A devastating poll for Gov. Corbett leads the morning news. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.
F&M Poll: Corbett’s Numbers Reach Historic Lows: The Governor’s approval rating has reached its lowest point ever and few voters believe he deserves to be re-elected.
Casey, Toomey Back Syria Action: Senators Casey and Toomey both voiced support for the President and for taking action in Syria. Some members of the congressional delegation disagree.
Shell Moves a Step Closer to PA Ethane Cracker Plant: Gov. Corbett pointed to the fact that the international oil company opened bidding for ethane to be used in the proposed cracker plant as a sign that the company will make good on its plans to build in western Pa.
Politically Uncorrected: Right Problem, Wrong Solution: The Pennsylvania legislature needs to be reined in. But proposals to shrink the state House and Senate won’t fix the problem.
Legislative election updates
SD-26: State Sen. Ted Erickson (R-Delaware) is retiring. The Delco GOP is very strong and party leaders are likely to choose the nominee. As of today, 2 more names have joined the original 3 that surfaced after Erickson announced retirement (those 3 are Delaware County’s Executive Director Marianne Grace, County Councilman Tom McGarrigle and state Rep. Nick Miccarelli). The two new names are state Rep. Joe Hackett, and Kelly Colvin, a Temple professor former staffer to Sen. Rick Santorum and U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon.
Statewide
Associated Press: Pa. Attorneys: Gays, Like Children, Can’t Marry
StateImpactPA: Consol Lays Out Massive Drilling Plan At Pittsburgh Airport
PA Independent: No E-ZPass? Here’s a bill. Electronic tolling planned for PA Turnpike
Philadelphia
Inquirer: State: Montco same sex marriage licenses meaningless
Inquirer: Nutter offers ‘streamlined’ plan to sell 31 school buildings
Inquirer: Nutter, Obama seek strategies to stem youth violence
Inquirer: Pa. judge punts on mixed-gender sports issue
PhillyClout: Former Councilman: Need $$ for schools? City should revisit soda tax
Commonwealth Confidential: PA Lottery privatization bid hangs on…
SEPA
Phillyburbs: Immigration reform supporters call for Fitzpatrick to support immigration reform
Phillyburbs: Corbett administration works to develop ‘creative’ Medicaid plan
Phillyburbs: 7 more charged in Bensalem school payroll, theft probe
Daily Times: Darby OKs employee pension payments despite questions
Daily Times: After two trailblazing double-lung transplants, Sarah Murnaghan returns home to a cascade of love (With Video)
Pittsburgh
Post Gazette: President of financially struggling Clarion University says she is ‘willing to take a pay cut’
Post Gazette: Third-party candidate may be off ballot in county race
Tribune Review: Ex-state education chief had been appointed to another post before resignation
WPXI: Pittsburgh Public Schools principal accused of exposing self to boy at McCandless gym
CBS: Corbett Extends Pa. Lottery Bid Another 2 Months
City Paper: Escaping Intolerance: LGBT Russian citizens seeking asylum from persecution in Pittsburgh and across the country
Southwest
Observer-Reporter: Murphy: Affordable Care Act not yet ready for prime time.
Observer-Reporter: Judge approves withdrawal of contempt hearing request in county reassessment case.
Observer-Reporter: Former Allenport fire officials plead guilty to stealing funds.
AP: Man won’t face death penalty in woman’s death.
AP: Court tackles boys playing girls’ sports in Pa.
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Report slams Pa.’s job policies.
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Bill seeks to relax environmental regulations.
Beaver County Times: Corbett administration works to develop creative Medicaid plan.
Beaver County Times: Cyber school founder, accountant appear in court.
Beaver County Times: Judge: Former solicitor must repay money to county.
NEPA
Times Leader: County election board says ‘si’ to Spanish ballot.
Times-Tribune: DCNR fueled with gas revenue.
Citizens’ Voice: W-B town hall meeting centers on city crime.
News Item: Coal Township commissioner resigns.
Wayne Independent: Liquor stores expand hours.
Standard Speaker: Mayor blasts bus merger at meeting.
South Central
Patriot-News: Cumberland County finances ‘run pretty well’; five takeaways from consultant’s initial look at budget
Patriot-News: Silver Spring Township officials entertain ‘Conservation by Design’
Patriot-News: Harrisburg officials say they’ll compromise on KOZ incentive
Carlisle Sentinel: Silver Spring Township gives update on Carlisle Pike Drainage Project
Carlisle Sentinel: Army Heritage Center Foundation request for county hotel tax dollars likely to fail
Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Gay couple seeks acceptance for their state of union.
Reading Eagle: Pa. lawmakers offer mixed views on Syria.
WFMZ: Local Syrians: U.S. should stay out of Syria.
Morning Call: Lehigh Valley Commissioners reject Adelaide tax zone.
Morning Call: Pa. could lose $27 million over bills to amend endangered species laws.
AP: Tom Corbett’s attorneys say same-sex couples barred from marrying, just like children.
North by Northwest
Centre Daily: Judge Kistler grants third extension for Garman decision
Centre Daily: ounty approves 911 contracts; project remains on schedule
Sun Gazette: Commissioners launch brownfield assessment project
Sun Gazette: Proposed chicken ordinance won’t be just about chickens
Sun Gazette: Mayor pulls resolution on pool grant off council agenda
Erie Times-News: Millcreek Township School District addressing bus issues
Erie Times-News: Reduce state Legislature? Not so fast
Opinions
Inquirer: Inquirer Editorial: Head Start cuts mean falling behind
Inquirer: Inquirer Editorial: Collect them all
J. Matthew Wolfe, Inquirer: Flawed ‘Shared Prosperity’ plan
Blogs
Keystone Politics: New Fracking Deregulation Used Immediately by Corporation That Lobbied For It to Sue PA Families
Keystone Politics: Advocacy Journalism is Still Useful Journalism
Keystone Politics: Republican Party Identification Hits a New Low
Commonwealth Foundation: No Award for PLCB “Effort”
PA Right to Work: Who’s Really Fighting for PA Workers?.