Good morning, politicos, and welcome to the Buzz. We won’t pretend there’s any political story in the state more exciting than legislative redistricting. The GOP came up big yesterday, and Republican-favorable maps are the starting point for what that maps will ultimately be. Look below to see our special news section devoted to redistricting stories from around the state.

Preliminary PA Legislative Maps: Here they are: the new, GOP-sponsored preliminary maps of Pa’s legislative districts.

GOP Scores Redistricting Win: See which seats are moving where. Republicans scored a big victory today as the Chairman of the panel charged with drawing new legislative districts voted to advance preliminary maps drawn by the Republican caucuses.

Endorsements: The Tribune Review threw its support behind Democrat David Wecht and Republican Anne Covey for this year’s judicial races.

DWS in PGH: DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz is in Pittsburgh today to plug the American Jobs Act.

Redistricting
Capitolwire: Panel approves preliminary maps 3-2
Inquirer: Philly loses, Chester County gains in new plan
Tribune-Review: Big changes for southwest PA
WITF: Top 5 funkiest districts
Morning Call: A Senate seat for Monroe, a House seat for Allentown
Capitol Ideas: List of Municipalities In Redrawn Senate Districts #LRC
EarlyReturns: Face-off for Kotik, White
EarlyReturns: Ds faceoff II: Costa-Ravenstahl, Deasy-Smith?
AP: Parties Divided Over Redistricting Map
PAIndependent: New seats for Berks and Chester counties
PAIndependent: More representation in Centre County
Post-Gazette: Dems disapprove of plan to redraw House and Senate lines
Post-Gazette: Allegheny County facing loss of 2 voting districts
Pocono Record: Redistricting plan: Monroe County getting a Pa. Senate seat
Patriot News: Redistricting would take Sen. Jeff Piccola out of Harrisburg and into Perry, Cumberland, Adams counties
Altoona Mirror: Bud George to keep his seat
Altoona Mirror: Sen. Eichelberger says goodbye to Bedford Co.
Tribune-Democrat: Cambria County redistricting impacts

National
Wall St. Journal: Shale Gas fuels legal boom
Cincinnati.com: Tom Ridge endorses school board candidate
New York Times: Senate Democrats weigh Obama as a running mate
AP: GOP lawmakers spin tall tales about transportation funding
Intelligencer: State Senator Greenleaf On Ballot Of GOP New Hampshire Primary
PoconoRecord: Cain says he was ‘falsely accused’ of sexual harassment

Statewide
AP: John Perzel’s Trial Approaching Closing Arguments
witf: Redistricting standoff
witf: Anticipating the district redraw, what to watch in the impact fee bill, and feuding in committee
State Impact: EPA Orders NEPA Power Plant to Clean Up Its Act
State Impact: Lawyers Getting On Shale Boom, Too
State Impact: Senate Impact Fee Bill Still A Work-In-Progress; Vote Delayed Two Weeks
State Impact: “Beacon Power bankrupt; had U.S. backing like Solyndra”
State Impact: Exclusive: Impact Fee Vote Delayed
State Impact: “In Village’s Fight Over Gas Drilling, Civility Is Fading”
State Impact: Drill Bits: PECO Profits, Storm Damage and Natural Gas Zombies
Centre Daily: PA farmers need our help
Sacramento Bee: Congressman Charlie Dent visits kitchen magic headquarters
Early Returns: PA members call on Senate to reduce burdens
DOTmedNews: 10 lawmakers ask congress to spare imaging
Times Leader: Casey pushes for quick vote on designer drug legislation
The State Column: Casey urges Phillipines’ Government to aid Montco law enforcement in search of fugitive

Philly
PhillyClout: New Karen Brown Ad On Protecting Vital Services
Daily News: In Election Of Shoo-Ins, District 10 Race Is Not Certain Yet
Inquirer: Philadelphia GOP Puts Its Hopes On City Commissioner Race
Heard In The Hall: City Hall Is Free Again
Philly.com: Two legislators’ showdowns at center stage
Times Herald: Jenny Brown supports online checkbook for spending transparency

Philly Burbs
Media Patch: Area Votes: Texting Bill Stalls; Tighter Gaming, Theft Bills Pass
Intelligencer: Democratic County Commissioner Candidates In Montgomery County Share Passion For Community Service
Intelligencer: Promises and Pledges From Democratic Candidates For Montgomery County Commissioner
Intelligencer: Montco commissioner candidates receiving, spending large $s in campaign

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Driving and texting ban clears state House
Tribune Review: Witness ID errors sparking call for safeguards
Tribune Review: Rare contests for Allegheny County Controller, Treasurer posts
Tribune Review: Sen. Casey pushes for more technology grads
Post-Gazette: Senate deal on shale fee postponed into November
Post-Gazette: Driving and texting ban clears state House
EarlyReturns: Pa. members call on Senate to reduce burdens
EarlyReturns: Fitz gets GE cash
EarlyReturns: DNC chair in South Side Tuesday
EarlyReturns: State Sen. Greenleaf for prez?
EarlyReturns: Raja ad: Fitz “corruption”
EarlyReturns: Casey’s Obama problem
EarlyReturns: Daily Santorum: Still in Iowa basement
EarlyReturns: Tim Murphy whacked by USA Today
EarlyReturns: Probing the exec race resumes
EarlyReturns: The biggest question Nov. 8
EarlyReturns: Allegheny County in crosshairs

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Uprecedented Flow of Cash Goes to Democrats for Montgomery County Commissioners’ Race; Will It Be Enough to Finally Reverse G.O.P. Rule?
Times Tribune: Lackawanna County commissioners advance $21M borrowing
Times Tribune: Lackawanna commissioner candidates say reassessment yes, but not now
Times Tribune: Corbett for district judge
Times Leader: Governor Corbett hosts Trick-or-treaters
CitizensVoice: Sentencing delay keeps Cordaro, Munchak home for holidays
CitizensVoice: Legislative commission considers initial map
Standard Speaker: Pa. legislative commission considers map
DailyReview: Candidates for Bradford County commissioner state their views
Times News: Pa. joins in effort to stop young drivers from texting while driving
GoLackawanna: Casey pushes for quick vote on Designer Drug Bills
GoLackawanna: Vets ask Congress to oppose benefit cuts
GoLackawanna: So you want to run for president? Just sign here

South Central
Patriot News: Mary Landis to appear on ballot for New Cumberland Borough Council
Patriot News: Closing arguments begin in ‘Computergate’ Capitol corruption trial
York Dispatch: Can city council candidate Helfrich serve if elected?

North by Northwest
Courier Express: Armstrong candidates answer questions

Southwest
Indiana Gazette: Campaign 2011: Race for district attorney contentious
Daily American: Candidate’s Forum From October 26, 2011
Daily American: PHOTOS: Somerset County Commissioners Forum
Daily American: Commissioner candidates claim education strategies are influx
Daily American: Light hearted look at the candidates
Daily American: Hoffman faces Hay for Lincoln Township supervisors seat
Altoona Mirror: Judge remains close to home
AP, Beaver County Times: Panel names sites of official presidential debates
AP, Beaver County Times: AP analysis: Candidates’ Twitter uses vary widely
Beaver County Times: Lawmakers sum up their cases in Pa. corruption trial
Observer-Reporter: Candidates differ on privatization’s perceived benefits
Observer-Reporter: Coming Up

Opinion
Baer Growls: Cain In The Crosshairs
Stu Bykofsky, Daily News: Are These Ideas Too Simple To Be Perfect?
Altoona Mirror: Seniors get good news
Altoona Mirror: Drive for red -light cameras revving up
Tribune-Democrat: Occupy Wall Street crowd is totally clueless
Express Times: Allentown mayor says city has turned the corner, future is bright
Public Opinion: Voters still have impact at local level
Observer-Reporter: Recommendation for Green voters
Observer-Reporter: Difficult decision for commissioner
Observer-Reporter: Read the law as written
Observer-Reporter: Vouchers should have requirements
Patriot News: A true leader: DA Marsico has served county well
Patriot News: State’s General Assembly looks for leadership
TimesTribune: Romney GOP’s Dukakis
TribuneReview: Earning the public’s distrust
TribuneReview: Beltway Bubble Boy Joe Biden
DailyReview: Arguments continue for privatization

Blogs
PA Water Cooler: Corbett challenges EPA
John Hanger: Natural Gas Production Passes Coal: Historic Milestone
John Hanger: Big Week Upcoming On Drilling Fee and Municipal Zoning
Keystone Politics: Republicans Believe Government Spending Creates Jobs In Their Districts
Keystone Politics: PA Shows Death Penalty is Compeltely Flawed
Keystone Politics: FBI File Reveals Murtha’s Dark Side
Keystone Politics: Vouchers Are Designed To Eliminate Public Schools
Keystone Politics: Corbett’s Key Initiatives Are On The Rocks
PA Progressive: Obama Addresses Drug Shortages
PA Progressive: Bob Scheiffer Takes Cain To Task
2 Political Junkies: I Really Hate To Do This, I Really Do
Young Philly Politics: Elections Matter; Support Honkala, Boockvar, Schmidt
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Tom Harp Appointed Acting Director of Administration
Lehigh Valley Rambllings: Lehigh County Locates Emergency Shelter at Troxell Middle School
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Beware the Wicked Witch of West Easton
NEPArtisan: 7 Billion People And You’re Number
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Express Times to Invade Lehigh County
NEPArtisan: Better Know A Republican Presidential Joke, I Mean A Republican Presidental Candidate
NEPArtisan: Toomey Speaks On Jobs, Against President Obama