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October 7th Playbook

First Lady Jill Biden will visit Allentown next week, while a new poll shows former Congressman Lou Barletta with an early lead in the GOP race for Governor. Here is the Playbook.  

News

‘First lady Jill Biden coming to Allentown’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “First lady Jill Biden is coming to Allentown next week as part of a swing through several states, her office announced Wednesday.”

‘GOP gubernatorial poll shows Barletta with early lead; most undecided’: City & State PA reports that “a new poll on the Republican primary race for governor has revealed that a large majority of Pennsylvania voters are undecided with about seven months until the 2022 primary election, though former U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta holds an early lead among candidates that have entered the race.”

‘Republican Carla Sands is putting $3 million into her Pa. Senate bid’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “in a sign of how much financial muscle she’s willing to flex, Republican Carla Sands has put $3 million of her own money into her U.S. Senate campaign, and is spending $1 million on a television ad introducing herself to Pennsylvania voters.”

‘Many Pa. school districts are passing up free coronavirus testing even after a rise in cases’: Spotlight PA reports that “even after COVID-19 cases rose among children and district leaders worked to contain outbreaks among students, Pennsylvania schools have been slow to opt into a multimillion-dollar Wolf administration program providing free weekly testing.”

‘Lifting of school mask mandate unlikely to happen in October: Gov. Wolf’: PennLive reports that “when Gov. Tom Wolf rolled out the state’s school mask mandate last month, he suggested he’d re-evaluate the order in early October. On Wednesday, however, he showed no confidence that lifting the order will happen in the immediate future.”

McSwain Talks With Carlson: Former U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain, who is seeking the GOP nomination for Governor, joined Tucker Carlson on Fox News for an interview.  

‘Vaccination among minority communities improving, but ‘we still have some work to do’: Gov. Wolf’: PennLive reports that “amid some encouraging news that Pennsylvania’s rate of new COVID-19 cases appears to be leveling off, Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday once again drew attention to persistent COVID-19 related health disparities among minority communities.”

‘Pa. schools may be required to post their curriculum online. Is it about transparency or censorship?’: PennLive reports that “a controversial bill that would allow parents to have online access to what their children are learning in public schools won passage on Wednesday in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.”

‘Democratic Pa. state rep creates bill requiring men to get vasectomies by age 40’: PennLive reports that “State Representative Chris Rabb, a Philadelphia Democrat, supports a solution to lawmaking men who want to control policy on women and girls’ bodies: require men by six weeks into age 40 or after child three to get vasectomies. And it’s all in the name of reproductive rights for women and girls” and that “while the legislation is satirical, it’s supposed to add to the conversation on reproductive rights.”

‘‘HIV is not a crime’: Pa. House panel tackles outdated laws targeting those living with the virus’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “about 20 people gathered Wednesday in the East Wing of the State Capitol to unveil the “Living a Positive Life” mural commissioned by the Family Health Council as part of its Take Control of HIV campaign.”

‘Pennsylvania prosecutor takes leave to address rape charges’: The Associated Press reports that “officials in a rural western Pennsylvania county say the elected prosecutor’s access to his office and the courthouse has been restricted after he was charged last month with violently raping a woman he knew through work.”

‘New report says central Pa. cities had worst air quality in 2020, calls for emissions cuts’: StateImpactPA reports that “cities in central Pennsylvania had the highest number of days with poor air quality statewide last year.”

‘Ferguson Township supervisors adopt resolution to oppose audit of 2020 PA election’: The Centre Daily Times reports that “the Ferguson Township Supervisors took action to unanimously oppose the “forensic audit” of the 2020 Pennsylvania election during its meeting Monday.”

‘‘Just John’s little guy’: FBI wiretaps reveal power play between union leader, council member’: WHYY reports that “Philadelphia City Councilmember Bobby Henon’s allegedly corrupt advocacy on behalf of the political ambitions of union leader Johnny “Doc” Dougherty took center stage on the second day of the federal corruption trial of the two men.”

‘Philadelphia extends vaccine mandate deadline for health-care and higher-education workers’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Philadelphia is extending its deadline for health-care workers and higher-education students and employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, acting Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole announced Wednesday, citing concern from employers that they would be unable to meet next week’s deadline.”

‘Delco Council votes to deprivatize the county’s prison’: WHYY reports that “in a vote that fulfilled a campaign promise made in the historic election that swept Democrats to power two years ago, the Delaware County Council moved Wednesday night to deprivatize the George W. Hill Correctional Facility and return its operation to county control.”

‘Hours after a cyclist dies, City Hall unveils a safety fix, promises more’: WHYY reports that “the day after a pickup truck driver killed a cyclist and fled the scene in Northeast Philadelphia, city officials said they remain committed to Mayor Jim Kenney’s ambitious goal of eliminating traffic deaths, known as Vision Zero.”

‘As flights resume for Afghan evacuees: Who has arrived in Philly, who is yet to come, and where people will go from here’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Philadelphia International Airport has become the main hub for evacuees coming to this country from Afghanistan, with thousands having landed in the city and thousands more expected. As flights resume — they were paused last month by measles cases — we answer questions about the role of the city and region in the largest evacuation and resettlement since the end of the Vietnam War.”

‘PA Agriculture Secretary visits Merrymead Farm to promote agritourism’: Montgomery Media reports that “Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding visited Merrymead Farm Wednesday, highlighting the popular fall family fun destination as an example of agritourism in the state.”

‘Judge rejects dismissal attempt in Luzerne County DA election timing suit’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “the Luzerne County Election Board lost its argument that district attorney election timing litigation should be dismissed because county council and DA Sam Sanguedolce don’t have standing to pursue it.”

‘Lancaster County commissioners vote to create a health advisory council’: LNP | LancasterOnline reports that “Lancaster County commissioners voted 2-1 Wednesday to create a health advisory council tasked with providing data analysis and recommendations to detect, prevent and respond to illnesses that pose a public health threat to residents.”

‘Pittsburgh Public Schools seeking remedies for lingering budget deficit’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “Pittsburgh Public Schools officials floated a tax increase, workforce reductions and other options as possible ways to address the district’s lingering budget deficit that could soon exceed $40 million.”

‘In final ruling, state labor board says Pitt grad students fell short in union election’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board is out with a final ruling upholding election results showing graduate students at the University of Pittsburgh who sought to unionize fell short, a decision Pitt officials say effectively ends the drive to organize assistants who teach, do research and engage in other endeavors.”

‘Pitt Says Local Lawmaker’s Plan To Fund College Voucher Program Will Spike Local Tuition Costs’: KDKA reports that “University of Pittsburgh officials say a proposed change in funding the three state-related universities could mean a sharp increase in student tuition. A local lawmaker says it’s time to spread state tax dollars among more students.”

‘Fitzgerald: More large county employers (quietly) requiring Covid-19 vaccine’: The Pittsburgh Business Times reports that “Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald on Wednesday said he’s seen an increasing number of employers in the Pittsburgh region that have required Covid-19 vaccinations among its employees.”

‘Pittsburgh City Council president defends proposals designed to give council more power’: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “Pittsburgh City Council President Theresa Kail-Smith defended recently introduced legislation that aims to strengthen council’s powers.”

‘Pittsburgh Councilman Ricky Burgess elected moderator of Allegheny Union Baptist Association’: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “The Rev. Ricky Burgess will be taking on a new role as moderator of the Allegheny Union Baptist Association, while continuing to serve on Pittsburgh City Council.”

‘Proposed natural-gas power plant near Pittsburgh cancels plans’: Pittsburgh City Paper reports that “a Southwestern Pennsylvania company that was looking to build a natural-gas power plant in Washington County has cancelled its plans, and withdrawn its request for a permit from Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental protection.”

‘Lackawanna County officials defend planned vehicle registration fee’: The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that “Lackawanna County officials defended a proposed $5-a-vehicle registration fee Wednesday as the best way to raise money to repair county-owned bridges and roads.”

‘Lackawanna County proposes studying land for ATV park’: The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that “Lackawanna County officials want to explore building a park where all-terrain vehicles can legally roar and rumble.”

‘Longtime Lancaster Chamber CEO to retire in 2022’: LNP | LancasterOnline reports that “Tom Baldrige, president and CEO of the Lancaster Chamber since January 2000, announced Wednesday he will retire in June 2022, completing 22 years in those roles.”

‘Lehigh Valley air quality still among worst in Pennsylvania, new report says’: Lehigh Valley Live reports that “the Lehigh Valley’s air quality last year was not as bad as Lancaster, Harrisburg, Reading or Pittsburgh. But it was worse than the sprawling Philadelphia and New York metro areas, according to a new report.”

‘Pa. Health Dept.: More than 5K COVID-19 cases; More than 2,800 hospitalized’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “the Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed 5,058 new cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases statewide to more than 1.45 million since the start of the pandemic.”

Opinion  
Rebecca Rhynhart: Philly’s shockingly inhumane prison conditions 
Ed Sokalski: A Pennsylvania gun bill that’s not about ownership rights or Second Amendment
John L. Micek: Pa.’s veteran suicide rate exceeded state’s rate in 2019 | Wednesday Morning Coffee
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: It’s 2021. Campaign finance reports of all Lancaster County candidates ought to be accessible to voters online.
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Facebook won’t explain its widespread outage 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Public Service Loan Forgiveness program falls far short of goals
Eric Bressman and Krisda Chaiyachati: The telemedicine revolution is upon us. Can our laws catch up? | Expert Opinion
Fran Fulton and Michelle McCandless: Streeteries put our lives at risk 
The Rev. Victoria A. Rebeck: Churches hold a Day of Truth and Repentance today to acknowledge their role in cultural genocide 
Gene Therapy: Facebook sails into a deserved thrashing
Christine Flowers: We stand on the shoulders of others
Elaine Maimon: Arts Can Transform Lives and Cities

2 Responses

  1. The GOP is undecided who would make the worst governor and lose by the biggest margin.

    They are probably waiting for Trump to run for governor of every state

  2. Lou ran two statewide races —one for primary US Senate and one general US Senate. Lots of contacts with hardcore R’s take place and relationships solidified. Sen Corman will now waltz in and be anointed? I don’t think so.

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