Kenyatta talks about his background and campaign for Senate. Who won and who lost in the redistricting game. Oz’s campaign looks just like his TV show. Time to start gathering petition signatures. PLCB removes all Russian-made alcohol. Here is the Playbook for the last day in February. 

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PA Sports
76ers | defeated NY Knicks 125-109
Penguins | defeated Columbus 3-2
Flyers | defeated Washington 2-1

News

Announced Candidates for U.S. House: Now that the districts are set, who is running for Pennsylvania’s congressional seats? Here is our list of announced candidates as of Friday, February 25, at 4 p.m.

Ups and Downs: Redistricting Edition: The maps are in. The districts are outlined. Who won? Who lost? We took a look around the Commonwealth, talking with experts in an attempt to establish which candidates benefitted from the PA Supreme Court’s choice and who didn’t.

PA Senate Race: Podcast: Malcolm Kenyatta’s Run for the U.S. Senate: In the latest episode of the PoliticsPA Podcast, Democratic state rep Malcolm Kenyatta talks about his background and his current campaign for the U.S. Senate.

• AP: No notes, same logo: Dr. Oz’s campaign is like his TV show
• Fox News: Pennsylvania Senate clash: Bartos showcases ‘strongest grassroots army’ in GOP primary race
• Fox News: Dr. Oz says his celebrity ‘a huge advantage’ as he runs for Senate; says he’s ‘aligned’ with GOP voters
• Fox News: PA Republican Senate candidate McCormick calls Putin ‘tyrant’ who ‘needs to be kept in check’
• Levittown Now: Senate Candidate Mehmet Oz Stops In Lower Bucks County
• PennLive: U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz makes stop at Lancaster women’s group

‘Franklin County DA calls request to conduct probe into Mastriano’s campaign filings ‘frivolous’ and ‘shameful’’: PennLive reports that “Republican gubernatorial candidate Jake Corman’s request for an investigation into discrepancies in rival and fellow Sen. Doug Mastriano’s campaign finance filings was met with a sharply worded denial from the local prosecutor.”

‘Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate gets private sit-down with Trump at CPAC; will seek endorsement’: Fox News reported on Saturday that “Dave White, a Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor, revealed exclusively to Fox News that he would sit down with former President Trump at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) to ask for his endorsement.” 

‘This Week in Pennsylvania: Feb. 27’: ABC27 “sat down with Bill McSwain, Republican candidate for Governor.”

‘All 17 of Pennsylvania’s new congressional districts, explained’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Pennsylvania’s new congressional map sets the stage for critical races this fall and over the next decade. Let’s take a tour through the new districts, and run down what they mean for each party.”

‘Court rejects bid to use old legislative districts until ’24’: The Associated Press reports that “Pennsylvania’s highest court on Friday rejected a bid by a top state Republican lawmaker to use the existing boundaries of legislative districts in this year’s election, instead of new boundaries redrawn as part of a once-a-decade adjustment for demographic shifts.”

‘Ciarrocchi takes aim at 6th Congressional seat held by Houlahan’: The Daily Local News reports that “Guy Ciarrocchi, who last week dropped his bid to become the Republican nominee for Pennsylvania governor, has filed to run in the 6th Congressional District, a seat currently held by second-term Democrat Chrissy Houlahan.”

‘Jeremy Shaffer, former Ross commissioner, to run for Congress’: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “a former Ross Township commissioner is the latest candidate to enter the race to replace U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb.”

‘Tolling bridges may be best option to fund bridge replacements, PennDOT says’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation told legislators Thursday it is willing to consider alternatives to tolling nine bridges across the state, but it hasn’t seen any other idea that would generate the $2.5 billion needed to replace those bridges.”

‘Liquor privatization in Washington state could provide lessons for Pennsylvanians’: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “another attempt is underway to privatize Pennsylvania’s state-run liquor system and end the monopoly of state-owned stores being the only place to buy distilled spirits.”

‘PLCB removes all Russian-made alcohol from Fine Wine and Good Spirits stores’: PennLive reports that “the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board will remove all Russian-made products from the state Fine Wine and Good Spirits stores and licensee service centers, officials announced Sunday.”

‘Pa. Senate panel to hold second hearing on recreational pot legalization on Monday’: PennLive reports that “a Senate panel will continue its exploration of legalizing recreational marijuana on Monday with a hearing that will focus on the best practices of the 18 states that have already taken this step.” 

‘Pa. lawmakers spent nearly $2 million on meals, lodging, car leases in 2021 | Price of Politics’: FOX43 reports that “in a year where nearly nine out of every 10 pieces of introduced legislation were not acted on by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, lawmakers used nearly $2 million in taxpayer money on meals, lodging and car leases, all while earning the third-highest legislative salary in the nation.”

‘Pa. Senators Casey and Toomey react to President Biden’s Supreme Court pick’: LNP | LancasterOnline lists “the Pennsylvania lawmakers’ first comments regarding the nomination.” 

‘‘It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity:’ Advocates, officials emphasize need for high-speed broadband in rural Pa.’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “while some in Pennsylvania may take access to quality, high-speed service for granted, in the state’s vast, rural middle service can vary wildly from county to county or community to community, advocates and officials said Friday. And that makes the need to improve those connections all the more pressing.”

‘Court date set for watchdog group, anti-abortion group in years-long battle for records’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “after a years-long wait, a national reproductive rights group will finally get its day in court as it seeks open the spending habits of an anti-abortion organization that receives taxpayer money to public scrutiny.”

 ‘COVID-19 isn’t going away, but health officials say Pa. is ready to transition to the next phase’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “after nearly two years of masking, social distancing, and vaccination efforts, Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations are on the decline. And while coronavirus isn’t going away, the state’s top health official says the commonwealth is ready to transition into the next phase of the pandemic — although acting state Health Secretary Keara Klinepeter was hesitant to call it an endemic.”

‘Pa. courts system says it intends to ‘fully comply’ with ADA, following DOJ letter detailing violations’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “Pennsylvania’s court system said this week that it will fully comply with a section of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) it was found to be in violation of earlier this month.”

‘Pennsylvania gas industry looks to export to Europe amid Russian invasion of Ukraine’: StateImpactPA reports that “Pennsylvania gas producers are looking to help supply natural gas to Ukraine and in Europe, in the face of the Russian attack and limited energy supply.”

‘Testimony in Pennsylvania’s school funding trial is over. What happens now?’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports on “what to know as the historic case enters its next phase, with closing arguments scheduled for March 10.”

‘A fight at the heart of PSERS: Who is in charge at the big pension fund? The board or its executives?’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “critics cite a report by the Womble Bond Dickinson law firm that raises questions about governance at PSERS. The agency’s leaders dispute the criticism.”

‘Life After Johnny Doc’: Philadelphia Magazine reports on “how the conviction of Philly’s most infamous power broker is changing the city — for better and for worse.”

‘In trans people, GOP candidates find latest ‘wedge issue’’: The Associated Press reports that “derision and disparagement of transgender people, and even of those perceived as their allies, are proliferating on the airwaves and in statehouses across the country as 2022 election campaigns heat up. It’s a classic strategy of finding a “wedge issue” that motivates a political base, political observers say.”

‘First day of petitions arrives for Pennsylvania’s primaries’: The Associated Press reports that “Friday was the first day for candidates for statewide office in Pennsylvania, including governor and U.S. Senate, and Congress to start gathering signatures from voters to get on ballots for the May 17 primary election.”

‘How Orlando became the center of the universe for GOP Senate hopefuls’: POLITICO reports that “more than a dozen Republican candidates took time out this week for a Florida campaign detour.”

‘Pa. Capitol lit up in blue and yellow in solidarity with Ukraine’: PennLive reports that “Harrisburg is one of many cities across the U.S. and around the world that are showing off their unity by displaying colors of the Ukrainian flag.”

‘How the Lehigh Valley’s congressional district changes under new Pa. map — and what it means for the 2022 midterm election’: The Allentown Morning Call reports on “how these these new boundaries will change the look of the 7th District, represented by Democrat Susan Wild since 2019.”

Legislative Election Updates

‘Wheeland won’t seek another term’: The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports that “state Rep. Jeff Wheeland, R-Loyalsock Township, announced Friday that he will not seek another term in the state House.”

Regional Spotlight: Southeast and Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: What the redrawn Pennsylvania legislative maps mean for Berks
WFMZ: Congressman Fitzpatrick says more U.S. military support is needed to help Ukraine
KYW Newsradio: New Philly ballot questions could remove gender-specific language from city charter
Philly Voice: Ukrainians in Philly area attend rallies, collect donations after Russian invasion
Delco Daily Times: Meet the Delaware County Health Department team leaders
Bucks County Courier Times: Half of Bucks County’s tax property values in just three districts
Daily Local News: Houlahan holds town hall on education
Reading Eagle: U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan makes three stops in Berks County
WFMZ: Reading retired Congressman recalls 2014 Crimea invasion
WFMZ: Pa. Rep. McNeill renews push to advance bill that aims to end animal cruelty
Morning Call: Affordable housing crisis could get even worse, HUD secretary warns in Easton: ‘We should be ashamed’ 
Morning Call: Allentown City Council postpones vote on COVID relief funding for public housing project, a move mayor says will ‘torpedo’ the project
Morning Call: Bethlehem is again looking to crack down on Airbnbs. Will the city be successful this time?

Opinion  
Scott Perry: The United States can show the world how to deal with Vladmir Putin
Paul Muschick: Pennsylvania’s redistricting process was horrendous, again. Here’s how to fix it.
Rogette Harris: Why Josh Shapiro must be Pennsylvania’s next governor | Unfinished Business
Kadida Kenner: Biden’s Supreme Court pick offers lessons on representation for Pa. judiciary 
Mark S. Singel: Americans must support President Biden during the greatest threat to world security since 1939
Bill Johnston-Walsh: Seniors need to demand the U.S. Senate to lower drug prices
Marc Stier: Every kid deserves a chance; Republicans don’t agree
Salena Zito: It’s the culture, stupid
Jeani Garcia: Why we haven’t taken gun violence in Allentown seriously
John L. Micek: Bullies understand one language. The U.S., West must speak with one voice | Friday Morning Coffee
Paul Muschick: How to avoid forthcoming Russian cyberattacks
Joe McClure: Who was T. Morris Chester? 5 insights into this 19th-century Harrisburg Renaissance man
Jennifer Wilcox: Creating a mineral supply chain from mining wastes
John Nagl: What Ukraine means for America and the world
PennLive Editorial Board: Pennsylvania must find the money to stop sewage from flowing into the Susquehanna River 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Ukraine is the end of easy peace 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Finally, a former public defender for Supreme Court 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Ukraine’s suffering, and valor, must not be in vain
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Mostly promising news for Lancaster County’s tourism industry in 2022  
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Seeking, and finding, some good news in Lancaster County amid the world’s sorrow 
Chris Kelly: Bolus’ ‘non-voy’ circles back to Scranton
Jay Arzu: Philadelphians have waited over a century for the Roosevelt Boulevard subway 
Ray E. Landis: It’s campaign season: GOP ads assault the airwaves and insult our intelligence
David Shribman: And now, we watch
Gregory E. Deavens: Ringing the Liberty Bell was a reminder of the work that remains to fulfill Dr. King’s mission 
John Cole: The core of the problem for Pa.’s teachers | Editorial Cartoon 
Ruth Ann Dailey: ‘Rumors’ become war in Ukraine
Mary Kalyna: “My Heart Beats In My Throat All Day” 
Will Bunch: War in Ukraine demands that all of us pick a side: Democracy or decadence 
Trudy Rubin: Ukrainians are ready to fight against the new Hitler. His name is Putin.