We ask if Toomey can overcome presidential headwinds, Waxman takes on Sims while Kenney is sworn in as Mayor of Philly. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz!

PA-Sen: Can Toomey Win in a Blue State?: Will the Senator be able to secure his re-election if the GOP doesn’t flip PA’s 20 electoral votes?

HD-182: Waxman Officially Declares His Candidacy: The Democrat will be running against State Rep. Brian Sims in the primary.

HD-159: Kirkland Unresigns?: The Chester Mayor apparently wants to remain in the State House.

Dept. of Revenue Releases December Figures: Collections were up 50% from November.

PHL: Kenney Sworn in as Mayor of Philadelphia: Jim Kenney is the 99th Mayor of the City of Brotherly Love.

Legislative Elections Update:

HD-194: Sean Stevens, an East Falls lawyer and committeeperson from the 38th ward, is seeking the Democratic nomination. State Rep. Pam DeLissio currently holds the seat and she survived a primary challenger in 2014 that Stevens supported. The 194th district covers parts of Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.

Statewide
PLSReporter: IFO: December revenue trends up over prior year
PLSReporter: General Assembly continues wait-and-see approach as leaders looks for a budget solution
State House Sound Bites: New Year, Same Budget Squabble

Philadelphia
Inquirer: East vs. West looms in Pa. Democratic Primary for A.G.
Inquirer: Wolf: Legislators silent on budget
Inquirer: Philly Council’s new look
Inquirer: Mayor Kenney’s Speech
Inquirer: Council President Clarke’s Speech
Daily News: Pa. Politics: What lies ahead?
WHYY Newsworks: Three Republicans battle for Bucks County seat in Congress

SEPA
Courier Times: Area school boards have until Thursday to make taxing decision
Delco Daily Times: New Chester Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland appoints Darren Alston as top cop in city
Montgomery Media: Ferman reflects on career as Montgomery County DA
Montgomery Media: Plymouth Councilman Sheldon Simpson reflects on service
Bucks Local News: Morrisville Borough Council approves $4.29M operating budget for 2106 before midnight deadline, contains slight property property tax hike
Daily Local News: No word from state on withheld tax payments due to budget impasse

Pittsburgh
KDKA: Republicans take control of Beaver County with woman as its chair
KDKA: Former County Councilman Convicted of Theft To Stand Trial For Perjury
Post-Gazette: Mt. Lebanon commissioners appoint new municipal manager
Post-Gazette: Survivor of mold outbreak sues UPMC claiming negligence
Tribune Review:  Klaus re-elected Pittsburgh City Council president
Tribune Review: Fitzgerald vows to move Alleghany County forward in second term
Tribune Review: DeFazio returns as County Council president
WTAE: Law to decriminalize marijuana, hash in Pittsburgh takes effect
Business Times: Allegheny Technologies to lay off 259 employees in Beaver County

Southwest
Tribune-Democrat: GOP commissioners take top posts in Somerset County, make union contracts contracts a ‘priority’
Observer-Reporter: County chief clerkship changing hands
Observer-Reporter: Lucas, former prosecutor, will be presiding over criminal cases this year
Observer-Reporter: Greene County commissioners take office
Beaver County Times: Beaver County’s new sheriff cleans house on first day in office
Beaver County Times: United Steelworkers, ATI return to bargaining table with federal mediator

NEPA
Times Leader: Luzerne County Council members select chair and acting manager
Times Leader: Wilkes-Barre city council member sworn in Monday at F.M. Kirby Center
Pocono Record: Pa. poised to lose 1 seat in Congress
Daily Item: New year in Pennsylvania ends much-reviled business tax

South Central
Patriot-News: The check is (literally) in the mail to P.A. school districts, contractors, human service organizations; and other budget news
Patriot-News: Pennsylvania revenues continue to stay ahead of last year’s pace
Patriot-News: State lawmaker sworn in as mayor but holds on to legislative post
York Dispatch: York County’s new officials take oath

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Reading City Council members begin new terms
Reading Eagle: Democratic candidate will now run in 6th Congressional District
Reading Eagle: Wally Scott sworn in as mayor of Reading
Morning Call: Top Ed Pawlowski aide in line for settlement in Philadelphia whistleblower case
Morning Call: Allentown School District douses fashion firestorm over student purses

North by Northwest
Daily Times: Centre County swears in newly elected officials
Daily Times: Ferguson Township supervisor-elect declines seat
Times-News: Horton could lead Erie County Council in 2016

Opinion
Post-Gazette: Trouble in Cleveland: A youth’s death must lead to police reforms
Tribune-Review: Immigration roulette: Stop this ‘new normal’?
Patriot-News: Small city terrorism requires a local response
Patriot-News: Rick Santorum is on the air in Iowa – Will anyone notice?
Daily News: Day 1 of a new era in Philadelphia
Inquirer: Token promises
Inquirer: Ditching stereotypes from a galaxy far, far away

Blogs
Citified: The City Hall Parking Lot Is Finally Dead
Citified: 7 Big Shots on Jim Kenney’s Speech
Citified: Jim Kenney: “Black Lives Do Matter”
Commonwealth Foundation: Is Gov. Wolf Ignoring Credit Rating Agencies?
Keystone Crossroads: Saving Midcentury Modernist buildings in Pa. cities