Happy Earth Day. Complete debate recap. Philly lifts mask mandate. Lt. Governor sideshow. Will recreational marijuana be coming to PA? Here is the Playbook.

PA Weather
Oakmont | Partly Sunny, 67
Old Forge | Sunny, 62
Oxford | Sunny, 68

PA Sports
76ers (lead 3-0) | SAT at TOR
Flyers (24-43-11) | won at MON, 6-3; SUN vs. PIT
Penguins (44-23-11) | won vs. BOS, 4-0; SUN at PHL
Phillies (5-8) | FRI, SAT, SUN vs. MIL
Pirates (6-7) | won at CUBS, 6-3; FRI, SAT, SUN at CUBS
Union (5-1-1) | SAT at MONT

News

PA Senate Race: Fetterman, Kenyatta, Lamb Meet on Debate Stage: Democratic voters finally got their wish on Thursday night and the three leading candidates for the nomination for U.S. Senate delivered in a 60-minute debate.

• Reader Poll: Who Won the Democratic Senate Debate?: You saw the debate. Now let us know who you think won the debate.
• AP: Live TV debate exposes Democrats’ differences in Senate race
• Inquirer: 5 takeaways from Thursday’s Pennsylvania Democratic Senate debate
• PennLive: Democratic Senate hopefuls square off in first TV debate, taking on guns, immigration and other issues
• Post-Gazette: Frontrunner Fetterman defends his platform, 2013 Braddock incident in Democratic U.S. Senate debate
• Politico: Fetterman comes under fire in first televised debate 
• The Hill: 5 takeaways from Pennsylvania’s Democratic Senate primary debate
• ABC27: Fetterman fends off attacks in Pennsylvania Democratic U.S. Senate Debate
• Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. Democrats vying for U.S. Senate highlight policy divides in televised debate
• Out-of-State Money Pours Into PA: Single-candidate super PACs are dropping millions of dollars into the Keystone State, showing the magnitude to which high-profile congressional races have been nationalized.
• CNN: Senate front-runner in Pennsylvania embraces Biden and progressive agenda amid Democrats’ midterm dilemma 
• CNN: Contentious Pennsylvania race could decide US Senate balance 
• Huffington Post: Pennsylvania GOP Senate Candidates Flip-Flop All Over The Place On COVID Precautions
• City & State PA: New endorsements in Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race

PA Governor Race: ‘Pair trade barbs in GOP lieutenant governor’s race sideshow’: The Associated Press reports that “a Republican seeking his party’s nomination for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor in next month’s primary threatened one of his eight opponents that he plans to confront him in person over a Facebook post raising questions about his background because it merely mentioned his wife.”

• Philly Clout: The Republican primary for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor is taking a testy turn
• City & State PA: Shapiro doubles down on support for Davis after clash with Sims over TV ad
• WESA: Shapiro rolls out jobs plan in Pittsburgh visit

Will Recreational Marijuana Be Coming Soon to PA?: Now that the state of New Jersey has legalized recreational marijuana, how long will it be before Pennsylvania follows suit? State senator Mike Regan has signaled it could happen soon.

‘Wolf’s climate rule to be published, making Pa. first fossil fuel state to price carbon’: StateImpactPA reports that “the agency tasked with entering new regulations into the state’s official record is set to publish the Wolf Administration’s climate rule this weekend.”

‘Constitutional amendment to sell off liquor stores would pass: poll’: PennLive reports that “a recent poll suggests a constitutional amendment asking voters if they want the state to get out of the retail wine and spirits business has a strong chance of passing.”

City & State PA’s Biggest Winners & Losers This Week: City & State PA highlights the three winners and losers in Pennsylvania politics last week.

‘White House: Pa. to receive additional $19.3M to help cover home energy costs’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “with winter turning into spring, and with Pennsylvanians turning off the heat, and soon turning on the air conditioning, the Keystone State is in line to receive an extra $19.3 million in federal funding to help them cover their home energy costs, the Biden administration said Thursday.”

‘Pa. state grants for college students may rise to new record-high of $5,750’: PennLive reports that “eligible Pennsylvania college students could see a record-high maximum in state financial aid grants next year.”

‘PA Cannabis Festival in Kutztown expected to draw more than 40,000 this weekend’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “the Pennsylvania Cannabis Festival — whose goal is to raise awareness to end cannabis prohibition in the Keystone State — returns this weekend to Renninger’s Farmers Market in Kutztown.”

‘2 schools, 6 sets of sports teams: NCAA gives OK to merger’: The Associated Press reports that “sports teams at six state-owned Pennsylvania universities will still compete against each other despite merging into two umbrella institutions, the State System of Higher Education announced Wednesday.”

‘Low-producing oil and gas wells are high methane emitters, study finds’: StateImpactPA reports that “older, low-producing wells provide just six percent of oil and gas production in the U.S. But a new study found these wells account for half of all climate-warming methane pollution from the industry.”

‘Philly lifts mask mandate, hours after Mayor Jim Kenney defended it’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Philadelphia’s Board of Health rescinded its indoor mask mandate Thursday night — three days after it went into effect, and hours after Mayor Jim Kenney defended the controversial policy that made his city an outlier in the national COVID-19 response.”

Legislative Election Updates

‘Election 2022: Where the Republican Senate candidates for Lehigh Valley’s new 14th District stand on election integrity, education, gas prices and more’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “they are now just six very different people who share a passion for public service, but one is almost certain to be taking a brand-new job with huge implications for the Lehigh Valley.”

‘Ryncavage challenges Williams to debates; he accepts’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Plymouth Borough Councilman and business owner Alec Ryncavage, a 21-year-old Republican candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 119th District, Thursday issued a challenge to former WNEP morning news broadcaster and opposing GOP candidate Tom Williams to three debates across the district. Williams, 57 of Fairview Township, accepted the challenge.”

Regional Spotlight: North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: U.S. Rep. Fred Keller, other officials talk higher education, apprenticeships on tour of PMF Industries
Erie Times-News: Should taxpayers reimburse Joe Schember for $4,000 in home security upgrades?
Erie Times-News: Erie officials expect to resettle Ukrainian refugees. Here’s what we know
Erie Times-News: Powered up: City of Erie eyes solar power for its central firehouse
Erie Times-News: ‘In midst of a crisis’: DA, mayor, police urge unity as crime surges
Erie Times-News: Erie City Council rejects Schember reimbursement, delays zip line vote
Erie Times-News: Erie City Council urged to support heavy investment in youth programs
WJET: Request to fund Mayor’s home security system voted down
Erie Times-News: Erie planning director Kathy Wyrosdick stepping down in May
WJET: Erie County Council requests three new positions for economic development
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Williamsport treasurer formally resigns position
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: County commissioners declare emergency disaster in Lairdsville
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Financial outlook reveals challenges and opportunities ahead
Centre Daily Times: ‘A perfect fit.’ Ferguson Township appoints new manager after national search

Opinion  
Alex Khalil: ‘Being a voice for the voiceless’
Colleen Kennedy: Here’s what Pa. lawmakers could do if they really wanted to protect women and girls
Paul Muschick: How a Parkland High School class could be an answer to Pennsylvania’s volunteer firefighting crisis
John L. Micek: Jackpot: Pa’s casino revenue hit an all-time high in March | Thursday Morning Coffee
Joyce M. Davis: There’s one way Pennsylvanians can help both Germany and Ukraine stand up to Vladmir Putin | Social Views
Jon O’Brien: The less Americans depend on foreign energy sources, the better 
Gilberto Gonzalez: Why I had to drop out of the race for Pa.’s 2nd Congressional District
Chris Matthews: I can’t stop thinking of ‘duck and cover’ drills from my childhood
Inquirer Editorial Board: With recreational marijuana now legal in New Jersey, Pennsylvania should follow
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Solving crimes with DNA is a no-brainer, but privacy must be protected
Will Bunch: Lower-income Americans have thrived under Biden. It probably won’t last.
Helen Ubiñas: Cold case solved after more than 10 years offers hope to countless others
Bryan Hower: PSEA is a strong advocate for thousands of educators and school staff throughout Pennsylvania 
Trudy Rubin: Putin’s nuclear saber-rattling must not stop U.S. from helping Ukraine win