Exclusive: Tom Smith added a big name to his nascent bid for U.S. Senate today. Mark Harris, manager of Pat Toomey’s successful effort in 2010, will serve as general consultant for Smith’s campaign to take on Senator Bob Casey. Smith, who has pledged his own seed money, is a Tea Party leader and 20+ year veteran of the coal industry.

Jobs, jobs, jobs. It’s the number one issue on voters’ minds, and the candidates for Allegheny County Executive know it. Over the past week, they have launched a sparring match about job creation and modernization of county government.

James Spang, the man who served as sergeant at arms and head of security for the PA Democratic Party for nearly two decades has been accused of sexually assaulting a man in the bar of the Sands casino in Bethlehem.

Redistricting Rundown: Here’s the latest on what’s next for the redistricting process.

It’s the beginning of a new school year in Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania Democrats are on a full-court press to emphasize the impacts of budget cuts in districts across the state.

National
Houston Chronicle: DEP Investigates PA Methane Contamination
Washington Post: PA Succeeds with Health Care Enrollment
US Politics Today: Sentencing Reform Gains Support in PA
Abington Journal: Toomey Discusses Signage Legislation
The State Column: Senator Casey Makes A Statement on Libya
Associated Press: Barletta Continues to Back Out of Town Halls
TriValley Central: Rep Altmire Expects Balanced Budget Amendment to Pass
No Limit Strategy: Gerlach Sponsors Online Poker Bill
The Morning Call: Santorum Coming Home
Post-Gazette: Panel to report on controversial medical research project
Post-Gazette: In visit to Japan, Biden seeks to inspire recovery
Associated Press: Budget deficit slips to $1.28T; red ink continues
AP, Indiana Gazette: GOP using redistricting to protect seats
Somerset Daily American: Rick Perry leads GOP field in new Gallup poll

Statewide
Post-Gazette: Corbett Official, GOP Back Voter ID Bill
Post Gazette: Court to Reweigh Fumo’s Sentencing
WHYY Newsworks: PEMA Pleased With Handling Of Earthquake Aftermath
The Patriot-News: PennDOT Workers Inspecting Highways, Bridges After Earthquake Tremors Felt in Central Pennsylvania
WHYY Newsworks: Voter ID Debate Touches On Fraud Vs. Voter Protections
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. Bill Makes Teacher Strikes Illegal
Pittsburgh Tribune- Review: Education Chief Criticizes ‘Frivolous’ Requests for Funds
Erie Times News: Pa. Ban on Bath Salts, Synthetic Pot Takes Effect
Republican Herald: DA Supports Emergency Drug Bans
Reuters: Former PA Powerbroker to Be Resentenced
Pittsburgh Business Times: Profits Up For Commercial Banks in PA
Pennsylvania Senate Republican News: Senate Education Committee to Hold Hearing on Charter School Reform Bill
Philadelphia Inquirer: Pa. Auditor General Wants to Know Who Gave Ackerman’s Buyout Fund
Early Returns: Daily Santorum: Eye of the Hurricane
AP, Observer Reporter: Court nixes ex-Pa. senator’s short prison sentence

Philly
PhillyNow: Republican Council Candidate David Oh’s Military Service Called Into Question
Heard In The Hall: Ackerman Blames Politics
WHYY Newsworks: Phila. Court Workers Were Trapped By Locked Fire Exits During Earthquake

Pittsburgh
KDKA: Low job approval ratings for Ravenstahl
KDKA: Ravenstahl under fire
Tribune Review: State Voter ID bill gets backing

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Wyomissing lawyer to help review applicants for federal judgeship
Express Times: DA: No charges for couple who failed to strap child in car seat before fatal crash
Express Times: Rep. Joe Brennan applies for first-time offender program to erase DUI charge

Southwest
AP, Post-Gazette: Lawrence commissioners vote to aid casino project

South Central
Patriot-News: Activist Gene Stilp Draws Few To Harrisburg Commuter-Tax Protest, But Says ‘Pignelope Speaks For Herself’
Patriot News: Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett takes to the outdoors
Patriot News: Former Pa. deputy labor secretary who quit after DUI crash in state car sues for pay, benefits
The Sentinel: Cumberland County officials face nursing home dilemma
York Dispatch: County ends ‘double-dipping’ for tax break properties

NEPA
Times Tribune: NEIU board makes changes to policy to prevent another controversy
Times Tribune: Barletta denies ducking critics
Times Tribune: Commissioners award $770,000 in contracts for work at two parks
Standard Speaker: Official for less finger-pointing, more auditing from controller
The Daily Review: Libous meets with constituents in Waverly
Go Lackawanna: School reps mull funding cutbacks
Pocono Record: Santorum coming to LV to raise campaign funds

North By Northwest
Erie Times – News: What do you think about congressional travel?
Erie Times – News: Pa. begins legislative redistricting process; website launched
Courier Express: Union ready for start of school amid changes
Sun Gazette: High school begins school year with $2.1 million grant

Opinion
Baer Growls: Fumo, again? Really?
Patriot News Editorial: Driver’s License Test Fee is Good Start Toward Needed Transportation Funding
Young Philly Politics: Living in “Hamsterdam”
Penn Patriot Blog: It’s the Spending Stupid: A Crucial Historical Look at Federal-Government Spending
From the Kitchen Table: Endowed Not Entitled
Center for Vision & Values at Grove City College: Obama: From Truman’s Whistle-Stop to Wilsonian Folly
Philadelphia Inquirer: Ackerman Blames the Politics
Early Returns: Daily Santorum: Eye of the Hurricane
Keystone Politics: Who Paid off Arlene to Exit Philly’s Schools?
Keystone Politics: State Senate Will Address Voter ID Bill
The Pennsylvania Progressive: Could It Be the Weather?: More Pennsylvanians Drop Under the Poverty Level
Third and State: News Flash: PA Public-Sector Jobs Not Path to Riches
2 Political Junkies: Unnatural Disaster: PoliticsPA Reports Santorum is Planning 3 Day Fundraiser in PA
State House Soundbites: Nothing To See Here, Says PEMA After Earthquake
Tribune Review: Baiting the Bear?
Tribune Review: Yes, Virginia, there is a surplus
Tribune Review: Leave the U.N. behind: No more ‘kick me’
Tribune Review: Santorum’s ‘record’
Morning Call: Child labor laws: Revisions would aid teens and employers
Morning Call: Revise laws but dont expand child’s hours
Courier Express: State right-to-work debate could prefigure 2012 national debate on Obamacare
Altoona Mirror: Quick Obamacare ruling needed
Altoona Mirror: Ask politicians hard questions
Times Leader Editorial: Barletta Should keep his promise
Beaver County Times: A fire sale of state’s assets