Lamb launches a new ad, Congressional candidates continue to announce where they are running as petition season starts, DePasquale opts out of a run for Congress, and Leach officially ends his run.  Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

Lamb Distances Himself from Pelosi in New Ad: Democratic Congressional candidate Conor Lamb launched a new ad in the 18th district special election distancing himself from House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Johnson Switches to Newly Drawn PA-3: Democratic Congressional candidate Kevin Johnson announced he will continue running for Congress in the newly drawn 3rd Congressional district.

Ahmad Ends Congressional Run, Enters LG Race: Former Deputy Mayor of Philadelphia Nina Ahmad announced she is ending her Congressional run to enter the race for Lieutenant Governor.

Bloom to Run for New 13th District: State Rep. Steve Bloom announced he is running for the new 13th Congressional district that includes most of south central Pennsylvania.

DePasquale Will Not Run For Congress: State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale announced he will not run to challenge Congressman Scott Perry this year.

Leach Officially Ends Congressional Bid: State Senator Daylin Leach officially ended his Congressional bid after taking a step back from it following sexual harassment allegations.

Legislative Election Update
State House Sound Bites: After serious consideration, Auditor General won’t run for Congress
Post-Gazette: McClelland to enter race for newly drawn 17th District; Lamb gets early endorsement
Centre Daily Times: IUP professor announces run for new 15th district

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Wagner calls for mandatory death penalties for school shooters
City & State: Wagner attacks Wolf on school safety, opioids, taxes and more
Capitolwire: DEP budget hearing focuses on new hires.

Philadelphia
WHYY: Pa. auditor general won’t run for Congress
Inquirer: Former Mayor Kenney aide Nina Ahmad to run for lieutenant governor
Inquirer: Philly’s new school board has 27 nominees. Who will Mayor Kenney pick?
Inquirer: Pa. school district to move kids due to church honoring AR-15 rifles
Inquirer: Pennsylvania governor urges court to stick with new map
Philly Mag: Philly to Host “March for Our Lives” Anti-Gun Violence Rally
Philly Mag: Daylin Leach Drops Congressional Bid, Says He’s Keeping State Senate Seat
WCAU: GOP Governor Hopeful Wants Death Penalty for School Shooters
WCAU: Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf Defends New Election Map

SEPA
Daily Local: Dems position for runs in new 1st, 5th districts
Daily Local: Pennsylvania governor urges court to stick with new map
Bucks County Courier Times: State awards $1.5 million for traffic improvements in Bucks and Montgomery counties
Bucks County Courier Times: Gov. Tom Wolf urges court to stick with new map
Pottstown Mercury: Pennsylvania’s online voter registration hits 1 million milestone
Pottstown Mercury: Petition day arrives with Pa. congressional boundaries in doubt

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania’s online voter registration hits 1 million milestone
Post-Gazette: Pilot plan would give some Pa. newborns $100 down on college education
Post-Gazette: Westmoreland County sheriff charged with having deputies campaign for him
Post-Gazette: Special election absentee ballot application deadline is March 6
Post-Gazette: Public sector unions rally in Pittsburgh as Supreme Court hears case over mandatory dues
Post-Gazette: Joe Biden to speak at Duquesne University event honoring Dan Rooney
WTAE: Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf urges court to stick with new congressional map
Tribune Review: Latrobe earns Local Government Excellence nod
Tribune Review: Pennsylvania courts collect about half of what they’re owed
Tribune Review: Gateway School Director says Conor Lamb is ‘not one of us’ in political ad
Tribune Review: Murrysville council places additional conditions on Huntley & Huntley pipeline construction
KDKA: Gov. Wolf Joins President At White House For National Governors Association Gathering

Southwest
Beaver County Times: Beaver County labor leaders rally in wake of Janus case
Beaver County Times: PA’s online voter registration site surpasses 1 million users since 2015
Beaver County Times: Erin McClelland running to challenge Keith Rothfus for a third time
Altoona Mirror: Workers rally for union funding

NEPA
Times Leader: Hazle Twp. tax bills still delayed due to bonding issue
Times Leader: Budget transfers requested to fund three Luzerne County projects
Times-Tribune: Scranton school director to solicitor, consultant: Forgo fees
Times-Tribune: Scranton council no longer puts public comments in minutes

South Central
York Dispatch: Fireworks makers sue Wolf over 2017 budget-balancing bill
LNP: GOP governor hopeful wants death penalty for school shooters
Patriot News: Western Pa. sheriff forced staff to solicit political contributions while on duty: AG
Patriot News: Data breach may have put Pa. teachers’ personal information at risk
Carlisle Sentinel: DePasquale won’t run for Congress under new map
Carlisle Sentinel: Pennsylvania’s online voter registration hits 1M milestonePennsylvania’s online voter registration hits 1M milestone
York Daily Record: State Sen. Scott Wagner, Pa. governor candidate, says ‘we will kill’ school shooters
York Daily Record: A+ to F: Here’s how the NRA rates your legislators
WGAL: Pa. Senator Scott Wagner proposes mandatory death sentences for school shooters
Central Penn Business Journal: More than 500 state workers to see raises in July

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Scott Wagner vows to ‘kill’ school shooters with death penalty if elected governor
Morning Call: ‘I wasn’t correctly telling the truth,’ Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski testifies on final day on witness stand
Morning Call: Defense rests in Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski’s trial; closing arguments set Tuesday
Morning Call: Pennsylvania congressional candidates, new map in hand, finally hunting for names
Reading Eagle: Reading Redevelopment Authority director resigns
Reading Eagle: Reading City Council cheers rehab of bank building

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Lubrano won’t seek re-election as a PSU trustee, but says ‘our work is far from over’
Erie Times-News: Most Erie County public high schools to join national walkout
Erie Times-News: Erie Downtown Partnership to again offer facade, security camera grants

Opinion
Inquirer: Pa. Supreme Court’s congressional map advances radical, liberal agenda | Scott Wagner
Inquirer: City Council’s bike lane bill won’t make Philadelphia’s streets safer | Opinion
Tribune Review: Trib editorial: Teens find their voice
Post-Gazette: Fair justice: Support alternatives to incarceration for debtors
Patriot News: ‘Republicans are rigging our elections’ – Wolf fundraises off redistricting mess | Monday Morning Coffee
Patriot News: This Trump administration health-care rule would return us to the bad old days | Editorial