HARRISBURG — The man who's been the top lawyer under Pennsylvania Treasurer Rob McCord is now running the agency as executive deputy state treasurer, following McCord's resignation amid a federal criminal investigation.

Chief counsel Christopher Craig took the oath of office late Friday afternoon. He'd been designated as McCord's successor under a plan revised in December. Craig calls his elevation to the top job “bittersweet,” and describes McCord's resignation as “very awful for us.”

The Pennsylvania treasurer is one of the state's three independently elected row officers, along with auditor general and attorney general. The treasury department is the custodian of state funds, investing billions of taxpayer dollars and paying the state government's workers and bills.

Gov. Tom Wolf plans to nominate someone to fill out the final two years of McCord's term.

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Republican Party leaders are weighing whether to take sides in a potentially crowded race for an unprecedented three openings on the state Supreme Court.The GOP state committee is meeting at a Harrisburg hotel Saturday to decide whether the committee should endorse candidates in the May 19 primary. If so, votes will be taken to decide who is endorsed.Eight candidates are seeking endorsements — an appointed Supreme Court justice, three state Superior Court judges, two state Commonwealth Court judges, a county judge and a county district attorney.A seat on the state's highest court carries a 10-year term and a salary that's currently more than $203,000 a year.Six Democrats also are running. The Democratic State Committee will meet to consider endorsements on Feb. 21 in Hershey.

PITTSBURGH — The district attorney says it may have been illegal for Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto to give money to city employees as part of his appearance on the CBS show “Undercover Boss.”Peduto pledged to give $155,000 to four needy city employees during his appearance on the show last month. Peduto has said the money will come from private donors, though at least one agency — VisitPittsburgh — gets some of its money from taxpayers.But Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala said that if any of the money came from tax dollars, the gifts could be illegal. He said the salaries of public employees are negotiated and the mayor cannot just give them a bonus.The mayor insists the gifts are legal, but Zappala said the state Ethics Commission is also investigating.

HARRISBURG — The state Public Utility Commission has given ride-sharing service Uber a two-year experimental license to operate anywhere in the state except Philadelphia, where it has been operating despite a local ban.The company connects passengers with drivers — who use their own vehicles — through smartphone apps. Under the license approved Thursday, Uber drivers must agree in writing that they will report ride-sharing activities to their own insurance companies.Uber also must clarify details of its own corporate insurance policy with drivers and make them submit to background checks. Any vehicles used must also pass state safety inspections. Questions about whose insurance would cover accidents have been among several dogging the nontraditional ride service, which at first provoked the ire of the PUC by operating without permission in Pittsburgh starting last year along with Lyft, a competing service.The commission has threatened fines and obtained cease-and-desist orders, but all that ended — for now, at least — with Thursday's 5-0 vote to grant the Uber license.