Gillen announces her bid for Mayor of Philly, a guest look at the battle for the State Senate and our weekly round-up of the gubernatorial race. Plus, last week’s Ups & Downs! Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz!

9/5 Ups & Downs: A bad answer from Chaka Fattah, some bad polls for Tom Corbett and bad news for Philly’s DNC hopes. See who made this week’s list.

Guest Column: Senate Democrats Poised to Win the Majority: A guest columnist gives his take on the battle for control of the PA State Senate.

Gillen Announces Philadelphia Mayoral Run: The long term aide to Mayors Nutter and Rendell adds to the congested pack vying for the top seat in the Commonwealth’s most populous city.

PA-Gov Round-Up: Silly Season Begins: We take a look at the events of the last week in the state’s gubernatorial race.

SD-32: Pat Stefano Touts Business Experience in First Ad (VIDEO): The Republican nominee in the 32nd State Senate district presents his personal biography in first commercial.

PA-8: Strouse Presents Rep. Fitzpatrick with To-Do List: The Democratic candidate called on his opponent to act on several issues during the fall congressional session.

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Patient database makes it easier for lawmakers to track prescription drug abuse
State House Sound Bites: Paterno’s son calls for “civility” as investigation continues
State House Sound Bites: Penn State calls for “civility” in Jerry Sandusky case
PA Independent: PA supreme court to hear opening arguments in charter school lawsuit
PA Independent: Local establishment breaks liquor laws with young musician
StateImpactPA: Shell to build docks in western PA

Philadelphia
Daily News: Friday’s DN: Fattah tries to turn table on Feds
WHYY Newsworks: Corbett inches towards Wolf in polls
WHYY Newsworks: HUD official tours West Philly; finds “promise zone”
WHYY Newsworks: City fights for tax and utility discounts for low-income families
Inquirer: Nutter signs bill to extending rights of working breast feeding mothers
Philly.com: Who was Dilworth?
Inquirer: Charter school educator’s competency questioned during fraud trial
Inquirer: VA secretary tours Philadelphia facilities with staff
Inquirer: Corbett’s reelection plan looking up
Inquirer: Terry Gillen to run for mayor in 2015
Philly.com: State urges Supreme Court to reconsider gay marriage laws

SEPA
Delco Daily Times: Eddystone councilwoman proposes raise for first responders.
Delco Daily Times: Governor makes campaign stops in Delco
Montgomery Media: PA Supreme Court asked to deny appeal in East Norriton shooting

Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Business Times: Top 5: Pittsburgh-area home builders
Pittsburgh Business Times: AlphaLab Gear, Duquesne SBDC awarded SBA grants
Pittsburgh Business Times: New office building coming to Beaver County seat
Pittsburgh Business Times: HFF Inc. closes $164M deal
Pittsburgh Business Times: 5 Things: Allegheny County Community College, faculty union reach tentative pact (Video)
City Paper: Emerging from the Weeds: Led by a conservative senator, medical marijuana is gaining traction in Pa., but can relief come fast enough for patients most in need?
City Paper: Strip Living: Will more residents change the Strip District’s historic landscape
WTAE: Heinz History Center unveils new Heinz exhibit
Post-Gazette: Cultures differ in Madison and Pittsburgh – for citizens and police
Tribune-Review: Where Pa. gubernatorial candidates Corbett, Wolf stand as race nears end
Tribune-Review: Special deputy told Gov. Corbett of ‘inappropriate’ emails, campaign manager says

Southwest
Beaver County Times: Feature: The Times commemorates the 20th anniversary of the USAir Flight 427 disaster
Beaver County Times: Tax dispute continues between Moon school district, transportation authority
Beaver County Times: Motion calls to fire Beaver municipal official
Observer-Reporter: Area’s housing market continues robust pace
Altoona Mirror: Local services tax increase put into question

NEPA
The Times Leader: Program gives students view of careers in medicine
The Times Leader: Auditing resource project seeks checks-balances for volunteer organizations
Times-Tribune: Scranton pension funds will be broke in 3 to 5 years
Citizens Voice: Education a key issue among Pennslyvania voters

South Central
The Sentinel: In Pa. DUI defendants more likely to keep driving
The Sentinel: Merchandise exports on rise in Harrisburg-Carlisle area
The Patriot-News: Palmyra School District to sign bus contract, agree to think about alternative fuels
The Patriot-News: Pennsylvania to hear electronic voting challenge
The Patriot-News: Who are the donors to Tom Corbett, Tom Wolf campaigns?: An AP analysis
The Patriot-News: About 200 volunteers build playground in uptown Harrisburg
FOX 43: Community rallies for legalization of medical marijuana
WGAL: New farm bill may help dairy farmers, milk prices

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Tom Wolf meets supporters in Reading
Reading Eagle: Lieutenant governor stumps for Corbett in Berks
The Express-Times: Phillipsburg Town Council to consider nixing smoking in parks
The Express-Times: Some Lopatcong Township residents give up legal challenges to asphalt plant; others continue to fight
The Express-Times: Bethlehem working to get $500,000 worth of new directional signs
The Express-Times: Northampton County executive says he would veto spending limits if passed by council
The Express-Times: Bangor Area School District could save $65,000 a year by not building a stadium
The Express-Times: Arrest video released by station said to be of Allentown police chief’s son’s arrest
The Express-Times: Bethlehem school board member misrepresents racism probe in Allentown schools, body says

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: St. Pat’s crash suit settles for $3.5 million
Erie-Times News: Court sets hearing in Domitrovich ethics case

Opinion
Pottstown Mercury: PA regulators not protecting jobs
The Intelligencer: Burger King “king” of tax evasion
Philly.com: Charter school offer incentives for students to return
Daily News: Political caches of taxpayer money must stop
The Express-Times: EDITORIAL: Lehigh County is immune to racial profiling? District attorney’s comment strains credibility
City Paper: Point of Law: Do ‘safe passing’ regulations really make it safer for cyclists if they’re not enforced?
Post-Gazette: Poor Health: How to fix what’s broken
Reading Eagle: Editorial: Reserve city’s commercial core district for businesses

Blogs
Keystone Politics: Corbett uses tax money to examine dangers of continued fracking
Keystone State Education Coalition: Corbett’s battleground the classroom not the campaign trail
Commonwealth Foundation: Legislation to protect children from sexual predators has stalled in Harrisburg