The Dems hold their winter committee meeting, Kistler has some email trouble and Lazarus picks up some endorsements. Plus, last week’s Ups & Downs! Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz!

2/20 Ups & Downs: More criminal charges, a guilty plea and a contentious SRC meeting. See who made this week’s list!

Dems Endorse Judicial Candidates at Winter Meeting: The party held its annual state committee meeting in Hershey this weekend.

Kistler in Hot Water Over Insensitive Email: The Inquirer revealed Wolf’s State Supreme Court nominee could have forwarded a racially insensitive email to colleagues.

Judge Anne Lazarus Unveils a String of Endorsements: Multiple political officials have come out to endorse Lazarus for PA Supreme Court.

Statewide
Capitolwire: Democrats Endorse Dougherty, Wecht for Supreme Court; Eagen for Commonwealth Court
StateImpactPA: Heavy Flaring at Philadelphia Refinery Sends Black Smoke Into the Air
StateImpactPA: After Fracking Ban, Some New York Towns Want to Secede
PA Independent: Philly Gets 5 More Charter Schools During Wild SRC Meeting

Philadelphia
Philly.com: Wolf’s Aggressive First Month Spurs List of GOP Grievances (AP)
Philly.com: Unwelcome Mat: White House Tries to Country Netanyahu Visit
The Inquirer: GOP’s 2016 Nominee Faces Same-Sex Marriage Dilemma
The Inquirer: Two Supreme Court Nominees Under Fire
The Inquirer: Wolf, Christie Amid the Chatter of Governor’s Association Meeting
The Inquirer: Confusion in Montco as Judicial Seat to be Left Vacant
The Inquirer: Firefighters Endorse Kenney for Mayor

SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Warminster County to Work on Economic Development Plan
Bucks County Courier Times: American Bar Association Calls for End to Life Without Parole Sentences for Juveniles
Bucks County Courier Times: Democrats Endorse 2 for Pennsylvania’s Highest Court
Pottstown Mercury: West Virginia Derailment Raises Question: Could Crude Oil Disaster Happen in Pottstown?
Pottstown Mercury: Attorney General Kathleen Kane Launches Website to Dispute Claims Against Her
Delco Times: Teachers, Administrators Retiring from Interboro

Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review: Gardner Part of New Conservative Generation
Tribune-Review: City-County Building Overhaul to Include Art, Restored Mayor’s Desk
Tribune-Review: Pennsylvania Road Repair Fund Falls Billions of Dollars Short
Tribune-Review: Wolf Nominee to Top Court Causes Stir with Controversial Email
Post-Gazette: After the Campaign for Pennsylvania Governor, the Fundraising Continues
Post-Gazette: A New Direction for Pennsylvania Education Policy
Post-Gazette: Six Vie for Democratic Party Endorsements in Pennsylvania Race for High Court Seats

Southwest
Beaver County Times: PA Cyber Changing Way it Handles Contracts
Beaver County Times: DA: Death Penalty Moratorium Reasons Don’t Apply to Local Case
Observer Reporter: AP: Democrats Endorse Two for Pennsylvania’s Highest Court
Tribune-Democrat: In Political Circles, Tomorrow Never Comes

NEPA
Times-Leader: Nonprofits say Luzerne County’s Cash Problems Delay Funding
Times-Leader: Republicans see Opportunity in Wilkes-Barre Mayor not Seeking Re-election
Times-Leaders: Sorick to Run as Republican for Wilkes-Barre Mayor
Standard Speaker: Barletta wants Local Roads Put in Truck Study

South Central
Harrisburg Patriot News: Crumbling roads: New gas tax, increased fees means billions for Pa. bridge and road work
Harrisburg Patriot News: Pennsylvania Democrats endorse David Wecht and Kevin Dougherty for Supreme Court primary
Harrisburg Patriot News: Pa. Supreme Court replacements, once considered a hopeful sign of Harrisburg honeymoon, are prompting second looks
Harrisburg Patriot News: Gov. Tom Wolf reviewing Centre County Judge Thomas Kistler’s nomination to Pa. Supreme Court
York Dispatch: First lady Frances Wolf defines balancing public role with private profession
York Dispatch: Former York County probation officer declares for city district judgeship
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Lancaster City Democrats endorse for council, other offices; GOP looking for candidates

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Dent backs voting rights bill, defends photo ID laws
Morning Call: Man tapped to lead PA Education Dept. wants to restore faith in system
Morning Call: State levels $2 million fine over 2014 fatal explosion at Northampton County mobile home park
Reading Eagle: Berks County controller seeking fourth term
Reading Eagle: Adam Richter: Where Reading’s mayoral candidates stand on new open-data initiatives
Express-Times: Plainfield Township hires Thomas Petrucci as first municipal manager

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Miller announces run for GOP City Council nomination
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Council advances downtown arena project
Erie Times-News: Harkins: House, not Senate, expected to approve liquor bill

Opinion
Tribune-Review: Economic Moronism: Good Grief
Tribune-Review: Switching Pensions: Debunking a Myth
Post-Gazette: Shaky Exemptions
Post-Gazette: Elizabeth Warren: A Passionate and Influential Voice
Philly.com: Phialdelphia Pension Problem is Fixable with Leadership
Bucks County Courier Times: Gift Ban: Try, Try Again
Observer Reporter: With Casinos as Guide, Temper Gas Revenue Expectations
Tribune-Democrat: Education, Technology will Drive Region’s Future
Reading Eagle: Don’t be in rush to approve regulations on use of drones
York Dispatch: Keep Paterno statue under wraps for now

Blogs
Citified: Will Crime Be An Issue in the Mayor’s Race?
Citified: Lynne Abraham Goes Nuclear on Jim Kenney
Citified: Whopping “Errors” in Kenyatta Johnson’s Past Campaign Finance Reports
Keystone State Education Coalition: Pennsylvania Part of Growing Standardized Testing Opt-Out Movement
Citizen’s Voice: Montco Democrats Finalize Endorsements for the Primary