The 1st confirmed debate for Gov. will be moderated by Alex Trebek, Wagner clarifies a couple of statements made this week, and Barletta talks school safety in 1st TV ad. Here is the Playbook.

PA Gov: Debate set for Oct 1; Moderated by ‘Jeopardy!’ host Alex Trebek: This is the first confirmed debate between Wolf and Wagner.

PA Sen: Barletta Talks School Safety in 1st Ad: Barletta believes it’s time to put “kids before Congress.”

PA Gov: Recorded by Trackers, Wagner Clarifies Stance on Gay Marriage and Russia Investigation: They are the latest in a series of walkbacks and clarifications to campaign sound bites.

Legislative Election Updates

HD-29: Meghan Schroeder was selected by the Bucks County Republican Committee to replace Bernie O’Neill as the GOP candidate for the 29th District. Schroeder will take on Democrat, Andrew Dixon in Nov.  

Harrisburg & DC
AP: Pennsylvania priest faces charges as sex abuse fallout grows
AP: Public school funding lawsuit may head to trial
AP: Court upholds Wolf order organizing home health care workers
Inquirer: Scott Wagner jokes that Russia, Manafort will help him. Was it a gaffe?
AP: The Latest: Pennsylvania priest faces indecent assault count
StateImpactPA: Trump administration unveils plan to replace Obama’s signature climate initiative
City and State PA: Wolf reprimands state pension funds over risky investments
PLSReporter: Berks County Detention Center receives mixed reviews after legislative visit; PA residents still hope to shut it down
PLSReporter: In Pittsburgh, House Transportation Committee hears testimony on public transit
PLSReporter: Commonwealth Court rules against last challenge, letting school funding suit to advance
PLSReporter: State Supreme Court upholds 2015 Wolf executive order, paving way for home care worker advisory committee
Inquirer: Pa. Treasurer Joseph Torsella: Pension investments are not worth what Pa. says
Inquirer: Gov. Wolf asks board to review Bucks judge in Kayden Mancuso custody battle
AP: Wagner says he doesn’t want workers knowing what he makes
Philadelphia Magazine: Campaign Says Wagner Was “Caught Off Guard” by Same-Sex Marriage Query
AP: Court won’t remove judge, tells Meek Mill to appeal ruling
KYW Newsradio: Overdose deaths in Pa. surge by 67 percent from 2015
KYW Newsradio: State LGBTQ commission pushes for hate crime legislation
Post-Gazette: Pa. high court: Rapper’s anti-police song constituted a threat to police officers
WESA: In Wake Of Clergy Abuse Report, A Likely Legislative Fight Brews
PennLive: Has Trump opened the door to junk health insurance? Pa. official sounds alarm
PennLive: Pa.’s student aid agency outsources jobs in hopes of increasing profits – and money for state grants
PennLive: GOP LG candidate Bartos: Wolf’s ‘school choice’ is a $4b tax hike or $1b in cuts | Wednesday Coffee

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Back to school in August? Why Philly’s doing it and some other districts aren’t.
Inquirer: Gov. Wolf asks board to review Bucks judge in Kayden Mancuso custody battle
Inquirer: At Mazzoni Center, it’s been one controversy after another
AP: Court won’t remove judge, tells Meek Mill to appeal ruling
WHYY Newsworks: Philly worker skims $150,000 from city marriage license sales
WHYY Newsworks: Domb questions Kenney math on selling West Philly property
Billy Penn: This new Philly-based magazine only publishes works by queer and POC creatives
KYW Newsradio: Police: Philly gun violence rises by 10 percent from this time last year
Philadelphia Business Journal: Real Estate Sentiment Index: Crime, safety fears hurt business attraction
Philly Voice: Two-week prison strike begins today in Philadelphia and other U.S. cities

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Feud between Upper Pottsgrove Township and fire company claims more victims
Bucks County Courier Times: Schroeder replaces O’Neill on 29th District ballot
Bucks County Courier Times: Video: Demonstrators demand complete fracking ban in Delaware River
Inquirer: Tiny Doylestown Borough battled Verizon over 5G and won a big settlement

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: East Pittsburgh considers dissolving police force after Antwon Rose shooting
Tribune Review: Postal workers rally to fight privatization
Tribune Review: Allegheny County Police Association opposes countywide review board
Tribune Review: Arnold Mayor Karen Peconi to critics: ‘I’m tired of hearing this’
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Diocese receives about 50 new abuse claims after grand jury report
Post-Gazette: With release of grand jury report, Mary Robb Jackson and her sister make a terrible discovery
Post-Gazette: Study lists charter schools among those with highest suspension rates in Allegheny County
Post-Gazette: Pa. high court: Rapper’s anti-police song constituted a threat to police officers  
Pittsburgh Business Times: City of Pittsburgh CFO and budget director leaving
Pittsburgh Business Times: How the Trump administration’s EPA proposed rule could help the coal industry
KDKA: Pitt Study Finds Link Between School Suspensions & Students In Juvenile Justice System
City Paper: Who’s who in Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal
City Paper: A devout Pittsburgh Catholic attends Mass following report on clergy sex abuse
City Paper: Pennsylvania’s Catholic Church abuse scandal reverberating loudly in Pittsburgh

SWPA
Beaver County Times: Inconsistency in building permit filings to Beaver County cost tax revenue
Observer-Reporter: $4.4 million in state grants go to Brockway plant sit, Cool Valley
Altoona Mirror: Blair urged to appeal values
Altoona Mirror: Officials hear farm concerns on tariffs, liability
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: State prisons step up safety, confronts ‘toxic substances’
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Legislators talk funding, immigration on Cambria farm tour
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Wagner, Bartos to hold town hall

NEPA
The Times Leader: ‘Get people out to vote’: Wolf rallies Luzerne County Democrats
The Times Leader: King’s second area school to remove bishops’ names from buildings
The Times Leader: Bambera: ‘No abuser protected’
The Times Leader: Wyoming police commissioner pleads guilty to reduced theft charge
Citizens Voice: Area attorneys honor Schwager for work on governing council
Times-Tribune: Some accused priests still receive financial support from Diocese
Times-Tribune: Wolf announces $500,000 grant for Carbondale

South Central
PennLive: Police chief in Dauphin County charged with attempted rape, suspended
PennLive: Former mayor of Lemoyne dies
PennLive: GOP LG candidate Bartos: Wolf’s ‘school choice’ is a $4b tax hike or $1b in cuts | Wednesday Coffee
Carlisle Sentinel: Mechanicsburg Borough Council might revive municipal authority, add stormwater to its responsibilities
York Daily Record: Pa. priest arrested for soliciting sex before diocese placed him in central Pa. church
LNP | LancasterOnline: School officials, lawmakers say they need more federal funding for school safety

Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley Live: Priest charged with indecent assault, sending nudes to 17-year-old parishioner
Morning Call: Wake-up Call: Courts and campaigns  
Morning Call: Witness from Pawlowski trial expected to testify in case against ex-Reading Mayor Vaughn Spencer
Morning Call: Work progressing to make Lehigh Tunnel safer; next inspection coming soon
Reading Eagle: Endorsements for the Nov. 6 general election
Reading Eagle: Reading workers testify about bidding process in former mayor’s trial

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Williamsport approves new school calendar
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Vacancy filled with new board member approval
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Juvenile probation to receive $242K in grant funds
Erie Times-News: Erie officials to review $64 million sewer project

Opinion
Inquirer Editorial Board: Philly’s college ‘stop outs’ could use a hand getting back to school
Will Bunch: What is the GOP trying to hide about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh?
Charing A. Ball: ‘Camel mom’ isn’t a fraud; she’s a poor mom working the system for her family
Solomon Jones: In America, your truth depends on the color of your skin
Jenice Armstrong: Yes, I interviewed Omarosa and would sit next to her at the cookout too
Martin W.G. King: Rampant abuse of migrant detainees will stain American history
John Baer: Fun and games in Pa.’s race for governor
Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer: 5 ways to ease back into your school schedule
Tribune Review: Editorial: Nepotism keeps power all in the family
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Storytelling revealed evil
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Conflict’s human cost: Reunions show separated Korean families’ pain