President Donald Trump will visit a Beaver County ethane cracker plant later this week. Here is the Playbook.

August 9th Ups & Downs: A Congressional seat is moved to a toss-up, a progressive District Attorney candidate in Allegheny County goes on defense from comments made in the 90s, and the state and largest city’s top law enforcement official clash. All of that and more are in this week’s Ups and Downs.

The Almanac of American Politics on the Keystone State and Its Key Role in Today’s Politics: Jacobson dives into the political history of Pennsylvania and what role it plays in today’s political scene.

Harrisburg & DC   
AP: Trump to visit western Pennsylvania cracker plant next week
AP: Longtime Pennsylvania clerk of courts pleads guilty to fraud
AP: Proposed ban on feeding wildlife irks some in Pennsylvania  
AP: Utility to close Pennsylvania coal power plant early
AP: Cosby appeal tests other accusers’ testimony in #MeToo era
PA Post: 64 percent of Pa. respondents to a new poll support more gun restrictions
PA Post: Poll: Half of Pa. voters plan to vote against Trump in 2020
WITF: After complaints, Pa. senators return to drawing board on part of school safety law
WITF: Foreign spirits producers say Pa. liquor pricing violates international law
KYW Newsradio: Pennsylvanians affected by end of assistance program make plea to lawmakers to bring it back
Inquirer: Please wait while we connect you: Rural broadband access an issue in Pa. Capitol
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: How Pa.’s Supreme Court moved left, and what it means for the GOP 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pension board OKs $300 million investment in private equity firm connected to prisons, student debt 
PLSReporter: Did You Get The Memo? Gun violence, vaccine transportation and eviction expungement
PLSReporter: PA dealing with problem gambling as state introduces online sports betting
PLSReporter: Right 2 Know Episode 18: Gun control debate returns to Harrisburg
PLSReporter: Tweets of the Week – August 5, 2019
Inquirer: It’s raining tear gas canisters in Hong Kong and some were made in Pennsylvania
Philly Voice: Pennsylvania to invest in new facilities, trails for ATVs and snowmobiles
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: AG Shapiro sees ‘global reckoning’ 12 months after abuse report 
Morning Call: School property tax elimination talks start in Harrisburg with this positive: Everyone is at the table 
Morning Call: Universal background checks ‘key thing’ in upcoming gun violence debate, PA Sen. Vince Hughes says 
Morning Call: Pennsylvania lawmakers vote without knowing where all the money’s going. These folks don’t like it 

Philadelphia
WHYY Newsworks: Outside Philly HQ, union officials protest their ouster from EPA offices
WHYY Newsworks: Hahnemann residency programs draw winning bid of $55M from local health systems
Plan Philly: Eliminating the PES refinery’s deadliest chemical will be a 24/7 job for weeks 
Inquirer: Philadelphia Judge Lisa M. Rau to leave bench early 
Inquirer: The $55-million bid that won Hahnemann residency slots was ‘a big surprise’ 
Inquirer: Infections, the hidden danger of the opioid crisis, are on the rise in Philadelphia
Inquirer: For Jewish groups in Philly protesting Trump’s treatment of migrants, the spiritual is political 
Inquirer: She fought her high school on censorship; now, she’s gone national
Inquirer: Gar Joseph, 71, legendary Daily News editor 
Philadelphia Magazine: Philly Doesn’t Seem to Like Joe Biden as Much as He Likes Philly
Philadelphia Magazine: Queen Village Is Not Screwing Around With Its Rat Infestation
KYW Newsradio: Pennsylvanians affected by end of assistance program make plea to lawmakers to bring it back
KYW Newsradio: Germantown group fighting gun violence with creative writing 
KYW Newsradio: 2 state constables face charges for allegedly abusing positions to work on Mariner East pipeline 
Philadelphia Business Journal: Hahnemann residency program fetches $55 million offer from coalition of local health systems 

SEPA 
Daily Local News: Killion joins Wolf, Casey in calling for action on gun safety 
Daily Local News: Dinniman: Urban Agriculture Grants now available
Daily Local News: Sappey talks redistricting at town hall meeting
Daily Local News: In wake of financial audit, Kennett Township officials change payroll system 
Montgomery Media: Commissioners recognize 65 Montgomery County interns
StateImpactPA: Chester County DA files charges against two Sunoco security guards
Delco Daily Times: Schools slow to move on arming security staff
Delco Daily Times: Workers neutralize toxic chemical at Philly refinery blast site
Pottstown Mercury: Pottstown councilman’s vehicle vandalized  

Pittsburgh  
City Paper: US Rep. Mike Doyle’s climate change town hall omissions draw concerns from environmental advocates 
Post-Gazette: Bernie Sanders dominates Democratic field in Pittsburgh-area donors
Post-Gazette: From across the Atlantic, gulf dividing Democrats appears to be huge
Post-Gazette: Background checks and red flags: A divided Congress tries to muster compromise on gun violence 
Post-Gazette: Dems vote to nominate interim County Councilman Paul Zavarella for District 8 spot 
Post-Gazette: More than a hundred gather at Squirrel Hill rally to press for tighter gun laws 
Post-Gazette: Judge denies PG motion in case of slain police officer Calvin Hall
Post-Gazette: A sense of unease: Officials, pedestrians unsettled after Downtown stabbing 
WESA: ‘We Shouldn’t Have To Live Like This’: Pittsburghers Gather To Demand Stricter Gun Laws 
WESA: On Jewish Day Of Remembrance, Protestors Decry Immigration Policy 
KDKA: First Energy To Close Last Coal-Fired Plant In Pennsylvania Earlier Than Expected 
KDKA: Governor Tom Wolf Investing In ATVs And Snowmobiles 
Tribune Review: Incumbent Paul Zavarella of Plum gets Democratic Party nod for November ballot
Tribune Review: Census officials prepare for low number of applications ahead of 2020 survey
Tribune Review: Armed police to be at all Plum School District buildings this coming school year 
Pittsburgh Business Times: FirstEnergy accelerates shutdown of its Beaver County coal plant

SWPA
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Legislators planning anti-pot forum  
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Two Republican row office candidates withdraw from fall election  
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Westmont councilman to lead state boroughs association
Altoona Mirror: Wolf, farmers share hope for crop 
Altoona Mirror: City works on five-year HUD plan
Altoona Mirror: Council members discuss tenures
Altoona Mirror: Blair seeks funds for lead removal 
Altoona Mirror: Antis Twp. debates funding 
Altoona Mirror: Blair pension plan value stays steady
Observer-Reporter: Monessen council authorizes officials to look into state aid for financial woes
Observer-Reporter: Controller’s audit of prothonotary’s office reveals failure to timely invoice judgment fees 
Beaver County Times: Bruce Mansfield coal plant to close 19 months early, officials say
Beaver County Times: Beaver County Chamber of Commerce chairman: Board taking allegations against executive director ‘very seriously’

NEPA
The Times Leader: Another Luzerne County Council member won’t be voting on council vacancy appointment
The Times Leader: Proposed Luzerne County borrowing details released in request for lenders
The Times Leader: Capitol Roundup: Toomey, Coons call for bipartisan gun-safety law improvements 
The Times Leader: Times Leader staffers talk about ownership change, optimism for the future 
Times-Tribune: Scranton to create policy on employees’ personal use of city vehicles after vacation fender bender  
Times-Tribune: New guardianship regulations increase accountability  
Times-Tribune: Scranton, Dunmore police to get high-tech training program for active shooters and more  
Citizens Voice: New county council member could be named Tuesday
Citizens Voice: Chamber requests KOZ tax break extension from county

South Central  
Carlisle Sentinel: Carlisle councilman skips moment of silence to call on legislators to ‘do their damn jobs’ on gun control
Patriot News: The state will hand out millions of dollars for redevelopment; Which central Pa. projects were awarded grant money? 
Patriot News: Bulletproof school backpacks now for sale in central Pa. stores
LNP | LancasterOnline: Lancaster city to vote Tuesday on video gaming terminal ban

Lehigh Valley    
Reading Eagle: State Sen. Argall bristles at proposed retirement income tax to eliminate school property taxes 
Reading Eagle: Berks County commissioner voices concern over 5G deployment 
Reading Eagle: Essick Playground plaque dedicated to late Reading City Councilman John Slifko
Express Times: WATCH: Learn how to use Northampton County’s new paper-trail voting machines 
Express Times: State Gaming Control Board accepting online complaints, disputes
Morning Call: Got a questions for Congresswoman Susan Wild? She’s got another town hall coming up. 
Morning Call: Congress isn’t coming back early. Will momentum on gun legislation evaporate? 
Morning Call: 2 of 3 proposed Lehigh Valley road projects left off long-range plan after funding cut

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Comms fill new law clerk position 
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Past Sun-Gazette leader recalled
Erie Times-News: Government meetings in Erie County, week of Aug. 12
Erie Times-News: Erie Coke: Plant shutdown ‘would be tragic’ 

Opinion  
Inquirer Editorial Board: America’s mental illness is guns 
Inquirer Editorial Board: Boy Scout sex abuse scandal: Déjà vu, again 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Prioritize safety: Peduto needs to stop blaming others and take action 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Behold, an issue: Campaign promises are rarely fulfilled 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Sensible controls: Several bills offer commonsense gun reform 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Review asylum process: More resources, closer partnerships needed 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Strength in numbers: Mon Valley towns should join forces on police 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Information control: Gabbard case fires debate about Google’s power
Mary Gay Scanlon: We have to keep fighting for these common-sense gun laws 
Ryan Aument: Hate only thrives where we let it
Kristine Howard: We have the momentum. Lawmakers have act now to fight gun violence
Wendy Ullman: Here’s how Harrisburg can do its part to fight gun violence 
Maria Panaritis: Pennsylvania resisted white supremacy in the 1990s. We can and must do it again. 
John L. Micek: State of independents: How a new poll signals 2020 trouble for Trump in Pa. | Friday Morning Coffee
Christine Flowers: Even if mental health is not a top gun violence risk, it demands attention 
Abraham Gutman: Israel has thousands of young men who carry assault rifles. Why don’t they commit mass shootings? | Perspective
Tim Hartman: Gun violence is our national pathology. How do we cure it? | Editorial Cartoon
Bruce Ledewitz: Our crisis of mass shootings is a national spiritual crisis 
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Our well-regulated militia
Paul Muschick: Lehigh County seal decision a victory for common sense
Ruth Ann Dailey: Politicizing violence
Carmina Hachenburg: Where are the women? Like many campuses, Penn’s buildings mostly honor men 
Tony Norman: “When life itself seems lunatic, there’s always Tucker Carlson…”
Valerie Russ: Could El Paso be another Birmingham and turn around anti-Latino hate? 
Mike Newall: Up in Northwest Philly, ‘these ping-pong games are with bullets’ 
Debra and Marc Tice: Parents of journalist detained in Syria: Help us show Congress our son needs support 
Helen Ubiñas: A festival in Nicetown, staged by a couple who lost sons to guns 
Will Bunch: Jeffrey Epstein will never be held accountable, but what about the many, many others? 
David M. Shribman: The thing about turning points
Karen Kane: Judge Cashman failed in jail oversight