Well, that was quick.

State. Sen. Jim Ferlo, D-Highland Park, has dropped out of the race for Pittsburgh mayor less than a week after entering it.

From his statement:

"I am announcing to close friends, supporters, and the voting public longer a candidate considering a run for Mayor in the Spring Primary ... The unexpected announcement of Mayor Ravenstahl created a very short time table for an ambitious run and considering that my history of public service has always been based on grassroots fundraising and mobilization of people power, this would be a difficult task in just a few short weeks. Others have been running for Mayor for the last several years."

Full statement after the jump.

The entire Early Returns family extends its warmest congratulations to Jocelyn Fitzgerald and Matthew Wendahl, who will be married 5:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Allegheny County Courthouse.

Jocelyn is the daughter of Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, who did look a bit more harried than usual yesterday.

The happy couple met at a freshman chemistry class at Penn State. She's now a fourth-year medical student at the University of Pittsburgh; he's a fourth-year student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. They'll be moving away soon after the wedding, according to their website.

Their marriage Saturday (we hear the bride loves St. Patrick's Day) will be followed by a reception at the Pittsburgh Opera.

Photos of the couple-to-be here.

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.