As the week ends, and lawmakers are awaiting returning to Harrisburg next week for Governor Rendell’s budget address, news occurred over the past two days regarding a wide variety of Pennsylvania political topics. To see all the latest, please see the articles below.

Pa. Sen. Stout to retire; Rep. DeWeese will not - Tom Barnes, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pennsylvania Senate will end voting sessions each year on Election Day to avoid lame-duck sessions - Charles Thompson, The Patriot News

Rep. Murtha’s condition improves to stable - Daniel Malloy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Senate bill seeks to halt malpractice coverage hikes - Robert Swift, Times Tribune

Campaign-finance reform? Show me the money - John Baer, Philadelphia Daily News