Gov. Tom Wolf announces his support for marijuana legalization, while the special election date is announced for the state’s 48th Senate District. Here is the Playbook. 

SD48: Special Election Set for January 14: The winner of the race will fill the seat vacated by state Sen. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon).

Capitolwire: Muth Grabs Progressive Mantle at PA Press Club: The Democratic state Senator referred to the state Capitol as the “Dome of Corruption” and said that she currently doesn’t have the votes to accomplish many changes she’d like to see there, according to the Capitolwire.

Casey, Majority of PA Congressional Dems Support Impeachment Proceedings: Sen. Bob Casey and a majority of Pennsylvania’s Democratic Congressional delegation support impeachment proceedings for President Donald Trump.

Wolf Announces Support For Marijuana Legalization: Gov. Tom Wolf said he supports legalization of recreational marijuana and is calling on the General Assembly to “seriously debate and consider” it.

Harrisburg & DC   
Patriot News: Lt. Gov. Fetterman sets special election date to fill former Sen. Mike Folmer’s seat
Patriot News: Matthew Brouillette runs for Pa. Senate, aims to fill seat vacated by Mike Folmer
Patriot News: Gun control advocates say Pa. legislator’s comments are ‘fighting words, not a final declaration’
Patriot News: Pennsylvania’s senators are split on Trump impeachment question
Patriot News: Gov. Tom Wolf calls for legalizing recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania
Patriot News: Pa. Senate passes bill raising minimum age for buying tobacco and vaping products to 21
AP: Pennsylvania governor now supports legalizing marijuana 
AP: Jan. election set to replace arrested lawmaker who resigned 
AP: Pennsylvania governor backs impeachment inquiry into Trump 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Marijuana legalization support, overall, by county 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Marijuana opinions at Fetterman listening stops, by county 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Wolf: Pennsylvania is ready for legal recreational marijuana 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: MEDICAL MARIJUANA | Would legalizing recreational marijuana be good for Pa.’s fledgling medical pot program?
WITF: Key Pa. House committee abruptly bars door to new gun control legislation 
WITF: Senate bill could portend the end of the Lieutenant Governor’s mansion at Fort Indiantown Gap 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Gov. Tom Wolf backs marijuana legalization, says Legislature should ‘seriously debate’ the issue 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: ‘It is now time for Congress to act’: U.S. Sen. Bob Casey calls for President Trump’s impeachment 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Special election for former Sen. Mike Folmer’s seat to be held Jan. 14 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Immigrant advocate to Wolf: Veto bill that expands E-Verify to all Pa. construction workers 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Veteran conservative activist Matt Brouillette says he’s running for Folmer’s state Senate seat
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa.’s Casey and Toomey vote with Senate to snub Trump with another resolution to block wall funding
KYW Newsradio: Pa. Senate approves bill to raise legal age to 21 for nicotine, vaping products
Beaver County Times: Sen. Casey backs impeaching Trump, Toomey opposes it
PLSReporter: Wolf says he supports marijuana legalization following release of listening tour report
PLSReporter: With push to bring back mandatory minimums gaining traction, Democrats are divided on policy’s merit 
PLSReporter: House passes state repealer bill after key Republicans vote yes 
PLSReporter: Senate hearings reveal need for more behavioral health services; gun control legislation still in question
PLSReporter: VIDEO: 2019 Capitol All-Star Game! 
Inquirer: Pa. GOP Sen. Pat Toomey: Trump’s phone call with Ukraine leader does not ‘rise to the level of an impeachable offense.’
Inquirer: Document: Read memo of Trump’s call with Ukrainian president
StateImpactPA: Sunoco still needs DEP approvals to restart pipeline work at Lisa Drive, Chester County 
StateImpactPA: Three Pittsburgh institutions share how they’re working to limit their contributions to climate change 
Washington Post: Pa., 16 other states sue Trump administration over Endangered Species Act rules
WHYY Newsworks: Trump administration pauses refugee program in October, delaying dozens of arrivals to Pa.
Billy Penn: PA doesn’t mandate driver’s ed, despite studies showing it reduces injuries

Philadelphia 
KYW Newsradio: Philly city controller approves payment for new voting machines but criticizes purchase process
KYW Newsradio: Sending unwanted naked pictures in Pennsylvania could become illegal 
KYW Newsradio: Pa. Department of Health distributes free naloxone to assist in opioid treatment
Billy Penn: Sending unsolicited ‘dick pics’ could become a crime in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Business Journal: Pa. Supreme Court picks veteran Philadelphia appellate litigator as new counsel
Inquirer: Philly voting machine vendor engaged in years-long effort to win contract, city watchdog’s investigation finds 
Inquirer: More Philly unions eye lawsuits over flaws in the city’s OnePhilly payroll system
Inquirer: Philadelphia may soon require all charter schools, youth organizations to accommodate trans kids 
Inquirer: Simon Gratz High School athletes to address recent gun violence at post-practice event Wednesday afternoon  
Inquirer: How one Philly high school reveals the district’s dire attendance problems 
Philadelphia Magazine: The Philadelphia Parking Authority Is Cutting Car Owners a Break. For Once.
WHYY Newsworks: As clearance rate improves, families protest Philly’s unsolved murders
PLSReporter: City Controller releases report on voting machines procurement process
Philadelphia Tribune: Local conference aims to educate the community about opportunities in cannabis market

SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Rep. Stephens’ firearm red flag bill blocked in committee 
Bucks County Courier Times: Pa. Lt. Gov: Marijuana legalization has ‘nearly unanimous’ support 
Pottstown Mercury: Case against Boyertown transgender facilities policy dropped
Delco Daily Times: County council moves to disband prison board
Daily Local News: West Chester mayor awards keys to the city to local heroes
Daily Local News: League of Women Voters hosting event to meet elected officials
Daily Local News: Coatesville police receive DA’s commendation for Operation Silent Night 

Pittsburgh  
WESA: Beto O’Rourke Blasts Trump On Impeachment, Gun Violence In Pittsburgh Speech
City Paper: Progressive candidate Jessica Benham is challenging Pittsburgh’s most conservative Democrat 
City Paper: Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf now supports recreational marijuana for adult use
Post-Gazette: Beto O’Rourke links violence to Trump’s rhetoric and policies in fiery Schenley Plaza speech 
Post-Gazette: Council roundup: City wants to improve diversity among firefighters, will ask state for $1.8 million for Grandview fixes 
Post-Gazette: Pa. Sen. Bob Casey supports House move to begin impeachment inquiry
Tribune Review: Beto O’Rourke pushes gun control, health care, immigration reform in Pittsburgh 
Tribune Review: Allegheny County Board of Elections chooses voting system vendor 
PLSReporter: Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb laments lack of transparency in city’s property sales process
KDKA: Presidential Candidate Beto O’Rourke Stumps At Pitt, While Drawing Comparisons Between El Paso And Pittsburgh
KDKA: Special Unit Fighting Opioid Crisis In Pittsburgh Says It’s Making Progress
KDKA: District Attorney Stephen Zappala Disagrees Gas Station Owners And Employee Should Face Tougher Charges

SWPA 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Marijuana legalization support, overall, by county 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Marijuana opinions at Fetterman listening stops, by county 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Wolf: Pennsylvania is ready for legal recreational marijuana 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: MEDICAL MARIJUANA | Would legalizing recreational marijuana be good for Pa.’s fledgling medical pot program?
Beaver County Times: Senate committee OKs Rep. Bernstine’s bill repealing property tax law
Beaver County Times: Gov. Wolf, Lt. Gov. Fetterman urge legalization of marijuana in Pennsylvania 
Beaver County Times: Report: Pennsylvania’s infrastructure fifth-worst in U.S. 

NEPA
Times-Tribune: Lawyers challenge Dem try to limit mayor candidates
Times-Tribune: Pennsylvania governor now supports legalizing marijuana
Times-Tribune: Wolf names Scranton medical college dean Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania 
Citizens Voice: Local lawmakers react to impeachment inquiry
Citizens Voice: White Haven Center receives support at committee hearing

South Central 
York Dispatch: At least four Republicans, several Dems eyeing run for Folmer’s Senate seat 
York Dispatch: Smucker, Perry display party’s fractured response to impeachment inquiry
Patriot News: Lt. Gov. Fetterman sets special election date to fill former Sen. Mike Folmer’s seat
Patriot News: Matthew Brouillette runs for Pa. Senate, aims to fill seat vacated by Mike Folmer
Patriot News: Gun control advocates say Pa. legislator’s comments are ‘fighting words, not a final declaration’
Patriot News: Pennsylvania’s senators are split on Trump impeachment question
Patriot News: Gov. Tom Wolf calls for legalizing recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania
Patriot News: Pa. Senate passes bill raising minimum age for buying tobacco and vaping products to 21
LNP | LancasterOnline: Smucker campaign splits fundraising dollars with Trump in wake of impeachment inquiry
LNP | LancasterOnline: Several Lancaster County school districts discovered toxic lead in their drinking water in 2018-19, test results show

Lehigh Valley     
Reading Eagle: Case seeking to overturn Boyertown School District’s transgender policy has been dropped 
Reading Eagle: Special election set to replace State Sen. Mike Folmer 
Reading Eagle: Charles M. ‘Chuck’ Gallagher, longtime Reading Eagle editor, 1942-2019
Express Times: He helped take down Nixon. Here’s what Carl Bernstein said about Trump in Bethlehem visit. 
Morning Call: Bob Casey joins calls for impeachment. Pat Toomey says Trump’s call was ‘inappropriate’ but not impeachable. 
Morning Call: Gun violence and Second Amendment rights again at center stage in Harrisburg 

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Erie’s federal legislators react to impeachment inquiry 
Erie Times-News: O’Rourke expected to talk economy, guns in Erie visit

Opinion  
John L. Micek: More than 300K Pa. workers left behind by Trump’s overtime rule, think-tank says | Wednesday Morning Coffee
Fletcher McClellan and Janel Myers: Do social movements lose their effectiveness as they multiply?
Erica Palan: A Washington Post op-ed ignited Trump’s impeachment inquiry. Here’s why newspapers run them.
Chris Wlaschin: How your vote will get cast and counted on Philly’s new voting machines 
Bruce Ledewitz: Yes, we still need the Constitution
John N. Mitchell: A booming Philly still can’t hide the city’s homelessness problem 
Eszter Kutas and Randi Boyette: Our children are growing up in a renaissance of bigotry 
Helen Ubiñas: In a city with a staggering number of unsolved murders, this grieving mother is leading a protest 
Erica Palan and Abraham Gutman: Political cartoon roundup: Trump impeachment inquiry 
Will Bunch: Congress, cancel your recess! Speed up Trump’s impeachment. The stakes are too high
Jenice Armstrong: Whatever happened to the old code of the street that you don’t shoot women? 
Ernest Owens: When It Comes to City Contracts in Philly, White Privilege Wins
Trudy Rubin: Trump’s Ukraine scandal as seen from Kiev: It isn’t pretty