Four elected Democrats in southeast PA endorse Sen. Elizabeth Warren for president. Philadelphia GOP Chairman Mike Meehan resigns. Here is the Playbook.

2019 Election Ups & Downs: Democrats dominate in the southeast, Republicans rise in the west, and anti-establishment candidates win seats in Philadelphia and Scranton. All of that and more are in this week’s Ups and Downs.

Four SEPA Dems Back Warren: State Sen. Katie Muth (D-Montgomery), state Reps. Danielle Friel-Otten (D-Chester), Leanne Krueger (D-Delaware), and Philadelphia City Councilmember-elect Jamie Gauthier announced their endorsement for Warren on Friday.

Harrisburg & DC   
WITF: 7 solutions for Pennsylvania’s problems at the polls
WITF: Toomey takes preventative measures as Dems call for fracking bans
AP: Prisons chief’s comments prompt 2nd prison-closing hearing
AP: Toomey presses for a bulwark against a future fracking ban
AP: High risk dams pose upstream danger for many Pennsylvanians
AP: How ZIP codes determine the quality of a child’s education
Inquirer and The Caucus: Boss of Delaware County’s private jail accused of racism, abuse of power
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Republicans have a problem with suburban voters, Democrats have a problem with rural voters. Where does that leave Pa.’s balance of power?
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Wolf signs bill to let synagogues, mosques and churches apply for $5M in safety grants
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Taking charge of your HIV is critical. Here’s what to know and do about it
PLSReporter: Gov. Wolf, Sec. Levine speak on progress against opioids
PLSReporter: Right 2 Know Episode 30: Sit down with Rep. Frank Ryan
PLSReporter: Tweets of the Week – Election Day Special
PLSReporter: Did You Get The Memo? Syringe exchanges, leave for military spouses, and smoking prohibitions
Boston Globe: A Pennsylvania roofer loved Bill Clinton and voted for Obama. Here’s how Trump lured him from the Democrats 
Inquirer: Can radical listening transform prison culture? One Pennsylvania institution is finding out.
Inquirer: Penn says federal discrimination law doesn’t protect their trans workers, court papers show
WHYY Newsworks: Seven Pa. workers want their union dues back
NowThis News: ‘Help me understand why this is justifiable’ — From leaking roofs to lead-coated pipes to insulation covered with asbestos, here’s what it’s like inside some of Philadelphia’s crumbling public schools
StateImpactPA: Toomey takes preventative measures as Dems call for fracking bans
StateImpactPA: Activists take over meeting on Philly refinery cleanup, demand public involvement 
National Journal: Veterans Group Targets Fitzpatrick on Impeachment Vote
The Hill: Trump’s 2016 team sounds alarm as Democrats make gains

Philadelphia 
Inquirer: Philadelphia’s Republican Party is now in search of a new leader after chairman Mike Meehan resigns
Inquirer: Under indictment, Philly Councilman Bobby Henon faces two challengers for majority leader
Inquirer: Voter turnout surged across the Philadelphia region amid a ‘highly polarized electorate’
Inquirer: Philadelphia City Council is about to see some big changes 
Inquirer: ‘Break up’ Comcast, says congressman as cable giant fights Byron Allen over alleged discrimination
Inquirer: Can radical listening transform prison culture? One Pennsylvania institution is finding out.
Inquirer: Penn says federal discrimination law doesn’t protect their trans workers, court papers show
Inquirer: Bankrupt Philly refinery gets interest from 15 potential bidders; aims for a January auction 
Billy Penn: Philly GOP chairman resigns after crushing election loss in Philly
Billy Penn: A fix for long lines at the polls? PA’s getting mail-in voting for 2020
Billy Penn: This new tool can help you understand Philly’s gun violence crisis 
WHYY Newsworks: What a blue wave could mean for SEPTA’s board 
WHYY Newsworks: At Philly 2020 census summit, neighborhood leaders train to be ‘trusted messengers’
Philadelphia Magazine: Can This Charismatic Pastor Rally Philly Around Its Most Intractable Problem?
Philadelphia Citizen: A Momentous Year In Philly Politics
KYW Newsradio: ‘People felt like their votes didn’t count’: Why Kendra Brooks ran for City Council and what she looks forward to
KYW Newsradio: Opioid crisis ‘worse and worse’ in Kensington as Gov. Wolf touts state progress
KYW Newsradio: For the first time, Philly meets goal for contracting with minority- and women-owned businesses
KYW Newsradio: Marine Week kicks off with Corps flag raising at City Hall

SEPA
Daily Local News: DA-elect Deb Ryan on historic win: ‘Hasn’t sunk in yet’ 
Daily Local News: No longer a steel town: Investors, developers looking to Coatesville as revitalization underway
Delco Daily Times: Trailblazing Women; 1st African-American woman on Delco Council; 1st African-American woman on Delco bench; 1st Muslim judge in stateelection
Bucks Courier Times: Yardley official at center of racist Facebook posts won’t take council seat
Bucks Courier Times: Rep. Tom Murt lauded by Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation
Bucks Courier Times: Montgomery County DA sues JUUL
WHYY Newsworks: What a blue wave could mean for SEPTA’s board
Inquirer: Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood announces his retirement
Inquirer: School bus driver shortage squeezes districts around the region
KYW Newsradio: Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood is retiring
Bucks Local News: Yardley Borough councilman-elect Patrick McGovern apologizes for satirical FaceBook account; says he will not accept a seat on council in January
Pottstown Mercury: Faith-based grants bill signed into law
Pottstown Mercury: Sen. Katie Muth to hold Town Hall
Pottstown Mercury: Democratic Berks County recorder of deeds heartbroken in defeat
Pittsburgh 
Post-Gazette: To crack or not to crack: the regional climate change battle is joined
Post-Gazette: Chelsa Wagner feeling confident as trial set to begin in Detroit
Post-Gazette: Meaning of local results in south, west suburbs becomes center of rhetorical fight
Post-Gazette: Trump administration relaxes deadlines on power companies for coal ash cleanup
Post-Gazette: In McKeesport, poverty talk goes over the “benefits cliff” 
KDKA: Chelsa Wagner Confident She’ll Be Cleared After Altercation At Michigan Hotel
KDKA: US Steel Cuts Nonunion Jobs, Won’t Say How Many
Pittsburgh Business Times: Business leaders’ viewpoint: Southwestern Pennsylvania is open for business 
City Paper: Interactive Recycling Resource Map launched for Allegheny County

SWPA 
Observer-Reporter: No tax increase for Washington County property owners projected in 2020 budget
Observer-Reporter: City councilman charged with DUI partners on scholarship with treatment center
Observer-Reporter: Electric fracking is powering CNX’s natural gas operations in Greene
Beaver County Times: Kress ‘taking it easy right now’ after campaign for sheriff falls short again
Beaver County Times: Spanish TV news program visits Beaver County to check on politics, cracker plant
Tribune Review: Westmoreland election results show GOP strength, impact of straight party voting
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Under the Radar: Lawmakers look to unload lieutenant governor’s house
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Cambria County general election saw contention, debate over ‘facts’ 

NEPA
Times-Tribune: Cognetti faces major hurdles as Scranton mayor 
Times-Tribune: MONDAY UPDATE: City council wants to know deadline for employee acknowledgment of ethics rules
Citizens Voice: County council to mull requested PSP station tax break 
The Times Leader: Rep. Cartwright listens to concerns of local veterans at event
The Times Leader: Casey: More must be done to protect veterans from scam artists
The Times Leader: Some Luzerne County departments reporting energy savings in proposed budget
The Times Leader: Luzerne County seeking election director again
The Times Leader: Brown, Marconi to hear about Wilkes-Barre sewer proposal 
The Times Leader: Beyond the Byline: Color Luzerne County red, as in votes 
The Times Leader: Swoyersville mayor’s food drive nets 3,000 cans for needy

South Central 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Expanded PA Sunday hunting heads for the home stretch – but not in time for 2019
York Dispatch: York County backpedals, opens election confab
York Dispatch: Secret York County election meeting faces legal questions
York Daily Record: York County will recount every ballot cast in election
York Daily Record: York County voting machine flaws expose danger 

Lehigh Valley      
Reading Eagle: Reading Mayor-elect Eddie Moran announces transition team
Reading Eagle: Mary Kozak says she’s ready to lead as Berks County recorder of deeds
Reading Eagle: Berks County recorder of deeds heartbroken in defeat, says opponent ‘has no knowledge of what the position entails’
Reading Eagle: Plea agreements key to Berks court system; without the deals, justice would be overwhelmed
Morning Call: Election Day: Questions, answers on absentee ballots, voting receipts in Lehigh County and more on privacy
Morning Call: Lehigh County voters say their ballots weren’t secret, despite what state constitution guarantees.
Morning Call: Allentown asked to commit 1% of budget to community violence prevention programs 
Morning Call: Bethlehem budget: No tax hike, but property owners may still pay more
Express Times: Bethlehem pitching another no tax increase budget, but a new fee is coming 

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Council to form ad-hoc committee on City Hall 
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Federal funding for project approved for 46th year 
Erie Times-News: Foust maintains lead in Erie County Controller’s race 

Opinion  
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Fear and frustration: Fuel for solving the Ewing sarcoma mystery
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Fair trade practices: Hong Kong, U.S. need to come to an agreement
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Larimer’s turnaround: A profitable partnership shows progress
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Protecting animals: Abuse, torture of pets needs to be a felony
York Dispatch Editorial Board: Pa. should repeal ‘stand your ground’ law
Inquirer Editorial Board: Pa. college should look to N.J. on student mental health services
Inquirer Editorial Board: More than blue and red on the region’s political map
Inquirer Staff: Two experts debate: Is Chester County’s future shelter the right place for migrant kids?  
Ed Rendell and Tom Ridge: State and local leaders need more power over infrastructure. Congress can make it happen.
Joe Sestak: Why we need defense reform
Salena Zito: Trump Could Lose PA in 2020 if Dems Hone Their Message
John L. Micek: ‘I don’t think anything’s gone forever’: How Gov. Tom Wolf thinks Dems can regain SWPA | Friday Morning Coffee
Roxanne Patel Shepelavy: Ideas We Should Steal Revisited: Ranked-Choice Voting
Christine Flowers: Delco voters flip a giant blue finger to Trump
Jenice Armstrong: Media outlets could do a lot better job of covering gun violence, The Inquirer included 
JD Mullane: The collapse of Harry Fawkes’ big red Republican machine
Keith C. Burris: Imagine real action on a real issue
Brian O’Neill: Divvying up new tax money won’t be a walk in the park
Kenneth Gormley: Opportunity Zones only work if everyone gets the same shot an opportunity
Helen Ubiñas: Another child in Philly has been shot, so now what? I called our political leaders to ask 
John N. Mitchell: Philly’s first Black woman police chief is right under our noses 
Karen Kane: Congrats, Mr. District Attorney!
Chris Kelly: Party Crasher
Dawn Holden Woods: Food stamps literally keep families alive in Philly. Help us stop the Trump benefit cuts
Joseph N. DiStefano: Philly elected more worker advocates. But, where are the jobs?
Trudy Rubin: 20 years in, Temple’s program in China teaches ‘rule of law’ amid tensions between Beijing and Washington 
Ben Waxman: Searching For The Krasner Backlash 
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Children in crossfire in Mexico and U.S.
Alfred Lubrano: On Veterans Day, how does a son who’s never served measure up to his warrior father? | Perspective
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Michael Bloomberg’s green credentials
Tim Hartman: How to tell you’ve been living in Pa. for too long | Editorial Cartoon
Christine Flowers: Catholic priest had every right to deny Joe Biden communion over abortion views 
Dava Guerin: For veterans, a sense of community can make all the difference 
Will Bunch: OK Bloomberg: What panicked billionaires don’t get about a nation that made them so rich 
Kiersten A. Adams: Do Something: Be A Trans Ally
Gene Therapy: Politically speaking, Trump picked the wrong football game Saturday
Ruth Ann Dailey: The enlightened capitalism of Paint Bank, Va.
Rahm Emanuel: Dear Democrats: Here’s How Not to Blow It
Abraham Gutman: How do we end the cycle of childhood trauma passed from parents to kids? | Brain Trust