The RNC Chair touted President Donald Trump’s economic policies in a roundtable event in Philly. The Washington Post places Rep. Scott Perry’s seat on a list of top 10 most likely to flip in 2020. Here is the Playbook. 

WaPo: Perry Seat Listed on Top 10 Most Likely To Flip: The Washington Post credited Perry being on the list in large part because of redistricting, narrowly winning reelection last year, and the possibility of facing a “uniquely strong” Democratic candidate.

RNC Chair Touts Trump Economy At Philly Roundtable Event: The head of the Republican National Committee and the Trump Victory team stopped in Pennsylvania as a part of their 17 state “Open for Business” tour touting President Trump’s economic record to key voters. 

Harrisburg & DC   
Inquirer: Here’s the anti-gerrymandering proposal from Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf’s Redistricting Reform Commission
Inquirer: Spotlight PA: Unrivaled team of investigative reporters to hold the powerful to account in Pa. capital 
Inquirer: A welcome shake up? Or a menace? How Pa. Dems who backed Trump feel about the president now.
Inquirer: About that poll showing Joe Biden slipping? Maybe not.
Inquirer: New pipeline deal to bring in more Midwestern fuel into Pennsylvania
Inquirer: Pennsylvania’s smallest daily newspaper finds success with happy news, sports rivalries, and hordes of feral cats
Politico: Republicans grow anxious about the Trump economy
Altoona Mirror: Ex-PA legislator Geist dies of heart attack  
AP: Report says panel, not lawmakers, should redraw districts  
AP: Pennsylvania officials seek to abate lead poisoning dangers
AP: Correction: Clergy Abuse-Pennsylvania Lawsuit story
AP: Maryland concerned about Pennsylvania’s water plans for bay
AP: Man accused of driving into protesters gets probation
KDKA: Pa. Officials Debate Mandating Lead Poisoning Blood Tests For Children  
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pennsylvania moves to close Luzerne County state prison, as state lawmakers voice opposition
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Corrections secretary recommends better communication after five Pennsylvania parolees implicated in string of homicides
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Maryland Gov. Hogan to Wolf: Pa. needs to up its game on Chesapeake Bay cleanup 
WITF: Pa. DOC recommends changes to monitoring parolees after recent homicides 
WITF: Study finds Pennsylvanians are working more than their neighbors to fill up gas tanks
Philadelphia Business Journal: Pa. fines Sunoco $313K for pipeline construction violations
PLSReporter: Pa. redistricting report calls for independent citizens commission 
PLSReporter: Following recent murders, Department of Corrections outlines parole changes 
PLSReporter: Right 2 Know Episode 21: Sit down with Rep. Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland) 
PLSReporter: Tweets of the Week – August 26, 2019 
PLSReporter: 3 under 3!
Philly Voice: Donald Trump Jr. says attending The Hill School in Pottstown taught him about the working class
Morning Call: Pat Toomey says a breakthrough on expanding gun background checks ‘might be close’ as he works with President Trump 
Morning Call: Cases of beer at Wal-Mart in Pennsylvania? Not so fast
StateImpactPA: DEP fines Sunoco/Energy Transfer $313K for Mariner East construction violations
StateImpactPA: Trump administration wants to roll back methane regulations — but some oil companies would rather keep the rules
Beaver County Times: Bill would limit witness warrants against abuse victims

Philadelphia 
Philly Clout: Controversy brewing for Tracey Gordon, even before she takes over as Philly’s register of wills
Inquirer: Leading by exemption? Philly carves government offices out of city’s ban on cashless stores. 
Inquirer: Immigration activists plan major ninja-style demonstration outside Philly ICE on Saturday 
Inquirer: Philly cops shot during Tioga standoff say they feel ‘blessed’ to be alive
Inquirer: Police forces in Philly region are among 400 that have partnered with doorbell company Ring 
Inquirer: New teachers, nurses, AC: what’s on the horizon for Philly schools
WHYY Newsworks: New uses, even non-use, will complicate ongoing PES refinery cleanup, DEP says 
KYW Newsradio: Hahnemann nurses argue Jefferson is preventing potential sale 
Philly Voice: Donald Trump Jr. says attending The Hill School in Pottstown taught him about the working class

SEPA
Daily Local News: Chester County commissioners establish pipeline safety advisory board 
Daily Local News: Otten, community members submit pipeline safety letter to PUC
Daily Local News: League of Women Voters urges residents to register to vote
Inquirer: In Delco, an alleged ‘fake news’ reporter heads to trial
Delco Daily Times: Dem councilman takes issue with security system contract renewal 
Pottstown Mercury: Upper Pottsgrove ‘conflicts’ resolution passes, Taylor says he won’t resign  

Pittsburgh  
Post-Gazette: Gov. Wolf launches push for mandatory lead testing in children statewide 
Post-Gazette: ‘It’s not simply a police issue.’ Peduto touts varied approach to address Downtown stabbings 
Post-Gazette: Elections board to discuss voting machine search committee report
Post-Gazette: Trump’s plan to grow apprenticeships — with or without unions — splits construction industry
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and partners launch Spotlight PA investigative newsroom to hold the powerful in Pa. to account 
Post-Gazette: Council, residents reach agreement on food truck operations
Post-Gazette: State OKs another grant — $2 million this time — to help fuel airport innovation campus 
KDKA: Pa. Officials Debate Mandating Lead Poisoning Blood Tests For Children
KDKA: Mayor Peduto Plans To Add More Police Downtown To Address Uptick In Crime
KDKA: Peduto Triples Paving In City, Pursuing Loftier Goals 
Pittsburgh Business Times: DEP: Brownfield cleanup a reason for the severance-tax fueled Restore PA
Tribune Review: Peduto wants mini police station in Downtown to quell Pittsburgh crime 
Tribune Review: Gov. Wolf presents Lead Free PA at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh 
Tribune Review: Bell Acres councilman accused of driving through Antwon Rose protesters gets probation
PLSReporter: Allegheny County Council votes against establishing Countywide Civilian Police Review Board
WESA: Swatson Out, Other Independent Candidates Remain On November Ballot — At Least For Now 

SWPA
Altoona Mirror: Ex-PA legislator Geist dies of heart attack  
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: WATCH VIDEO | Three state legislators provide positive economic, political landscape 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Sen. Langerholc honored with Guardian of Victims’ Rights Award 
Beaver County Times: Environmental groups call for moratorium on pipelines  
Observer-Reporter: Jobless rates increase across seven-county region  

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Yudichak, Baker, union vow to fight SCI-Retreat closure  
Citizens Voice: State planning to close SCI-Retreat  
Citizens Voice: Four lawsuits filed against Scranton Diocese for alleged sexual abuse
Times-Tribune: Pennsylvania reveals its plans to close Luzerne County prison
Times-Tribune: Four lawsuits filed against Scranton Diocese for alleged sexual abuse 
Times-Tribune: Regional airports get slice of $13.7 million in upgrade funds
The Times Leader: Union: Wyoming Area teachers will be out of school Tuesday

South Central  
Carlisle Sentinel: DEP: Sunoco’s Mariner East 2 construction caused accelerated erosion, sedimentation in Cumberland County 
Patriot News: PennLive/The Patriot-News joins forces with Spotlight PA to cover state government 
Patriot News: PHEAA plans to close loan servicing center in Philly suburbs
York Dispatch: Grove asks constituents to gripe about bad roads 
York Dispatch: Lawsuit: Reading mayor scuttled York City job for former employee
Lehigh Valley    
Morning Call: U.S. Rep. Susan Wild talks impeachment, guns and B. Braun’s air pollution during her latest Lehigh Valley town hall 
Morning Call: Pat Toomey says a breakthrough on expanding gun background checks ‘might be close’ as he works with President Trump 
Morning Call: Easton to use state ethics panel; mayor says city’s commission unnecessary 
Morning Call: Now up for bid: Contract to demolish Allentown State Hospital 
Morning Call: Abortion protester’s language ‘irresponsible and repugnant,’ but not threatening, judge rules 
Morning Call: Cases of beer at Wal-Mart in Pennsylvania? Not so fast
Reading Eagle: Former Reading Mayor Vaughn Spencer’s appeal asks for shorter sentence
Express Times: Tariffs, Trump tweets and bike trails: Everything Pat Toomey spoke about with Lehigh Valley business leaders
Express Times: This Lehigh Valley resident has been nominated to become a federal judge

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Wolf to Erie educators: Charter school law ‘outdated’ 
Erie Times-News: Erie Coke hit with $200,000 wastewater penalty
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: US lawmaker tours dam near South Williamsport 
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Grafius Run funding may be included in DEP capital budget 
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Comms approve bond refinancing ordinance 
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Federal funding to shrink for juvenile welfare departments
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Downtown project not on council’s radar

Opinion  
Inquirer Editorial Board: You are more likely to win a coin toss than be caught for murder in Philadelphia 
Inquirer Staff: Would opening a supervised injection site violate existing federal law? Pro/Con 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Peduto is MIA: Mayor should use his position to address real issues 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Paid parental leave: U.S. needs to catch up, provide adequate options
John L. Micek: ‘A child can’t learn when they’re hungry:’ Pa’s Wolf, other guvs protest Trump’s food stamps cuts | Thursday Morning Coffee
Erik Gordon: Companies don’t need permission from the Business Roundtable to be better corporate citizens
Paul Muschick: Pennsylvania’s cyber charter schools perform poorly and are overpaid. So why do we put up with them?
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: The no-tears Johnson & Johnson opioid settlement
Abdul-Aliy A. Muhammad: How Popeyes’ viral chicken sandwich made me reflect on black joy
Christine Flowers: Bret Stephens reveals he’s a snowflake 
Jenice Armstrong: This country has ‘99 Problems’ and the deal Jay-Z made with the NFL shouldn’t be one 
Inga Saffron: The charter school goes upmarket with opening of two suburban-style campuses in Northeast Philadelphia 
Brian O’Neill: Where does the water go?