Former state Rep. Brian Ellis will not be charged over a sexual assault claim. Sen. Bernie Sanders receives a union endorsement during a campaign stop in Pittsburgh. Here is the Playbook. 

No Charges Recommended Against Ellis After Sexual Assault Claim: The Dauphin County District Attorney agreed with the grand jury report that charges should not be pursued against the former Butler County state representative, but did recommend the creation of a new independent office to investigate misconduct.

Sanders Receives UE Endorsement in Pittsburgh Visit: The 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful lauded the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America as being one of the most progressive unions in the country while speaking at their national convention in Pittsburgh.

Harrisburg & DC   
Patriot News: Former Butler County state lawmaker Brian Ellis will not be charged in sexual misconduct case 
Patriot News: Pennsylvania grand jury calls for a new system for investigating claims of sexual, other misconduct by lawmakers 
Patriot News: Pa. legislative leaders aren’t rushing to support grand jury’s proposal for creation of new approach to member discipline 
Patriot News: What Pa. casino raked in the most money in July? Latest state data shows revenue up for table games, down for slots
AP: Prosecutor won’t charge ex-lawmaker over sex assault claim 
Inquirer: Woman who accused ex-Pa. lawmaker of rape ‘credible,’ but no charges will be brought, DA says
Inquirer: Don’t count on tax revenues from legal marijuana sales, study says. Locals say balderdash.
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Grand jury recommends no charges against ex-state rep. accused of sexual assault but pushes Legislature for reforms 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. Rep. Dwight Evans: Trump isn’t a ‘reliable’ partner on gun control 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa.’s Shapiro one of 20 attorneys general suing Trump administration over proposed family detention policy 
Beaver County Times: Bernie Sanders endorsed by Pittsburgh-based labor union
PLSReporter: Dauphin County DA announces no charges against former rep; offers recommendations for legislature to deal with sexual assault accusations
PLSReporter: Grand Jury Report on Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church-One Year Later 
PLSReporter: Congressman Dwight Evans preaches bipartisanship at press club luncheon 
Politico: Haley-Pence rivalry heats up as GOP weighs post-Trump future
WITF: Grand Jury Advises Legislature Overhaul Its Sexual Harassment Reporting
Post-Gazette: The Amish vote and what it means for 2020  
Post-Gazette: One year since a court ruling threatened public sector unions, leaders say they’re in good shape 
StateImpactPA: Wolf tells pipeline activists he won’t shut down Mariner East
StateImpactPA: ‘We don’t understand why they haven’t done this yet’: Groups sue US Steel over emissions data
Observer-Reporter: State police saw slight increase in 2018 DUI arrests  

Philadelphia
Philadelphia Magazine: Sanders and Warren Support Safe Injection Sites. Here’s What That Could Mean for Philly
Inquirer: Councilwoman Helen Gym endorses third-party candidate, angers Philly Dems 
Inquirer: 4 takeaways from an interview with acting Philly Police Commissioner Christine Coulter 
Inquirer: Philly is asking residents to rate its services. How do cities measure how they’re doing? 
Inquirer: Philly’s sidewalks are so bad they violate federal law protecting people with disabilities, lawsuit contends 
Inquirer: After Inquirer probe, Philly jails will release prisoners earlier and with all of their belongings
Billy Penn: Layla Jones is Billy Penn’s newest reporter 
KYW Newsradio: PES refinery clean-up continues with rare, risky process to destroy toxic chemical  
KYW Newsradio: Philly City Councilwoman endorses third party candidate for same office seat she seeks

SEPA
Delco Daily Times: Micozzie blames Dems for Drexeline Plaza delays 
Daily Local News: Sappey to hold policy hearing on government challenges with stormwater management
Daily Local News: Robocall epidemic continues to grow; Pennsylvania ranks high in number of complaints
Daily Local News: Comitta announces annual senior expo at West Chester East High School
Daily Local News: West Chester Borough Council enacts tree ordinance
Inquirer: 800 nurses at this Bucks County hospital just voted to unionize 
Roxborough Review: Rep. DeLissio holds town hall session

Pittsburgh  
WESA: In Pittsburgh Visit, Sanders Picks Up First National Labor Endorsement 
KDKA: Sanders Picks Up Union Endorsement, Praises Workers For Standing Up To Pittsburgh-Based Wabtec 
Post-Gazette: Bernie Sanders picks up union endorsement during stop in Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Few freshman congressman get bills passed — Guy Reschenthaler did 
Post-Gazette: Justice Department to seek death penalty for Tree of Life suspect Robert Bowers
Post-Gazette: One year since a court ruling threatened public sector unions, leaders say they’re in good shape 
Post-Gazette: Advocates continue pushing for more passenger rail service from Pittsburgh to the east
Post-Gazette: Pitt suspends Chinese scholar program amid pressure from U.S. State Department 
Pittsburgh Business Times: U.S. Steel hit with another air pollution lawsuit 
Pittsburgh Business Times: Ethane pipeline’s capacity could be increased
Tribune Review: Feds to seek death penalty for accused Tree of Life gunman

SWPA
KDKA: Prosecutor Won’t Charge Ex-Lawmaker From Butler County Over Sex Assault Claim
Observer-Reporter: U.S. Steel facing new lawsuit over Mon Valley facilities
Tribune Review: Latrobe solicitor: Firecracker use in city violates state law
Altoona Mirror: Council eyes city curbs

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Requested tax break among hot topics for county council 
Citizens Voice: Wilkes-Barre Area approves additional bullet-resistant glass at new high school 
Citizens Voice: County ethics commission still weighing 2 complaints 
The Times Leader: Luzerne County ethics complaints pending 
The Times Leader: $1.1M project underway by Pa. American Water in Wilkes-Barre 
Times-Tribune: Scranton school directors see little benefit of moving to payroll tax 
Times-Tribune: Olyphant firetruck visits Lackawanna County commissioner candidate’s Dunmore park party 
South Central  
Patriot News: Former Butler County state lawmaker Brian Ellis will not be charged in sexual misconduct case 
Patriot News: Pennsylvania grand jury calls for a new system for investigating claims of sexual, other misconduct by lawmakers 
Patriot News: Pa. legislative leaders aren’t rushing to support grand jury’s proposal for creation of new approach to member discipline 
Patriot News: Optimism abounds as Harrisburg students, teachers return to classrooms for first week under state rule 
Carlisle Sentinel: Cumberland County plans to cut weight limit on Roush Bridge due to deterioration; replacement planned in 2021
York Daily Record: Md. governor wants to talk with Pa. about sewage 
York Dispatch: Trump’s trade rhetoric worries Pa. business leaders but doesn’t end support
LNP | LancasterOnline: Manheim Township supervisors save taxpayers $9M with income from shopping centers
LNP | LancasterOnline: Lancaster’s state lawmakers respond — or don’t — to current gun proposals

Lehigh Valley    
Morning Call: How a meeting over a routine board appointment became Bethlehem City Council’s most streamed video 
Morning Call: As school starts, social media becomes the catalyst to promote bus safety
Reading Eagle: 2 lawmakers hand out school supplies at Reading City Hall
Reading Eagle: Reading seeks state grant to make repairs to downtown courtyards 
Reading Eagle: Attendees at packed public hearing strongly oppose Boyertown schools’ possible closing of Pine Forge Elementary

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: McKernan will run as write-in candidate for commissioner
Erie Times-News: Erie water rates set to increase in 2020; study started

Opinion  
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Reversing a crisis: Naloxone must be readily available
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: States take on Big Tech: AG coalition set to join antitrust inquiries 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Find a better way: Schuylkill County’s ‘trailer morgue’ is a bad idea 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Shaking the pagoda tree: City should take responsibility for its parks, trees
Brian Sims and Donna Bullock: Not just the U.S. Women’s soccer team: Pa.’s women of color are missing wages they deserve 
John L. Micek: This Pa. House freshman is among Congress’ most bipartisan members | Monday Morning Coffee
Suzanne Cassidy: How an op-ed on the back burner turned red hot (and other insights into LNP Opinion)
Paul Muschick: There’s no place for prayer in the Pennsylvania state Capitol
Dick Polman: Democrats are wrong to turn their backs on anti-Trump Republicans 
Viktor Kagan: City Council’s food truck ban in 10th District hurts diversity and business 
JD Mullane: Why ‘recession’ talk strikes fear in the middle class
Tony Norman: The world turns even more absurd as the Amazon burns
Tyrone Freeman: 400 years of black giving: From the days of slavery to the 2019 Morehouse graduation
Erica Smith Fichman: Parks and Recreation tree partnerships need collaboration to take root 
Gene Therapy: Predicting the news can bring eyewitness blues