A new F&M poll shows Biden’s PA approval behind Obama but a hair above Trump, while Fetterman and Parnell lead the US Senate primaries. Here is the Playbook. 

News

‘Here’s what Pa. voters in the F&M poll said about Biden, masks in schools and more’: LNP | LancasterOnline reports on “the results of a poll conducted by Franklin & Marshall College’s Center for Opinion Research Poll last week.”

‘High court candidate alters ad after complaint from opponent’: The Associated Press reports that “the Republican candidate for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has revised an ad attacking his opponent after the state bar association notified him it ran afoul of its judicial campaign advertising standards.”

‘County botches Spanish-language ballot instructions’: The Associated Press reports that “some Spanish-speaking voters in a Pennsylvania city where Hispanics account for nearly 70% of the population are at risk of being disenfranchised in next week’s general election because of an error in Spanish-language instructions that accompanied 17,000 mail-in ballots, activists and elected officials said Thursday.”

‘After Berks County sent out Spanish instructions for mail-in ballots with wrong date, activists want Nov. 18 deadline honored’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “voters, civil rights groups and elected officials gathered on a slightly chilly Thursday morning in the shadow of the Berks County Courthouse to call on the county government to honor the incorrect deadline it included on mail-in ballot materials sent to county voters.”

‘Nearing the end of his term, Wolf issues executive order to bolster environmental efforts’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “looking to bolster his administration’s efforts to address environmental justice, Gov. Tom Wolf has issued an executive order to create a series of roles geared toward combating climate change and supporting communities harmed by pollution.”

‘PSERS chief counsel steps down as board approves contested lawyer fees’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “after 33 years as a lawyer for the state of Pennsylvania, Jackie Wiest Lutz spent just 10 months as Chief Counsel for the troubled PSERS pension plan before announcing her retirement Wednesday, as directors approved paying nearly $1.2 million to outside law firms handling investigations of the $73 billion fund.”

‘Two Pa. swing counties’ elections could offer clues for the year ahead’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “local races in Northampton and Erie could signal the strength of both parties and the type of candidate that resonates in Pennsylvania.”

‘As Sean Parnell tries to squelch negative TV ads, rivals make that an issue, too’: Philly Clout reports that “Parnell’s lawyers say the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate is trying to shield his children from attack ads. A super PAC seized on that, suggesting Parnell is trying to hide problems.”

City & State PA’s Biggest Winners & Losers This Week: City & State PA highlights the three winners and losers in Pennsylvania politics this week.

‘Most Pa. voters support masks in schools: Poll’: PennLive reports that “nearly two in three Pennsylvania voters surveyed said they support the state’s order requiring students and staff to wear masks in schools, according to a new Franklin & Marshall College poll.”

‘President Biden’s job approval is dropping in Pa.: F&M Poll’: PennLive reports that “President Joe Biden’s approval rating in Pennsylvania has dropped substantially since the summer, according to a new poll from Franklin & Marshall College.”

‘Legislation aims to prevent drug overdose deaths and diseases with ‘syringe services programs’’: WITF reports that “in the fight against drug overdoses and bloodborne diseases, some Republican and Democratic state lawmakers want to allow groups to hand out medical syringes to drug users in Pennsylvania.”

‘After winning $600M contract, Pa. Lottery’s longtime partner says it’s selling its lottery business to another firm’: PennLive reports that “the company that recently entered into contracts to service the Pennsylvania Lottery for an estimated $600 million has sold its lottery business to a Canadian-based private equity firm.”

‘Prosecutors wrapped up their case against Johnny Doc and Bobby Henon with a focus on Eagles tickets’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “federal prosecutors concluded their presentation of evidence in the bribery trial of John Dougherty and Bobby Henon on Thursday with a focus on more than $20,000 in sports tickets they allege the labor leader gave the city councilmember as a bribe.”

‘Pittsburgh voters will elect the first Black mayor in city history, or first Republican in decades’: WESA reports that “Tuesday, Pittsburgh voters will go to the polls. One of the most anticipated races is whether voters will elect the city’s first Black mayor, or the first Republican in nine decades.”

‘Your guide to Pittsburgh’s and Pennsylvania’s 2021 general election’: WESA provides a voters guide for “Pittsburgh’s and Pennsylvania’s 2021 general election.”

‘Chester County early voting favors Democrats, figures show’: The Daily Local News reports that “early voting ahead of Tuesday’s election shows that Democrats are again using the new mail-in voting option more heavily than Republican voters in Chester County, a trend that continues from 2020 when the option was first employed in the state.”

‘Keller, fellow lawmaker blast Biden spending plan’: The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports that “U.S. Rep. Fred Keller, R-Kreamer, this week criticized President Joe Biden and Democrats for including far too much unneeded spending in the proposed reconciliation bill.”

‘3 of 6 open seats on Allegheny County Council contested in Nov. 2 election’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “in the Nov. 2 election, six of the 15 seats for the Allegheny County Council are on the ballot, three of which are contested races.”

‘Allegheny County voters will select 10 Common Pleas judges on Tuesday’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “ten judges will join the Allegheny County Common Pleas Court for the next decade when voters select from a pool of 18 candidates on Election Day.”

‘Final Pittsburgh mayoral debate to air Sunday morning on WPXI’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “Pittsburghers will have the opportunity to hear from their mayoral candidates one final time on the same stage Sunday.”

‘Bethlehem mayoral candidates J. William Reynolds, John Kachmar clash over Martin Tower, climate plan, finance plan’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “the candidates running for Bethlehem mayor agreed on ways to address homelessness, spending federal pandemic-relief money and several other city-related issues during a debate Thursday evening. But Democrat J. William Reynolds and Republican John Kachmar differed on several issues, and even grew testy at times, during the hourlong forum, which was broadcasted live on WLVT-TV, PBS39 and on radio station WLVR-FM.”

‘Climate campaign pressures Vanguard to act faster on fossil fuels’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “the demonstrators, about two dozen of them, first showed up at Vanguard’s Malvern campus in June. Then a group appeared again in September, that time riding bicycles. On Friday, just ahead of the United Nations’ global climate change summit, they’ll be in Malvern once more, to tell the investing giant that it has a climate problem.”

‘City Council wants Philly to pay for urgent property repairs and bill the owners’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “City Council on Thursday passed a bill that defines certain property maintenance code violations as public nuisances and allows the Department of Licenses and Inspections to arrange for repairs to try to minimize negative impacts on residents and near neighbors.”

‘What you need to know about a possible SEPTA strike’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “SEPTA is negotiating with the union that represents bus, trolley, and subway drivers in Philadelphia. Their contract expires at 12:01 a.m. Nov. 1.”

‘Philadelphia releases vaccination rates for city workers’: WHYY reports that “the City of Philadelphia released the vaccination rates of its employees, broken down by department on Thursday. The percentages come in ranges, according to the health department, to “protect staff privacy in smaller departments.””

‘Pa. bill would extend outdoor dining; Philly Council considers streeteries measure’: KYW Newsradio reports that “a bill that has passed the Pennsylvania House and Senate would continue to help the restaurant industry recover from the setbacks of the coronavirus pandemic.”

‘Are witnesses protected enough in Philly? Council member aims to keep them safer’: KYW Newsradio reports that “a Philadelphia City Council member is now collaborating with other council members to help protect witnesses after cooperating with authorities.”

‘City’s Office Of Community Health and Safety hopes to be fully operational by end of year’: WESA reports that “it’s been over a year since protests last summer called for reforms like reducing the use of police to handle mental health crises. And the Pittsburgh department created to provide alternative approaches is a few months away from being fully operational.”

‘Parents in Pa. school district fight mask mandate, say they are worried vaccine requirement will follow’: PennLive reports that “the legal battle over a COVID-19 mask mandate in a Lycoming County school district continues with opponents concerned a vaccination requirement will be next.”

‘Lehigh County 2022 budget holds line on taxes’: WFMZ reports that “the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday night adopted its 2022 Lehigh County budget, which contains no tax increase on property owners.”

‘Plans for former prison near Philipsburg to become an ICE facility face legal challenge’: The Centre Daily Times reports that “a civil rights organization and an immigrants’ rights group launched a legal challenge Thursday to void the contracts that would allow the largest immigration detention center in the Northeast to open in Clearfield County.”

‘Pa. hospitals see further decline in COVID-19 patients’: PennLive reports that “Pennsylvania hospitals were caring for 2,742 COVID-19 patients on Thursday, another decline from a recent peak during the summer surge.”

Opinion  
Sean Parnell: We Need to Beat Inflation Now by Stopping Biden’s Runaway Spending Plans 
John Baer: Election Day 2021 is looming. What’s a voter to do? Vote, for one thing 
Parke Wentling: Pennsylvania’s history should reflect facts, not ideology
John L. Micek: With almost no oversight, anti-abortion groups get millions in Pa. tax dollars | Thursday Coffee
Paul Muschick: Don’t be tricked into believing Pennsylvania lawmakers finally are giving up their treats
Bridget Foy and Angelo Karagiannis: Should we bring back cocktails-to-go? | Pro/Con
Larry Platt: “The Jewish JFK”  
Richie Feder: 12 Candidates For 12 Judicial Vacancies – An Electoral Joke 
Tony Norman: Did the Tree of Life shooting change America?
Ray Roberts, Dana Siler and Harry Hochheiser: Carbon tax can pay off for working families
Wall Street Editorial Board: The Election for Pennsylvania’s High Court
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Transparency, communication are necessary best practices, especially when billions of dollars are involved
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Elected officials should be fair, consistent and principled on matters of public health and democracy
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: To-go cocktails should be here to stay 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Black leaders seek ‘city of peace’ 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Welcoming humble jobs as well as fashionable ones
Harriet Okatch: Here are three ways that Pa. can help prevent lead poisoning in children 
Teresa Martin and Glenn Kranzley: How our faith community is striving to help veterans
Jim Willshier: Ending abuse requires progress, not political theater 
Brian and Barbara LaBine: Enough with the intentionally divisive rhetoric in Camp Hill
Jonathan Kooker: A petition to Majority Leader Corman, Sen. Dush and the Pa. State Senate Republican Caucus 
Will Bunch: A Gladwyne mom, a ‘whiteness’ book, and the GOP’s scheme to rock the 2021 vote