An evening with Dave McCormick. Justices keep mail-in voting in place, for now. Courts in the spotlight. Coplen in, DePasquale and Scott out as Perry challengers in 10th District. SOTU reactions. Here is the Playbook.

PA Weather
Dubois | Partly Sunny 44
Lewisburg | Mostly Sunny 50
Allentown | Sunny 50

PA Sports
76ers | today vs. Knicks
Flyers | lost to Edmonton, 3-0
Penguins | idle

On this date 60 years ago, the Philadelphia Warriors’ Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a victory over the New York Knicks in a game played at the Hershey Sports Arena.

News

An Evening With Dave McCormick: Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick made a campaign stop in Lancaster on Monday night, stopping by the Spring House Brewing Company to meet with about two dozen citizens from Berks, Dauphin and Lancaster counties.

GOP Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Overturn New PA Congressional Map: Pennsylvania Republicans have turned to the United States Supreme Court in their quest to overturn a state-court approved Congressional map.

Keller Changes Mind, Will Not Stand for Reelection: In a surprise announcement, Fred Keller (R-Northumberland) said that he would not run for reelection.

‘Justices keep mail-in voting law in place, at least for now’: The Associated Press reports that “Pennsylvania’s mail-in voting law will remain in place, at least for the near future, despite a state judge’s order that would have made it expire in two weeks, the state Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.”

‘Political newcomer sets his sights on 6th Congressional District’: The Daily Local News reports that “Ron Vogel is seeking the Republican nomination to represent Chester and Berks counties in Congress.”

‘Carlisle’s Coplen announces campaign switch to challenge Perry for 10th Congressional District seat’: The Carlisle Sentinel reports that “just a week after announcing his candidacy for a state Senate seat, Democratic Carlisle School Board member Rick Coplen announced Tuesday that he will now run for Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District seat.”

‘George Scott follows DePasquale in declining run against U.S. Rep. Perry’: The York Dispatch reports that “George Scott joined former state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale in choosing not to challenge incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry for the newly drawn 10th Congressional District.” 

‘Local congressional hopefuls know Russian invasion of Ukraine will impact their jobs’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “preparing to take office at a time of profound geopolitical unrest if elected this year, candidates running for Congress in Western Pennsylvania say they fully anticipate to be immersed — personally — in the ongoing impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

‘Conor Lamb’s challenge: Build his name. Take down Fetterman. And do it all with less money.’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “it’s not clear if the cavalry will actually arrive for Lamb — especially without support from national Democrats like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and allied groups.”

‘Redistricting put Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court where it doesn’t want to be: the political spotlight’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “picking a new high-stakes congressional map injected the Pennsylvania Supreme Court into partisan politics. It wasn’t the first time — and probably won’t be the last.”

‘WATCH VIDEO | Gubernatorial candidate Corman points to Senate experience during local campaign stops’: The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat reports that “Corman spent the day in the region, campaigning at two eateries – Summit Diner in Somerset and Coney Island in Johnstown.”

‘Dr. Oz makes campaign stop in Warren’: WJET reports that “as the race for Pennsylvania Senate continues, Republican Candidate and TV Personality Dr. Oz visited Warren Tuesday for a town hall meeting.”

‘Mastriano introduces bill to allow for ivermectin to treat COVID’: The York Dispatch reports that “Sen. Doug Mastriano introduced Senate Bill 1091, which is intended to allow physicians and pharmacists to prescribe and dispense drugs already approved by the FDA for off-label use in the treatment or prevention of COVID.”

‘How Pa. pols reacted to President Joe Biden’s debut State of the Union speech’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports on “how members of Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation reacted to the speech.”

‘PA Republicans call for pipeline expansions following invasion of Ukraine’: City & State PA reports that “Pennsylvania Republicans are among those pressing the Biden administration to allow construction to resume on the Keystone XL pipeline, which once promised to transport over 800,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast.”

‘PennDOT, Pa. township supervisors discuss funding for local road, bridge needs’: PennLive reports that “the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) on Tuesday discussed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) as well as local-governments’ road and bridge needs and investment options.”

‘Pa treasurer divesting $2.9 million of state investments from Russian companies’: PennLive reports that “Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity is in the process of divesting $2.9 million in Russian holdings in the commonwealth investment accounts she controls and is encouraging the state’s pension systems to follow suit.”

‘Publication of Pa. state test results pushed back to Friday’: PennLive reports that “those interested in how students fared on the 2021 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment and Keystone Exams will have to wait a few more days to find out.”

‘Health care providers, state officials tout new initiatives to combat rise in maternal mortality’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “speaking from Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center on Tuesday, Department of Human Services Secretary Meg Snead said that Pennsylvania needs to “do better,” regarding maternal health services, following the release of some “very real and very concerning trends,” reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week.”

‘‘No shame in reaching out for help’: Pa. leaders share resources for gambling addicts’: KYW Newsradio reports that “the Pennsylvania Lottery, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and the Council on Compulsive Gambling joined with the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs in Harrisburg to help bring awareness for treatment options, and to remind people that it’s OK to ask for help.”

Legislative Election Updates

‘Business owner: Taxes, lawmakers’ retirement spending among reasons for House candidacy’: The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports that “local Republican businessman Jamie Flick recently announced his intention to seek the state House seat for the 83rd District. According to a news release, Flick pledges to lower taxes, reform lawmakers’ pension plans and insist on term limits, reform our education system and increase transparency.”

‘Here’s who’s running for Curt Sonney’s 4th District House seat’: The Erie Times-News reports that “Republicans Greg Hayes, Jason Monn, Joseph Cancilla, Jake Benta, Scott Rastetta, and Jennifer Lesher plan to campaign for the party’s nomination.”

Regional Spotlight: Southwest

KDKA: Washington County Steelworker Gets Shoutout During Pres. Biden’s State Of The Union Address 

WESA: Pittsburgh moves forward with rental property inspection program

Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh officials will soon meet to better examine, shed light on city’s infrastructure 

Post-Gazette: Mik Pappas, district judge under investigation, accuses District Attorney Stephen Zappala of intimidation 

Post-Gazette: Allegheny County, Pittsburgh to end emergency rent-aid program

KDKA: City Council Creates Bridges Task Force

KDKA: Mayor Ed Gainey’s Vision For Pittsburgh Goes Beyond The Mayor’s Office And City Hall

KDKA: Mercer County Man Who Pleaded Guilty To Role In Jan. 6 Capitol Riots Dies

Tribune Review: Sharpsburg council pulls measure to decriminalize possession and use of marijuana, paraphernalia

Tribune Review: Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey announces 3 appointments to administration

City Paper: Over 70 organizations demand Colcom Foundation stop funding anti-immigrant groups

City Paper: Bad Bridges app helps commuters avoid questionable Pittsburgh infrastructure

Observer-Reporter: Officials say county’s economy is in a positive state 

Observer-Reporter: County officials receiving threats after Feb. 17 elections meeting

Opinion  

Dwight Evans: New infrastructure law is once-in-lifetime opportunity if we do it well

Paul Muschick: Why Allentown’s pro-union law is bad for taxpayers

John L. Micek: March on Harrisburg crashed a speech. It was a civics class in real time | Tuesday Morning Coffee

Dr. Asif Ilyas: The $1 billion settlement is important, but the opioid addiction crisis continues

Larry D. Pickens: Pennsylvania Council of Churches calls for an end to Russian aggression in Ukraine

Jim Willshier: Ending abuse requires progress, not political theatre

Michael Vanderbeek and Maria Lehman: Seaport investment is about much more than the current supply chain crisis 

Inquirer Editorial Board: Too many Black lives were cut short in Philadelphia this Black History Month

Seema Lakdawala: Dropping school mask mandates is premature move from CDC | Expert Opinion

Justine Kasznica: Pittsburgh stands with Ukraine

Gene Collier: When what doesn’t really matter starts to matter even less

Courtney DuChene: Ideas We Should Steal: Pedestrian Scrambles 

The Grammarian: Do some speak more kindly about war in Ukraine because the victims are white? 

Trudy Rubin: Why is Belarus helping Russia invade Ukraine? An explainer on the latest in the conflict 

Will Bunch Newsletter: Ukraine makes the case for ending fossil fuels

Michael Coard: Marking a shameful anniversary & the U.S. Supreme Court’s racist failure