State Rep. Russ Diamond announced he’s seeking the Republican nomination for the special election in the state Senate’s 48th District. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan will co-host a fundraiser for Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Happy Friday politicos, here is the Playbook! 

SD48: Diamond Announces Bid for GOP Nomination: The Lebanon County state rep believes he is the most qualified and logical choice to fill the vacant seat.

Houlahan To Co-Host Buttigieg Fundraiser: The Chester County Democrat, who has not endorsed a candidate in the race, has also previously accepted invitations to serve as a co-host for fundraisers for former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

Legislative Election Update: 
SD-9: John Kane, a longtime Chester County labor leader, has announced he’s seeking the Democratic party nomination in hopes to best state Sen. Tom Kllion (R-Delaware). 

Harrisburg & DC   
NPR: How Rep. Susan Wild Is Balancing The Impeachment Inquiry, Her Constituents’ Concerns 
WHYY Newsworks: Wolf won’t veto controversial E-Verify bill and other takeaways from #AskGovWolf
WITF: Pa. laws keep victims silent, child sex abuse survivors say
WITF: Former Pa. congressional contender Christina Hartman to run for auditor general 
Patriot News: Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr. doesn’t want health care forgotten amid impeachment inquiry
Patriot News: Want to vote in November? The deadline is approaching quickly
Patriot News: Gov. Tom Wolf signs executive order to place Pennsylvania in multi-state carbon fee program
PLSReporter: Rep. Russ Diamond, Lebanon County DA join fray to earn Republican nod in SD 48 
PLSReporter: Wolf announces intention to join regional cap-and-trade program 
Inquirer: ‘Nobody listened’: How Pa. failed to detect, stop abuse at Glen Mills and other schools
Inquirer: Impeachment draws some cheers in this PA swing district, but voters at town hall have other issues, too
Inquirer: The agency that polices America’s elections is paralyzed. The blunt FEC chair on why that’s bad for 2020 
Post-Gazette: As support for impeachment inquiry grows, Pa. Republicans stick with the president by attacking Dems 
Post-Gazette: Gov. Wolf seeks to cap Pa.’s power plant emissions and join regional carbon market
StateImpactPA: Gov. Wolf plans to have Pennsylvania join a regional effort to cut carbon emissions
AP: Big greenhouse gas emitter moves to join climate initiative 
AP: After court ruling, state House to resume faith-based prayer 
National Journal: Get In Where You Fit In
City Paper: Report: Pennsylvania ranks 18th in the country for energy efficiency
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Wolf begins process to bring Pennsylvania into regional cap-and-trade program 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: ‘No child should ever be locked up’: SEIU Healthcare members want ICE detention center in Berks County shut down 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Philly state lawmaker says supervised injection sites aren’t the answer to fighting drug use. So he wants to ban them
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pennsylvania is once again debating how to address the victims of ‘predator priests.’ Here’s what we know 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Here’s how to get a free bus ride from Harrisburg to D.C. on Oct. 8 when the SCOTUS hears LGBTQ rights cases
The Hill: Pennsylvania joins coalition requiring utilities to curb carbon emissions
The Hill: Raffle offers deer hunt with ‘modern-day Teddy Roosevelt’ Donald Trump Jr.

Philadelphia 
Philly Clout: She lost her parking ticket, so the Philadelphia Parking Authority sent her some porn 
Inquirer: Council passes bill requiring Philly youth organizations accommodate trans kids
Inquirer: Philly DA Larry Krasner launches data website aimed at tracking his office’s impact 
Inquirer: Mayor Jim Kenney heading to Copenhagen to talk about climate change
Inquirer: The agency that polices America’s elections is paralyzed. The blunt FEC chair on why that’s bad for 2020 
Inquirer: Former president of Philly teachers’ union local charged with embezzlement 
Billy Penn: You can now track the Philly criminal justice system in real time
Billy Penn: Building trades to donate repairs for houses shot up in North Philly police standoff
WHYY Newsworks: Philly is close to settling on a ‘better way’ to sell city land
WHYY Newsworks: How ‘prison gerrymandering’ could impact your voting district
WHYY Newsworks: Philadelphia wants to ban highly polluting oils burned to heat buildings
PLSReporter: City Council expand protections for trans citizens
KYW Newsradio: Pa. agency that helps make homes affordable criticized for rule that forces some owners out

SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Fitzpatrick talks impeachment with Truman students. And whether he wants to be president. 
Inquirer: Some Republicans, including Pa.’s Brian Fitzpatrick, want Trump inquiry but balk at impeachment talk
Inquirer: ‘Nobody listened’: How Pa. failed to detect, stop abuse at Glen Mills and other schools
Delco Daily Times: Labor leader Kane eyes Dem nod to challenge Killion
Delco Daily Times: Leach sues Philly newspaper, reporter for defamation
Delco Daily Times: Man tells Senate panel of abuse at hands of priest 
Delco Daily Times: Delco hires firm to study county salaries 
Delco Daily Times: Senate hearing focuses on big issues facing emergency services in state
Daily Local News: Local farmers urged to apply for conservation tax credits 
Daily Local News: League to hold Juvenile Justice Forum in West Chester
Bucks Local News: Governor takes executive action to combat climate change, carbon emissions

Pittsburgh  
KDKA: Congressman Conor Lamb Delineates His Position On Pres. Trump Impeachment Inquiry With Precision
KDKA: Pennsylvania Senator Daylin Leach Proposes Constitutional Amendment To Ban Fracking
KDKA: Gov. Tom Wolf Takes On Climate Change, Moves To Have Pa. Join Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative 
KDKA: AG Shapiro Files Legal Objection To Purdue Pharma’s $38M Bonuses For Executives 
Post-Gazette: Voters guide: What you need to know about the upcoming 2019 local elections
Post-Gazette: As support for impeachment inquiry grows, Pa. Republicans stick with the president by attacking Dems 
Post-Gazette: Gov. Wolf seeks to cap Pa.’s power plant emissions and join regional carbon market 
Post-Gazette: Mayor’s office, DCDC plan Pittsburgh Fashion Summit 
Post-Gazette: Woman who won legal battle in old abuse case against Catholic church asks that ruling stand
WESA: Middleman Faults Zappala For Handling Of Gas Station Assault, But Others Say DA Made The Right Call
Pittsburgh Business Times: Fetterman hopeful to reach bipartisan support for legalizing recreational-use marijuana
City Paper: Pittsburgh urban agricultural organizations receive thousands in state Farm Bill grants

SWPA 
Altoona Mirror: Wolf pushes faster pot pardons
Observer-Reporter: Concealed carry seminar offered in Greene 
Observer-Reporter: Gov. Wolf to speed up pardon process for small marijuana convictions 
Tribune Review: Westmoreland commissioners race: Candidates discuss county finances, taxes
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Salute to Veterans dinner will honor those from WWII
Beaver County Times: Think tank backs marijuana legalization in Pennsylvania 
Beaver County Times: Mobile app offers restaurant inspection reports

NEPA
The Times Leader: Mullery bill would put moratorium on White Haven, Polk center closures
The Times Leader: Shapiro: Opioid crisis main threat to public safety, health
Times-Tribune: Republican group challenges Cartwright’s ethics
Times-Tribune: Debates set for Scranton mayor, city council and county commissioner candidates
Times-Tribune: Scranton mayor raises salaries for select officials
Times-Tribune: Scranton City Council calls for cover sheets to accompany proposed legislation
Times-Tribune: Dunmore resident launches write-in campaign after landfill vote
Times-Tribune: Cummings, O’Malley voice frustrations over state AG prison probe
Citizens Voice: AG Shapiro talks combatting opioids during symposium in W-B
Citizens Voice: Election board splits with Pedri on voting machines

South Central 
Patriot News: Lebanon County DA Dave Arnold announces candidacy for open Pa. Senate seat
Patriot News: Dates chosen for selecting nominees to fill open Pa. Senate seat
Patriot News: Harrisburg midyear budget report ‘looking very positive’: mayor
LNP | LancasterOnline: Weed would be sold at state’s liquor stores under Lancaster rep’s proposal
York Dispatch: More greenhouse gases: What to expect after TMI’s closure

Lehigh Valley     
Reading Eagle: Berks County’s new voting machines are ready, election officials say [Video]
Reading Eagle: Report finds 86% of Berks County residents approve of legalized recreational marijuana
Morning Call: PA lawmaker sexually abused as child says it’s up to Senate to act on statute of limitations
Morning Call: No tax hike proposed in Northampton County’s 2020 budget, which is $16.2 million less than 2019
Morning Call: Lead pipes pose a health risk. Utility will charge Lehigh Valley customers 10 cents a month so it can replace them.

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: State Rep. Scott Conklin eyes run for Pennsylvania’s chief fiscal officer
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Area lawmakers question Wolf’s Greenhouse Gas Initiative

Opinion  
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: A war on the poor: Proposal would limit help to SNAP recipients 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Too much sugar: Study shows Americans need to adjust diets 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Stoking anxiety over ‘Joker’ is unreasonable
Mayor Jim Kenney: Our city leaders commit to fighting poverty 
Judge Marjorie Rendell: Civics education is failing 
John Baer: Of Scott Perry, impeachment efforts and the 2020 campaign 
Ann Juliano: Pennsylvania House bill seeks to prop up gun-rights groups like NRA 
Marc Stier: Five myths about raising the minimum wage — debunked 
Sharon R. Lopez: This is what’s at stake in the three LGBTQ rights cases now before the Supreme Court | Analysis
John L. Micek: Por favor, den la bienvenida a Estrella-Capital | Thursday Morning Coffee
Jenice Armstrong: She was ‘forced to resign’ after her allegations brought down Philly’s police commissioner 
Will Bunch: There is no justice in AG Barr and Trump’s insane, paranoid world of political vendettas 
Sigal Ben-Porath: An impeachment inquiry signals national crisis. But it’s also an opportunity for teachers. 
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: China’s 70th Anniversary parade for Hong Kong