In the midst of all the mudslinging that is part and parcel with any election cycle—let alone a midterm election cycle in a battleground state like Pennsylvania—we can all use something to make us feel good, like dessert. And a dessert that has its roots in Pennsylvania Dutch Country is one of the most popular fall dishes in the US.

According to a poll of more than 3,000 food lovers conducted by A Mission for Michael, shoofly pie is a favorite dish among families this time of year. The sticky and sweet molasses pie landed in the top 50 among other comfort foods families turn to when autumn’s chill hits, such as chili, chicken and dumplings, and soups and chowders.

If you’re a Pennsylvanian, it’s likely you’re at least vaguely familiar with shoofly pie. But if you’re not in or adjacent to Lancaster County, there’s a decent chance your knowledge of the staple of Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine is limited.

For instance: Do you know where the name came from? Do you know what’s in a shoofly pie? Do you know the difference between a wet bottom and a dry bottom? (Relax, we’re still talking about shoofly pie.) Do you know where to find the best shoofly pie in Lancaster County?

If you answered no to all of those questions (or even if you answered yes), I highly recommend you check out Claire Mainprize’s story on shoofly pie, which will make you an expert in no time.

Just hours after we dropped our QOTW in Monday’s newsletter—Are political ads actually influencing how you think about candidates?—Republican US Rep. Scott Perry released an attack ad seizing upon an unsubstantiated allegation of public nudity against his Democratic opponent in the Central Pennsylvania congressional race, former television news anchor Janelle Stelson.

According to PennLive.com, the accusation is uncorroborated. It relies on an alleged nude photo of Stelson in the backyard of her East Pennsboro home that Perry’s campaign does not have—and which the neighbor who claims to have taken it won’t share.

Ho-hum. Just another 30-second spot in the last lap of a hotly contested congressional race, aimed at showing voters… what now, exactly? 

Here’s what you had to say about the influence of political ads:

“No, I do my research on the candidates as everyone should. I vote for who I think best reflects my ideals. The problem is that most people never question the candidates and just vote as their parents voted, Democrat or Republican. Most of them are actually voting against themselves and then are surprised when the candidates do not do what they think they should.” — Karen B., Luzerne County

“No. They all lie. For every attack ad there should be a fact check ad.” — Dave Klein, Luzerne County

“I don’t believe any of the political ads. I think they are all lies and they aggravate me more than help me decide.” — Lee, Chester County

“I’ve never much been influenced by political ads. I pay attention to what the elected officials that are in office are doing. By the time it’s Election Day, I already know who I want or don’t want to vote for. Ads are often misleading. However, if I do hear something that sounds interesting or worth consideration, I check to find out if it is, in fact, true. I check various online news and other sources to look for articles of what candidates’ qualifications are and what political actions/activities they may have participated in. But truly since the Republican party took over the 2009 absurd tea party movement, they have walked off the cliff of morality and abiding by our laws and taken half the country with them. I vote against them every chance I get.” — S. Sewell, Washington County

“The negativity is disgusting and makes me think less of the candidates. It is truly a case of lesser evil and there is little information about how they would actually work to represent us.” — Ginny Anton, South Whitehall

Reply with your answer below.

Philadelphia’s Sister Cities Park. (B. Krist/Visit Philadelphia)

I have lived either in or just outside of Philadelphia for all but a few years of my life, with no idea that the City of Brotherly Love had 11 sister cities spread far and wide across the globe, or that there was a Sister Cities Park in Center City that celebrates these relationships.

The sister city concept really took hold during World War II in an effort to strengthen ties and promote cultural exchange between allied countries. None of Philadelphia’s alliances stretch back that far, though its first sister city relationship—with Florence, Italy—dates back to 1964.

Read on to learn about Philadelphia’s other sister city unions.

• A Halloween display in Bucks County featuring near-life-size figures wrapped in black plastic and hung from nooses on a tree has been criticized by the NAACP as racially offensive. Get the story here.

• Firefighters from across Pennsylvania are rallying behind Lehigh Valley congressional candidate Bob Brooks and condemning attacks from Republicans falsely accusing him of misusing funds for a fallen firefighters memorial in Harrisburg. Our Sean Kitchen has the story.

• Bills aimed at limiting student cell phone use in schools and how law enforcement can use Automated License Plate Readers like Flock cameras have passed the state House. Get the details here.

(Laura Coble)

Thanks to Laura Coble for sharing this shot of a classic October cotton candy sunset in Keewaydin, Clearfield County.

LET’S SEE YOUR PENNSYLVANIA—whether it’s a gorgeous sunset, sparkling fall foliage, or something purely Pennsylvania, like an intersection with a Wawa at one corner, a Sheetz at another corner, and a horse and buggy parked outside a Rutter’s at another corner.

Send us your photos with your name, location, and a brief description of what you’re sharing.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Patrick Berkery with stories from Kalena Thomhave, Sean Kitchen, Claire Mainprize, The Associated Press, USA Today via Reuters Connect, and Whitney Downard of the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. It was edited by Paula Solis.

The Keystone is free for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOTING, REGISTERING TO VOTE, OR PROOF OF VOTING IS NOT REQUIRED. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. and D.C., 18+. Entry Period: 12:00 a.m. ET 10/19/26 – 11:59 p.m. ET 10/23/26. Void where prohibited. Subject to Official Rules. Sponsor: Courier Newsroom, Inc.