A Democratic challenger emerges against Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster), another Democrat announces a primary bid against state Sen. Daylin Leach, and PAGOP leaders gather in Allentown to criticize Rep. Susan Wild over supporting the impeachment inquiry. Here is the Playbook. 

Dem Challenger Emerges Against Smucker: Hammond’s progressive agenda includes focusing on Manufacturing & Agriculture, Criminal Justice Reform, Immigration Reform, Medicare for All, and addressing the Climate Crisis.

Dem Group Launches Air Cover for Cartwright: The group lauds Congressman Matt Cartwright’s position on healthcare and credits him as standing up for local hospital in Northeastern Pennsylvania after GOP groups attack Cartwright for voicing support for the impeachment inquiry.

Elvira Berry Joins Race to Primary Daylin Leach: Berry’s “Progressive Platform for Pennsylvanians” includes supporting students, holding drug and insurance companies accountable to reduce costs, addressing gun violence, and raising the state’s minimum wage.

PAGOP Leaders Gather in Allentown to Rail Against Rep. Susan Wild and Impeachment Inquiry: PAGOP Chairman Lawrence Tabas and Trump 2020 Pennsylvania Chair Bernie Comfort visited Allentown on Thursday afternoon holding a press conference aimed at criticizing Rep. Susan Wild’s (D-Lehigh) support for the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. 

Navy to Build Ship Named in Honor of Harrisburg: On Thursday afternoon, Trump administration officials announced that the U.S. Navy will name a ship that is not yet built after the city of Harrisburg, ‘USS Harrisburg.’

Brier to Host Townhall for Oct. 23: Tom Brier, a Democratic hopeful for PA’s 10th Congressional District, announced that he will be holding his campaign’s next town hall meeting on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at the Coexist Gallery in Steelton, PA. The release from the campaign on Thursday also announced that Brier has received the endorsement from Steelton Borough Council President, Brian Proctor, who will moderate the event.

Biden To Visit PA on Oct 22: Former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign sent out an email Thursday evening announcing that he will be visiting the state on Oct. 22. Additional details will be released at a later date.  

Harrisburg & DC   
AP: Lawsuit seeks to keep victim rights question off fall ballot
AP: US Navy to build ship named for Pennsylvania’s state capital
WITF: Survey: Most Pa. voters support independent redistricting commission 
WITF: A bill expanding healthcare access for working disabled people may see Pa. Senate action 
Patriot News: Should Donald Trump be impeached? Pa. Congressional delegation says constituents support inquiry 
Patriot News: Fighting suicide: central Pa. residents pour out their hearts as task force listens 
Patriot News: USS Harrisburg: New Navy ship named to honor Pennsylvania’s impact on the nation’s defense 
Express Times: ‘Stop the madness’: GOP leaders visit Allentown to rail against Rep. Susan Wild and impeachment inquiry 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Opponents of Marsy’s Law are suing to keep the crime victims measure off the Nov. 5 ballot 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: What Pennsylvanians can expect if their state lawmaker unexpectedly resigns 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Dozens of Pa. bird species are under threat from climate change, National Audubon Society warns in new report 
The Central Voice: Bill Maher likes newspapers, says we need to laugh in spite of Trump 
Inquirer: These six charts tell you how Pa. voters feel about gerrymandering (Spoiler: They oppose it)
Inquirer: Why are Pennsylvania judges sentencing people on probation for debts they won’t ever be able to pay?
Inquirer: ACLU files suit to stop victims’ rights ballot measure
Inquirer: Some birds could disappear from Pennsylvania backyards because of climate change, report says
PLSReporter: ACLU, League of Women Voters file suit to halt ’unconstitutional’ Marsy’s Law from appearing on ballots in Nov. 5 election
PLSReporter: At harm reduction hearing, advocates urge reform of “poor” drug policies
PLSReporter: One week after statute of limitations hearing, another child sex abuse survivor sues Harrisburg diocese
PLSReporter: IFO analysis: Nearly 2 million workers could see pay increase with $12 minimum wage; 34,000 could lose jobs 
Politico: Anti-Trump group launches $1 million in swing-state impeachment ads  
Politico: ‘An existential political risk’: Trump manufactures a swing-state problem  
Fox News: Philadelphia preparing for first-in-nation supervised injection site after legal win
The Hill: Pennsylvania candidate would be first autistic woman elected to a state legislature 
Philly Voice: To re-elect Trump, Republicans campaigning for Amish votes in Pennsylvania
StateImpactPA: Changing climate means Pennsylvania and New Jersey state birds could disappear from the region

Philadelphia 
Philly Clout: Building Trades leaders asked to pony up $15K apiece for Local 98’s indicted boss ‘Johnny Doc’ Dougherty
WHYY Newsworks: Helen Gym has a plan to prevent another Hahnemann  
WHYY Newsworks: Prosecutors: Philly bike courier chose to kill real estate developer
WHYY Newsworks: Displaced Franklin, SLA students get new homes, will return to class soon
Billy Penn: Philly is asking neighborhoods how it can lift 100k people out of poverty
KYW Newsradio: Philadelphia City Council’s 3 retiring members declined controversial DROP program
KYW Newsradio: Philly City Council passes resolution it defeated months ago, providing view of how things work behind the scenes 
KYW Newsradio: Union protests goPuff with controversial inflatable; workers say it unsafely hogs sidewalk   
KYW Newsradio: Students find refuge at former charter, a synagogue and district headquarters amid asbestos construction  
Inquirer: Was Rittenhouse Square stabbing self-defense? Trial in controversial killing begins. 
Inquirer: Phila. Council creates panel to probe child removals in abuse, neglect cases 
Inquirer: Displaced by asbestos and construction, Philly’s Ben Franklin High moves north, SLA stays near Center City
Inquirer: La Colombe CEO said businesses should pay $15/hour minimum wage. But he doesn’t. 
PLSReporter: City Council passes resolution for CPS hearings
Philadelphia Business Journal: City Councilwoman introduces bill to ‘prevent the next Hahnemann’

SEPA
Bucks Local News: Congressional candidate Debbie Wachspress tops $215K in first campaign finance report 
Bucks Local News: Bucks County awarded $1.5M HUD grant to combat lead hazards in 200 housing units 
Delco Daily Times: County council candidates face off in first of three debates
Delco Daily Times: Dems council candidates offer economic plans, GOPers say many already enacted 
Delco Daily Times: Educators in Interboro make the case for pre-K education 
Bucks County Courier Times: Gov. Tom Wolf sees STEM in action at Levittown school 
Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County receives $1.56M to remove lead from homes 
WHYY Newsworks: Bucks County gets $1.5 million from HUD for lead paint remediation
KYW Newsradio: Federal program grants millions to lead remediation in Pa. suburbs
Daily Local News: Trump supporters rally at Houlahan office in West Chester 
Daily Local News: Berks, Montco among top counties for PFA petitions in Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh  
WESA: In DA’s Race, Political Rally Causes Stir Three Days Later 
WESA: Parks Backers Urge Tax Vote, While Skeptics Worry The Field Is Uneven
City Paper: Meet the two Democrats running for Allegheny County’s most competitive state house seat
Post-Gazette: Zappala won’t participate in DA candidate forum
Post-Gazette: Trump trade policy chief says US manufacturers need to ‘focus on the positives’
Post-Gazette: Rep. Ed Gainey appeals for statewide ban on assault weapons: ‘We are raising a nation of young people … with PTSD’
Post-Gazette: Fight over union for Pitt graduate assistants now heads into state review process
Post-Gazette: The great ‘Buy American’ debate: As Trump’s trade adviser visits Pittsburgh area, manufacturing and tariff worries
Post-Gazette: City names new chief operations officer
KDKA: White House Official Tours Local Steel Forging Plant To Praise President Donald Trump’s Tariffs As Criticism Mounts
KDKA: ‘Let’s Stop All This’: Medical Experts, Politicians, Victims’ Families Give Emotional Testimony At Assault Weapon Violence Hearing 
KDKA: Urban Redevelopment Authority To Vote On Civic Arena Site Plans 
KDKA: High School’s Student-Led Club Stirs Controversy With Pro-Life Cupcakes 
Pittsburgh Business Times: Pittsburgh business community weighs in on impact of tariffs 
Pittsburgh Business Times: Appalachian Regional Commission awards $8M in grants to communities impacted by loss of coal jobs
Tribune Review: Trump administration officials tour New Castle plant
Tribune Review: Allegheny County council members accuse DA candidate Middleman of ethics violation
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh redevelopment authority postpones vote on construction at Civic Arena site

SWPA 
Observer-Reporter: Greene County receives federal grant for broadband study
Observer-Reporter: Commissioners vote to upgrade heating system in newly purchased building
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Lawsuit seeks to get Victims’ Bill of Rights off ballot 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Cambria County Commissioners vote on land easement, internships 

NEPA
Citizens Voice: County councilman Haas plans to run for Congress 
The Times Leader: Haas launches Congress bid with calls for civility, fiscal responsibility 
The Times Leader: Short agenda, public comments aplenty at Wilkes-Barre city council meeting 
Times-Tribune: Councilman Haas running for Congress
Times-Tribune: Scranton employees must read, sign, live by new ethics code 
Times-Tribune: Former Scranton school solicitor bringing legal action against district 
Times-Tribune: Scranton City Council meeting canceled Monday; other Columbus Day closures

South Central 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Smucker will return campaign contributions from Giuliani’s arrested associate, campaign says 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Columbia council implements 30-day deletion policy for social media comments
York Dispatch: Smucker blasts Trump’s decision to pull out of Syria 
York Dispatch: York City firefighter union rescinds sheriff endorsement, now supports challenger 
York Dispatch: Disciplinary board: Judge candidate did not follow court order 
York Dispatch: Cost of police service divides Hallam council 
Patriot News: Should Donald Trump be impeached? Pa. Congressional delegation says constituents support inquiry 
Patriot News: Fighting suicide: central Pa. residents pour out their hearts as task force listens 
Patriot News: USS Harrisburg: New Navy ship named to honor Pennsylvania’s impact on the nation’s defense 
Patriot News: Statewide trade organizations in N.J. and Pa. to merge
York Daily Record: Here’s why York judge candidate was reprimanded 

Lehigh Valley     
Morning Call: With ads and protesters, Republicans target swing-district Democrats like Susan Wild on impeachment 
Reading Eagle: General Election 2019: Reading mayor 
Reading Eagle: General Election 2019: Reading City Council, District 6
Reading Eagle: Commissioners, Berks Heim unions cheer new agreement
Express Times: ‘Stop the madness’: GOP leaders visit Allentown to rail against Rep. Susan Wild and impeachment inquiry 
Express Times: Payroll provider open in downtown Allentown is symbol of economic renaissance, Gov. Wolf says 

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Congressman impressed with Gateway project 
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Line of credit vote on council’s agenda
Erie Times-News: Erie City Council wants to finalize day care ordinance soon 

Opinion  
LNP Editorial Board: For the sake of students and taxpayers, the state has to increase its share of special education funding
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: A level playing field: Pittsburgh fire force should examine hiring practices
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: American values: The NBA should not be a proxy for China
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Ensure legal fairness: Detained immigrants deserve representation
Inquirer Staff: Should prison inmates be allowed to vote? Pro/Con 
Inquirer Editorial Board: Get your flu shot 
Ed Rendell: Impeaching Trump is the right thing to do
Dr. Peter Navarro: A new USS Harrisburg, a revitalized Philly shipyard | Assistant to the President Dr. Peter Navarro
John Baer: Pennsylvania’s child sex abuse scandal still is a mess 
John L. Micek: Dreamers ‘contribute immeasurably:’ Bucknell, Swarthmore, other Pa. schools fight DACA repeal | Thursday Morning Coffee
Nate Esbenshade: A teacher shortage? In Pa.? Here are a couple ways to fix that
Paul Muschick: With $300 million in real estate, Allentown Diocese has no excuse to cry financial distress
Dave Brindley: Philly needs to reboot street cleaning program 
Deanna Burney: Philly’s childhood literacy rate is still too low 
Dena Ferrara Driscoll: Qualified, pregnant, and humiliated: Elizabeth Warren’s story reminds me of what happened when I became a working mom | Perspective
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Early campaign contribution voting
Will Bunch: Unbelievable: Failed smears only make Elizabeth Warren stronger as new Dem front-runner 
Gerald Friedman: This is how the U.S. can afford ‘Medicare for All’