Sean Parnell suspends his U.S. Senate campaign. Here is the Playbook. 

News  

‘Parnell drops out of Senate race following ruling that estranged wife gets legal custody of children’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “hours after a Butler County family court judge awarded sole legal custody of his three children to his estranged wife, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sean Parnell said he “can’t continue” with his campaign — noting that two of the judge’s main factors in the custody decision revolved around his statewide bid and availability.”

‘Activist announces independent run against 20-term western Pa. Democratic lawmaker’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “Zarah Livingston, 27, of Penn Hills, Allegheny County, told the Capital-Star on Monday that she plans to challenge state Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Allegheny, for a seat in Pittsburgh’s eastern suburbs.”

‘Addressing Pa.’s talent gap requires bigger higher education investment, state university leader says’: PennLive reports that “Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education Chancellor Dan Greenstein spoke to the Pennsylvania Press Club on Monday about the state’s talent gap and how a bigger investment in higher education could help address it.”

‘Controversial Pa. Republican Scott Perry is about to lead Congress’ most far-right faction’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “U.S. Rep. Scott Perry — who led the House charge to throw out Pennsylvania’s votes in the 2020 presidential race — has been elected as the new chairman of the Freedom Caucus, the hard-right group that for years has often steered GOP politics in the House by defying compromise and clashing with party leaders.”

‘Some states know a lot about vaccinated people who have gotten COVID-19. Pennsylvania doesn’t.’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Pennsylvania can’t say how old they were, whether they were immunocompromised, how long it had been since they were vaccinated, or which vaccine they got.”

‘With energy prices high, Pennsylvanians urged to review utility options’: StateImpactPA reports that “energy prices are hitting multi-year highs as we enter a winter that analysts expect will be slightly colder than last year.”

‘Scavo sentenced to 60 days in prison’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Frank Scavo was sentenced to 60 days in prison Monday for his role in the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., his attorney confirmed.”

‘Largest coal-fired power plants in Pa. to close after new wastewater rule’: The Associated Press reports that “dozens of plants nationwide plan to stop burning coal this decade to comply with more stringent federal wastewater guidelines, according to state regulatory filings, as the industry continues moving away from the planet-warming fossil fuel to make electricity.”

‘Pittsburgh City Council introduces proposal to ban single-use plastic bags’: WESA reports that “Pittsburgh could soon join a growing list of cities banning single-use plastic bags. City Councilor Erika Strassburger introduced a bill Monday that would mostly prohibit businesses from providing customers with plastic bags to hold their groceries and other products.”

‘Eastwick residents want Biden’s infrastructure plan to fund Philly’s first climate migration’: WHYY reports that “the infrastructure bill President Joe Biden signed into law last week dramatically increases funding for FEMA grant programs that pay for projects that reduce flood risk — including buying homes in areas like Philadelphia’s flood-prone Eastwick neighborhood.”

‘Unconfirmed video of ‘whistleblower’ leads to Delaware County election investigation’: KYW Newsradio reports that “the Delaware County District Attorney’s office is looking into the November election after a series of videos popped up online.”

‘City leaders join Wyndham hotel workers’ picket line for ‘Strikesgiving’’: PhillyVoice reports that “in what organized workers at the Wyndham Historic District hotel are calling “Strikesgiving,” over a dozen hospitality workers picketed outside the Old City hotel on Sunday, continuing an ongoing fight for increased pay and better working conditions. State Senator Nikil Saval, who previously voiced support for Local 274, was joined on Sunday by City Council members Helen Gym, Kendra Brooks, and Isaiah Thomas.”

‘John Dougherty’s exit puts the business community ‘at a crossroads.’ Who will fill the void?’: The Philadelphia Business Journal reports that “with John Dougherty resigning his union post after holding sway for almost 30 years, there could be an opportunity for the Philadelphia business community.”

‘‘Extremely disturbing’: Philly approaches 500 people murdered in 2021’: WHYY reports that “with six weeks still left of 2021, Philadelphia is close to matching the highest number of homicides it’s ever recorded in a one year period. Philadelphia lost 500 people to homicides in 1990 and the city is just under that number as of Monday.”

‘In split vote, Chester County certifies election results’: The Daily Local News reports that “a divided Chester County Board of Elections voted on Monday to certify the results of the 2021 general election after more than two dozen people spoke out against doing so, saying that irregularities in the voting and tabulation system raised serious concerns about the integrity of the election.”

‘Allegheny County certifies November election results’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “Allegheny County’s elections board met Monday and certified the results of the Nov. 2 general election, putting the final stamp of approval on more than 307,000 votes.”

‘Montgomery County certifies nearly all of 2021 general election results’: Montgomery Media reports that “nearly all results from the 2021 general election were certified Monday by members of the Montgomery County Board of Elections. Numerous local and county races were on the Nov. 2 ballot, including councils, school boards and judgeships.”

‘Pittsburgh City Council passes ordinance to ‘tighten’ guidelines for controversial Parks Trust Fund’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “Pittsburgh City Council voted Monday to move forward with an ordinance to tighten some procedures for spending money collected through the recently created Pittsburgh Parks Trust Fund.”

‘Judge denies injunction request brought by jail guard, police unions over Allegheny County’s vaccine mandate’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “a federal judge on Monday rejected a preliminary injunction request by Allegheny County jail guards and police opposed to the county’s mandate to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or lose their jobs.”

‘With More Than 100 Homicides, Allegheny County On Pace For One Of Its Deadliest Years Ever’: KDKA reports that “with 106 homicides so far, Allegheny County is on pace for one of its deadliest years ever.”

‘Tax increase not expected in 2022 Lancaster County Government budget’: LNP | LancasterOnline reports that “Lancaster County’s real estate tax rate would remain at 2.911 mills under a proposed 2022 budget being presented to the county commissioners this week.”

‘Lehigh County’s vote count remains in limbo as judge considers legal challenge to mail-in ballots’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “Lehigh County’s vote count in the Nov. 2 election remains unofficial while a judge considers a legal challenge to mail-in ballots that could affect the outcome of a tight race between two candidates for county judge.”

‘Toomey visits Allentown Rescue Mission’: WFMZ reports that “Pennsylvania’s Sen. Pat Toomey stopped in Allentown to lend a helping hand to those in need. The Republican lawmaker visited the Allentown Rescue Mission on Monday. He donated several items to the nonprofit.”

‘Attorney General Shapiro visits Erie to speak with Erie County Office of Drug and Alcohol Abuse’: WJET reports that “Attorney General Josh Shapiro visited Erie on November 22nd and spoke with experts at the Erie County Office of Drug and Alcohol Abuse.”

‘Pa. on verge of 74% of adults fully vaccinated; hospitalizations rise again: daily update’: PennLive reports that “Pennsylvania on Monday reported 17,455 new COVID-19 infections from midnight Thursday through midnight Sunday.”

Opinion  
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Paul Muschick: Flying for Thanksgiving? You won’t like what could happen if you bring a gun through security at LVIA
John L. Micek: Rittenhouse verdict will ’embolden vigilantes,’ anti-gun violence group warns | Monday Coffee
Inquirer Editorial Board: In Kyle Rittenhouse’s acquittal, a lesson about laws that allow more guns to be carried in public 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: With guns, safety always must come first
Roy Wade Jr.: Fewer than 5% of kids aged 5-11 in Philly have gotten their first COVID shot. That’s not nearly enough.
Roxanne Patel Shepelavy: “We Have To Fix Listening” 
Jane Kim and Marta Dusko: For international workers, the COVID travel restrictions have been a nightmare 
Paula Marantz Cohen: Using COVID-19 as a moment to reboot our sense of empathy in civil discourse | Rebuilding Philly