The Senate passed the multi-modal, comprehensive transportation funding bill, McCord picked up more county endorsements, while Sens. Yudichak and Corman proposed reforms for PSU. We’re also on the look out for spring interns. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.

Senate Drives Transportation Bill Closer to Law: The Senate passed HB 1060 in a 43-7 vote, moving it back to the House for concurrence and then to Governor Corbett’s desk.

PoliticsPA Internship Opening: Spring 2014: The governor’s race, congressional contests and battles in Harrisburg and D.C. are going to keep PoliticsPA very busy this Spring. Want in?

McCord Picks Up County-Level Endorsements: McCord gathers county-level endorsements wholesale, picking up 9 commissioners and 5 county Democratic chairmen and women.

PA-13: Montco Commissioner Richards Backs Margolies: Montgomery County Commissioner Leslie Richards endorsed Marjorie Margolies’ campaign to take back her old seat in Congress.

Reader Poll: Schwartz Most Preferred Second Choice: The apparent early frontrunner narrowly edged out Katie McGinty and Rob McCord as most readers second choice in the Democratic gubernatorial race.

Reader Poll: Who Should Democrats nominate in PA-12?: We ask our readers who they think the Democrats should nominate to take on Rep. Keith Rothfus.

Yudichak, Corman Push Penn State Reforms: State senators propose reforms to Penn State’s governance structure.
 
Statewide

Capitolwire: PA Senate Appropriations amends, reports out charter school bill
Capitolwire: PA House Judiciary Committee reports out expanded DNA testing proposal
StateImpactPA: Royalty disputes fuel anger over state’s oversight of gas production data
State House Sound Bites: Organ donation process could change under Senate bill
AP: Proposal would do away with two PA horse racing agencies
AP: Report: PA wind power saves water, protects air

Philadelphia
Heard in the Hall: Senate approves two more property tax bills for Philly
PhillyClout: Watchdog officials debate gift ban
PhillyClout: School district officials seek long-term funding for cash-strapped schools
PhillyClout: Butkovitz: City must do more on tax collections
WHYY Newsworks: Senate passes $2.3 billion Pa. transportation plan
PhillyNow: PA unemployment rate rose during ‘faked’ jobs report month
PhillyNow: On second thought, PA House now passes transportation bill

SEPA
Intelligencer: Bucks County buys $970 chairs for dispatchers
Intelligencer: Montco declares tie vote in Ward 4 Abington commissioner race
Intelligencer: Region looks to space after historic JFK speech
Times Herald: Economics, transportation top concerns at Montgomery County planning session
Levittown Now: Big Changes Coming To Senior Health Insurance
Daily Times: Delco judge backs 14 voters in Marple ballot challenge
Bucks Local News: Casey backs effort to prevent flood insurance rate hikes for thousands of Pennsylvania homeowners
Daily Local News: County gets good grades in education report

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Prevailing wage has been a roadblock in Pa. legislature
Post-Gazette: Drilling ban fails in Allegheny County Council
Post-Gazette: Alternative school seeks contract extension with city
Early Returns: Your Allegheny County council Rhetoric Roll Call: Drilling moratorium edition
City Paper: As Harrisburg dickers over transportation funding, will cooler heads prevail on prevailing wage?
City Paper: High Ideals: Can marijuana legalization have an effect on the race for Pa. governor?
WPXI: If $2.3B transportation bill passes, gas could jump 28 cents per gallon
Southwest
Beaver County Times: McCord collects Democratic endorsements for governor
Beaver County Times: Rochester Council might fill vacant seat with current member
Beaver County Times: Rochester budget includes police increases, $19K deficit
Altoona Mirror: Group hears split views

NEPA
The Times Leader: Area doctor raising funds for Syrian refugees
Times-Tribune: Kane spotlights efforts to nab child predators

South Central
Harrisburg Patriot-News: Rick Santorum stays visible for 2016 by projecting faith in film, column
Harrisburg Patriot-News: Pa. state senators unveil plan for smaller Penn State board of trustees
The Evening Sun: West Manheim proposed budget keeps tax rate unchanged

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Allentown confirms first minority police chief
Morning Call: U.S. EPA seeks court approval of settlement in Chrin pollution lawsuit
Morning Call: Forget football, Lehigh-Lafayette are locked in fundraising battle
Morning Call: Pawlowski calls for moment of silence to honor former President Kennedy
Reading Eagle: Auditor General talks with the Eagle: Five takeaways
Reading Eagle: Pulitzer Prize journalist Buzz Bissinger draws crowd at Penn State Berks

North by Northwest
Sun-Gazette: Local lawmakers explain Tuesday’s transportation bill votes
Sun-Gazette: $1/2M baler on commissioners’ Thursday agenda
Sun-Gazette: Fire union pact, ballpark naming agreement recommended
Centre Daily Times: Senator’s plan: Shrink Penn State board of trustees by 7 members
Centre Daily Times: Bellefonte councilwoman Dainty resigns for borough post

Opinions
Post-Gazette: Gray and green: Sewer project should aid environment
Intelligencer: Marriage law is state’s fight
Daily Times: Hit smokers in wallet to send powerful message
Daily Local News: Public notices must remain in the newspaper
Blogs
Above Average Jane: Epi-pen Update
Commonwealth Foundation: Protect the Poor, Not Lotto Winners
Keystone Politics: Can’t Fix Climate Change Without Land Use Reforms
Keystone Politics: What Democratic Candidates for PA Governor Should be Saying about Public Education
Keystone Politics: Destroy the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office
Keystone Politics: Rep. Patty Kim Wants a $10.10 Minimum Wage for PA
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Medical Marijuana, Anyone?