Montgomery County Democrats call on state Sen. Daylin Leach to resign. Here is the Playbook.

March 15th Ups & Downs: The PA Democrats go two for two in state House special elections, a fight between two GOP Mayoral hopefuls in Philadelphia turns ugly, and one candidate’s website was launched a bit earlier than he’d like. All of that and more are in this week’s Ups and Downs.

Harrisburg & DC  
AP: Debate over nuclear power hits home in rural Pennsylvania
WITF: Come Monday, Pennsylvanians can apply for pardons for free
Inquirer: Montgomery County Democrats call on Sen. Leach to resign
Inquirer: Here are readers’ tips on how to take advantage of Pa.’s ‘unique’ college-savings tax breaks and savings guarantee
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: ‘We have reached a crisis point:’ Montgomery County Democrats call on Sen. Daylin Leach, who’s fighting sexual assault allegations, to resign
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Picking candidates for special elections can be a covert and complicated process. A state lawmaker wants to change that
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Senate says defamation lawsuit against Leach accuser will not affect investigation
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: This is every way the state Senate plans to reform criminal justice this session
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Consumers would foot the bill to prop up Pa.’s ailing nuke plants under state House proposal
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: ‘This wasn’t about the wall:’ On ‘Meet the Press,’ U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey defends vote against Trump’s emergency declaration
KYW Newsradio: Pa. auditor general continues push for transparency in drug pricing
KYW Newsradio: Turnpike Commission researches new ways to travel across the Commonwealth
KYW Newsradio: Pa. House leaders moving cautiously on nuclear power rescue bill
PLSReporter: Five bills to watch for the week of March 18
PLSReporter: Democratic leaders introduce protection for labor unions
PLSReporter: Capitol Crowd: Mike Straub, Press Secretary for House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler & Spokesperson for Republican Caucus
PLSReporter: 3 under 3!
PLSReporter: Tweets of the Week – March 11, 2019
Reading Eagle: Pennsylvania House Democrats have a good week
KDKA: Sen. Bob Casey Introduces Two New Bills Around Affordable Childcare, Tax Credit
KDKA: Gov. Wolf Orders State Flags To Fly At Half-Staff
StateImpactPA: Auditor general on climate change: Each disaster is ‘a hit to the state’s taxpayers’
Philly Voice: Pennsylvania is keeping an eye on ticks with statewide collection survey
Philly Voice: Proposed Pa. Senate bill would (finally) allow municipal police to use radar guns
Morning Call: Pa. congressional delegation responds to New Zealand terrorist attack

Philadelphia
Billy Penn: Kill the soda tax? Council candidates are sweet on repeal
Philadelphia Magazine: State Sen. Anthony Williams on Why He’s Running for Mayor
Philadelphia Magazine: Temple Professor and Cultural Lightning Rod Marc Lamont Hill on Being a Dissenting Voice   
KYW Newsradio: Johnson-Harrell breaks barriers as Pa.’s first Muslim woman state rep
KYW Newsradio: Philly Independents can’t pick candidates in May primary, but they can still vote    
KYW Newsradio: ‘Unity amongst ourselves’ at LOVE Park vigil for New Zealand victims
KYW Newsradio: Philly police step up security at mosques, synagogues after New Zealand massacre
KYW Newsradio: Therapist weighs in on parent involvement in wake of college admissions scandal
Philadelphia Business Journal: Philadelphia’s and Pennsylvania’s construction codes have changed. Here’s what you need to know.
WHYY Newsworks: Philly will ask voters to approve new breed of traffic cops
Inquirer: Darrell Clarke challenger Omar Woodard drops out of Philadelphia City Council race
Inquirer: Key Food grocery to replace West Philly ShopRite, sparking more debate over impact of soda tax  
Inquirer: How an obscure Philly nonprofit launched by Vince Fumo ended up in Johnny Doc’s control  
Inquirer: How ballot position can sway Philly elections — and why new voting machines won’t be a fix  
Inquirer: Appeals court weighing whether city’s salary-history ban violates employers’ free speech

SEPA
Inquirer: Montgomery County Democrats call on Sen. Leach to resign
Philly Voice: Proposed Pa. Senate bill would (finally) allow municipal police to use radar guns
Pottstown Mercury: Local residents to attend anti-pipeline rally in Harrisburg March 19
Pottstown Mercury: Senate hearing in East Whiteland to focus on robocalls
Pottstown Mercury: Leaders talk gun violence, background checks at Montco rally
Pottstown Mercury: Chester County sheriff attends veto signing event in D.C.
Delco Daily Times: Slates are set for countywide primary election in Delco
Daily Local News: Chesco Democrats have a host of primary choices

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Democrats pick IUP professor Susan Boser to replace retired state Sen. Don White, GOP choice to come
Tribune Review: Election officials campaign for poll workers in Allegheny, Westmoreland counties
Tribune Review: Primary candidate slate set for Murrysville, Export, Delmont
Post-Gazette: Mayor Bill Peduto: ‘The people of Pittsburgh are with you’ New Zealand
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh police beef up security at mosques, as many mourn another massacre
Post-Gazette: Activist Jasiri X launches petition to fire Pittsburgh FOP head
Post-Gazette: Trump budget proposes funds to finish Lower Mon locks and dam project
KDKA: AG Shapiro Announces Resources For Students Affected By Art Institute Closure
SWPA  
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Pa. lawmakers look to crack down on youth vaping
Observer-Reporter: Blight a major issue facing rural communities
Observer-Reporter: Greene County to begin collecting ticks under statewide study
Altoona Mirror: Baker announces AASB campaign

NEPA
The Times Leader: Pa. Turnpike OKs hyperloop study sought by Kaufer
The Times Leader: Luzerne County tax collection proposed in Courtdale
The Times Leader: Support needed for accurate 2020 Census, Luzerne County manager says
Times-Tribune: Western Pa. congressman addresses Friendly Sons
Times-Tribune: Faced with millions in needed City Hall renovations, Scranton officials discuss selling building
Citizens Voice: Church political signs don’t violate law

South Central  
LNP | LancasterOnline: How UPMC Pinnacle Lancaster’s closing is affecting Lancaster County’s emergency rooms
York Dispatch: ACLU accuses York County of trampling inmates’ rights
York Daily Record: State’s largest solar farm might land in York County, $75M project could power 13,000 homes   
York Daily Record: It’s time to elect your county and local leaders, York County. Here’s who’s on the ballot.
Carlisle Sentinel: Regional unemployment drops, wages still lag for certain sectors in Carlisle area
Patriot News: ‘It was evil. Pure evil’: 100+ gather at Pa. Capitol to condemn New Zealand terrorist attack

Lehigh Valley   
Reading Eagle: Berks lawmakers react to bill seeking to save nuclear power in Pennsylvania
Reading Eagle: Push on to get public meeting agendas released ahead of time
Reading Eagle: Pennsylvania wants residents’ thoughts on everything transportation
Morning Call: Politics as Usual
Morning Call: Ashley Daubert to run for 2-year seat on Bethlehem City Council
Morning Call: Northampton County Council explores industrial hemp possibilities
Morning Call: Slump in Allentown’s NIZ: Tax revenues dropped 11 percent in 2018
Morning Call: Lawsuit alleges Lehigh University overlooked sexual harassment to avoid charges of racial discrimination

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Erie County swing voters eyed for election focus group
Erie Times-News: Election will bring big change to Erie School Board
Erie Times-News: Company extends high-speed internet to rural Erie County
Erie Times-News: Erie has rich history of women in government
Erie Times-News: Empower Erie ready to ‘settle in for longer fight’ for community college
Centre Daily Times: It’s official: These are the candidates running to represent Centre County in 2019
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Jersey Shore school introduces budget; city pays levee cost  
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: As levee costs grow, next stage includes state funding

Opinion  
LNP Editorial Board: DA Stedman’s lawsuit against the commissioners and other recent moves raise questions about his judgment
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Cease the tit-for-tat: Expanding the Supreme Court would be disastrous
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Tone it down: Ilhan Omar, Juan Vargas should apologize for intolerance
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Justin Trudeau wavers: The Canadian PM is at risk of blowing his goodwill
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Evaluating claims:Disability examiners shouldn’t rely on social media
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Requiem for the suit: Dressing well for work is becoming a thing of the past
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Remorseless shepherd: George Pell could have helped church by owning his sins
Inquirer Editorial Board: Want to know how city property assessments work? Good luck.
Inquirer Editorial Board: Maybe there’s a chance to challenge Philadelphia’s entrenched political machine, after all
David Urban: Trump’s PA popularity no accident
John L. Micek: U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon spent a whole day wearing mismatched shoes. Twitter showed the love | Friday Morning Coffee
Sarah Anne Hughes: National media should take this 2020 pledge: Cite your local sources
Jerry Sweeney, Dr. Valerie Arkoosh and John Fry: Though expensive, the King of Prussia rail line is necessary
Will Bunch: In a rising tide of white nationalism, Trump’s presidency is morally unacceptable
Dick Polman: Welcome to Watergate 2.0
Jim Brewster: Let Pennsylvanians decide: Put marijuana legalization on the ballot
William B. Farquhar: 2020 federal budget won’t give enough money to science, and that directly harms Pa.
Jean Twenge: The mental health crisis among America’s youth is real – and it’s staggering
Timothy D. Lytton: This is how the Sandy Hook lawsuit court victory opens cracks in gun makers’ immunity shield
Nicole Neily: Students should rethink their role in free speech debates
Julie E. Wollman: Universities already protect and promote free speech
Anita Bernstein: Who’s the snowflake? We tenured professors, that’s who
Trudy Rubin: Burqas and betrayals: Is U.S. selling out Afghans to the Taliban?
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Armed Protection for houses of worship
Anne Fleming: Consumer rights are worthless without enforcement
Tim Hartman: So about that higher education funding problem | Editorial Cartoon
David A. Asch, Judy A. Shea, and Sanjay V. Desai: Long shifts for doctors don’t hurt their sleep or your health
Jim Friedlich: Must newspapers die? A prescription for revitalizing local news
Jess Rohan: Searching for Irish American identity in West Philly’s lost Corktown