PA-8 is already a 2016 toss-up, Wolf briefs reporters on his transition and Sestak tries to pull in Democratic support for his Senate campaign. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz!

PA-8: Sabato’s Crystal Ball Calls Seat a 2016 Toss-Up: Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick’s retirement makes the congressional seat one of the most competitive of the next campaign cycle.

PA-Gov: Wolf Briefs Reporters on Transition Process: The Governor-Elect held a conference call with reporters to discuss how the transition has gone so far.

PA-Sen: Sestak Receives Lukewarm Support but No Challenges From PA Democrats: After a failed Senate bid in 2010, former Rep. Joe Sestak is trying to garner the support of his Democratic counterparts for 2016.

Wecht Declares Candidacy for State Supreme Court: The Superior Court Judge will vie for the Democratic nominations for one of the three vacancies on the PA Supreme Court.

Smerconish Novel to Become TV Show: The Philadelphia native and talk radio host will have his latest book adapted for the small screen.

Statewide
PLS Reporter: Gov.-elect Tom Wolf discusses the first meeting of his steering committee, plans for his transition team
PLS Reporter: Auditor General: York City School District audit impeded by state receivership petition
StateImpactPA: UIL pulls the plug on PGW
StateImpactPA: DEP gives gas industry group $150,000 grant to study drilling
StateImpactPA: Industry documents show effort to hide health impacts of benzene
PA Independent: PA workforce agency seeks repayment relief following scathing audit
State House Sound Bites: Spending in Pa.’s 2014 gov campaign tops $82M
State House Sound Bites: Judge David Wecht running for state Supreme Court
State House Sound Bites: Pennsylvania adds to Medicaid expansion hotline staff
State House Sound Bites: Philadelphia protest over choke hold death disrupts tree lighting ceremony

Philadelphia
WHYY Newsworks: Temple students stage campus ‘die-in’ to protest Ferguson, Garner decisions
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. budget tussle the latest in a messy transition
The Inquirer: Gas prices dropping in Philadelphia area, nation
The Inquirer: Prison time for Traffic Court judge
The Inquirer: Supreme Court turns deaf ear to Gosnell
Daily News: Philadelphia NAACP on search for new leadership
The Inquirer: Corbett-Wolf race broke spending record
Daily News: City Commissioner position in dispute

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Navy revokes honorary title given to Cosby
Pottstown Mercury: Obama to announce Defense secretary pick Friday
Daily Local News: Group campaigns for state funding formula in education
Daily Local News: Coatesville school board picks new leaders

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: About 100 Downtown fast-food workers protest low wages
Post-Gazette: West Allegheny School District announces tentative agreement with teacher union
Post-Gazette: Point Park University unveils plans for 5-story theater complex Downtown
Post-Gazette: Auditor general: Department of Education ‘very uncooperative’ with ongoing audit
Tribune Review: Protesters march in Pittsburgh to call attention to concerns about police
Tribune Review: Wolf fires salvo over projected $2B deficit for Pennsylvania
Business Times: Shale gas production estimates might be overly optimistic: Researchers
Business Times: Peduto has big expectations for Resilient Pittsburgh program
KDKA: City Council Considering Proposal To Raise Real Estate Millage
KDKA: Councilwoman Proposing Changes To Animal Care Ordinances

Southwest
Observer Reporter: W&J president discusses higher education at White House
Observer Reporter: South Fayette Township rolling out new website
County Times: Berosh will not seek re-election as district attorney
County Times: West Allegheny officials reach agreement with teachers
Mirror: Bedford jail warden announces resignation
Daily Local News: Coatesville school board picks new leaders

NEPA
News Item: Shamokin votes to adopt 2015 $3.7M budget
News Item: Shamokin-Coal Twp. union always inevitable
Record: Developer eyes Mosier’s Dairy for retail-residential complex
Times Leader: Cyber school payment draws scrutiny at Northwest

South Central
Intelligencer: Wolf ‘hopeful’ that his first budget will reflect his priorities
Intelligencer: Political pollster explains how Tom Wolf made history
Daily Record: York City School District asks court to temporarily halt receivership petition
Daily News: Update: Lebanon County commissioners pass 2015 budget
Daily News: Cornwall-Lebanon effects officers: OKs comprehensive plan
Sentinel: Hertzler proposes more 2015 budget funding for CAEDC, farmland preservation
Patriot-News: Corbett administration doubles staffing for Healthy Pa. roll out
Patriot-News: Harrisburg mayor calls arrest of City Council vice president ‘unfortunate’
Patriot-News: District Attorney on City Council Vice President Sandra Reid’s arrest: Don’t interfere with police at work
Patriot-News: Cumberland County commissioners appear deeply divided on the direction of the 2015 county general fund budget
Patriot-News: Political insiders: ‘Compromise’ is key to Gov.-elect Tom Wolf’s gubernatorial success
Dispatch: Charter opponents join fight against York City receivership
Dispatch: York City firefighters’ union files lawsuit over proposed budget

Lehigh Valley
Express-Times: Lehigh Valley unemployment rate drops to lowest level since 2008
Express-Times: Northampton County files papers to block collection of Easton commuter tax
Eagle: Berks municipal leaders shown how to improve communities
Eagle: Pottstown Borough Council discusses crime and solutions
Eagle: Reading’s ‘Charlie Brown’ tree delights Charles Schulz’s daughter
Morning Call: Norco files lawsuit over Easton’s commuter tax
Morning Call: $1.2 million Allentown arena zone budget approved
Morning Call: U.S. Senate confirms Leeson as federal judge for Allentown

North by Northwest
Sun-Gazette: Mayor: Use impact fees to pay for police salaries
Sun-Gazette: Solicitor: Remove $300,000 from ‘15 income
Sun-Gazette: 1-mill tax increase likely for Muncy
Times-News: Erie County moves forward with application for CDBG funds
Times-News: Erie County wind energy proponents call for tax credit extension
Times-News: Unemployment rate slides in Erie, Crawford counties
Daily Times: Sen. Jake Corman fires back on NCAA’s duress argument in Penn State case

Opinion
Sun-Gazette: Attorney general’s independence must always be protected
Express-TImes: EDITORIAL: U.S. House interrupts its busy schedule to fight Nazis
Dispatch: OP-ED: End York City government as we know it
Patriot-News: Here’s hoping lawmakers make the right choices on pension reform: Michael Sobol
Philly.com: Benchmarks for mayoral candidates
Daily News: Conventional wisdom
Philly.com: Echoes of slavery in Ferguson era
Delco Daily Times: No end to problems in Chester Upland
Delco Daily Times: Pottstown needs immediate steps to stem violence
Post-Gazette: Park the ordinance: A blanket hold on gas drilling makes no sense
Post-Gazette: Obamacare works: Congress should stop threatening the ACA

Blogs
PA Budget and Policy Center: IT’S OFFICIAL: ZOGBY CONFIRMS $2 BILLION BUDGET GAP
Keystone State Education Coalition: Statewide Coverage – “Reality Check” looms for PA Budget