Speaker Smith officially announces his retirement, Trivedi touts local support and the League of Conservation Voters scores the PA delegation. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.

Smith: My Heart Is Not In a Re-election Bid: Speaker Sam Smith confirmed retirement rumors today in an official statement.

PA-6: Trivedi Announces With Local Support: Confirming our story yesterday that he would run, Trivedi announced his campaign with a list of supporters.

PA-Gov: McGinty Names Finance Committee: The committee announcement aims to bolster her fundraising efforts in the final stretches of the primary.

Sources, Reports: Speaker Sam Smith to Retire: According to multiple sources, Speaker Sam Smith will retire at the end of this term.

PA-3: Kelly Scores U.S. Chamber of Commerce Endorsement: Endorsement shows Kelly is kicking up his campaign in PA-3.

As ‘House of Cards’ Returns, Wolf Channels Russo for Guv: Former Revenue Secretary Tom Wolf’s campaign lit is rather reminiscent of Peter Russo’s run for Pennsylvania governor in the Netflix show, “House of Cards.”

Reader Poll: Koplinski To Get Most Signatures for Lt. Gov Petitions: City Councilman Brad Koplinski won one of our most popular reader polls in months.

League of Conservation Voters Scores PA Delegation: The League of Conservation Voters gave members of the PA congressional delegation a score based on their voting records on environmental issues.

Reader Poll: How Many Dem Governor Candidates Will Be on the Ballot?: In our latest reader poll, we ask you how many Democrats you think will ultimately be on the May primary ballot.

Legislative Elections Update:

HD-15: Democrat John Bruner, 42, is a former Chief County Detective with the Greene County District Attorney’s Office, is currently a Hostage Negotiator with the Washington Regional SWAT Team and is currently a Police Officer with the South Strabane Township Police Department (Washington County). HD-15 has been represented by Republican Jim Christiana since 2009.

HD-52: Republican Ryan Warner announced his bid for the State House of Representatives. Warner worked for Siemens Industry in Westmoreland County as a project controller. As a result of a tough economy, Siemens reduced its workforce and Warner was one of those who were let go after nearly five years on the job. The district includes the northern portion of Fayette County and a small portion of southern Westmoreland County.

HD-102: Republican activist Russ Diamond announced his intent to run for State Rep. in a YouTube video. Diamond is the founder of Clean Sweep PA. After the infamous legislative pay raise in 2005, he crisscrossed the state recruiting over 110 candidates to challenge incumbent legislators. As a result of those efforts and public outrage, 55 new legislators were elected in the historic 2006 elections — more than 12 times the usual turnover rate.

This is an open seat after Rep. RoseMarie Swanger (R-Lebanon) announced she would not seek a fifth term. A land development consultant for Light-Heigel & Associates, Joe Eisenhauer ran has announced that he will seek the Republican nomination.

HD-163: Drexel Hill Attorney and Democrat Vince Rongione received the endorsement of a long list of local officials, including the Chairs of every Democratic committee within the 163rd district. Rongione is running for an open seat vacated by the retirement of Rep. Nick Micozzie (R-Delaware).

HD-169: State Representative candidate Marc Woerner announced today that he has been endorsed by the Pennsylvania Taxpayer Cyber Coalition, a statewide grassroots education reform alliance. Woerner is running for State Representative in York County’s newly minted 169th House District seat.

SD-28: Democratic York County Commissioner Vice President Doug Hoke endorsed fellow Democrat Linda Small for the PA Senate 28th district seat today. Small is running in the special election for the seat on March 18th, 2014 against Republican Rep. Ron Miller (R-York).

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Worn out, House speaker says he won’t run for reelection
State House Sound Bites: Kane pressed on timeline of Sandusky case review
StateImpactPA: Natural gas well explodes in southwest Pennsylvania [UPDATED]
StateImpactPA: Pa. towns with no zoning rules unlikely to limit gas drilling
Capitolwire: McCord slams Gov. Corbett’s budget proposal, policies in Senate budget hearing
Capitolwire: AG Kane’s 13.9-percent funding hike request a tough sell with Corbett administration, some state lawmakers

Philadelphia
The Big Tent: Schwartz victory in Pa gov top goal for Emily’s List
Commonwealth Confidential: House Speaker Sam Smith to retire at year’s end
The Inquirer: Andrews casts last votes, praises ‘far from perfect’ Congress
WHYY Newsworks: Detained immigrants begin hunger strike in central Pa.
WHYY Newsworks: Differing Pa. revenue projections pose challenge in budget talks
AP: Kane seeks $12M boost for AG’s office
Phillynow.com: Gov candidate Schwartz: Decriminalize marijuana in PA

SEPA
Courier Times: 2 in running for Newtown Twp. supervisor vacancy
Courier Times: Affordable Care Act won’t affect volunteer firefighters
Delco Daily Times: Pa. House speaker to retire at end of term; Adolph on list of replacements
Daily Local News: Trivedi enters U.S. House race

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: DEP issues air quality alert for Liberty-Clairton area
Post-Gazette: Highmark lays off 132 workers, 120 in information technology
Post-Gazette: Department of Justice appeals local decisions against contraception mandate
Post-Gazette: Pieces of Pennsylvania history go up for auction
Tribune Review: Proposed tax increase in Monroeville draws opposition
Tribune Review: Former probation officers sues Allegheny County courts
UrbanMediaToday: Patrick D. Gallagher Named 18th Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh

Southwest
Altoona Mirror: UPMC nurses begin one-day strike
Altoona Mirror: State police taking over Gricar case
Beaver County Times: Court order blocks Hopewell officials from interfering in seismic testing
Beaver County Times: Shell seeks major Route 18, I-376 changes for proposed plant
Observer-Reporter: Ringgold teachers threaten to strike
Observer-Reporter: Lengthy investigation ahead in Marcellus Shale well explosion

NEPA
Times Leader: Lawton’s email blocks blasted
Times Leader: Wilkes U. to host free health fair
Times Leader: Leighton cites downtown development
Times-Tribune: State open records office largely backs study commission
Times-Tribune: Raided construction company owes back taxes, faces lawsuits
Times-Tribune: Without tax hikes, North Pocono could soon be broke

South Central
Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon County commissioners to hear Cedar Haven cost studies
York Dispatch: York City school officials unimpressed by charter application
Lancaster Intelligencer: LG Health and University of Pennsylvania Health System form partnership
Lancaster Intelligencer: City considering stormwater fees on all properties
Patriot News: Raises won’t fly for existing managers, but might for new hires
Patriot News: As Pa. Speaker Sam Smith heads for the door, praise pours in
Patriot News: Harrisburg firefights agree to concessions that will help balance budget
Patriot News: Auditor General Eugene DePasquale’s 2014 agenda includes looking at state university system and charter school law
Carlisle Sentinel: South Middleton School District draws closer to major renovations at Iron Forge
AP: Corbett hits air before Pa. gubernatorial primary
AP: Kane seeks $12M boost for Attorney General’s office

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: East Penn School Board adopts preliminary budget with 4.5 percent tax hike
Morning Call: Corbett wants to keep charter schools from double dipping on pensions
Reading Eagle: Mifflin students protest change in graduation date
Reading Eagle: West Reading snow-removal ordinance stirs up a storm
Reading Eagle: Hamburg School Board approves possible tax hike
Express Times: Upper Mount Bethel Township supervisor on firing of manager: ‘None of us were satisfied’

North by Northwest
Onward State: U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson Recognizes Lunar Lion on House Floor
Onward State: State Police to Take Over Ray Gricar Investigation
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Yaw addresses key issues
Centre Daily Times: Snow storm forces cancellation of state Senate hearing for Penn State appropriations

Opinion
Patriot News: Harrisburg takes another step on the long road to recovery
Morning Call: Will Corbett’s evolution aid re-election chances?
Post-Gazette: Fragile economy: The recovery is still too slow with too few jobs
Tribune Review: Our Lincolnian fight
WHYY Newsworks: Lying about Obamacare for political profit

Blogs
Media Trackers: Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Hopeful Tom Wolf Has A Labor Problem
Keystone Politics: #PAGov: Allyson Schwartz Supports Decriminalizing Marijuana Possession and Personal Use
Keystone Politics: #PAGov: Tom Corbett Hurting Tens of Thousands of GOP Voters By Refusing Medicaid Expansion
Keystone Politics: Autonomous Cars Strengthen the Case for Dedicated Bus and Bike Lanes
John Hanger: Texas Wind Will Generate Next Year More Electricity Than Nuclear Power Does In 48 States