The Democrats select a doctor to run for the vacant state House seat previously held by Rep. Fred Keller, while Former Deputy Mayor of Philadelphia Nina Ahmad gears up for a run for Auditor General. Here is the Playbook.

Ahmad Gearing Up for Auditor General Run: A spokesperson for Nina Ahmad says the position is a “natural fit” for the former Deputy Mayor of Philadelphia and second place 2018 Lt. Gov candidate.

GOP Pollsters Push Back Against Bad Trump Numbers in PA: After a leaked internal poll showed Trump trailing by double digits to former VP Joe Biden, pollsters try to reshape the conversation with new numbers showing a neck-and-neck race.

Meuser: Time To Address The Border: The first term GOP Congressman believes there is a crisis at the United States southern border.

Harrisburg & DC  
Daily Item: UPDATE: Rager-Kay says Dems can win special election if they ‘work together’
Patriot News: Candidates set for special election to fill state House seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Fred Keller
Patriot News: House passes bill permitting (slightly) better odds for Pennsylvania Lottery players
Patriot News: Gov. Wolf looks at carbon emissions fees to pay for its capital projects ‘to-do’ list
WHYY Newsworks: Gov. Wolf talks education, marijuana, and gun violence during live interview
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. mulling tougher stance on construction companies who hire unauthorized immigrants
AP: Disagreements remain as Pennsylvania’s budget deadline nears
AP: Legislative package would plant seeds for ag industry growth
Inquirer: Pennsylvania is critical in 2020. Here’s how Trump could win or lose it.
Inquirer: U.S. House approves $300 million to address backlog in federal disability benefit appeals
Inquirer: Pennsylvania picks Drexel, Jefferson and Penn State partners for medical marijuana research
Inquirer: Inquirer seeks to open ‘wholesale sealing’ of federal court records in Hershey School student cases
WITF: Marsy’s Law passes in Pa., now heads to voter referendum
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: A year after the police shooting of Antwon Rose, this state rep. wants to change Pa.’s deadly force rule
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa.’s Shapiro joins 21 AGs urging U.S. Senate to take up election interference bill
PLSReporter: Lawmakers to consider moving voting machine funding out of budget
PLSReporter: Snyder hopes to improve broadband access with state-owned asset inventory
PLSReporter: Right 2 Know Episode 12: Sit down with Rep. Jeff Pyle
PLSReporter: 3 under 3!
StateImpactPA: Trump ditches Obama’s signature climate policy aimed at cutting coal emissions

Philadelphia   
Philly Clout: Fake news! Joe Biden did not do the Bristol Stomp at Jerry Blavat’s Memories in Margate.
Billy Penn: Convicted ex-sheriff won’t get a pension, saving taxpayers $1.6 million
Billy Penn: Sample ballots show cracks in Philly’s still-powerful Democratic machine
PlanPhilly: City Council President wants to increase transparency of city land sales
Inquirer: Philly police union: Any firing over Facebook scandal would be ‘completely out of bounds’
Inquirer: Single-use plastic bag ban introduced in Philly Council with 15-cent fee on other bags
Inquirer: Councilman Squilla introduces bills to make it easier to reuse Philadelphia’s historic buildings  
Inquirer: U.S. House approves $300 million to address backlog in federal disability benefit appeals
WHYY Newsworks: Here’s how Philly’s Domestic Worker Bill of Rights would work
WHYY Newsworks: Fourth time’s a charm? Plastic bag ban introduced in City Council, and this time it might actually pass
WHYY Newsworks: City: Roosevelt Boulevard speed cameras to be live by end of year
PLSReporter: City Council addresses police social media controversy, gun violence
Philadelphia Magazine: City Unveils Details of Its Dockless Bike Pilot Program  
Philadelphia Magazine: Philly Police Refuse to Identify 72 Cops Placed on Desk Duty Amid Facebook Probe
KYW Newsradio: ‘Speak up’: Community groups rally against recent gun violence in Philly
KYW Newsradio: Former Philly sheriff loses pension 2 months after pleading guilty to taking bribes, kickbacks

SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Casey, Toomey back PFAS bills in Congress
Bucks County Courier Times: Rep. Todd Polinchock to give away gun and pill bottle locks
Daily Local News: Hundreds rally for Killion clean energy legislation
Daily Local News: Pennsylvania Senate OKs package of bills to combat opioid addiction crisis
Daily Local News: Gov. Wolf honors Bishop Shanahan STEM champs
Delco Daily Times: Upper Darby Council OKs new deal, pay hikes for union

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Auditor General faults Pittsburgh public on school transportation contracts
Post-Gazette: Peduto defends refugee community after Syrian arrested by FBI for bomb plot
Post-Gazette: As Shell cracker nears ‘peak construction’ point of 6,000 workers, promoter in D.C. pushes ‘petrochemical Appalachian Renaissance’
Post-Gazette: Board of Health forms search committee to replace county health director Karen Hacker
Post-Gazette: Committee recommends approval of Port Authority’s 2020 budget
Post-Gazette: Clairton residents, activists rally for cleaner air
PLSReporter: Pittsburgh Public Schools transportation audit finds poor record keeping and missed opportunities
Tribune Review: Auditor General: Pittsburgh schools lost out on $2M in tax reimbursements
KDKA: Thwarted Terror Plot Puts Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto In Middle Of Immigration Debate
KDKA: Pittsburgh Public Schools Missed Millions In State Funding Toward Busing Costs, Audit Shows

SWPA
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: WATCH VIDEO | Johnstown Redevelopment Authority receives $300,000 for blight removal in West End
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: PA poised to ban female genital mutilation
Observer-Reporter: Bomb threat evacuates Greene County Courthouse
Beaver County Times: Egley reacts to criticism of veterans funding
Beaver County Times: IRS says county still owes

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Report: City saved more than $3.1M from energy project
The Times Leader: US Attorney rejects Ciavarella book claims
Times-Tribune: Cartwright touts legislation to speed up mine land reclamation funding

South Central  
Daily Item: UPDATE: Rager-Kay says Dems can win special election if they ‘work together’
Patriot News: Candidates set for special election to fill state House seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Fred Keller
Patriot News: House passes bill permitting (slightly) better odds for Pennsylvania Lottery players
Patriot News: Gov. Wolf looks at carbon emissions fees to pay for its capital projects ‘to-do’ list
LNP | LancasterOnline: Elections board selects new voting system for Lancaster County

Lehigh Valley    
Morning Call: U.S. House approves funding boost for the Social Security Administration after request from Rep. Susan Wild
Morning Call: Lehigh Valley lawmakers condemn shooting, ask LCB to intervene
Morning Call: Why one of the ‘Muhlenberg Five’ appeared in Bethlehem Town Hall this week
Morning Call: Allentown City Council approves referendum questions on budget process, dubs window guard measure ‘Ahnelly’s Law’
AP: Pennsylvania radio station WEEU to stay on air after sale
Express Times: The Lehigh Valley is trending more diverse, and a little older than the rest of America, Census release shows

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Special meetings likely for Erie LERTA plan
Erie Times-News: Erie City Council approves expanded LERTA
Erie Times-News: Consultant: Erie’s projected deficits a ‘3-headed dragon’

Opinion  
Wall Street Journal Editorial Board: This Wolf Vetoes as a Wolf
Inquirer Editorial Board: A tax credit program that can actually make a difference
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Ideas anyone?: Candidates should address Social Security’s future
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Soaring reputation: The city makes inroads in space exploration
John L. Micek: Philly Rep. Chris Rabb is readying a slavery reparations bill | Thursday Morning Coffee
Susan Spicka: Pa’s public schools need our help. Gov. Tom Wolf was right to veto private school tax credit bill
Stu Bykofsky: REAL ID column uncovers more problems in Pa.
John L. Micek: Shut up and play the hits: Trump stuck to 2016 standards in re-election kick-off. Will Pa. listen in 2020?
Christine Flowers: Democrats disrespect Joe Biden by not appreciating his past
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: The Trump 2020 campaign’s new slogan
Mark Davis: This is Pennsylvania’s biggest – and most overlooked – workforce crisis
Mike Newall: Investigating shootings in Northwest Philly: ‘Two guys who shouldn’t have brought guns to a fistfight’
Will Bunch: Did Russian hackers make 2016 NC voters disappear? Why won’t we stop this for 2020?
Christopher Rufo: An addiction crisis disguised as a housing crisis on the West Coast
Harry Vincenzi: The race to ‘fix’ schools has ignored emotional learning
Tommy Rowan: All in a day’s work for cops: A look at the acts of heroism that often go unnoticed