Sen. Bob Casey is named to serve on the Senate Intelligence Committee, while former Congressman Charlie Dent is named as the Executive Director of the Aspen Institute’s Congressional Program. Here is the Playbook. 

Dent Named Executive Director of Aspen Institute Congressional Program: Former Congressman Charlie Dent takes over the program that helps elected officials work across the aisle.

Casey Named to Senate Intelligence Committee: Sen. Bob Casey joins the committee that oversees the U.S. intelligence community and influences U.S. foreign and national security policy.

Harrisburg & DC   
Spotlight PA: Pa. House moves to get legal relief for clergy abuse victims back on spring ballot
Spotlight PA: What the exit of Pa.’s top election official means for the future of voting
Spotlight PA: In race for COVID-19 vaccinations, older residents in rural Pa. face tough obstacles
AP: Lawmakers consider fast-track plan for abuse lawsuit window 
AP: Lawmakers’ spending jumps, boosting reserves during pandemic 
AP: Long-term care homes demand more vaccine from Pennsylvania 
AP: Agents visit home of pink hat woman pictured at Capitol riot
Patriot News: Pa. Legislature saw its financial cushion grow to $200 million amid pandemic
Patriot News: Could Pa. voters see a ballot question to aid abuse victims this spring? ‘It’s absolutely doable,’ lawmaker says
Patriot News: Pa. promises more ‘accountability’ from COVID-19 vaccine providers, including shifting supply to the fastest 
Patriot News: Here’s what your town would pay for state police under Gov. Tom Wolf’s fee: Use the database 
Patriot News: Pa. state universities open up another retirement incentive to thin its workforce 
Patriot News: Pa. COVID-19 update: 146 new deaths; hospitalizations fall
Patriot News: Readers can watch PA’s new Secretary of Health meet PennLive’s Editorial Board Friday on Facebook Live 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: ‘What is the plan?’ Senate panel airs frustrations with vaccine rollout 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: By the numbers: 2021-22 Budget Breakdown 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. House agrees to fast-track legislation to salvage sex abuse reform; Senate still uncommitted
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. Republicans stand by QAnon congresswoman as House votes to strip committee assignments 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: As Pa.’s vaccine rollout stumbles, House will vote on whether to turn it over to National Guard  
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: What dueling press releases say about the utter predictability of the budget ballet | Thursday Morning Coffee 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: What new polling data tells us about the state of America’s soul, and what to do about it | Friday Morning Coffee
WITF: Biden’s Executive Orders Skip Family Detention, PA And National Groups Push For More 
Inquirer: Four Pa. counties got far fewer vaccine doses than expected; COVID-19 restrictions loosened today in N.J.; new cases continue to drop
Inquirer: Pennsylvania will get nearly $26 million from McKinsey opioid settlement 
Inquirer: Plans for Pa. university mergers continue, but all schools will keep their names — and sports teams, if the NCAA approves
PLSReporter: MAP: Where is Wolf’s proposed school funding headed?  
PLSReporter: After DOS error, legislators express support for expediting sexual abuse reform 
PLSReporter: Feb. 4 COVID-19 Update: State reports 3,370 new COVID-19 cases
Post-Gazette: Wolf proposes $1.3B investment in education with funding reforms, new spending
Post-Gazette: Pa. House leaders plan emergency amendment on abuse lawsuits 
Post-Gazette: Six merged state-owned universities would keep names, identities and residential presence
Fox News: Pennsylvania Democrats propose new bill to allow illegal immigrants to obtain drivers’ licenses
Reading Eagle: Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget includes 5 familiar priorities; here’s what you need to know
Morning Call: Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s $40 billion budget by the numbers
WHYY Newsworks: Biden’s executive orders to examine policies affecting thousand of Pennsylvania immigrants
York Daily Record: Pennsylvania is failing the Chesapeake Bay — here’s how that affects you
StateImpactPA: Climate change doesn’t get a mention in Wolf’s budget address
Beaver County Times: Emergency amendment eyed after advertising error
USA Today: Pa. lawmakers continue partisan fight after Trump’s loss. What voters say they want instead
LNP | LancasterOnline: These PA counties had the highest per-capita COVID-19 death rates since Dec. 1
KYW Newsradio: In Pa., residents express confusion, frustration with COVID-19 vaccine appointments
National Journal: Never-Trump Republican Craig Snyder Eyes Senate 
National Journal: Former U.S. Attorney William McSwain Lays Groundwork for Statewide Bid
KDKA: Advocacy Group Gives Pennsylvania ‘F’ For Coronavirus Testing 
The Hill: FBI in Pittsburgh searching for ‘bullhorn lady’ from Capitol riot
MSN: Congressional Staffer: ‘The directive is clear, we must convict Donald Trump’
Huffington Post: Major Conservative Groups Are Fueling A State-Level Push To Hamper COVID-19 Restrictions

Philadelphia 
Philly Clout: The money race between Philly DA Larry Krasner and challenger Carlos Vega kicks into high gear
WHYY Newsworks: John Legend, tech tycoons and aggrieved cops: Who’s funding the Philly DA race 
WHYY Newsworks: Philly Council passes resolution to give itself more power over development 
WHYY Newsworks: New independent police oversight commission will have power to investigate misconduct 
WHYY Newsworks: Before Rosa Parks: Caroline LeCount and others helped desegregate Philly streetcars
Inquirer: The city says it can’t answer some questions about Philly Fighting COVID amid an investigation. That’s not true.
Inquirer: The student debt crisis hits Black borrowers hardest. These Philadelphia debtors say Biden’s plan to tackle it isn’t enough.
Inquirer: Black Philadelphia renters face eviction at more than twice the rate of white renters    
Inquirer: Philly teachers’ union says it’s ‘not safe’ to reopen schools, city to appoint mediator. Will teachers return?   
Inquirer: Besides PPP, here are sources where local small businesses can get relief 
Inquirer: Comcast boosts internet speeds for its cheapest plan to aid homebound students
Philadelphia Business Journal: Philadelphia’s budget woes leave city with ‘painful’ decisions on taxes, services
Philadelphia Business Journal: Philadelphia councilmember urges equitable distribution of $15B for arts and culture venues 
Philadelphia Business Journal: Pandemic exposes dangers of Philadelphia’s reliance on wage tax for city revenue  
Philadelphia Business Journal: Michael Nutter’s new firm 40 North Advocacy wants to push progressive policy in U.S. cities 
Philadelphia Business Journal: Harrisburg’s largest law firm enters Philadelphia market
KYW Newsradio: Philly City Council gets initial proposal for new police oversight commission  

SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Fitzpatrick votes to remove Ga. congresswoman 
Bucks County Courier Times: Battling cancel culture in Bucks 
Inquirer: Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Bucks County sponsors bill to protect Arctic National Refuge, which Trump sought to open for drilling
Inquirer: Montco, Chesco, and other counties got thousands fewer vaccine doses than expected this week
Bucks Local News: Bucks County announces mass vaccination plan; will open six clinics across the county
Bucks Local News: Bucks County Commissioners respond to resignation of Pa. Secretary of State Boockvar
Delco Daily Times: Delco to provide emergency rental relief to hundreds 
Montgomery Media: Montgomery County records 3 coronavirus deaths, 274 positive cases over 2-day period
Delaware Valley Journal: MontCo’s Arkoosh to Residents: Please Stop Using Links to Jump Vaccine Line
Pottstown Mercury: Call center to help offline Montgomery County residents register for coronavirus vaccine 
Pottstown Mercury: Mincarelli announces candidacy for Chester County Court of Common Pleas

Pittsburgh 
Post-Gazette: As GOP splits over Trump, Rep. Reschenthaler says ex-president deserves ‘at least one Nobel Peace Prize’ 
Post-Gazette: Probe underway after hacker intercepts some calls to 2-1-1 line for vaccines in Allegheny County   
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Brewing Co. to brew its own beer in Allegheny County by 2022
Post-Gazette: COVID-19 Update: Pa. reports 3,370 cases, 146 deaths
Pittsburgh Business Times: Pittsburgher teams with former Philly mayor Nutter to launch public affairs firm
Pittsburgh Business Times: Future of Cities: Pittsburgh’s pension could offer budget ‘wiggle room’ in trying times
Pittsburgh Business Times: Future of Cities: Pittsburgh has new tax simulation dashboard in the works
Pittsburgh Business Times: Pittsburgh region finishes 2020 with 86,000 fewer jobs, new data shows
Pittsburgh Business Times: Pittsburgh’s biggest law firm introduces billable hours credit for diversity- and gender-related work
Tribune Review: Scams, high demand shut down Allegheny County phone lines for vaccine appointments
Tribune Review: Folk singer-songwriter and political activist Anne Feeney dies at 69
Tribune Review: Allegheny County reports 1 additional covid death as signs of virus leveling off continue
KDKA: Allegheny Co. Health Dept.’s 211 Hotline To Set Up COVID-19 Vaccination Appointments Receives More Than 15,000 Calls Per Second 
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pittsburgh: Allegheny Co. Health Department Reports 313 More Coronavirus Cases, 1 Additional Death
City Paper: Commonwealth Press donated 100% of proceeds of Bernie chair yard signs in homage to Sanders’ own philanthropy 
WESA: Pitt Study Finds That Many Black Americans Live Farther From Vaccine Sites Than Whites
WESA: County Vaccine Appointments Fill Hours After Hotline Launches, Callers Report Problems Connecting 
WESA: How Area Political Science Professors Are Teaching The Impeachment Trial

SWPA 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Democrats drive vote to remove controversial Georgia lawmaker from committees; local GOP House members oppose move
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Somerset County treasurer announces bid for reelection
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Greater Johnstown would get $13M windfall under Wolf budget proposal
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: State’s rolling average for daily COVID-19 cases dips below 5,000 for first time since November
Observer-Reporter: Regional lawmakers cool on Wolf budget proposal
Observer-Reporter: Greene commissioners vote for county to be Second Amendment Sanctuary 
Observer-Reporter: O’Neal asks for National Guard to help with vaccines, introduces bill 
Observer-Reporter: Commissioner Maggi received COVID-19 vaccine in Pfizer trial 
Observer-Reporter: Washington Co. commissioners to approve $6.6 million list of LSA projects 
Observer-Reporter: Convicted felon living in Uniontown charged in Capitol attack 
Observer-Reporter: Pennsylvania reports 146 new COVID-19 deaths
Post-Gazette: Kentucky man accused of participating in U.S. Capitol riot arrested in Uniontown
KDKA: Kentucky Man Living In Uniontown Charged For Alleged Role In Riot At U.S. Capitol
Tribune Review: Westmoreland County crosses 25,000 mark for covid cases
Altoona Mirror: Blair pension liability at $92M
Altoona Mirror: State aims to increase vaccine sites

NEPA
The Times Leader: Area legislators differ in views on Wolf’s budget 
The Times Leader: WB Area big winner in Wolf’s proposed education budget 
The Times Leader: 112 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Luzerne County on Thursday
Citizens Voice: Yudichak upset with proposed elimination of $5 million in state facility closure aid
Citizens Voice: Local lawmakers weigh in on state’s vaccine roll out
Citizens Voice: County controller’s race could be rematch of 2017
Citizens Voice: COVID-19 rollout could have gone more smoothly, official say
Citizens Voice: County election board accepting applications for chairperson 
Citizens Voice: Local nursing homes receive federal funding
Citizens Voice: Wolf budget would give W-B Area nearly $29M more in basic ed funds
Citizens Voice: More than 100 new COVID-19 cases reported in county on Thursday
Times-Tribune: The great debate: Will Gov. Wolf get proposed marijuana legalization for PA?
Times-Tribune: COVID-19 vaccine rollout could have gone more smoothly, officials say
Times-Tribune: County ordinance would set fees tied to delinquent Scranton property tax collection
Times-Tribune: Lackawanna nursing homes awarded $1.5 million for COVID-19 mitigation efforts
Times-Tribune: Scranton opens window on restoration of stained-glass entrance of historic City Hall
Times-Tribune: Region’s COVID-19 death numbers improve

South Central 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Smucker votes alongside most House Republicans to protect Marjorie Taylor Greene from getting removed from committees 
LNP | LancasterOnline: New jobless claims in Lancaster County dip for 3rd straight week; ‘good signal,’ local economist says 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Wolf’s massive education funding proposal is long overdue for some Lancaster County school leaders, worrisome for others 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Joanne Murphy leads in race for GOP judicial endorsement ahead of convention next week  
York Dispatch: Eight more die in York County due to COVID-19 
York Dispatch: New COVID-19 cases declining in York County
Carlisle Sentinel: Carlisle Borough discusses truth and reconciliation resolution 
Carlisle Sentinel: DOH: 37 new cases of COVID-19 and six additional deaths for Cumberland County Thursday

Lehigh Valley      
WFMZ: Berks lawmaker seeks investigation after ‘human error’
WFMZ: Geoff Brace to seek reelection to Lehigh County Board of Commissioners 
WFMZ: Berks commissioners open to studying formation of DoH 
Morning Call: Lehigh Valley school districts would get this much more money under Wolf budget plan
Morning Call: Frustration with Pennsylvania COVID-19 vaccine rollout spills out at hearing, but LVHN approach offers a bright spot
Morning Call: As COVID-19 cases mount at Lehigh County Jail, officials beg Pennsylvania leaders for assistance
Morning Call: Many people are rushing to get coronavirus vaccine, but Black, Latino communities are unsure given history of mistreatment in health care system
Patriot News: Berks County Commissioners give support to committee for passenger rail service project
Express Times: COVID in Pa.: 1.1M vaccines given as state passes 22K COVID deaths | Coronavirus updates for Pa. and the Lehigh Valley (2/4/21)
Reading Eagle: Reading School District superintendent and others encouraged by Gov. Tom Wolf’s bold education budget 

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Area officials react to budget proposal
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Lycoming County 36 new COVID-19 cases
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Wolf launches a budget fraught with deficits, uncertainty
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: State: More than 1 million vaccinations given to date
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Policing network pitched to integrate house cameras
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Lycoming County prison reports 32 COVID-19 cases
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Budget looks to bolster education system
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Pine Creek Township donates $10k to local fire companies
Erie Times-News: Erie mayor has received COVID-19 vaccine
Erie Times-News: Erie mayor to give ‘state of the city’ address
Erie Times-News: COVID-19 vaccinations at Saint Vincent in Erie
Erie Times-News: Area code overlay: 582 to join PA’s 814
Erie Times-News: Wolf announces funding for Erie County project
Erie Times-News: Tops Markets joins Giant Eagle, Rite Aid pharmacies in offering COVID-19 vaccinations
Patriot News: Lycoming County man, woman charged with breaking into the U.S. Capitol during riot
Centre Daily Times: Feb. 4 update: Centre County reports 59 new cases of COVID-19; Pa. adds 3,370 positives
Centre Daily Times: Centre Volunteers in Medicine to give more than 1,000 COVID-19 vaccines at first large-scale clinic
Centre Daily Times: State College, College Township councils offer joint support for local church burglarized last month

Opinion  
Scott Perry: Gov. Wolf must collaborate to deliver shots in arm for seniors
John Baer: What’s the worst part of living in Pennsylvania? There are lots of choices 
Neil Grover: A businessman spewing nonsense only hurts the City of Harrisburg
Steve Santarsiero: We can and must do justice
Bob Mensch: Wolf budget is like the movie ‘Groundhog Day’
Ernest Owens: Why Is Philly In Such a Mess Right Now? Because Our Politicians Have Lost Their Souls
Inquirer Editorial Board: Justice delayed shouldn’t be justice denied for victims of childhood sexual abuse by priests 
Inquirer Staff: Should Pa. elect judges based on geography? | Pro/Con   
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Boockvar was right to resign over mistake that devastated child sexual abuse survivors, but GOP outrage is rich
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Planning for effective vaccine distribution in Lancaster County and all of Pa. should have started months ago 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Half of half-baked
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Be sure to be insured
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Preserve sports teams
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: SEC: Look to yourself in GameStop event
Roxanne Patel Sheplavy: Can Free Cash Solve Philly’s Poverty Problem?  
Kenneth Bigos: Pennsylvania mortgage rescue program needs money for coming tsunami of foreclosures
Erin Todd Bronchetti and Ellen B. Magenheim: Philadelphians need third-round stimulus payments to be issued smoothly this time 
Dan Simpson: Changing positions on world stage
Jill Sunday Bartoli: Violence stokers must go
Allison Davis: The forgotten Black scholar who studied – and faced – structural racism in 1940s America
Tony Norman: To Slur, With Love
Fletcher McClellan: Divided Biden stands, united he falls 
Salena Zito: A lost iPhone and a small act of kindness and courage
JD Mullane: Thou shalt not take from another’s grocery cart
Trudy Rubin: Conspiracy theorists in GOP are biggest threat to Biden’s China policy