Good Thursday morning. It’s the last day of March and the PA Leadership Conference begins tomorrow. GOP Senate candidates meet in Erie. Is the Inquirer too “woke”?  Here is the Playbook.

PA Weather
Pittsburgh | T-storms Likely, 68
Harrisburg | Severe T-storms, 71
Philadelphia | Severe T-storms, 70

PA Sports
76ers | tonight at Detroit
Flyers | SAT vs. Toronto
Penguins | tonight at Minnesota
USMNT | lost to Costa Rica, 2-0

News

2022 PA Leadership Conference Preview: The Pennsylvania Leadership Conference will hold its annual gathering on April 1-2 in Camp Hill. One of the premier get-togethers for conservative activists in the Keystone State, the Conference will feature former congressman Trey Gowdy as its keynote speaker on Friday.

PA Senate Race: Top GOP Senate Candidates Meet in Erie Forum: It’s been a long time comin’, but four of the top candidates for the GOP’s U.S. Senate nomination met earlier today in Erie.

• AP: Forum gets tense in GOP’s sharp-elbowed US Senate primary
• Inquirer: GOP rivals take aim at Mehmet Oz during Senate campaign forum: ‘He’s a liberal’
• Post-Gazette: Republican frontrunners in Pa.’s U.S. Senate race trade barbs at Erie forum
• PennLive: Pa.’s Republican Senate candidates spar over authenticity, commitment to cause in Erie
• Fox News: Pennsylvania GOP Senate primary: Dr. Oz, David McCormick trade fire over fracking
• WGAL: One-on-one with Democratic US Senate candidate John Fetterman
• WJET: Forum between Republican candidates for U.S. Senate gets heated
• WJET: Dr. Mehmet Oz tours LECOM Achievement Center
• Politifact: Dr. Oz claimed that GOP Senate rival McCormick ‘bragged’ about offshoring jobs. That lacks evidence
• City & State PA: Endorsements in Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race keep stacking up. 

PA Governor Race: ‘One-on-one with Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Jake Corman’: WGAL reports that “Corman said there’s growing momentum for a Republican to beat Democrat Josh Shapiro in November.”

• WHTM: York Republican chair endorses McSwain for Governor

‘Advocates ask for rewrite of Pa. Legislature’s rules to prioritize bipartisan bills’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “good government advocates are banding together to make Harrisburg’s next batch of 253 legislators — which could include a wave of new faces — think twice before they rubber stamp those rules in the new session that starts in 2023.”

‘House panel acts in a last-ditch effort to stop changes to Pa.’s charter school law’: PennLive reports that “a House GOP-controlled panel once again voiced its disapproval of charter school law changes in a long-shot effort to stop rules from taking effect that were favored by Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration.”

‘Gov. Wolf signs bill extending pandemic-related waivers’: PennLive reports that “Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday signed into law Senate Bill 1019. It temporarily extends certain suspensions of regulations and statutes that were issued by agencies under the COVID-19 disaster declaration through June 30.”

‘Pa. General Assembly extends Fern Hollow Bridge disaster declaration’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “the disaster declaration that Gov. Tom Wolf proclaimed in response to the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse in Pittsburgh was renewed for six months Wednesday by the Republican-controlled Legislature.”

‘Lawmakers move to block Pennsylvania from climate program, offer federal money instead’: StateImpactPA reports that “state lawmakers are advancing a measure to block Gov. Tom Wolf’s climate plan by keeping Pennsylvania from joining a regional program to cut emissions from power plants.”

‘7th District congressional race’: Armchair Lehigh Valley reports that Rep. Susan Wild “who lives in South Whitehall, started the year with $1,705,721 in cash on hand, according to her latest finance report filled with the Federal Election Commission. That compares to $1,005,977 for Republican Lisa Scheller and $100,252 for her May 17 primary challenger Kevin Dellicker.”

‘New Polls Put Houlahan’s District in GOP Crosshairs’: The Delaware Valley Journal reports that “winning the midterm election could be an uphill battle for Delaware Valley incumbent U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D) and an easy task for incumbent U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R).”

‘Parents of teen shot by Pennsylvania State Police sue troopers, local DA’: Spotlight PA reports that “the parents of a Chinese American teenager fatally shot by Pennsylvania State Police in 2020 filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday accusing state troopers and the local district attorney of trying to “thwart public oversight” by making misleading statements and refusing to release full video of the incident.”

‘Broken ‘compassionate release’ rules strand Pa.’s sickest prisoners as costs to taxpayers soar’: “Spotlight PA spoke with 28 people serving life sentences to understand the experience of growing old behind bars.”

‘Casey, Toomey applaud House passage of bill naming U.S. courthouse after Judge Rambo’: PennLive reports that “U.S. Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey on Wednesday applauded the U.S. House of Representatives passing legislation to name the U.S. Courthouse in Harrisburg in honor of Judge Sylvia Rambo.”

‘Philly airport workers call for airlines to pay higher wages, offer better benefits, time off’: City & State PA reports that “airport workers rallying on Tuesday said current wages and benefits for contracted workers won’t fly with them.”

Legislative Election Updates

‘State House rep is running for 24th Senatorial District’: The Reading Eagle reports that “Tracy Pennycuick is seeking the Republican nomination.”

‘Three vie for Masser’s seat in 107th District’: The Daily Item reports that “according to the state Department of State, Penelope Murphy, of Coal Township, Joanne Stehr, of Hegins, and Ronald Tanney, of Mount Carmel, all collected the required signatures and will appear on the May primary ballot. The winner will be uncontested in the fall.”

‘State house candidates make their case to LGBTQ voters’: The Philadelphia Gay News reports that “Liberty City LGBTQ Democratic Club hosted its 182nd District Candidate Forum on Thursday, March 24 via Zoom.”

‘Redrawn districts prompt primary battles in at least five Lehigh Valley House, Senate seats’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “the May 17 primary is shaping up to be a battleground for at least five Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania House and Senate races thanks to newly drawn maps that were approved by the state Supreme Court.”

‘Sen. Lisa Baker announces reelection bid in 20th’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Baker, R–Lehman Township, chair of the state Senate Judiciary Committee, has filed her petitions to run for re-election to serve Pennsylvania’s 20th Senatorial District. Baker submitted over 3,000 signatures — more than six times the number required, which she said shows an outpouring of grassroots support.”

‘Primary lineup is set’: The Northeast Times reports that “Monday marked the deadline for candidates to file to run for state legislative seats in the May 17 primary.”

Regional Spotlight: Northeast
Times-Tribune: Advocates predict Scranton-NYC passenger train means bright local future 
Times-Tribune: Scranton online public survey asks how to spend $68.7 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds
Citizens Voice: Yudichak says he did not try to influence Luzerne County manager vote
Citizens Voice: Wilkes-Barre council OKs rail study, but mayor hits brakes
Citizens Voice: Election board member Castellani resigns, cites ballot drop boxes 
Citizens Voice: Some call for more cooperation between Brown, city council
Citizens Voice: Former Luzerne County Manager Pedri advises next manager to prepare for a “non-stop” job
The Times Leader: Next move in Luzerne County manager hiring a mystery 
The Times Leader: Flynn collaborating with NEPA parish on Ukraine aid 
The Times Leader: Republican Luzerne County Election Board member resigns 
The Times Leader: Condition of Luzerne County-owned thoroughfares comes under scrutiny 
The Times Leader: AG Shapiro warns Pennsylvanians of IRS scams ahead of ‘Tax Day’ 
The Times Leader: Wilkes-Barre City Council’s approval of projects faces uncertain future 
The Times Leader: Mayor and councilman pleased after meeting with Sherman Hills residents 
Times-Tribune: Deadly I-81 pileup ranks among worst in state
Citizens Voice: Political Scene 3/31/22

Opinion  
John J. “Ski” Sygielski: Community colleges can deliver a vibrant future for Pennsylvania
John L. Micek: Biden’s budget is a ‘gesture to the radical left,’ Pa.’s Toomey says | Wednesday Morning Coffee
Bill White: Republicans win campaign for simplest messages — Build the Wall, ‘woke’ and cancel culture
Cindy Jennings: A Mom’s request to Pa legislators and Gov. Wolf: Please do the right thing for my son
Larry Platt: Is The Inquirer Too Woke? 
Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association: Our members are reaching their breaking point
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Solar heats up in Western Pa. 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Mayor’s office showcases city’s diverse art scene
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: The pay gap is real and evident in Lancaster County. Lawmakers who are truly pro-family should want to fix it. 
John Sigle: We must take steps now to stop global warming if we want our kids to have a future
Bruce Ledewitz: There are limits to the American Renaissance over Ukraine 
Paul Muschick: ‘Serving as a POW was an endurance test,’ captured Pennsylvania airman recalls on National Vietnam War Veterans Day
Seth Blumsack: Can my electric car power my house? Not yet for most drivers, but vehicle-to-home charging is coming