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.

Happy mid-March. Snow is squalling, more bad poll numbers for the guv, the Penguins are come-backing and Miss Smiling Irish Eyes is getting her sash ready. To the headlines:

1. The Mod Squad is back with another amazing story on out-of-control accounting at the Pittsburgh Police Bureau, this time misappropriating money from a narcotics fund to pay for trips, $10K worth of Gatorade (that's a lot of Gatorade) and other stuff.

2. Eight (!) people, many of them well-known to the Pittsburgh political world, officially entered the mayor's race yesterday though they still have a couple weeks to back out. It looks like campaign finance regs will be among the first fights on the Democratic side.

3. Four of the five incumbents on the Pittsburgh Public Schools board aren't running for reelection, including the board president. Not a good sign.

4. The 911th Airlift Wing in Moon may get its discharge papers today. Whatever happens federal electeds on both sides of the aisle will be talking about it. A lot. (UPDATE: It's been spared though 2014.)

5. Gov. Tom Corbett will soon ask Attorney General Kathleen Kane to accept lottery privatization, perhaps with a deal placing limits on how far privatization will go in competing with casino-type games.