Reps. Lamb and Rothfus joust in recent ads about healthcare, while Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball changes ratings for a number of races. Here is the Playbook.

PA17: Lamb, Rothfus Joust Over Healthcare and Leadership: The candidates have continuously used healthcare as a talking point in multiple television ads.  

PA13: Joyce 1st Ad Touts Trump Endorsement: The GOP friendly district’s new boundaries went for President Trump by over 45 points.

PA7: Nothstein 1st TV Ad Touts Background: The GOP candidate discusses fighting for lowering taxes and seniors.

Inside Election and Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball changes the ratings in a number of races in Pennsylvania.

Inside Election Shifts PA7 from Tilt Democratic to Leans Democratic: The Lehigh Valley open seat rating change benefits Democrat Susan Wild.

Inside Election Moves PA10 from Likely Republican to Leans Republican: The Republican incumbent Rep. Scott Perry is facing Democrat George Scott in the newly drawn district that is not as GOP friendly as the incumbent’s previous district.

Sabato’s Crystal Ball Changes the race for PA Gov from Likely Democratic to Safe Democratic: Sabato has changed the rating in the race a couple of times in Wolf’s favor in recent weeks.  

Sabato’s Crystal Ball Moves PA16 from Likely Republican to Leans Republican: Rep. Mike Kelly will have President Donald Trump rally with him in Erie next week, while the DCCC makes their first ad buy in Pennsylvania to help out Democratic candidate Ron DiNicola.  

Sabato’s Crystal Ball Changes PA10 from Likely Republican to Leans Republican: This is the second rating outlet to change the race to show George Scott closing the gap.  

Sabato’s Crystal Ball Shifts PA6 from Likely Democratic to Safe Democratic: The rating change is good news for Democrat Chrissy Houlahan who is facing Greg McCauley in the Philadelphia suburbs.  

Please feel free to send any ratings change you see to John@PoliticsPA.com.

Harrisburg & DC
Inquirer: Voters reported being blocked from Pa. election site — and from obtaining absentee ballots — as early as 2016
PennLive: With Kavanaugh vote looming, here’s why the fight over abortion matters in the #PaGovRace | Friday Coffee
WHYY Newsworks: Interactive map: a county-by-county look at spending on public defense in Pennsylvania
Inquirer: What makes an effective federal lawmaker? Bob Casey and Lou Barletta joust on question
Morning Call: Kavanaugh bump? Republicans re-energized by fiery debate over Supreme Court nominee
AP: Pennsylvania receives state grants for school safety
Citizens Voice: Voter registration deadline approaching Oct. 9
StateImpactPA: Atlantic Sunrise pipeline goes into full service this weekend  
StateImpactPA: House panel to take up gas royalties bill, but not the one advocates hoped for
PLSReporter: Sen. Vulakovich talks next steps for fire and EMS commission
PLSReporter: Affordable housing measures pass Philadelphia City Council
Carlisle Sentinel: Bill Tracker: Making changes to the sparkling new fireworks law
York Daily Record: Pennsylvania on cusp of reforms to significantly empower victims of child sexual abuse

Philadelphia
Philly Clout: GOP State Rep. Tom Murt helped fired cop Ryan Pownall get a PPA patronage job
KYW Newsradio: Affordable housing bills pass in City Council after 2 years of wrangling
Philly Voice: Krasner announces 57 arrests in Kensington drug trafficking investigation
WHYY Newsworks: State gives $12M for Philadelphia transportation projects
KYW Newsradio: Speed cameras may be coming to Roosevelt Boulevard, but not right away
Billy Penn: Philly DA Larry Krasner is going after police officers for illegal stop-and-frisks
Inquirer: Philadelphia police captain says her boss attacked her

SEPA
Daily Local News: State Rep. Harry Lewis Jr. endorses Amber Little-Turner to replace him
Montgomery Media: Montco commissioners advocate flu shots, approve new board
Mongtomery Media: Dublin discusses demolition, tree trimming ordinances
Bucks County Courier Times: Crooked Billet voters moved to Hatboro Baptist Church
Bucks County Courier Times: Morrisville mulls changes to contractor ordinance
Pottstown Mercury: 2019 Pottstown budget draft calls for 12% tax hike
Pottstown Mercury: Mission Kids honored by governor for ‘extraordinary’ work
KYW Newsradio: $500K Delco federal grant intends to avert violence in suburban schools

Pittsburgh
WESA: Lt. Gov. Candidates Fetterman And Bartos To Debate In Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Russian military hackers indicted in Pittsburgh, charged with attacks on Westinghouse, anti-doping agencies
Post-Gazette: Monroeville council to consider fee schedule ordinance on sediment removal
Post-Gazette: Display on homelessness, addiction opens minds at CMU
Post-Gazette: Former mayor Tom Murphy urges ‘East Shore’ to ‘kick the door down’
Post-Gazette: Four lawsuits allege sexual abuse by priests in the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese
WESA: Ahead Of Senate Vote, Pittsburgh Protesters Rally Against Brett Kavanaugh
KDKA: Needle Exchange Program Proposed For Carrick Receiving Backlash       

SWPA
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Democratic Policy Committee hears prevention solutions for bullying
Altoona Mirror: Blair budget work continues
Altoona Mirror: Blair businesses step up to help area wokforce
Observer-Reporter: State grants boost Greene County recreation projects
Observer-Reporter: County marks domestic violence prevention even as it faces lawsuit
Beaver County Times: State Rep. Bernstine says he’s worked to be ‘super accessible’ to constituents

NEPA
News Item: Pennsylvania to toughen gun laws in domestic violence cases
Citizens Voice: Law honoring slain corrections officer signed by governor
Citizens Voice: W-B council mulls purchase of 6 emergency vehicles
Pocono Record: Madden secures school funds
Times Leader: Maximum cost of new WB Area high school is set: $137 million
Times-Tribune: U.S. Supreme Court hears Scott Twp. property rights case
Times-Tribune: Court affirms stripping of double pensions from Scranton retirees
Times-Tribune: Commissioners ratify arbitration award giving probation, domestic relations staff new contract
Times-Tribune: Panel of three Lackawanna County judges will preside over reassessment lawsuit

South Central
LNP | LancasterOnline: On Politics: Jess King lands evangelical support; Lloyd Smucker campaigns; and a Lancaster legislator votes against the domestic violence bill
PennLive: More lawsuits filed against Catholic priests, bishops and diocese
PennLive: With Kavanaugh vote looming, here’s why the fight over abortion matters in the #PaGovRace | Friday Coffee
Carlisle Sentinel: Bill Tracker: Making changes to the sparkling new fireworks law
York Dispatch: York County Libraries to offer free classes on opioids, Narcan

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Lehigh Valley’s congressional candidates go back to school in Emmaus
Morning Call: Kavanaugh bump? Republicans re-energized by fiery debate over Supreme Court nominee
Morning Call: Allentown Diocese clears priest after finding abuse allegation erroneous
Morning Call: Northampton County Council President Ken Kraft resigns
Reading Eagle: GOP gubernatorial hopeful Scott Wagner tours duck farm in Berks

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Local business plans $1.8 million expansion project that will add jobs
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Council approves stricter regulations for borough property maintenance
Williamsport Sun Gazette: UPMC, Highmark announce 2019 Medicare products
Erie Times-News: Erie City Council discusses sewer improvements plan

Opinion
Citizens Voice Editorial Board: Let voters have say on size of government
Kimberly King: Parole is not a get-out-of-jail-free card
Ronnie Polaneczky: Kensington resident: ‘There’s been a disaster here for a long time.’
George Lakey: What white nationalists get wrong about the Vikings
Inquirer Editorial Board: Philly has to break its bad money-handling habits
Christine Flowers: When we officially abandon civil discourse
Margaret Lowenstein, Rachel Feuerstein-Simon and Carolyn Cannuscio: Why Philadelphians should be carrying naloxone right now
Stu Bykofsky: We need to know more about Kavanaugh’s beer choices
Jenice Armstrong: Woman’s effort to shield baby from gunfire is a testament to a mother’s love
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Alibaba’s 1 million job promise lacked weight: U.S. and China need a better plan
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Uber in hot water: Drivers should not pay price for mess others made
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Justice for veterans: Error in law overdue for legislative fix
Tony Norman: America: Land of the lying liars