Legislature
With Senate gone, calculus over sex abuse bill begins anew
http://www2.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania-senate-inaction-20181018.html
Sides already planning for new debate on child sex abuse bill
https://www.tribdem.com/news/sides-already-planning-for-new-debate-on-child-sex-abuse/article_c95e4e18-d32c-11e8-8bb2-b32eb7825649.html
The Catholic Church owns the Pa. Capitol. Abuse victims saw that Wednesday night. | Maria Panaritis
http://www2.philly.com/philly/columnists/maria-panaritis/statute-of-limitations-priest-sexual-abuse-pa-senate-joseph-scarnati-josh-shapiro-mark-rozzi-maria-panaritis-20181019.html
Our view: Senate botches abuse reform
http://www.goerie.com/opinion/20181019/our-view-senate-botches-abuse-reform
Saving pets, slowing speeders, more: 16 bills Pa. legislators decided should become law
https://www.pennlive.com/expo/news/erry-2018/10/1b2c393dc44039/16-bills-your-legislators-deci.html#incart_river_index
Lawmakers hear testimony on volunteer firefighters’ thinning ranks
https://observer-reporter.com/news/localgovernment/lawmakers-hear-testimony-on-volunteer-firefighters-thinning-ranks/article_2e88b75c-d2e6-11e8-b08c-13c40f301af2.html
Topton land swap plan stalls in House
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/topton-land-swap-plan-stalls-in-house
Business
Chewy set to hire 200 people
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/chewy-set-to-hire-200-people-1.2399238
Clairton Coke Works fined another $620K due to ’emissions problems’
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2018/10/18/Clairton-Coke-Works-fined-another-620K-emissions-problems-Allegheny-County-health-department/stories/201810180104
ATI signs agreement with NLMK for services at Brackenridge facility
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14190418-74/ati-signs-agreement-with-nlmk-for-services-at-brackenridge-facility
Catholic Church
Federal prosecutors could tap several powerful laws to investigate clergy sex abuse in Pa.
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/10/clergy_sex_abuse_catholic_prie_1.html#incart_river_index
Child porn, sexual abuse, cover-ups: Feds to investigate Pa. Catholic dioceses
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2018/10/18/Federal-prosecutors-clergy-abuse-probe-Roman-Catholic-Church-Pennsylvania/stories/201810180130
Scranton Diocese subpoenaed in federal grand jury probe
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/scranton-diocese-subpoenaed-in-federal-grand-jury-probe-1.2399409
Feds open investigation into child sexual abuse inside PA Catholic Church
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/feds-open-investigation-of-child-sexual-abuse-inside-catholic-church-in-pennsylvania
Feds launch abuse probe of Erie diocese, others
http://www.goerie.com/news/20181019/feds-launch-abuse-probe-of-erie-diocese-others
What’s so unusual about the feds investigating Pennsylvania dioceses?
https://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-feds-probe-diocese-clarified-20181018-story.html
Crime/Punishment
Girl witnessed New Castle triple homicide, prosecutors say; third suspect sought
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2018/10/18/Steven-Procopio-charged-triple-homicide-New-Castle-Amariah-Emery-lawrence-cannon/stories/201810180090
Education
Mars, Bethel Park schools canceled Friday after threats of violence
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2018/10/18/Mars-schools-canceled-Friday-after-rumors-of-violence/stories/201810180208
Hershey School house parents sue charity over religion, retaliation
http://www2.philly.com/philly/business/hershey-school-religious-discrimination-lawsuit-house-parents-20181019.html
Yough students paint West Newton history on library’s exterior walls
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14191277-74/yough-students-paint-west-newton-history-on-librarys-exterior-walls
Edinboro University sees signs of hope amid declining enrollment
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2018/10/18/Edinboro-University-sees-signs-of-home-amid-declining-enrollment/stories/201810180114
Teachers get lesson from rock legend
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/teachers-get-lesson-from-rock-legend-1.2399406
Elections/Politics
Gubernatorial candidates agree: Criminal justice system needs change
http://www.witf.org/news/2018/10/gubernatorial-candidates-agree-criminal-justice-system-needs-change.php
Is Philly Democratic boss Bob Brady stiffing his party in the midterm elections? | Clout
http://www2.philly.com/philly/columnists/clout/clout-bob-brady-congress-midterm-elections-20181019.html
With less than a month until midterm elections, Bucks County faces a shortage of poll workers
http://www2.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/bucks-county-poll-worker-shortage-november-midterms-20181018.html
In two House races, a map of rural-suburban divides, and a changing political landscape
https://www2.philly.com/philly/news/politics/congress-rural-suburban-minnesota-pennsylvania-new-jersey-trump-20181018.html
Different visions: U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, challenger George Scott take big stage
https://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/10/us_rep_scott_debate_us_rep_sco.html#incart_river_index
GOP pols who voted for years to repeal Obamacare now campaign to save popular parts of it
http://www.post-gazette.com/business/healthcare-business/2018/10/18/GOP-pols-who-voted-for-years-to-repeal-Obamacare-now-campaign-to-save-popular-parts-of-it/stories/201810180198
Dan Meuser, Denny Wolff face off in Berks County
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/dan-meuser-denny-wolff-face-off-in-berks-county
Corporate welfare, and dreams of tax relief
http://www2.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-phillydeals/corporate-welfare-and-dreams-of-tax-relief-20181019.html
Director: Allocation will cover only a percentage of new voting machines’ cost
https://observer-reporter.com/news/election/director-allocation-will-cover-only-a-percentage-of-new-voting/article_400f3bde-d234-11e8-8f23-ff27da485a76.html
Westmoreland gets $411K to put toward new voting machines
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14189872-74/westmoreland-gets-411k-to-put-toward-new-voting-machines
Scavo talks property tax, pension reform
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/scavo-talks-property-tax-pension-reform-1.2399446
Lemoncelli urges effort to lure business
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/lemoncelli-urges-effort-to-lure-business-1.2399504
Health Care
ACA premium rates down in Pa., but some people may owe more
http://www2.philly.com/philly/health/health-costs/affordable-care-act-marketplace-rates-down-in-pa-some-may-pay-more-20181018.html
ACA 2019 health insurance premiums expected to decline in Pennsylvania
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/aca-2019-health-premiums-decline–in-pennsylvania
Doctors try to piece together the AFM puzzle as more children diagnosed
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2018/10/18/AFM-three-suspected-cases-acute-flaccid-myelitis-reported-Children-s-Hospital-Allegheny-Pittsburgh-UPMC/stories/201810180131
Local News
Council OKs $200K grant application to stabilize Wilkes-Barre’s finances
https://www.timesleader.com/news/721944/council-oks-200k-grant-application-to-stabilize-wilkes-barres-finances
Wilkes-Barre’s budget balance drops due to pension payments
https://www.timesleader.com/news/721942/wilkes-barres-budget-balance-drops-due-to-pension-payments
Deal reached over Hotel Sterling lot
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/deal-reached-over-hotel-sterling-lot-1.2399318
Almost $1M in grants will fund new fire station, road repairs in Back Mountain
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/almost-1m-in-grants-will-fund-new-fire-station-road-repairs-in-back-mountain-1.2399245
‘Goats to the rescue’: Animals clearing high grass at Plymouth cemetery
https://www.timesleader.com/news/721963/goats-to-the-rescue-animals-clearing-high-grass-at-plymouth-cemetery
Saturday’s Smile Day features all kinds of free fun
https://www.timesleader.com/news/721952/saturdays-smile-day-features-all-kinds-of-free-fun
Lackawanna County commissioner dismissed from prison sex abuse lawsuit
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/lackawanna-county-commissioner-dismissed-from-prison-sex-abuse-lawsuit-1.2399073
Judge OKs wage tax hike
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/judge-oks-wage-tax-hike-1.2399355
Westmoreland settles another racial discrimination lawsuit filed against the sheriff’s office
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14190150-74/county-settles-another-racial-discrimination-lawsuit-filed-against-the-sheriffs-office
Organizers hope more will attend anti-drug Reality Tour
https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/14189736-74/organizers-hope-more-will-attend-anti-drug-reality-tour
Harrison to relaunch manager search after Marino declines job offer
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14191044-74/harrison-to-relaunch-manager-search-after-marino-declines-job-offer
Berks man’s legacy helps keep senior citizens safe from scams
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/berks-mans-legacy-helps-keep-senior-citizens-safe-from-scams
RAWA to buy emergency truck
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/rawa-to-buy-emergency-truck&template=ourcityart
National News
California revisits three-strike life sentences
http://www.phillytrib.com/news/california-revisits-three-strike-life-sentences/article_243df529-7511-5f11-b69b-b7e2ef0e3aee.html
Natural Gas
I interrupted a 2014 Pa. governor debate to talk about fracking. Four years later, little has changed | Opinion
https://www2.philly.com/philly/opinion/commentary/pennsylvania-governor-debate-fracking-tom-wolf-scott-wagner-2018-20181019.html
Philly
After disaster declaration, Philly outlines goals for opioid-plagued Kensington
http://www2.philly.com/philly/health/addiction/after-disaster-declaration-philly-outlines-goals-for-opioid-plagued-kensington-20181018.html
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s ‘pope’ visits to dedicate a mosque in North Philadelphia
http://www2.philly.com/philly/news/ahmadiyya-muslim-philadelphia-mirza-masroor-ahmad-20181018.html
SEPTA Key problems led to untold numbers of free rides this fall
http://www2.philly.com/philly/business/transportation/septa-key-card-problems-free-ride-buses-20181019.html
Philly’s SVU suddenly closed. Victims and advocates don’t know when it will reopen | Ronnie Polaneczky
http://www2.philly.com/philly/columnists/ronnie_polaneczky/philadelphia-special-victims-unit-mold-closed-20181018.html
How Meryl Levitz changed the way the world sees Philadelphia | Opinion
http://www2.philly.com/philly/opinion/commentary/meryl-levitz-visit-philadelphia-tourism-20181019.html
Pitt
Pittsburgh school board considers dropping Chick-fil-A sponsorship of Kids Marathon
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2018/10/18/Pittsburgh-Public-Schools-Pittsburgh-Marathon-Kids-Marathon-Chick-fil-A-sponsorship-protest/stories/201810180110
New Pittsburgh initiative’s mission is to help blacks rise to executive ranks
http://www.post-gazette.com/business/career-workplace/2018/10/18/Blacks-top-executive-jobs-Advanced-Leadership-Initiative-Tepper-School-Carnegie-Mellon/stories/201810180032
Going up? Or down? Either will be easier on Joncaire with refurbished city steps
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/10/18/joncaire-city-steps-pittsburgh-oakland-refurbished-celebration/stories/201810180177
Pittsburgh police arrest 2 in shooting death of pizza delivery man
https://triblive.com/news/adminpage/14191945-74/pittsburgh-police-arrest-2-suspects-in-shooting-death-saturday-of-pizza-delivery
Jilted investors seek to force troubled airline OneJet into bankruptcy
https://triblive.com/news/adminpage/14191194-74/jilted-investors-seek-to-force-onejet-into-ch-7-bankruptcy
State News
Montco officials rescue 240 animals in second raid tied to couple
http://www2.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/animal-hoarding-upper-hanover-township-montgomery-county-20181018.html
Tim Schaeffer tapped to head Fish and Boat Commission
http://www.post-gazette.com/life/outdoors/2018/10/18/Tim-Schaeffer-tapped-to-head-Fish-and-Boat-Commission-Pennsylvania-John-Arway/stories/201810180145
Mega Millions, Powerball ticket sales soar in Alle-Kiski Valley ahead of weekend drawings
https://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/14191186-74/mega-millions-powerball-ticket-sales-soar-in-the-alle-kiski-valley-ahead-of
Two Berks industrial sites receive grants for environmental cleanup
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/two-berks-industrial-sites-receive-grants-for-environmental-cleanup
Transportation
E-commerce boom creates traffic challenges in NEPA
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/e-commerce-boom-creates-traffic-challenges-in-nepa-1.2399250
Washington
In Mont., Trump hails a lawmaker who attacked a reporter and blames Dems for the ‘caravan’
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2018/10/18/In-Mont-Trump-hails-a-lawmaker-who-attacked-a-reporter-and-blames-Dems-for-the-caravan/stories/201810180230