Sen. Casey responds to President Trump’s comments on him, while the Pennsylvania GOP wants an apology from Mayor Jim Kenney. Happy Monday, politicos. Here is the Playbook!  

August 3rd Ups & Downs: The Attorney General reaches out to the Pope. A “young and naive” citizen gets snubbed. Casey and Barletta tout positives. Let’s look at the ups and downs for this week.
President Trump Pushes Barletta, Dubs Casey “Sleeping Bob”: Barletta touts the Trump agenda as a reason to elect him.

A different kind of wave: Politico’s Rachel Blade wrote an article over the weekend about the careers of Reps. Dave Brat and Scott Perry entrance into Congress during the anti-Obama backlash, but now they’re facing a different kind of backlash.
‘If you’re a pro-life Democrat… You know you’re standing alone’: Sen. Casey is among three sitting Democratic senators up for reelection endorsed by Democrats for Life in states President Trump won in 2016.
PA GOP vs Kenney: The Pennsylvania GOP says Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney should apologize for linking black doll hanging to Trump’s rhetoric.

Harrisburg & DC
Washington Post: The local-news crisis is destroying what a divided America desperately needs: Common ground
WNEP: Sen. Casey Responds to Jabs from President Trump
Standard Speaker: Casey wants to block blueprints for 3D-printed guns on internet
AP: No shortage of fall races for Pennsylvania voters to ponder
AP: GOP grumbles as Donald Trump reshapes midterm campaigns
WJAC: Trump gives backing to Wagner in governor’s race
York Dispatch: Wagner campaign paid more than $130K to Penn Waste, company employee
ABC27: Trump support should boost Barletta, Wagner campaigns
Tribune Review: Toomey: Jewish artifacts from Iraq should remain in US
Erie-Times News: Roll Call: How US Senators voted on issues
PLSReporter: 3 under 3!
StateImpactPA: Mariner East 2 pipeline opponent jailed, fined for violating court order
Inquirer: Clergy abuse case reflects simmering scrutiny of Pa. grand jury system
AP: Jobs boom favors Democratic counties, not Trump strongholds
Inquirer: Trump’s five false claims about Bob Casey in Wilkes-Barre speech
Bucks County Courier Times: State announces funding for Vivitrol programs in county prisons
WESA: Barletta Looks To Parlay Trump’s Support Into A Fundraising Renaissance
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: While state population remains stable, number of Hispanics is increasing
The Times Leader: Barletta launching statewide bus tour
PennLive: Tired of sitting in traffic? A state rep wants Pa. to consider jumping onboard a hyperloop
York Daily Record: Here’s what some of your top Pennsylvania government officials make
York Daily Record: As young voter registration surges in Pennsylvania both parties see opportunities at hand

Philadelphia
Philadelphia Tribune: Starbucks-Cheyney relationship yet to be defined
Inquirer: Mayor Kenney should apologize for linking black doll hanging to Trump’s rhetoric, Pennsylvania GOP says
Inquirer: ‘We’re providing ideological clarity’: ICE protest in Philly attracts hundreds
Inquirer: A Buddhist temple embedded in a synagogue tells the story of South Philly immigration
Inquirer: No driver’s license, no photo ID? Philadelphia will issue municipal ID cards starting next year
Philadelphia Magazine: Meet Mike Newall, Poet Laureate of the Opioid Epidemic
WHYY Newsworks: Influential Philadelphia philanthropist H.F. ‘Gerry’ Lenfest dies at 88
Billy Penn: Inside Philadelphia’s green roof revolution
WHYY Newsworks: Philadelphia parents separated from their kids protest city, state agencies
KYW Newsradio: Philadelphia’s shot at marijuana growing facilities goes up in smoke
KYW Newsradio: State and city officials: Want to improve elections? Get out and vote in them

SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Sen. Elizabeth Warren endorses Scott Wallace
Daily Local News: Hundreds walk to end gun violence in East Goshen in a tribute to Bianco Roberson
Bucks County Courier Times: Bristol Township hires deputy public works director
Bucks County Courier Times: Lower Makefield approves Airbnb permitting rules
Pottstown Mercury: Grant will help teach fire prevention to Pottstown children

Pittsburgh
WESA: Analysis Finds Major Differences In Years of Teacher Experience Across Pittsburgh Public Schools
WTAE: Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese to release names of clergy members accused of sex abuse after grand jury report
Post-Gazette: State auditor general concerned about transparency in Duquesne schools child sex abuse settlement
Post-Gazette: Bishop Trautman withdraws challenge to grand-jury report
Tribune Review: Government seeking nuclear workers who had radiation-cause cancers or their survivors
Tribune Review: Chimes give voice to Flight 93 heroes across windy memorial site near Shanksville
Tribune Review: Etna to host energy workshop

SWPA
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Commissioners ask arena board member to resign
Altoona Mirror: Toytown man seeks to silence train horns
Altoona Mirror: Limits on plastic upset locals
Observer-Reporter: Police, council, community work to ‘resurrect’ playground
Beaver County Times: Baden latest community to undergo mosquito spraying for West Nile

NEPA
WNEP: Veteran Receives Medals at Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center
NorthCentralPA: Independent Candidate PA-12 Congressional District Ends Campaign
Times-Tribune: Scranton could appeal decision to lift condemnation order on house
Citizens Voice: County blight committee plans to hold informational workshops

South Central
Philly Voice: Rep. Scott Perry still touts his fake Sacha Baron Cohen award
PennLive: Gov. Wolf visits reopened Liverpool modular home factory
PennLive: How much did the Vatican know about abusive Pa. priests? What the grand jury report could show
PennLive: Harrisburg bishop delivers message on clergy sex abuse to parishioners gathered for Mass
PennLive: Harrisburg commuter tax would ease pain of Act 47 ‘exit’: mayor
Carlisle Sentinel: Carlisle groups join together to discuss gender pay group
York Daily Record: District Attorney seeks death penalty against DJ in 1992 killing of school teacher
York Dispatch: ‘I’m livid’: Lawmakers seek public meeting on overdue, over-budget Mt. Rose/I-83 project
LNP | LancasterOnline: Lancaster County treasurer secures insurance to collect municipal taxes

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Wild getting support outside district
Morning Call: Wake-up Call: Barletta launching bus tour; are secret grand juries fair?
Express Times: Former deputy coroner sentenced 8-16 years in sex assault case
Express Times: Slate business expansion planned to create 188 jobs

North by Northwest
Erie News Now: Kelly, DiNicola in Debate Dispute
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Charter Commission disbands, county rejects concrete bid
Williamsport Sun Gazette: As state gambling expands, casinos’ interest in area lacking
Erie Times-News: Erie City Council to discuss quality of life ticketing
Erie Times-News: Persico: Grand jury report ‘not an easy read’

Opinion
Jeffrey Lord: Only Barletta knows immigration is a serious problem for Pa.
Citizens Voice Editorial Board: Health care key issue in the election
Times Tribune Editorial Board: Trade war flesh wounds
Times Leader Editorial: Our view: Dear Lou, are we the enemy of the people?
Dr. Christopher Wenger: Bill seeks to improve health of food stamp participants
Citizens Voice Editorial Board: Congress needs to get involved in tariff matter
Inquirer Editorial Board: Gerry Lenfest gave with his heart
Will Bunch: If Team Trump can’t reunite border families, someone needs to go to jail
Jim Friedlich: Gerry Lenfest’s lasting legacy: Saving local journalism
Stu Bykofsky: The Rittenhouse stabbing: The facts aren’t black and white
Maria Panaritis: Clearing the mattresses for holy matrimony: Downingtown’s young mayor gets hitched in a furniture store
Inquirer Editorial Board: Philly makes pension management harder than it has to be
Susan Pearlstein: Philly’s humanitarian crisis: Too many kids in foster care
Jessica Bear and Jim MacMillan: To understand Philly’s gun violence crisis, in-depth reporting is needed
Christine Flowers: Double standard in Rittenhouse stabbing case is murder
Mathew Schmalz: Can you be Christian and support the death penalty?
Brian Hickey: The state GOP is correct: Mayor Kenney should apologize for his too-quick hanging-doll rhetoric
Jerry Shenk: Tight labor markets are good for Americans
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Something fishy: State lawmakers abuse power with personal pique
Brian O’Neill: The plain shame of our lame train service
David M. Shribman: Four survivors from a different political age
Pat Buchanan: Did Tariffs make America great?
Colin McNickle: Overcoming U.S., Pa. economic doldrums
Joe Torsella: Keystone Scholars helping Pa. do right by our children
Lou Barletta: Times Leader ‘fair and accurate’
Bill O’Boyle: Capitol Roundup: Parents urged to vaccinate children before new school year starts
Citizens Voice Editorial Board: Elections remain unsecure
Citizens Voice Editorial Board: Congress needs to get involved in tariff matter
Andy Heintzelman: Gaudenzia treatment center welcome, needed
Paul Muschick: Filling Charlie Dent’s vacant congressional seat for two months is pointless