Check out our open thread on election endorsements, while judicial ad spending hits $2.4 million and Toomey finally sends in his blue slip. Plus, last week’s Ups & Downs! Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz!

5/15 Ups & Downs: Three things that will last forever: tragedy, triumph and polls. See who made this week’s list!

PHL-15: Open Thread for Philly Mayoral and City Council Newspaper Endorsements: A running tally of the newspaper endorsements in the City’s Mayoral and Council contests.

Open Thread of Judicial Newspaper Endorsements: A running tally of the newspaper endorsements in the commonwealth’s judicial contests.

PHL-15: Last-Minute Big-Name Endorsements for Kenney and Williams: With just four days left, some of Philadelphia’s most powerful officials are jumping off the sidelines.

Report: PA Supreme Court Ad Spending Hits $2.4 Million: The Brennan Center tracks the amount of cash judicial candidates have spent on TV time.

PA-Sen: Toomey Gives Official Approval for Judicial Nominee: The Senator finally turned in his blue slip.

AFT National President Randi Weingarten Supports Helen Gym at Rally: Jim Kenney and Seth Williams also attended the gathering.

Sunday Show Preview: May 17, 2015: We take a look at the Sunday morning political talk shows that will air throughout the state.

Tribune-Review Announces Judicial Endorsements for Tuesday’s Election: The paper chooses candidates for the Pennsylvania Supreme, Commonwealth, and Superior Courts.

Statewide
PA Independent: Mayoral candidates want to end state control of Philly schools
Capitolwire: More than 200 ‘marijuana overdose’ deaths in PA? No. (Read the fine print.)
Capitolwire: Charter school group calls Right-to-Know request ‘a publicity stunt’

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Accused in sting case cites race bias
Inquirer: Candidates woo voters on the last Saturday before Tuesday’s mayoral primary
Inquirer: Mayoral election is no foregone conclusion
Philly.com: Pa. officials report more than $160K in gifts, travel in ’14 (AP)
Philly.com: Cash flows above the $5M mark in race for state’s high court (AP)
Heard in the Hall: Outside groups spending big for Kenney as election nears
WHYY Newsworks: Lawsuit aims to give those with felony convictions the chance to work with older adults in Pa.
WHYY Newsworks: Philly pension will fill up…in time
WHYY Newsworks: Philly mayoral hopeful Milton Street talks political outlook with Jennifer Lynn
KYW Newsradio: Philadelphia mayoral candidates make final push ahead of primary election
KYW Newsradio: Anthony Williams downplays polling data showing Jim Kenney with strong lead in Philadelphia mayor’s race

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Pa. bills target secret public-sector union contracts
Pottstown Mercury: PA Fact Finder: Would the average homeowner get a more than 50 percent property tax cut under Wolf’s plan?
Pottstown Mercury: Corman defends pension bill, says Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget lacks votes
Delco Daily Times: Push for medical marijuana OK’s by Pa. Senate hits roadblock in House

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Tuesday’s primary could help determine shape of Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Post-Gazette: Primary squabble grows for Democrats over city council seat in District 11
Post-Gazette: Monroeville to join lawsuit against Verizon
Post-Gazette: Proposal to shorten terms stirs opposition
Post-Gazette: Squirrel Hill Democrats stand behind deceased Councilwoman in election battle
Tribune-Review: Compensation disparities vast among Pennsylvania educators
Tribune-Review: Butler County to host Santorum’s ‘big announcement’
Business Journal: IRS filing: Romoff’s salary tops $6.5 million
Business Journal: State of downtown 2015: More restaurants show an appetite for a growing Golden Triangle

Southwest
Altoona Mirror: Cell tower’s future rests with state
Altoona Mirror: Committee criticizes two Hollidaysburg Area School Board candidates
Beaver County Times: Arbitrator rules in favor of axed Economy road foreman
Beaver County Times: Lawsuits settled over toxic ‘rain’ from Bruce Mansfield power plant in Shippingport
Tribune-Democrat: Hotly contested races may bring unusually high primary turnout
Tribune-Democrat: Johnstown City Council policy issues on primary ballot
Tribune-Democrat: ‘Really amazing people’: Pitt-Johnstown events enhance Showcase for Commerce

NEPA
Times Leader: Stevens releases plan to improve courts, earn citizen respect
Times Leader: Will Luzerne County voters show up at the polls Tuesday?
Times-Tribune: Commissioners race highlights primary election ballot
Times-Tribune: Invenergy’s neighborliness tested
Standard Speaker: Youth group leaders concerned about background checks
Standard Speaker: Associations of area Realtors vote for merger

South Central
Carlisle Sentinel: Carlisle school board members defend decision to leave out extra state revenue
Harrisburg Patriot News: Advocates rally for medical marijuana legalization in Lancaster
Harrisburg Patriot News: When is the Primary election? And what’s at stake?
Harrisburg Patriot News: Harrisburg clery hoping for divine intervention to deliver “souls to polls” in Tuesday’s election
Lancaster Intelligencer: 3 seek nomination in busy southwestern Lancaster city district court
Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon County candidates prepare for home stretch

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: IESI Bethlehem Landfill donates $20k to Lower Saucon Council race
Morning Call: Signs with Allentown district justice’s name to be covered on Election Day
Morning Call: Lehigh County Republicans spend $91,000 in primary race
Morning Call: Five vie for Easton city council
Morning Call: Browning battles Republican slate in Lehigh County commissioners primary
Reading Eagle: State Sen. Judy Schwank talks property taxes, pensions, and medical marijuana
Reading Eagle: Complaints filed in Reading district judge race
Reading Eagle: Berks District Attorney to investigate donation to Wally Scott’s campaign
Express Times: Ron Angle running as a write-in candidate for Northampton County controller

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Commissioner candidates propose ways to prevent more tax hikes
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Figures for county commissioner race released by office
WIlliamsport Sun Gazette: City Council contenders offer views to levee funding solutions
Erie Times-News: Erie County District Attorney Daneri has no competition in primary
Erie Times-News: Schaaf won’t have to count votes in Erie County controller’s race
Erie Times-News: Erie County Coroner Cook, opponent Fetzner get ready for fall race

Opinion
Pottstown Mercury: Both sides must compromise on pension reform
Bucks Co. Courier Times: Save Obama (on trade)
Delco Daily Times: Pension reform too important to slide
Inquirer: Pension bill a chip in a game
Post-Gazette: Prime choices: A recap of Post-Gazette endorsements for Tuesday
Tribune-Review: Primary 2015: Trib Total Media endorsements for Tuesday’s primary
Daily Local News: The saving or sinking of Obama’s trade deal
Reading Eagle: No excuses: office seekers must obey fundraising rules
Harrisburg Patriot News: Now it’s the House’s turn on pensions- if they can pull it off

Blogs
Citified: The No-B.S. City Council at-large Election Guide
Citified: The mayoral race gets weird – real weird
Keystone Crossroads: Multiple Choices: The ins and outs of school funding in Pennsylvania
PA Budget & Policy Center: How the achievement gap has cost Pennsylvania dozens of billions of dollars