State Sens. Jay Costa and Wayne Fontana have invited the MLB to host their 2021 All-Star Game in Pittsburgh. Here is the Playbook. 

April 2nd Ups and Downs: Gov. Tom Wolf announces his selection for Sec. of State, a pair of PA Republicans back raising the state’s minimum wage to $10 an hour, plus a couple of Democratic committees in southeast PA don’t endorse incumbents for reelection. All of that and more are in this week’s Ups and Downs.

NPR Highlights GOP Effort to Regain Votes in Suburbs: NPR mentioned Philadelphia’s collar counties in an article about Republicans looking to win back voters in the suburbs since former President Donald Trump will not be on the ballot in 2022.  

Gainey Talks Pittsburgh Policies with City Paper: State Rep. Ed Gainey (D-Allegheny), who is seeking the Democratic Party nomination for Mayor of Pittsburgh, talked to Pittsburgh City Paper in an interview about policies most important to the city.  

Costa and Fontana Invite MLB To Host 2021 All-Star Game in Pittsburgh: KDKA reports that state Sens. Jay Costa and Wayne Fontana wrote a letter to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred on Friday saying that Pittsburgh could host the All Star Game this summer. 

Wolf Says He’ll Sign up for COVID-19 Vaccine On April 19: PennLive reports that Gov. Tom Wolf said he’ll sign up for COVID-19 vaccine on April 19, the day Pennsylvania plans to make it available to everyone over 16. Wolf has Phase 1A eligibility and could have been vaccinated already, but said he would hold off “rather than be seen as butting in line for vaccine, which was in short supply for months,” according to PennLive. Wolf also added that he will get his vaccine dose in a public setting. 

NEPA Reps Comment on Biden Spending Plan: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna) praised President Joe Biden’s spending plan, while Rep. Dan Meuser opposes it. Gov. Tom Wolf and Sen. Bob Casey also support Biden’s plan, while Sen. Pat Toomey opposes it. 

KYW Reports Philly’s DA Race Is “Surprisingly Competitive”: KYW Newsradio reports that the Democratic primary between incumbent Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and challenger Carlos Vega is “shaping up to be more competitive than expected.” 

Evans Proposes $63 Billion ‘Housing is Essential’ Plan: The Philadelphia Tribune reports that Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) talked about his $63 billion “Housing is Essential” Plan during a press conference on Thursday. 

Williams Appointed to Chester County Industrial Development Authority Board: The Daily Local News reports that state Rep. Dan Williams (D-Chester) has been appointed to the board of the Chester County Industrial Development Authority by the Chester County Commissioners. 

Chester City Council Members Face Primary Challenger: The Delaware County Daily Times reports that incumbent Chester City Council members William “Al” Jacobs and Portia West are facing a Democratic primary challenge from Stefan Roots, founder and content creator of the Chester Matters blog. 

5 PA GOP Women to introduce The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act: House Republicans sent out a press release announcing that state Reps. Stephanie Borowicz (R- Clinton), Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny), Barb Gleim (R-Cumberland), Dawn Keefer (R-York), and Martina White (R-Philadelphia) will be holding a press conference on Monday at 11 A.M. on introducing “The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.”

Harrisburg & DC   
Spotlight PA: Pa. cannabis legalization remains unlikely as neighboring states go for it
Inquirer: From Hong Kong to Sydney, San Francisco to Zurich, the staff at Pennsylvania’s largest pension fund have run up big travel bills
Inquirer: Pa. is finally expanding vaccine eligibility. But perceptions of a rocky rollout linger.
Inquirer: More students are majoring in political science and running for public office
AP: Big effort aims to elect candidates with science backgrounds
Patriot News: Keeping promise not to ‘butt in line’ for COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Wolf says he’ll sign up soon
Patriot News: Trial date set for historic Pa. school funding lawsuit; ‘It has been a long road to get here’
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: What’s in a name? Seven top state officials lead under ‘acting’ label; await Senate confirmation
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Historic Pa. public school funding lawsuit finally heading to trial this fall
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. vaccinations, by the numbers | Five for the Weekend 
Tribune Review: A man ahead of his time: Sen. John Heinz remembered 30 years after tragic death
York Dispatch: More than 112,500 state educators vaccinated in March, Wolf says
Post-Gazette: Gov. Wolf: Pennsylvania school staff vaccine initiative complete
Post-Gazette: State needs to prioritize water pollution programs, advocacy report says
Post-Gazette: Restrictions lifted: Pa. restaurants, bars optimistic as 75% capacity starts today  
Morning Call: Pennsylvania lawmakers dismayed by lack of data on drug treatment center violations depicted in Morning Call story
Morning Call: Pennsylvania lawmakers begin push to prohibit COVID-19 vaccine passports in state
Morning Call: Pennsylvania moves to next vaccine phase Monday. Here’s who can sign up for the COVID shot under phase 1B
KYW Newsradio: Pennsylvania COVID-19 app has helped, but Temple expert says improvements needed
PLSReporter: Wolf announces completion of educator vaccination initiative
PLSReporter: Landmark school funding lawsuit heads to trial: ‘This trial will finally hold our General Assembly accountable’
PLSReporter: Right 2 Know Episode 87: Expanded Eligibility And Education
York Daily Record: Pa’s Move Over Law protecting emergency response areas takes effect at end of April
WESA: Pennsylvania Wraps Up Vaccinating School Professionals Early 
The Hill: Rep. Brendan Boyle decides against Pennsylvania Senate bid
Daily Local News: Health officials: 32% of Pennsylvanians vaccinated; ranks 13th in nation
KDKA: Gov. Tom Wolf Orders Flags To Be Flown At Half-Staff In Honor Of Victims Of Attack At U.S. Capitol
Pittsburgh Business Times: Pennsylvania relaxes certain pandemic restrictions on restaurants and gathering limits, a ‘step in the right direction’
Politico: Vulnerable Dems fret after getting a shock: AOC’s campaign cash
StateImpactPA: Pennsylvania’s first green hydrogen plant planned for Lancaster County

Philadelphia 
KYW Newsradio: In Philadelphia’s DA race, challenger Vega proves surprisingly competitive
KYW Newsradio: Reintroduced bill pushes for municipalities to set their own minimum wage
KYW Newsradio: Philadelphia employee, charged with gun crime, gets new job in violence prevention office
Inquirer: Retired Philly police officers apologize for fund-raising effort blaming George Floyd for his own death
Inquirer: After a career shaped by extremist violence, Philly’s acting U.S. attorney launches network to defuse risk 
Inquirer: Philly is trying to bridge vaccine gaps by targeting hard-hit neighborhoods. Finally, activists and experts say.
Billy Penn: What you’ll find in the new health department dashboard that tracks city violence
Billy Penn: How Philly and Pennsylvania grew to dominate the candy industry
Philadelphia Tribune: U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans proposes $63 billion plan to bolster housing and stabilize communities
Philadelphia Business Journal: Covid-19 vaccine: Here’s who is eligible across Greater Philadelphia
Philadelphia Business Journal: MAP: Here are all of the mass vaccination sites in Greater Philadelphia

SEPA
Delco Daily Times: Chester City Council sees primary battle
Delco Daily Times: Prison study unveils savings through deprivatization
Daily Local News: Rep. Williams appointed to Chester County Industrial Development Authority Board 
NPR: With Trump off the ballot, Republicans look to regain votes in the suburbs
WHYY Newsworks: Montgomery County to debut new vaccine registration system to eliminate line-jumping
KYW Newsradio: Relaxed COVID-19 restrictions in Philly suburbs draw mixed reactions
Pottstown Mercury: 100,000 Montgomery County residents fully vaccinated against COVID-19
Pottstown Mercury: Sexual assault reporting examined in Montgomery County amid coronavirus pandemic

Pittsburgh 
KDKA: 2 Pennsylvania State Senators Invite MLB To Host 2021 All-Star Game In Pittsburgh
KDKA: Pennsylvania’s Senior Congressman Mike Doyle Had Heads-Up On Capitol Attack
KDKA: Allegheny County Residents Running Out Of Patience With New Vaccination Registration Website
KDKA: Mayor Bill Peduto, Police Chief Scott Schubert Join Annual Easter Event At Westwood School
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pittsburgh: Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Reports 653 New Coronavirus Cases Amid Spring Surge
Post-Gazette: Two state senators push to host MLB All-Star Game
Post-Gazette: Biden infrastructure plan puts water upgrades on tap as advocates press for stricter lead rule
Post-Gazette: SPECIAL REPORT: After many years and thousands of dollars, Pittsburgh’s land bank fails to fight blight
Post-Gazette: Allegheny County says it fixed vaccine registry glitch
Post-Gazette: Campaign aims to overcome vaccine hesitancy in Pittsburgh’s Latino community
Post-Gazette: Fox Chapel council votes to change controversial road names
Post-Gazette: COVID-19 Update: Cases, hospitalizations and positivity continue to rise
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh-area COVID cases continue to rise
Tribune Review: Allegheny, Westmoreland report highest new covid case totals since January
City Paper: 2021 Mayoral candidates on Pittsburgh policies: Ed Gainey
WESA: March 27-April 2 Explained: Biden’s Infrastructure Plan, Policing Under Peduto & Vaccine Eligibility
Pittsburgh Business Times: Pittsburgh officials confirm they’re working to host the MLB All-Star Game
Pittsburgh Business Times: City of Pittsburgh breaks ground on new DPW facility

SWPA 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Toomey says he fears growing political ‘polarization,’ points finger at Biden
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Somerset County officials confirm death of Sheriff Brad Cramer at age 67
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Regional COVID-19 cases continue to climb; Cambria adds 75 positives
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: One COVID-19 death in region, new case surge continues
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Cambria adds 101 cases over weekend; two local counties add deaths
Altoona Mirror: Biden plan could spur change locally
Altoona Mirror: Miller seeks new term in Tyrone
Altoona Mirror: No action yet on salary study
Altoona Mirror: Vaccine appointment availability hit-or-miss
Beaver County Times: Local waste company gets clean air grant to replace vehicles
Beaver County Times: Beaver County primary candidates released
Observer-Reporter: Washington council creates positions to revamp park
Observer-Reporter: COVID-19 vaccine effort for educators reaches goal early

NEPA
Times-Tribune: New Amtrak map showing Scranton-NYC passenger train route excites faithful
Times-Tribune: Wolf boasts about vaccination progress
Times-Tribune: Lackawanna County seeking local artwork to beautify government center
Times-Tribune: Council OK’s Scranton police chief appointment despite code concerns
Times-Tribune: Region records most COVID-19 deaths since March 4
Citizens Voice: Wolf boasts about vaccination progress in LIU visit
Citizens Voice: New Amtrak map showing Scranton-NYC passenger train route excites faithful
Citizens Voice: 98 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Luzerne County on Sunday
The Times Leader: Wolf touts teacher vaccination initiative in Kingston visit
The Times Leader: Wolf, Casey, Cartwright praise Biden’s spending plan; Toomey, Meuser opposed
The Times Leader: 98 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Luzerne County on Sunday

South Central 
York Dispatch: York County to improve election results reporting, overhaul website
York Dispatch: York County District Attorney Dave Sunday tests positive for COVID-19
York Dispatch: Saturday update: 1 new death, 173 new cases in York County
York Daily Record: York County District Attorney Dave Sunday tests positive for COVID-19
LNP | LancasterOnline: Is there a gender difference in the pay of the county’s health and medical preparedness coordinator? [Lancaster Watchdog]
Carlisle Sentinel: Carlisle borough seeing increasing numbers of past due utility accounts
Carlisle Sentinel: DOH: 82 new cases of COVID-19 for Cumberland County Saturday

Lehigh Valley      
WFMZ: South Whitehall Township commissioner announces resignation
WFMZ: Local lawmakers react to deadly attack on US Capitol
WFMZ: Northampton County Council OKs grant recipients, bonuses for nursing home hires
WFMZ: Sen. Argall, Rep. Knowles reopen shared office in Hamburg
WFMZ: Lawsuit targeting Pa.’s education funding system headed for trial
Morning Call: South Whitehall Commissioner Matthew Mobilio resigns, cites frustration with board tensions
Morning Call: Schools keep closing even as districts move to fully reopening; community spread, not more in-person education, is to blame, experts say
Morning Call: Pennsylvania coronavirus update: 5,243 additional cases led by Allegheny’s 653
Reading Eagle: Gov. Tom Wolf says effort to vaccinate all Pa. school workers completed ahead of schedule
Reading Eagle: A Berks County COVID vaccine provider says slow week for sign-ups
Reading Eagle: Pa. weekly report shows increasing cases and a positivity rate of 14.2% for Berks County
Express Times: Does South Bethlehem need more 150-foot-tall buildings? Plan aims to shrink max heights.
Express Times: Get ready to hit the road: Fully vaccinated people may travel, CDC says
Express Times: COVID in Pa.: Surge continues as Lehigh Valley case averages nearly double in last month; health department betting on vaccination program | Pa. COVID vaccine map (04/02/21)

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: EMTA gets $11.6 million from stimulus bill
Erie Times-News: Erie mayor: Ravine access road ‘very unlikely’
Erie Times-News: City of Erie makes $5.1 million street paving plan
Centre Daily Times: April 2 update: Centre County adds 62 COVID-19 cases; hospitalizations continue to rise
Centre Daily Times: April 3 update: Centre County adds 134 COVID-19 cases; Pa. adds more than 5,000
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Reps Keller, Thompson cool to Biden spending plan
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Lycoming County 48 new COVID-19 cases

Opinion  
Bob Casey: Ending child poverty is a mission worthy of a great nation
Marci Mustello: Wolf’s actions are too little, too late. Now you decide.
Mark S. Singel: The legislature must act now to bring child predators to justice
Borys Krawczeniuk: Scranton Democrats, Cognetti, finally on same Paige
Maria Panaritis: The Biden infrastructure plan would rescue Pennsylvania roads and transit 
Jon Geeting: What Philly Should Watch For In Biden’s Infrastructure Plan 
Larry Platt: Revisiting Regionalism  
York Dispatch Editorial Board: Pa. All-Star Game pitch is a stretch
York Dispatch Editorial Board: It’s up to us to prevent another surge
Inquirer Editorial Board: Federal money will aid Philly schools, but it’s not a cure-all 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: The way forward from the inside out: Infrastructure
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Let local police wield radar guns for speed enforcement
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: A vaccine passport could prove a cautious way forward in reopening the U.S. economy 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Quieting the noise from tunnel fans is imperative for Dormont
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: History of women’s rights in Islam
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: ‘Impending doom’ awaits if we give in to COVID fatigue, CDC director tearfully warns
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Give where you can: Local charities need our help
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: On the race to vaccinate, and why it’s a race we must win — and why (again) Lancaster County needs a health department
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Continue funding for local programs that combat spotted lanternfly threat 
PennLive Editorial Board: It’s “Hallelujah, anyhow” this Easter Sunday 
Kristen Tullo: It’s time to eradicate wildlife killing contests from Pennsylvania
Helen Ubiñas: The reality of Philadelphia’s gun-violence epidemic crashes a virtual hearing 
Becky Bennett: Across the Divide: Rural views on gun ownership are more reasonable than you think
Shane Claiborne: Thoughts and prayers aren’t enough as gun violence plagues the nation 
Keith C. Burris: Franklin Delano Biden?
Janelle Crossley: Stop the sale of Claremont
David M. Shribman: And so it begins
Shannon Trostle: Financial literacy is vital now more than ever
Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis and Kevin Quisenberry: Kids continue to be poisoned by lead; it’s time to act
Will Bunch: In moving All-Star game from Georgia, MLB honors civil rights legacy of Hank Aaron 
Justine Fuga: The best first step for Biden-era immigration reform
Christine Flowers: Georgia voting law is no return to Jim Crow
Jenice Armstrong: Arrest of two Philly cops accused of beating a man is a tribute to the work of this mother and autism advocate 
Tony Norman: Derek Chauvin’s smirk — for the prosecution
Tyson Smith: Mass shootings destroy lives and perpetuate institutional racism against Black and Brown Americans
Ruth Ann Dailey: Hopping toward commitment
Priya Mammen: What I want to tell my kids about racism as a South Asian American mom 
Becky M. Cheung: My childhood was so tinged with racism I couldn’t even recognize it 
The Very Rev. Dr. Amy Welin: DeColonizing the Christ: Liberating Jesus
John Cole: Take the Marshmallow Test | Editorial Cartoon
Amanda Rock: When 911 needs help, who can they call? Not Drexel.