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November 9th Playbook

Gov. Tom Wolf announced his intentions to allow local school districts to set the mask requirements in January, while another Democrat launched his campaign for PA17. Here is the Playbook. 

News

‘Wolf expects to let schools set masking rules in January’: The Associated Press reports that “Pennsylvania school districts will be allowed to modify or end the mask mandate for K-12 students in January, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Monday, saying it is “time to prepare for a transition back to a more normal setting.””

‘Democratic candidate for 17th District seat hopes to become Pa.’s first openly gay congressman’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “Sean Meloy, 34, of Morningside, who serves as vice president of the LGBTQ Victory Fund, will run for the 17th District seat held by U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Mt. Lebanon. Mr. Lamb is running for the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania’s soon-to-be-open U.S. Senate seat, which is held by retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey.”

‘Parnell emphatically denies charges from estranged wife at custody hearing’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “a week after his estranged wife alleged that he choked her and hit their young children, U.S. Senate candidate Sean Parnell on Monday repeatedly and emphatically denied — under oath in family court — that he physically abused his wife or hit their children.”

‘Republicans renew attempts to require post-election audits’: City & State PA reports that “House Republicans are making another attempt at establishing an office dedicated exclusively to conducting post-election audits after a previous effort was vetoed by Gov. Tom Wolf.”

‘Pennsylvania House committee advances bills to end ‘madness’ of Daylight Saving Time, private funding of elections’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “two bills on vastly different topics — one that would banish Daylight Saving Time in Pennsylvania and another that would banish the use of private money to fund county elections — were on a laundry list of proposed legislation that moved through the House State Government Committee early Monday.”

‘Pa. lawmakers outline bills to help veterans’: WGAL reports that “as Veterans Day approaches, state lawmakers unveiled a package of bills aimed at helping veterans.”

‘U.S. Secretary Of Energy Jennifer Granholm Says Pennsylvania To Get Billions Of Dollars Under Infrastructure Deal’: KDKA reports that “Pennsylvania is going to get billions of dollars under President Joe Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure deal that Congress approved last Friday. In an interview seen only on KDKA, political editor Jon Delano spoke with U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, who says states like Pennsylvania are big winners.”

‘U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm: Administration Prepared To Take Action To Keep People From Getting Hurt At Gas Pump’: KDKA reports that “gasoline prices continue to spike in this region and around the nation, up to $3.55 a gallon locally. In an exclusive interview on Monday with U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granhom, KDKA money editor Jon Delano asked about the administration’s response to this issue.”

‘Senate GOP campaign chief dodges when asked if Parnell is right candidate for job’: The Hill reports that “Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), the head of the Senate GOP’s campaign arm, dodged questions over whether Pennsylvania Republican Sean Parnell is “the right candidate” in the state’s marquee Senate race.”

‘What to watch in Pennsylvania politics this week’: City & State PA details “what to watch in Pennsylvania politics this week.” 

‘With little time in office, Welby aims to move mountains’: The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that “Thom Welby won big Tuesday, but he has so little time to get anything done. As the newly elected state representative of the 113th House District, Welby aims to try his best in the approximately one year he’ll have in office.”

‘GOP candidate for governor, Dave White, brings campaign to Wilkes-Barre’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that Dave White, “a Republican from Delaware County, was in the region to “get the word out” that he is seeking the Republican nomination for governor in the 2022 Pennsylvania Primary.”

‘Pa. Treasurer warns of scam directed at unemployment compensation recipients’: PennLive reports that “Treasurer Stacy Garrity on Monday warned Pennsylvanians that scammers are using fraudulent text messages to target recipients of unemployment compensation benefits – potentially including normal unemployment compensation (UC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC).”

‘Pa. Department of Corrections providing COVID vaccine boosters to prisoners, staff’: PennLive reports that “the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC) said Monday that it has started offering COVID-19 boosters to staff and the incarcerated population at its facilities.”

‘Pennsylvania drivers becoming more reckless around school buses, new data shows’: KYW Newsradio reports that “Pennsylvania drivers are becoming increasingly more reckless around school buses, according to results from a state program.”

‘A bought councilmember or pro-union politician? In the trial of John Dougherty and Bobby Henon, a jury will now decide.’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “with their final pitch to jurors Monday, lawyers in the federal trial of John Dougherty and Bobby Henon clashed over what constitutes a bribe and the nature of the relationship between the city’s most powerful labor leader and his chief ally on City Council.”

‘John Dougherty and Bobby Henon trial: Day-by-day updates’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “daily updates on the federal trial of labor leader John J. Dougherty and Philadelphia City Councilmember Bobby Henon.”

‘Keller leads effort to support veterans at special order on House floor’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “U.S. Rep. Fred Keller recently led a special order on the House Floor with six of his Republican colleagues to bring attention to the veterans’ records backlog at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), an issue that is preventing America’s veterans from obtaining critical benefits that they earned through their service.”

‘Mayor-elect Ed Gainey appears on CNN to discuss infrastructure, policing’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “Mayor-elect Ed Gainey appeared on CNN Monday morning to discuss Pittsburgh’s infrastructure, social spending and the future of policing in the city.”

‘Peduto cites administration’s achievements in his final State of the City address’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “Mayor Bill Peduto delivered his final State of the City address Monday, rounding out eight years as mayor and more than a 30-year career in Pittsburgh politics.”

‘Gainey talks priorities, administration, election experience on virtual program’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “Mayor-elect Ed Gainey on Monday said he hopes to “plant the seeds of change” for a variety of major societal issues in Pittsburgh during his tenure on Grant Street.”

‘Peduto administration introduces plan to create Pittsburgh Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs’: WESA reports that “Pittsburgh City Council will consider a plan to create an Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. The office would work with community groups to connect immigrants and refugees to resources and promote Pittsburgh as a welcoming home to new immigrants.”

‘Peduto administration announces additional departures’: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “as Mayor Bill Peduto’s administration winds to a close, city officials announced two additional members of the administration are leaving city government.”

‘Proposal would prevent Pittsburgh police from pulling over drivers for minor, secondary violations’: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “Pittsburgh police would no longer be allowed to pull over drivers for secondary violations such as headlights or brake lights being burned out or license plates being improperly displayed, under legislation introduced Monday.”

‘Here’s how Biden’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill will impact Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “roads, bridges and drainage systems across the Lehigh Valley are slated to get much-needed upgrades through a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill sent to President Joe Biden’s desk late last week.”

‘These 6 Lancaster County projects could get federal infrastructure money’: LNP | LancasterOnline details what projects in Lancaster County “could get federal infrastructure money.”

‘Luzerne County Council must pick another Republican when Griffith vacates council seat’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Walter Griffith said he’s receiving inquiries from Republicans interested in his Luzerne County Council seat now that unofficial general election results show he is the clear winner in the county controller race.”

‘Luzerne County Election Board faces myriad of issues adjudicating ballots’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Luzerne County’s Election Board reviewed hundreds of provisional and flagged mail ballots Friday and ended up counting an additional 675 while rejecting others.”

‘Election update: North Wales mayor race now goes to McDevitt’: Montgomery Media reports that “after four years, and a few more days, the rematch appears over. Updated vote totals released by Montgomery County over the weekend have put Democrat Neil McDevitt ahead of Republican incumbent Greg D’Angelo in the race for mayor of North Wales.”

‘Washington County officials make sweeping changes to Human Services’: The Observer-Reporter reports that “Washington County officials passed a sweeping expansion of the county’s Department of Human Services that they hope will offer a consolidated “single-point of entry” system for residents who receive assistance through various social services agencies.”

‘Canvass board finishes mail-in vote count in Washington County’: The Observer-Reporter reports that “Washington County’s election canvass board finished counting mail-in and provisional ballots Monday and began tabulating write-in votes for local government and school board races.”

‘Lackawanna County official vote count still in the works’: The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that “Lackawanna County officials resumed the official count of election votes Monday, but didn’t finish.”

‘Write-ins on track to win in Solanco, Warwick and Manheim Central school board races’: LNP | LancasterOnline reports that “write-in candidates for a handful of school board seats may have defeated candidates whose names were on the Nov. 2 ballot, according to results posted by the Lancaster County elections office.”

‘Bethlehem’s outgoing mayor wants to hold the line on taxes, but city faces looming deficit questions. 4 takeaways from his final budget.’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “in his final budget address, Mayor Robert Donchez said he hopes Bethlehem will continue to be the “jewel of the Lehigh Valley” despite the city’s increasing projected deficit.”

‘Former councilman gets prison time for 2nd robbery’: WFMZ reports that “a former West Reading borough councilman will be spending more time behind bars. A Berks County judge on Monday sentenced Kirk Mullen to six to 20 years in state prison for his second robbery conviction.”

‘Northampton County may leave council district lines unchanged’: WFMZ reports that “the 2020 census numbers are in, and that means Northampton County Council has to review the lines of its four districts.”

‘State Republicans blast unions, ‘woke’ historical markers’: The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports that “with prominent strikes underway and more threatened across the country, Republicans in Harrisburg are moving to effectively weaken unions, in one case by amending the state constitution.”

‘Ashley Machine and Tools in the spotlight’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “with economic growth and the future of the region in mind, federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Gayle Manchin kicked off a two-day tour of several area businesses and institutions with a stop at Ashley Machine and Tool on Monday afternoon.”

‘American Rescue funding requested for $11.8 million in Luzerne County prison projects’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Luzerne County prison system overseer Mark Rockovich has proposed five projects totaling an estimated $11.8 million from the county’s $113 million American Rescue Plan earmark, including an additional cell block, replacement of both elevators and roof repairs.”

‘New COVID-19 infections chart uneven path in Pa., but hospitalizations continue to fall’: PennLive reports that “Pennsylvania registered 11,589 new COVID-19 infections over the weekend as infections follow an up and down path.”

Opinion  
Michael Torres: ‘Old School GOP’ Prevailed in Pennsylvania’s Swing Counties
Kadida Kenner: After Republican victories, Pa. Democrats must reassess plans for next election 
Joe Sestak: Cyber supremacy, not ships, is key to confronting China
Salena Zito: New congressional districts could spell trouble for Democrats
Salena Zito: The voters revolt against our cultural curators, again
Michael Brevda: Changes needed in PA to fix a neglectful nursing home system
Jon Geeting: Surprise! Trash Pickup Is Terrible! 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Infrastructure measure is good for Pennsylvania
Inquirer Editorial Board: Balancing equity and growth is key for City Council’s tax reform plans
John L. Micek: Pa.’s Fitzpatrick’s ‘yes’ on infrastructure is the least of the GOP’s problems | Monday Coffee
Lance Haver: Expanding Medicare to cover hearing aids could actually save money. It’s also the right thing to do. 
Michael Coard: Racists won on Nov. 2. It doesn’t have to be that way in 2022 
Jake Miller: We need more substitutes to give teachers a break 
Gwen Ottinger and Jennifer Britton: Let’s start crafting environmental policy through an anti-racist lens | Rebuilding Philly
David M. Shribman: Trump is still in the game
Keith C. Burris: The duty to offend
Ruthann Dailey: Let’s not forget down-ballot office races
Tony Norman: The big ‘little’ lies of Aaron Rodgers
Dr. William R. Davidson Jr.: Progressives should learn from the past 
Sydney Johnson: Can we really trust the American health system? 
Jessica Blatt Press: Generation Pandemic 
Dick Polman: Don’t look now, Democrats, but winter is coming

One Response

  1. What does Ryan Bizzarro have to say about this? Is he too busy taking selfies with his puckered lips looking like they are ready to lick a hot dog that he is about to deep throat?

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