A second Republican joins the race for the 7th Congressional District, while former VP Joe Biden’s campaign announces a series of endorsements from elected officials in Lackawanna and Luzerne County. Here is the Playbook. 

Biden Rolls Out NEPA Endorsements Ahead of Scranton Visit: The former Vice President’s campaign announced 15 endorsements from current and former elected officials in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties that include former Congressman Chris Carney, state Sen. John Blake, state Rep. Bridget Malloy Kosierowski and more.

October 14th Playbook: Former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign announces that he’s going to return to Pennsylvania for an event next week. Here is the Playbook.

Harrisburg & DC   
Morning Call: Republican Lisa Scheller announces congressional bid for Lehigh Valley based district 
WITF: In honor of Columbus Day, one lawmaker wants to get rid of it once and for all 
Post-Gazette: Pa. GOP returns donation from indicted Giuliani associate 
Post-Gazette: Detention of U.K. family fuels calls to close troubled Berks County facility
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pennsylvania’s Superior Court, explained: Why you should pay attention to this November race 
StateImpactPA: StateImpact Pennsylvania and WITF invite public to Retro Report discussion on climate change, nuclear energy and more 
The Hill: Teacher placed on leave after racist rant in school parking lot
PA Post: Poll shows Pa. voters wary of legalizing marijuana
Express Times: Republican announces she’s running for the Lehigh Valley’s congressional seat

Philadelphia 
Billy Penn: Kendra Brooks asks 3,000 Democratic leaders to back her City Council campaign — despite party opposition 
Billy Penn: Philly slaps $115,000 in soda tax compliance fines on local businesses 
Billy Penn: ‘They won’t even let you in’: Center City stores are banning kids under 18
KYW Newsradio: Data shows major uptick in number of Philly police stops of black, Latino drivers 
KYW Newsradio: Parkland shooting survivor speaks to Arcadia students about gun control, politics
Inquirer: ‘Their win is our win’: Why some Philly-area workers see the GM strike as their own
Inquirer: Synagogues are meant to welcome strangers. A year after Pittsburgh shooting, they lock their doors.
Inquirer: ‘Taxes be killin’ me!’ These Philly high schoolers get $500 to learn about investing, becoming millionaires
Inquirer: As Philadelphia aims to curb racial disparities, why are police stops of black drivers skyrocketing?
WHYY Newsworks: Neighbors watch warily as PES oil trains make last rounds 
WHYY Newsworks: How Philadelphia built a neighborhood on toxic soil 
Philadelphia Magazine: What Do You Think: Should Philly Still Celebrate Columbus Day?

SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Toomey, Fitzpatrick critical of Trump on Syria
Bucks County Courier Times: Doylestown rally calls on Fitzpatrick, Toomey to support impeachment inquiry
Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County’s landmark covered bridges getting $2.5M overhaul
Daily Local News: Proposed Pa. legislation would give local officials a pay raise

Pittsburgh  
City Paper: Inside the turmoil within Allegheny County’s Democratic Committee over supporting independent candidates
KDKA: Pennsylvania Lawmakers Mulling Whether To Let Local Police Use Radar For Speed Enforcement
KDKA: These States And Cities Are Ditching Columbus Day To Observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day Instead
KDKA: KDKA Investigates: Catholic Diocese Of Pittsburgh’s Fiscal Crisis Puts Squeeze On Catholic Schools
Pittsburgh Business Times: Pittsburgh’s new chief operations officer starts job 
Post-Gazette: Coalition to U.N.: Human rights in Pittsburgh are lagging for people of color, people with low incomes 
Post-Gazette: Pa. GOP returns donation from indicted Giuliani associate 
Post-Gazette: Vote delayed on controversial Beech Hollow Energy plant
Tribune Review: County Executive Fitzgerald, opponent Drozd, participate in voter forum
Tribune Review: Competition spurs better bang-for-buck in Western Pa.’s Medicare Advantage market

SWPA 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Under the Radar | House taking aim at telemarketing again
Beaver County Times: Rally crowd calls for end of impeachment inquiry 
Observer-Reporter: Washington County GOP asks governor, others, to remove clerk of courts
Altoona Mirror: Blair sees employment shift as firms downsize, others grow

NEPA
The Times Leader: Pence, Biden reportedly planning visits to region this month
The Times Leader: Wilkes-Barre Mayor George says no property tax hike in proposed 2020 budget
Citizens Voice: County solicitor reviewing voting machine process 
Citizens Voice: Budget to be unveiled; proposed tax hike expected 
Citizens Voice: Political scene
Times-Tribune: GOP speaker blasts school district 

South Central 
Patriot News: Nomination process for empty Lebanon County-based state Senate seat hits home stretch 
Patriot News: ‘A parent’s worst nightmare’: Sen. Pat Toomey, advocates want tougher penalties for stalking children 
Patriot News: Pa. teacher behind racist rant in school parking lot identified by district: ‘We’re not going to run from this’
York Dispatch: York County makes cut for debut of new EPA lead regulation proposal 
Carlisle Sentinel: Election 2019: What’s the deal with those voting machines in Cumberland County? 
Carlisle Sentinel: Carlisle event focuses on Bosnian genocide and path to justice, hope

Lehigh Valley     
Morning Call: Republican Lisa Scheller announces congressional bid for Lehigh Valley based district 
Morning Call: Backers of proposed ‘red flag’ gun law in Pennsylvania support end-around to get things moving 
Morning Call: Allentown mayoral candidates Tim Ramos, Ray O’Connell spar over public safety, city’s financial picture 
Morning Call: Can you shoot your dog? Northampton County DA calls on lawmakers to clarify law 
Reading Eagle: Candidate endorsements 
Reading Eagle: Reading City Council backs plan for triage center for homeless 
Express Times: Republican announces she’s running for the Lehigh Valley’s congressional seat
North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Candidates for local offices speak on issues 
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: South Side votes to put manager in charge of police matters
Erie Times-News: EDDC wants $2.5 million grant to go to city of Erie 

Opinion  
LNP Editorial Board: Pennsylvania could use more help from DC in the fight to protect election security
Inquirer Editorial Board: Instead of just saying no to supervised injection sites, there are positive actions lawmakers can take 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: End DMV data selling: Sharing this information violates privacy, safety
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Predicting the flu: Carnegie Mellon rewarded for innovative work in flu forecasting
John L. Micek: RNC sends ‘Census’ to U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon’s district to raise money for Trump | Monday Morning Coffee
AJ Ernst: The Ben Franklin and SLA asbestos crisis is a symptom of a bigger disease 
Dorothy Novick: As Fairhill reels from weekend shooting, a reminder of government’s role in preventing trauma 
Dick Polman: As Trump stonewalls the Constitution, Democrats say ‘Bring it on’ 
Malinda Maynor Lowery: Why more places are abandoning Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day | Analysis
Robert Heasley, Lisa Hickey and Brother Robb Carter:  In the wake of #MeToo, how can we reconcile women’s reality with men’s perspective? 
Trudy Rubin: Trump’s Syria debacle is cause for impeachment 
Alan R. Crippen II: Let’s revisit William Penn’s ‘holy experiment’ in politics