Turzai and Reed back DiGiorgio for PA GOP Chair, Boyle calls out Trump and Beemer pays $1.4 million for email report. Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

Turzai and Reed Endorse DiGiorgio for GOP Chair: Val DiGiorgio continues to rack up some high-profile supporters.

PA-Sen: Cook Classifies Casey’s Seat as “Likely Democratic”: This is the latest forecast from the prominent political prognosticator.

PA-13: Boyle Calls for Investigation Into Claims Russia is Blackmailing Trump: The Congressman issues a broadside against the President-Elect.

AG Pays $1.4M to Firm for Gansler Report Work: The bill for the independent investigation into the lewd emails was finally paid.

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Senator Scott Wagner starts campaign for governor
State House Sound Bites: Acting Attorney General Bruce Beemer declares porn email settlement
State House Sound Bites: PA’s UC centers continues to terminate employees

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Vintage Trump – confident, obsessive, derisive – meets the press
Inquirer: $60 million Bible center planned for Independence Mall
Inquirer: Police: Philly crime at lowest level in decades
Inquirer: DA race shaping up to be costly
WHYY Newsworks: Since November election, rate of hate crime reports rising in Philly
WHYY Newsworks: Wolf may face crowded field in 2018; Pa. electoral seats vulnerable in 2020

SEPA
Bucks County Courier-Times: Bucks County, state officials hold heroin roundtable in Warminster
Bucks County Courier-Times: Bristol Borough to seek court approval for town tax rate
Delco Daily Times: Will booze flow in Swarthmore? Time will tell

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Potter Shell ethane-cracker plant moves forward with approval of application
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh-area employers ponder Obamacare changes
Post-Gazette: DA against allowing Franklin Regional stabbing suspect to plead guilty but mentally ill
Post-Gazette: PSO emerges from strike with challenges ahead
Tribune-Review: Ex-NFL star Ricky Williams to headline medical marijuana conference in Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review: Pittsburgh firefighter suffered drug overdose at station

Southwest
Altoona Mirror: Altoona moves to take over water authority
Altoona Mirror: Altoona Area committee discusses elementary options
Beaver County Times: Despite uncertain future, Pennsylvanians continue to enroll in Affordable Care Act plans
Beaver County Times: Shell closes on two former Horsehead parcels 18 months after original sale
Beaver County Times: Aliquippa secures $15,000 grant to help elderly, disabled vets pay water bills

NEPA
Times Leader: Phone attendance at Luzerne County Council meetings debated
Times Leader: Boback pushes anti-opioid abuse initiative
Times Leader: Frank Michaels resigns from Forty Fort borough council
Times-Tribune: Official wants to scrap arts tax
Times-Tribune: Barletta: Don’t rush to close prisons

South Central
Patriot-News: Pa. will close two state institutions for people with intellectual disabilities, mental illness
Patriot-News: Harrisburg mayor kicks off reelection bid, cites successes and mistakes
Patriot-News: Outgoing AG talks political corruption, raunchy emails and life with Kathleen Kane
Patriot-News: Scott Wagner: ‘I am going to be the next governor. Take that to the bank’
York Dispatch: North York Borough Council fills one vacancy, opens another
York Dispatch: Grand marshal ‘thrilled’ to lead St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: East Penn facing spike in students with mental illness
Morning Call: Electricity supplier accused of overcharging customers during polar vortex
Morning Call: Allentown School District eyes land for potential new school building
Reading Eagle: Hamburg State Center to close, state announces
Reading Eagle: Muhlenberg School Board won’t seek to exceed tax-hike ceiling for budget

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Erie County sits out hotel tax fight
Erie Times-News: Schember: mayoral campaign about ’empowering others’
Sun Gazette: Tom Marino reintroduces term limits, other bills

Opinion
Inquirer: Ikea accidents show need for legislation to help save children’s lives
Daily News: We can’t let racism erase the legacy of Barack Obama
Patriot-News: Philly Mayor Kenney should sign wage-discrimination bill
Patriot-News: Philly legislative sting operation wasn’t partisan, prosecutors say: report
Post-Gazette: A president’s farewell: Summing up, Obama shows his usual grace

Blogs
Billy Penn: Outgoing PA GOP chief on turning the state redder and the plan to win in Philly
Billy Penn: Big business’ fight with City Hall to ensure every Philadelphia resident will be employed
Keystone Crossroads: PA’s city budget faces uncertainty for 2017 year
Keystone Crossroads: State College collaborates with Philadelphia to declare sanctuary cities