Rafferty is running for Attorney General, Gerlach gets a new job and Restrepo’s confirmation process is underway. Plus, last week’s Ups & Downs! Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz!
6/12 Ups & Downs: Gubernatorial headaches, state party rumors and 2016 news. See who made this week’s list!
BREAKING: Rafferty to Announce Campaign for Attorney General: The State Senator is set to jump into the race on Wednesday.
PA-6: Gerlach Takes Over Business-Industry PAC: The six-term congressman will become their president and CEO.
Restrepo Confirmation Process Underway: The PA-based judge faced his first round of questions in the Senate yesterday.
Sunday Show Preview: June 14, 2015: We take a look at the Sunday morning political talk shows that will air throughout the state.
Statewide
State House Sound Bites: The Capitol’s annual air-quality alert
WITF: Pigs Partner with the State
WITF: Another former PLCB executive fined for ethics violations
WITF: US court rejects effort to ban capital defenders group in Pennsylvania
WITF: Pennsylvania accused of lax regulation of nursing homes
PA Independent: Pennsylvania family forced to pay $500 for a chance to keep girl’s tree house
Capitolwire: ‘Obvious interference’ from Wolf administration prompts emergency court filing
Capitolwire: Labor and Industry Dept. reviewing unauthorized letter to vocational rehab agencies
Philadelphia
Inquirer: Rite of Summer: Costs of schools raising property taxes
Inquirer: Historic club avoids revocation of liquor license
WHYY Newsworks: Denying she embellished stories about Philly neighborhood, Goffman stands by book
WHYY Newsworks: Mayfair business improvement district moving forward in Philly City Council
WHYY Newsworks: To play online in Pa., sign up at the door
KYW Newsradio: People from Across America Visit Philadelphia to Celebrate Flag Day
KYW Newsradio: City Councilman’s Effort to Preserve Bees Swatted Down by Nutter Administration
Philadelphia Business Journal: Mayoral nominee Kenney wants to expand PPA’s power
SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Advocates call for fair funding for Pa. schools
Pottstown Mercury: Local Montgomery County education advocates urge legislature to adopt fair education funding formula
Pottstown Mercury: Misspelling on signs costs Montgomery County $4k
Pottstown Mercury: Berks commissioners: County owed millions in 911 fees
Delco Daily Times: Prison release rarely an option for dying state inmates
Daily Local News: Avon Grove board OKs general fund budget
Pittsburgh
WESA: 5 Things You Should Know About Jeb Bush
WESA: Clinton Sketches Populist Message In First Major Speech Of Campaign
WESA: Potential ‘Palcohol’ Sales Worrying Some PA Lawmakers
Pittsburgh Business Journal: Trade deals off track — at least temporarily — as Democrats reject Obama’s pleas
Pittsburgh Business Journal: What to know about foreign exchange risk when going global
Post-Gazette: Experts say Pa. senator’s $100,000 loan to colleague may skirt campaign laws
Post-Gazette: Local hearing held on governor’s long-term care plan
Tribune-Review: Gas pipelines’ routes key to public acceptance
Tribune-Review: State Dem. chair: Governor doesn’t want me in the job
Southwest
Altoona Mirror: Reps decry death delay, but penalty can’t be done
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Land banks help aid prospective buyers of blighted homes
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Estimated tax: Who needs to pay?
NEPA
Pocono Record: Schools, lawmakers tackle truancy
Standard Speaker: As budget deadline looms, both sides still far apart
Times-Tribune: Anti-online-gambling campaign targets Luzerne County
South Central
Carlisle Sentinel: Carlisle and South Middleton boards set to vote on budgets this week
Carlisle Sentinel: Carlisle accepts $400,000 grant from Environmental Protection Agency
Patriot-News: Black religious leaders organize in support of Wolf’s proposed budget
Patriot-News: Background fee waiver for volunteers draws appreciation, provokes disgust
Patriot-News: State university faculty talks break down with no progress made
Lancaster Intelligencer: High drug prices boost Medicare payments to docs here
Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Communities can do little to keep PennEast pipeline out
Reading Eagle: Greenwich Township, Kutztown candidates win primary races in write-in votes
Reading Eagle: Meehan: Cyber attacks against US could happen again
Reading Eagle: Pottstown student makes run at school board
North by Northwest
Campaign ’15 Erie: Cole offers 3 reasons to attend Erie County Dem picnic
Campaign ’15 Erie: Casey applauds House defeat of trade bill
Onward State: Lawmakers Revive Bill To Reform “Abysmal Cesspool” NCAA
Sun-Gazette: Local hearings will help state budget talks
Sun Gazette: County prison population showing slight decline
Erie Times-News: Erie the 8th fastest-shrinking city in U.S.
Opinion
Inquirer: Have voters had enough?
Pottstown Mercury: Is more freedom for infamous killer the right choice?
Delco Daily Times: Honor the U.S. flag, long may it wave
Post-Gazette: Healthy interest: The public must know fracking solution content
Post-Gazette: Playground cop: Kane must crack down on UPMC and Highmark
Tribune-Review: Russia’s missile violations: Stop the coddling, Mr. President
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Bill Lloyd: Blue-collar Republicans must wise up
Observer-Reporter: Offensive politicians
Pocono Record: Drones are not just fun and games
Standard Speaker: Supreme Court rules on side of religious freedom
Times-Tribune: Bank’s future down to wire
Times Leader: Rep. Mike Sturla: Gas industry should pay fair share in Pennsylvania
Patriot-News: Sparring between Wolf and lawmaker shouldn’t obscure the need to improve child protective law
Patriot-News: Gov. Wolf, give up your fight against Office of Open Records appointment and move on
Lancaster Intelligencer: Pa.’s child-protection law deserves a far better fix
Lancaster Intelligencer: Care, not speed vital to elections
Blogs
Citified: How the Beverage Lobby Quietly Killed the Soda Tax in Philly, Again
Citified: How to Stop the Annual School District vs. City Council Smackdowns
Commonwealth Foundation: A Solution for Persistently Failing Schools