An Emerson College poll shows Biden leading Trump by 9 points in PA, while Eugene DePasquale releases his first TV ad of the general election. Here is the Playbook.

Emerson Poll: Biden 52, Trump 43: Biden leads Trump by 9 points in Pennsylvania, while his lead shrinks to 4 points in Arizona, and Trump is ahead by 2 points in North Carolina.

PA10: DePasquale Opening TV Ad Touts Working Class Roots: The Dem challenger’s first TV ad takes place in a bar/restaurant and talks about working at his family’s restaurant growing up.
Harrisburg & DC   
Spotlight PA: Inside some Pennsylvania rehabs, ‘it’s like COVID doesn’t exist’ 
Spotlight PA: Spotlight PA partners with Triblive/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, expands coverage of Western Pa. 
Spotlight PA: Students at Penn State forced to sign COVID-19 liability waiver to participate in fall semester 
Spotlight PA: Help Spotlight PA build a diverse source database to improve representation in Pa. journalism
AP: PIAA wants meeting about ‘possible options’ for sports
Patriot News: Trump scheduled to visit Scranton next week
Patriot News: Is Trump coming to Gettysburg? ‘You know as much as we do,’ Park Service official says 
Patriot News: Pa. state university system looking to dispose of its headquarters 
Patriot News: Pa. judge who called Black juror ‘Aunt Jemima’ hit with disciplinary charges over inappropriate comments
Patriot News: Where are Pennsylvania’s 121,130 coronavirus cases? Aug. 12 map, county-by-county breakdown
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. Lawmaker: It’s not government’s responsibility to ‘try to keep us safe’
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Western Pa. judge who used racial slurs, inappropriate comments charged with violating judicial code of conduct
York Daily Record: Police can have sex with people they’re investigating. A bill would make it a crime in Pa.
Morning Call: What Kamala Harris brings to the Democratic ticket as Joe Biden seeks to flip Pennsylvania blue
Morning Call: PIAA tells Gov. Wolf not holding Pennsylvania fall sports won’t eliminate youth coronavirus risk, it will just shift it elsewhere 
Reading Eagle: State officials warn Pennsylvanians to be wary of contact tracing scams
Reading Eagle: Pa. House candidate Manny Guzman Jr. under fire for controversial tweets 
PLSReporter: Lawmakers plan eviction mitigation legislation ahead of impending moratorium end date
PLSReporter: Despite progress on processing a record number of UC claims, few are satisfied
Delaware Valley Journal: Biden Campaign Adviser in PA Called Women ‘Hoes’ and ‘B*tches’ on Social Media
Post-Gazette: New rules to reduce methane controls will be announced by EPA on Thursday
Express Times: Pa. counties can help past-due residence renters who meet criteria in time of coronavirus
StateImpactPA: Paddle protest at Marsh Creek Lake calls for Mariner East shutdown 
StateImpactPA: A new advisory panel on climate change starts work at DRBC
KDKA: Jenna Ellis, Campaign Advisor For Pres. Donald Trump, Won’t Apologize For Knowingly Misgendering Pa. Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine
KDKA: Democratic National Convention Putting Safety First With Virtual Event
KDKA: Pennsylvania Lawmakers Meet To Solve Problems With Unemployment Benefits
KDKA: Pennsylvania Makes Online Ballot Application Available In Spanish 
KYW Newsradio: Former Pa. Gov. Rendell applauds VP pick, says Harris is ‘exactly what we want’
Inquirer: ‘I am ready to get to work’: Kamala Harris campaigns with Joe Biden for the first time
The Hill: Biden leads Trump in 5 of 6 battleground states: poll
The Hill: NAACP seeks to boost Black voter turnout in six states
The Hill: Several local newspapers lose newsrooms in Tribune Publishing cuts
CNN: Children’s theme park employee punched in the face for enforcing park’s mask policy
Real Clear Politics: A Battle of Two Pennsylvania Counties

Philadelphia 
KYW Newsradio: Philly lawmakers continue to press for answers on day 2 of gun violence emergency hearing
KYW Newsradio: For some Philadelphia politicos, Biden’s VP pick adds excitement to election
KYW Newsradio: DA Krasner rejects any notion his policies contribute to Philly’s gun violence spike
KYW Newsradio: Commission unanimously approves city’s removal of Columbus statue from Marconi Plaza
KYW Newsradio: Former Pa. Gov. Rendell applauds VP pick, says Harris is ‘exactly what we want’
WHYY Newsworks: Gun violence hearings leave Philly councilmembers, residents ‘disheartened’ and ‘tired’ 
WHYY Newsworks: Pharma company pledges $10 million to Philly students to help diversify STEM careers 
Inquirer: As shootings climb, Philly City Council asks: Where is the urgency?
Inquirer: Plans to move Columbus statue to temporary storage get Art Commission approval, but judge orders stay 
Inquirer: A $10 million pledge to get more Philly Black, Latinx people, women in STEM careers 
Billy Penn: ‘Would you like a mask?’ SEPTA’s social distancing coaches are getting a pretty good response 
Billy Penn: Marian Anderson defended civil rights, broke racial barriers, defied the Nazis — and her South Philly museum needs help
Philadelphia Gay News: Free-speech advocate challenges new state antibias rule 
Philly Voice: Philly Art Commission votes to remove Christopher Columbus statue from Marconi Plaza

SEPA
Delco Daily Times: Mayor’s moves on Upper Darby police draw fire from GOP, FOP 
Delco Daily Times: Supporters rally to ‘Back the Blue’ in Parkside 
Daily Local News: Kayakers rally at Marsh Creek Lake
Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks reacts to Biden’s historic pick: ‘She is a fighter’ 

Pittsburgh 
WESA: Allegheny County Health Department Pleads With Restaurants, Bars To Follow Regulations  
Tribune Review: Allegheny County officials urge vigilance as some schools prepare to reopen  
Tribune Review: Board recommends suspension of Allegheny County judge for alleged racial comments 
Tribune Review: Trib partners with investigative nonprofit Spotlight PA 
Tribune Review:  Allegheny County reports 13 new coronavirus deaths
Post-Gazette: Allegheny County Judge Tranquilli charged with judicial misconduct
Post-Gazette: Mt. Lebanon parents protest all-remote school reopening proposal
Post-Gazette: COVID-19 Update: Allegheny County reports 70 new cases, 13 more deaths
KDKA: ‘Restaurant Revolution’: Restaurant Owners Encourage Others To Open At Full Capacity In Defiance Of Gov. Wolf’s Order 
KDKA: Pa. Court Of Judicial Discipline Files Misconduct Charges Against Former Judge Mark Tranquilli 
Pittsburgh Business Times: County officials urge restaurants not to ‘go rogue’ over Covid-19 restrictions 

SWPA 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: ‘Going in the right direction’: Johnstown’s finances in black for 4th straight year 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Lawmakers blast delayed responses on jobless claims 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Inmate COVID-19 cases continuing to increase in region
KDKA: Pennsylvania Attorney General Says Brighton Rehab Part Of Criminal Investigation
KDKA: Canonsburg Forming ‘Diversity And Inclusion Recognition’ Task Force 
Post-Gazette: State AG confirms Brighton Rehab part of criminal investigation
Post-Gazette: Over 100 people have tested positive for COVID-19 at Fayette County Prison, official says 
Tribune Review: AG Shapiro confirms investigation into embattled Brighton Rehab nursing home in Beaver County
Tribune Review: New Westmoreland GOP head wants to expand on party’s success
Altoona Mirror: Blair commissioners reconvene meeting
Observer-Reporter: Allegheny County has 13 new COVID-19 deaths
Beaver County Times: Ambridge hires Monaca’s borough manager as its own 
Beaver County Times: Allegheny County Health Director backs Gov. Wolf’s recommendation to postpone sports

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Trump may visit Scranton next week 
Citizens Voice: NAACP asks AG Shapiro to investigate Mackey death 
Citizens Voice: Wilkes-Barre racial profiling ordinance on hold 
Citizens Voice: 49 new COVID-19 cases reported in Luzerne County
Times-Tribune: Trump may visit Scranton next week 
Times-Tribune: Cognetti taps ethics board chairwoman Mary Jo Sheridan as next city treasurer 
Times-Tribune: No new COVID-19 deaths, but Luzerne cases spike again
The Times Leader: Trump expected to visit Scranton area next Thursday 
The Times Leader: Harris reaction: Dems love her; GOP not so much 
The Times Leader: Pressure for answers in Luzerne County prison death 
The Times Leader: 49 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Luzerne County; 849 statewide

South Central 
Patriot News: Is Trump coming to Gettysburg? ‘You know as much as we do,’ Park Service official says
Patriot News: Pa. state university system looking to dispose of its headquarters 
LNP | LancasterOnline: ‘I feel the history behind it’: Lancaster County residents react to Kamala Harris as VP pick 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Sorace joins other Pennsylvania mayors to plead to Congress for direct COVID-19 aid 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Thursday’s COVID-19 updates: Pa. up to 121K cases; Lancaster County surpasses 6K total cases 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Wednesday’s COVID-19 updates: Pa. up to 121K cases; Lancaster County surpasses 6K total cases
Carlisle Sentinel: DOH: 16 new COVID-19 cases reported Wednesday in Cumberland County; York sees another spike
York Dispatch: Possibility of Trump acceptance speech in Gettysburg divides 
York Dispatch: York County doles out $4.6M to tourism, nonprofit orgs reeling from COVID-19 
York Dispatch: York County nears 100 deaths linked to COVID-19, 43 new cases
York Daily Record: Panels share context of Gettysburg monuments
York Daily Record: Why ‘incredible’ Gettysburg is on Trump’s list
York Daily Record: See who gets York County’s CARES Act funding

Lehigh Valley      
Reading Eagle: Pa. House candidate Manny Guzman Jr. under fire for controversial tweets 
Reading Eagle: House committee hearing examines problems facing the Pennsylvania unemployment compensation system 
Reading Eagle: Reading struggling to get desired response level for the 2020 Census [MAP] 
Reading Eagle: 39 more coronavirus cases for Berks County in state reporting
Express Times: Bethlehem City Council doesn’t plan to defund the police. It wants to tackle systemic racism.
Express Times: Pa. counties can help past-due residence renters who meet criteria in time of coronavirus
Express Times: Pa. coronavirus updates: 849 new cases; Lehigh County hits 5K total cases; Penn State’s liability waiver raises questions | Pa. COVID-19 map (08/12/20) 
Morning Call: Allentown City Council vows to further debate police oversight, funding measures; Zucal says officers are demoralized 
Morning Call: Allentown City Council approves settlement deal with Lehigh County Authority over water-sewer lease disputes 
Morning Call: The Morning Call to vacate Allentown office building after 100 years in downtown location 

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: John Pence: Harris pick proves Dems ‘controlled radical left’ 
Erie Times-News: Erie seeks consultant’s advice on reopening City Hall 
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Evangelical officials seek more funding, PPE, telehealth permanence
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Concerns of restaurant, bar owners addressed at meeting
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Commissioners debate COVID-19, education
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Hybrid, remote learning suggested for Lycoming County
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Lycoming County set to receive Community Development Block Grant funds
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: City approves previously denied transit contract
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Lycoming County four new COVID-19 cases
Centre Daily Times: Reopening updates: Centre County adds 4 new cases of COVID-19, and other updates for Aug. 12

Opinion  
Doug Mastriano: Wolf is the ‘extremist’ — not me 
John Baer: Will Gov. Tom Wolf’s coronavirus rules push Pa. voters to Trump? 
Charlie Dent: Harris brings enthusiasm to Biden campaign
York Dispatch Editorial Board: Kill the state’s ‘syphilis law,’ GOP
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Why Biden blew it
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Healing the wounds of civil war
Jean Handley: When will Sen. John DiSanto’s actions on redistricting reform match his rhetoric?
Collin O’Mara and Jacquelyn Bonomo: To create jobs and protect public lands, Pa. needs a conservation corps 
John L. Micek: With relief talks at a standstill, states look to Washington for signals on COVID-19 aid | Wednesday Morning Coffee
John L. Micek: Trump is ancient history. Kamala Harris is America as it is now 
Paul Muschick: Coronavirus face masks: Which are most, and least, effective
Helen Ubiñas: Children of Philadelphia, we adults have abandoned you 
Bill White: Coronavirus pandemic proves value of public health spending
Albert Eisenberg: The Progressive Vs Bigot Conundrum 
Christine Flowers: Weaponizing ‘racist’ label is used to silence dissent
JD Mullane: Without your help, local homeless face dire winter
Jason Han: For this Philly doctor, relationships with patients help avoid burnout | Expert Opinion
Jenice Armstrong: Kamala Harris is a Howard grad like I am. Let me school you about what that means. 
Neil Goh: Asian Americans represent untapped voting power in the U.S. 
Kelly Croce Sorg: ‘You were so racist’: How being called out helped me fight my own white supremacy. 
Aurora Archer: ‘No white people today’: Sometimes, I just need a break from dismantling white supremacy 
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Kamala’s got Trump by the long hairs