FiveThirtyEight’s House forecast has 9 Democrats and 9 Republicans in PA expected to win Congressional races in November. Here is the Playbook!

August 17th Ups & Downs: A bombshell report shocks the world’s conscience, Social Security and Medicare take on TV, a state representative cancels a town hall, and much more are in this week’s Ups and Downs.

FiveThirtyEight Analysis Predicts Dems and GOP Split PA Delegation: The election analyst doesn’t see challenges for Cartwright and Perry, but see Smucker as vulnerable.

Trump Won Pennsylvania. Democrats Want the State (and His Voters) Back.: The New York Times took a dive into districts that Trump has had success in which Democratic representatives are trying to win back.

Harrisburg & DC
Inquirer: ‘He’s a liar’: Hot debate over education in Pa. governor’s race
Citizens Voice: Public remains skeptical of church’s vow to reform
Times-Tribune: In dealing with abuse revelations, some Pennsylvania diocese more forthcoming than others
AP: Bishop: Church today ‘not the church’ of grand jury report
AP: Catholics consider withholding donations amid scandals
StateImpactPA: After EPA warning, Pa. hikes fees on water systems to hire more inspectors
StateImpactPA: Swimming in the Wissahickon isn’t so idyllic: There’s poop in it.
PLSReporter: 3 under 3!
PLSReporter: Tweet of the Week – August 13, 2018
Inquirer: Sex-abuse hotline calls surge after grand jury report
Inquirer: Sexual misconduct accusation, firm denial roil key Pennsylvania congressional race
WESA: Dog-Whistle Politics: How Getting The Dog Vote Can Help Candidates Running For Office
AP: Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Rate Hits New Post-Recession Low

Philadelphia
Philly Clout: Taxpayers foot six-figure bill to rescue Pa. Democrats from cyberattack
Inquirer: Two former Philadelphia priests are ‘not suitable’ for ministry, archdiocese investigations find
Inquirer: Area Catholics on Pa. grand jury report: ‘It’s sad … heartbreaking’
Inquirer: This Pa. ‘survivalist’ threatened to kill Trump. Now there’s a 20K reward for his arrest.
Inquirer: Despite the rain (again), Dominicans celebrated culture and their Philly impact
Inquirer: City Hall staffer killed in murder-suicide in Northeast Philadelphia
Billy Penn: After colleague’s murder, City Council staffers turn attention to domestic violence in Philly
Billy Penn: Inside a former opioid user’s mission to help others seek treatment in Kensington
Philadelphia Weekly: Sins of the Fathers: A numerical look at the largest sex abuse scandal in the history of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Business Journal: CNBC has a new ranking of Amazon HQ2 finalists
Plan Philly: Frustrated By Philly Politicians’ Failure To Upgrade Bike Lanes, Cyclists Turn To The Courts

SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks GOP to pick O’Neill’s replacement Monday
Pottstown Mercury: Audit bugs ‘Bunny,’ sheriff fires back at controller in records flap
Bucks County Courier Times: Kristin Marcell appointed to Council Rock school board
Daily Local News: Morning Briefing: Teachers get crash course in defense; Chesco sheriff battles controller; Union take huge win
WHYY Newsworks: Montco GOP hopeful running for Congress with confidence

Pittsburgh
WESA: Dog-Whistle Politics: How Getting The Dog Vote Can Help Candidates Running For Office
WESA: Former Pittsburgh Legislator Says Justice For Sex Abuse Victims Could Have Come A Decade Ago
WESA: Pittsburgh’s BRT Plan Gets Spiffed Up For Another Round With The Feds
WTAE: Pittsburgh priest confronted about allegations in grand jury report
KDKA: Allegheny County Tops List For Pa. Animal Abuse Cases
KDKA: Highest Ranking U.S. Cardinal Presides Over Sewickley Mass In Wake Of Grand Jury Report
KDKA: Report: Cardinal Wuerl Drops From International Catholic Meeting
KDKA: State Rep. Gainey Hosts Back-To-School Giveaway to Provide Supplies For Students
KDKA: KDKA Investigates: Accused Priest Continued To Say Mass Until 3 Months Ago
KDKA: Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School Board of Directors To Discuss Removing Wuerl’s Name
Post-Gazette: Cardinal DiNardo addresses clergy abuse at Franklin Park Mass, Wuerl withdraws from conference  
Post-Gazette: In Carmichaels, a pastor whose name appears on grand jury list addresses his congregation
Post-Gazette: Judge assigned to Antwon Rose shooting case
Tribune Review: Greensburg Catholic bishop tells abuse victims: ‘I grieve for you, and I grieve with you’

SWPA
AP: ‘Sad day’ for workers as Creighton glass plant closes
Beaver County Times: Allegheny County fourth in animal abuse charges; Beaver, Lawrence fare better
Beaver County Times: Pittsburgh Diocese plan to monitor accused priests, review policies in wake of grand jury report
Observer-Reporter: School districts address security as new school year gets underway
Observer-Reporter: This year marks a decade of casino gambling money dedicated to local projects
Altoona Mirror: Cambria to house more inmates
Altoona Mirror: Council soon may be asked to give RA land bank powers
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: MERGING SCHOOLS | Research suggests statewide consolidations would have mixed financial results for Pennsylvania communities
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: MERGING SCHOOLS | Education by the numbers
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Former Bedford DA sentenced to house arrest

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Five NEPA schools make national list of best colleges
The Times Leader: Reactions to church sex abuse report mixed as Catholics return to Mass
The Times Leader: Luzerne County seeking applications for new election job
The Times Leader: With his blessing? Report: Timlin knew about dozens of abuse allegations
The Times Leader: Yudichak, Mullery announce $1M grant for Nanticoke revitalization

South Central
PennLive: ‘Let’s call them what they truly are, crimes’: one Diocese of Harrisburg priest’s message
PennLive: Harrisburg School District offers ‘maximum annual increase’ to teachers
PennLive: Diocese to review former bishop’s handing of sex abuse complaints
PennLive: Will Catholic dioceses in Pa. agree to multi-million dollar victims funds?
PennLive: Harrisburg bishop launches ‘spiritual conversion’ after clergy sex abuse report
PennLive: Former Harrisburg Bishop Kevin Rhoades to release names of accused priests in his current diocese
WHYY Newsworks: Central Pa. districts discuss ways to improve school safety with new state funding
York Daily Record: Rep. Scott Perry’s seat goes from ‘likely Republican’ to ‘lean Republican’
York Dispatch: Delma Rivera-Lytle officially approve as candidate for 93rd District
LNP | Lancaster Online: School District of Lancaster to consider excluding all private school students from extracurricular activities

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Wake-up Call: Meaning of truth for Catholics, prosecutors and Trump legal team
Morning Call: $2.3 million Allentown project featuring classic car shop, upscale apartments taking shape
Morning Call: Former Reading mayor Vaughn Spencer faces trial Monday in FBI case that snagged Ed Pawlowski
Morning Call: Marty Nothstein responds to Morning Call report on investigation into alleged sexual misconduct
Morning Call: Marty Nothstein hammers Morning Call, SafeSport and velodrome board over sexual misconduct investigation
WHYY Newsworks: Catholics in Allentown grapple with clergy abuse report and their church’s response
Reading Eagle: What you need to know about the trial of Vaughn Spencer
Reading Eagle: Voter registrations among young people rise in Berks, across Pennsylvania

North by Northwest
KDKA: Butler Co. Priest Repeatedly Molested Boys, Young Men Even After Going To Rehab
Citizens Voice: Erie bishop: Transparency key to restoring trust in church
Centre Daily Times: What does drug forfeiture money go toward in Centre County? DA makes reports public
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Liberty post office renamed in honor of fallen soldier
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: 22 priests with local ties accused
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: DuBoistown fills vacant council seat

Opinion
Maria Panaritis: A Friar’s suicide, a lawyer who pressed on, and the truth about Pa.’s Catholic Church sex abuse
John Baer: The new head of Pa.’s Democrats is a Ph.D. former country singer whose husband was (briefly) a Philadelphia Eagle
John Baer: Pennsylvania, despite all its findings of child sexual abuse, does way too little to help its victims
Inquirer Editorial Board: City shouldn’t get a cut of defendants’ cash bail fees
Jerry Ratcliffe: Violence spikes every summer. Here’s what Philly should do to reverse that pattern
Larry Atkins: Temple Football’s biggest problem: The rent at the Linc is too high
Stu Bykofsky: What’s the deal with Donald and dogs?
Victor Fiorillo: The Mayor, the Rapist, and the Fear of the Sanctuary City
Joseph Graf: Trump craves good press from the ‘fake news’ media – just look at his White House newsletter
Kris Rhim: Black teens in Philly should be worrying about getting into college. Instead, we worry about getting shot.
Shane Fitzgerald: Something to be said for talking it out
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: DNA-testing folly: The public must be aware of privacy implications
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: NASA’s new mission: The sun’s mysteries are the target of the Parker Solar Probe
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: A dangerous breach: Stolen plane is an aviation security wake-up call
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Jails are not hospitals: County’s ill-adviser plan for competency treatment
Brigid Edmunds-Lawrence: Brigid says: Grand jury report heartbreaking even for an ex-Catholic
Bill O’Boyle: Beyond the Byline: Casey must avoid déjà vu
PennLive Editorial Board: Pull over, Pa. lawmakers. It’s time to give up your taxpayer-funded cars
Express Times Opinion Staff: Allentown Diocese bishop can do more to heal victims’ wounds | Editorial