Congressman GT Thompson was released from the hospital after testing positive for COVID-19. Here is the Playbook. 

News

‘U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson released from Walter Reed hospital after testing positive for COVID-19’: The Centre Daily Times reports that “U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Howard Township, is recovering at home after testing positive for COVID-19 on Friday and receiving treatment at a military hospital.”

‘Pa. Rep. Kelly faces ethics scrutiny over stock purchase’: The Associated Press reports that “a congressional ethics watchdog has concluded there is “substantial reason to believe” that the wife of Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Kelly used nonpublic information gained through her husband’s position in Congress to earn thousands of dollars through a well-timed stock purchase, a likely violation of federal law and House rules.”

‘Sources: Corman pitches gubernatorial bid to Pa.’s congressional Republicans’: LNP | LancasterOnline reports that “the Pennsylvania Senate’s top elected Republican traveled to Washington, DC, last week to pitch the state’s GOP congressmen on why he should be the party’s candidate for governor in 2022, two congressional staffers said.”

‘Trump pick’s messy personal life worries Senate Republicans desperate to hold on to Pennsylvania seat’: CNN reports that “Sean Parnell may have the backing of former President Donald Trump, but the Pennsylvania Republican also has significant personal baggage that is raising concerns about the GOP’s ability to hold one of the most competitive Senate seats in the country next year.”

‘Spending in Pennsylvania’s high court race blows past $5M’: The Associated Press reports that “spending in the race for an open seat on Pennsylvania’s state Supreme Court has blown past $5 million, according to new campaign finance reports, with less than two weeks left until Election Day.”

‘Pa. Bar Association criticizes TV ad by GOP candidate for state Supreme Court’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “the Pennsylvania Supreme Court race between Republican Kevin Brobson and Democrat Maria McLaughlin has taken a negative turn in the late stages of the campaign.”

‘Pa. uses taxpayer money to fund antiabortion organization’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Pennsylvania is one of 14 states that directly fund the antiabortion movement, some of it with money diverted from cash assistance for people in poverty.”

‘GOP uses voters to push election reforms in unlikely states’: The Associated Press reports that “Republicans in at least four states where Democrats control the governor’s office, the legislature or both — California, Massachusetts, Michigan and Pennsylvania — are pursuing statewide ballot initiatives or veto-proof proposals to enact voter ID restrictions and other changes to election law.”

‘Dush and Senate Republicans defend election probe in court filing’: City & State PA reports that “Senate Republicans filed a legal brief in Commonwealth Court on Friday in defense of their efforts to subpoena personal voter information as part of their probe into the state’s 2020 and 2021 election results.”

‘Request to join Pa. election lawsuit gets a day in court, Senate GOP lawmakers respond to challenge’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “the trio of good government groups looking to join the legal challenge to block the subpoena issued as part of the Senate-backed election investigation had their day in court on Friday, arguing that the potential release of identifying information could jeopardize voter privacy and limit advocacy efforts.”

‘Pa. is on the brink of regulating recovery homes for the first time. Here’s what you need to know.’: Spotlight PA reports that “the Wolf administration could implement new oversight of recovery homes by mid-2022, though challenges could cause delays.”

‘Gov. Wolf attends groundbreaking for Coatesville train station’: The Daily Local News reports that “Gov. Tom Wolf, along with several office holders and officials, shoveled and tossed dirt, Friday, to mark the groundbreaking for the new Coatesville train station.”

‘Pennsylvania’s jobless rate, labor force and payrolls drop’: The Associated Press reports that “Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate continued to hit new post-pandemic lows, according to state figures released Friday, but the labor force and payrolls shrank in September as employers struggle to find enough employees.”

‘PHEAA employees now required to get COVID-19 vaccines’: PennLive reports that “employees at Pennsylvania’s student financial aid agency received a notice on Friday that they will be required to get the COVID-19 vaccines.”

‘Pittsburgh Mayoral Candidates Ed Gainey, Tony Moreno Take Debate Stage On KDKA’: KDKA reports that “Democrat Ed Gainey and Republican Tony Moreno answered questions for 60 minutes on topics that impact everyone across the city.”

‘State Senator Pat Stefano Introduces Legislation To Expand Pennsylvania’s Castle Doctrine Law’: KDKA reports that “State Senator Pat Stefano (R-32) is pushing to expand Pennsylvania’s Castle Doctrine law.”

‘Toomey blasts Dems’ ‘reckless housing provisions’’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “in his opening statement at this week’s U.S. Senate Banking Committee hearing, Ranking Member Sen. Pat Toomey highlighted many of what he called “the flawed housing provisions” in the Democrats’ $3.5 trillion spending bill.” 

‘Sen. Amy Klobuchar visits Chester County for return of women’s leadership gala’: The Daily Local News reports that “the Chester County Democratic Women’s Leadership Initiative recently welcomed U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar to Chester County for its Fall Gala.”

‘Pennsylvania lawmakers rip lack of data on drug abuse treatment as newspaper tallies 3,415 violations at facilities’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “a Morning Call review of the latest inspection reports for 798 Pennsylvania drug abuse treatment centers — carried out because no state data was available — revealed 3,415 violations of state regulations.” 

‘New Pa. legislation could make running from police on foot a crime’: KYW Newsradio reports that “the Pennsylvania senate is considering legislation that would make it a crime to run from a police officer.”

‘John Dougherty and Bobby Henon are on trial. But City Hall is watching nervously.’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “nearly a month into the government’s bribery case against labor leader John J. Dougherty and City Councilmember Bobby Henon, the stench of yet another in Philadelphia’s long history of high-profile corruption trials has begun to waft down Market Street from the federal courthouse to City Hall.”

‘Council to new mayor: We’ll work with you, but we want a say’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “on the cusp of a new era for city government and a new leader of its executive branch, Pittsburgh City Council members want to reaffirm their power — and have more of a hands-on role in key areas of compromise — while signaling their desire to work closely with the next mayor, some members said last week.”

‘County election board doesn’t foresee any issues handling ballot count for Nov. 2 election’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “Allegheny County officials say they are expecting to receive about 120,000 mail-in ballots for the Nov. 2 election, a total that shouldn’t be a problem to process by the time polls close.”

‘Union members vote unanimously for SEPTA strike if deal isn’t reached’: KYW Newsradio reports that “union members have voted to authorize a strike if they do not reach a new deal with SEPTA by the end of the month.”

‘What Philly’s ballot question about marijuana decriminalization really means’: PhillyVoice reports that “Philadelphia voters will have four ballot questions to answer during the general election on Nov. 2. One asks whether the city should urge Harrisburg to decriminalize and legalize marijuana.”

‘Lehigh Valley voters guide: November 2021 general election’: The Allentown Morning Call provides the “Lehigh Valley voters guide, prepared in conjunction with the League of Women Voters.”

‘One way or another, Allentown will have its first Latino mayor in January’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “Republican Tim Ramos is the son of Puerto Rican parents. Democrat Matt Tuerk is the grandson of a Cuban immigrant. Both candidates identify as Latino and in November, one will be elected Allentown’s first Hispanic mayor.”

‘In latest Allentown mayoral debate, Tim Ramos accuses Matt Tuerk as characterizing him as an ‘angry dark skin man’ in campaign mailer’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “the latest Allentown mayoral debate started with one of the candidates accusing the other of sending a racist campaign mailer.”

‘Election 2021 preview: Luzerne County judicial candidates’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “the math may be simple — three candidates are vying for two seats on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas — but arriving at the answer might take considerable thought for voters.”

‘Legislation honoring fallen Scranton officer passes Senate Judiciary Committee’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “on Tuesday, legislation introduced in honor of the fallen Scranton police officer received bipartisan support from the Senate Judiciary Committee chaired by Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township.”

‘Luzerne County addressing ballot errors in several communities’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Luzerne County Acting Manager Romilda Crocamo released notices she sent to the state Friday about plans to address a ballot error in Plymouth Township discovered Thursday and another one that has surfaced in Bear Creek.”

‘Peck seeks to fight off Ziccarelli challenge in Westmoreland district attorney race’: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “for the first time in a quarter century, Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck has a race on his hands.”

‘Westmoreland district attorney race sees challenger Ziccarelli outspend Peck 9-to-1’: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “Nicole Ziccarelli, the Republican candidate with designs on unseating six-term Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck, holds a substantial edge in campaign fundraising and spending heading into the Nov. 2 election.”

‘Gov. Tom Wolf’s redistricting council holding ‘listening session’ in Erie Wednesday’: The Erie Times-News reports that “Gov. Tom Wolf’s Redistricting Advisory Council wants input from Erie-area residents on how the state’s 17 congressional districts should be drawn.”

‘Titus, Davis make final pitch to voters in debate. Here are the key takeaways’: The Erie Times-News reports that “Democrat Tyler Titus and Republican Brenton Davis laid out two competing visions of Erie County on Monday as they faced off in their final debate before the Nov. 2 municipal election.”

‘GOP nominee Brenton Davis’ military record, COVID-19 vaccination claims under scrutiny’: The Erie Times-News reports that “since launching his campaign for Erie County executive, Brenton Davis has touted his military service as the bedrock of his political identity, as what sets him apart to lead the county out of its worst public health crisis in generations. But recent comments from the Republican nominee have raised questions about his accuracy in terms of his combat experience and his COVID-19 vaccination status.”

‘Erie County Council race: 2 Dems, 2 Republicans compete for two open seats’: The Erie Times-News reports that “three seats on the seven-member body will be on the ballot on Nov. 2.”

‘Pa. mayor won’t say if transit agency’s misuse of funds was criminal, but adds, ‘I didn’t know it was this bad’’: PennLive reports that “the mayor of Williamsport is hesitant to say if the misuse of funds by the city’s Bureau of Transportation as identified by auditors rises to the level of criminality.”

‘Anthony Coghill faces Green Party challenger in district 4 council race’: WESA reports that “in Pittsburgh’s only contested city council race this fall, voters have a choice between an incumbent who says things are improving in the community, and a Green Party challenger who says change needs to come more quickly.”

‘Pennsylvania officials demanded $528,821.12 from Allegheny County during WIC dispute’: WESA reports that “at the height of a recent dispute regarding which entity should run a nutrition program for low-income women and children, Pennsylvania officials attempted to charge the Allegheny County Health Department more than a half-million dollars after alleging the county was in breach of a grant agreement, according to documents obtained by WESA through a Right to Know request.”

‘Judge rules Council can’t hold hearings on police union contract’: KYW Newsradio reports that “a Philadelphia judge has ruled that City Council can’t hold public hearings on the police union contract because the bargaining process is covered by state law. City officials are considering an appeal.”

‘Philadelphia offering cash payments for returning citizens to help keep them out of jail’: KYW Newsradio reports that “Philadelphia reduced its jail population for safety reasons during the pandemic, and it is making payments to those who were released in the hopes of helping them stay out of jail.”

‘State official promises support for early childhood educators during visit to Exton’: The Daily Local News reports that “Department of Human Services (DHS) Acting Secretary Meg Snead joined early childhood educators and community members at the Warwick Child Care Center’s Lionville Center in Exton to thank child care workers for their service to Pennsylvania’s children and working families during the COVID-19 crisis and to discuss the Wolf Administration’s commitment to helping the child care industry recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic.”

‘Three district court judicial seats up for grabs in Montgomery County elections’: Montgomery Media reports that “three Montgomery County district court judicial seats are up for grabs during the Nov. 2 general election and voters in the Lansdale, Plymouth and Norristown areas will encounter those contests on their ballots when they step into their voting booths.”

‘The Restaurant Revitalization Fund was underfunded and oversubscribed. Why didn’t it spread the wealth better?’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “for 101,000 lucky businesses across the country, the government grant program covered the entirety of 2020’s loss in revenue. But 177,000 eligible applicants received nothing.”

‘Erie County Council discusses spending of $2.9 million gaming settlement money’: WJET reports that “Erie County could possibly see new community projects. According to chairman Carl Anderson, the county received $2.9 million from the gaming settlement money.”

‘Moderna, Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 boosters now available in Pa., Health Dept. says’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 booster vaccinations are now available to Pennsylvanians, state health officials said  Friday.”

‘Pa. Health Dept.: Nearly 4,500 new COVID-19 cases; 2,900 hospitalized’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “the Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed 4,496 new cases of COVID-19 in the commonwealth on Friday, down from Thursday’s tally of 4,998 new cases, bringing the the statewide total to  1.53 million cases since the start of the pandemic.”

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