A Philadelphia lawyer has announced that he will run in the Republican race for U.S. Senate. Here is the Playbook. 

News 

‘Philly lawyer joining GOP field chasing open US Senate seat’: The Associated Press reports that “George Bochetto, a prominent Philadelphia lawyer and Republican who has fought various high-profile cases in the city’s courts, said Monday that he will enter the crowded GOP field chasing Pennsylvania’s open U.S. Senate seat.”

‘GOP seeks more control over legislative redistricting’: The Associated Press reports that “state House Republicans who just lost a key vote on new preliminary legislative district maps moved Monday to regain more control of the process by advancing a GOP friendly constitutional amendment that would utterly revamp Pennsylvania’s redistricting process.”

‘Court won’t block entire election ‘investigation’ subpoena’: The Associated Press reports that “a Pennsylvania court declined Monday to block an entire subpoena to state election officials in what Republican state lawmakers call a “forensic investigation” of 2020′s presidential election, fueled by former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims that Democrats stole the election.”

‘5 takeaways from Doug Mastriano’s gubernatorial campaign launch’: City & State PA lists the “five major takeaways from Mastriano’s campaign launch.”

‘Wolf vetoes attempt to back out of RGGI’: The Pittsburgh Business Times reports that “Gov. Tom Wolf on Monday vetoed the state Legislature’s attempt to keep Pennsylvania from joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.”

‘Luzerne County must hold special election on April 5 for vacant state representative seat’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Luzerne County must hold a special election April 5 to fill Tarah Toohil’s vacant state representative seat in the 116th Legislative District, state House Speaker Bryan Cutler ordered Monday.”

‘Special election to replace Ed Gainey in state House set for April 5’: WESA reports that “the special election to fill Ed Gainey’s seat in the state House will be held April 5. State House Speaker Bryan Cutler announced the date Monday afternoon for the 24th House District seat, which Gainey held before he became mayor of Pittsburgh last week.”

‘Pa. House passes ‘science of reading’ legislation to help educators teach all children how to read’: PennLive reports that “legislation that puts an added emphasis on the importance of ensuring all public school students learn how to read by fourth grade won passage in the state House of Representatives on Monday.”

‘Tolling the I-83/South Bridge draws opposition from Cumberland County commissioners’: PennLive reports that “Cumberland County commissioners on Monday adopted a resolution stating their opposition to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s proposed tolling of the I-83/South Bridge to pay for the cost of replacing this span over the Susquehanna River.”

‘Pa. Farm Show attendance down as ‘people probably nervous about going out’’: PennLive reports that “since the Farm Show kicked off on Jan. 8, attendance has been noticeably down amid record daily COVID-19 infection rates and hospitalizations in Pennsylvania.” 

‘Ed Gainey defends his push for Republican National Convention’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “facing criticism from members of his own party over his support of a bid to bring the 2024 Republican National Convention to Pittsburgh, Mayor Ed Gainey acknowledged the community’s input in a statement on Monday but stood by his decision to lobby for the event.”

‘Local officials urge Shapiro to halt pipeline construction’: The Daily Local News reports that “three local elected officials have called upon Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro to halt construction of the Mariner East Pipeline.”

‘‘It would literally save lives’: Strong support in Harrisburg for letting drug users test for fentanyl’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “the concept of illicit drug users testing their personal stashes for fentanyl — an ultra-deadly synthetic opioid that many want to avoid — got strong support Monday in Harrisburg.”

‘Dr. Oz films campaign commercial at diner in South Whitehall Twp.’: WFMZ reports that “Dr. Oz stopped in Lehigh County Monday morning to beef up his bid for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania. He filmed a campaign commercial and met with supporters at the Trivet diner in South Whitehall Township.”

‘Pa. expects billions of dollars from the infrastructure law for coal mine cleanups. Will it help polluted waterways?’: StateImpactPA reports that “Pennsylvania is littered with abandoned coal mines that can be dangerous and cause water pollution. The new bipartisan infrastructure law, signed by President Biden in November, will provide an additional $11 billion for cleanup of old mine lands, and Pennsylvania is expected to get a large chunk of that money.”

‘‘Bankruptcy has to be on the table’: Receiver says police pension spiking threatens to sink Chester’: WHYY reports that “the office of the state-appointed receiver tasked with rescuing the fiscally distressed city of Chester is raising new concerns about the nearly depleted police pension fund, which has less than four months of benefits left.”

‘Philadelphia Council passes legislation to fight tangled titles’: KYW Newsradio reports that “new legislation from Philadelphia City Council is now on the books to help families struggling with tangled titles.”

‘Fox News gives primetime slot to Philly native Jesse Watters’: PhillyVoice reports that “Fox News has promoted longtime host Jesse Watters to a new primetime show that will take over the network’s 7 p.m. hour beginning later in January.”

‘Delaware County to take over George W. Hill Correctional Facility April 6’: The Delaware County Daily Times reports that “Delaware County has set April 6 as the date it will return the operations of the George W. Hill Correctional Facility to public control.”

‘What’s next after court approves Wilkinsburg annexation petition’: WESA “gives an update on what’s next now that a judge approved the petition for a ballot question on the annexation of Wilkinsburg.”

‘Air quality advocates criticize size of fine levied against U.S. Steel for recent violation’: Pittsburgh City Paper reports that “on Thu., Jan. 6, Allegheny County Health Department issued a civil penalty to U.S. Steel for allowing the emission of hundreds of pounds of air pollutants following an equipment breakdown this past summer at Clairton Coke Works in Pittsburgh’s Mon Valley.”

‘Washington, Greene municipalities adopt 2022 budgets’: The Observer-Reporter reports that “municipalities in Washington and Greene counties have adopted their general fund budgets for 2022. Here is a roundup of the spending plans and taxes for the upcoming year.”

‘Officials begin work on gun sanctuary’: The Altoona Mirror reports that “Blair County’s local governmental leaders are expected to begin working on efforts to address the Second Amendment sanctuary referendum voters approved in November.”

‘McBride promises transparency, oversight as council chairwoman’: The Citizens Voice reports that “Beth Gilbert McBride promises to be transparent, to pay attention to the public and to keep a close eye on spending this year during her second stint as Wilkes-Barre City Council chairwoman.”

‘O’Malley lands new jobs, Scavo’s COVID-19 scare’: The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that “former Lackawanna County Commissioner Patrick O’Malley has a new job. O’Malley, 52, started Jan. 2 as a security guard for the Scranton Housing Authority, authority executive director Gary Pelucacci said.”

‘Reading to give $3 million toward FirstEnergy Stadium project’: The Reading Eagle reports that “council voted unanimously Monday to allocate $3 million from the city’s American Rescue Plan funds to the Reading Fightin Phils organization to assist with the planned improvements at the stadium.”

‘Senator Dan Laughlin reacts to Doug Mastriano running for Pennsylvania governor’: WJET reports that “on January 10th, Laughlin reacted to Mastriano’s candidacy.”

‘How To Vote in the 2022 PA Primary’: The Philadelphia Citizen reports on “everything you need to know about voting in Philadelphia before (or during) the 2022 primary election on May 17.”

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