What are the statewide candidates’ favorite social media channels to reach voters? Challenges mounting to final LRC map plan. F&M poll shows voter choices, concerns. PA tops in hate propaganda. Here is the Playbook.

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76ers | vs. Cleveland, 7:00
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News

Socially Speaking: What Channels Do the Statewide Candidates Use?: Where can you find the statewide candidates on the web? Of course, they all have websites with interactive links for online donations. But do they engage on traditional social media sites, i.e. Facebook or Twitter?

Challenges Begin to Mount to Final LRC Map Plan: As the countdown continues to Tuesday’s oral arguments at the Pennsylvania Supreme Court over the state’s House and Senate maps, the list of challenges to the final plan grows.

Fetterman, McCormick Top Franklin & Marshall Poll: John Fetterman and David McCormick were the top choices as U.S. Senate candidates in the latest Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College poll that was released Thursday morning.

‘Poll shows tight race for Pa. GOP Senate nomination; Fetterman leads Lamb in early Democrat response’: PennLive reports that “as candidates work to secure slots on the Pennsylvania primary ballot this month, a new Franklin & Marshall College Poll shows the hotly-contested race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate remains anybody’s race.”

‘Pa. voters overwhelmingly oppose dropping concealed-carry gun license rule: poll’: PennLive reports that “seven out of 10 Pennsylvania voters oppose eliminating the state licensing requirement to carry a concealed weapon, according to the latest Franklin & Marshall College poll.”

‘New F&M poll shows Pennsylvanians are most concerned about their finances since 2010; Biden’s approval drops to new low’: LNP | LancasterOnline reports that “Pennsylvanians say they are worse off now than they were a year ago and believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, according to the results of a Franklin & Marshall College poll released Thursday. Those views helped knock President Joe Biden’s approval rating to a new low in the poll and signals problems for Democrats as the 2022 midterm election approaches.” 

‘Voters split over selling off Pennsylvania’s state-run liquor stores: poll’: PennLive reports that “a new Franklin & Marshall College poll finds that fewer voters who favor a decision to sell off the liquor stores want to see it accomplished through a voter referendum. It also found five-year high percentages of voters financially worse off than a year ago.”

‘Senate candidate tells Peters crowd country heading ‘in a terrible direction’’: The Observer-Reporter reports that “David McCormick, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, talked up his credentials to a lunchtime crowd in Peters Township Thursday.”

‘Daniels and Co. rally for Mastriano for Governor’: The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that “the Mastriano for Governor campaign held a petition-signing event at Leggio’s Restaurant on Thursday. State Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-33, Franklin County, did not make an appearance, but Teddy Daniels did.”

‘Capital-Star Q+A: Reentering public life for governor run, Melissa Hart talks regulations, abortion’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “the only woman field, she chatted with the Capital-Star in January — the day after a debate in Lawrence County — about her platform and background.”

‘Oz visits Harrisburg, picks up key endorsement’: ABC27 reports that “U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz picked up a key endorsement during his visit to the Midstate on Wednesday. Oz was joined by State Senator Mike Regan on Wednesday morning, meeting residents at the Front Street Diner in Harrisburg.”

‘Mehmet Oz knows how to make TV moments. Now he’s doing it for his Pa. Senate campaign.’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “a campaign town hall outside Philadelphia was almost a carbon copy of the celebrity doctor’s TV show.”

‘Republicans are courting Trump’s support for Pa. governor — very carefully’: Philly Clout reports that “in a Trump primary, getting ahead of yourself can get your head handed to you.”

‘Allegheny County GOP chair Sam DeMarco could run to fill Conor Lamb’s seat’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “Sam DeMarco, chair of the Allegheny County GOP and an at-large county councilman, is “testing the waters” on a run for the newly-drawn 17th Congressional District, a political adviser says.”

‘Pennsylvania school pension fund to divest Russian assets’: The Associated Press reports that “Pennsylvania’s biggest public pension system will begin to sell off its investments in Russia and Belarus, after its board unanimously voted to do so Thursday in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”

‘‘It’s an ‘and’ discussion’: Agriculture boss Redding seeks compromise at budget hearing’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “in a day full of questions about the issues facing Pennsylvania’s $132.5 billion agricultural industry and how to fund them, state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said the most important part of the budget hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday was the word “And.””

‘Pa. state-related university leaders make a case for increased funds ahead of 2022-23 budget’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “Pennsylvania’s four state-related universities want to keep tuition affordable and keep students in the commonwealth for years to come. But to accomplish this, universities need money to avoid increasing student costs.”

‘Pa. Budget 2022: DCNR says $638M budget ask will add staff, address aging infrastructure’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “making its case for the $638 million proposed by Gov. Tom Wolf in his 2022-23 fiscal year budget, the state agency that oversees Pennsylvania’s parks and forests told a legislative committee Wednesday that it would use the funds to address a laundry list of repairs and maintenance projects and make investments in the commonwealth’s environmental future.”

‘Wolf and Metcalfe spar over energy policy amid Russia-Ukraine conflict’: City & State PA reports that “Gov. Tom Wolf ripped into a Republican state representative on Thursday for criticizing efforts his administration has taken in response to the unfolding war in Ukraine, and for calling on Wolf to ban Russian energy imports and expand the state’s natural gas production.”

City & State PA’s Biggest Winners & Losers This Week: City & State PA highlights the three winners and losers in Pennsylvania politics last week.

‘Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court allows some party committee candidates to pass out nomination petitions’: WESA reports that “state Supreme Court justices are allowing some political party committee candidates to pass around petitions that help pave the way for them to appear on the primary ballot.”

‘Pa. AG Josh Shapiro Opens TikTok Probe, Joins Nationwide Investigation Into Effect On Kids’ Health’: KDKA reports that “state attorneys general have launched a nationwide investigation into TikTok and its possible harmful effects on young users’ mental health, widening government scrutiny of the wildly popular video platform. The investigation was announced Wednesday by a number of states led by California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee and Vermont. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro is joining in the probe.”

‘Wolf visits Lancaster city to stump for his plan to spend $1.7 billion in federal stimulus dollars’: LNP | LancasterOnline reports that “Gov. Tom Wolf visited Lancaster city on Thursday to stump for his proposal to use $1.7 billion of one-time federal COVID-19 relief funds to aid small businesses, help health care organizations recruit caregivers, support a property tax rebate program and pay for conservation projects.”

‘Pennsylvania ranks number one in nation for hate propaganda, Anti-Defamation League says’: LNP | LancasterOnline reports that “more examples of white supremacist and racist propaganda were documented in Pennsylvania last year than in any other state, according to a new report from the Anti-Defamation League.”

Legislative Election Updates

‘Mechanicsburg council member running for Pa. House seat in Cumberland County’: PennLive reports that “Mechanicsburg borough councilwoman Sara Agerton has launched a run for the Democratic Party nomination for Cumberland County’s 88th District seat in the state House of Representatives.”

‘Political outsider running for Pennsylvania House seat to represent part of Berks, Schuylkill’: The Reading Eagle reports that “Eddie Wenrich is seeking the Republican nomination for the 124th District.”

Regional Spotlight: North by Northwest
WJET: Erie County DOH announces new director
WJET: Mayor Schember receives bomb threat letter
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Commissioners respond to revised redistricting map
Centre Daily Times: Centre County looks to divest Russian assets from retirement fund over Ukraine invasion
Centre Daily Times: Why a political activist who tried to burn a Trump flag in Bellefonte is now suing the borough

Opinion  
Lou Barletta: Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine underscores importance of U.S. energy independence
John Baer: Pa. Democrats could be in trouble this year, and maybe beyond, poll shows 
Eric J. Barron: Higher education innovation, statewide investment are the keys to growth in Pa. 
Tom Tyler: Could privatizing liquor sales endanger mom-and-pop bars and restaurants?
Paul Muschick: Opponents have more time to fight Allentown’s pro-union law. I hope they succeed
Norman Eisen: Toomey must heed Biden’s urgent call to confirm
Paul Muschick: How Pennsylvania politicians are uniting against Russia
John C. Mikovits: Anti-transgender and anti-LGBTQ+ policies are dehumanizing
Joyce M. Davis: A Pennsylvania man is trying to help his grandparents get out of Ukraine as Russians bomb civilians | Social View
Sanul Corrielus: Reform this federal program to help close the healthcare equity gap
John L. Micek: Pa. counties call for funding Biden’s mental health strategy | Thursday Morning Coffee
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Realigning priorities at UPMC
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Proposed new rules would be good for bowfishing, riverside residents
Tony Norman: The phrenologist and Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson