UPMC and Highmark reach a new 10 year deal, while the state House Appropriations Committee advances a $34 billion budget compromise. Here is the Playbook. 

UPMC, Highmark Reach 10 Year Deal: AG Josh Shapiro described the dialogue between the two companies as honest, tough, and productive, while announcing the deal.

HD85: Rager-Kay Selected as Dem Nominee: Rager-Kay, a doctor, stressed her knowledge on health care issues along with focusing on the environment and addressing the opioid epidemic in her second bid for the seat.

Harrisburg & DC  
AP: Health care giants UPMC, Highmark reach 11th-hour agreement
AP: Pennsylvania budget compromise hinges on saving surplus cash
AP: Pennsylvania budget cram week starts with eye on saving cash
AP: Pennsylvania says ‘no’ to funding to aid census effort
AP: Pennsylvania to OK $60M school security program for 2nd year
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: State House panel advances $34 billion budget without minimum wage increase, cash assistance program
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Without minimum wage, cash assistance, $34 billion budget falls flat with some House Democrats
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. Senate Democrats ask Wolf for disaster declaration to fight gun violence
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: House Republicans ponder rider cutting funding to Pitt to prevent fetal tissue research
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pennsylvania marks 100th anniversary of vote in favor of women’s suffrage
Inquirer: Pa.’s $34B budget deal: More money for public education, but no minimum-wage increase
Inquirer: On the 100-year anniversary of the right to vote in Pa., women reflect on suffrage movement 
Inquirer: Voting rights and election reform are hot topics with Pa. lawmakers. It’s a moment three decades in the making. 
Inquirer: Pa. budget deal doesn’t include 2020 Census funding that state commission recommended
PLSReporter: House lawmakers unveil $33.9 billion budget proposal
PLSReporter: VIDEO: Saylor announces $34 billion budget plan
PLSReporter: As budget talks continue, Philadelphia hopes for more funds for school repairs
PLSReporter: UPMC and Highmark enter into new 10 year contract
PLSReporter: VIDEO: Women join to celebrate the 100th anniversary of PA voting to ratify the 19th Amendment
PLSReporter: Pardons Secretary Flood optimistic about fate of probation and parole reform
KYW Newsradio: Pa. bills aim to regulate drinking water near PFAS-contaminated air bases
Morning Call: Pennsylvania’s Joe Sestak has long campaigned on his military background. Which other 2020 Democrats are veterans?

Philadelphia   
KYW Newsradio: At Philly ICE headquarters, protesters say immigrants are used as leverage for reforms
Inquirer: Chief inspector’s lawsuit: Philly Sheriff Jewell Williams once encouraged me to kill myself 
Inquirer: Six months in, Philly assesses its smoking ban in inpatient rehabs
Inquirer: Immigrant allies call for justice, assail Trump administration outside Philadelphia ICE offices
Inquirer: Philadelphia refinery that caught fire long viewed as city’s biggest single polluter
Philadelphia Magazine: More Philly Hospitals Are Becoming “Baby-Friendly.” Maybe That’s Not a Good Thing.
Philadelphia Magazine: The Paradox of Narcan: It Saves Lives, but Masks the Extent of the Opioid Epidemic

SEPA 
Bucks Local News: Newtown Township supervisor candidates endorsed by Bucks AFL-CIO
Daily Local News: ‘Downton Abbey’ star, local lawmakers, call for end to puppy mills
Daily Local News: Legislative measure calls on fed to improve infrastructure, Barrar says
Daily Local News: Pa. First Lady Frances Wolf sounds Justice Bell to kick off 100th anniversary of Women’s Suffrage in PA
Daily Local News: ‘Enough is enough’ rally planned at Coatesville Area Senior High
Bucks County Courier Times: County approves plans for $3.2 million in HUD grants
Bucks County Courier Times: Pennsylvania warns of tax-rebate scam

Pittsburgh 
KDKA: UPMC-Highmark Agree To 10-Year Contract 
KDKA: UPMC, Highmark Leaders Praise 10-Year Pact 
KDKA: Report: Port Authority Working On Bus Overcrowding Solutions 
KDKA: Police Investigate Vandalism To Memorial Honoring Slain Pittsburgh Police Officer
WESA: Public Defender Lisa Middleman Announces Bid For District Attorney 
WESA: 100 Years After PA Ratified The 19th Amendment, Activists Say More Work Is Needed
City Paper: UPMC and Highmark agreed to a new contract ensuring patient access. What’s next?
Pittsburgh Business Times: UPMC, Highmark’s 10-year deal: ‘It sets a precedent’ (Video)   
Pittsburgh Business Times: Local politicians praise UPMC-Highmark agreement, call for permanent solution (Video)   
Pittsburgh Business Times: Employers throughout Pittsburgh feel sense of relief as UPMC, Highmark reach deal   
Pittsburgh Business Times: Behind the enmity, a ‘window opened’ with UPMC and Highmark —and all sides pounced on the chance
Pittsburgh Business Times: Pitt receives $5.8M for opioid research in Appalachia
Post-Gazette: ‘The deal is done’: UPMC and Highmark reach 10-year pact
Post-Gazette: Health department about to launch survey of county residents’ views on health    
Post-Gazette: Mayor Peduto marks Pittsburgh contributions to women’s suffrage on centennial of Pa. ratification
Post-Gazette: Colcom Foundation, rooted in environmentalism, increasingly focuses on anti-immigrant groups
Post-Gazette: City announces Oakland neighborhood planning process 
Tribune Review: UPMC, Highmark reach 10-year deal for patient coverage
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh self-driving car company Argo AI funding $15M Carnegie Mellon research center 
Tribune Review: Franklin Park Democrats used write-in votes to nominate candidates in 2 wards

SWPA
Observer-Reporter: Question of LSA program audit still an open one
Observer-Reporter: National Student Council Conference kicks off with energy, enthusiasm in South Fayette 
Observer-Reporter: Oversight with LSA process is something to consider in every county, say lawmakers
Tribune Review: Westmoreland commissioners better funded than GOP challengers, reports show
Tribune Review: Gilpin schedules ATV ordinance for vote
Altoona Mirror: UPMC, Highmark reach agreement
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Lawmakers unveil $33.99 billion state spending plan that doesn’t raise minimum wage

NEPA
Times-Tribune: Scranton schools could receive funding boost in state budget  
Times-Tribune: Scranton city council hears from vendor of parking kiosks coming this year  
Citizens Voice: County database still down as recovery continues
Citizens Voice: New ‘Leadership’ program explores Lackawanna County’s hidden gems, and wrinkles, too 

South Central  
Patriot News: Who earned the most money at the Harrisburg School District? 
Patriot News: Why doesn’t the Pa. budget plan include a minimum wage increase?
Patriot News: Cash assistance program for Pa.’s poorest residents appears to be on brink of elimination
Patriot News: Gov. Tom Wolf says proposed Pennsylvania state budget meets his objectives
Patriot News: Pa. legislative leaders agree on $34B state budget plan: more for schools, no new taxes and no minimum wage hike
Patriot News: No more snow days? Pa. schools may soon allow kids to work at home  
Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon County school districts: How much are your taxes increasing, and why?
LNP | LancasterOnline: DUI checkpoints halted — for now — in Lancaster County after state court ruling

Lehigh Valley    
Reading Eagle: Reading officials vote to go green
Reading Eagle: Reading wants to lead the charge for green energy targeting 100% clean electricity by 2035
Morning Call: Administration asks Easton City Council to earmark $842k for improvements around the city 
Morning Call: Catasauqua fills council seat after Christine Weaver leaves post

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Kelly announces Presque Isle sand work during Erie stop
Erie Times-News: How far has Erie Refocused come in 3 years?

Opinion  
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Goliath corrects course: UPMC pledges access to Highmark customers
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Stinging defeat: UAW can learn from Tenn. organizing loss
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Clean water for Kenya: Underdogs United melds sports, charity to great effect 
Inquirer Editorial Board: In the midst of opioid crisis, Harrisburg dismisses evidence on treatment 
John L. Micek: Turzai’s budget season fast one: Catholic church gets an exemption on adoptions by same-sex couples 
John Baer: This 80-year-old reader touched my heart 
John L. Micek: It’s Budget Week: Here are five, essential things to know | Monday Morning Coffee
Tony Norman: The price of not knowing his neighbors
Alan Malachowski: Increasing minimum salary can help to solve the teacher shortage 
Rafael Mangual: No, Philly doesn’t need to cure poverty to reduce crime 
Eric Kmiec: Greater Philadelphia’s life sciences are having a moment 
Nicholas Loris: Electric cars: Owned by few, subsidized by all