Meehan won’t challenge Casey for seat, PA GOP gets a new Chair, 2018 rumors abound at tense meeting.  Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

PA-Sen: Meehan Won’t Challenge Casey: The Congressman has decided that he will not run for U.S. Senate in 2018. The GOP is still looking for a top tier challenger in the race.

UPDATED: DiGiorgio Elected PA GOP Chairman: UPDATED: Party leadership elections and statewide judicial candidate endorsements also were held. Chester County GOP Chairman Val DiGiorgio was elected the new Chair of the PA GOP in tight race, 173 votes to 171.

Rundown from the PAGOP Receptions: Here are the rumors and scuttlebutt from the receptions and hotel bar at Friday night’s state committee meeting.

Wagner Stumps to Tense PAGOP Crowd: Instead of taking a victory lap, Republican activists are focused on the heated battle for party chair.

Education Advocates Flood Toomey Offices with Calls, Faxes: Pa.’s junior Senator’s office has been flooded with calls and faxes, all in an attempt to get him to switch his support of Betsy DeVos for Education Secretary.

Wolf Raised $2.5M in 2016, has $1.7M on Hand: Governor Tom Wolf will start the two year battle for a second term with $1.7 million in his war chest.

PA GOP Committee Meeting Preview: This weekend, the PA GOP’s heated Chair race comes to an end in Hershey. The Party will also be deciding who they will endorse for the 2017 statewide judicial elections.

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Constituents: We don’t feel we’re getting through to Toomey
StateImpactPA: FERC approves Williams’ Atlantic Sunrise pipeline

Philadelphia

Inquirer: In Philly, VP Pence urges Senate confirmation of Gorsuch for Supreme Court
Inquirer: Former PPA director handed out big raises to authority execs
Inquirer: In Philly, VP Pence urges Senate confirmation of Gorsuch for Supreme Court
Inquirer: Syrian family turned away at Philly airport returning to U.S.
Inquirer: Rep. Pat Meehan to forego challenge to Sen. Bob Casey
Inquirer: ‘No Pence! No fear!’ Philly crowds protest VP Pence, President Trump’s immigration orders

SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Furloughing of unemployment compensation workers leave unemployed waiting for help
Delco Times: Spokesman: Delco’s Meehan won’t challenge Casey for Senate in 2018
Delco Times: Hundreds rally in Media to opposed DeVos pick
Delco Times: Pa. braces for arrival of medical marijuana era

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: State Republicans pick new party leader in close vote
Tribune Review: Trump steps up attack on federal judge, court system
Post-Gazette: Rise in Pa. unemployment tests workforce agencies
Post-Gazette: Abortion-related bill set for vote in Pa. Senate committee
Post-Gazette: County committee will hear arguments for and against e-cigs, vaporizers

Southwest
Altoona Mirror: Altoona changes course on finance director post
Altoona Mirror: Workers seek quick vote on unemployment
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Local lawmakers appointed to state committees
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: GOP picks Chester County attorney to follow Gleason

NEPA
Standard-Speaker: Hazleton council to consider regulations for operators
Standard-Speaker: Bill would allow doe license apps online
Times-Tribune: Wolf looks to plug $3B budget deficit without increasing taxes
Tribune Review: Tax collector pay varies greatly in Lackawanna County

South Central
Patriot News: Close to 1,000 drawn to Harrisburg rally protesting Trump’s immigration stance
Patriot News: Pa. GOP picks new chairman, endorses judicial candidates
Lancaster Online: Capital BlueCross & Lancaster General Health partner on accountable care
Lancaster Online: Lancaster County DA Stedman earns GOP endorsement for statewide judge

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Easton Councilman running for Northampton County Council
Morning Call: With gerrymandering, Democratic gains may remain elusive in 2018
Morning Call: Newsmaker Q&A: Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania attorney general
Morning Call: Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez announces re-election bid
Morning Call: Allentown’s Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center provides a ‘supportive space’
Reading Eagle: Gov. Wolf faces tough Pa. budget, experts say

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Local officials encourage community to run for public office
Erie Times-News: ‘Cracker’ plant near Pittsburgh could fuel Erie area business
Erie Times-News: Some Erie residents get tax surprise
Sun-Gazette: Pipeline project to move ahead, but not without some opposition

Opinion
Patriot News: What do you call Gov. Wolf’s consolidation plans? Just a start: Charlie Gerow
Patriot News: Gov. Wolf wants to consolidate state services – will the GOP take ‘yes’ for an answer?: Tony May
Altoona Mirror: Pennsylvania has mastered ‘kicking can’
Standard-Speaker: These unemployed victimized further by gov’t dysfunction
Lancaster Online: State lawmakers devised a system of policing their own ethics under a cloak of secrecy
Daily News: Is Rep. Meehan making the political mistake of a lifetime?
Inquirer: Baer: The budget speech Gov. Wolf could give
Inquirer: Inquirer Editorial: Democrats should give Gorsuch fair hearing Obama nominee never got

Blogs
Billy Penn: SEPTA pulls Market-Frankford Line trains after cracks found; delays expected