The Cook Political Report labels Pennsylvania’s 2022 Senate Race as a Toss Up. Here is the Playbook. 

Cook Labels PA’s 2022 Senate Race As A Toss Up: The Cook Political Report’s first Senate ratings for the 2022 cycle lists Pennsylvania as one of two states that are considered to be Toss Ups.

Killion Joins Wanner Associates: The former state Senator announced that he’s joining the Harrisburg-based firm.

Boyle Endorses Sims For Lt Gov: State Rep. Kevin Boyle (D-Philadelphia) endorsed state Rep. Brian Sims (D-Philadelphia) bid for Lieutenant Governor.  

Dumas Receives A “Recommended” Rating from PA Bar Association: According to a release from Judge Lori Dumas campaign, she has received a “recommended” rating from the Pennsylvania Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Commission. Dumas, a Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge, is one of four Democratic candidates running in the race for a seat on the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court. 

Wagner Announces Bid for Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas: Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner announced that she’s running for a seat on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. 

Houlahan Named Subcommittee Vice Chair of Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems: According to Politico, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Chester) was named as the Vice Chair of Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems on the House Armed Services Committee. 

O’Connor and Strassburger Endorse Peduto for Mayor: Pittsburgh City Councilman Corey O’Connor and Councilperson Erika Strassburger have endorsed Mayor Bill Peduto’s reelection bid, according to a release from his campaign. 

Harrisburg & DC   
Inquirer: The push to punish Pat Toomey points to a future tied to Trump for Pennsylvania Republicans
Inquirer: The Gale brothers of Montgomery County are teaming up to run for governor and U.S. Senate 
Patriot News: Two Gales – Joe and Sean – jump into Pennsylvania’s 2022 political fray
Patriot News: Pa. schools would get hike of more than $1B with Gov. Wolf’s budget, but officials aren’t banking on cash yet
Patriot News: Pa. Lottery ticket sales on track for a banner year
Patriot News: Graves of WWI and WWII vets robbed at Pa. cemetery: state police 
Patriot News: 51 Pa. counties have substantial spread of COVID-19, positive test rate drops for 9th week
Spotlight PA: Pennsylvania State Police will escape legislative scrutiny in 2021 budget process
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pennsylvania’s vaccine program is flailing. Nurses in the statehouse are out to fix it.
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Joe Gale, a Trump supporter and Montgomery County commissioner, declares run for governor
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Washington Co. GOP boss says quiet part out loud about Repubs’ collapse into personality cult | Wednesday Morning Coffee
USA Today: Constitutional amendment on districts for Pa. court elections shelved … for now
WITF: Latino Leaders In PA Work To Build Trust In Vaccines
PLSReporter: Wolf’s proposed tax increase takes center stage in opening budget hearings
PLSReporter: Blake resigns from Senate to take job with Cartwright’s office
PLSReporter: Sims announces candidacy for lieutenant governor
Post-Gazette: Extension of federal unemployment programs leads to ‘bold’ fraud attempts in Pa. 
Fox News: Pa. Democrat Brian Sims, who harassed pro-life teens in 2019 video, announces lieutenant governor run
Fox News: Mom of pro-life teens harassed by Pa. Democrat Brian Sims says ‘he doesn’t deserve anyone’s vote’
StateImpactPA: Gas industry hasn’t delivered on its economic promise to communities, report says
National Journal: Conor Lamb Confirms He’s Mulling a Senate Bid
National Journal: Pennsylvania Might Delay May Primary Due to Late Census Data
The Hill: Fetterman pledges not to accept fossil fuel money in Pennsylvania Senate race
The Hill: GOP official on Toomey: Wasn’t sent to ‘do the right thing or whatever he said’ 
Pittsburgh Business Times: Report: Pennsylvania cannabis job numbers reach new highs in 2020
Huffington Post: Pennsylvania GOP Official Says Senator Wasn’t At Trump Trial To ‘Do The Right Thing’

Philadelphia 
Philly Clout: Jonathan Saidel as Ambassador to Malta? A big union wants Biden to appoint the former Philly controller
Inquirer: Philly is staring down the barrel of a $450 million budget gap and the pain won’t stop there 
Inquirer: Philadelphia seeks 16.9% water rate increase, citing revenue erosion from pandemic 
Inquirer: Philly City Council members announce new police station, other initiatives in Kensington
WHYY Newsworks: Philly facing $450M budget shortfall; officials eye cuts, taxes, and privatization
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. coronavirus update: Most Philly residents could be vaccinated by July
Chalkbeat Philadelphia: Mayor says Philadelphia teachers should not be disciplined if they don’t show up
Billy Penn: Mutual aid is booming in Philly. Here’s how you can help.
Philadelphia Tribune: Elected officials and community partners want the Linc as massive vaccination site
KYW Newsradio: Grappling with budget deficit from COVID-19, Philly asks residents: What do you need most?
KYW Newsradio: City announces new public safety initiative to restore Kensington
KYW Newsradio: In Philadelphia, new COVID-19 cases are down and vaccine supply is increasing
Philly Voice: Philly sharpens timeline for COVID-19 vaccine availability
Philly Voice: Philly again warns of ‘painful budget choices’ as COVID-19 sinks fiscal outlook
Philadelphia Business Journal: Kenney again declines to use Lincoln Financial Field for Covid-19 vaccinations
Philadelphia Business Journal: Philadelphia modifies 50% indoor dining application after majority of applications lack required information
Philadelphia Business Journal: Philadelphia warns of $450M budget gap for fiscal 2022

SEPA
Montgomery Media: Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale running for Pa. governor 
Montgomery Media: UPDATE: Montgomery County reports 507 coronavirus cases, three deaths over four-day period
Daily Local News: West Goshen resident launches bid for US Senate in Pennsylvania
Daily Local News: Proposed Toomey censure on hold as Chester County GOP meets 
Daily Local News: Schuylkill Twp. to meet Thursday to chose replacement for late supervisor
Bucks County Courier Times: Meet the Bucks County native on Trump’s successful impeachment defense team 
KYW Newsradio: Montco Commissioner Joe Gale announces run for governor, Sean Gale for Senate
KYW Newsradio: Pa. county officials: Already challenging vaccine distribution gets more complicated as people share registration links
WHYY Newsworks: Montco’s Joe Gale announces bid for governor, denounces Pa. Republicans as ‘lousy’
Pottstown Mercury: Lower Providence man seeks district court seat

Pittsburgh 
Tribune Review: Western Pa. GOP focuses ire on Pat Toomey, as county party fault lines mirror national battle for control of the Republican Party
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh mayoral endorsements start to roll in as candidates begin drive for signatures
Tribune Review: Allegheny County reports 1 new covid death; trend continues of low deaths reported
WESA: Solitary Confinement, No-Knock Warrants Come Closer To Appearing On May Ballot
WESA: More Than 10% Of Allegheny County Residents Have Gotten At Least One Dose Of Vaccine
Post-Gazette: Groups kick off campaign to bring attention to city school board elections
Post-Gazette: COVID-19 Update: Pennsylvania approaches 900,000 cases
KDKA: Over 15,000 Pennsylvanians Have Left The Republican Party In 2021
KDKA: Child Care Facilities Call On Pennsylvania Lawmakers For Financial Assistance 
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pittsburgh: Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Reports 199 New Coronavirus Cases, 1 Additional Death
Pittsburgh Business Times: Bill would create central vaccination registry in Pennsylvania 
City Paper: Pennsylvania GOP official on Toomey: “We did not send him there to ‘do the right thing’”

SWPA 
Observer-Reporter: Comments on Toomey by Washington County GOP chairman go viral
Observer-Reporter: SWPA Area Agency on Aging to provide free trips for people going to COVID-19 clinics
Observer-Reporter: Washington, Fayette counties lowered to moderate COVID-19 risk areas
Observer-Reporter: Comments on Toomey by Washington County GOP chairman go viral
Tribune Review: 5 Republicans seek party nod for special election in 59th state House district
Beaver County Times: WPXI’s Amy Marcinkiewicz to seek public office
Beaver County Times: Pa.’s COVID cases are falling, but it might not be from vaccine yet 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Cambria County Republican Committee tackles censuring U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Town hall to focus on ‘disproportionate impact’
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Vision Together 2025 leaders name new president, CEO
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Experts answer your COVID-19 questions: ‘I have a pacemaker. Can I get a COVID-19 vaccine?’
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Cambria DA: Criminal citations against Somerset DA withdrawn after apologies to Richland businesses
Altoona Mirror: Apostolu cited in chamber speech
Altoona Mirror: Harteis announces run for supervisor
Altoona Mirror: Pa. GOP may censure Toomey
Altoona Mirror: Blair virus rates falling

NEPA
The Times Leader: Pending legislation could affect Salavantis replacement 
The Times Leader: Ronald D. Knapp announces run for Luzerne County Council
The Times Leader: Jimmy Sabatino announces run for Luzerne County Council
The Times Leader: John Lombardo announces run for Luzerne County Council
The Times Leader: 71 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Luzerne County Tuesday; 1 more death
Citizens Voice: 71 new COVID-19 cases reported in county on Tuesday
Times-Tribune: Regional COVID-19 death rate falling sharply

South Central 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Lancaster County GOP does not vote to censure Senator Pat Toomey for voting to convict former President Donald Trump
LNP | LancasterOnline: Lancaster County Commissioners to vote on $16 million rent and utility relief program
Patriot News: Vishal Bajpai to run for Harrisburg City Council
Patriot News: Harrisburg extends eviction moratorium for another month
York Dispatch: 328 new cases of COVID-19 reported in three-day span in York County
York Daily Record: FBI: Former girls basketball coach at Hershey Christian Academy involved in insurrection 
York Daily Record: Coronavirus cases are falling in Pa., but experts say it’s not from the COVID-19 vaccine yet 
Carlisle Sentinel: DOH: 146 new COVID-19 cases reported in Cumberland County over holiday weekend

Lehigh Valley      
Morning Call: Election judge who altered ballots can avoid criminal record if she serves 2 years probation
Morning Call: Lehigh Valley family doctors say COVID-19 vaccine plan wrongly pushes them aside; ‘We know our patients’
Morning Call: Allentown sees drop in violent crimes in 2020, and no shots fired by police officers
Morning Call: New York hedge fund Alden to acquire The Morning Call’s parent company
Reading Eagle: Wernersville attorney launches campaign for Berks County judge
Reading Eagle: Reading mayor outlines plan to fight gun violence in city
Reading Eagle: Reading Mayor Eddie Moran signs contract with the city’s firefighters
Reading Eagle: Want to run for office? Here’s what you need to know in Berks County
Reading Eagle: Risk of community spread of COVID lessening in Pennsylvania; Berks still in ‘substantial’ group
Express Times: COVID in Pa.: State on verge of 900K total cases; 3% fully vaccinated; reporting slow over holiday weekend | Coronavirus and vaccine updates for Pa. and Lehigh Valley (2/16/21)
WFMZ: Morning Call’s parent company agrees to purchase by hedge fund for $630 million
WFMZ: Violent crime in Allentown drops in 2020 

North by Northwest 
Centre Daily Times: Centre County Republican Committee moves to censure Sen. Toomey for impeachment vote
Centre Daily Times: Feb. 16 update: Centre County sees drop in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, positivity
Centre Daily Times: Benninghoff: How House Republicans are getting Pennsylvania ready for its economic recovery
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Local Republicans to consider censure of Sen. Toomey
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Political science major to seek nomination
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Loyalsock supervisor to seek nomination to keep seat
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: County prison inmates numbers up slightly
Erie Times-News: County Council lowers fee of prison program
Erie Times-News: Erie County’s COVID-19 numbers stable after month long decline
Erie Times-News: Girard looks back to spur borough’s future

Opinion  
Kerry Benninghoff: Getting Pennsylvania ready for its economic recovery
Ryan Bizzarro, Rep. Austin Davis, Rep. Jennifer O’Mara and Pam Snyder: Pennsylvania needs a vaccine registry, not a vaccine lottery
Will Bunch Newsletter: Harrisburg, Capitol Hill must crush The Big Lie 
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Sen. Toomey put country over party in voting to convict Trump. Lancaster County Republicans shouldn’t censure him for that.
York Dispatch Editorial Board: Shout it from the rooftops — help is available for uninsured Americans
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: A call for accuracy and safety
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Privacy progress
Charles Barkley: Week 3: Charley Barkley’s Black History Month All-Stars
Kelsey Beerer and Luke McDaniels: What you need to know about the Black Workers Matter Economic Recovery Package
Dena Davis and Thomas McAndrew: How to bring some racial equity to COVID-19 vaccine policies
Howie Meller: It’s time to protect LGBT Pennsylvanians from credit discrimination
Joyce M. Davis: Black leaders talk about their achievements and obstacles to success Tuesday in a special Facebook Live webinar
Bill Beaver: This is what a 76-year-old male Republican believes
Trudy Rubin: GOP cowards are undermining American democracy in eyes of the world 
Crystal Peralta: 3 ways teachers can address their students’ trauma when school is virtual