Former Vice President Joe Biden takes part in the Pittsburgh Labor Day Parade, while Rep. Rothfus releases an ad detailing his support for affordable health insurance. Here is the Playbook.

August 31st Ups & Downs: A couple of former Democratic officials are in legal trouble, attack ads are debuted in the race for PA-1, racist Facebook posts are made from a GOP official in Beaver County, and much more are in this week’s Ups and Downs.

PA17: Rothfus Ad Highlights Personal Experience to Vouch for Affordable Health Insurance: The GOP candidate states Obamacare has caused insurance rates to rise.

Primary Maps: J. Miles Coleman, elections analyst for DecisionDeskHQ tweets out multiple maps detailing the results in the Pennsylvania primaries.

Politico: ‘Tough decisions have to be made’: House Republicans prepare for pain: Rep. Keith Rothfus is featured in a story that details which GOP lawmakers are focused on by party officials, while some candidates are being cut loose.

Harrisburg & DC
KDKA: Gov. Wolf Defends Decision To Do Only One Debate With GOP Challenger Scott Wagner
WESA: PA-17 Is One Of The Top Districts Targeted By Republican PAC Money
AP: Pennsylvania GOP official resigns over racist Facebook posts
AP: US House races loom largest in Pennsylvania campaign sprint
StateImpactPA: Study: Sea level rise already hurting coastal real estate prices
StateImpactPA: Trump lifts steel quota Toomey said could hurt Shell’s ethane cracker
StateImpactPA: New study finds climate change will dramatically alter Earth’s ecosystems
StateImpactPA: Repeal of the Clean Power Plan could mean more pollution for PA
PLSReporter: 3 under 3!
PLSReporter: Tweets of the Week – August 27, 2018
Philadelphia Magazine: Pa. Auditor General to Probe Tuition Rates at Temple University
Post-Gazette: ‘Happy Labor Day!’ Former VP Biden joins thousands in Pittsburgh’s annual parade  
Observer-Reporter: Unions appear united against Janus decision
PennLive: Is Pa’s Keith Rothfus on GOP’s endangered species list? | Tuesday Morning Coffee
Morning Call: Wake-up Call: Kavanaugh hearings to begin on Capitol Hill

Philadelphia
Inquirer: How Philadelphia enjoyed — or didn’t — Made in America
Inquirer: Obituaries: Karen N. Chizeck, 59, political and nonprofit fund-raiser
Inquirer: Still no deal in Phila.-area Catholic teacher contract talks
Inquirer: Archbishop Chaput calls on pope to cancel conference on youth
Philadelphia Magazine: Former Philly Cop Who Shot Two Fleeing Black Suspects to Be Indicted
Philadelphia Magazine: How Malcolm Jenkins and Chris Long Made a Difference
Philadelphia Magazine: Pa. Auditor General to Probe Tuition Rates at Temple University
WHYY Newsworks: In year of labor pains and gains, Philly union members march
Billy Penn: Here’s who scored the most free ‘Mayor’s Box’ tickets last year
PGN: Philly gay teen among Young Heroes Award winners
Billy Penn: Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers: Remembering the 1,200 Philadelphians who died via overdose last year
KYW Newsradio: Man sentenced to life at 17 gets resentencing hearing; victim’s family pleads for incarceration
KYW Newsradio: Catholics4Change founder calls on lawmakers to take action against clergy abuse
KYW Newsradio: Philadelphia health officials observe Overdose Awareness Day

SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Polling favors Fitzpatrick, Democrats as election season heats up
Bucks County Courier Times: Pennridge teachers have tentative new five-year contract
Bucks County Courier Times: New Hope-Solebury closing in on new superintendent
Bucks County Courier Times: As Wolf, Wagner spar over school funding, local districts hope for more money
Pottstown Mercury: Quarry opponents join mining permit appeal
Delco Daily Times: Women sue Chester, city cop for harassment
Delco Daily Times: Brothers in Arms: Delco man shares personal memories of days as POW with John McCain
Delco Daily Times: Economic impact of PGA Tour, Tiger Woods coming to Delco

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: ‘Happy Labor Day!’ Former VP Biden joins thousands in Pittsburgh’s annual parade
WESA: PA-17 Is One Of The Top Districts Targeted By Republican PAC Money
WESA: If East Pittsburgh Disbands Its Police Department, It Would Be An Unusual Step In Allegheny County
WESA: The State Wants You To Weigh In On Your Future PWSA Bills
WESA: Pittsburgh Diocese Suspends Three Priests in Wake of New Abuse Allegations
City Paper: State Rep.-elect Summer Lee rallies with environmentalists for cleaner air
KDKA: Labor Day Brings Out Politicians From All Over
KDKA: Beaver County GOP Committee Secretary Resigns Over Racist Social Media Posts
KDKA: Cardinal Wuerl Gives No Indication He Will Resign Despite Pressure To Step Down
AP: County prison locked down after 11 workers sickened
Post-Gazette: In Greene County, school budgets are being hollowed out by dwindling coal reserves
Post-Gazette: Incoming county development chief: Prospect of landing Amazon’s HQ2 ‘is an enormous opportunity’
Post-Gazette: In Pittsburgh Diocese, millions in payments for clergy abuse, and a disputed fraud accusation
Tribune Review: Medical marijuana dispensary opening in Uniontown

SWPA
Beaver County Times: County GOP secretary called black NFL players ‘baboons’ in Facebook post
Beaver County Times: Former Ambridge priest among three placed on administrative leave following sexual abuse allegations
Beaver County Times: SS. Peter and Paul Church removes pastor’s name from building
AP: Pennsylvania GOP official resigns over racist Facebook posts
Observer-Reporter: Mon Valley Opioid Coalition plans kickoff parade in conjunction with National Night Out
Observer-Reporter: Unions appear united against Janus decision
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Legislator puts heat on CamTran in busing dispute

NEPA
Citizens Voice: W-B police not yet using policy system
The Times Leader: Unions members celebrate organized labor at Kirby Park festival
The Times Leader: Legislators, outdoors groups urge renewal of Land and Water Conservation Fund
The Times Leader: Luzerne County audit completion pressure building
Times-Tribune: Clarks Summit borough council considers tax credit for volunteer firefighters

South Central
PennLive: Fatal drug overdoses spike in Harrisburg
PennLive: Is Pa’s Keith Rothfus on GOP’s endangered species list? | Tuesday Morning Coffee
LNP | LancasterOnline: On Politics: Pennsylvanians believe in Russian threat; candidate forum in Christiana; and Wagner to host Lancaster fundraiser

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Wake-up Call: Kavanaugh hearings to begin on Capitol Hill
Morning Call: How are Bob Casey, Lou Barletta pitching voters in their TV ads?
Morning Call: Ed Pawlowski co-defendant Scott Allinson released from prison as he appeals
Reading Eagle: Focus on Issues: Trish Wertz vs Jim Cox
Reading Eagle: City, county officials offer thoughts on Spencer guilty verdict  

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun Gazette: DEP given approval to study Grafius Run
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Council asks finance chief to explain bills past due
Erie Times-News: Union workers display pride at annual Labor Day parade
Erie Times-News: US House races loom largest in Pennsylvania campaign sprint
AP: US House races loom largest in Pennsylvania campaign sprint

Opinion
Citizens Voice Editorial Board: Vatican needs to weed out those responsible for child sex abuse
Times-Tribune Editorial Board: Timlin’s case illustrative
Inquirer Editorial Board: Plenty of ways to pay for cash assistance for Pennsylvania’s neediest people
Christine Flowers: Remembering some of the many priests who did good, not evil
Alex Braden: Helping tenants register to vote | Ideas We Should Steal
Stephen Fried: Philadelphia’s other Benjamin: founding father Benjamin Rush’s lasting legacy | Philly History
Joseph Minott: To keep enjoying outdoor spaces, Philly air quality needs improvement
Antony Davies and James R. Harrigan: The closer any country has gotten to pure socialism, the more miserable it has become
Rick Bloomingdale: Working Pennsylvanians need the support of legislators after Janus
Helen Gym: Fair Workweek first step in better working conditions for Philadelphians
Inquirer Editorial Board: Why it’s an unhappy Labor Day for many workers
Helen Ubiñas: Trump targets Latinos at the border now, but who’s next?
Stu Bykofsky: Who cares about the Menendez murderers? An ex-Philadelphian
Inquirer Editorial Board: Pope Francis must lead the Catholic Church toward truth and transparency
Will Bunch: Is obscure GOP consultant Sam Patten the missing link in the Trump-Russia probe?
Dick Polman: Obama, Bush, and Hemingway: McCain’s gifts to a troubled nation
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: The brain on pollution: A new study links air quality and cognition
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Justice for the Rohingya: The U.N. must hold ‘genocidal’ leaders to account
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: The truth about trade: Democrats abandon their mission and message
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Destination Pittsburgh: The city gets a travel nod from a British magazine
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Beware fake friends: The Iranians are interfering in U.S. affairs, too
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Plug the real holes: Questioning old border births is immigration folly
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: The fight against lead: Fountains, housing show the continuing threat
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Justice delayed: Nazi camp guard’s deportation is a responsible step