ongoing tally of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths in Allegheny County
Tribune Review: Restaurant and bar owners decry Gov. Tom Wolf’s orders, encourage others to open
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh council adopts 2021 budget, could be revised depending on federal covid relief
Tribune Review: Allegheny County reports Pa.’s highest batch of new covid cases

SWPA 
Observer-Reporter: Speers Borough loses Mayor William Lee
Pittsburgh Business Times: Butler County launches initiative promoting takeout to help struggling restaurants
Tribune Review: No raises in new year for Westmoreland elected officials
Tribune Review: Westmoreland County coronavirus rate five times higher than ‘substantial” threshold
Tribune Review: Westmoreland County posts 574 new covid cases, 4 deaths over 2 days
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: COVID town hall series starts Tuesday
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: UPDATE: COVID-19 surge eases slightly, but experts warn of holiday spread 
Beaver County Times: Beaver County COVID cases double since Thanksgiving
Beaver County Times: Beaver County hospitals receive second vaccine

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Baker on Special Committee on Election Integrity and Reform
Citizens Voice: County advertises election director job; officials squabble over process
Citizens Voice: County councilmen reflect on 2020, look forward to 2021  
Citizens Voice: As vaccines roll out and holidays approach, another 513 cases reported in NEPA
Citizens Voice: County adds 205 new positive COVID-19 cases 
Times-Tribune: As vaccines roll out and holidays approach, cases continue surge in NEPA
The Times Leader: Special meeting to be held on Wilkes-Barre’s 2021 budget
The Times Leader: 205 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in county; 15,100 statewide over 2 days

South Central 
York Dispatch: COVID: York County average cases more than double since Thanksgiving
York Dispatch: York County breaks 20K COVID-19 cases, 340 deaths
York Daily Record: York County hits 20,000 cases of COVID
Carlisle Sentinel: DOH: 190 new cases of COVID-19 and two additional deaths for Cumberland County in Monday’s report
LNP | LancasterOnline: Additional 286 cases of COVID-19 reported in Lancaster County [Monday’s COVID-19 updates]
Patriot News: Dauphin, Cumberland county hospitals among latest to get COVID-19 vaccine

Lehigh Valley      
Reading Eagle: Reading’s Tom Caltagirone, the longest-serving member of Pa.’s House of Representatives, reflects on his career
Reading Eagle: Reading City Council votes down reauthorizing Downtown Improvement District
Reading Eagle: Risk of community spread of COVID ‘substantial’ in all Pennsylvania counties
Reading Eagle: Berks County adds 12 new COVID deaths as the county’s 7-day case average continues to decline
Morning Call: Pennsylvania overdose deaths during coronavirus pandemic jump 12%; state data doesn’t reflect big increases in Schuylkill, Lehigh counties
Morning Call: Caught in the middle of a land battle: A homeless encampment in a suburban neighborhood
Morning Call: Pennsylvania coronavirus update: 7,745 more cases added Monday as health secretary says plateau reached, at least temporarily
WFMZ: Lehigh County officials say COVID-19 infections have led to staff shortage at the county jail
Express Times: How safe is your hospital? Most of Lehigh Valley’s hospitals get high marks. Which 2 local hospitals didn’t?
Express Times: Pa. coronavirus update: 7,887 new cases; deaths near 14K; Moderna vaccine now being sent out; Lehigh Valley adds 702 new cases | Pa. COVID-19 county map (12/21/20)

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Corman announces plans to establish committee to review Pennsylvania’s 2020 election
Centre Daily Times: Penn State aims to drastically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Here’s how
Centre Daily Times: Dec. 21 update: Centre County adds 114 weekend cases of COVID-19; Pa. adds 15,100
Erie Times-News: Rep. Kelly wants no mail-in voting in 2021 in Pa., and beyond
Erie Times-News: Partial closure of Erie courthouse extended 
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Williamsport ranks 19 in highest infection rate
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Geisinger CEO: We are not out of the woods yet
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: State: 230 new confirmed cases in Lycoming, Tioga counties

Opinion  
Dan Meuser: Republicans’ aim in Texas case was to protect integrity of election law
Colin McNickle: The daunting task of reshaping PASSHE
York Dispatch Editorial Board: Toomey’s misplaced priorities
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Compassion vs. the bottom line 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Grading for fairness, not speed
Jenice Armstrong: We should be fired up about Scrooge-like $600 federal stimulus checks and Pa.’s bungling of housing aid 
Charlie Gerow: Joe Biden and Mitch McConnell should lead by example and set a more civil tone in Washington
Tony Norman: When it comes to COVID-19, the past shouldn’t always be prologue
Rachel Kramer Bussel: There’s no ‘home for the holidays’ this year that isn’t fraught 
John L. Micek: From ‘Folklore’ to the Bronze Age collapse: 3 things that kept me sane in 2020 
Quinn O’Callaghan: From ‘Hamlet’ to ‘Gatsby’ to ‘Beloved’: Don’t replace classic literature. Expand it. 
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Wall out those cyber hackers