Raja releases an attack ad linking his Democratic opponent to AOC, Bernie, and Pelosi for the special election in the 37th state Senate District. Sen. Casey joins the $15 minimum wage effort. Here is the Playbook.
Corman: Open To Discussing Raising Minimum Wage, Opposes Wolf’s Call For $15: The GOP Senate Majority Leader said he believes it’s time to discuss raising the minimum wage, but doesn’t view $15 an hour as reasonable.
SD37: Raja Links Iovino to AOC, Bernie and Pelosi: The first attack ad of the special election is an effort to brand the Democratic hopeful as an extreme liberal.
Garrity Debuts Online Ad Praising Trump SOTU Address: One of the GOP candidates seeking the nomination for Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional district released an online video of her praising President Trump’s State of the Union address, while detailing her background.
Harrisburg & DC
AP: Casey adds backing to $15 minimum wage bill in US Senate
AP: Workers strike at ex-GE Transportation plant in Pennsylvania
AP: Pennsylvania prepares to start issuing Real IDs
Morning Call: Q&A examining Obamacare’s costs in dollars and politics in Pennsylvania
Morning Call: Brian Fitzpatrick joins Pennsylvania’s congressional Democrats in opposing Trump’s national emergency
KYW Newsradio: Public send-off for late Sen. Harris Wofford set for Saturday in Washington
Post-Gazette: Dreams of a dreamer: Gisele Fetterman aims to spread her community service statewide as second lady
Post-Gazette: Pa. Supreme Court rejects FOP appeal on police pay
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Wolf “welcomes discussion” with Legislature on his minimum wage hike
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: ‘This is about the Constitution’: Pa’s Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick votes with Dems to nullify Trump’s emergency declaration
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Here’s what Pa’s Congressional delegation has to say about the vote to nullify Trump’s emergency declaration
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Casey sides with Senate Republicans in failed vote to advance abortion bill
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pennsylvania gets C+ grade from national gun control group
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: In Washington Post op-ed, Pa.’s Ryan Costello’s urges Republicans to vote ‘yes’ on gun background checks bill
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Penn State president says sexual assaults, alcohol offenses down after Greek life reforms
WITF: Corrections Dept. says it has no plans to give inmates original copies of their mail
WESA: When Presidency Is Personal, The World Can Confuse A Nation With Its Leader, Former Ambassador Says
WESA: Trump Rule Will Cut Reproductive Healthcare Funds For Title X Clinics In Pennsylvania
PLSReporter: Lawmakers push to address ’disconnect’ in Thaddeus Stevens funding
PLSReporter: Governor’s farm bill prompts discussion about what is best for Pa. agriculture
PLSReporter: Freshman Focus: Rep. Sara Innamorato
Philly Voice: Pennsylvania state reps propose new bill legalizing electric scooters
Patriot News: University leaders look to the state to help them achieve their tuition freeze goal
Patriot News: Pa. clergy sexual abuse survivors voice anger, disappointment over Vatican conference
Philadelphia
WHYY Newsworks: Creating a paper trail: Why Pennsylvania is shelling out for new voting machines
Philadelphia Magazine: Kenney’s Deleted Messages: Not a Conspiracy, but the Law Losing to Tech
Philadelphia Magazine: Omar Woodard on Why He’s Challenging 20-Year Incumbent Darrell Clarke
Philadelphia Tribune: Panel explores gentrification in Philadelphia
KYW Newsradio: Community College of Philadelphia faculty authorize leadership to call for strike vote
Billy Penn: As voter turnout has risen in the Philly region, it’s been dropping in the rest of the state
Philly Voice: Pennsylvania state reps propose new bill legalizing electric scooters
PLSReporter: Mayor Kenney announces prevailing wage bump for Philadelphia security guards
Inquirer: Emails show how Philly officials tried to help Amazon escape proposed cashless store ban
Inquirer: Philly looks to replace embattled chief assessor amid outcry over property assessments
Inquirer: The primary election issue most Philly voters have never heard of: councilmanic prerogative
SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Ex-Rep. Costello: GOP should support gun bill
Pottstown Mercury: Dem candidate for Chesco DA: R. Kelly arrest shows pattern of abuse
Pottstown Mercury: Chester County gets $300,000 for affordable housing
Pottstown Mercury: West Chester Area School District seeks to intervene in Sunoco pipeline complaint
Bucks County Courier Times: Reaction mixed on arming officers at Pennridge High School
Delco Daily Times: Delco Dems endorse slate of countywide candidates
Delco Daily Times: Energy Transfer Partners CEO admits ‘mistakes’ were made in Pa. pipeline project
Daily Local News: West Chester pastor is Senate Chaplin for a day
Daily Local News: Troopers’ suit against D.A. Hogan allowed to proceed
Pittsburgh
WESA: Lawrenceville Native Announces Run For Pittsburgh City Council District 7
WESA: When Presidency Is Personal, The World Can Confuse A Nation With Its Leader, Former Ambassador Says
Post-Gazette: Dreams of a dreamer: Gisele Fetterman aims to spread her community service statewide as second lady
Post-Gazette: Local officials spent thousands in campaign funds on restaurants and bars last year
Post-Gazette: Proposal: Elevate city protections for pregnant workers, partners
Post-Gazette: Pa. Supreme Court rejects FOP appeal on police pay
Post-Gazette: Pa. charter board overturns Pittsburgh Public Schools, approves new charter school
PLSReporter: Pittsburgh councilwoman introduces anti-pregnancy discrimination legislation
City Lab: Inside Pittsburgh’s Battle Over Gun Control Laws
KDKA: Economy Residents Putting Up Fight As Fracking Company Trying To Turn Residential Road Into Access Road
Tribune Review: Western Pennsylvania weighs in as Methodists uphold church LGBTQ bans
Tribune Review: Westmoreland GOP commissioner candidates accuse county Democrats of hijacking conservative message
Tribune Review: Deputy seeking Republican nomination for Westmoreland sheriff
Tribune Review: A Plum school board vacancy, created after a member resigned following a controversial Facebook post, has been filled
SWPA
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: ‘Listening tour’ stop over legalization of marijuana sparks up debate in Richland Township
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Universities call for more state aid; PSU chief says ‘could drop’ tuition
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: State Rep. Burns to host outreach event
Altoona Mirror: Commissioners keep stance against grant
Observer-Reporter: Voter registration deadline approaches for special election in South Hills, Peters
Observer-Reporter: Wise running for Washington County judge
Observer-Reporter: Coder announces re-election bid for Greene County commissioner
Observer-Reporter: Officer wounded in Canonsburg ambush will run for magistrate
Observer-Reporter: S. Strabane police sergeant running for magistrate
Observer-Reporter: Rep. Puskaric announces satellite office hours
Beaver County Times: Gabauer to run for re-election as coroner
Beaver County Times: Bill co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb helping vets pursue STEM careers passes House
NEPA
The Times Leader: WB Mayor George says he’s running for second term to finish what he’s started
The Times Leader: Proposed Dollar General rejected by Luzerne County Council; new member sworn in
The Times Leader: Final 2018 statistics show 169 overdose deaths in Luzerne County
Times-Tribune: Fran Pantuso tapped as new Lackawanna County commissioners’ chief of staff
Times-Tribune: Scranton Democratic Party to endorse candidates
Times-Tribune: Recovery officer to approve Scranton School Board resignation
Citizens Voice: $700K needed to fix LCCC mold problem
Citizens Voice: LCTA hears from student advisory council
South Central
Carlisle Sentinel: Perry stokes climate controversy in Twitter post
York Dispatch: Smucker, Perry vote against measure to block Trump’s national emergency
York Dispatch: Mattie Chapman, first African-American elected to York County office, memorialized
York Dispatch: West York appoints ‘typical, average guy’ mayor to fill Mauck’s term
York Dispatch: Racial unrest in York County prompts political action
Patriot News: University leaders look to the state to help them achieve their tuition freeze goal
York Daily Record: Randy Parker named executive editor of the York Daily Record
LNP | LancasterOnline: Mark Fetterman hires top Philadelphia employment lawyer
LNP | LancasterOnline: Manor Township to discuss, vote on proposed marijuana ordinance next week
Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Berks lawmaker Mark Rozzi hoped for more from Catholic abuse summit, but says progress was made
Reading Eagle: Reading planners OK 57-unit, $10.8 million senior apartment complex
Morning Call: Off-color joke lands Lehigh County executive in hot water
Morning Call: Route modifications push one mile of PennEast pipeline into Monroe County
Morning Call: Allentown officials hope to save $800,000 in second attempt at refinancing debt
North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Erie City Councilwoman questions anonymous $100,000 donation
Erie Times-News: Kimberly Clear enters County Council race
Centre Daily Times: Penn State police chief to resign; university offers update on contract negotiations
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Firefighters heated over prescription reimbursement
Opinion
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Replenish 9/11 fund: Responders, site workers must get help they need
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Auto tariff showdown: EU has strong incentives to reach a deal with U.S.
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Arts group reboot: Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media is a treasure
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: An untenable status quo: Brazilian dam disaster highlights serious danger
Inquirer Editorial Board: Why doesn’t the Republican Party believe Philadelphia deserves the two-party system?
John L. Micek: Did Jake Corman just signal a kinder, gentler #PaBudget season? | Tuesday Morning Coffee
Dan Simpson: We have our own problems to solve
Cathy Farrell: We need Gov. Wolf’s Restore Pennsylvania plan to fix infrastructure
Trudy Rubin: Does Trump want peace with North Korea more than getting rid of its nukes?
Will Bunch: Meet the woman fighting to save the butterflies from Trump and his border wall
Sari Stevens: Trump’s Title X gag rule is an attack on the most vulnerable
Cotten Seiler: The ‘Green Book’ is out of print, but its message still resonates today
Conrad Benner: Dilworth Park doesn’t need a Starbucks
Abraham Gutman: 12 political cartoons that depict the political and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Amazon cashless stores
Paul Muschick: How today’s U.S. Supreme Court arguments on Maryland cross could affect fate of Lehigh County’s seal