Harris jumps into the Mayor’s race in Pittsburgh, and the statewide primary ballot is set.  Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

Harris Officially Jumps into Mayor’s Race: At the conclusion of the filing period, Councilwoman Darlene Harris joined Mayor Bill Peduto and Rev. John Welch on the primary ballot.

Statewide Candidates Get on the Ballot: The deadline passed, and now we know who will be on the ballot for the May primary – and who is running against their party’s endorsement.

Statewide
Capitolwire: Wolf’s minimum wage and merger proposals, Medicaid expansion focus of House-DHS budget hearing.
State House Sound Bites: Wolf admin continues to come down hard against ACA replacement
State House Sound Bites: Real ID compliance has good chance of passing, to ACLU’s dismay

Philadelphia
Inquirer: To battle deadly overdose epidemic, Philly considers safe injection sites
Inquirer: Cable giant buys Philly ad targeter Audience Partners
Inquirer: 2 more Philly-area prosecutors tapped for lead roles in AG’s Office
Inquirer: Free breakfasts mean better academics at one Philly school
Inquirer: Can ransomware attacks such as one that hit Pa. Democrats be stopped?
Inquirer: Pa. has 6.5 million women. None of them are in Congress.
Inquirer: Haverford Twp. activists press school board for transgender student policy
Philadelphia Magazine: Pa. House Bill Would Push Philly to Expand Charter Schools
Philadelphia Magazine: Philly Businesswomen Band Together on “A Day Without a Woman”
WHYY Newsworks: Hundreds rally in Philadelphia in honor of International Women’s Day
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. lawmakers try to revive NRA-backed measure aimed at weakening local gun laws
WHYY Newsworks: Philadelphia enlists new integrity officers
WHYY Newsworks: On ‘Radio Times’: GOP health plan leaves cities like Philly ‘particularly vulnerable’, experts say
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. governor still sees promise in online gaming
Billy Penn: International Women’s Day Protest shuts down Philly streets during rush hour
Billy Penn: What the most important PA lawmakers think about Trump’s health care plan
KYW Newsradio: Pair Of Women Fill Top Spots In Philadelphia Police Department
KYW Newsradio: Contest Aims To Stimulate Interest In What’s Built In Philadelphia Region
KYW Newsradio: Philly’s Muslim Community Vows To Challenge Trump’s Travel Ban
Philadelphia Business Journal: Philadelphia-based media startup expands to 3rd city
Philly Voice: Sen. Bob Casey unleashes tweetstorm to show ‘Trumpcare’ effect on Pa. residents

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Medical marijuana facility pitched in Pottstown
Pottstown Mercury: Steel River invites public to hate crimes discussion after performances this weekend
Bucks County Courier Times: Calendar of Bucks meetings today – Thursday, March 9
Bucks County Courier Times: State Rep. Perry Warren introduces bill to make age 18 minimum for marriage in Pennsylvania
Bucks County Courier Times: Ex-CIA officer addresses Central Bucks Chamber after scheduled speaker and NSA chief cancels
Bucks County Courier Times: Congressman Brendan Boyle ‘incensed’ at Republicans’ ACA-replacement bill
Daily Local News: West Goshen supervisors vote to continue safety evaluations for Mariner East II pipeline

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Debate unfolds over campaign finance rules in Pittsburgh mayoral race
Tribune Review: ‘Day Without a Woman’ celebrates female power
Tribune Review: From tunnels to the T, this group has a plan to fix Pittsburgh’s transportation woes
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh unveils $1M plan to address lead in drinking water
Tribune Review: PennDOT plans $3.25M Route 136 upgrades, $10M in other Westmoreland resurfacing
Tribune Review: Effort to repeal Obamacare called threat to opioid treatments by Dems and a positive by Republicans
Tribune Review: Forum offers Alle-Kiski Valley parents, kids insight into nation’s opioid epidemic
Tribune Review: Aspinwall Council to survey town regarding Eastern Avenue reconstruction
Post-Gazette: Local congressmen on key committees shaping health care replacement plan
Pittsburgh Business Times: Transportation strategy outlined for 10-county southwestern PA region
Pittsburgh Business Times: Fitzgerald, Peduto to announce plans for Bus Rapid Transit from Oakland to downtown
Pittsburgh Business Times: City, authority partner with Peoples Gas to provide water filters to customers
Pittsburgh Business Times: Peduto’s affordable housing plans on URA agenda
WESA: PHOTOS: Pittsburghers Protest Gender Inequity On ‘A Day Without A Woman’
KDKA: Allegheny Co. Council Approves E-Cigarette Ban
City Paper: Despite changing infrastructure needs in the Mon Valley, the Mon-Fayette Expressway refuses to die

Southwest
Beaver County Times: Murphy AHCA amendment protects mental health, substance abuse coverage; Wolf urges no vote
Beaver County Times: Rep. Jim Christiana questions dispute between Beaver County, Gateway Rehab Center
Beaver County Times: Fully fund legislation addressing opioid crisis, Casey tells Senate Appropriations Committee
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Three candidates vying for Johnstown mayor

NEPA
Times-Tribune: Toomey’s antagonizers won’t stop
Times-Tribune: Wolf touts economic growth, job creation in Scranton visit
Times-Tribune: Cummings: Let drug companies pay
Standard-Speaker: Hazleton to rewrite rental ordinance
WBRE: Governor Wolf responds to call for regulation of marijuana

South Central
Patriot News: Lawmaker raises questions about handling of state police cheating scandal
Patriot News: In tweet storm Bob Casey slams GOP health bill: #noagetax
Patriot News: With discord growing, Charlie Dent signals uncertainty on GOP healthcare plan
Lancaster Online: East Lampeter Township residents told not to file local taxes over rift with tax collector

Lehigh Valley
WFMZ: Governor Wolf meets with Allentown manufacturing business
Morning Call: Mayor: Easton in a time of remarkable change
Morning Call: 11 candidates seeking spots on Allentown Council
Morning Call: Why Republican challengers are scarce in Bethlehem, Easton
Reading Eagle: Gov. Tom Wolf plan to merge 4 state agencies questioned
Reading Eagle: See who is running for office in Berks County in the May primary
Reading Eagle: Upper Bern Republican running for coroner

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Penn State issues statement on Trump executive order
Centre Daily Times: Michael Black to seek Democratic nomination for State College mayor
Centre Daily Times: Penn State grad student launches campaign for State College Borough Council
Erie Times-News: Mercyhurst to host Erie mayoral forum
Erie Times-News: Two veteran directors leaving Erie School Board
Erie Times-News: Groups rally over abortion law in Erie’s Perry Square
Erie Times-News: Democrat Kevin Otteni seeks Erie City Council seat

Opinion
Tribune Review: ObamaCare Lite: Relapse and regurgitation
Beaver County Times: The right path to economic growth and jobs
Patriot News: Cyber-attack on Pa. Senate Dems is a reminder no one is safe from hackers: Editorial
Patriot News: There’s nothing ‘affordable’ about the GOP’s Affordable Care Act replacement: Editorial
Inquirer: Commentary: Don’t rescind progress on health care
Inquirer: Commentary: Philly united in denouncing hate
Inquirer: Inquirer Editorial: Don’t let Turzai dictate Philly’s number of charters
Reading Eagle: Editorial: Online addiction harming mental health