State Sen. Daylin Leach files a defamation suit against a woman accusing him of sexual assault in 1991. Here is the Playbook.

SD-37: Dems Select Iovino, GOP Picks Raja: Both candidates won their party’s nomination on the first ballot.

Leach Files Defamation Suit Against 1991 Sexual Assault Accuser Plus Two Others: Leach describes the allegations as an injustice; Taylor, the accuser, says he coerced her to perform oral sex while she was 17 years old.

Harrisburg & DC
AP: Nominees picked for open Pennsylvania state Senate seat
AP: Church abuse victims wait to see if Legislature will act  
Inquirer: Sen. Daylin Leach sues woman accusing him of sexual assault, and two #MeToo activists
Inquirer: Scammers targeting former Sanford-Brown students, Pa. Attorney General warns
Roll Call: How one Democrat threads the needle on border security
WITF: Cost of shutdown in Pa. shows potential impact if it happens again
WESA: Calling PA Laws ‘Antiquated,’ Bipartisan Group Pushes Parole Reform
Post-Gazette: Gov. Wolf proposes converting assistance program into housing
Post-Gazette: Pa. Supreme Court rules UPMC — and all employers — must protect workers’ data. Doing so is harder.
PLSReporter: House Republicans call on Rep. Ellis to resign over sexual assault allegation
PLSReporter: Philly Dems select new candidate for 190th special election
PLSReporter: Freshman Focus: Sen Lindsey Williams
PLSReporter: Sen. Daylin Leach files suit against women accusing him of sexual assault, two others
PLSReporter: Bipartisan group of lawmakers pushes for Pennsylvania to join other states in reforming probation guidelines
StateImpactPA: Gov. Wolf just set a lofty climate goal. What will it take to get there?
StateImpactPA: After some awkward moments, kids dressed as the Lorax got to meet Gov. Wolf — and make their point
York Dispatch: Pa. becomes second state to submit plan for commercial hemp growth
Harrisburg Patriot News: Senate Republicans name former newspaper owner to help oversee Harrisburg’s finances
Harrisburg Patriot News: Rescued canine helps puppy mill legislation, coalition urges environmental action: Today at the Pa. Capitol
Morning Call: Probation reforms pushed by Pennsylvania senators seeking savings, fairness

Philadelphia
Philadelphia Magazine: Movita Johnson-Harrell Might Become the First Muslim Woman Elected to Pa. House
Philadelphia Magazine: This Philly Pastor Wants to Become Pa.’s First Out Lesbian State Rep
Philadelphia Magazine: Asa Khalif Is Running for Philadelphia City Council. Is City Council Ready for Him?
KYW Newsradio: Officials expand medication-assisted treatment as they tackle opioid epidemic
KYW Newsradio: As government reopens, food help still available for federal workers
Inquirer: Philly City Council president to intervene in controversy over St. Laurentius site in Fishtown
Inquirer: New Democratic nominee in state 190th District vetted by Philly ward leaders for financial woes
Inquirer: First charges revealed in feds’ Local 98 probe, with contractor’s guilty plea

SEPA
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. Sen. Daylin Leach sues woman who accused him of sexual assault
Pottstown Mercury: Lawmaker calls on officials to investigate pipeline players
Pottstown Mercury: Killion introduces pair of bills aimed at saving lives
Delco Daily Times: Trash-disposal crisis means consumers will pay more

Pittsburgh
WESA: Iovino, Raja Chosen As Nominees In Special Election For State Senate  
WESA: The Government Is Open, But People Are Still Suffering—And Hungry, Pittsburgh Food Bank Says
WESA: Mattress Factory Names Haley Haldeman As New Interim Executive Director
City Paper: A small group of Pittsburghers want to impeach Mayor Peduto, but the effort is almost certainly unconstitutional
KDKA: Pitt Waives $5,546 Security Fee Assessed To College Republicans Over Ben Shapiro Appearance    
KDKA: Hate Crimes On Rise In Lawrenceville, Prompting FBI Response
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh political convener Morton Coleman dies   
Post-Gazette: Debate and amendments ahead for Pittsburgh’s proposed gun laws   
Post-Gazette: Pa. Supreme Court rules UPMC — and all employers — must protect workers’ data. Doing so is harder.   
Post-Gazette: State conducting criminal investigation of shale gas production     
Tribune Review: Gina Cerilli to seek another term as Westmoreland County commissioner
Tribune Review: Peoples Gas wants to raise rates by 14 to 19 percent to pump $95M into replacing pipelines  
Tribune Review: Challenge to Murrysville fracking ordinance will continue in February
Tribune Review: Penn Hills real estate taxes expected to go up to help balance the district’s 2019-20 budget
SWPA
Beaver County Times: Aliquippa’s Olivia Benson drops state Senate bid for possible run at state auditor general
Beaver County Times: State Sen. Bartolotta co-sponsors probation reform bill  
Beaver County Times: Former state Rep. candidate Michael Rossi vies for prothonatary nomination
Beaver County Times: Law firm partner, former prosecutor Laura Tocci running for county judge
Altoona Mirror: Stickel plans bid for re-election
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: ‘A loss for all of us’: Somerset County Commissioner John P. Vatavuk dies
Observer-Reporter: Hazing reports released by area colleges under new state law

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Report: Spending for W-B fire, police departments exceeded budgets in 2018
The Times Leader: Democrat Gilbert to run for a second term on Wilkes-Barre city council
Times-Tribune: Scranton council passes stricter ethics code; next comes seating an ethics board
Times-Tribune: Scranton’s longtime economic development director retiring  

South Central   
LNP | LancasterOnline: Do you support legalizing recreational marijuana? Question draws mixed response in Lancaster County
LNP | LancasterOnline: Toxic lead in drinking water: 10 Lancaster County schools find contamination; others must test this year
York Dispatch: Upcoming Grove bill to improve budget transparency: Does it go far enough?  
Carlisle Sentinel: State’s largest medical marijuana clinic expands in Carlisle, eyes further growth
Carlisle Sentinel: Crampsie announces run for Carlisle Borough Council
Carlisle Sentinel: Mechanicsburg lawyer announces candidacy for county judge
Harrisburg Patriot News: Senate Republicans name former newspaper owner to help oversee Harrisburg’s finances  
Harrisburg Patriot News: Lawmaker wants to expand list of crimes that could cost public employees, officials their pensions   
Harrisburg Patriot News: Harrisburg residents file court petitions citing why they’re qualified to fill vacant school board seat  
Harrisburg Patriot News: Derek Clepper enters race for Cumberland County judge  
Harrisburg Patriot News: Lawyer Ron Tomasko announces run for Cumberland County judge  

Lehigh Valley  
Morning Call: Probation reforms pushed by Pennsylvania senators seeking savings, fairness
Morning Call: Northampton Area School Board approves tax increase
Morning Call: Reynolds announces bid for reelection to Bethlehem City Council
Reading Eagle: Reading’s overseer says city’s not yet ready to handle its own finances
Reading Eagle: Reading auditor retires over disagreement about pay raise
Reading Eagle: Exeter officials nix medical marijuana dispensary site OK’d by state
Reading Eagle: Fleetwood council works to correct overpayment to fire company
Reading Eagle: Lawmakers from Berks take their seats on Pa. legislative committees
Express Times: GOP incumbents for local, state offices to launch 2019 re-election campaigns in Warren County  

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: State Rep. Wheeland eyes open Congressional spot
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Benson seeks nomination for commissioner
Erie Times-News: Voting systems expo set for Tuesday in Erie  
Erie Times-News: County ranks deficient bridges eligible for vehicle registration revenue

Opinion
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Maintain our empathy: We are growing desensitized to mass shootings
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Ideas going nowhere: A high-tech city should support its inventors
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Beyond punishment: Restorative practices pay off for Pittsburgh schools
Inquirer Editorial Board: PUC takes a step toward helping more people afford to heat their homes
David M. Stone: Harris Wofford followed the question where it leads
Ashley Nellis: Pennsylvania is poised for much-needed criminal justice reform, but can we abolish life without parole?
Antony Davies and James R. Harrigan: A $15 minimum wage hurts workers
Abraham Gutman: The ‘beer test’ for candidates exposes our hypocrisy on drugs
Thomas Eveslage: Intolerance should not be students’ citizenship lesson
John L. Micek: In statehouses nationwide, the push is on to expand voting rights | Monday Morning Coffee