Legislature
Governor, state senators continue to back Cheyney despite struggles
https://www.phillytrib.com/news/local_news/governor-state-senators-continue-to-back-cheyney-despite-struggles/article_f009b709-839f-5dc3-b410-bec56fe62270.html
Rep. Bernstine’s language creating school-to-work program folded into approved bill
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20190927/rep-bernstines-language-creating-school-to-work-program-folded-into-approved-bill
Senate snuffs out long-term health threat
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/senate-snuffs-out-long-term-health-threat-1.2538685
Crime/Punishment
2 women found shot to death in Dauphin County home: State police
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/09/2-women-found-shot-to-death-in-dauphin-county-home-state-police.html
A joint before the joint? Medical marijuana roils Northampton County Jail
https://www.mcall.com/news/police/mc-nws-pennsylvania-medical-marijuana-inmates-jail-20190927-p46patl6tba6nguxrnpbhal3nq-story.html
Education
Funding group plans October rally in Harrisburg for Scranton schools
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/funding-group-plans-october-rally-in-harrisburg-for-scranton-schools-1.2538726
Mars Area High School among four schools in southwestern Pa. to win national Blue Ribbon awards
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2019/09/27/Mars-Area-High-School-among-four-schools-in-southwestern-Pa-to-win-national-Blue-Ribbon-awards/stories/201909270154
Exeter Junior High to receive award for anti-bullying program
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/exeter-junior-high-to-receive-award-for-anti-bullying-program
Toomey explores workforce training issues during tour of NEPA school
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/toomey-explores-workforce-training-issues-during-tour-of-nepa-school-1.2538760
Conflict in Centralia: PSU lecture focuses on mine fire
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/conflict-in-centralia-psu-lecture-focuses-on-mine-fire-1.2538652
Wilkes hosting STEM Discovery Day
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/wilkes-hosting-stem-discovery-day-1.2538659
Elections/Politics
Pa. Senate seat drawing a crowd of potential candidates
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/09/several-consider-run-for-open-pa-senate-seat.html
With new voting machines, ballots to cost 26 cents each
https://www.timesonline.com/news/20190927/with-new-voting-machines-ballots-to-cost-26-cents-each
Gaming
Rivers Casino to open new sportsbook Monday
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/09/27/Rivers-Casino-to-open-new-sportsbook-Monday/stories/201909270171
Mohegan Sun Pocono sportsbook formally debuts; Oct. 5 ribbon cutting set
https://www.timesleader.com/news/757072/mohegan-sun-pocono-sportsbook-formally-debuts-oct-5-ribbon-cutting-set
Local News
Grant to fund 2 new county officers
https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/grant-to-fund-2-new-county-officers-1.2538660
Company to tenants: Parking lot not a substitute for yet-to-be built park in Wilkes-Barre
https://www.timesleader.com/news/757095/company-to-tenants-parking-lot-not-a-substitute-for-yet-to-be-built-park-in-wilkes-barre
West Hazleton man pays nearly $311,000 for 10 properties at Luzerne County tax auction
https://www.timesleader.com/news/757090/west-hazleton-man-pays-nearly-311000-for-10-properties-at-luzerne-county-tax-auction
Mayor: Scranton fire chief must reimburse city for improperly using gas card
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/mayor-scranton-fire-chief-must-reimburse-city-for-improperly-using-gas-card-1.2538645
Program to provide free dental work to women
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/program-to-provide-free-dental-work-to-women-1.2538646
Prison guard cleared of abuse charges plans to sue attorney general’s office
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/news/prison-guard-cleared-of-abuse-charges-plans-to-sue-attorney-general-s-office-1.2538642
Apollo Borough offices find temporary home
https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/apollo-borough-offices-find-temporary-home/
Conestoga Landfill loses lawsuit against Berks County
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/conestoga-landfill-loses-lawsuit-against-berks-county
Children found unconscious in Albany Twp. have died, officials say
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/children-found-unconscious-in-albany-twp-have-died-officials-say
Dauphin County violence survivors use fete to thank advocates: ‘You can’t do it alone,’ one said
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/09/survivors-advocates-celebrate-35-years-of-assisting-victims-and-witnesses-in-dauphin-county.html
Marijuana
Pennsylvania’s top cop now supports legalizing marijuana
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2019/09/27/Pennsylvania-Attorney-General-Josh-Shapiro-supports-legalizing-marijuana/stories/201909270173
AG Shapiro supports legalized marijuana as Gov. Wolf pushes support in Oakmont
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/wolf-reiterates-support-for-decriminalizing-marijuana-at-stop-in-oakmont/
Pa. Attorney General Shapiro calls for legalizing recreational marijuana
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/09/pa-attorney-general-shapiro-calls-for-legalizing-recreational-marijuana.html
Attorney General Josh Shapiro says he supports legalizing cannabis
https://www.penncapital-star.com/blog/attorney-general-josh-shapiro-says-he-supports-legalizing-cannabis/
National News
Vaping risks scare local teens, but many are too addicted to quit
https://www.inquirer.com/news/vaping-juul-e-cigarettes-health-effects-teens-addiction-20190928.html
Anti-vaxxers are a problem for herd immunity, but lack of paid family leave might be a bigger one | Brain Trust
https://www.inquirer.com/news/anti-vaxxer-no-vaccine-reason-paid-family-leave-20190928.html
Millions of Americans still don’t have Real ID as 1 year deadline looms
https://triblive.com/local/regional/millions-of-americans-still-dont-have-real-id-as-1-year-deadline-looms/
Philly
Every Philly polling place will soon be accessible to voters with physical disabilities and mobility issues
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/philly-polling-place-accessibility-voters-disabilities-20190928.html
Ex-Philly charter school teacher, 31, charged with sexually exploiting 12-year-old student
https://www.inquirer.com/news/christopher-osullivan-charges-belmont-charter-middle-school-child-porn-20190927.html
As I-95 construction worsens congestion, SEPTA is leasing train cars as an alternative to driving
https://www.inquirer.com/news/septa-train-trenton-interstate-95-congestion-20190927.html
Food Trust ends popular Night Markets, lays off employees amid financial struggle
https://www.inquirer.com/food/food-trust-night-market-philadelphia-layoffs-financial-20190927.html
When you hold a silent protest against unsolved murders and the police commissioner shows up | Helen Ubiñas
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/helen-ubinas-philadelphia-unsolved-homicides-murders-crime-20190927.html
Student gave out pot-laced treats at Philly charter school, principal says
https://www.inquirer.com/education/marijuana-school-edibles-west-oak-lane-charter-philadelphia-20190927.html
‘Is Daddy dead?’ Wife of police officer shares how her family copes after Tioga shootout | Perspective
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/philadelphia-police-shootout-officers-shot-family-trauma-20190928.html
Her parents were murdered in front of her in their Philly bodega. Now she’s performing on Latin America’s hit TV singing competition. | Mike Newall
https://www.inquirer.com/news/columnists/jessica-nunez-reina-de-la-cancion-murder-bodega-daddy-yankee-20190927.html
Pitt
Governor’s arts awards in Pittsburgh include music, poetry and a surprise at August Wilson Center
https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/theater-dance/2019/09/27/Gov-Wolf-Arts-Award-Pittsburgh-August-Wilson-Vanessa-German-Joe-Negri-Roger-Humphries/stories/201909270184
‘It will take time to heal.’ Sisters in North Side gas station fight call incident ‘traumatic’
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/09/27/Women-in-gas-station-fight-speak-out/stories/201909270141
Sisters assaulted at gas station say they feared for their lives
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/sisters-assaulted-at-exxon-station-say-they-feared-for-their-lives/
Campaign to unionize Pitt grad students revs up again — raising questions for both sides
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2019/09/27/University-of-Pittsburgh-Pitt-union-labor-graduate-assistant-Gallagher-Steelworkers-highered-Pennsylvania/stories/201909270116
Great Race set for Sunday will affect traffic, buses
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/09/27/Great-Race-set-for-Sunday-will-affect-traffic-buses/stories/201909270156
Dor Hadash, targeted in massacre, declines to take part in Trump’s Rosh Hashana call
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/faith-religion/2019/09/27/Dor-Hadash-President-Trump-Rosh-Hashana-Tree-of-Life-shootings/stories/201909270148
Critics say Port Authority should have more public input before eliminating bus stops
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2019/09/27/Port-Authority-bus-stops-Pittsburghs-for-Public-Transit-Carrick-Brighton/stories/201909270140
Congregation that shares Tree of Life Synagogue opts out of Rosh Hashana phone call with Trump
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/congregation-that-shares-tree-of-life-synagogue-opts-out-of-rosh-hashannah-phone-call-with-trump/
Delay of game: Continental gets more time to start North Shore development
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2019/09/27/Continental-North-Shore-Steelers-Pirates-Lot-4-PNC-Park-Heinz-Field/stories/201909270155
Joe Biden to visit Pittsburgh in November
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/joe-biden-to-visit-pittsburgh-in-november/
Steve Blass thanks Pirates, city of Pittsburgh for ’77-year party’
https://triblive.com/sports/steve-blass-thanks-pirates-city-of-pittsburgh-for-77-year-party/
Pittsburgh gets nearly $1M in funding for smoke detectors for deaf residents
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/pittsburgh-gets-nearly-1-million-in-funding-for-smoke-detectors-for-deaf-residents/
State News
Pennsylvania Supreme Court is right to reject petition against death penalty | Opinion
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/pennsylvania-death-penalty-supreme-court-petition-jurisdiction-20190927.html
Pennsylvania high court passes on death penalty review
https://triblive.com/news/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-high-court-passes-on-death-penalty-review/
Pennsylvania’s iconic barns are in peril, and one county is fighting to preserve them
https://www.inquirer.com/news/barns-architecture-history-gettysburg-farming-rural-20190928.html
‘Born to Run’ made Chris McDougall a star, but a farm near the Amish made this Delco boy happy | Maria Panaritis
https://www.inquirer.com/news/columnists/running-with-sherman-christopher-mcdougall-donkey-race-lancaster-county-maria-panaritis-20190928.html
This is for the birds. No, seriously, they are disappearing and need help
https://www.timesleader.com/news/757094/this-is-for-the-birds-no-seriously-they-are-disappearing-and-need-help
The Irishman’ debuts at New York Film Festival
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/the-irishman-debuts-at-new-york-film-festival-1.2538701
Human case of West Nile virus discovered in Chester County
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/human-case-of-west-nile-virus-discovered-in-chester-county
What threat does the deadly EEE virus pose in the Lehigh Valley?
https://www.mcall.com/health/mc-hea-eee-mosquitoes-20190928-acw6rndql5aapnmim4hwwfu57y-story.html
Transportation
Eye to the future: PennDOT tackles work zone safety, self-driving cars
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/09/28/PennDOT-work-zone-safety-self-driving-cars/stories/201909240004
Elizabeth Bridge reopened after structural concerns addressed
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/elizabeth-bridge-reopened-after-structural-concerns-addressed/
Washington
Trump told Russian officials in 2017 he wasn’t concerned about Moscow’s interference in U.S. election
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/trump-russia-interference-us-election-impeachment-inquiry-20190928.html
Attorney General Barr under fire in impeachment case
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2019/09/28/Attorney-General-Barr-under-fire-in-impeachment-case/stories/201909290143
Rudy Giuliani used Soviet-born fixers in Florida to get help in Ukraine
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/rudy-giuliani-ukraine-fixers-trump-florida-20190927.html
Why Democrats Chrissy Houlahan and Andy Kim shifted on impeachment and Jeff Van Drew didn’t
https://www.inquirer.com/news/jeff-van-drew-chrissy-houlahan-andy-kim-impeachment-trump-swing-districts-20190927.html
Toomey: Eric’s Law would deliver justice to victims and their families
https://www.timesleader.com/news/757088/toomey-erics-law-would-deliver-justice-to-victims-and-their-families
Toomey law would protect correction officers
https://www.citizensvoice.com/news/toomey-law-would-protect-correction-officers-1.2538758