Beto O’Rourke is set to campaign in Pittsburgh today, while support for impeachment proceedings grows among PA Democrats. Here is the Playbook.
Liberal Super PAC Targets Trump Voters in PA: American Bridge’s $50 million investment aims at cutting President Trump’s margin with rural voters in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Florida.
Beto To Campaign in Pittsburgh, Erie: The former Texas Congressman plans to talk about addressing gun violence during town halls in Pittsburgh and Erie.
Legislative Election Update:
HD-36: Jessica Benham, an advocate for people with autism, has announced a primary bid to state Rep. Harry Readshaw (D-Allegheny).
Harrisburg & DC
AP: More Pennsylvania Democrats favor impeachment proceedings
AP: ‘Way too extreme’: Some Democrats warn against moving left
AP: Gun debate revives in Pennsylvania statehouse
WITF: Pa. House re-introduces contentious bills to reinstate mandatory minimum sentences
WITF: Key House Committee Abruptly Bars Door To New Gun Control Legislation
WHYY Newsworks: What the Pa. delegation is saying (or not) about Trump impeachment inquiry
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: How Pa.’s Congressional delegation reacted to Nancy Pelosi’s impeachment inquiry announcement
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. Senate Democrats’ top campaign staffer suspended in the wake of sexual harassment complaint
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Ukraine scandal: If allegations are true Trump committed an impeachable offense, Pa. Rep. Houlahan says
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: House Judiciary chairman says he won’t consider red flag proposal as panel advances mandatory minimums
PLSReporter: Legislators push to bring back General Assistance
PLSReporter: Legislators join activists in probation reform rally
PLSReporter: House Judiciary chair shuts down talk of ERPO bill as committee pursues mandatory minimums instead
PLSReporter: Team Youse dominates Team Yinz in fourth annual Capitol All Star Game
Real Clear Politics: Repurposing ‘America’s Hometown’
StateImpactPA: Philadelphia refinery site — including dangerous chemical — declared under control 3 months after fire, explosion
StateImpactPA: Bucks, Montgomery counties will get $5 million to study health effects of PFAS
StateImpactPA: In Scotland, a town evolved with its refinery. Shale gas arrived to help the plant, but the town could benefit more, one resident says
Philadelphia
Billy Penn: Which lawsuits cost Philly taxpayers nearly $50 million last year? New bill would bring sunshine to sexual harassment payouts
Philadelphia Magazine: Helen Gym Wants the City to Publicly Disclose All Lawsuit Settlements
Inquirer: As Pelosi announces impeachment inquiry, Philly-area Democrats mostly line up in support
Inquirer: Working Families Party candidates keep pace with GOP fund-raising in Philly Council race
Inquirer: Controller Rebecca Rhynhart to audit troubled Germantown Special Services District
Inquirer: 3 months after devastating South Philly refinery blast, city declares incident under control
Inquirer: More Philly unions eye lawsuits over flaws in the city’s OnePhilly payroll system
Inquirer: Is Hahnemann a ‘zombie hospital’? Appeal of residency program sale hinges on that argument.
WHYY Newsworks: Center City draws $2.8B in development — and fewer parking lots
Philadelphia Tribune: Lawsuit: Cheyney University raided, misused scholarship federal funds as accreditation decision looms
KYW Newsradio: Silent protest at police headquarters highlights concerns about Philly’s unsolved murders
KYW Newsradio: Philadelphia fire officials declare PES refinery site ‘under control’
Philadelphia Business Journal: Center City, fueled by apartments and hotels, sees $5.8 billion in new development
SEPA
Daily Local News: Democrat Houlahan inches toward Trump impeachment
Daily Local News: Comitta invites constituents to Community Conversations
Daily Local News: Rep. Otten invites community to first health and wellness fair
Delco Daily Times: Delco creates committee to help with census count here
Delco Daily Times: Chester County DA serves Sunoco with formal notice
Delco Daily Times: Sestak takes presidential bid to Chestnut Hill College
Bucks County Courier Times: Santarsiero to host college financial planning seminar at CB West
Inquirer: Pa. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan says Trump-Ukraine allegations, if true, are an impeachable offense
Inquirer: Chester County amps up pressure on Sunoco, calls Mariner East pipeline a nuisance
KYW Newsradio: Pottstown becomes first in US to collect flexible plastic packaging for curbside recycling
KYW Newsradio: Chesco’s Houlahan among US House freshmen calling for presidential investigation
KYW Newsradio: Chesco DA gives Mariner East pipeline 60-day notice for ‘nuisance’ conditions
Morning Call: Bucks County township sticks to its guns, rejects major firearms restrictions
Montgomery Media: Gun disposal event helps Montco residents get rid of 65 firearms, including an Uzi
Pottstown Mercury: Red vs. Blue: How partisan is the Pennsylvania Legislature?
Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Western Pa. congressmen weigh in on Trump’s Ukraine dealings, impeachment inquiry
Tribune Review: Bill Peduto: Assault of black women at North Side gas station ‘made me sick’
Tribune Review: Audit: Pittsburgh property sales ‘shrouded in secrecy,’ open to fraud
Tribune Review: Allegheny County Council to consider another conversion therapy proposal
Tribune Review: Sen. Lindsey Williams to host addiction resources open house in Brackenridge
Post-Gazette: On impeachment, Doyle pushes forward while Lamb waits to see
Post-Gazette: Audit: City tax sales slow, ethically vulnerable
Post-Gazette: City Council seeks harsher charges in Exxon fray; store worker claims women were ‘out of control’
Post-Gazette: It’s child care — not day care — kids and advocates say
Post-Gazette: Cory Booker’s plea for campaign funds resonates with some in Western Pa.
Post-Gazette: Concentrated child poverty worsens in Pennsylvania, study says
Post-Gazette: Google subcontractor workers vote for union representation
Post-Gazette: Grown-up solutions to combat child poverty
Post-Gazette: Valerie Jarrett turns to pushing women’s health to the forefront
KDKA: Pa. Lawmakers React To House Democrats’ Impeachment Inquiry Into President Trump
KDKA: KDKA Investigates: Local Towns Fighting For Power To Ban Fracking
KDKA: Bill To Limit Robocalls And Telemarketers Awaits Decision From Governor Tom Wolf
KDKA: About 80 Contracted Google Employees To Join United Steelworkers Union
KDKA: Demonstrators Calling For More Action After Gas Station Assault Charges
WESA: Longtime State Rep. Readshaw May Face A Progressive Female Challenger Of His Own
WESA: Despite Bipartisan Support, Probation Bills Could Be Delayed By Murder Allegations Against Parolees
City Paper: House leadership begins impeachment inquiry into President Trump
City Paper: Pittsburgh Google contractors vote to form a union with the United Steelworkers
Pittsburgh Business Times: Lamb faults city’s handling of selling its properties
SWPA
Beaver County Times: U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb calls for release of whistleblower complaint on Trump
Beaver County Times: Beto O’Rourke visiting Pittsburgh on Wednesday
Tribune Review: Westmoreland County sued over requirement that union workers complete major projects
Observer-Reporter: Environmental groups, unions push back on GOP bills
Observer-Reporter: O-R not shutting down
Altoona Mirror: Blair, union sign first contract
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Gun control debate: Push for red flag wall blocked by GOP committee chair
NEPA
Citizens Voice: Local lawmakers react to impeachment inquiry
Citizens Voice: White Haven Center receives support at committee hearing
Citizens Voice: Coroner quits over ‘hostile’ work conditions
Citizens Voice: DA’s office gets grant to bolster task force
The Times Leader: Area Congressmen split on impeachment inquiry
The Times Leader: Capitol hearing ‘only the beginning’ of White Haven Center debate
The Times Leader: DA’s office receives $250K grant for gun violence reduction task force
The Times Leader: Hughes resigns as Luzerne County coroner
The Times Leader: Support expressed for Luzerne County 911 emergency radio upgrade
Times-Tribune: Local politicians react to Trump impeachment inquiry
Times-Tribune: Election board approves amended Scranton School District payroll tax ballot question
South Central
Patriot News: Probation reform advocates flood Pa. Capitol
Patriot News: Proposed constitutional amendment to change how Pa. picks a lieutenant governor advances out of committee
Patriot News: Bill proposes turning over Pa.’s lieutenant governor residence for veterans’ use, instead of selling it
Patriot News: House Committee chairman opens, (and maybe closes?) gun control debate in Pennsylvania
Patriot News: Harrisburg officials to interview four firms interested in taking over Capital Region Water
Patriot News: Harrisburg council members say mayor overstepped in scheduling interviews with private firms over city water system
Patriot News: Harrisburg mayor pitches city running popular Artsfest
Carlisle Sentinel: Bill Tracker: Bringing net neutrality back to Pennsylvania
Carlisle Sentinel: Boockvar visits Carlisle High School to promote student voter registration
Carlisle Sentinel: Sohonage files to quit Cumberland County judges’ race
York Dispatch: State Rep. Saylor pushing for extension of York Fairgrounds’ liquor license
York Dispatch: Smucker blast Dems’ impeachment probe, Perry stays silent
LNP | LancasterOnline: Smucker campaign splits fundraising dollars with Trump in wake of impeachment inquiry
LNP | LancasterOnline: Martin misses most of gun policy hearings due to other legislative meetings
Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Susan Wild says she will support impeachment if the Trump administration won’t disclose whistleblower complaint to Congress
Morning Call: Susan Wild’s statement on impeachment inquiry of President Trump
Morning Call: A Democratic congresswoman from Pennsylvania says if true, the Trump-Ukraine allegations should prompt impeachment
Morning Call: Allentown spent another $150,000 on legal battles with LCA in first half of 2019
Morning Call: State Sen. Pat Browne’s former treasurer charged with stealing nearly $600,000 from campaign
Express Times: Is Easton becoming gentrified? Panel seeks affordable housing solutions.
Express Times: All candidates, public invited to Easton election previews
Express Times: Ex-treasurer stole $578K from Sen. Pat Browne’s election committee, AG alleges
Express Times: Lehigh Valley Congresswoman Susan Wild backs impeachment inquiry, if ‘stonewalling’ continues
Reading Eagle: Reading wants to hire private security guards to patrol the Pagoda
Reading Eagle: Budding industry: Berks bank gets behind the hemp business
Reading Eagle: Berks lawmaker says Ukraine allegations, if true, would be impeachable offense
North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: DEP touts Restore Pa. in Mansfield
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Broadband expansion further looked into
Williamsport Sun-Gazette:Ramp, elevator, security on hold for City Hall
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Commissioners approve youth, food contracts
Opinion
LNP Editorial Board: Smucker ought to support, in more tangible ways, this county’s rich history of welcoming refugees
Inquirer Editorial Board: Trump deserves impeachment process
Inquirer Editorial Board: New Philly lead bill should be first step in housing culture change
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Feet to the flame: Josh Shapiro keeps up the pressure on Purdue, Sacklers
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: A battle over ethanol: Mandates in gasoline should not be raised
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Remarks that misfired: Not a good reason to derail Sunday hunting
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Fertility standards: Clinics need federal oversight, regulations
Bucks County Courier Times Editorial: Bucks County corrections officials missed a chance to fix inmate lookup tool
Vincent Hughes and Pat Browne: Pa.’s ‘Safe2Say’ program is really something to talk about
Joseph M. Manko, Sr., and Howard A. Cohen: Trump should let the EPA do its job
John L. Micek: Report: Pa. has the 5th worst roads in the entire country | Tuesday Morning Coffee
Tony Norman: The cowardly gas station posse of the North Side
Dan Simpson: Gazing over the edge of a waterfall
John L. Micek: One nation under who? The Pa. House’s ‘In God We Trust’ bill raises questions
Antony Davies and James R. Harrigan: Federal debt has defeated President Trump and Democratic candidates
Chris Kelly: He ken run, but soon he ken’t hide
Solomon Jones: Democrats need to start the impeachment process. Their core constituents are at risk.
Will Bunch: Team Trump’s free-speech attack on U.S. universities reminds us what’s really at stake
Brian Malte: Mass shootings dominate reporting on gun violence. Here’s what we need to talk about instead