Good morning on a sunny but cold fish-fry Friday in Pittsburgh. While we wait for the grand jury to finish (?) its work on those wacky Pittsburgh Police . . .

1. Supporters are lauding the state House's approval, for the first time, of privatizing Pennsylvania liquor operations. But the bill is weird -- regular grocery stores would be allowed to sell wine but not beer, and beer distributors would get the initial and discounted shot at taking over booze sales -- and the Senate may change it.

2. Sean Hamill, who knows about these things, looks into the city's legal strategy in challenging health giant UPMC's charitable status.

3. The first big fight brews upon the unsettled ground of the Pittsburgh mayor's race. Here's more on Bill Peduto hauling Michael Lamb and Jack Wagner into court over the city's campaign finance law, and the whole complaint is here for your reading pleasure.

4. Gov. Corbett reached a deal to keep Amtrak rail service between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. Now the big test: somebody figuring out a way to replace the current hell-hole Pittsburgh station with the Daniel Burnham gem next door.

5. Good times for Penguins fans: the team hits the ice in Long Island tonight with a 10-game winning streak and Evgeni Malkin. Pitt fans can go see "Spring Breakers."

Bill Peduto is going to court to say fellow mayoral candidates Michael Lamb and Jack Wagner are violating the city's campaign finance law -- more on that here at the main site.

Below is the complaint filed in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court today:

Peduto finance injunction

Good morning. We considered having UPMC spokesman Paul Wood write the Breakfast Sausage intro -- he's just too good of a quote -- but you'll have to wait.

1. Mayor Luke is challenging UPMC's non-profit status, both in court and with the county. "Doesn't even pass the smell test," he said, perhaps referring to the hospital giant's $400 million in profits last year. Zing!

To which the irascible Mr. Wood replies: Ravenstahl's challenge is "based on the mistaken impression that a nonprofit organization must conduct its affairs in a way that pleases certain labor unions, certain favored businesses, or particular political constituencies." Zing zing!

2. Mayor Luke's successor will probably challenge UPMC's non-profit status, too.

3. State House Democrats fail in an attempt to salvage Pennsylvania's existing wine-and-spirits system, losing a vote on an amendment to expand hours at state stores and allows the direct shipment of wine. The House is set to debate long into the night today on the privatization plan.

4. In one of the day's more surprising photo ops, representatives from multinational energy companies sat down with area environmental activists to announce the launch of the Center for Sustainable Shale Development, which will set voluntary industry environmental standards.

5. Another combination you wouldn't expect: A Republican state senator has proposed legislation offering in-state college tuition to undocumented teenagers living in Pennsylvania. Called the DREAM Act, the proposal does not offer a path to citizenship, as a similar federal plan does. State Sen. Lloyd Smucker, R-Lancaster, said his legislation is more about economics than immigration reform.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is taking on UPMC, filing challenges on the health care giant's non-profit status in both court and the county Office of Property Assessment.

Flanked by city controller Michael Lamb (running for mayor), city council president Darlene Harris (running for mayor) and Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner (uncle running for mayor), he had plenty to say about the region's largest employer.

"They're not a charity," the mayor said at a press conference today. "They haven't been operating as a charity and it's time that this community step up in that regard. The reality of the situation is the taxpayers ... are currently subsidizing UPMC's non-profit status."

Zinger time:

"Is UPMC acting as a purely public charity?" Mr. Ravenstahl asked. "In my opinion, it doesn't even pass the smell test."

Bold. Not having to run for re-election will do that for you.

More after the jump.