TGIF, folks! We've got a plate full of turnpike news, police ruh-rohs, and of course, the benediction of the next Miss Smiling Irish Eyes!

1. Tim McNulty and Jim O'Toole have the story on Joe Brimmeier, the former Turnpike CEO who once appeared poised to take the reins of the Port Authority but might be looking at a prison term instead. They combed through the archives for info on his relationship to County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, who put him up for the Port Authority's top job earlier this year. Meanwhile, Karen Langley sits in on his arraignment.

2. A Pittsburgh police official thought it was perfectly OK to use drug bust funds to pay for Gatorade, travel expenses and a car wash, our Rich Lord and Liz Navratil report. Say, was someone planning a road trip?

The Post-Gazette has every angle of the Pope Francis angle covered, but there is more happening today too. Take a slug of coffee, a big breath, and read on . . .

1. O'Toole and Langley devoured the grand jury presentment on the Pa Turnpike and got a response from Ed Rendell, aka gubernatorial candidate #1.

2. The chief of Pittsburgh's troubled police bureau, Regina McDonald, transferred a commander after she criticized her in the P-G. This comes as businesses that pay a lot for off-duty police, such as the Steelers, are complaining about city plans to hike an off-duty surcharge when the police brass can't even account for the spending.

3. Good news and bad in the latest Census Bureau figures for the Pittsburgh region. More people are moving in than moving out for the fifth year in a row, but deaths still outnumber births.

4. Hillary Rodham Clinton is the early leader in the 2016 presidential clubhouse in Pa, Quinnipiac reports. No surprise there as she won the state's primary back in 2008 over some other dude.

5. Pitt gets its first March Madness test -- in its last Big East Tournament -- today at 2 p.m. versus old foe Syracuse.

Like Rich Fitzgerald, politicos and other big names across the state are going to be embarrassed by this Pa Turnpike investigation, even if they're not directly implicated or named.

Go to page 77 of the grand jury presentment and you'll read about PNC Bank wining and dining Bob Mellow at Yankees games after getting turnpike bond work in 2005. And "gubernatorial candidate #1" -- whose first term began in 2003 -- is clearly Ed Rendell. From page 3:

Joseph Brimmeier is the former Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Brimmeier was a campaign confidant for Gubernatorial Candidate #1. Following the successful campaign, the Governor appointed Brimmeier CEO of the Turnpike on February 4, 2003. As Chief Executive Officer of the Turnpike, Brimmeier was bound by the requirements of the State Ethics Act. Numerous witnesses testifying before the Grand Jury described Brimmeier as heavy-handed and extremely involved in all major decisions at the Turnpike.

Plenty more in there about bid-rigging, bribery, make-work jobs and many other big names and companies for those who care to read the full 85 pages.

Former Pa Turnpike head Joe Brimmeier -- the man county exec Rich Fitzgerald appointed to the Port Authority board, and wanted to take over the agency -- was charged with corruption today by Attorney General Kathleen Kane.

Said Fitzgerald's in a statement:

"Joe Brimmeier called me last night to notify me that he was submitting his resignation from the Board of the Port Authority of Allegheny County, effective immediately, in light of the charges announced this morning.

He indicated to me that he is innocent of these charges, but would be focusing his time and attention on proving that. Our justice system is set up on the premise that all men are innocent until proven guilty. I believe that and wish Joe the best in facing this challenge."

He was one of eight former/current turnpike officials charged by a grand jury.

From the P-G's Karen Langley:

HARRISBURG -- Attorney General Kathleen Kane today announced criminal charges against eight men, including a former state senator already convicted of corruption, in an alleged "pay to play" scheme involving the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Ms. Kane said in a news conference that a statewide investigating grand jury had found evidence of secret gifts of cash, travel and entertainment, as well as political contributions to public officials and political organizations, by private Turnpike vendors and their consultants.

She announced charges against former state Sen. Bob Mellow, former Turnpike Commissioner Mitchell Rubin, former Turnpike Chief Executive Officer Joseph Brimmeier, former Turnpike Chief Operating Officer George Hatalowich and former Turnpike employees Melvin Shelton and Raymond Zajicek. The attorney general also announced charges against Turnpike vendors Dennis Miller and Jeffrey Suzenski.

The men were charged with offenses including conspiracy, commercial bribery, bid-rigging, theft, conflict of interest and corrupt organization violations.