The Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association endorsed Lt. Gov. John Fetterman for U.S. Senate. Here is the Playbook. 

DLGA Endorses Fetterman for Senate: The Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association called Lt. Gov. John Fetterman a “strong, thoughtful” voice for the state in their endorsement.

Wolf Calls on Cuomo to Resign: Gov. Tom Wolf issued a joint statement along with three other Governors in the region saying that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo should resign following the investigation that found Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women.

‘York County officials nonplussed by Mastriano subpoena threat’: The York Dispatch reports that “pressure continues to mount on officials in York and two other Pennsylvania counties targeted by state Sen. Doug Mastriano’s request to audit the 2020 election.” However, “the York County commissioners aren’t saying much.”

‘State senator plans to subpoena Philadelphia for election materials’: KYW Newsradio reports that “an Arizona-style election audit could be coming soon to Pennsylvania if a group of Republican state senators has their way — even after counties denied their requests.”

‘Pa. attorney general defends proposed $26 billion opioid settlement in York County’: The York Daily Record reports that “Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro on Wednesday defended a proposed $26 billion settlement with several opioid distributers and a manufacturer, stating that he concluded that the need for the money in communities was real now.”

‘White House: Pennsylvania would receive billions from infrastructure bill’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “the bipartisan infrastructure deal advanced by Congress would deliver to Pennsylvania an additional $11.3 billion in federal highway funding, $1.6 billion for bridge replacement, and $2.8 billion for public transit over five years, according to White House estimates released Wednesday.”

‘PASSHE eyes collaboration with community colleges to support integration efforts’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “after pushing to integrate six universities into two regional campuses, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Chancellor Daniel Greenstein is focused on a cultural change — pleading for one that requires community colleges to work with the State System.”

‘Gov. Tom Wolf extends opioid disaster declaration through Aug. 26’: PennLive reports that “as expected, Pennsylvania’s Gov. Tom Wolf has renewed the opioid disaster declaration for a 15th time to continue the state’s fight against the opioid and heroin epidemic that claimed thousands of lives from overdose deaths in the last year and a half.”

‘Pennsylvania lawmakers hear praise, condemnation for proposed ban on transgender athletes in girls school sports’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that the House Education Committee held a hearing on Wednesday and is “considering a bill intended to protect girls and women who take part in school and college sports from competing against athletes who were male at birth.”

‘Amid flurry of amendments, Sen. Toomey wants changes to cryptocurrency requirements’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “ahead of a battle this week over amendments to the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill this week, U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., joined a top Senate Democrat in pressing to clarify who would be required to stricter tax reporting on cryptocurrency transactions.”

‘Feds roll back ‘confusing’ addiction funding rules that had deadly consequence in Pa.’: Spotlight PA reports that “a federal agency that sends billions of dollars to states to help them respond to the opioid crisis is rolling back part of a policy that caused widespread confusion in Pennsylvania, wrongly preventing at least one person who later died of an overdose from accessing addiction treatment.”

‘Exclusive: UPMC board chair talks about how it picked its new CEO’: The Pittsburgh Business Times reports that “UPMC Board Chair G. Nicholas Beckwith III said the board didn’t do a formal search for a CEO to replace Jeffrey Romoff, but instead did an informal survey of potential high-level candidates ahead of confirming that Leslie Davis was the right person to take the job.”

‘Effort launched to take over the Allegheny County Democratic Committee from the inside’: Pittsburgh City Paper reports that “about 50 people gathered outside of the ACDC headquarters in Pittsburgh’s West End on July 29 to rally for a new initiative called the Allegheny County Independent Democratic Committee, with the goal of building support to take over the ACDC from within and “break the machine,” as advertised on the event’s Facebook page.”

‘GOP Senate candidate Jeff Bartos stops in South Philly while campaigning across Pennsylvania’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Republican candidate Jeff Bartos stops in South Philadelphia July 22, 2021, while on a 12-day bus tour across Pennsylvania as he campaigns for the U.S. Senate.”

‘’Enough is enough’: Families of gun violence victims demand Kenney declare state of emergency’: KYW Newsradio reports that “a coalition of women made up of leaders, community stakeholders and those who have lost loved ones to gun violence in Philadelphia took to City Hall Wednesday. They urged Mayor Jim Kenney to declare a stage of emergency.”

‘Penn State Isn’t Making COVID-19 Vaccines A Must, Will Test Those Unvaccinated Weekly In The Fall’: WPSU reports that “with the fall semester beginning in three weeks, Penn State said it’s not making COVID-19 vaccinations a requirement, but people who are not vaccinated need to wear masks in university buildings and those who haven’t shared their vaccination status with the university will be tested weekly, according to a virtual town hall meeting Tuesday.”

‘Officials unveil plan to spend $4 million to improve health literacy in Reading’: The Reading Eagle reports that “in what Mayor Eddie Moran called a monumental initiative, the city will partner with local institutions to improve the health literacy of the underserved populations in Reading. Moran was joined by officials from Reading Area Community College and the Penn State Health College of Medicine at City Hall Wednesday morning to discuss the plan for a nearly $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health.”

‘Bethlehem to hold public hearing for affordable housing tax abatement program’: WFMZ reports that “Mayor Robert Donchez’s administration asked Bethlehem City Council on Tuesday night to consider its plan to create an affordable housing Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) program in the city’s South Side.”

‘’One-size-fits-all’: Suburban counties grapple with new CDC guidelines for schools’: KYW Newsradio reports that “school districts in the Philadelphia area are once again grappling with COVID-19 mitigation efforts, including deciding whether students should be required to wear masks this fall.”

Harrisburg & DC   
Post-Gazette: White House: Pennsylvania would receive billions from infrastructure bill
Post-Gazette: Amid flurry of amendments, Sen. Toomey wants changes to cryptocurrency requirements
Post-Gazette: Individual ‘Obamacare’ rates in Pennsylvania will rise an average 2% in 2022 — if approved
Post-Gazette: COVID-19 and its fast-spreading delta variant test Town and Gown relations in Penn State’s shadow
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: PASSHE eyes collaboration with community colleges to support integration efforts
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Wolf calls for New York Gov. Cuomo to step down over sexual harassment
AP: Penn State ex-President Spanier leaves jail after 2 months
AP: Genesis Healthcare, which owns Lehigh Valley nursing home hard hit by COVID last year, tells workers to get vaccine — or lose your job
Spotlight PA: Feds roll back ‘confusing’ addiction funding rules that had deadly consequence in Pa.
Patriot News: Gov. Tom Wolf extends opioid disaster declaration through Aug. 26 
Patriot News: With school opening almost here, Pa. scrambles to prepare for COVID-19
Patriot News: Pa. COVID-19 case count continues rising: daily update
Patriot News: Cumberland, York counties join CDC list of ‘substantial’ COVID-19 spread
Morning Call: Pennsylvania lawmakers hear praise, condemnation for proposed ban on transgender athletes in girls school sports
Morning Call: MAP: Where coronavirus is in Pennsylvania
KDKA: Gov. Tom Wolf Signs 15th Renewal Of State’s Opioid Disaster Declaration
KDKA: Penn State University Now Requiring Masks On All Campuses While Indoors
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pennsylvania: Health Department Reports 1,493 New Cases, 15 Additional Deaths
StateImpactPA: PA cities have a sewer-system problem. Green infrastructure can help — but comes with its own risks
WPSU: Penn State Isn’t Making COVID-19 Vaccines A Must, Will Test Those Unvaccinated Weekly In The Fall
Politico: Cryptocurrency tax changes spark clash between White House, key Democratic senator
Politico: House GOP’s new midterm headache: Candidates tied to the Capitol riot
WTAE: COVID-19 transmission levels in Pennsylvania by county

Philadelphia 
Inquirer: GOP Senate candidate Jeff Bartos stops in South Philly while campaigning across Pennsylvania 
Inquirer: Delta-plus and lambda variants don’t yet warrant panic for vaccinated people, Philly experts say 
WHYY Newsworks: ‘We’re going to be processed to death’: Activists push Kenney to do more on gun violence 
WHYY Newsworks: Councilmember calls for $500 million to resolve Eastwick flooding 
WHYY Newsworks: Application window for Philly anti-violence grants starts Friday
KYW Newsradio: State senator plans to subpoena Philadelphia for election materials
KYW Newsradio: ‘Enough is enough’: Families of gun violence victims demand Kenney declare state of emergency
KYW Newsradio: Some Philadelphia restaurants get blowback after requiring vaccinations for indoor patrons
KYW Newsradio: 19K Philly students face school ban for not having all state-required shots 
KYW Newsradio: Glimmer of hope: Small downward trend in Philadelphia homicides and shootings
Philly Voice: Philly’s gun violence epidemic and the power of fixing up neighborhoods block by block

SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Pa. school districts making their own decisions on mask policies
KYW Newsradio: ‘One-size-fits-all’: Suburban counties grapple with new CDC guidelines for schools
Delco Daily Times: 164th District Seat to be decided in special election in November
Delaware Valley Journal: PA Democrats Tout Child Credit ‘Tax Cut’ — But Is It?
Delaware Valley Journal: DelVal Residents Divided on New CDC Mask Guidance
Pottstown Mercury: Virologist resigns from Boyertown COVID task force after 5-4 vote on mask policy

Pittsburgh 
City Paper: Effort launched to take over the Allegheny County Democratic Committee from the inside
City Paper: A proposed Amazon distribution center is conflicting with Lawrenceville’s vision of a more pedestrian-friendly neighborhood 
City Paper: Allegheny County officials say county has moved into “substantial” COVID spread, driven by the Delta variant
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh district, teachers clashed over school start, end times in contract talks
Post-Gazette: Allegheny County holding off on COVID-19 mask mandate
Post-Gazette: COVID-19 Latest: Much of W. Pa. reporting ‘substantial’ case rates; returning college students face masking, vaccine mandates
KDKA: Community Leaders Offer Solutions To Curb Violent Crime In Pittsburgh
KDKA: KDKA Investigates: Parents Pulling Their Kids Out Of Pittsburgh Public Schools
KDKA: Tentative Contract Agreement Reached Between Pittsburgh Public Schools, Teachers Union
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pittsburgh: Allegheny County Reports 2-Day Total Of 268 New Cases, 3 Additional Deaths
KDKA: Allegheny County Health Director Says Delta Variant Is Fueling Rising Cases, Hospitalizations
Pittsburgh Business Times: Exclusive: UPMC board chair talks about how it picked its new CEO 
Pittsburgh Business Times: Pittsburgh Public Schools reaches tentative agreement with Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers
Pittsburgh Business Times: Allegheny County holds off on imposing masking mandate despite Delta rise
Pittsburgh Business Times: One of Pittsburgh’s biggest employers confirms vaccine mandate
Tribune Review: Tarentum Mayor Eric Carter resigns just months before term was set to end
Tribune Review: Allegheny County covid hospitalizations tick upward behind rising case counts
WESA: As Delta Variant Cases Surge, Allegheny County Officials Recommend Masks Indoors But Hold Off On Mandate
WESA: UPMC’s New CEO Says No Vaccine Mandates, Will Focus On Education
WTAE: PA not considering new mask mandate; state encourages vaccination and following CDC guidance 

SWPA 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Bill that would bar transgender girls from competing on girls’ teams gets hearing
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: State adds nearly 1,500 COVID-19 cases, mask-wearing recommendations continue
Beaver County Times: Aliquippa gets $140K for “Bricks” blight removal, future development
Beaver County Times: New council member appointed in Koppel
Observer-Reporter: Washington County moves into substantial spread category

NEPA
Citizens Voice: County meetings will remain in person, for now
Citizens Voice: 41 new COVID-19 cases reported in county
The Times Leader: 41 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Luzerne County Wednesday; 1,493 statewide
Times-Tribune: Man pleads guilty to striking, killing sister of Lackawanna County judge 
Times-Tribune: Wayne joins list of counties where COVID-19 substantially spreading 

South Central 
York Dispatch: York County officials nonplussed by Mastriano subpoena threat
York Dispatch: CDC: York County residents, even the fully vaccinated, should mask up indoors
York Daily Record: Pa. attorney general defends proposed $26 billion opioid settlement in York County
LNP | LancasterOnline: Here are the updated mask policies at various retailers in Lancaster County
Carlisle Sentinel: DOH: 31 new cases of COVID-19 reported Wednesday in Cumberland County
Patriot News: Cumberland, York counties join CDC list of ‘substantial’ COVID-19 spread

Lehigh Valley      
Reading Eagle: Officials unveil plan to spend $4 million to improve health literacy in Reading
Reading Eagle: Alvernia University only college in Berks requiring vaccination for fall semester
Reading Eagle: Berks County adds 44 COVID cases, most since May
WFMZ: Bethlehem to hold public hearing for affordable housing tax abatement program
WFMZ: Northampton County to consider small-business grants totaling $1.13 million
WFMZ: Berks eyeing rising COVID cases in surrounding counties
Morning Call: Bitcoin mining facilities popping up at power plants near the Lehigh Valley
Express Times: Bethlehem City Council backs change critical for Martin Tower site’s redevelopment

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: With delta variant picking up, Penn State shifts COVID-19 policy to require masks indoors for all
Erie Times-News: Erie sewer revenues projected to see $1.1 million deficit, but no tax increase expected
Erie Times-News: ‘Delta has changed the game’ as Erie County moves closer to ‘substantial’ spread of COVID-19
The Times Leader: All Penn State campuses requiring everyone to wear masks indoors
Patriot News: Two Lycoming County residents waive speedy trial rights on Jan. 6 Capitol riot charges
Patriot News: Williamsport City Hall offices moving for a while as officials assess the cost of repairs
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: $950K grant to be used to attract next air service to Williamsport Regional Airport
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Montoursville to use Community Development Block Grant funds for home repairs
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: CDC issues new eviction ban for most of US through Oct. 3

Opinion  
Danilo Burgos and Donna Bullock: Hoarding billions in stimulus dollars leaves small businesses behind
​​Adam Marles: Gov. Wolf doubles down on a nursing home care crisis of his creation 
Rasheedah Phillips and Bob Damewood: All Pennsylvanians win when tenants have legal representation 
Cassie Miller: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: What’s in it for Pa.? | Thursday Morning Coffee 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Delays hamper rent relief
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: When something like the Spooky Nook trampling incident occurs, reliable sources and the facts are essential
Paul Muschick: Masks at Musikfest: Be a good ‘fester and cooperate
Chris Kelly: Cuomo Must Go 
Randy LoBasso: Cut the cynicism about MLK Drive reopening to cars 
Jenice Armstrong: The COVID-19 anti-vaxxers have really fouled things up for the rest of us 
Gene Therapy: Pain from 0-to-10 pain question exceeds the actual pain
Katie Calabrese: Kids are counting on us to get them back to school safely. We’re failing. 
Bill White: A shotgun and a misunderstanding star in this year’s bad writing contest winner
Oren Spiegler: Thank you for your honor, Reps. Cheney and Kinzinger 
The Angry Grammarian: How the right stole ‘woke’ and turned it into a derisive insult