Comcast Executive David L. Cohen is believed to be the frontrunner to be the United States ambassador to the United Kingdom, according to a Politico report, while a former aide to Sen. Bob Casey is named to the Inaugural Committee. Here is the Playbook. 

Comcast’s Cohen Is Frontrunner for UK Ambassador: Comcast Executive David L. Cohen is believed to be the frontrunner to be the United States ambassador to the United Kingdom, according to Politico, although he has also expressed interest in Secretary of Commerce.

Former Casey Aide Named to Inaugural Committee: Erin Wilson, a former senior aide to Sen. Bob Casey, has been named as the Deputy Executive Director for the Biden/Harris Inaugural Committee.

Gregory Announces Intentions To Introduce Bill To Repeal Mail-in Voting: The Blair County Republican said the legislation would undo the no-excuse mail-in voting in the state and return to voters needing to provide a reason like disability, unexpected illness or last-minute absence to obtain an absentee ballot.

As of Thursday morning, we still are waiting for a call in a state Senate race and multiple congressional candidates have also yet to concede. 

Congressional Races 

All incumbents have secured another term in Congress, although a few challengers have yet to concede in their races. 

PA7: Rep. Susan Wild (D-Lehigh) has defeated GOP challenger Lisa Scheller. The AP called the race for Wild on Nov. 6. As of Thursday morning, Wild leads by 16,163 votes (or by 4.2 points) with 98% of estimated votes reported. Scheller has not conceded in the race.

PA8: Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna) has defeated GOP challenger Jim Bognet. The AP called the race for Cartwright on Nov. 6. As of Thursday morning, Cartwright leads by 12,213 votes (or by 3.6 points) with 95% of estimated votes reported. Bognet has not conceded in the race.

PA17: Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Allegheny) has defeated GOP challenger Sean Parnell. The AP called the race for Lamb on Nov. 7. As of Thursday morning, Lamb leads by 2.2 points (9,969 votes) with 97% of estimated votes reported. Parnell has not conceded in the race.

State Senate and House

Republicans have flipped four state House seats, (HD-33), (HD-55), (HD-123), and (HD-143), most notably unseating House Minority Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny). Democrats have flipped one seat in the Philly suburbs (HD-152). For the state Senate, Republicans have flipped one seat in western PA (SD-37), while Democrats have flipped one seat in the Philly suburbs (SD-9), and another race in western PA has not been called yet. 

State Senate 

SD-45: Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny) leads GOP challenger Nicole Ziccarelli by 89 votes, as of Thursday morning, according to DOS. 

Harrisburg & DC   
Spotlight PA: ‘Mistakes were made’ at maskless election hearing held by COVID-positive lawmaker, Pa. Senate leader says 
Spotlight PA: Spotlight PA launches Diverse Source Database of Pennsylvania-based experts
New York Times: As Trump Rages, Voters in a Key County Move On: ‘I’m Not Sweating It’
WHYY Newsworks: Trump’s army of new Pa. voters could shape 2022 elections — if the GOP can keep them
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. coronavirus update: L&I secretary asks Senate to extend unemployment relief 
York Daily Record: Pa. legislators’ letter asks Gov. Tom Wolf to convene special session on the election
Morning Call: Will Pennsylvania get more federal coronavirus dollars soon? Toomey, Casey split shows it will be tough
Patriot News: GOP Pa. lawmakers call on governor to immediately convene General Assembly to address election integrity concerns 
Patriot News: Feds approve sale of Three Mile Island amid concern about new owner’s ability to pay for decommissioning 
Patriot News: Downsizing at Pa. state universities may put another faculty job on the chopping block 
Patriot News: Pa.’s 2020 Capitol Christmas tree serves as ‘reminder that better days are ahead’ 
Patriot News: More than 8,000 new COVID-19 cases, nearly 200 more deaths reported in Pa.
Patriot News: Where are Pennsylvania’s 375,431 coronavirus cases? Dec. 2 map, county-by-county breakdown
City Paper: Shake-up at Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates as executive director resigns and staff calls out widespread racism and transphobia
City Paper: Pennsylvania legalizes autonomous delivery robots, classifies them as pedestrians 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: With one election barely over, state lawmakers look to make fixes ahead of the next one 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: COVID-19 in Pa.: Health Department announces 8,291 new cases, 194 new fatalities 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: CDC panel advises states to prioritize health care workers, nursing home residents for COVID-19 vaccine 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: New report: Pa. has spent a decade ignoring skyrocketing special ed. costs | Thursday Morning Coffee 
USA Today: Panel offers rules reform for Pa Legislature
LNP | LancasterOnline: Unfounded claim of election fraud in Lancaster promoted by Trump 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Here are the Pennsylvania counties with the highest coronavirus death rates since Nov. 1 
Inquirer: Pa. auditor general confirms botched coronavirus efforts at veterans’ nursing home, calls on Gov. Wolf to finish investigation
Inquirer: Gov. Wolf pushes for plan to help Pa. communities struggling with climate change impacts like flooding
Inquirer: Schools with coronavirus cases could be forced to close on short notice under new Pa. rules
KYW Newsradio: Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania director resigns after accusations of racism, transphobia
KYW Newsradio: Pa. Supreme Court dismisses GOP challenge to mail-in voting law, lifts injunction
Fox News: Pennsylvania whistleblower speaks out after claiming ‘forensically destructive’ vote canvassing procedure
Post-Gazette: State Treasury says it can fund PennDOT road and bridge work through June
Erie Times-News: Diverse panel set to work with Pa. commission on new sentencing guidelines
CNHI News: Wolf calls for better planning to limit devastation caused by climate change-fueled flooding
StateImpactPA: Federal agency approves transfer of TMI-2 for decommissioning 
StateImpactPA: Families and advocates criticize Pa.’s fracking health studies
KDKA: Gov. Wolf Calls For Plan To Address Flooding Caused By Climate Change
KDKA: PennDOT Avoids Major Shutdown But Needs Long-Term Funding Fix 
National Journal: Among Democrats’ Top 2022 Pickups, WI Could Be Tough to Crack 
National Journal: GOP State Rep Wants to Repeal No-Excuse Absentee Voting Option 
PLSReporter: Wolf outlines executive actions to address flood mitigation, climate change  

Philadelphia 
WHYY Newsworks: How would you spend $1M in city cash? Philly wants residents to shape next budget
KYW Newsradio: Advocates ask city to expedite police reforms as more children feel traumatized by racial unrest, violence
KYW Newsradio: $4.5M project to dredge Schuylkill River has come to a halt after 6 months and almost no progress
Inquirer: Massive influx of coronavirus-relief money saves jobs throughout Philly region
Inquirer: Philly police pulled her from an SUV, beat her, and took her toddler. Now, Rickia Young is calling for justice. 
Inquirer: As COVID-19 surges, Philly-area nurses describe life on the front lines: ‘It’s just exploded’ 
Philadelphia Gay News: Malcolm Kenyatta receives Tammy Baldwin Breakthrough Award
Philadelphia Magazine: Poor Gritty Only Got One Vote for President in Philly 
Philadelphia Magazine: Tigre Hill’s New Documentary Delves Into Sean Schellenger Killing
Philadelphia Business Journal: Philadelphia-area hospitals experience influx of Covid-19 admissions, brace for more

SEPA
Daily Local News: ‘No confidence,’ Dems say of Chester County party leader
Daily Local News: Chester County Democrats raising money for Georgia runoffs
Delco Daily Times: Delaware County council details no tax increase, $352M budget
Delco Daily Times: Campaigns may be over, but signs endure forever
Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks gets state $15M COVID grant as cases climb
Bucks County Courier Times: Jail lawsuit cost Bucks County $12 million
Bucks County Courier Times: Jail lawsuit cost Bucks County $12 million 
KYW Newsradio: Delco offers free job workshops as COVID-19 raises unemployment
KYW Newsradio: In Montco, COVID-19 hospitalizations rise as staffing stretched thin
Montgomery Media: Montgomery County hospitals nearing capacity during coronavirus surge

Pittsburgh 
Tribune Review: Rep. Mike Kelly, Sean Parnell continue to pursue legal challenge to Pa. election results
Tribune Review: Western Pa. congressmen join rebuke of U.S. Attorney General William Barr 
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh council tweaking covid-related sick leave legislation before final vote
Tribune Review: 10% of City of Pittsburgh’s employees are in covid quarantine, officials say 
Tribune Review: Allegheny County awarded $1.2M for homeless programs   
Tribune Review: Allegheny County nears another covid-19 milestone with new cases 
Tribune Review: Health officials: 40% of Allegheny County’s covid cases came in November
WESA: ‘Just Scraping By’: Families in PA Waiting On Additional Food Stamps As Court Fight Continues 
WESA: Bogen Explains Why She Hasn’t Ordered A Shutdown, Despite Rising Coronavirus Infections 
WESA: With Rising COVID-19 Cases, Nurse Leader Says ‘The Public Has A Lot Of Responsibility’ 
WESA: Report: Racial Imbalances Persist In Allegheny County Criminal Justice System 
Post-Gazette: Libraries, parks to get 62% of RAD grants in 2021 
Post-Gazette: State sees highest single-day COVID-19 deaths; concerns about health care workforce growing
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pittsburgh: With 10% Of Its Workforce In Quarantine, City Working To Ensure Uninterrupted Service 
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pittsburgh: Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Reports 508 New Cases, 10 Additional Deaths
City Paper: Allegheny County Jail restores policy allowing physical books delivered to inmates 
City Paper: An ongoing tally of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths in Allegheny County
Pittsburgh Business Times: Roughly 10% of the City of Pittsburgh’s workforce in quarantine due to symptoms of or contacts with Covid-19 
Pittsburgh Business Times: County: Worried about hospital staffing capacity as Covid cases climb
Pittsburgh Business Times: See which regional jobs grew the fastest and had the highest raises in the past decade 

SWPA 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Thompson to be GOP leader on agriculture committee
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Emergency loans reach smallest businesses across neighborhoods 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: UPDATE: State’s COVID-19 deaths top spring’s worst day
Tribune Review: Trump supporters plan rally from Unity to Greensburg Saturday
Altoona Mirror: Gregory seeking end to no-excuse mail-in voting
Altoona Mirror: Election spurs deluge of threats
Altoona Mirror: Blair doles out $3.3 million in CARES Act grants
KDKA: Zelienople Leaders Give Residents $50 eGift Cards To Help Ease Financial Burden Of Coronavirus Pandemic
Observer-Reporter: State forms COVID-19 testing strike teams

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Wilkes-Barre mayor orders more COVID-19 protocols, restrictions 
Citizens Voice: Nursing homes still failing to report COVID-19 data to state 
Citizens Voice: Nine more deaths, 212 new COVID cases reported Wednesday in Luzerne County
The Times Leader: Wilkes-Barre launches new safety protocols as COVID-19 cases rise 
The Times Leader: Luzerne County hotel tax down $800,000 
The Times Leader: Coronavirus aid deadline nears for Luzerne County farmers 
The Times Leader: County COVID-19 cases top 10,000 with 212 new confirmed; 9 more deaths
Times-Tribune: Commissioners rescind resolution approving controversial contract 
Times-Tribune: Lackawanna County struggling to attract sufficient jurors for trials
Times-Tribune: State continues to struggle to get nursing homes to comply with COVID-19 reporting mandates 
Times-Tribune: COVID-19 surges by near-record numbers 

South Central 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Unfounded claim of election fraud in Lancaster promoted by Trump 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Lancaster County only had 7 of 80 ICU beds available for patients Wednesday as COVID cases surge 
LNP | LancasterOnline: 368 new positive COVID-19 cases reported in Lancaster County over 24-hour span [Wednesday’s COVID-19 update] 
Patriot News: Feds approve sale of Three Mile Island amid concern about new owner’s ability to pay for decommissioning 
Patriot News: Pa.’s 2020 Capitol Christmas tree serves as ‘reminder that better days are ahead’ 
Patriot News: Some Cumberland County residents want commissioners to ‘pause’ pursuit of nursing home sale 
Carlisle Sentinel: Cumberland County receives responses from possible Claremont buyers, but residents question if guarantees will have teeth 
Carlisle Sentinel: DOH: 181 new cases of COVID-19, 8 new deaths reported Wednesday in Cumberland County
York Dispatch: First year of York County land preservation program a success, officials say 
York Dispatch: For second time this year, North York council member announces resignation
York Dispatch: York County has 5 new COVID-19 deaths, 373 additional cases  

Lehigh Valley      
Express Times: Lehigh Valley unemployment down again, with the recovery of nearly 60% of jobs lost to coronavirus 
Express Times: Pa. coronavirus update: New record 8,291 cases reported; 194 more deaths; Lehigh Valley ties last week’s new-case record | Pa. COVID-19 county map (12/02/20)
Morning Call: What you need to know about Allentown’s final 2021 budget and its long-term financial outlook 
Morning Call: Temporary fix lets PennDOT avoid halting Pennsylvania road projects; Lehigh Valley planners kept out of loop
Morning Call: Pennsylvania coronavirus update: Daily deaths hit record 194; state testing ‘strike team’ welcomed by long lines of cars in Northampton County
WFMZ: One-third of downtown Allentown residents still living in poverty 
WFMZ: Allentown City Council adopts 2021 budget 
WFMZ: Berks County Commissioners revealing more about grant programs aimed at helping small businesses, organizations 
Reading Eagle: Berks officials highlight recipients of grants to aid those hurt by coronavirus pandemic 
Reading Eagle: 99% of Pennsylvania school districts, including all in Berks County, submit forms agreeing to follow updated coronavirus guidance or go virtual 
Reading Eagle: Coronavirus stats surge in Berks County and Pennsylvania ending a brief decline 

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: U.S. Rep. Kelly returns to Pa. Supreme Court as U.S. Supreme Court mulls election appeal
Erie Times-News: Erie councilwoman Schaaf will not seek re-election
Erie Times-News: Erie County Executive COVID-19 update, Dec. 2, 2020
Patriot News: Middleburg revises ordinance, pays $10,000 to settle suit with flag-burning activist Stilp
Centre Daily Times: More police or mental health professionals? State College Borough Council facing important decision
Centre Daily Times: 9 new COVID-19 deaths reported in Centre County, with 7 from long-term care facilities
Centre Daily Times: Dec. 2 update: Pa. sets 1-day record for COVID-19 deaths; Centre County adds 75 new cases
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: More small businesses awarded grant funding
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Planning Commission approves natural gas development project

Opinion  
York Dispatch Editorial Board: Mastriano isn’t a hack. He’s much worse
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Forcing the PWSA to clean up its act
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Take the medicine
Marco Cerino: City Council members should take a pay cut 
Jenice Armstrong: Obama is right: Slogans like ‘defund the police’ are off-putting. But that doesn’t negate the need for reform.
David Harden: Making foreign aid work for the Heartland
Dan Simpson: What’s ahead for Trump and Biden?
Benjamin Palubinsky: Philly restaurant veteran on what we’re really losing when our favorite spots close 
Jonathan Myerow: Tria founder: Without help, my restaurant and others will not survive the pandemic 
Michelle A. Williams and Valerie Montgomery Rice: COVID-19 vaccine won’t undo decades of justifiable distrust in communities of color | Expert Opinion
Spero Lappas: Can Trump pardon himself? Common sense says no. The Constitution is another matter 
Mark Duffy and David Lapp: School districts, like Philly, shouldn’t have to rely on handouts to make sure kids are safe
Jeff Yoder: I’m a lifelong Pa. Republican. Trump needs to accept that he lost | Capital-Star Letters
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Swing states swing
Jennifer Rovella: A plea as our LVH–Cedar Crest COVID-19 population approaches critical levels
Helen Ubiñas: We could all use a little inspiration. Here’s some from a Philadelphia mother of nine 
Christine Flowers: Birthdays and milestones, and why they matter