Legislature
Several area schools receive safety grants https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/several-area-schools-receive-safety-grants-1.2547592
Administration
Pennsylvania governor’s OT expansion rule heads to a vote https://www.post-gazette.com/business/career-workplace/2019/10/18/Pennsylvania-governor-s-OT-expansion-rule-heads-to-a-vote/stories/201910180123
Wolf wants to expand overtime to 143K Pa. residents. But a commission you’ve never heard of gets the final say https://www.penncapital-star.com/working-the-economy/wolf-wants-to-expand-overtime-to-143k-pa-residents-but-a-commission-youve-never-heard-gets-the-final-say/
Business
Pennsylvania’s Sept. jobless rate ticks up as payrolls slide https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2019/10/18/Pennsylvania-s-Sept-jobless-rate-ticks-up-as-payrolls-slide/stories/201910180126
Volvo CEO on Mack Trucks strike: Agreement must allow us to compete with companies that build in Mexico https://www.mcall.com/business/mc-biz-volvo-ceo-lundstedt-comments-mack-trucks-strike-20191018-js5up6ukwngnhjccw5h6msjkgu-story.html
Crime/Punishment
Mike Folmer, former central Pa. lawmaker, waives hearing on child pornography charges https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/10/lawmaker-facing-child-porn-possession-charges-waives-hearing.html
Relatives in Rittenhouse Square stabbing say they don’t feel safe after not-guilty verdict https://www.inquirer.com/news/rittenhouse-square-stabbing-michael-white-family-sean-schellenger-juror-names-20191018.html
Greensburg doctor convicted of illegal pain-pill distribution https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/10/18/Doctor-convicted-of-illegal-pain-pill-distribution-pittsburgh-westmoreland-county-milad-shaker/stories/201910180120
Police release photos of men wanted in fatal McKeesport Family Dollar shooting https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/police-release-photos-of-men-wanted-in-fatal-mckeesport-family-dollar-shooting/
Medical marijuana use a legal issue in probation cases https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/medical-marijuana-use-a-legal-issue-in-probation-cases-1.2547671
Education
Students hack into Chester County school district system for senior game, exposing student information https://www.inquirer.com/education/downington-area-school-district-data-breach-hacking-20191018.html
A Philly charter school denied a young girl’s enrollment because of her ADHD, lawsuit says https://www.inquirer.com/education/mathematics-civics-sciences-charter-school-philadelphia-special-education-discrimination-20191018.html
Later school start times could address ‘crisis’ of sleep-deprived teens, Pa. report finds https://www.inquirer.com/health/sleep-deprived-teenagers-radnor-school-start-time-pennsylvania-20191018.html
Chicago teachers are on strike. Could it happen in Philly? https://www.inquirer.com/education/chicago-teachers-strike-labor-contract-philadelphia-20191018.html
Philly’s new work-to-college pipeline gives first gen students a second chance https://billypenn.com/2019/10/18/phillys-new-work-to-college-pipeline-gives-first-gen-students-a-second-chance/
Philly school board votes against two charter renewals — a major blow to heralded reform effort https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/philly-school-board-votes-against-two-charter-renewals-a-major/article_3c340139-837d-5413-aae8-4ba3631fbc5e.html
State university leaders to make financial case to Pennsylvania lawmakers https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2019/10/18/State-System-of-Higher-Education-PASSHE-Legislature-Wolf-Greenstein-pennsylvania-owned-universities-budget/stories/201910180134
Elections/Politics
A Bucks County town shut down a farm’s events and wine shop. So the farmer is running for office. https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/commercial/tabora-farm-supervisors-caleb-torrice-hilltown-bucks-county-20191019.html
Pence to visit Pennsylvania glass maker, tout trade pact https://www.inquirer.com/wires/ap/pence-pennsylvania-visit-purple-state-trade-pact-20191018.html
‘Final straw’: GOP ex-Ohio Gov. Kasich supports impeachment https://www.phillytrib.com/ap/final-straw-gop-ex-ohio-gov-kasich-supports-impeachment/article_018f09d4-c0bb-5efe-9ca0-7db2d7b82094.html
GOP group behind Conor Lamb ads is at center of federal investigation https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2019/10/18/america-first-action-political-ad-spending-rudy-giuliani-lawsuit-conor-lamb/stories/201910180142
Berks County searching for poll workers https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/berks-county-searching-for-poll-workers
Health Care
J&J recalls baby powder after trace asbestos found in bottle https://whyy.org/articles/jj-recalls-baby-powder-after-trace-asbestos-found-in-bottle/
Suit: Hospital mishandled infection that killed 3 babies https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2019/10/19/Suit-Hospital-mishandled-infection-that-killed-3-babies/stories/201910180124
Pennsylvania’s Individual Health Plan Premiums To Rise 4% https://www.wesa.fm/post/pennsylvanias-individual-health-plan-premiums-rise-4
Former Washington Hospital patient, husband win $15M in negligence suit https://observer-reporter.com/news/localnews/former-washington-hospital-patient-husband-win-m-in-negligence-suit/article_9f764cac-f1d7-11e9-8386-73c6d3d06bef.html
Local News
Relief is coming for some Bucks County residents with tainted tap water. But others are still waiting. https://www.inquirer.com/news/pfas-bottled-water-east-west-rockhill-hartsville-epa-pa-military-20191018.html
Developer sells former Cheltenham country club land to Bucks County builder for $9 million https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/housing/ashbourne-cheltenham-matrix-liberty-sold-20191018.html
USDA to fund flood control efforts in North Huntingdon, Scottdale https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/usda-to-fund-flood-control-efforts-in-north-huntingdon-scottdale/
Luzerne County’s credit rating upgraded https://www.timesleader.com/news/759196/luzerne-countys-credit-rating-upgraded
Meuser moves to incentivize coal refuse environmental cleanup https://www.timesleader.com/news/759276/meuser-moves-to-incentivize-coal-refuse-environmental-cleanup
With new project, Geisinger sees $219M investment in Scranton https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/with-new-project-geisinger-sees-219m-investment-in-scranton-1.2547509
Incident involving British family dominates Berks County commissioners meeting https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/incident-involving-british-family-dominates-berks-county-commissioners-meeting\
House passes Lamb’s bill renaming Hookstown post office for airman Dylan Elchin https://www.timesonline.com/news/20191017/house-passes-lambs-bill-renaming-hookstown-post-office-for-airman-dylan-elchin
National
Across U.S., mayors’ ambitious plans to address affordable housing draw skepticism https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/affordable-housing-high-rent-us-cities-philadelphia-atlanta-20191019.html
Key Northeastern governors join forces to chart a path to legalizing marijuana https://www.inquirer.com/business/weed/marijuana-cannabis-legalization-governors-wolf-murphy-cuomo-20191018.html
Two U.S. women successfully take ‘one giant leap for WOMANkind’ https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2019/10/two-us-women-successfully-take-one-giant-leap-for-womankind.html
INVESTIGATION: Airlines damage thousands of wheelchairs https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/zz/news/20191019/investigation-airlines-damage-thousands-of-wheelchairs
Opioids
Opioid negotiations fail to produce deal just before trial https://www.inquirer.com/business/health/opioid-lawsuits-negotiations-oxycontin-purdue-20191019.html
Philly
If there’s something wrong in your West Philly neighborhood, who you gonna call? These guys. | Helen Ubiñas https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/helen-ubinas-philadelphia-crime-drugs-shootings-block-watch-20191019.html
Frost advisory for Pa. suburbs and most of Jersey; Philly safe on ‘heat island’ https://www.inquirer.com/weather/frost-advisory-philadelphia-bucks-montgomery-weather-autumn-20191018.html
ME’s rulings in couple’s July 4 Penn’s Landing drownings leave unanswered questions https://www.inquirer.com/news/delaware-river-drowning-deaths-july-4-anjania-patterson-tim-siler-medical-examiner-results-20191018.html
From a Manayunk restaurant manager to a figure in the presidential impeachment inquiry https://www.inquirer.com/news/david-correia-rudy-giuliani-trump-philadelphia-20191018.html
Domestic workers in Philadelphia fight for rights, recognition https://whyy.org/articles/domestic-workers-in-philadelphia-fight-for-rights-recognition/
Pitt
Nearly a year after attack, Tree of Life still not sure what to do with building https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/10/18/Tree-of-Life-terrorist-attack-undecided-demolish-renovate-building-Pittsburgh/stories/201910180129
Safety concerns lead to uncertain future for longtime Downtown winter homeless shelter https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/10/18/Smithfield-United-Church-Christ-Downtown-Pittsburgh-winter-homeless-shelter-Allegheny-County/stories/201910180141
‘At the starting line’ — URA approves plans for apartments, music venue at former Civic Arena site https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/10/18/Pittsburgh-Penguins-Civic-Arena-Urban-Redevelopment-Authority-housing-music-venue/stories/201910180166
Pittsburgh International will loop gas from CNX wells and solar power into its own microgrid https://www.post-gazette.com/business/powersource/2019/10/18/Pittsburgh-International-Airport-CNX-wells-solar-power-microgrid-peoples-natural-gas/stories/201910180121
Federal Appeals Court Tweaks, But Upholds, City Law Limiting Anti-Abortion Protest https://www.wesa.fm/post/federal-appeals-court-tweaks-upholds-city-law-limiting-anti-abortion-protest
State News
America’s Halloween obsession, and migrant labor, helped one man become Pennsylvania’s pumpkin king https://www.inquirer.com/news/pumpkins-spice-halloween-migrant-produce-agriculture-20191019.html
PennDOT Reviewing Trump Administration Request For Driver’s License Data https://www.wesa.fm/post/penndot-reviewing-trump-administration-request-drivers-license-data
Pa. Health department has collected just 160 complaints on oil and gas production in nearly a decade https://www.penncapital-star.com/energy-environment/pa-health-department-has-collected-just-160-complaints-on-oil-and-gas-production-in-nearly-a-decade/
Probationers Sentenced For Debts They Can Never Pay? https://hosted.ap.org/thetimes-tribune/article/c9c889a10f3d425d9478ad58972ecf13/probationers-sentenced-debts-they-can-never-pay
Washington
Between G-7 choice, Ukraine, and Syria, Republicans’ frustration with Trump is rising https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/republicans-frustration-trump-g7-ukraine-syria-20191019.html
38 people cited for violations in Clinton email probe https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/hillary-clinton-email-investigation-violations-state-department-20191019.html
World
U.K. lawmakers to vote on whether to delay Brexit decision https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/brexit-vote-boris-johnson-lawmakers-parliament-20191019.html