Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati announced that he will not seek reelection in 2020. Here is the Playbook. 

Scarnati Announces Retirement: The Jefferson County Republican, who has served as Senate President since 2007, announced on Wednesday night his intentions to not seek reelection in November.

PA8: Cartwright Enters 2020 With Cash Advantage over GOP Field: Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna) raised just over $325,000 in the fourth quarter and entered 2020 with $1.28 million cash on hand.

PA7: Bolstered by Loan, Scheller Outpaces Wild in Q4: Rep. Susan Wild (D-Lehigh) raised $520,000 in the last quarter of 2019, while Lisa Scheller’s loan of $300,000 put her at $550,000 for the fourth quarter.

Reader Poll: Should PA Move Its Primary Date?: A bill that was unanimously approved in the Pennsylvania state Senate would move the state’s primary date for the 2024 presidential election up to the third Tuesday in March.

Legislative Election Update: 

SD-25: Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) announced on Wednesday night that he will not seek reelection in 2020. Scarnati, who was first elected to the state Senate in 2000, won his most recent reelection bid in 2016 by nearly 50 points over Democrat Jerri Buchanan. 

Harrisburg & DC   
Spotlight PA: Pa. Senate’s most powerful Republican won’t seek reelection
AP: Top Pennsylvania state senator Joe Scarnati won’t run again
AP: Governor vetoes bill to keep 2 institutions for disabled
AP: Pennsylvania adds muscle to reviewing convictions for errors
AP: Transgender felons seek to ease state rules on name changes
Inquirer: Pa. Democrats are waiting for answers as Sanders surges, Biden struggles, and Bloomberg looms 
Inquirer: Michael Bloomberg apologized for ‘stop and frisk.’ Don’t expect his surrogate Michael Nutter to do the same.
Inquirer: A Pa. medical marijuana patient goes to court after being denied federally subsidized housing
Inquirer: Pennsylvania’s top prosecutor has a new unit to look at possible wrongful convictions across the state
KDKA: Pete Buttigieg Wants To Ride Momentum From Iowa And New Hampshire Into Pennsylvania 
KDKA: Around The Table: The Day After The New Hampshire Primary
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati is not seeking re-election
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Wolf vetoes bill blocking Pa.’s planned shutdown of two centers for the intellectually disabled
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Attorney General Josh Shapiro announces statewide office to review old cases
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: ‘We have to fix this’ Sens. Casey, Collins hear rural home healthcare concerns
Post-Gazette: Gov. Wolf vetoes bill that would have put moratorium on Polk closure
Post-Gazette: ‘Are we going to bet on horses or are we going to bet on our kids?’
Patriot News: Top Pa. Senate leader announces he is not seeking re-election to another term
Patriot News: You’re Fired! Was it vindictive of President Donald Trump to fire Lt. Col. Vindman? | BattlegroundPA podcast
Patriot News: AG Shapiro creates Conviction Integrity Unit to re-evaluate criminal cases statewide 
WITF: Pa. congressmen in vulnerable seats have posted relatively strong fundraising
WITF: Wolf vetoes bill to halt closure of two state centers for people with intellectual disabilities
PLSReporter: Scarnati announces retirement from Senate after 20-year career
PLSReporter: Wolf vetoes Polk/White Haven moratorium; veto override unlikely
PLSReporter: Five years after a failed vote on property tax reform, the General Assembly may be nearing another attempt
Beaver County Times: ‘We have to fix this,’ home health-care worker tells Casey, Aging Committee
StateImpactPA: Philadelphia proposes banning hydrofluoric acid, a toxic chemical released in refinery explosion 
The Hill: Manufacturers group kicks off campaign to close the industry’s skills gap
Fox News: Judiciary Committee Dems hit with ethics complaints over ‘suspicious’ conduct
WHYY Newsworks: Evictionland, Pa: No time for politics when you’re ‘trying to put yourself in a home.’ 

Philadelphia 
Philly Clout: The U.S. attorney in Philly compared Jim Kenney and Larry Krasner to slaveholders and civil rights opponents 
Inquirer: The fate of the troubled Philadelphia oil refinery is fracturing Democratic politics
Inquirer: Michael Bloomberg apologized for ‘stop and frisk.’ Don’t expect his surrogate Michael Nutter to do the same.
Inquirer: ‘We’re supposed to be Democrats’: Black Trump supporters in Philly on why they back the president
Inquirer: Philly Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw: Excerpts from an interview on her third day
Inquirer: After last-minute negotiations, judge picks a winner in Philadelphia refinery auction
Inquirer: New Philly Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw is already making changes — starting with her fingernails
Inquirer: New faces on the Philly school board? Mayor’s nominating panel submits 27 names.
Inquirer: As a stretch of another city goes car-free, Philly pursues other solutions to congestion 
WHYY Newsworks: Nutter stands by Bloomberg on stop and frisk — and the campaign trail
WHYY Newsworks: Johnny Doc reenters political fray picking a fight with NYC real estate firm
WHYY Newsworks: South Philly lot named in Kenyatta Johnson indictment to hit market ‘very soon’
WHYY Newsworks: Philly’s new police commissioner says recruitment will be a top priority
WHYY Newsworks: Bankruptcy judge approves PES refinery’s sale to developer, assuming no new objections 
Philadelphia Tribune: ‘Enough is enough’: Community leaders want Philly to spend more on fighting gun violence
Philadelphia Tribune: The landmark Voting Rights Act turns 55: For Black voters, a time to reflect
Philly Voice: Store selling President Trump merchandise opens in Bucks County
Billy Penn: Part of Filbert Street is going car-free this summer. Should Chestnut be next?
KYW Newsradio: A shop dedicated to all things Trump opens in Bensalem
KYW Newsradio: Philly’s new police commissioner sees using holistic approach as way to solve city’s crime problems
KYW Newsradio: Panel sends mayor 27 candidates for Philadelphia School Board
KYW Newsradio: Annual hate speech study suggests leafleting is dramatically up in Greater Philadelphia area, nationwide
KYW Newsradio: With health emergency in effect, hepatitis A cases fall sharply in Philadelphia
KYW Newsradio: Amid Philly opioid crisis, infections from IV drug use skyrocket 

SEPA
Bucks Local News: Brian Fitzpatrick first Congressional campaign in PA-01 to file candidate petitions
Bucks Local News: Bucks County Board of Elections schedules public training sessions on new voting machines
Delco Daily Times: Chesco Dems set to vote on state Senate nods, back foe to challenge Killion in 9th
Delco Daily Times: Lawmakers get mixed message at opioids update
WHYY Newsworks: GOP ‘congressional census’ circulates in Montco and Berks County, causes confusion
Daily Local News: Sen. Killion to hold telephone town hall Feb. 19
Daily Local News: Federal officials tour Coatesville Qualified Opportunity Zones, participate in roundtable discussion
Daily Local News: Conservation movement soars in Chester County

Pittsburgh 
KDKA: Pete Buttigieg Wants To Ride Momentum From Iowa And New Hampshire Into Pennsylvania
KDKA: Allegheny County Council Takes Unexpected Vote To Ban Conversion Therapy Within The County 
KDKA: Local Lawmakers Look To Close Loophole That Allows Smoking In Some Public Places
KDKA: City Tax To Upgrade Parks May Be Delayed As Council Hashes Out Spending Plan
KDKA: Defendants Jailed By Pittsburgh Judge Mark Tranquilli Are Being Released In Wake Of His Alleged Racist Comments
KDKA: University Of Pittsburgh Holds Session To Dispel Myths About Coronavirus Outbreak
WESA: PA Votes April 28. Is Allegheny County Ready?
WESA: Allegheny County Council Votes To Restrict Conversion Therapy For Minors
WESA: Burgess, Lavelle Call On CMU To Join Equity Efforts 
WESA: Bill Tries To Snuff Out Indoor Smoking Exemptions In Pennsylvania
Post-Gazette: Pa.’s black legislative caucus demands investigation of Allegheny County judge, alleged racist comments
Post-Gazette: As construction hums at locks and dams projects, Trump budget zeroes out new funding
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh law that forbids discrimination against Section 8 voucher holders weighed by Commonwealth Court
Post-Gazette: Public hearings, meetings ahead for parks tax issue
Post-Gazette: Burgess, Lavelle to CMU: Invest in communities that were left blank on map
Post-Gazette: $100K grant to help expand anti-hate programming in local schools
PLSReporter: Allegheny County Council bans conversion therapy on minors
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh councilmen seek CMU funding, assistance to break down racial barriers
Tribune Review: Arnold mayor asks public to cooperate with unsolved homicide investigation
City Paper: Allegheny County will soon ban conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth

SWPA 
Altoona Mirror: Wolf vetoes bill to keep centers open
Altoona Mirror: Council seeks to borrow $7.7M
Altoona Mirror: Blair hears request to broadcast meetings
Observer-Reporter: Gov. Wolf proposes $200 million cut from horse racing trust fund
Observer-Reporter: Washington man testifies before U.S. Senate committee on rural home health care
Observer-Reporter: Monessen controller removed by council
Beaver County Times: ‘We have to fix this,’ home health-care worker tells Casey, Aging Committee
Beaver County Times: Overdose deaths spike by 50 percent
Beaver County Times: Egley, Longo: manuals, protocols not passed on
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Former Somerset District Attorney to lead state’s new Conviction Integrity Unit for Attorney General
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Johnstown city council approves motion to negotiate the sale of sewer collection system
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Somerset County retirement fund gets $6M boost from investments
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Lawmakers ‘disappointed’ in Wolf’s veto: Legislation would have delayed closing of two state facilities

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Wolf vetoes bill to save White Haven Center
Citizens Voice: Political ads with same actress attacks Democrats, including Cartwright
Citizens Voice: County council authorizes legal action against stormwater fee
Citizens Voice: List of congressmen, districts attacked in political ads
Times-Tribune: Political ad featuring same actress rips Dems in 11 congressional districts, including Cartwright
Times-Tribune: Union report suggests closing Northeast Scranton Intermediate was unnecessary
The Times Leader: Mullery, Toohil vow to override Wolf veto on center closure moratorium bill
The Times Leader: Griffith, Salavantis disagree over conflict allegations
The Times Leader: County judge tosses filing accusing McGinley of not following rules

South Central 
Patriot News: Eugene DePasquale leads Democrats’ money primary in 10th Congressional District
Patriot News: Homeowners are tired of waiting for school property tax reform; ‘we need action’
Patriot News: Dauphin County commissioners refinance debt, borrow more to pay for new voting machines
Patriot News: Harrisburg School District, teachers union reach tentative contract agreement 
York Daily Record: Local township could become Second Amendment sanctuary
York Dispatch: Seth Grove wants to end ‘honor system’ that allows agencies to hide contracts
York Dispatch: State, local officials want to improve child welfare. Money may be an issue

Lehigh Valley      
Morning Call: Northampton County township may have another voting change in time for the presidential election
Reading Eagle: Reading introduces boosted salary ranges for public works, community development directors

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Scarnati announces retirement from state senate
Erie Times-News: Pa. second lady Fetterman urges Erie residents to do census
Erie Times-News: State board sets more rules for community college hearing
Centre Daily Times: Centre County completes ‘census of homelessness’ for 2020. Here’s what’s next
Post-Gazette: Gov. Wolf vetoes bill that would have put moratorium on Polk closure
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Wolf talks plans to create need-based scholarship
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Gov. Wolf to cut horse racing funds for education
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Old Lycoming assigns Council of Governments representative

Opinion  
Inquirer Editorial Board: As asbestos crisis persists, it’s time to shake up Philly’s Board of Education
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Who decides on war?: Congress needs to reclaim authority on military action
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Bus stops matter: Port Authority should improve consolidation process
Chris Coons and Brian Fitzpatrick: It’s time for bipartisan support in combating climate change and rebuilding infrastructure 
Jim Kenney: State preemption of Philly beverage tax would limit options for local governments
Alex Baloga: Retailers need Harrisburg to provide Philly beverage tax relief
Joe Crowley: Mike Fitzpatrick and our ‘Lovely Leitrim’ moment
John L. Micek: In rebooted legalization plan, Pgh. lawmaker calls for ‘Cannabis Clean Slate’ | Wednesday Morning Coffee
Brittany Salerno and Jeanmarie Perrone: Overdose prevention sites promote public health and don’t increase crime 
Ernest Owens: Don’t Expect Philly’s New Police Commissioner to Magically Fix the City for Us
Marc Scaringi: Winning! Winning! Winning! Trump does it again
Keith Naughton, Ph.D.: Biden post-mortem: Trouble for the Democrats
Adrianne Gunter: The Affordable Care Act is helping women of color in Pa. Now it’s at risk
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Cashing out credit card theft
Helen Ubiñas: From ‘I’m heartbroken’ to ‘I farted’: The Strangers Project stories connect us in our solitude 
Trudy Rubin: In worst Syrian refugee crisis ever, will anyone help? 
Dan Simpson: Is America in decline?
Chris Kelly: Bond’s squatting days officially over