AG Shapiro disagrees with Gov. Wolf about RGGI. Here is the Playbook.

News

‘Shapiro breaks with Wolf over strategy on climate change’: The Associated Press reports that “Josh Shapiro, the Democratic candidate for governor, is breaking with Gov. Tom Wolf on the centerpiece of Wolf’s plan to fight climate change amid the strong and sustained pushback it has received from building trades unions that have long backed the party’s candidates for governor.”

‘Despite transparency vows, much of Pa.’s redistricting still takes place behind closed doors’: Spotlight PA reports that “the task of reshaping Pennsylvania’s political maps falls to a small group of legislative insiders, a system that critics worry facilitates backroom deals.”

‘Voter Registration Update: Latest data shows a strong summer for the GOP’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “it was a cruel summer for Pennsylvania Democrats as Republicans resumed their voter registration gains.”

‘President Biden honors Tree of Life victims, calls on those left behind to ‘turn pain into purpose’’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports “marking the three-year anniversary of the mass shooting at Tree of Life synagogue that killed 11 worshippers and is believed to be the deadliest attack against Jews in American history, President Joe Biden said the day and its aftermath “remind all of us to embrace the better angels of our nature,” to “turn pain into purpose,” and to stand up against antisemitism with “clarity and conviction.””

‘’I stand here with you today’: U.S. Labor Secretary Walsh visits Kellogg strikers in Lancaster’: LNP | LancasterOnline reports that “U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh traveled from Washington D.C. to the Kellogg plant here on Wednesday, telling employees on the picket line that the Biden administration fully supports worker rights — including the rights being exercised by the strikers.”

‘Pa. judge grants request to join lawsuit against Senate GOP subpoena, election investigation’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “the group of challengers who are suing to block subpoenas of voters’ personal information in a Republican-spearheaded investigation of Pennsylvania’s elections has gotten bigger.”

‘Senate moves to block key part of Wolf’s climate plan’: StateImpactPA reports that “the Senate passed a resolution disapproving the rule that would allow the state to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.”

‘Pennsylvania Senate candidate Sands pitches ‘I can’t be bought’ as she largely self-finances campaign’: Fox News reports that Carla Sands “is telling voters, “I can’t be bought,” as she rails against Republicans who allegedly are not acting Republican enough” in a new ad. 

‘Biden announces choice for U.S. attorney for Western Pa.’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “President Joe Biden has nominated Cindy Chung, an assistant U.S. attorney in Pittsburgh since 2014, as the next U.S. attorney for Western Pennsylvania.”

‘Senate aims bill at preventing all-electric building codes’: The Associated Press reports that “Pennsylvania’s state Senate on Wednesday approved legislation that would bar municipalities in the nation’s No. 2 natural gas state from adopting building codes that prohibit gas hookups or otherwise restricting utility service based on the energy source.”

‘House moves bill to add seniors to prescription drug program’: The Associated Press reports that “the Pennsylvania House voted unanimously Wednesday to expand income eligibility limits for the state’s prescription drug subsidy program.”

‘Pennsylvania voters who choose mail-in ballots have different experiences depending where they live’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “it’s safe to say that wherever you live in Pennsylvania, if you choose to vote by mail, the experience will have some subtle differences from that of a neighbor in the next county over.”

‘Pennsylvania’s student financial aid agency to close two offices in a cost-saving move’: PennLive reports that “Pennsylvania’s student financial aid agency announced Wednesday that it will be closing the offices it operates in State College and Pittsburgh around the end of next month.”

‘Amid nationwide injectable Naloxone shortage, Pa. entities rely on Narcan supply’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic and a years-long opioid epidemic, the injectable version of the life-saving overdose reversal drug Naloxone is in short supply nationally and in Pennsylvania, state health officials have told the Capital-Star.”

‘Pa. Lottery awards ‘humongous’ 10-year contracts that will modernize its business’: PennLive reports that “the Pennsylvania Lottery is about to undergo a modernization with new equipment, new signage and a new app.”

‘Harrisburg voters to pick their next mayor in Nov. 2 election’: WITF reports that “Harrisburg voters will head to the polls on Tuesday to pick a mayor. They have three candidates to choose from.”

‘Pennsylvania House passes bill to make clear unemployment benefits will be denied to people who discourage their own hiring’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “a bill designed to make clear that unemployment benefits will be denied to people who seem to discourage their own hiring passed the state House Wednesday with a bipartisan majority, although some Democrats criticized it as being out of touch with workers’ reality.”

‘Senate Committee passes safe exchange zone bill’: The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat reports that “the Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee took action Wednesday on a bill that would create a grant program to establish Safe Exchange Zones throughout Pennsylvania.”

‘WSJ publishes letter from Trump continuing to allege voter fraud in PA’: The Hill reports that “The Wall Street Journal published a letter to the editor from former President Trump on Tuesday in which he responded to an opinion piece by the paper’s editorial board on an upcoming court election in Pennsylvania. Trump’s letter, dated Oct. 25, was sent to Journal editor Matt Murray and accuses the publication of printing falsehoods about mail-in ballots used during Pennsylvania’s 2020 presidential election.”

‘State universities on path toward economic sustainability, says PASSHE chancellor’: KYW Newsradio reports that “the head of Pennsylvania’s state university system says they’re on pace in efforts to keep the universities sustainable through drops in enrollment.”

‘Pa. state university leaders asked how students want to discuss campus mergers. The answer: TikTok’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “on Wednesday, State System of Higher Education leadership was asked at a legislative hearing how it is engaging students about the changes, including controversial university mergers.”

‘A Q&A with Common Cause Pennsylvania’s Khalif Ali’: City & State PA talked with Common Cause Pennsylvania’s executive director Khalif Ali “about why he thinks reforms are needed in Harrisburg and what he is doing to restore confidence in government during such politically divided times.”

‘New legislation would increase Pennsylvania welfare benefits’: PhillyVoice reports that “State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, a Democrat from North Philadelphia and a candidate in the 2022 U.S. Senate race, introduced a bill that would increase TANF benefits to 50% of the federal poverty level, up from 22%.”

‘Larry Krasner says he is certain to win a second term Tuesday as Philadelphia’s district attorney’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Krasner says the results from Tuesday’s election are already “crystal clear.” Challenger Chuck Peruto says he can win if “the sun, the moon, and the stars line up.””

‘With the case against Johnny Doc nearing its end, Bobby Henon pushed back on claims that he squashed a PPA audit for free windows’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “as prosecutors neared the conclusion of their federal bribery case against labor leader John Dougherty and City Councilmember Bobby Henon on Wednesday, defense lawyers pushed back against the allegation that Henon had accepted a bribe of free home windows in exchange for his vote to kill a 2016 audit of the Philadelphia Parking Authority.”

‘Committee of 70 has oversight plan for Philadelphia’s redistricting efforts’: The Philadelphia Tribune reports that “The Committee of 70 and the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC), Ceiba, and Black Voters Matter held a briefing Tuesday morning to discuss the Philadelphia City Council’s 2021 redistricting efforts and permanent reforms that would create district boundaries that limit political manipulation and prioritize communities.”

‘3 lawmakers call for DEP to halt Mariner East 2 permits’: WFMZ reports that “State Rep. Dianne Herrin and Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, both Democrats who represent Chester County, and state Sen. Katie Muth, a Democrat who represents parts of Berks, Chester, and Montgomery counties, are calling on the Wolf administration and the state Department of Environmental Protection to revoke project permits until the DEP permitting requirement to restore damaged private water supplies are met.”

‘Somerset DA Thomas, facing sexual assault allegation, has law license suspended’: The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat reports that “Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas’ law license has been suspended by the state Supreme Court.”

‘Luzerne County one of the ‘most critical’ places to watch for in midterm elections’: WBRE reports that “NBC News has deemed this area as one of the most critical places to watch and believes that what happens here will shed light on the direction of the entire nation.”

‘Council Rock has granted mask exemptions to 20% of its students. Cheltenham hasn’t had any. How the mask fight continues to play out in Pa.’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “while the mask debate appears to have largely faded in many Philadelphia-area communities, challenges continue in court and schools, with hostility often apparent in how exemptions are regarded.”

‘The Incline’s 2021 Procrastinator’s Guide to the Election’: The Incline provides the “Procrastinator’s Guide to the Election.”

‘With eviction protections set to expire, community groups urge Allegheny County for an extension’: WESA reports that “more than 60 community groups and nearly a dozen elected officials urged the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Wednesday to extend protections.”

‘City Council proposes new rental inspection fees after court tosses original number’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “on the heels of an Allegheny County judge deeming its proposed rental registration fee “excessive” and an “impermissible tax,” Pittsburgh City Council is gearing up to charge landlords a fee that members deemed fair and necessary to ensure that properties are safe for renters.”

‘Reading hopeful land bank can help fight blight in city’: WFMZ reports that “Reading continues to look for ways to combat problems with blighted properties. Officials said something called a “land bank” could be the solution.”

‘Former clerk in Lycoming County DA office alleges discrimination, retaliation’: The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports that “a Lycoming County woman of Asian descent said while working at District Attorney Ryan Gardner’s office that she was subjected to racial slurs by a co-worker, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in early 2020, a federal lawsuit in U.S. Middle District Court alleges.”

‘Philly police commissioner says morale is low’: WHYY reports that “The Philadelphia Police Department is suffering from low morale, according to Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, due to an extraordinary number of stressors impacting officers in a compressed amount of time.”

‘Lehigh Valley ‘well positioned’ for unprecedented time in labor market, study reveals’: Lehigh Valley Live reports that “nowhere nationally has more effort been put into integrating workforce and economic development needs at the local level than in the Lehigh Valley, according to an executive leading a regional talent market study.”

‘Norristown school board president resigns after a report that he sent suggestive messages to a teenage girl’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “the president of the Norristown Area School Board resigned Tuesday after a local news outlet reported allegations he had sent sexually suggestive messages to a teenage girl.”

‘Penn State officials, student groups denounce far-right speaker — but can’t stop campus appearance’: The Centre Daily Times reports that “a controversial right-wing personality tied to hate speech against various groups is set to speak on Penn State’s campus next week, drawing widespread condemnation from both the student body and university leaders.”

‘More Penn State groups lend voices to growing opposition against speech by Milo Yiannopoulos’: The Centre Daily Times reports that “after an early deluge of opposition to an upcoming Penn State campus speech by Milo Yiannopoulos, a controversial right-wing personality accused of hate speech against various groups, more student groups have added their voices to the growing chorus denouncing his appearance – including one student organization putting together a protest.”

‘Study: Rural Home Sales In Pennsylvania Increased During Pandemic’: KDKA reports that “a new study shows rural home sales in Pennsylvania increased during the pandemic.”

‘New COVID-19 infections remain below recent peak in Pa.’: PennLive reports that “Pennsylvania reported 4,178 new COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, with the number again falling below the daily average of more than 5,000 new cases in early October.”

Opinion  
Paul Muschick: Justice for sale? A $5M Supreme Court race illustrates what’s wrong with how Pennsylvania picks judges
Kadida Kenner: The Nov. 2 Pa. Supreme Court election feels more like an auction. That’s bad for justice 
John L. Micek: Three years since Tree of Life. All that’s changed are the names of the dead | Wednesday Coffee
Otto V. Banks: Three reasons Mayor Papenfuse should be re-elected: police reform, cash to seniors and safeguarding the city’s future 
Marc Woolley: The Harrisburg treasurer and controller are wrong: The city has paid down its debt, saving taxpayers millions 
Bill White: Pickup trucks with Trump and American flags gall one reader
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Despite what unfolded during the Park City Center shooting, the ‘good guy with a gun’ scenario is a dangerous myth 
Joyce M. Davis: Cedar Cliff must teach its students racism can hurt racists, too | Social Views
Solomon Jones: Black Philadelphians must fight segregation with economic empowerment 
Christine Flowers: A ‘higher good’ can be a slippery slope
Ana V. Diez Roux: For the city’s public health infrastructure, key lessons from the pandemic | Rebuilding Philly
Nancy Leichter: From one victim’s family, a call to abolish life sentences for second-degree murder 
Hili Chakhansuri: ‘I hope to see the stars soon’: A day in the life of an Afghan woman who fled to America
Avery Hamill: I’m a Philly student. I shouldn’t have to worry about being shot. But I do. Every day