Legislature
People with disabilities are increasing their ranks in elected office. But they’re still underrepresented. https://www.inquirer.com/news/elected-officials-disabilities-tina-tartaglione-rutgers-local-state-federal-20191019.html
Senators introduce bill legalizing cannabis for adult-use in PA https://www.timesleader.com/news/759356/senators-introduce-bill-legalizing-cannabis-for-adult-use-in-pa
Hearing set for Monday on White Haven Center closure https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/hearing-set-for-monday-on-white-haven-center-closure-1.2548181
Toohil: ‘We could do more’ for disabled adults https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/toohil-we-could-do-more-for-disabled-adults-1.2548144
Officials plead for state to save Retreat prison https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/officials-plead-for-state-to-save-retreat-prison-1.2548042
Administration
Pa. educators say more money needed as the number of special education students rises https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2019/10/19/Pennsylvania-special-education-spending-funding-number-students-increase/stories/201910200022
Business
Stocks end lower; S&P 500 notches 2nd straight weekly gain https://triblive.com/news/wire-stories/stocks-end-lower-sp-500-notches-2nd-straight-weekly-gain/
Crime/Punishment
After verdict, Philly bike courier’s family faces racial threats https://www.penncapital-star.com/civil-rights-social-justice/after-verdict-philly-bike-couriers-family-faces-racial-threats/
Editorial | Avoid urge to pass prison rising costs on to taxpayers https://www.tribdem.com/news/editorials/editorial-avoid-urge-to-pass-prison-rising-costs-on-to/article_ba94075a-f1c2-11e9-8562-8bd46d5f6129.html
Education
Why private school turned out to be the wrong choice for my son’s special needs | Perspective https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/special-education-private-public-schools-autism-spectrum-disorder-20191020.html
The segregating effects of school choice policies | Opinion https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/school-choice-charters-parents-segregation-20191020.html
Choice is not enough when it comes to education | Editorial https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/school-choice-charters-parochial-segregation-editorial-20191020.html
School choice has not cured Philadelphia’s ailing system | Opinion https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/charter-school-choice-philadelphia-education-segregation-law-20191020.html
How free college disproportionately benefits wealthier students | Opinion https://www.penncapital-star.com/commentary/how-free-college-disproportionately-benefits-wealthier-students-opinion/
Another unique program being pioneered at Unionville: Lunch and Learn https://www.dailylocal.com/news/local/another-unique-program-being-pioneered-at-unionville-lunch-and-learn/article_4c0bb136-f28d-11e9-93ea-bf312363fd99.html
Elections/Politics
GOP chooses district attorney to run for seat vacated by senator facing child porn charges https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/10/central-pa-district-attorney-picked-to-run-for-seat-of-senator-charged-with-child-porn.html
‘I am back,’ Bernie Sanders tells supporters at NYC rally https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/bernie-sanders-rally-new-york-city-presidential-campaign-20191020.html
Western Pa. sees trickle of spending from presidential candidates https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2019/10/20/Western-Pennsylvania-campaign-spending-presidential-candidates-2020/stories/201910190045
As partisan fervor hijacks budget talks, spending hawks face lonely battle https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2019/10/20/Trump-budget-deficit-Mike-Kelly-Tea-Party-pennsylvania-butler/stories/201910270007
Health Care
Where you die can affect your chance of being an organ donor https://www.mcall.com/health/mc-nws-organ-donors-20191019-qhdjlldyqnczxkxlyhjmypgl6q-story.html
Local News
Leaf peeper season in full swing in the Laurel Highlands; Pittsburgh, Alle-Kiski Valley must wait https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/leaf-peeper-season-in-full-swing-in-the-laurel-highlands-pittsburgh-alle-kiski-valley-must-wait/
Room at the table for input when Brown takes over as mayor of Wilkes-Barre https://www.timesleader.com/news/759365/room-at-the-table-for-input-when-brown-takes-over-as-mayor-of-wilkes-barre
Report: Region’s Ambulatory Surgery Center finances beat state average https://www.timesleader.com/news/759357/report-regions-ambulatory-surgery-center-finances-beat-state-average
Invasive species in NEPA: Where do we go from here? https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/invasive-species-in-nepa-where-do-we-go-from-here-1.2548241
League of Women Voters celebrates 75 years https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/league-of-women-voters-celebrates-75-years-1.2548195
Scranton gas card billing records full of mistakes, discrepancies https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-gas-card-billing-records-full-of-mistakes-discrepancies-1.2548320
Art in motion: Students paint PennDOT snow plow https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/art-in-motion-students-paint-penndot-snow-plow-1.2548102
Luzerne County earns best credit score in its history https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/luzerne-county-earns-best-credit-score-in-its-history-1.2547938
Erie downtown group spends $3.85 million for former McDonald’s property https://www.goerie.com/news/20191020/erie-downtown-group-spends-385-million-for-former-mcdonalds-property
Opioids
Elected officials across U.S. watching Cleveland opioid case https://triblive.com/news/world/elected-officials-across-the-country-watching-cleveland-opioid-case/
Philly
N.E. Philadelphia man who threatened violence against former employer and police found dead https://www.inquirer.com/news/michael-altomari-threats-philadelphia-water-department-20191019.html
As congestion worsens in Philly, car-related emissions spike https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/as-congestion-worsens-in-philly-car-related-emissions-spike/article_70a9e6fb-ca47-51e1-b94c-6b3627bbfa2f.html
City tees up land transfer to revive mothballed rec center in North Philadelphia https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/city-tees-up-land-transfer-to-revive-mothballed-rec-center-in-north-philadelphia/
Pitt
Appeals court upholds Pittsburgh abortion clinic buffer zone but lets sidewalk counselors inside it https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/10/19/pittsburgh-abortion-buffer-zone-appeal-bruni/stories/201910190046
ONE YEAR LATER – The path to recovery after the Tree of Life attack https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/the-path-to-recovery-after-the-tree-of-life-attack/
PWSA to begin restoration work on Saw Mill Run, but some residents still feel left behind https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/10/20/PWSA-restoration-Saw-Mill-Run-route-51-88-flash-flooding-residents-pittsburgh/stories/201910200042
Amazon Studios casting call seeks extras for movie filming on the South Side https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/movies/2019/10/19/Amazon-Studios-casting-call-I-m-Your-Woman-movie-shooting-pittsburgh/stories/201910190049
Pittsburgh International Airport auction has highest turnout ever https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/highest-turnout-ever-at-pittsburgh-international-airport-auction/
State News
Black Americans don’t always respond to the census. Pennsylvania’s NAACP is trying to correct that. https://whyy.org/articles/black-americans-dont-always-respond-to-the-census-pennsylvanias-naacp-is-trying-to-correct-that/
Pa. state bird could leave if summer temperatures rise: report https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/10/pa-state-bird-could-leave-if-summer-temperatures-rise-report.html
REFORM Alliance looks to restructure PA’s probation and parole system https://www.timesleader.com/news/759361/reform-alliance-looks-to-restructure-pas-probation-and-parole-system
Pennsylvania cities lag in growth, population https://www.goerie.com/news/20191020/pennsylvania-cities-lag-in-growth-population
Washington
Trump drops plan to host G-7 at Doral https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/trump-group-seven-summit-doral-florida-golf-resort-20191020.html
Impeachment inquiry update: What the past week revealed about the Ukraine affair https://whyy.org/npr_story_post/impeachment-inquiry-update-what-the-past-week-revealed-about-the-ukraine-affair/
World
UK’s Johnson asks for Brexit delay, but argues against it https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/brexit-vote-boris-johnson-lawmakers-parliament-20191019.html
Parliament vote forces UK to postpone Brexit beyond Oct. 31 https://whyy.org/articles/parliament-vote-forces-uk-to-postpone-brexit-beyond-oct-31/
Defense chief: US troops leaving Syria to go to western Iraq https://triblive.com/news/world/defense-chief-us-troops-leaving-syria-to-go-to-western-iraq/