The special election date is set for HD-114 & HD-190, while the PA Delegation casted their vote for Speaker. Here is the Playbook.

Special Election Dates Set For HD-114 & HD-190: The elections to replace both seats previously occupied by Democrats will be March 12.

HD114: Mike Conigliaro Announces Bid for GOP Nomination: The former sportscaster who worked alongside the late state Rep. Sid Michaels Kavulich, is the second Republican announcing intentions to seek the seat.

PA Delegation Falls in Line for Speaker Vote, Minus Lamb and Perry: Lamb was the only Democrat to cast a vote for Kennedy, while Perry was just one of five Republicans to vote for Jordan as Speaker.

Harrisburg & DC
Morning Call: How Pennsylvania’s members of Congress voted on the new House speaker
AP: AP Exclusive: Big jump in US Catholic dioceses naming names
AP: Pennsylvania drillers on hook for impact fees after ruling
AP: U.S. officials discuss Turkey’s request for return of cleric Fethullah Gulen from Pennsylvania
Beaver County Times: Pa. ranks 33rd on list of states affected by federal shutdown
City Paper: Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission increasing tolls and adding lanes, but does it need to?  
PLSReporter: A new Markosek in town
PLSReporter: Brown, Kavulich seats to be filled in special elections on March 12  
StateImpactPA: Following court ruling, drillers must pay millions in outstanding impact fees
StateImpactPA: New Jersey attorney general: Federal judge erred in PennEast Pipeline ruling
StateImpactPA: StateImpact Pennsylvania invites public to forum in Pittsburgh on the climate change challenge
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. Farm Show’s half-ton butter sculpture embraces the ‘power’ of agriculture
PA Post: Flu declared widespread in Pa.; death count doubles   
Harrisburg Patriot News: As good as his word, U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb was a ‘No’ vote on Nancy Pelosi, report | Friday Morning Coffee
Reading Eagle: Bob Casey Jr. sworn in amid talk of presidential bid

Philadelphia
Philly Clout: Bob Brady waves goodbye to Congress and wants to smoke some pot … if it is legal
Inquirer: Philadelphia’s opioid and gun crises are cutting life expectancy, report finds
Inquirer: East Passyunk reconsiders neighborhood logo after writer calls out ’casual racism’
Philadelphia Business Journal: City treasurer says nearly all of ‘missing’ $30M is now reconciled
KYW Newsradio: Former city aide accused of stealing thousands from the mayor’s fund waives hearing
KYW Newsradio: City Council President wants Chief Assessment Officer fired after reviewing audit
KYW Newsradio: American Catholic bishops gather for weeklong retreat to address clergy abuse crisis
KYW Newsradio: Police officer struck by vehicle, in critical condition
Philly Voice: 116th Congress swearing in: Streaming, important people, early actions
Philadelphia Magazine: Professional Troll Steve Bannon Is Coming to Philadelphia
PLSReporter: Philly Dems rally with nurses for “safe staffing”
Billy Penn: Gov. Wolf booked The Roots to play at his inauguration party

SEPA
Daily Local News: Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan makes history as she is sworn in
Daily Local News: Lawmakers introduce comprehensive pipeline legislative package
Daily Local News: Shusterman sworn in for first term as state representative
Delco Daily Times: White officer claims discrimination in Chester Police Department  
Delco Daily Times: Chester Water Authority eyes 10 percent rate hike
Delco Daily Times: Parking war erupts between Widener and Chester
Bucks County Courier Times: Fitzpatrick focuses on new term  

Pittsburgh
KDKA: Gun Rights Advocates Set To Demonstrate Outside City-County Building, Public Safety Officials Preparing
KDKA: Former Mayor Tom Murphy Receives Key To City
KDKA: Ellwood City Hospital Delays Paychecks Amid Financial Crisis
KDKA: Duquesne Mayor Claims She’s Being Threatened, Harassed
WESA: Peduto And Fitzgerald Counting On State And Federal Allies To Bring Progress To Pittsburgh
WESA: While Shutdown Sidelines 800,000 Federal Workers, Many Locals Have Yet To Feel Its Effects
PLSReporter: Pittsburgh funds body cameras for entire force, but FOP questions remain
Post-Gazette: Mayor Peduto disagrees with open carry supporters, but respects their right to protest
Post-Gazette: PNC Bank or Banksville? Peduto asks who would benefit from top cops’ private venture
Post-Gazette: PWSA said it exceeded state’s lead-line replacement goals in 2018
Tribune Review: Aspinwall residents will pay more in property taxes; surplus dedicated to infrastructure

SWPA
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Local legislators take oaths in Washington
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Community forum focuses on zero homicides in 2019
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Somerset County recorder of deeds to seek re-election
Beaver County Times: Dick Shaw, a titan in business and civic communities, dies at 91
Beaver County Times: County could continue outsourcing financial administrator
Observer-Reporter: Jobless rates drop slightly in Washington, Greene   
Observer-Reporter: Charleroi council updated on process for selling its municipal authority
Altoona Mirror: Penn State Altoona gets $39K grant  

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Government shutdown’s local impact could begin to spread
Citizens Voice: Meuser sworn into Congress
Citizens Voice: County taking applications for Marcellus Shale grants
Citizens Voice: Unemployment down in November as manufacturing, transportation add more jobs than usual
Citizens Voice: Wyoming County taxes to rise 1.5 mills
Citizens Voice: Crestwood superintendent could be out of job
Times-Tribune: Minority Scranton School Board members seek auditor’s oversight  
Times-Tribune: Commissioners’ reorganization meeting will be first held at former Globe store

South Central
LNP | LancasterOnline: On Politics: Straw polls are starting for 2019 local elections; Here’s how they work
LNP | LancasterOnline: On eve of retirement, Lancaster chief planner Paula Jackson looks back
LNP | LancasterOnline: The Roots will headline Gov. Tom Wolf’s inaugural celebration on Jan. 15
LNP | LancasterOnline: Rep. Lloyd Smucker opens new district offices in York County
Harrisburg Patriot News: As good as his word, U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb was a ‘No’ vote on Nancy Pelosi, report | Friday Morning Coffee  
Harrisburg Patriot News: Parents sue school district over decision to arm teachers, non-security staff  
York Dispatch: Federal lawsuit accuses York County Prison of racial discrimination, harassment  
York Dispatch: York City Council delays vote on business administrator candidate  
York Dispatch: With 10-year high in staff vacancies, York County’s child welfare agency counts on changes to turn tide
York Daily Record: Listed: These 18 people died by homicide in York County in 2018
Carlisle Sentinel: Proposed study could result in staffing cuts at Carlisle schools

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Dean Browning files paperwork to run for Congress in 2020
Morning Call: On Capitol Hill, Pennsylvania freshmen re-make delegation, tackle re-opening government
Morning Call: How Pennsylvania’s members of Congress voted on the new House speaker
Morning Call: New year, new Congress: Key storylines as Pennsylvania lawmakers take oaths
Morning Call: Five things about Pennsylvania’s major pension overhaul that reduces benefits, but not billions in debt
Morning Call: Martell not seeking reelection to Bethlehem City Council
Morning Call: Ex-Allentown chief’s resume questioned in Baltimore police commissioner process
Reading Eagle: Berks delegation sworn in to U.S. House
Reading Eagle: Berks County Elections Board picks new voting machines

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Council takes step toward expanding business district
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: County taxpayers cover two-thirds of county’s payroll
Centre Daily Times: 3 more former Beta Theta Pi brothers sentenced in Penn State hazing case
Erie Times-News: How to contact your Erie-area federal, state officials  
Erie Times-News: Loll, Fatica plan to leave Erie County Council at end of year
Erie Times-News: Erie County’s Sonney leads state House education panel
Erie Times-News: Fiore Leone to serve as Erie County Council chairman
Erie Times-News: Erie businesses invited to apply for city grant program

Opinion
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Failure to lead: Shutdowns reflect the lost art of compromise
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Lessons from Ethiopia: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed blazes a path of openness
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Sister Wendy’s gift: Her TV shows and books cast art in a new light
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: A debt now due: Battered Wells Fargo should show CEO the door
Inquirer Editorial Board: Keeping Philly clean is everyone’s job
Michael Smerconish: The Nixon letter I can’t forget
Paul Muschick: Government shutdown cost? Taxpayers will likely pay more than $1 billion to workers who sat at home
Tony Norman: The unkindest cut of all
Will Bunch: Many papers (like this one) urged Bill Clinton to resign. Trump? Meh. Is that a problem?
Ernest Owens: After Latest Mummers Controversy, Kenney Has to Pick a Side on Racism
George Parry: Mumia Abu-Jamal’s latest appeals victory sets a problematic precedent
Rev. Greg Holston: Stop and frisk still plagues Philadelphia
Tayyib Smith: The Mummers can’t be saved
Mariana Chilton: Why do we treat the poor so poorly?