SEIU make a choice in the PHL-15 race, a new Pew survey shows Philly is actually optimistic about the future and Kenney is endorsed by PA Working Families. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz!

PHL-15: SEIU Endorses Kenney: The influential service workers union is backing Jim Kenney for Mayor of Philadelphia.

Pew Survey: Philadelphians Optimistic About City’s Future: A recent poll finds most city residents have a sunny outlook about Philadelphia’s direction.

PHL-15: Pennsylvania Working Families Endorses Kenney: The progressive group endorsed Jim Kenney for Mayor of Philadelphia.

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Senate Democrat Backs Top Cop, Slams Racist Letter
State House Sound Bites: Open Records Office Workload Grows with Law’s Emerging Nuances
PA Independent: County Controller: Something ‘Reeks’ as Authorities Resist Performance Audits
StateImpact PA: Quigley Responds to Criticism Over New Drilling Regulations
PLS Reporter: School District Administrative Consolidation Bills Draws Mixed View
PLS Reporter: From Lawmaker to Lobbyist: the How and Why
Capitolwire: House GOP Continues Criticisms of Wolf Sales Tax Plan During Human Services Department Budget Hearing
Capitolwire: Racist Letters Prompts Top Senate Democrat to Go to Bat for Wolf’s State Police Nomination

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Four Philly Schools Win Funds for Tech, Training, Turnaround
Inquirer: For Sestak, The Path to Senate Runs 422 Miles
Inquirer: Judge: Milton Street Stays on Mayoral Ballot
Inquirer: Philly to Consider Huge Electronic Digital Boards
Inquirer: 3 Delco Dems Kicked Off Primary Ballot
Inquirer: VA Paid $288K to ‘Relocate’ Official From D.C. to Philadelphia
Inquirer: The Newest State Rep: ‘A Breath of Fresh Air
Inquirer: Lawsuit Over Who Spun the Bug in Mayor Street’s Office
Daily News: Pa. House Committee Holds Joint Committee on Joints
Philadelphia Business Journal: Developers Plan 32-Story Apartment Building in Washington Square
Philadelphia Weekly: Being Middle Class in Philadelphia Is Actually Pretty Cheap

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Spring-Ford Board Member Balks at Special Ed Hire
Daily Local News: Development Council to Put Jack Loew Into Its Hall of Fame
Daily Local News: Coatesville Council Passes Budget With No Tax Increase
Delco Daily Times: Judge Hearing Challenges to Nomination Filings of Democrats Running for City Council
Delco Daily Times: Bowe Bergdahl Charged With Desertion, Could Face Life in Prison If Convicted
Delco Daily Times: Republican Martina White Wins Vacant Pa. House Seat in Northeast Philly
Delco Daily Times: Authorities Probe Racist Letter Sent to Wolf’s Choice to Lead State Police

Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review: Heinz Merging with Kraft
Tribune-Review: USC District Support Staff Members Have New Contract
Tribune-Review: Allegheny County Controller Subpoena Questions on Hold for Now
Post-Gazette: Robinson Withdraws, Two Other Allegheny County Council Candidates Removed From Ballot
Post-Gazette: Officials Probe Racist Letter to PA State Police Nominee
Early Returns: Nonprofit Director Launches Campaign to Unseat Pittsburgh Council Incumbent
Pittsburgh Business Times: Severance Tax Rate in ‘Middle of the Pack,’ says Acting DEP Secretary
Pittsburgh Business Times: Consol to Operate Fewer Drill Rigs This Year

Southwest
Beaver County Times: Public Meeting on Nuclear Plant Assessment
Observer-Reporter: Indiana Lawmakers to Revisit ‘Baby Boxes’ Bill in 2016
Tribune-Democrat: US Steel Idling Illinois Plant, 2,080 Employees Affected
Tribune-Democrat: Councilman Ends Bid for Re-Election
Altoona Mirror: Blair County Prison Guard Under Investigation for Assault
Altoona Mirror: Judge Removes Gregory from Hollidaysburg Area School Board Democratic Ballot

NEPA
Times-Tribune: A Decade Ago ‘The Office’ Introduced Scranton to the World
Times-Tribune: Marcellus Shale Coalition Leader Blasts Severance Tax
Pocono Record: Park service Opening its Ears to the Public Next Month
Times-Leader: Ashley Tables Motion to Join South Valley Council of Governments
Times-Leader: New Spin on Gauging Health in NEPA

South Central
Harrisburg Patriot News: Powerball with your highball? Liquor stores could sell lottery tickets under new bill
Harrisburg Patriot News: Racist letter to Pa. State Police chief nominee spurs support from leading Democrat
Harrisburg Patriot News: Video: Is there racism in the Pa. State Police? Sen. Vince Hughes weighs in
Harrisburg Patriot News: Death penalty losing public support in Pa., poll shows
Harrisburg Patriot News: Tuition freeze at 14 universities still a possibility
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Anti-home-rule group from Conestoga Township loses candidates in court ruling
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Penn State president says Gov. Wolf’s budget would allow a tuition freeze
Roxbury News: Harrisburg City Council schedules vote on lawsuit settlement with attorney Mark Schwartz

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Casey renews push on pregnant workers proposal as Supreme issue ruling
Morning Call: Race allegations heat up in fight over Gov. Tom Wolf’s pick to lead state police
Morning Call: Northampton County Executive John Brown targets deficit spending in State of the County address
Reading Eagle: West Reading borough council president resigns
WFMZ: Brown lays out Northampton County’s financial forecast
Express-Times: ‘If Harrisburg won’t step up then we will’: Bethlehem school director on budget
Express-Times: Northampton County Executive John Brown looks for more ways to cut costs

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Ferguson Township Zoning Hearing Board grants appeal for development plan
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Mayor’s launch of initiative accused of being a stunt
Erie Times-News: Hazuda, Kobylka running for Millcreek supervisor

Opinion
Pottstown Mercury: Sen. Scott Wagner: Throwing More Money at Schools is Not the Answer
Tribune-Review: Let the Sunshine In
Post-Gazette: Companies are Coming Out About their Politics
Tribune-Democrat: Evil Influences Soul of Americans
Pocono Record: Jury Duty a Vital Part of System
Philly.com: Starbucks Good Intentions, Venti-Size Grief
Times-Tribune: Unify Drug Courts, System
Harrisburg Patriot News: At last, a little relief from Harrisburg’s onerous parking regime

Blogs
Citified: Tony Williams Is Finally Starting to Own School Choice
Citified: The Candidate Conversations Series: Meet Jim Kenney, the Mayoral Campaign’s Most Complex (and Compelling?) Figure
Citified: The Brief: Philly’s GOP Representation in Harrisburg Doubled Overnight, as Martina White Wins Special Election
Keystone Crossroads: Pittsburgh Punches Above Its Weight in Attracting Venture Capital
Keystone State Education Coalition: State Needs a Comprehensive Solution to Public Pension Crisis