A NYT/Siena College Poll shows Scott Wallace with a “modest” lead over Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, while 3Q numbers are in. Here is the Playbook.

New York Times/Siena College Poll: Wallace 50 Fitzpatrick 43: 59% polled want their Congressional representative to serve as a check on the Trump agenda.

State Rep. Mike O’Brien Dies at 64: The state Representative from Philadelphia passed away this morning after suffering a fatal heart attack.

PA8: Candidates Accuse The Other of Lies in Ad War: The ads center around the economy, residency and sanctuary cities.

PA1: Fitzpatrick, Wallace Talk Healthcare, Taxes and More in 1st Debate: The candidates said they respect each other, but can’t provide one issue that they agree on.

Breaking News: State Rep. Sid Kavulich Passes Away: A tweet sent from Rep. Kavulich’s account stated the following: “We are so sad to tell you that Sid  passed away overnight due to complications from heart surgery. Please join us in keeping his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. – Rep. Kavulich’s staff.”

Lou Barletta, citing grandson with cancer, lashes out at Bob Casey over health-care campaign ad: The Philadelphia Inquirer details Barletta’s call for Sen. Casey to remove a television ad that discusses healthcare insurance for those with pre-existing conditions. Barletta’s 18 month old grandson is being treated with chemotherapy for cancer. According to the AP, Casey has pulled the television ad from the Scranton market.   

Pence Tweets Support for Chrin: Vice President Mike Pence sent out a tweet yesterday boasting his support for Republican candidate for Pennsylvania’s 8th District, John Chrin, who will fight for the “America First agenda.”

FiveThirtyEight Shifts PA1 to Toss Up: The ratings outlet sees the race between Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Democratic challenger Scott Wallace as the closest race in Pennsylvania, moving it from the Republicans favor to Toss Up.  

Nate Cohn Tweets About PA1 and PA16 Polling Mechanics: The New York Times correspondent sends out a series of tweets explaining some of the “actual mechanics of field surveys” including two Pennsylvania Congressional districts recently polled. He explains that he went “way over 500” people polled in these districts to correct some of the polling that wasn’t “properly programmed.”   

Legislative Election Update:

SD-38: Republican campaign staffer for Jeremy Shaffer is tied to a group behind lawn signs labeling Democratic opponent, Lindsey Williams as a “socialist.”  

Don’t see news from your campaign, or an article from a local news outlet in our legislative elections list? Add press@politicspa.com to your list and send us your updates!

Harrisburg & DC
AP: Casey pulls TV ad from Scranton after Barletta’s objection
AP: Anti-hazing law in Penn St. student’s name goes to governor
AP: Shapiro presses Senate to pass grand jury recommendations
AP: House vote kills proposal to shrink size of Legislature
AP: Pennsylvania to delay high school graduation test again
Inquirer: Pa. Senate security force convulsed by harassment complaints, lawsuits
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. launches center to help counties reduce prison population with mental illness
StateImpactPA: ‘energy, explained’ podcast: How one family lost the farm to a failed pipeline project
PLSReporter: O’Brien passes away following heart attack  
PLSReporter: As abuse victims line hallways, debate rages behind closed doors over civil window
PLSReporter: Supporters join for puppy mill awareness, advocacy and action day
PLSReporter: Members comment on the passing of Rep. Mike O’Brien
PLSReporter: Republicans question residency of top Democratic senate candidate
PLSReporter: Senate sends bills cracking down on hazing, ending Keystone grad requirements to Wolf
PhillyVoice: John Oliver has thoughts on Scott Wagner’s ‘golf spikes’ attack ad on Tom Wolf
Billy Penn: Rep. Mike O’Brien’s seat will remain empty until next year   
WHYY Newsworks: Some Pennsylvania voters are catching the blue wave, others not so much
AP: Fitzpatrick campaign fires man who posed as reporter at opponent’s event
KDKA: Libertarian Dale Kerns Hopes To Offer Real Choice In Senate Race
Morning Call: Wake-Up Call: More on Scott Wagner’s golf spikes, and a look at which candidates got money from Charlie Dent
Morning Call: Child sex abuse victims, advocates lobby Pennsylvania Senate for more legal rights and protections
Morning Call: Wake-up Call: How much did the Lehigh Valley’s congressional candidates raise?

Philadelphia
Inquirer: State Rep. Mike O’Brien suffers fatal heart attack
Inquirer: Meet the SEC’s enforcers in Philly
Inquirer: Review of Starbucks arrests shows racial bias by Philly cops, commission finds
Philadelphia Magazine: Meek Mill, Sixers Co-Owner Michael Rubin to Headline ThinkFest 2018
WHYY Newsworks: Remembering thousands of Hurricane Maria victims, marching for accountability  
Inquirer and WHYY: Seattle is the leader in worker protection laws. What can Philly learn as it considers a ‘fair workweek’?
Philadelphia Business Journal: Phila. officials head to Ireland, U.K. to boost business, tourism ties
KYW Newsradio: City releases plans to improve traffic around 30th Street Station
KYW Newsradio: Police Advisory Committee release recommendations for police-community relations
NBC10: Voting While Broke: What Keeps Low-Income People from Casting a Ballot
Billy Penn: Rep. Mike O’Brien’s seat will remain empty until next year

SEPA
AP: Fitzpatrick campaign fires man who posed as reporter at opponent’s event
Daily Local News: Wolf, Casey stump for Dan Williams in Coatesville
Daily Local News: Caln Township water lines getting major upgrade
Mongtomery Media: Northwest Philadelphia residents focus on voter turnout
Bucks County Courier Times: New Hope-Solebury board approves new superintendent
Bucks County Courier Times: Brian Fitzpatrick, Scott Wallace face off in first district debate
Bucks County Courier Times: House OKs bill to expand prescription drug assistance programs
Pottstown Mercury: Five Chesco school districts win business finance awards
Delco Daily Times: Election 2018: McGarrigle, Kearney duke it out for state Senate
Bucks Local News: Long-awaited Main Street milling and repaving project scheduled to begin this week in Yardley Borough and Lower Makefield
PhillyVoice: After backlash, Bridgeport Council won’t pursue police merger with Upper Merion
Pittsburgh
WESA: GOP Campaign Staffer Tied To Group Behind Lawn Signs Labeling Democrat As Socialist
WESA: In House District 40, Democrats Look To Take A Longtime Republican Seat
KDKA: Libertarian Dale Kerns Hopes To Offer Real Choice In Senate Race
KDKA: Parishioners Skeptical Of Sex Abuse Allegation Against Pittsburgh Priest
Pittsburgh Business Times: Steelworkers reach tentative agreement with U.S. Steel
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh sprinkler proposal faces council decision Tuesday      
Post-Gazette: Some Pittsburgh school board members are skeptical of Children’s Fund proposal
Post-Gazette: For many, economy takes center stage in key swing precincts around Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: GOP-backed lawsuit seeks to toss North Hills Democratic state Senate candidate from ballot
Tribune Review: Westmoreland County comprehensive plan soon to be released to the public
Tribune Review: Riverview School District, teachers union report progress in contract talks

SWPA
Beaver County Times: Democrat Michele Knoll said she knows struggles families face
Beaver County Times: Josh Kail says campaign centered on bringing ‘family-sustaining jobs’ to county
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Victims push Senate for action to provide justice in old abuse cases
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Maryland officials break ground on route project
Observer-Reporter: Contractor fights Cal U lawsuit over Vulcan collapse

NEPA
Standard-Speaker: Different ideas: Candidates disagree on immigration reform
Standard-Speaker: Meet the 8th district candidates
Standard-Speaker: Foster Twp. votes to amend its zoning ordinances
Citizens Voice: Budget session start Tuesday
Times Leader: Energy-savings firm completes $3.95M in Luzerne County government projects
Times Leader: Wilkes-Barre Area superintendent taking coffee chats on the road
Times Leader: Wilkes-Barre mayor George proposes $50.4million balanced budget, no property tax increase for 2019
Times-Tribune: LVHA looks to connect trails to rails in Scranton
Times-Tribune: No tax hike in Lackawanna County’s 2019 budget
News Item: Local municipalities among those to get recycling grants

South Central  
ABC27: Scott Perry takes on challenger George Scott in Harrisburg debate
LNP | LancasterOnline: Jess King raises nearly $381K more than Lloyd Smucker, latest campaign finance reports show
LNP | LancasterOnline: Radio host Ken Matthews condemns ‘verbal minefield’ of political correctness in speech to Lancaster GOP
LNP | LancasterOnline: Bob Casey pulls campaign ad featuring Manheim woman from Scranton TV markets after Lou Barletta’s objection
LNP | LancasterOnline: 36th District debate between Aument, Troutman rescheduled for Oct. 25
York Daily Record: Newcomer Steve Snell challenges Rep. Stan Saylor for state House seat in York County
Carlisle Sentinel: Public criticizes South Middleton School Board after surplus funds found in last year’s budget
PennLive: Harrisburg school district needs full-time chief financial officer
PennLive: Scarnati willing to negotiate on statute of limitations reform bill; but bill as amended is imperiled

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Wake-up Call: How much did the Lehigh Valley’s congressional candidates raise?
Reading Eagle: Berks GOP confident going into midterms
Reading Eagle: Forum in Reading explores how to spot fake news online
Reading Eagle: Reading auditor asks council for a pay raise
Reading Eagle: Reading gets positive audit, but work remains
Morning Call: Wake-Up Call: More on Scott Wagner’s golf spikes, and a look at which candidates got money from Charlie Dent  
Morning Call: Democrat Mark Pinsely files lawsuit against Sen. Pat Browne over campaign ad based on wrong info from state
Morning Call: Democrat Susan Wild raised $1.3 million last quarter for PA-7 congressional bid
Morning Call: More outside ad money flowing in Lehigh Valley’s congressional race

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: The Timothy Piazza Antihazing Law is headed to the governor’s desk. Here’s what it does
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Home Rule Charter features concepts driven by citizens

Opinion
Josh Shapiro: Pa. Senate has a clear choice: Stand with victims or stand with the Catholic Church
Inquirer Editorial Board: Election Day is coming. Where’s the celebration?
John Baer: On Scott Wagner’s wacky moment
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: A cautionary tale: Girls admit to falsely accusing a boy they disliked
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Arts need HR help: Recent controversies highlight a training gap
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Let Kanye be Kanye: The rapper is exercising his rights as an American
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Safe storage is too safe: Unraveling a strange and comic story
Dom Giordano: Safe injection sites are a well-meaning, but flawed solution to the opioid crisis
Thomas Quinn: Pa. GOP chair accused me of ‘indoctrinating’ my students. Here’s why he’s wrong
Cal Barnett-Mayotte: Philadelphia bail watch volunteers document daily injustices of cash bail  
Inquirer Editorial Board: The quiet death of a bill that could have helped Philly
Jonathan Zimmerman: Bogus articles ignited an academic culture war. Here’s what it should teach today’s professors