The Latest: Trump holds 1st of 3 rallies in key Pennsylvania
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the presidential campaign (all times local):
12:50 p.m.
President Donald Trump has wrapped up the first of three campaign rallies in Pennsylvania, where he told supporters that he wanted to discuss an issue of “existential importance” as he focuses on former Vice President Joe Biden’s policies on energy.
Pennsylvania is the second leading producer of natural gas in the country behind Texas.
Trump claims that Biden would “abolish the entire U.S. oil industry.” Trump says that means no fracking and no jobs for Pennsylvania families, adding “Biden’s plan is an economic death sentence for Pennsylvania’s energy sector.”
He is seizing on Biden’s comments in last week’s debate that he would “transition away from the oil industry.”
But Biden sought to clarify later that he was talking about ending federal subsidies for oil companies. He also said “we’re not getting rid of fossil fuels for a long time.”
Biden has also repeatedly pledged not to abolish fracking. Instead, he has called for no new fracking permits on federal lands.
Trump spoke to hundreds of supporters in Allentown as he focuses on the key battleground state of Pennsylvania.

Early vote total exceeds 2016; GOP chips at Dems’ advantage
By NICHOLAS RICCARDI and ANGELIKI KASTANIS Associated Press
The number of people casting an early ballot in the presidential election now surpasses those who voted early during all of 2016. That’s more than 58 million people voting with eight days to go before Election Day. Democrats have been dominating early voting, but Republicans are slowly narrowing the gap. That’s because in-person early voting has kicked off in a number of states and President Donald Trump has convinced many of his supporters they should not vote with mail ballots. One out of every 4 of the voters is either new or infrequent, a sign of a potential record-setting turnout.

HARRISBURG, – The House last week unanimously adopted state Rep. Rob Matzie’s resolution to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer – a disease that kills approximately 47,000 Americans each year.

Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, said he introduced H.R. 1045, designating November 2020 as “Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania, to draw attention to a disease that often evades detection until it is too advanced to treat.

“I introduce this resolution every year because we need to keep talking about pancreatic cancer until survival is the rule, not the exception,” Matzie said. “My connection to this disease is deeply personal – my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about six years ago. After undergoing chemotherapy and surgery, she survived. Sadly, her story is not typical for most of the 57,000 Americans diagnosed every year.

“There is cause for hope, however. Although we have yet to see a breakthrough, the statistics on survival are slowly climbing. Between 2014 and 2020, the five-year survival rate increased from 6% to 10%. The progress happens because of research. As more clinical trials take place, the number of survivor stories grows, and so do the people who live to tell them.

“What can we do now? We can learn the symptoms and risk factors for pancreatic cancer and make sure family and friends know them. We can volunteer, support research efforts, and participate in events like the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s Purple Stride. And we can keep fighting until more patients face a genuine chance for survival.”

Matzie said symptoms of pancreatic cancer may include jaundice, back or abdominal pain, weight loss, stool changes, nausea, pancreatitis and recent-onset diabetes. Controllable risk factors for the disease include smoking, obesity, heavy alcohol use, and a diet with too many red and processed meats.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Baden, Pa.) After Baden’s Council meeting was abruptly cancelled  last Wednesday  due to a large crowd, wanting to voice their opinions on whether New Sewickley would  take over  the police department. it has been rescheduled.

Attack, then pandemic: Pittsburgh Jewish congregations cope
By DAVID CRARY AP National Writer
Two years ago, the three congregations sharing space at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue relocated after an anti-Semitic gunman killed 11 worshippers. This year, the congregations dispersed from their new locations due to the coronavirus pandemic and switched to virtual services. On Tuesday, as they again mourn those killed on Oct. 27, 2018, they’ll also celebrate the resilience that has enabled them to persevere. The main online commemorative event will honor both those who died and those whose lives were altered by the attack. And a Jewish nonprofit is organizing a day of community service including a blood drive, food distribution and cleanup of Jewish cemeteries.

Ballots can’t be tossed out over voter signature, court says
By MARC LEVY Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court is prohibiting counties from rejecting ballots if the voter’s signature on it does not resemble the signature on the voter’s registration form. Two Republican justices joined five Democratic justices in Friday’s decision. It addresses a key concern surrounding an avalanche of mail-in ballots in the presidential battleground state. The verdict was a victory for the state’s top election official. Kathy Boockvar is a Democrat who had asked the court to back her up in a legal dispute with President Donald Trump’s campaign and Republican lawmakers. Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are locked in a battle to win Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes.