Rob McCord slams the lottery deal, Castor does PCN, and it turns out people should have listened to Vince Fumo’s fiancee re: vegetables. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.

Don’t forget to check back later for the Ups & Downs.

Castor, on PCN, Lays Out Case for Potential Guv Bid: Montgomery Co. Commissioner Bruce Castor may challenge Governor Tom Corbett for the Republican nomination in 2014. And in either case, he’s looking to raise his profile.

Pittsburgh Mayoral Campaign Staffs Fill Out: Pittsburgh City Councilman Bill Peduto announced his new campaign staff Thursday, making him the third mayoral candidate to hire top level staff.

Siena Survey: Pa. Biz Leaders Pessimistic About 2013: First Niagara released its Fourth Annual Survey of Pennsylvania Business Leaders, conducted by Siena University Research Institute, about 2013’s economic prospects, and the results are not promising.

HD-95: York Co. Republicans made it official last night when they selected Bryan Tate to run for the vacant state House seat of Auditor General Eugene DePasquale. He’ll face Dem Kevin Schreiber in a May 21 special election.

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Merit selection getting another try in a Senate proposal
State House Sound Bites: McCord says may refuse payments to lottery, even with AG’s sign-off
PA Independent: PA pension fund manager shouldn’t have gotten $20,000 raise, treasurer says (Video)
PA Independent: ‘Death tax’ exemption could brighten outlook for family businesses
StateImpactPA: PA DEP to Study Radiation Related to Marcellus Shale
Capitolwire: McCord, still skeptical of Lottery deal, says withholding payments revolves around Keno details.

Philadelphia
Heard in the Hall: City pension board plays politics; passes gun resolution threatening to dump investments
Heard in the Hall: Jailed ex-Sen. Fumo (D-Philly) hospitalized
Heard in the Hall: Paid sick leave bill re-introduced; one sponsor short of passage
Philly Clout: Nutter speaks at Feinstein gun press conference, calls guns “weapons of mass destruction”
WHYY Newsworks: Taxpayer-funded electric car rebate program ends soon; 56 rebates left!
WHYY Newsworks: Another try for merit-based judge selections
Inquirer: City Council eyeing new taxes

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Spring-Ford administrators, school board “frustrated” with tax collector
Bucks Courier Times: Locals favor allowing women in combat
DelCo Daily Times: PSSA successes downgraded for charters
DelCo Daily Times: Chester Co. moves ahead with $42 million emergency radio upgrade
Bucks Local News: Police Union wants triple-pay for holidays; borough says contract says no.
The Advance: Newtown Twp. supervisors want developer to build townhomes, not mobile home park
Daily Local: No class: Union professors take contract complaints to Harrisburg

Pittsburgh
AP: DEP to study radioactivity in gas waste, byproducts
Tribune Review: Wagner: Reassessment to give county too much money, recommends millage change
Tribune Review: Tensions rise between state university system, union faculty
Post-Gazette: Corbett reveals plan to expand Pennsylvania disability services
Post-Gazette: Gov. Corbett shifts gears on timing of transportation plan
Post-Gazette: Fitzgerald disagrees with Allegheny County controller on reducing tax rate
Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania charter school test results sag
Post-Gazette: State System board chairman says new faculty union contract must have savings
Early Returns: Look out: Another Fitz/Wagner battle
Early Returns: Transpo. plan waits till February

Southwest
AP: Pa. faculty to protest stalled university talks
AP: SW Pa. school superintendent still works for free
Beaver County Times: Pa. treasurer: New debit cards will reap savings
Observer-Reporter: White: DEP not using best test for water contamination
Altoona Mirror: Outgoing lawmakers collect large per diems
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Legislator expenses targeted

NEPA
AP: Corbett ties Pa. school funding to pension changes
AP: Pa. to study radiation in gas drilling waste
AP: Pa. treasurer: New debit cards will reap savings
AP: Union representing East Stroudsburg University, state system both pointing fingers
Times Leader: Pa. fines UGI $500K over Allentown blast that killed 5
Inquirer: Imprisoned Pa. ex-senator hospitalized for heart
Times-Tribune: Lackawanna County judicial sale set for Feb. 25
Times-Tribune: Commissioners move forward on wireless initiative, SBA program
Times-Tribune: Commissioners introduce row-office elimination
Times-Tribune: Kane to speak at police academy graduation
Times-Tribune: Both sides of gun debate take their shots in Harrisburg
Citizens’ Voice: County councilman worried about manager’s bond
News Item: Shamokin Area seeks armed officers
News Item: Shamokin council OKs bills for demo
Standard Speaker: City approves cooperative fire pact
Standard Speaker: Gun debate rings out at Capitol in Harrisburg
Standard Speaker: Hazleton Area board votes to stay within 2.4 percent if a tax increase is needed

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Ex-recorder of deeds pleads guilty to embezzlement
Reading Eagle: Corbett ties PA. school funding to pension changes
Express Times: Glenn Reibman will seek a return as Northampton County executive
Express Times: Lehigh County Commissioner Scott Ott announces candidacy for county executive
Express Times: Pennsylvania ups UGI fine over Allentown explosions; mayor wants gas pipes replaced faster
Express Times: Lifelong Palmer Township resident to seek election to board of supervisors

South Central
AP: Union, university system discuss stalled Pa. talks
AP: Both sides speak on stalled Pa. university talks
AP: Pennsylvania faculty to protest stalled university talks
The Sentinel: And now it’s time to heal
Harrisburg Patriot-News: Women in combat: Perry wants more info
Harrisburg Patriot-News: Hundreds of state university faculty turn out for protest over contract dispute
York Dispatch: It’s official: Republicans nominate Tate for 95th
Roxbury News: Pa. House Aging & Older Adult Services Committee: Camelot Global Services

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Legislator advocates changes in labor law to public at Trout Run town hall
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Contract for police to get vote
Williamsport Sun Gazette: City seeks payment of utility bills for arena
AP: Judge hears arguments in gas drilling case
AP: Pa. Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show, focus of boycott, is postponed
Campaign ’13 Blog: Sinnott to run for third and final term as Erie’s mayor

Opinions
Post-Gazette: Raising the limit: House action rates a positive presidential response
Post-Gazette: Welcome oversight: DEP deserves a review on Marcellus regulation
Times-Tribune: Ferment new beer-sale law
Times-Tribune: Resolve voting problems now
Harrisburg Patriot-News: It’s time for the posturing to end on gun control
York Daily Record: Perry right to invite Obama to Gettysburg
York Dispatch: Pennsylvania’s all in with gambling
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Historic building? Just tear it down
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Jailhouse changes
WHYY Newsworks: Dave Davies: Chris Christie connects; politicians should watch and learn
DelCo Daily Times: Finally, women move up to the front

Blogs
Keystone Politics: End All Judicial Elections
Keystone Politics: Don’t Just Muddle Through: Expand Transit and Lower Fares
Jon Geeting: Lehigh County Tea People Finally Agree to Fund Green Future Fund Grants
Keystone State Education Coalition: Pennsylvania Education Policy Roundup For January 24, 2013: No cyber charter school in Pennsylvania made AYP
Above Average Jane: SEPTA Sustainability Report
Above Average Jane: PA Adds Mental Health Records ot Nat’l Database
Above Average Jane: Montco Commissioners Townhall in Lansdale