Evans leads Fattah, Fawcett drops out of the AG race and Biden comes to Philly. Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

PA-2: PPP Poll: Evans 37% Fattah 21%: The State Rep. leads the incumbent Congressman in the first released survey of the Democratic primary.

Fawcett Drops Out of AG Race: The Pittsburgh attorney said that his decision is partly an attempt to prevent Kane from being re-nominated.

PA-8: Petri Unveils New Endorsement Haul: The State Representative and Congressional candidate is highlighting the support of dozens of local officials.

Biden Visits Penn Medicine on ‘Moonshot’ Journey to Cure Cancer: The Vice President discussed his national effort to cure cancer in the next 5 years.

Reader Poll: Kane Still Has Her Supporters: Our readership apparently contains a number of defenders of the Attorney General.

Reader Poll: Will the Budget Situation Be Resolved in 2016?: We ask our readers whether a true budget agreement will occur this year.

PA-Gov: Wolf Announces New Rules to Reduce Methane Emissions: The Governor unveiled his four-point plan to improve air quality.

Legislative Elections Update

SD-9: Education activist Marty Molloy announced that he’ll be running in the April 26th special election.

“Pennsylvania’s budget is nearly seven months overdue because ideological extremists have obstructed this most basic duty of our state legislature, and have done lasting damage to communities, taxpayers and schools,” Molloy stated. “In order to bring real change to Harrisburg we need to elect new leaders who are beholden to the people, not to an extremist ideology. I am running to represent the residents of the 9th District because they deserve a budget that reflects their needs, not the wants of the wealthy and corporations.”

The 9th district consists of parts of Chester and Delaware Counties.

HD-170: Francis Nelms announced that he’ll be running for this State House seat.

“As a lifelong resident of the district, it would be an honor and a privilege to represent my family, friends, neighbors and fellow community members in Harrisburg,” Nelms said.

The 170th district is located in Northeast Philadelphia.

Statewide
PLSReporter: Senate starts working on piecemeal appropriations as complete budget deal remains elusive
PLSReporter: Gov. Wolf talks education funding, school choice
PLSReporter: VIDEO: Corman gives budget update
Capitolwire: Wolf, Senate GOP leaders to meet face to face for first time since partial veto of budget

Philadelphia
WHYY Newsworks: Volunteers signing up to show off the city at Democratic convention
WHYY Newsworks: Senate moves to restore funds for Pa. prisons
KYW: Mayor Pushes For Quality Pre-K In Philadelphia
Inquirer: In Philly Council, a move’s afoot to put helmets (and pads) on hoverboard users
Inquirer: Gov. Wolf proposes bill to protect patients from ‘balance billing’
Heard In The Hall: A mayor, a liberal lion, and a moment of tears

SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Bristol Township school board authorizes bond sale to fund school construction
Bucks County Courier Times: Newtown councilman Perry Warren running for state representative
Bucks County Courier Times: Plumstead psychologist seeks Republican nomination for 8th District Congress seat
Daily Times News: Parkside picks leaders, makes appointments
Daily Times News: Waltz wins second term as Rutledge council president
Bucks Local News: Northampton Township resident Mark Byelich announces candidacy for state representative

Pittsburgh
WESA: Pittsburgh’s Repeating Tragedy Of Unsolved Black Homicides
WESA: School Districts Increasingly Stocking Anti-Overdose Drug Narcan
WESA: How Do Other States Handle A Budget Impasse?
KDKA: Gas Prices Start To Tumble Below $2 A Gallon In Pittsburgh Area
Pittsburgh Business Times: Commercial real estate bubble feared due to increased foreign investment
Pittsburgh Business Times: Marcellus sees increase in rigs
Post-Gazette: Orie Melvin argues case against her is invalid
Tribune Review: Allegheny County councilwoman censured over legislation that led to release of records
Tribune Review: Pa. insurance regulator eyes an end to ‘surprise’ medical bills
Tribune Review: Homicide rate in Pittsburgh down, diverges from U.S. stats; other violent crimes rise

Southwest
Altoona Mirror: Cove board OKs hire
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: ‘Back in business’: Greater Johnstown receives $11 million for state
Beaver County Times: New Beaver County financial administrator will be paid $120,000 a year
Beaver County Times: Beaver County’s 2016 budget reopened in light of potential $17 million deficit
Beaver County Times: State senator proposes fund to keep schools, social services running during budget impasse

NEPA
Citizens’ Voice: Community leaders use city’s MLK event to inspire change
Standard Speaker: HASD police director resigns
Pocono Record: Wolf: Pennsylvania prison population declined by 842 in 2015
Times Leader: Hazleton mayor, council buoyed by drug bust, vow to continue fight on crime
Times Leader: Luzerne County hires Mary Roselle as new aging director

South Central
Patriot News: ‘We had him down on the floor with our foot on his throat,’ Sen. Scott Wagner says of Gov. Wolf
Patriot News: Senate panel advances bill to fund state prisons to avoid closures
Patriot News: Gov. Wolf issues new rules to oil and gas industry for methane emissions
Patriot News: Environmentalists, shale coalition respond to Gov Wolf’s new rules for methane emissions
Carlisle Sentinel: Gov’t report: Budget deficit to rise to $544 Billion this year
York Daily Record: Mayor to start Healthy Movin’ Mondays
York Dispatch: Pa. Rep. Grove seeks fifth term
Lancaster Intelligencer: City Planning Commission to consider parking garage Wednesday

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Allentown Council spurns Mayor Ed Pawlowski ahead of no confidence vote amid FBI probe
Morning Call: Gov. Wolf looks forward after rocky first year
Reading Eagle: Former Reading parking chief to get medical coverage

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Centre County Commissioner proposes economic startup grants
Erie Times- News: Sheriff sale symbolizes midtown Erie missteps

Opinion
KYW: Dom Giordano Column: Cops And Mayor Split On Sanctuary Stops
Citizens’ Voice: State action needed to advance ABLE program
Pocono Record: Guns: A false sense of security
Post-Gazette: Legalizing Lyft, Uber: The Pa. House should pass the ride-share bill
Post-Gazette: Iran’s ‘return’: The accord plays out over a bumpy road
Tribune Review: Keeping the Export-Import Bank at bay
Tribune Review: Clobbering coal
Inquirer: Trump factor in ‘16 campaign
Inquirer: A public right to police video

Blogs
2 Political Junkies: Religious Freedom WINS In Monroeville
Citified: Insider: Dwight Evans – Not Chaka Fattah – Is the Frontrunner in the Congressional Race
Citified: Can This New Plan Finally Fix Philly’s Decrepit Sidewalks?