Marc Scaringi mulls a run for Attorney General, while the Cook Political Report moves the race in PA8 to a toss up. Here is the Playbook. 

Scaringi Mulls Attorney General Run: The lawyer, columnist and one time U.S. Senate GOP hopeful said that he is considering a run for Attorney General and believes his experience in the office under Mike Fisher has prepared him for the role.

PA8: Cook Moves Race to Toss Up: The election analysts moved the seat held by Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna) from Lean Democrat to Toss Up after his vote for impeachment.

Harrisburg & DC   
AP: Final Pennsylvania county OKs new paper-trail voting system
AP: New overtime rules should help 60k workers in Pennsylvania
AP: Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls to climb 6%, to $53.50
AP: Clergy abuse fallout among top Pennsylvania stories of 2019
AP: Pennsylvania dioceses offer $84M to 564 clergy abuse victims
AP: Board issues letter to judge over his traffic stop behavior
AP: Mother of Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts dies at age 90
Spotlight PA: Nearly 150,000 in Pa. could be forced to change medications beginning Jan. 1. Here’s why.
Patriot News: Pa. GOP lawmakers call for reforms to make state spending practices more transparent
Patriot News: ‘Mean tweets’ bring so much enjoyment to Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman that they had to share
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: ‘There is a real problem with how he treats women’: Bartolotta backs primary challenger against SWPA lawmaker
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Watch Gov. Tom Wolf and LG John Fetterman read their mean Tweets
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: What’s the top-selling liquor in your Pennsylvania county?
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Associate Editor’s picks: 5 health care stories to know from 2019
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: The 2020 Census is coming: What it is, how it works
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: GOP Rep. Mark Keller to retire, brings 2020 retirement total to eight
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: How choices by Trump’s Justice Department could jeopardize domestic violence and rape crisis services across Pennsylvania.
Inquirer: Every Pa. county will have new voting machines — with paper trails — in 2020   
Inquirer: Pennsylvania wants to fix its Medicaid transit program, but there’s no easy way to do it, report says
Inquirer: You’ll have to fill out the 2020 Census soon. Here’s what it will ask.  
Inquirer: 2019 was a big year for voting rights and election reform in Pennsylvania and New Jersey 
Inquirer: One of the wealthiest counties in Pennsylvania says it’s finally close to ending homelessness
WESA: Pa. House joins Senate in overwhelmingly passing bill to help ex-convicts get professional licenses
WESA: Republicans’ Judicial Election Amendment Would Make PA An Outlier
WESA: Trump Tariffs Cost Pennsylvanians More Than $700 Million in 2019
WESA: Lancaster Judge Admonished For Abusing Power During A Traffic Stop
WITF: Pa. counties make deadline for new voting systems, but still have to deal with election code changes 
Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania’s head boomer and a WWE heel air your Festivus grievances
PLSReporter: State lawmakers on the rise in 2019
PLSReporter: The top 5 moments in Harrisburg in 2019
PLSReporter: Not to be: 5 bills that didn’t get the governor’s signature in 2019
PLSReporter: Roaring in 2020: 5 things to watch in the new year
PLSReporter: Right 2 Know Episode 36: Year in Review
StateImpactPA: Natural gas production headed for a slow-down in 2020
StateImpactPA: Six months after the fire, both ex-refinery workers and PES struggle to find new lives
Morning Call: Poverty grew in almost half of Pennsylvania counties despite strong national economy
National Journal: Divisive Issues to Dominate State Legislatures in 2020
Politico: Harris Wofford: The Eternal Optimist for a More Equal America
Politico: James McCord: The Watergate Burglar Who Cracked
Fox News: Rep. Guy Reschenthaler says impeachment is backfiring on Democrats, predicts GOP will retake the House
Fox News: New England Patriots’ Chase Winovich pays off lunch debts for Pennsylvania school district

Philadelphia 
Philly Clout: Democrats picked a nominee for a West Philly state House seat for the second special election in less than a year
Philly Clout: It’s déjà vu in West Philly as Democratic leaders seek a special election nominee
Inquirer: Inside man to trailblazing outsider: Mayor Jim Kenney goes bold with police commissioner in second term
Inquirer: Danielle Outlaw’s long journey to Philadelphia police commissioner
Inquirer: Joe Biden’s long list of ‘bundlers’ includes several top fund-raisers from the Philly area
Inquirer: Mayor Kenney pocket vetoes six bills as his first term ends
Inquirer: Why Philly City Councilwoman Helen Gym is standing by her indicted colleague Bobby Henon
Inquirer: The Census Bureau is hiking pay as recruitment lags for the 2020 Census
Inquirer: Can tech companies help Philadelphia cut down on trash? City officials hope so.
Inquirer: How will the economy, home prices, and the new tax abatement affect Philly in 2020? Experts weigh in. 
Inquirer: New Year’s Eve homicides make 2019 the worst for killings in Philly since 2007 
Philadelphia Magazine: Looking Back: Reflecting on Jim Kenney’s First Term as Mayor
Philadelphia Magazine: These 5 Stats Tell the Story of Philadelphia Over the Past Decade
Philadelphia Magazine: These Two Lawsuits Could Force Philly to Purchase New Voting Machines
Billy Penn: 45 years in the same room: Jannie Blackwell bows out of City Hall 
Billy Penn: 5 things to know about Danielle Outlaw, Philly’s new police commissioner
Billy Penn: ‘There has to be a clear policy’: Philly’s new top cop pledges to fight crime and boost accountability
Billy Penn: City to Mummers judges: Please be nicer
Billy Penn: New PPD chief sparred with demonstrators in Portland. How will she handle Philly’s protest culture?
Billy Penn: The Year in Comcast: How Philly’s biggest corporation made headlines in 2019
WHYY Newsworks: For 2020, Philadelphia hopes to build on 2018 record-breaking young voter turnout 
WHYY Newsworks: NYE nix: Kenney vetoes food truck ban, kills Society Hill carve-out and more 
Philadelphia Tribune: Doubts if new council will take on mayor’s soda tax
Philadelphia Tribune: African American charged with leading Glen Mills back from the dead
PLSReporter: Top 5 moments of 2019: Philadelphia
KYW Newsradio: Mayor appoints Danielle Outlaw of Portland as Philly’s new top cop
KYW Newsradio: Philly’s new police commissioner hints at reforms in the department  
KYW Newsradio: Mayor Kenney kills 6 City Council bills with a pocket veto  
KYW Newsradio: City Hall stories to watch for in 2020 
KYW Newsradio: 2019 was deadliest year in Philadelphia in more than a decade; over 1,500 arrests made for gun-related offenses 
KYW Newsradio: City officials say tent city at 18th and Vine streets will be disappearing soon  
KYW Newsradio: Traffic congestion bill to be reintroduced in next City Council term
KYW Newsradio: Philadelphia Police Department looks back on a challenging year
KYW Newsradio: Former Pa. lawmaker, business leader says now is the time to fix Pennsylvania’s transportation network
KYW Newsradio: Deaths among homeless Philadelphians tripled in the last decade, officials say

SEPA
Delco Daily Times: Houlahan, Scanlon lead in town hall sessions with public
Delco Daily Times: Delco to study salaries, benefits of county employees 
Delco Daily Times: Stories of the Year: Democrats win control of Delco in historic rout
Delco Daily Times: Collingdale’s new mayor owes back taxes
Daily Local News: Battle of Mariner East pipeline rages into 2020
Daily Local News: Swearing-in ceremonies set in Chesco
Daily Local News: YEAR IN REVIEW: Deb Ryan elected Chester County District Attorney
Daily Local News: YEAR IN REVIEW: Dispute between Chesco controller and sheriff continues
Daily Local News: YEAR IN REVIEW: Democrats take control in Chester County
Daily Local News: YEAR IN REVIEW: A time of uncertainty for Sikorsky employees as company announces, reverses decision to close
KYW Newsradio: Neshaminy School Board votes to appeal nickname ruling
Pottstown Mercury: New Year will bring tougher DUI laws in Pa., local lawmaker says
Bucks Local News: Governor announces $50K facade improvement grants for Bristol Borough and Quakertown

Pittsburgh 
KDKA: Is Democratic Candidate Michael Bloomberg Courting Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto’s Support?
KDKA: Local Congressman Says 2020 Presidential Election Could Come Down To Western Pennsylvania
WESA: County Republicans Hope To Expand Ballot In 2020
WESA: Casey Is Ready For ‘Big, Rough Fight’ On Health Care In 2020
WESA: Harris Has Advice For Incoming Councilor
WESA: Hallam Predicts New Members Will Cause ‘Culture Shock’ On Allegheny County Council  
Post-Gazette: Rep. Reschenthaler predicts GOP will win back the House in 2020 
Post-Gazette: Darlene Harris leaving City Council with a roar 
Post-Gazette: ‘A method to her madness’: City council says farewell to Darlene Harris 
Post-Gazette: Another $20.20 to win in 2020? Campaigns push year-end goals in flurry of email fundraisers 
Post-Gazette: Remains of Pittsburgh man killed in Korean War accounted for 
Post-Gazette: Census bureau raises hourly pay to attract applicants in Pittsburgh area 
Post-Gazette: Karen Kane named managing editor of the Post-Gazette
Tribune Review: State rep Bob Brooks files for reelection in House’s 54th District
Tribune Review: Lawmakers want answers about future of Avonmore’s Akers plant
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh homicides hit lowest in 20 years
PLSReporter: Top 5 moments of 2019: Pittsburgh
City Paper: Pittsburgh’s People of the Year: Politics 
City Paper: North Side state Rep. candidate Emily Kinkead gets boost from progressive elected officials Bethany Hallam and Liv Bennett 
City Paper: Sen. Pat Toomey criticized for blocking paid family leave for 100K federal employees

SWPA 
Observer-Reporter: Once a booming industry, natural gas is in midst of a bust
Observer-Reporter: State awards $5.8 million in Youth Reentry grants
Beaver County Times: Beaver County swears in new row officers
Beaver County Times: Beaver County’s Tocci, Korol and Manning sworn into office
Beaver County Times: 2019 Year in Review: Beaver County experiences good times, bad times — some under glare of national spotlight
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Somerset County officials take oaths
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: ‘Evolution’ brings name change to Vision 2025
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: What they said: Leaders confident about future of region
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Political change, theater rebirth: Looking back at region’s top stories of 2019
Altoona Mirror: Incumbents’ defeat, railroad job losses stand out in 2019 
Altoona Mirror: Tomassetti, Beam wrap up service to county 

NEPA
The Times Leader: Final Luzerne County 2020 budget released
The Times Leader: Rep. Cartwright announces over $1M in HHS funds to Rural Health Corp. of NEPA
The Times Leader: Lower than average homicide rate in 2019
The Times Leader: Vough sworn in as Luzerne County president judge; other judges take oaths
The Times Leader: Wilkes-Barre Mayor George defends use of city car for personal use

South Central 
Patriot News: Pa. Rep. Mark Keller announces he will not seek re-election to an eighth term
Patriot News: Pa. GOP lawmakers call for reforms to make state spending practices more transparent
Patriot News: ‘Mean tweets’ bring so much enjoyment to Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman that they had to share
Patriot News: ‘We’ve got a house-full today:’ Crowd packs courtroom as new Cumberland County officials take oaths
Patriot News: New laws for a new year: Sunday hunting, voting by mail, tobacco 21, a state amphibian and more
Patriot News: 20 (plus one) for 2020: Pennsylvanians worth watching in the year ahead
Carlisle Sentinel: Bill Tracker: Changing ‘good Samaritan’ protections for people who repeatedly overdose
AP: Final Pennsylvania county OKs new paper-trail voting system
York Dispatch: York County’s new elected officials share goals for first year in office
LNP | LancasterOnline: New year, new laws. Here’s what to watch out for in 2020
LNP | LancasterOnline: 2020 Lancaster County outlook: Here are some trends, stories to keep an eye on in the new year

Lehigh Valley      
Morning Call: Fred Rooney, former Lehigh Valley congressman, dies at 94
Morning Call: Repeal of Obamacare medical device tax welcomed by Lehigh Valley manufacturers
Morning Call: Despite obstacles, lawmaker ‘not going to stop’ until child sex abuse survivors get chance to sue Pennsylvania Catholic dioceses
Morning Call: How Pennsylvanians vote, when they hunt among 2019 changes that will affect us in 2020
Morning Call: Will the Lehigh Valley become a hip hub in the next decade? Business leaders predict that and more for the region.
Morning Call: Who’s paying the bills? This Pennsylvania town made it through 2019 without a functioning local government
Morning Call: Lehigh Valley stories of the decade: A city rises, a mayor falls, a growing region knows hope and heartbreak 
Reading Eagle: Stories to look for in 2020 that will affect Berks County
Reading Eagle: Berks County lawmakers applaud $234,266 grant to revitalize Reading park
Reading Eagle: Reading City Council reintroduces ordinances to help city development
Express Times: The 20 biggest local news stories covered by lehighvalleylive.com in 2019

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: 12 years of Campana: Republican mayor’s tenure ends
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: City Council will meet to address veto
Centre Daily Times: Why retirement won’t stop District Judge Carmine Prestia Jr. from serving State College
Erie Times-News: Loll’s long Erie County Council career winds to close

Opinion  
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Saving lives: Allegheny County Jail provides naloxone kits to discharged inmates
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Protecting privacy: Facebook refuses to provide ‘back door’ access
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Let states decide on pot: Feds should not interfere on marijuana reform
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Protecting the pastime: MLB should reconsider consolidating minor leagues
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Privacy concerns: Congress must insist on protections
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Protect students: Congress should enter the fight on hazing
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Adhere to the Affordable Care Act
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Fix the root of the problem
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Leaving a trace: Shapiro is smart to get out ahead of ‘ghost guns’
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Shut it down
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Spending spree: Federal debts hits $23 trillion
Inquirer Editorial Board: 2020 Philadelphia is way ahead of 2010 Philadelphia, but still behind the rest of the nation
Inquirer Editorial Board: Will Commissioner Danielle Outlaw bring the radical change that Philadelphia Police needs? Fingers crossed.
Inquirer Editorial Board: Round up the real redlining culprits in Philadelphia’s ills
Inquirer Editorial Board: Lifting up Philly’s struggling citizens must be a priority in the year ahead
Inquirer Editorial Board: In dark days for democracy, it is up to all of us to bring in the light
Inquirer Editorial Board: For Philly’s Christmas Eve, a feast of wishes
Inquirer Editorial Board: Philadelphia’s high school athletes should be hungry only for a win 
Inquirer Staff: Before making your New Year’s resolutions, consider: Is advice useful or an empty cottage industry?
John Fetterman: Pa. Board of Pardons missed a chance to show mercy to inmates who deserve to be released 
Fred Keller: The impeachment paradox
Mike Jones: Criminal justice reform: the right thing to do
Mayor Ray O’Connell: Allentown will focus on safety and Center City construction in 2020
John Baer: Five things keeping Pa. politics hot in 2020 
Salena Zito: The Town That Wouldn’t Be Passed by
John L. Micek: How every Pa. Cong. District would fare if the ACA is overturned | Monday Morning Coffee
Marc Scaringi: The Impeachment is a sham
Solomon Jones: For black folks, impeachment doesn’t mean much 
Charlie Gerow: What’s naughty and nice this Christmas
Simon F. Haeder: Undoing Obamacare would do more than just hurt Americans’ health
Paul Muschick: Taxpayers will miss the last Republican on Allentown school board 
Susanna Lachs Adler: Another anti-Semitic tragedy in New York reminds us of need to resist hatred 
Fletcher McClellan: The one lesson from Democratic politics in 2019? No one knows what will happen in 2020
Will Bunch: Why the most memorable headline on Impeachment Day came from 9,864 miles away 
Laura Fredricks and Randy LoBasso: Society Hill bike lanes raise questions about whether the Kenney administration really supports Vision Zero 
Rob Tornoe: Political cartoon: Depressing Philly gun stat to ring in the New Year
Michael Forman: As anti-Semitism rises, Philadelphia must find new ways to promote community and civility 
JD Mullane: 2020 to be Trumpy new year
David M. Shribman: A changing population in New Hampshire
Dan Simpson: The broken Middle East
Helen Ubiñas: They were paralyzed and alone. Here’s what’s happened since they started a gunshot survivor group. 
Christine Flowers: Progressives who love Christianity Today’s Trump-bashing editorial need to take a long look in the mirror 
Lucas Isakowitz: How the PES refinery shutdown is a good opportunity for Philly 
Albert Eisenberg: As 2020 presidential primaries approach, why are we still putting so much stock in Iowa and New Hampshire? 
Mark Zandi: Will the U.S. economy lift the working class in the next decade? Depends on your 2020 vote. 
Antony Davies and James R. Harrigan: Public education’s problems won’t be fixed with more funding 
Katie Lockwood: As a pediatrician, my advice for parents worried about Philly’s asbestos problem 
Jonathan Zimmerman: Republican death threats are undermining our democracy 
Jamail Khan: U.S. should strengthen bilingual education 
Christian DuComb: Mummers reflects our racist past — and may overcome it 
Benjamin Winkler: How To Fix The PES Refinery Mess
Trudy Rubin: At Christmas, as the White House and the world reject refugees, here’s how to help 
Trudy Rubin: Bob Dylan would understand Trump foreign policy in 2019 
Utsha Khatri, Shoshana Aronowitz and Eugenia South: The opioid crisis shows why racism in health care is always harmful, never ‘protective’
Signe Wilkinson: Political cartoons: From impeachment to potholes, Signe Wilkinson’s favorites from 2019
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Merry un-divided Christmas Tree
Jenice Armstrong: Turned off by ‘wench’ and Mummers racial baggage, he decided to hang up his golden slippers 
Robin Gorneau: ‘I was shot at point blank range and left for dead’ | Perspective
Christine Flowers: Don’t force your sons to see ‘Little Women’ 
Will Bunch: Baghdad, Australia on fire after U.S. sleepwalks through the 2010s. Wake up! It’s the 2020s 
Joseph Otis Minott: Say No To Methane
John N. Mitchell: As 2019 winds down, a few thoughts on beauty queens, Black QBs and Wakanda 
Joseph N. DiStefano: Under Trump, science isn’t dead. Feds’ new focus includes AI, quantum computing.
John A. Tures: What to do about those modern Scrooges who don’t want to pay their fair share for public schools?
Heather Servaty-Seib: The holidays remind us that grief cannot be wished away
Daryl Davies, Joshua Silva and Terry David Church: Your New Year’s Eve hangover — explained in advance
Jelena Kecmanovic: 7 science-based strategies to boost your willpower and succeed with your New Year’s resolutions