Michael Bloomberg’s campaign announces the opening of field offices in Harrisburg and Scranton. Here is the Playbook.

Bloomberg to Open Offices in Harrisburg and Scranton: According to PennLive and the Scranton Times-Tribune, former New York City Mayor and current Democratic presidential hopeful, Michael Bloomberg is set to open campaign offices in Harrisburg and Scranton this week.  

Sims Endorses Warren: State Rep. Brian Sims (D-Philadelphia) wrote an op-ed for The Advocate sharing his endorsement for Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign. Sims joins several Philadelphia elected officials including Mayor Jim Kenney and District Attorney Larry Krasner, plus a few City Councilmembers, who have pledged their support for the Massachusetts Senator’s campaign.

Nutter Campaigns for Bloomberg in California: The Philadelphia Inquirer writes that former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, who serves as Michael Bloomberg’s presidential national political chair, campaigned for Bloomberg in California leading up to the state’s primary. 

PA8: Keith Eckel Endorses Jim Bognet: Jim Bognet, a former Trump Administration appointee who is seeking the Republican nomination in the 8th Congressional District, received the endorsement from Keith Eckel, according to a release from his campaign. 

Legislative Election Update: 

SD-9: According to the Daily Local News, Robert McKinstry, an environmental attorney who was seeking the Democratic Party nomination for the 9th state Senate District, announced that he is ending his bid for the seat and endorsing Brett Burman, a former public school teacher and small businessman. Burman and John Kane, Philadelphia plumbers union business manager, are both seeking the Democratic Party nomination. The seat is held by state Sen. Tom Killion (R-Delaware), who defeated Democrat Martin Molloy for the seat in 2016 by over 2.5 points. 

Harrisburg & DC   
Spotlight PA: Pa. state lab can now test for coronavirus, but its capability is limited
AP: Lawmakers urged to act now to save state university system
AP: Pennsylvania begins coronavirus testing at state-owned lab
AP: University system to implement early retirement program
AP: County restricts immigration agents after courthouse arrest
AP: Senior judge to review widow’s petition in Abu-Jamal case
Patriot News: Super Tuesday’s surprise winner: Pennsylvania, because the primary should matter after all
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Waiting Game: With state Board of Ed meeting looming, Erie County’s community college debate may soon be over
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: The world is getting warmer. What can Pennsylvania do about it?
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: In Buttigieg’s candidacy, Pa.’s young LGBTQ voters saw themselves – and a way forward
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: ‘We need to make a profit first’: What’s at stake in proposed gas tax credit for Pa.
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: ‘We’re ready for some change’: Pa. educators want to see climate change included in new Pa. science standards
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. Sen. Casey calls for ‘accurate information’ on coronavirus as Dems slam Trump response
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: ‘Access to abortion is hanging by a thread’: Major abortion case heads to U.S. Supreme Court on Wedneday 
City Paper: Gisele Fetterman says we need to embrace safe-injection sites for those afflicted by drug addiction
Post-Gazette: Criminal investigations target shale gas industry 
WITF: Dickinson College takes big step toward becoming carbon-neutral
PLSReporter: As state rolls out coronavirus test, counties announce response to threat
PLSReporter: As the state focuses on medical marijuana and hemp, some see a need for CBD regulation
Beaver County Times: State lab now able to test for coronavirus; still no cases reported in PA
WHYY Newsworks: This rag-tag group of DIYers has an answer for rural Pa.’s internet problem
WESA: Pennsylvania ACLU Hopes to Join Voter Roll Purge Lawsuit

Philadelphia 
Inquirer: Philly City Council wants to lift 100,000 residents out of poverty. Here’s their plan.
Inquirer: (Almost) every member of Philly City Council on their 2020 pick for president
Inquirer: An aide to Philly’s new sheriff says he questioned ‘slush fund’ spending — and she fired him 
Inquirer: ‘It’s gametime!’ Former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter campaigns for Mike Bloomberg in California.
Inquirer: One-bedroom rents in Philadelphia are up nearly 10% since last year 
Inquirer: 500 properties Philly sold for $1 are blighted or owe nearly $900,000 in back taxes
Inquirer: Kenney nominates 8 education veterans and a public school grad with charter ties for his new school board 
Inquirer: She took sanctuary from deportation in a Philly church with her 4 kids for 554 days. She’s about to leave.
AP: City Council unveils plan to reduce poverty by 25 percent
KYW Newsradio: New effort by City Council to reduce Philadelphia’s high poverty rate
KYW Newsradio: Philly schools to hear from parents on redesign of buildings, boundaries  
Philadelphia Tribune: Officials renew outrage over failed bid for supervised injection site, call for oversight
Philly Voice: City Council releases plan to reduce poverty across Philly by 25%
Philly Voice: What caused Philly to smell like gas on Monday? Officials continue to investigate

SEPA
Daily Local News: McKinstry out in 9th Senatorial District race
Daily Local News: Houlahan introduces bipartisan literacy bill
Daily Local News: Comitta fights to ban use of toxic pesticide in Pennsylvania
Delco Daily Times: Delco sets up Sustainability Commission to save money, help the environment
Inquirer: Bucks County Trump supporter aims to make roofs great again
Inquirer: Pa.’s top prosecutor has taken over the case of an alleged ‘fake news’ reporter in Delaware County
Philadelphia Tribune: Can a movie improve race relations? Bucks County’s DA thinks so
Pottstown Mercury: Montco Health and Human Services to host town hall meetings on Draft Strategic Plan
Bucks Courier Times: Groups demand Montgomery County reinstate public defenders
Bucks Courier Times: Judge: No asphalt plant at Rockhill Quarry

Pittsburgh 
City Paper: Gisele Fetterman says we need to embrace safe-injection sites for those afflicted by drug addiction
WESA: Tracing Political Counter-Movements, From The Tea Party To The Resistance
WESA: Allegheny County Meets State Goal For Kids Getting Free Breakfast At School
Post-Gazette: Criminal investigations target shale gas industry
Post-Gazette: Wilkinsburg’s 1st black female mayor seeks to change perception of community riddled by crime
Post-Gazette: Aliquippa school board president charged with threatening students
Post-Gazette: Etna council to craft non-discrimination ordinance
KDKA: G7 Meeting Coming To Pittsburgh, Police Gearing Up For Possible Protests
KDKA: Local School Board Member Accused Of Threatening To Stab 2 Students With Scissors Charged
KDKA: Local Nonprofit To Receive Federal Grant To Combat Veteran Opioid Abuse

SWPA 
Beaver County Times: Vodvarka withdrawal sets up Parnell-Lamb race
Beaver County Times: Amadio endorses Biden to ‘bring back sense and sensibility’
Beaver County Times: Next phase of Beaver County Partnership study to bring recommendations 
Beaver County Times: Former school board president charged with making threats against students
Altoona Mirror: Proposed resolution affirms gun rights 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Health Secretary: ‘Pennsylvania now has the ability to test potential (coronavirus) cases’
Observer-Reporter: Washington council wrestles with rundown houses

NEPA
Citizens Voice: ANALYSIS: Trump coming to Scranton to seek political edge
Citizens Voice: Local hospitals ready should coronavirus arrive in NEPA
Times-Tribune: Scranton City Council seeks attendance records from Courtright years following DeSarno audit report
Times-Tribune: Scranton makes sweeping changes in city-issued gas cards, vehicle purchases
Times-Tribune: ANALYSIS: Trump is coming to Scranton to mine Democrats 
The Times Leader: Luzerne County gets $11M in liquid fuel funds for roads, bridges

South Central 
Patriot News: Bloomberg presidential campaign to open Harrisburg field office this week
Patriot News: New voting machine demos to be held throughout Cumberland County
York Daily Record: Lebanon County town now 2nd Amendment sanctuary
York Dispatch: York County districts receive more than $1M in school safety grants
Carlisle Sentinel: Cumberland County introduces new voting machines to public
LNP | LancasterOnline: County officials making preparations for coronavirus, looking to coordinate with local hospitals

Lehigh Valley      
Reading Eagle: Reading hires a capital projects manager to help move the city forward 
Express Times: Pennsylvania now has ability to test for coronavirus at state lab 
Morning Call: ‘Unbelievably disturbing’: ICE agent’s arrest of undocumented defendant prompts Northampton County executive order demanding warrant 

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Mayor: Erie could get $101 million from water prepayment deal 
Erie Times-News: Erie County residents can cast votes in drop box 
Centre Daily Times: After some delays, State College-county mental health task force to issue report in June

Opinion  
Inquirer Editorial Board: What does Philadelphia have to show for an extra $1 billion in spending?
Inquirer Editorial Board: Council’s Poverty Action Plan is a ‘moonshot.’ Philadelphia will need follow-through to achieve it.
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Municipalities should pitch in for Lancaster County Drug Task Force, despite last year’s controversies 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Treating addiction: Let more doctors prescribe drugs to help addicts
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Another Iowa?: Delays in counting mail-in votes are concerning
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: True to the mission: Going fine-free improves library access  
Mike Jones: The business of Pennsylvania’s future
Gina Mariani: Red flag gun laws should be weighed carefully
John L. Micek: It’s Super Tuesday: Why what happens on Wednesday will be big for Pa. | Tuesday Morning Coffee
Mark O’Keefe: A western Pa. lawmaker has a plan to fix property taxes. Will the Legislature act on it? 
Abraham Gutman: After botched supervised injection site rollout, there’s a path forward 
Ernest Owens: Kenney Was a Coward in Letting Philly’s Safe Injection Site Fail
Katie Fallow: How should politicians use social media? 
Jill Duerr Berrick: Philly battle over same-sex foster care exposes an unequal system 
Solomon Jones: In South Philly and beyond, communities have the right to reject supervised injection sites 
Roxanne Patel Sheplavy: Data For Kids
Gene Therapy: Buttigieg is out, but he’s got a 40-year window for a White House run
Dan Simpson: The Democrats must coalesce behind a credible candidate
Matthew T. Mangino: Supreme Court has second chance to end non-unanimous verdicts
Chris Kelly: A common-sense approach to putting the brakes on administrative abuse
Maria Panaritis: A family flu knockout punch amid the coronavirus frenzy and a warning: Get ready, folks 
John A. Tures: The big thing Trump can do to improve his coronavirus response
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: We’re all in the coronavirus together
Joel Naroff: Will coronavirus trigger a U.S. recession? Maybe, but it won’t be like 2008 
Helen Ubiñas: While President Trump spins fairy tales about coronavirus prep, a princess saves my day