A new reader poll on petitions, Eagen and Cosgrove winners in last week’s poll, a late entry into the Philadelphia D.A. race, and a Philadelphia Native joins the Trump Administration.  Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

Reader Poll: Are Petitions The Best Way for Candidates to Get on the Ballot?: Petition season is upon us, so we want our readers opinion, is filing petitions the best way to get a candidate’s name on the ballot?

Reader Poll: Eagen and Cosgrove Should be Nominated: A plurality of our readers want Eagen and Cosgrove to be nominated by the Democratic Party for Commonwealth Court.

Tariq El- Shabazz Announces Bid for Philly DA: Tariq El- Shabazz, a former Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney, announced his bid for Philadelphia District Attorney.

Philadelphia Native Joins Trump Administration: Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, a Philadelphia Native, joined the Trump Administration replacing Michael Flynn as his national security advisor.

Statewide
Capitolwire: Day One of the 2017-18 budget hearings suggests another natural gas severance tax battle.
State House Sound Bites: Harrisburg’s GOP prepares to fight over new revenues
State House Sound Bites: Inter-Senate sparring after education chair’s divisive comment

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Tax on gas drillers, minimum wage hike questioned as Pa. lawmakers open budget hearings
Inquirer: How vulnerable is Bob Casey?
Inquirer: Soda companies, supermarkets report 30-50 pct. sales drop from soda tax
NewsWorks: Group urges Philadelphia to consider ‘supervised injection site’ to curb fatal ODs
NewsWorks: Harrisburg’s GOP prepares to fight over new revenues

SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Middletown recruiting center helping Army in quest to enlist soldiers
Bucks County Courier Times: New Hope accepts Bill Scandone resignation, discusses parking changes and leash law
Delco Times: ‘It saved my life’: Talk of Obamacare repeal worries addicts
Delco Times: Meehan votes against Dem push to get Trump tax returns; believes they should be public

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: In Pittsburgh, Amazon relies on machines to translate a global market
Tribune Review: ‘Permanent’ changes needed to fill state’s widening budget gap, economist tells lawmakers
Post-Gazette: As elected officials miss town hall events, constituents ask: Where are our representatives?
Post-Gazette: State lawmakers question drilling tax, wage hike as budget hearings begin
Post-Gazette: Fixing leaky PWSA line expected to cost $400,000, could take two months
Pittsburgh Business Times: U.S. Steel takes legal action against Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
WESA: Republicans Eye Revenue Assumptions In Wolf’s Budget
KDKA: Pa. Senator Wants To Lift Law Banning Sunday Automobile Sales
KDKA: Will Medical Marijuana Open The Door To Legalization, Decriminalization?
KDKA: Rep. Murphy Abruptly Cancels Duquesne U. Appearance Over Possible Protests
KDKA: Gov. Wolf Opposes Bill Banning Abortions After 20 Weeks
City Paper: CP Video: Protesters stage ‘town hall’ outside Senator Pat Toomey’s Pittsburgh office

Southwest
Beaver County Times: Crowd packs town hall on Affordable Care Act, “missing” posters distributed for Rothfus
Beaver County Times: Bridgewater approves docking fee amidst protests
Beaver County Times: Seven school districts apply for tax-increase exceptions
Altoona Mirror: Senate to debate education measure
Altoona Mirror: Polito to run for district judge
Altoona Mirror: Donaldson to seek Blair DA position
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: JRA new agreement with Pipelines Inc. may bring jobs to area
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Lawmakers question Wolf’s budget math

NEPA
Times-Tribune: Saying Scranton’s finances are much better, Courtright seeks re-election
Times-Tribune: Report: Immigrant entrepreneurs bolster local economy
Times-Tribune: Proposed state budget includes new money for tourism
Times-Tribune: Gas drilling plans murky
Times-Tribune: Jermyn Mayor Smallacombe won’t run for re-election
Pocono Record: Lawmaker pushes for more school choice money

South Central
Patriot News: In health care town hall held without Toomey, crowd decries Obamacare repeal
Patriot News: Lighter penalties for small marijuana possession? York County town is considering it
Patriot News: Sen. Eichelberger: Bad schooling, not skin color, behind call for vo-tech options for urban students
Patriot News: Trump’s national security adviser pick can ‘manage all those big elephants in one room’: Army War College prof

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Toomey a no-show at protesters’ town hall
Morning Call: Why S&P believes Bethlehem’s a better bet for investors for investors now
Morning Call: In Lehigh Valley, Trump’s deportation plan raises fears among immigrants, vows by officials to follow law
Morning Call: Attorney announces district judge candidacy
Morning Call: Repyneck to make second run for district justice
Morning Call: With millions at stake, DEP won’t give Allentown straight answer on sewage blending
Reading Eagle: U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello takes questions from Gov. Mifflin students

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Local beer distributors, convenience stores making changes under loosened state regulation
Centre Daily Times: Centre County Bar Association President Marshall running for judge
Erie Times-News: Erie considers urban farming-related zoning changes
Erie Times-News: More than 200 attend town hall; congressmen no-shows
Erie Times-News: Our view: Casey bill focuses on Erie woes

Opinion
Delco Times: Guest Column: Pa. court system needs change to serve people
Patriot News: Here’s a way to smarter Congressional redistricting: Franklin L. Kury
Inquirer: Commentary: When an authentic American hero was branded an ‘enemy’
Inquirer: Commentary: Philly drink tax means a healthier, better educated city
Inquirer: Inquirer Editorial: Trump mirrors Stalin and Mao in calling the media the ‘enemy’
Reading Eagle: Editorial: Pay heed to latest rules of the road