Auditor General Eugene DePasquale talks about considering future runs for elected office, while the GOP selects their candidate for the special election in the 11th House District. Here is the Playbook.

DePasquale Mulls Next Step, Possibly Congress: After a trial balloon report, the Auditor General won’t rule out a bid for Congress – or other higher office.

Stack Ends Bid for Philly City Council: The former Lt. Governor pointed his ballot position and the process of selecting candidate positions as a reason for dropping out, on the same day he successfully defended a challenge to his nomination petitions.

SD33: Hammond Selected as Dem Candidate: The Director of Community Development for the Borough of Spring Grove believes the race is about starting a movement to stand up for the dignity of work for all.

Harrisburg & DC  
Post-Gazette: Butler County Republicans chose candidate for special election to replace Brian Ellis
AP: Pennsylvania doles out housing grants to help opioid crisis
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: One-third of Pennsylvania counties taking action to replace voting systems by 2020
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Free college? ‘Why not?’ Lawmakers, educators, and students rally at the Capitol
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Senate committee advances bill to ban sale of vaping products to minors
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Self-described climate contrarian tells Pa. House committee global warming alarm is overblown
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: These are the 10 most — and least — healthy counties in Pennsylvania | The Numbers Racket
Inquirer: GOP state rep invokes Jesus 13 times in prayer before Muslim colleague from Philly is sworn in
Inquirer: Pa. needs auto-IRA plans to boost retirement savings: Treasurer Torsella  
Inquirer: Fatal DUIs increase in Pennsylvania’s rural counties and fall closer to cities
StateImpactPA: House panel hosts climate change doubter, whose beliefs draw a rebuke from scientists
PLSReporter: Amendment to recall elected officials proposed
PLSReporter: Torsella unveils plan to help Pennsylvanians save for retirement
PLSReporter: Legislators and students rally for cheaper or free higher education  
PLSReporter: House committee hears contrarian climate change viewpoint
WHYY Newsworks: Chasing clean power: Why Three Mile Island is fighting to stay open
KYW Newsradio: Co-sponsor expects slow going for scooter bill in Pa. House
Patriot News: Special Olympics Pa. could face major funding cut under Trump’s education budget plan
Patriot News: Bill would require hands-only CPR training for high school students
Patriot News: Efforts to salvage cash assistance for Pa.’s poorest citizens fail in the House

Philadelphia
Billy Penn: ‘No. 1’ candidate for Philly judge drops out of race
WHYY Newsworks: Crowded field seeking to run Philly elections
WHYY Newsworks: Philadelphia fires, demotes 30 employees over ethics violations
Inquirer: Philadelphia primary election 2019: What do you want to know?
KYW Newsradio: Philly inspector general generates $10M in savings and restitution
KYW Newsradio: Community College of Philadelphia faculty, staff vote to strike
KYW Newsradio: Community College of Philadelphia faculty, staff to vote on whether to strike

SEPA
Delco Daily Times: Democratic D.A. hopeful appoints three campaign chairs
Delco Daily Times: Marple, Lansdowne voters to decide liquor question
Pottstown Mercury: In wake of fatal Barclay Friends fire, local lawmaker to introduce sprinkler legislation
Pottstown Mercury: Chester County transportation projects get $725,000 in funding

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Butler County Republicans chose candidate for special election to replace Brian Ellis
Post-Gazette: City Council gives tentative approval of gun-control bills in wake of Tree of Life shooting
AP: The Latest: Pittsburgh council members divided on gun bills
Philly Voice: Controversial billboard near Pittsburgh displays hate speech, Antwon Rose image
Tribune Review: Field of council candidates in Pittsburgh’s North Side shrinks as Swatson bows out
Tribune Review: Commissioner Cerilli to give campaign money from man tied to human trafficking case to human trafficking task force
WESA: Pittsburgh City Council Preliminarily Approves Controversial Gun Legislation
KDKA: Braddock Residents Demand Answers, Public Hearing Regarding Natural Gas Drilling
KDKA: Fetterman’s Marijuana Listening Tour Schedules More Stops
City Paper: Pittsburgh lawmakers sound off on “Islamophobia” prayer before swearing in of Pa.’s first Muslim woman lawmaker

SWPA  
Beaver County Times: State Sen. Bartolotta’s nurse practitioner bill passes committee
Observer-Reporter: State grants awarded for road projects in Greene, Allegheny
Altoona Mirror: Tomassetti continues push for home rule  
Altoona Mirror: Domestic relations director, deputy fired  
Altoona Mirror: Recycling director leaving for new job
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Young farmers could get boost under competing plans at Capitol   
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Johnstown’s economic development director’s future ‘in limbo’

NEPA
Citizens Voice: $1M grant will aid Tunkhannock getting natuaral gas line
Citizens Voice: County council to allow public hearing on possible tax break program for developer
Citizens Voice: More than $16M approved for Luzerne County projects
The Times Leader: WB targets trash, problem properties during ‘Taking it to the Streets’  
The Times Leader: Dozens of local municipalities receiving gambling grants
The Times Leader: Crestwood school board president’s email hacked

South Central  
York Dispatch: After 40 years, Three Mile Island meltdown looms large
York Dispatch: York principal condemned for blackface got ‘Yes!!!!’ from district beforehand
Patriot News: Three Mile Island accident: Exhibit shows mutated plants, pop culture and news coverage
LNP | LancasterOnline: Lancaster County Commissioners block DA Stedman from using taxpayer funds for lawsuit  
LNP | LancasterOnline: Coatesville city council defends lease of lot to pipeline company  
LNP | LancasterOnline: Industrial hemp offers potential and risk for struggling Lancaster County dairy farmers  
LNP | LancasterOnline: Group that’s fighting water tower on school land takes case to Lancaster City Council

Lehigh Valley   
Reading Eagle: Reading candidates tout platforms, answer questions
Reading Eagle: Reading council, chief surprised by proposal to move money from community policing to job training
Reading Eagle: North Heidelberg supervisors fill vacancy on township planning commission
Express Times: Lawsuit alleging porn sharing is ‘blatant distortion,’ Allentown School District attorneys say
Morning Call: A last look at a great view: Bethlehem City Council visits the doomed Martin Tower  
Morning Call: Allentown School Director: ‘Mistakes’ were made in signature petitions, but not intentionally  

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Republicans host candidates seeking commissioner seat for May primary
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: County DA candidates make promises of safety and justice
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Council upset with mayor delay on picks for city water authority

Opinion  
LNP Editorial Board: Municipal police need radar to keep our communities safer  
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Needless kerfuffle: Detroit prosecutors showed bad judgment
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Sustained advocacy: The fight for more equitable policing must continue
Wayne D. Fontana: Congress needs to step up to protect Pa.’s Dreamers
Jerry Jordan and Vincent Hughes: Unacceptable condition of Philly’s school buildings sends a tragic signal to students
Jenice Armstrong: Divisive prayer at statehouse provides Movita Johnson-Harrell’s divine introduction to Harrisburg
John L. Micek: These are the most dangerous states for pedestrians | Wednesday Morning Coffee
Mike Newall: Sure, there are plenty of hacks in the Philly primary. But there are reasons for hope.
Ernest Owens: Excessive Drama Surrounding Petition Challenges Is a Turnoff for Voters
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Moving on from the Mueller Report
Lynn Yeakel: In 2020, let’s focus on women all year long
Tony Norman: Here come the jurors of tomorrow
Emil Fish: Anti-semitic attacks on Jeff Bezos are a wake-up call
Christopher J. Ferguson and Patrick Markey: Blaming social media for youth suicide trends is misguided and dangerous