State Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell, who was charged with stealing from her own charity, announced that she will resign from the state House on Dec. 13. Here is the Playbook. 

Pro-Trump Group Ups Anti-Impeachment Ad Buy in Cartwright, Lamb Districts: Phase Two of America First Policies “End The Witch Hunt Campaign” is a $160,000 ad buy in Pennsylvania that includes a combination of digital, television, and text messaging ads in Rep. Matt Cartwright and Conor Lamb’s districts.

The Full 2019 PA Society List of Events: The annual get together in New York City begins with events Thursday evening through Sunday morning.

Legislative Election Update: 

HD-167: Ginny Kerslake has announced a bid for the state House’s 167th District, according to the Daily Local News. She will be challenging state Rep. Kristine Howard (D-Chester) in the Democratic Primary. Howard is currently serving her first term in the state House after besting Republican Duane Milne by 4 points in 2018.

Harrisburg & DC   
AP: Lawmaker accused of theft from charity announces resignation
AP: PFAS water contamination not widespread, Pennsylvania says
AP: Top Comcast executive to step down from operations next year
PA Post: In Judiciary impeachment hearings, PA congressional members echo party lines
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Johnson-Harrell to resign House seat Dec. 13 over criminal charges
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa.’s Shapiro urges U.S. Supreme Court to reject Louisiana abortion restrictions
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Metcalfe to join Pennsylvania panel that reviews plan for climate action
Spotlight PA: Sex offender registry law in Pa. facing life-or-death test at Supreme Court
Inquirer: David Cohen is a 2020 political player. His sway at home in Philadelphia has become another question.
Inquirer: Pa., N.J., and other states are cutting environmental spending at the worst time, report finds
Inquirer: Pennsylvania’s urban school districts call for change; say state funding, charter laws crippling them
KDKA: Veterans For Trump To Hold Meet And Greet With Vice President Pence In Beaver Co. 
KDKA: New Trump Rules Could Get 60,000 Pennsylvanians Off Food Stamps
Post-Gazette: VP Pence set to visit Beaver County veterans group
Patriot News: Philly state rep facing theft, perjury charges to resign from her House seat on Dec. 13 
PLSReporter: What’s the best way to combat Medicaid provider fraud? The House Government Oversight Committee wants to start that conversation
PLSReporter: First round of PFAS tests find at least one site with potentially harmful amounts
PLSReporter: Right 2 Know Episode 33: The oracles of Schuylkill County
StateImpactPA: State testing finds elevated levels of PFAS chemicals in some Pa. drinking water, but only one sample exceeded federal health levels
The Hill: Political ad spending set to explode in 2020
The Hill: US sanctions Russian group over $100M cyber hack
City Paper: Pa. Treasurer Joe Torsella renews calls for Mark Zuckerberg’s ouster as Facebook board chair 

Philadelphia 
Philly Clout: A Republican Party remade by President Trump arrives in Manhattan for Pennsylvania Society
Inquirer: State Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell, charged with $500k theft, hands in resignation
Inquirer: Philly City Council amends 10-year tax abatement bill after Mayor Jim Kenney’s threat to block it
Inquirer: Philadelphia power player David Cohen is stepping down from his Comcast position
Inquirer: David Cohen is a 2020 political player. His sway at home in Philadelphia has become another question.
Inquirer: Philly City Council reaches compromise on plastic bag ban and regulations on bed bugs infestations
Inquirer: Philadelphia to restrict sales of flavored e-cigarettes
Inquirer: Philadelphia launching 10-year ‘urban forest’ plan after startling tree decline
Inquirer: Philly renames street after former local NAACP president Jerry Mondesire
Inquirer: It should be unconstitutional when police officers kill fleeing felony suspects, Philly DA’s Office says
Inquirer: A Philly police commander’s sexual misconduct was well-known. A flawed system protected him.
Inquirer: What happened after word spread that the Proud Boys did karaoke in a West Philly bar
Inquirer: Philadelphia officials want parents to turn in their guns after 108 kids were shot this year
Inquirer: Pennsylvania’s urban school districts call for change; say state funding, charter laws crippling them
Philadelphia Tribune: City Council caves under Kenney’s veto threat, pushes back proposed tax abatement reforms
Philadelphia Tribune: City Council caves under Kenney’s veto threat, pushes back proposed tax abatement reforms
Philadelphia Tribune: Philly City Council committee tables bill to subsidize lead remediation costs for landlords
WHYY Newsworks: City Council caves to mayor’s threat, agrees to push back abatement reform
WHYY Newsworks: Philly leaders ask parents to check their kids’ rooms for guns
WHYY Newsworks: Is your landlord responsible for clearing a bedbug infestation? City Council says so in amended bill
WHYY Newsworks: Flavored vape ban for minors passes in City Council
WHYY Newsworks: Buh-bye bag: Philly’s ban on single-use plastic bags moves toward passage into law
KYW Newsradio: Mayor Jim Kenney wins concession from Philadelphia City Council on tax abatement reform
KYW Newsradio: Cohen to step down from longtime executive Comcast position
KYW Newsradio: Anti-violence advocates urge public to surrender illegal guns — no questions asked
KYW Newsradio: Philly students planning to walk out of school for another climate strike
KYW Newsradio: Philadelphia City Council bans sale of flavored tobacco in the city 
Philadelphia Magazine: David L. Cohen Confirms He’s Cutting the Comcast Cord
Philadelphia Magazine: In “Assault on Privacy,” Philly Police Routinely Reveal Mental Health Status of Missing City Residents
Billy Penn: Philly students won’t be punished for climate strike walkout, school district says in 180-degree flip 
Philadelphia Business Journal: After Kenney flexes muscle, date for 10-year tax abatement changes is expected to be pushed back

SEPA
Daily Local News: Kreslake announces candidacy for 167th District House seat
Daily Local News: Houlahan chairs hearing focusing on role of small businesses
Daily Local News: Rep. Williams hosting Second Chance Expo in Coatesville
Daily Local News: Rep. Otten bills address food waste and food insecurity
Daily Local News: Dinniman celebrates seniors age 90 and over in Paoli
Daily Local News: Kennett Township levies new tax to help Kennett Library
Daily Local News: Killion gets behind-the-scenes look at McDonald’s in West Goshen
Bucks Local News: Bucks transition team names Newtown resident economic development chair
Delco Daily Times: Delaware County Council unveils a no-tax $358 million budget 
Pottstown Mercury: Berks County Commissioner Mark Scott urges his successors to keep fighting landfills
Pottstown Mercury: Pottstown’s 2020 tax hike drops to 3.83%
Bucks Courier Times: State: PFAS contamination not “widespread” in PA

Pittsburgh 
WESA: Allegheny County Council Drops ‘Conversion Therapy’ Bills – At Least For Now
Post-Gazette: Racism as a public health crisis focus of city council meetings
Post-Gazette: Peters taxes will hold steady in 2020
Post-Gazette: Duquesne’s Gormley: Congress should opt to censure Trump
KDKA: New Trump Rules Could Get 60,000 Pennsylvanians Off Food Stamps
KDKA: ‘Pittsburgh Has A Problem With Institutional Racism’: Pittsburgh City Councilman Wants To Declare Racism A Public Health Crisis
KDKA: Veterans For Trump To Hold Meet And Greet With Vice President Pence In Beaver Co. 
KDKA: Governor’s Office Still Reviewing Case Of Man Convicted Of 1976 Killing In Pittsburgh Parking Garage
Tribune Review: Racism widespread and systemic in Pittsburgh, experts say
Tribune Review: Allegheny County Jail to use inmate funds to supply overdose reversal kits
Tribune Review: Penn Hills mayor calls for committee chair’s resignation amid alleged cartoon creation 

SWPA 
Beaver County Times: Vice President Pence coming to Rochester VFW next week 
Beaver County Times: DA: No ‘buy-a-badge’ investigation in Beaver County
Beaver County Times: Bartolotta bill provides additional reimbursements for nursing home ventilator care
Tribune Review: VP Mike Pence to meet with veterans at Beaver County VFW Post
KDKA: Veterans For Trump To Hold Meet And Greet With Vice President Pence In Beaver Co.
Post-Gazette: VP Pence set to visit Beaver County veterans group
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: New law will expand online training for firefighters
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: U.S. Rep. requests Route 219 completion
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Cambria County commissioners accept tax anticipation note proposal
Altoona Mirror: City won’t raise taxes
Altoona Mirror: Neugebauer, Cagle bid farewell to council
Altoona Mirror: Schmitt plans constituent open house
Altoona Mirror: Logan budget won’t raise taxes 
Altoona Mirror: Schools urge cyber reform
Observer-Reporter: Washington County posted budget for 2020 shows no tax increase

NEPA
Times-Tribune: Scranton mayor-elect Paige Cognetti identifies transition team
Times-Tribune: Longtime Scranton controller dies, weeks after resignation
Times-Tribune: Mayor Evans, touting progress, proclaims the future of Scranton is bright
Times-Tribune: Jermyn calls for 6 mill tax increase in 2020 budget
Times-Tribune: University of Scranton fails to recognize conservative student club
The Times Leader: Watchilla to be Luzerne County’s new election director
The Times Leader: State audit flags WVW for disappearing fund balance, reporting error
Citizens Voice: Luzerne County hires election director, assessment managers
Citizens Voice: Luzerne County hires election director, assessment managers
Citizens Voice: Expense cuts could reduce county tax hike
Citizens Voice: City honors retiring crime watch leader

South Central 
York Dispatch: Perry challenger Jeffries hosting Christmas party with chair of alleged hate group
York Dispatch: York County to divide voting districts, add election polling places
Patriot News: Protesters vow to be seen and heard, peacefully, at Trump rally in Hershey
Patriot News: Citizen activist Gene Stilp burns Trump campaign flags to protest the president’s ‘misguided’ values
Carlisle Sentinel: Carlisle approves nearly $6M in contracts for upcoming connectivity project

Lehigh Valley      
Morning Call: Susan Wild ‘mostly likely’ to support at least one impeachment charge against Trump
Morning Call: Bethlehem and Easton districts join statewide call for charter school reform
Morning Call: ‘Catcalling, lack of transparency, mistrust’: South Whitehall residents lash out at commissioners over appointment
Reading Eagle: Berks County Commissioner Mark Scott urges his successors to keep fighting landfills
Reading Eagle: Kenhorst appoints 2 new council members
Express Times: Ex-Bethlehem employee says she was fired in part because she’s a Republican

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: City approves proposed budget with .25 mill tax increase
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Council pokes at recreation oddities in proposed budget
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: DuBoistown Borough raises taxes for 2020
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Comms approve bonds refinancing for public water, sewage projects 

Opinion  
LNP Editorial Board: Consumers need to be more cautious about using CBD products
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Battling vaping: State raises age to purchase tobacco
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Runaway travel budget: PPS spending exceeds larger Philadelphia district
John Baer: Annual PA Society gala should come home or come to an end 
Maria Panaritis: U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean refuses to say ‘no’ to people in need, and it’s making all the difference 
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Higher tuitions for Pennsylvania higher ed
Will Bunch: What Pete Buttigieg doesn’t get about how college has ripped America in two
Inga Saffron: Council is trying to modernize Philly’s tax abatement. Here are five better ways. 
John L. Micek: These are the most — and least — charitable states in the USA. How’d Pa. do? | Thursday Morning Coffee
Anwar Curtis: Meet the woman fighting to break down the stigma of mental illness in Harrisburg’s Black community 
John L. Micek: Grilling law school profs, U.S. House Republicans only showed off their ignorance 
Post-Gazette Commentary: Commentary: Too many leaks to count around Pittsburgh
Christine Flowers: Lisa Page owes an apology — to Peter Strzok’s wife 
Jane Eleey: Philadelphia’s aging population needs help fighting loneliness