Today’s Headlines

Morning Call: State House passes Marcellus Shale extraction tax; State Senate says it is dead on arrival

AP: VP Biden to attend PA reception for Rep. Critz and Rep. Dahlkemper

Morning Call: Specter laments the demise of moderate politicians

Early Returns: Dems scale back ad spending

Early Returns: Sestak moves ads to Philly

Early Returns: Erie says: Nov. 2 will be close

Politifact: Crossroads GPS ad blasts Joe Sestak for vote to “gut Medicare”

Early Returns: Fmr Navy Secretary endorses Toomey

In the U.S House yesterday, Reps. Altmire, Carney, Dent and Patrick Murphy, all with tough re-election fights, voted against adjournment. It was a protest against inaction on the Bush tax cuts, which expire at the end of the year. They were on the losing side of the motion (Speaker Pelosi cast the deciding vote), the House adjourned at 1 A.M. and will be back after the election.

Inquirer: In Pa.’s 10th District, Democrat Carney hews to national strategy: Keep politics local

Times-Tribune: NRA endorses Kanjorski but gives high ratings to Barletta

Times-Tribune: Barletta asks stations to drop commercial

Early Returns: New website from Rothfus: BlueDogCatcher.com

Commonwealth Confidential: Meehan hits Lentz on us of state car

Capitol Ideas: Tempers boil over after shale vote

Post-Gazette: Things looking ugly for unemployed

Tribune-Review: Wagner: Pennsylvania risks ‘worst fiscal crisis’

Early Returns: Poll: Orie ahead but vulnerable

Inquirer: Pa. House passes law outlawing synthetic marijuana

AP: Pa. Senate OKs changes in Right-To-Know Law

Post-Gazette: House OKs concussion measure for young athletes

AP: Sarah Palin granted restraining order against Pa. man

Today’s Opinions

Patriot-News: Now showing: Public deserves U.S. Senate debates

Post-Gazette: Seriously funny: Can America restore its sanity through comedy?