Lt. Gov. John Fetterman’s campaign for U.S. Senate raised nearly $2.7 million in Q3, while state Sen. Mike Regan announced his support for legalizing marijuana in Pennsylvania. Here is the Playbook.  

News

‘Fetterman raises nearly $2.7 million in third quarter’: The Hill reports that “Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D) raised nearly $2.7 million in the third quarter of 2021 for his Senate bid next year, bolstering his financial standing in what is expected to be a hard-fought Democratic primary.”

‘It’s time to legalize recreational marijuana in Pa., GOP senator says: ‘It’s inevitable’’: PennLive reports that “Republican Sen. Mike Regan, a former U.S. marshal who spent years fighting the drug wars, is now calling for marijuana to be legalized in Pennsylvania.”

‘A top Pa. Republican made a big claim to defend the party’s election review. There’s no evidence for it.’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “days after Pennsylvania Republicans subpoenaed Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration for millions of voters’ personal information, including the last four digits of their Social Security numbers, the head of the Senate GOP acknowledged the request was “intrusive.””

‘House OKs bill to make more pandemic data publicly available’: The Associated Press reports that “a proposal to expand public access to reports about COVID-19 and other diseases passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Monday after Republicans argued it would help people decide how to react to pandemics and other outbreaks.”

‘Pennsylvania AG reschedules pipeline probe announcement’: The Associated Press reports that “Pennsylvania’s attorney general abruptly postponed a news conference Monday at which he was apparently poised to announce criminal charges against the developer of a major pipeline network that transports natural gas liquids across southern Pennsylvania.”

‘Democrats’ Last, Best Hope To Keep Control Of Congress May Be…Conor Lamb’: Vanity Fair reports that “with numbers looking tight for 2022 midterms, Democrats are betting on moderate candidates in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Will their calculation prove out? Or is the party ignoring the growing promise of progressivism?”

‘Jury selected in federal trial of labor leader Dougherty, Councilmember Henon’: KYW Newsradio reports that “jury selection is complete in the federal trial of Philadelphia union leader Johnny “Doc” Dougherty and City Councilmember Bobby Henon.”

‘COVID-19 vaccination of Pa. nursing home workers remains woefully low. Will a mandate cause too many to quit?’: PennLive reports that “Pennsylvania’s nursing home workforce” has a “vaccination rate of 67.4%” which “remains less than the overall rate of Pennsylvania adults, which is near 70%.”

‘Pa. House panels examine higher education funding with an eye toward change’: PennLive reports that “Pennsylvania’s state funding for higher education is in for a shake-up. At a Monday morning hearing that examined how the state doles out funding to universities, Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Bedford County, made it clear a new day is dawning.”

‘Republicans Dave White, Jake Corman (maybe) enter gubernatorial race’: City & State PA reports that “the already crowded field got even bigger this week with the addition of Dave White.”

‘There will be millions more in funds to help Pennsylvanians who need heating assistance this winter’: WESA reports that “millions more in funding will be available this fall and winter for Pennsylvanians in need of utility assistance.”

‘Sen. Casey talks with community leaders, parents in Allentown about expanded child tax credit’: WFMZ reports that “Sen. Bob Casey was in Allentown on Monday to lay out his “Five Freedoms for America’s Children” plan at the YMCA.”

‘Pittsburgh mayoral candidates Gainey, Moreno outline their visions for city’s future’: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “mayoral candidates clashed Monday night over their visions for Downtown Pittsburgh, whether Wilkinsburg should merge into the city and how to improve relationships between police and residents across all 90 of the city’s neighborhoods.”

‘Middle School Students In Westmoreland County Working To Get State Law Passed To Mandate Recess During School Day’: KDKA reports that “they are working hard to get a state law passed that would mandate recess or a minimum 30 minutes break during the school day for kids in kindergarten through 12th grade.”

‘PennDOT struggling to attract winter workers before snow season hits’: KYW Newsradio reports that “as PennDOT prepares for snow and ice on the roads this winter, it’s facing a familiar refrain: not enough workers.”

‘Historic gun violence sparks calls for more policing along Philly’s commercial corridors’: WHYY reports that “following several high-profile shootings outside local businesses, shop owners and business associations in Philadelphia are pleading with the city to invest more in public safety along its commercial corridors, including better lighting, surveillance, and proactive community policing.”

‘REPORT CARD: Constitutional Amendments and Construction Sites — How Your DelVal Delegation Voted’: The Delaware Valley Journal reports that “the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session for a few votes last week on a wide range of issues” and details how the “Delaware Valley delegation voted.”

‘Harrisburg mayor makes first appointments to police advisory committee’: PennLive reports that “Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse on Monday named the first two members to a police advisory committee approved by city council nearly one year ago.”

‘Proposed election-year Northampton County budget would cut taxes in 2022’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “Northampton County taxpayers would see a cut on their taxes in 2022, under county Executive Lamont McClure’s proposed 2022 budget.”

‘West Whiteland supervisor race heats up’: The Daily Local News reports that “Brian Dunn and Eva Cieslak are running for West Whiteland Township Supervisor.”

‘Local bus driver advocacy group aims to solve driver shortage’: The Daily Local News reports that “while state and local officials work on ways to address a nationwide shortage of school bus drivers, one local group may have some solutions.”

‘Map: Philly opens mail ballot drop boxes for the November election’: Billy Penn reports on “how to apply, return, replace, and track your paper vote.”

‘Voters’ Guide: Pennsylvania General Election 2021’: The Philadelphia Citizen provides a voters’ guide for Philadelphians that “lays out everything that will be on your ballot.”

‘Outraged Pittsburgh housing advocates call for reforms, CEO’s resignation’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “residents in a Pittsburgh public housing complex that has been plagued for years by poor living conditions are calling for leadership changes after the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette revealed repeated failing grades at federally funded low-income developments.”

‘City of Pittsburgh now accepting applications from startups to form local government partnerships’: The Pittsburgh Business Times reports that “the City of Pittsburgh announced it is ready to welcome the next wave of startups into its PGH Lab pilot program following the opening of its latest application round.”

‘Cambria County commissioner, CamTran official promoting public transportation’: The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat reports that “Cambria County President Commissioner Thomas Chernisky spent Monday on several of CamTran’s urban routes in an effort to promote public transportation.”

‘Altoona may adjust business privilege tax ordinance’: The Altoona Mirror reports that “the city plans to amend an ordinance that authorizes it to collect business privilege tax, so that it’s clear the tax only requires payment related to revenues connected with a company’s Altoona operations.”

‘Influencers of Lancaster’s local elections are tucked away in these two drawers [Lancaster Watchdog]’: LNP | LancasterOnline reports that “behind the counter in the Lancaster County Board of Elections office, tucked away in two of dozens of identical filing cabinets, thousands of pages are stored showing who influences elections in Lancaster County.”

‘A New Immigrant Detention Center Will Open In Former Clearfield County Prison’: WPSU reports that “a new federal immigration detention center will open in Clearfield County, after the York County prison ended a contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in August.”

‘Penn State professors will protest the university’s COVID policies in a unique way this week. Here’s why’: The Centre Daily Times reports that “more than 50 Penn State professors – mostly from University Park – will protest several university-related COVID policies this week by holding a “Teach-Out(side),” where classes will be moved to the safer outdoors and away from their usual locations.” 

‘Pennsylvania coronavirus update: 14,076 weekend cases, 94 deaths erase previous declines’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 14,076 additional coronavirus cases since Friday: 3,392 Saturday, 6,289 Sunday and 4,395 Monday. The seven-day moving average of newly reported cases was 4,903 cases per day, up 7% from a week ago, and up 39% over the last 30 days.”

Opinion  
T.J. Rooney & Alan Novak: Redraw Pa.’s Congressional seats for residents, not politicians 
Salena Zito: Where the wave begins
Jack McGregor and Franklin L. Kury: Election audit destroys any respect between the two parties
Katherine Gilmore Richardson: Philadelphia can’t curb climate crisis without federal support 
John L. Micek: Is Conor Lamb the Dems’ last, best hope to hold the U.S. Senate? | Monday Morning Coffee 
Jon Geeting: Why Philly Still Needs Streateries 
Stephanie King: Superintendent search offers a chance to transform the district – but will we blow it?
Inquirer Editorial Board: Even when the pandemic passes, outdoor dining in Philly should be given a chance to stay 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Fed officials should not be trading securities 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Taking artistic pride in Pittsburgh
Tony Norman: The Sound of Silence
Noel B. Ramirez: Why isn’t my Asian identity listed as an option on jury duty forms?