Welcome back to work! We bid farewell to Pete DeCoursey, Harper Polling surveyed public opinion on a whole gamut of issues and Senator Robbins is retiring. The full Buzz will return on Monday. Happy New Year, politicos. Here’s the Buzz.

Mourning Pete DeCoursey: Peter L. DeCoursey, an inveterate political junkie who turned a lifelong obsession into a colorful news career, died Wednesday

2013 Ups & Downs: Happy New Year! Here’s a look back at who made the best of the year 2013, and who would like a do-over.

Harper Poll: PA Supports Transpo Bill, Minimum Wage Hike, and Steelers: A new survey from Harper Polling shows Pennsylvanian approval ratings for state policy and local sports teams.

State Sen. Robbins to Retire: Robbins, or northwestern Pa., is the fourth Republican state Senator to take a pass on re-election in 2014. State Rep. Michelle Brooks is expected to make a bid for the reliably Republican seat.

Legislative Election Updates:

HD-164: Another candidate has jumped in the Democratic primary against Rep. Margo Davidson (D-Montgomery): Dafan Zhang. An IT professional, he immigrated to the United States from China, fell into homelessness, but has gone on to earn a Masters from the Fels Institute at Penn, Certificate from Wharton and will have a JD from Penn this spring. He joins lawyer Billy Smith as well as Davidson in the primary.

HD-169: For the second time, West Manheim Township Supervisor Marc Woerner has entered his name as a candidate to represent the new district. When he entered his name in 2012, the redistricting plan was kicked back to the Legislative Reapportionment Committee before the primary. The 169th represents Codorus, Heidelberg, Penn, Manheim, Shrewsbury and West Manheim Township as well as Glen Rock, Hanover, New Freedom, Jefferson and Railroad Boroughs.

HD-173: State Rep. Michael McGeehan (D-Philadelphia) announced that he will not seek a 13th term next year. Following a redistricting deal that preserved his district at the sake of several of his Philadelphia colleagues, McGeehan chose to retire anyway. Names rumored to be seeking McGeehan’s seat are 41st Ward Leader Connie Rogers and owner of Finnegan’s Wake, Mike Driscoll.

SD-50: State Rep. Greg Lucas of Edinboro (R-5th Dist.) announced he’s running for the Pennsylvania Senate in the seat vacated by Senator Bob Robbins’ retirement. Lucas was elected to the General Assembly in 2012, and is a former Edinboro mayor and councilman.

The seat is a GOP stronghold and Representative Michele Brooks (R- Crawford/Mercer/Lawrence) announced Tuesday that she will also seek the nomination.

“It has been an honor serving the constituents of the 17th District in the State House and I am looking forward to carrying on the strong advocacy for our area in the State Senate” Brooks said.  “I promise to continue to be accessible to the people of this region and will be a tireless worker on your behalf.”