The special election date for SD-37 is set, while Val DiGiorgio calls for a ‘new contract with America’ in an op-ed. Here is the Playbook.

January 4th Ups & Downs: A state Senator is seated after a residency dispute, a Mayor is being forced to vacate his office just one day after his term begins, and a controversy ensues between Philadelphia’s Mayor and City Council president after this year’s Mummers New Years Day Parade. All of the and more are in this week’s Ups and Downs.

Harrisburg & DC
WITF: New Pa. government oversight committee raises eyebrows
Post-Gazette: In Pa. delegation, shutdown draws pressure, spurs charges — but no sign of an end
AP: Wolf ’s inaugural celebration to feature music by The Roots
AP: Parents sue over district’s policy to arm teachers at school
AP: Illinois, Pennsylvania governors wager on wild-card game
AP: Hundreds temporarily lose natural gas service Pennsylvania
PLSReporter: Stack schedules Reschenthaler replacement election for April 2
PLSReporter: Tweets of the Week – January 1, 2019  
PLSReporter: 3 under 3!
Harrisburg Patriot News: Environmental issues in Pennsylvania just got more prominence; here’s why  
Harrisburg Patriot News: As shutdown drags into 3rd week, Pa. GOP boss calls for ‘new contract with America’ | Monday Morning Coffee
Harrisburg Patriot News: House Republicans name developer to help oversee Harrisburg’s finances
StateImpactPA: Chester County DA names former federal prosecutor to beef up pipeline probe
Morning Call: Pennsylvania’s federal workers feel financial effects of government funding impasse   

Philadelphia
Philadelphia Magazine: Jim Kenney Is the Most Ambitious Mayor Philly Has Ever Had. Why Doesn’t Anyone Know That?
Philadelphia Magazine: Audit Claims City Botched Latest Property Tax Assessments
Philadelphia Magazine: The Opioid Epidemic Is Slashing Philly’s Overall Life Expectancy
Inquirer: Two years in, what’s the state of Kenney’s soda-tax funded pre-K program?
WHYY Newsworks: Philly area Sudanese community protests in solidarity with demonstrators in Khartoum  
Philly Voice: Steve Bannon to visit Philly this month for World Affairs Council talk
KYW Newsradio: Protesters gather to defend MOVE shrine denouncing ‘W. Wilson Goode, Sr. Way’
KYW Newsradio: Philly expected to play key role in state’s plans for new hemp industry
KYW Newsradio: Youth organization helps clean Independence National Historical Park during shutdown
KYW Newsradio: Government shutdown not causing security problems at Philly International…yet
KYW Newsradio: Youths to pick up trash at shutdown-affected national parks, including Independence
PLSReporter: Philadelphia celebrates two years of pre-K

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Federal prosecutor joins team for pipeline investigation
Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks, Montco lawmakers to lead state House committees
Bucks County Courier Times: Pennsbury board puts ceiling on 2019-20 tax increase
Delco Daily Times: Group holds rally at courthouse to laud Scanlon joining Congress
Delco Daily Times: Scanlon settles into her new job in Washington
Daily Local News: Sappey makes history; says she will ‘hit ground running’

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Special election set for April 2 to fill Pa. Senate seat left vacant by Guy Reschenthaler
Post-Gazette: City officials don’t expect gun rally to cause major disruptions
Post-Gazette: Gun rights advocate has wrangled with a city before — and won  
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Public Schools optimistic about reducing student suspensions
Tribune Review: Stock market volatility belies strength of U.S. economy, experts say
Tribune Review: Brooks takes House seat as Murrysville police add first female officer
WESA: Peduto Sees Progress, But Urges Patience On OnePGH Initiative
KDKA: Congressman Conor Lamb Ties The Knot
KDKA: Thousands Of Students To Get Total Loan Forgiveness In New Settlement
KDKA: Pa. Superior Court Upholds Ruling In Western Psych Shooting Rampage
KDKA: Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese Set To Launch Compensation Fund, Considering Sale Of Some Properties

SWPA
Beaver County Times: Marshall appointed chairman of gaming committee
Observer-Reporter: Drug overdose deaths drop sharply in the region
Observer-Reporter: Lt. Gov. schedules special election for 37th District for Reschenthaler’s seat
Observer-Reporter: Nuclear power advocate asks commissioners for resolution of support
Observer-Reporter: Coroner plans to run for eighth term
Altoona Mirror: New GOP representatives seek to stop funding bill  
Altoona Mirror: Logan officer plans run for district judge
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Freshman rep Joyce forgoes pay during shutdown   
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Johnstown council members Stanton, Williams call for manager’s ouster over vacation

NEPA
Times-Tribune: Scavo throws hat in the ring for vacant 114th seat
The Times Leader: Latest Luzerne County government hirings, promotions reported
The Times Leader: Data: Local ‘underperforming’ students faring better than Pa. rate
Citizens Voice: So, you want to be a county council member?

South Central
Harrisburg Patriot News: As shutdown drags into 3rd week, Pa. GOP boss calls for ‘new contract with America’ | Monday Morning Coffee
Harrisburg Patriot News: House Republicans name developer to help oversee Harrisburg’s finances
Harrisburg Patriot News: PennLive Opinion Editor John Micek is leaving
Harrisburg Patriot News: Environmental issues in Pennsylvania just got more prominence; here’s why
Harrisburg Patriot News: Former teacher, municipal leader announces bid for commissioner seat
Carlisle Sentinel: Council considers changes to rental housing ordinance in Carlisle
York Dispatch: Redistricting: York County now has two congressmen — and neither has opened a local office
LNP | LancasterOnline: Lancaster Mayor Sorace’s work building senior city staff continues in 2019   

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: The Rundown: State Rep. Jim Cox the only committee chairman from Berks County
Reading Eagle: Reading Police Department pledges data-driven strategy to combat crime
Reading Eagle: Reading developer questions Mayor Wally Scott’s performance through billboards
Reading Eagle: Berks County Elections Board picks new voting machines
Reading Eagle: Former Exeter School Board member, township supervisor left legacy of service
Morning Call: Lehigh Valley teacher unions have dodged political blow from Janus decision
Morning Call: Tamaqua Area School families file lawsuit over district’s armed staff policy
Morning Call: Former Reading official sentenced to 18 months in bribery case with ties to Allentown pay-to-play probe
Morning Call: Emmaus taps retired health care executive for council seat
Morning Call: Longtime Easton controller seeks county controller spot
Express Times: Sen. Lisa Boscola closes Whitehall office, sets community hours  

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Elections chief: Erie could be voting on paper ballots in 2020
Erie Times-News: Roll Call: How local legislators voted on key issues last week
Erie Times-News: Races to watch across Erie County in 2019
Erie Times-News: 3 announce candidacy for Harborcreek supervisor
Erie Times-News: Erie legislator appointed committee’s Democratic chairman
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Budget, severance tax, opioid issues on lawmakers’ agendas
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: State grants to help neighboring county with work on streams
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Miller resigns from WASD; has option to return to force
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Clinton County eyes changes in salary board’s hiring, promotion procedures

Opinion
Val DiGiorgio: Republican Party needs a new contract with America
Inquirer Editorial Board: New ideas needed to attack Philadelphia’s relentless gun violence
PennLive Editorial Board: Pa’s new ‘clean slate’ law is an important step to reducing recidivism
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Read the policy: Court decides case without looking at the evidence
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: The new urban bullies: Tech companies need to learn public engagement
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Terror in Morocco: Travelers must be vigilant wherever they go  
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: An incredible breakthrough: Cocktail of germs may cure childhood leukemia
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Losing score: Study finds food safety fouls at sports venues
Colin McNickle: Here’s what a new poll tells us about Pa’s business climate and what government can do about it
Keith C. Burris: Promise keepers
David M. Shribman: New Hampshire prepares for 2020
Diana Nelson Jones: Civilians should share, not be spared, veterans’ grief
Fabiola Cineas: The Fact That a Black Mummer Played Jay-Z Isn’t Better. It’s Worse.
Ptah Gabrie: Soda tax is a convenient excuse for ShopRite closures
Darryl Williams and Rachel Valletta: We need to courageously confront climate change in 2019
Bill Keller: What would Benjamin Franklin think of today’s criminal justice?
Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno: Legalize marijuana to beat Pennsylvania’s opioid crisis
Abraham Gutman: For racial justice, legalized marijuana must be taxed correctly
Will Bunch: The crazy new evidence that Trump’s Russia problem is far worse than we all thought