Kathleen Kane takes up the mantle as Harrisburg’s top Democrat and jams Gov. Corbett. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.

Don’t forget to check back later for the Ups & Downs.

Kane Says Lottery Contract Illegal: Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced today that has rejected the contract between the State of Pennsylvania and Camelot Global Services PA LLC on the basis that agreement constitutes an “unlawful extension of executive authority.”

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Kane rejects lottery privatization deal
PA Independent: UPDATED: PA’s private lottery contract unconstitutional, AG says
StateImpactPA: My Fracking Valentine
StateImpactPA: “Northern Tier Counties Top State List of Marcellus Air Pollution”
Capitolwire: AG Kane rejects Corbett’s contract to outsource Lottery management. UPDATED with Corbett comment.
Capitolwire: House OK’s RACP debt reduction bill which reduces cap less.
Capitolwire: POINT OF ORDER: Medicaid expansion might not be the no-brainer decision supporters claim.
Capitolwire: David L. Cohen, power broker with Dem resume, to support Gov. Corbett’s re-election.

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Councilman seeks hearing on schools’ child-release policy
Inquirer: Kane’s rejection of Corbett’s lottery plan sets off fireworks
Inquirer: Greene’s trial on hold while sides work on settlement
Inquirer: Brown’s former campaign manager pleads guilty
Commonwealth Confidential: Kane rejects Pa. lottery contract, citing constitutional grounds
Heard in the Hall: Councilwoman’s former campaign manager pleads guilty
Heard in the Hall: Valentine’s Day in City Council, South Philly style
Philly Clout: Blondell Reynolds Brown’s campaign manager pleads guilty in federal court
WHYY Newsworks: Are my Philly property taxes going up?
WHYY Newsworks: Philly councilwoman’s treasurer pleads guilty to stealing campaign funds
City Paper: Philly minimum wage workers tell of tough choices
KYW Newsradio: Pa. Attorney General Invalidates Gov. Corbett’s Lottery Privatization Plan

SEPA
AP: Pa. attorney general rejects lottery contract
AP: Pa. voter ID law won’t be enforced in May primary
AP: Ex-Pa. House employees lose appeals court rulings
Bucks County Courier Times: PA lawmakers work to prevent Sandy Hook from happening here
Bucks Local News: Poll: Pennsylvanians want end to government booze sales
Bucks Local News: Pennsylvania lawmaker advocates legalization of marijuana, says it could pour millions into state coffers
Bucks Local News: Governor announces liquor privatization plan highlighting consumer choice, convenience; $1 billion to education
Bucks Local News: STATE OF THE NATION: Bucks County Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick said ‘certainty tough decisions’ are what’s needed from Washington, D.C.
Bucks Local News: ‘No Budget, No Pay, legislation passes U.S. House, Bucks County Congressman extols bipartisan passage
Daily Local News: State Rep. office helping veterans with claims
Daily Local News: Legislation targets natural gas pipeline projects
Delco Daily Times: Senate OKs Pileggi bills to abolish Philadelphia Traffic Court

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh settles final G-30 arrest lawsuit
Early Returns: Police and politics
Tribune-Review: County gives first approval to $500M to drill at airport

Southwest
Altoona Mirror: Altoona Area school board will close two schools this summer
Altoona Mirror: Home rule to be on ballot
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Airport trade zone talks become heated

NEPA
The Times-Tribune: Senate panel hears NEPA outlook on school safety
The Times-Tribune: Northern Tier counties top state list of Marcellus air pollution
The Times-Tribune: Bill to strengthen tax-exemption status advances
Citizens Voice: Former lawmaker gets rehab for drunken assault
Wayne Independent: Farina collecting winter coats
Standard Speaker: State health centers face consolidation
Standard Speaker: State DEP moving closer to finalizing oil and gas rules
Standard Speaker: House panel: Restore human services aid
Standard Speaker: Election board criticized for voting problems

Lehigh Valley
AP: Corbett fighting Associated Press request for emails, calendar entries
Morning Call: AG Kane: Pennsylvania Lottery contract illegal
Morning Call: Cash-strapped Allentown eyes colleges, hospitals for contributions
Reading Eagle: Schmehl appears before Senate Judiciary Committee
Reading Eagle: Board OKs preliminary budget, will apply for tax-hike exceptions
WFMZ: Lt. gov. touts liquor privatization in Exeter; some still not sold on plan
Express Times: Lower Nazareth Township moving into new municipal complex by end of summer
Express Times: Executives who stole from Bethlehem Township, Pa., arraigned in Coplay case
Express Times: Tweeting from Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan’s state of city address
Express Times: Warren County freeholders vote to let public decide on county borrowing above certain amount
Express Times: Ryan Conrad seeking re-election to Lower Macungie Township board
Express Times: Gov. Tom Corbett plans to ‘review our legal options’ over Pennsylvania lottery rift with attorney general – UPDATE

South Central
AP: PA. voter ID law won’t be enforced in May primary
AP: Attorney General Kane rejects Pa. lottery contract
Harrisburg Patriot-News: Groups representing Pennsylvania Lottery beneficiaries divided over Kane’s contract decision
Harrisburg Patriot-News: New bill could open another fight between Pennsylvania, NCAA
Harrisburg Patriot-News: Auditor General Eugene DePasquale comments on lottery contract rejection
Harrisburg Patriot-News: Camelot Global Services issues statement reacting to Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s rejection of its lottery contract
Harrisburg Patriot-News: Gov. Tom Corbett says he’s “deeply disappointed” with Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s decision on the lottery contract
Harrisburg Patriot-News: State Treasurer Rob McCord agrees with Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s lottery decision
Harrisburg Patriot-News: Sen. Rob Teplitz applauds Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s decision on lottery contract
Harrisburg Patriot-News: Attorney General Kathleen Kane says Gov. Tom Corbett overstepped his constitutional authority in signing the lottery contract
Harrisburg Patriot-News: AG Kathleen Kane rejects Pennsylvania lottery privatization contract
Harrisburg Patriot-News: Former U.S. Rep. Todd Platts to seek York County judgeship
Harrisburg Patriot-News: State court upholds Bonusgate convictions for two Mike Veon aides
York Daily Record: Former Congressman Todd Platts to run for county judge
York Daily Record: What York County lawmakers say about lottery rejection
York Daily Record: York mayorial candidate says he’s ‘gaming the system’ to win
Roxbury News: Attorney General Kathleen Kane: “The proposed contract contravenes the Pennsylvania Constitution”
Roxbury News: Municipal Financial Recovery Advisory Committee: Fred Reddig

North by Northwest
Campaign ’13 blog: Kelly bill seeks to block further NLRB action
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Today’s candidate: John B. Raymond
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Commissioner disburse room tax funds
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Mansfield distributes Act 13 monies, donates to regional water task force

Opinions
AP: Corbett challenges Open Records office
Pottstown Mercury: Montco forum parallels State of the Union
Bucks County Courier Times: Deficit? Who Cares!
Bucks County Courier Times: Liquidating the liquor stores: The good and the bad
Delco Daily Times: EDITORIAL: Time to put brakes on corruption in Traffic Court
Daily Local News: Time for Congress to end the gridlock in Washington
The Times-Tribune: Kane rightly ends loophole
Standard Speaker: Owners should pay for animal neglect
Pocono Record: School security won’t be easy, senators told
Pocono Record: Sen. Casey to chair subcommittee
Post-Gazette: Leadership void: The Pittsburgh police deserve better at the top
Express Times: Bethlehem, Upper Nazareth should consider savings under single-hauler contracts
Carlisle Sentinel: Our View: Legislature must act on alcohol plan
Harrisburg Patriot-News: Editorial: Obama’s challenge – and our own
York Dispatch: Editorial: Know the rules when you run for office
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Thinking with the electoral college
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Opting for small steps
Lebanon Daily News: We won’t drone on about US assassination policy

Blogs
Keystone Politics: Philly-Pittsburgh Amtrak price is competitive with the turnpike
Keystone Politics: A ‘Do Not Serve’ list for problem drunks maximizes freedom for responsible people
Keystone Politics: The more people we enroll in government ensurers, the more doctors will accept lower reimbursements
Keystone Politics: Kathleen Kane: Could she be more awesome?
Keystone Politics: Why are Kathleen Kane’s tweets protected?
Keystone Politics: Donate directly to political candidates
Penn Patriot: PSEA & the art of the bargaining chip
Penn Patriot: Attorney General Kathleen Kane rejects Governor Corbett’s lottery contract
Penn Patriot: Treasurer McCord issues statement on Attorney General’s rejection of lottery contract
Penn Patriot: Happy Valentine’s Day Governor Corbett