Gov. Tom Wolf lays out a plan aimed at improving mental health services in the state. Here is the Playbook. 

January 2nd Playbook: 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.

Legislative Election Update: 

HD-86: State Rep. Mark Keller (R-Perry) announced that he will not be seeking reelection in 2020. Keller, who was first elected to the state House in 2004, won his most recent reelection bid in 2018 by 43 points over Democrat Karen Anderson. 

HD-86: Perry Stambaugh, longtime local GOP leader, announced his intentions to seek the Republican Party nomination for the state House seat in Perry County. Stambaugh’s announcement comes after state Rep. Mark Keller (R-Perry) made public his plans not to seek an eighth term. Keller won his most recent reelection bid in 2018 by 43 points over Democrat Karen Anderson. 

Harrisburg & DC   
PA Post: How Gov. Tom Wolf Used His Veto Power In 2019
AP: Governor outlines effort to bolster mental health services
AP: Butter sculpture with mascots unveiled at state’s Farm Show
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: New Wolf admin plan aims to reduce stigma of mental illness, encourage people to seek help
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. Farm Show 2020 Butter Sculpture unveiled: Flyers mascot Gritty gets his moment
WHYY Newsworks: Battleground 2020: How Pennsylvania turned red
WHYY Newsworks: New regulations are changing which drugs Medicaid covers in Pennsylvania. Here’s what that means for consumers.
PLSReporter: Wolf, agency heads announce wide-ranging effort to bolster mental health services
PLSReporter: 2019 In Memoriam: A look at those who died in the past year
Inquirer: Pennsylvania and New Jersey have new laws on the books in 2020
StateImpactPA: After string of smoggy days, Allegheny County wants polluters to reduce emissions during some weather events
Billy Penn: Butter Gritty exists because of lobbying by PA’s tattooed lieutenant governor
National Journal: Another Republican Set to Challenge Cartwright
National Journal: Seventeen States Could See Changes in Delegation Size After Census
National Journal: RSLC Raises $19M in 2019
Politico: We rated every race in play in 2020. This is who we think will win.

Philadelphia 
Philadelphia Tribune: Kenney mum on ‘additional penalties’ for Mummers who wore blackface
Philadelphia Tribune: City officials honor Rev. Alyn E. Waller with street renaming
Inquirer: Two Mummers who wore blackface ‘are never going to be allowed to march again’ for Froggy Carr Wench Brigade
Inquirer: Philly pays $4 million to settle lawsuit brought by man cleared of murder conviction in 2017
Inquirer: North Philadelphia elementary school to remain closed due to asbestos concerns
PLSReporter: Reactions to new Philadelphia Police Commissioner highlight new challenges
KYW Newsradio: ‘It shouldn’t be done’: Ex mummer calls for change after another instance of blackface
KYW Newsradio: Imprisoned South Sudanese activist pardoned by country’s president

SEPA
Bucks Courier Times: Outgoing Bucks County commissioners reflect on GOP leadership
Bucks Courier Times: Flat taxes, trash increase in Morrisville’s $7.1M budget
Daily Local News: New judges, officials take oath in Chester County
Daily Local News: Rep. Shusterman invites residents to participate in telephone town hall
Inquirer: Trump’s tweets are helping Croydon-based robot maker Macron Dynamics boom. Now it needs workers.
Delco Daily Times: Delaware County Council announces meeting dates

Pittsburgh 
Tribune Review: 3 new Allegheny County Council members sworn in, new president selected
Tribune Review: Rich Fitzgerald highlights goals for his final term as Allegheny County executive 
Post-Gazette: Fitzgerald, County Council enter new era of coexistence 
Post-Gazette: Report: 2019 homicides in Pittsburgh lowest in two decades; rest of county struggles to match
Post-Gazette: Region’s Narcan dose may be waning; more deaths feared as funds dip
KDKA: Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, 10 Council Members Sworn In
KDKA: KDKA Investigates: Homicides Continue To Trend Out Of Pittsburgh And Into Eastern Suburbs And Mon Valley
KDKA: Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Launches Efforts To Combat Weather-Related Pollution Events 
City Paper: Pittsburgh’s fracking industry cut more than 400 jobs in 2019, with more cuts likely on the way
City Paper: A week after a particularly bad stretch of air pollution, Allegheny County Health Dept. announces plans for handling next one
WESA: City Council To Have New Look In New Year 

SWPA 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Somerset County officials take oaths
Altoona Mirror: Tomassetti, Beam wrap up service to county 
Beaver County Times: Women’s march and rally Jan. 18 in New Castle
Observer-Reporter: Peters Township policies address parks, recreation facilities

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Area jobless numbers up again in November
The Times Leader: Griffith pushes for more decisions at first county council meeting 
The Times Leader: Final Luzerne County 2020 budget released 
Times-Tribune: Area jobless numbers up again in November 

South Central 
York Dispatch: Smucker, Perry join call for Supreme Court to ‘reconsider’ Roe v. Wade
York Dispatch: ‘A horrific time’: York City matches 10-year high for homicides
York Dispatch: York City Council to pick chiefs, Rivera takes seat
York Dispatch: State Rep. Hill-Evans running for reelection
Patriot News: Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf unveils mental health initiative that aims to ‘end the stigma’ 
Carlisle Sentinel: Paid in Full: Fundraising effort raises $23,000 to erase lunch debt in Carlisle Area School District
LNP | LancasterOnline: New year, new laws. Here’s what to watch out for in 2020

Lehigh Valley      
Reading Eagle: Stories to look for in 2020 that will affect Berks County
Express Times: Judge asked to break tie, fill vacancy on Lower Saucon Township council 
Morning Call: Allentown Finance Director Brent Hartzell leaving for job in Texas 

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Loll’s long Erie County Council career winds to close
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: 12 years of Campana: Republican mayor’s tenure ends

Opinion  
Inquirer Editorial Board: Robbing Philly of its wealth
Inquirer Editorial Board: After latest blackface incident, Mummers should break ties with racist groups
Inquirer Staff: Police departments are broken. Is it time to abolish them all together? | Pro/Con
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Coal pensions: Bill provides reassurance to miners
Malcolm Kenyatta: Pa. Supreme Court joins lower court and legislature in dismissing poor people’s needs 
Robert Loughery and Charley Martin: Thank the GOP for the quality of life in Bucks County
John L. Micek: This high-powered Philly lawyer is one of Joe Biden’s top Pa. fund-raisers, report | Thursday Morning Coffee
Solomon Jones: Stop using tax dollars from black Philadelphians to support the racist Mummers 
Ernest Owens: Stop Telling Black People the Mummers Parade Is Racist. Do Something About It.
Larry Platt: Jim Kenney’s Home Run
Will Bunch: Trump’s looming cruel war on homeless people is America’s next big human-rights crisis 
Christine Flowers: Pope Francis should channel Pope John Paul II’s forgiveness after Vatican slapping incident 
Elizabeth Grace Matthew: How Greta Gerwig’s ‘Little Women’ gets the book’s feminism wrong
John A. Tures: With measles cases rising around the world, facts, not conspiracy theories, are the strongest weapons