Tom Smith is in: Coal industry veteran and former Tea Party leader Tom Smith officially announced his U.S. Senate candidacy Tuesday morning in the first of a two-day a fly-around tour of the state.

McCaffery in for AG: A long time coming, Daniel McCaffery has officially announced his candidacy for Attorney General, making him the third Democrat to enter the race officially.

Internal Vernon Poll: John Vernon may be a new face on the political scene, but the results of an internal poll released Tuesday by his campaign show he has a profile that resonates with the GOP base. The survey also shows Casey below the magic 50 percent mark.

Primary Challenge for Casey?  Add another Tea Party name to the growing list of candidates for U.S. Senate, with a caveat: this one’s a Democrat and a former candidate for Congress.

PA Schools Lawsuit: State Reps. Bill Kortz and Marc Gergely are encouraging school districts that have been hurt by the nearly $1 billion reduction in education spending to join together in a class action suit against Gov. Tom Corbett to get funding increased.

FEC Fines Callahan: Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan has been fined by the Federal Elections Commission for using $9,932 of funds from his mayoral campaign for his congressional campaign, Colby Itkowitz of the Morning Call reports.

National
Stateline: Teachers Increasugly Look to Mountain States for Jobs
Times Tribune: Vice President Biden Calls Duryea Residents To Keep Abreast Of Storm Recovery
Capitolwire (paywall): Former President George W. Bush Regales Biz Crowd

Statewide
Capitolwire (paywall): GOP Congressman Ask Legislative Leaders To Sideline Electoral Bill
Capitolwire (paywall): Gov. Corbett Mulls Using Gas Royalties To Repay Borrowed Transportation Funding
Capitolwire (paywall): Senate Democrats Announce $1.2 Billion Jobs Proposal
Capitolwire (paywall): Scarnati Says Liquor Privatization Report Says Tax Increase May Be Needed
Capitolwire (paywall): Scarnati Says New Shale Fee Should Raise $200 Million, With No Reduction In Other Taxes
Capitolwire (Paywall): Senate Judiciary Committee Reports Out DNA Testing, Death Penalty And Record Expungment Bills
Capitolwire (Paywall): Emergency Housing Program Activated In Wake Of Tropical Storm Lee, PEMA Director Says
Market Watch: Congressman Fattah applauds Dept. of Education report: lower teacher salaries = less opportunity for African American, Latino students
Morning Call: Casey foe kicks off Senate campaign
Danville News: Shale gas site neighbors: we know the drill
Times Leader: Electoral changes hit resistance
Tribune Review: Fingers point at ex-House speaker in corruption trial
Foxphilly: Pa. lawmakers consider disaster proposal
Newsworks: Hurricane Irene is more than a memory for those applying to D-SNAP
Newsworks: Pa. nurses seek state regulation of staffing levels
The Mercury: 114 still living in shelters weeks after tropical storm Lee
Daily Times: Pa. Senate panel OKs secrecy for autopsy records
Daily Times: Bill to put new limits on teen driver’s advances

Philly
Philly.com: Nutter gets free airtime as GOP foe protests outside
Philly.com: Montco controller candidate cries foul over deposition claim
Phillynow: Mayoral candidate Diop Olugbala fights to get his name, or the name he would prefer on the ballot
CBSPhilly: Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich visits Philadelphia to screen documentary

Philly Burbs
Phillyburbs.com: Teva breaks ground on new distribution center
Phillyburbs.com: Fitzpatrick may face tea party challenge
Phillyburbs.com: Chris Smith is pushing Senate to pass autism bill
Montgomery Media: Borough Council approves parking, paving projects
Bucks Local News: election 2011: Republican candidates for Lower Makefield supervisor pledge to refuse salary, challengers respond
Bucks Local News: Mercer County candidates forum scheduled for Oct. 20

Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review: Mailing Urges Pittsburgh Residents to draft Dan Onorato for Mayor
Tribune-Review: RAD Proposes Funding Increase for Next Year
Tribune-Review: More than 100 People Take Sides at Hearing on Electrical Billboards
Tribune-Review: City Proposes Settling Excessive Force Lawsuits
Post Gazette: Former Coal Company Owner Enters Race for U.S. Senate
Post-Gazette: Clash Over Abortion Measures Renewed in House
Post-Gazette: State Dept. Hears From Kansas, Texas on Oil Pipeline
Post-Gazette: Healthcare Ruling Could Be Sooner
Early Returns: Onorato: No Mayoral Run
Early Returns: Daily Santorum: Attention Pays Off

NEPA
Times Tribute: Region’s Unemployment Rate Up Again

South Central
AP, Patriot News: County congressmen talk business at breakfast

North by Northwest
Erie Times News: Erie to open bids for delinquent tax sale
Centre Daily Times: State College police announce new crack down on drunken driving
Sun Gazette: Hearing to close school
Sun Gazette: Housing stock worsened by flooding
StateCollege.Com: State College police to use alcohol detecting flashlights

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Bethlehem posts $7.2 million deficit last year
Morning Call: FEC fines Mayor Callahan
Reading Eagle: Mayor checking on casino
Reading Eagle: Berks families receive FEMA aid
Express Times: Bethlehem Township planning commission to review farms

Southwest
Indiana Gazette: ARMSTRONG: School Reverse Course On Plan to Void Bond Issue
Daily American: Somerset Discusses Surveillance Camera Project
Daily American: Water Rates to Rise in Conemaugh Township-Ali
Altoona Mirror: Unemployment Rate Up Again
Altoona Mirror: Conference Shows Growth
Altoona Mirror: 1st GOP House a Trial Opens in State Corruption Scandal
Tribune Democrat: Sen. Orie’s New Trial Pushed Back to February
Times Online: PA Lawmakers Consider Disaster Fund Proposal
Times Online: Pa. House Nears Final Vote on Harrisburg Plan
Times Online: Pa. Senate Panel OKs Secrecy for Autopsy Records
Times Online: VP Biden Checks in with Flooded Pa. Residents
Times Online: George W. Bush Finds Friendly Crowd at Pa. Dinner
Observer Reporter: EPA Hearing On Gas Drilling Pollution in W. Pa

Opinion
Daily American: Currency Collapse Inevitable
Altoona Mirror: No Excuse For Failure to Obey School Bus Laws
Tribune-Review: Higher Ed. Essential for Our Future
Post-Gazette: Losing At the Polls: This GOP Plan Helps the Party and Hurts the State
Post Gazette: Better Mayor: Pittsburgh Deserves a Ravenstahl Alternative
Daily Times: Rendell’s big talk offers little to small businesses

Blogs
CasblancaPA: Will Speaker Sam Smith See His Shadow?