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May 20th Playbook

Fox News labels Pennsylvania as a Toss-Up for the presidential election. Here is the Playbook. 

PAGOP Summer Meeting Pushed Back to July 10: The Pennsylvania Republican Party announced that they are rescheduling their summer meeting for July 10.

Fox News Labels PA As a Toss-Up for Presidential Race: Pennsylvania is currently one of six states listed as a Toss-Up for the presidential election and is the state with the second most electoral votes up for grabs in this column.

Represent PA Aims to Elect Dem Women in PA Legislature: Represent PA announced that they have officially endorsed 36 candidates for the state House and 7 candidates for the state Senate and have invested over $250,000 across the state this cycle thus far that include upcoming races and multiple special elections in 2019.

Warren Tweets Out Support for Cartwright: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sent out a series of tweets on Tuesday announcing her support for a number of Democrats seeking reelection in 2020 including Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna), who she described as a “forward-thinking leader” who is “not afraid to fight for working families.” 

Harrisburg & DC   
AP: Virus toll steep at dozens of Pennsylvania nursing homes
AP: Real estate business activity to resume across Pennsylvania
AP: Governors warming to the idea of the return of pro sports
Fox News: Pennsylvania lawmaker bashes gov’s coronavirus response: ‘Keystone Kops are running the Keystone State’
Fox News: Hannity slams blue-state govs over ‘dumbest’ pandemic response: ‘Helped us learn what not to do’
Spotlight PA: FULL LIST: Pa. releases names of nursing homes with coronavirus cases, deaths 
Spotlight PA: Pa. officials allow scaled-back real estate operations to resume statewide 
Spotlight PA: Rebate checks may arrive earlier for some Pennsylvania homeowners and renters
Inquirer: Pennsylvania Republicans have a new campaign season villain and it’s not Nancy Pelosi
Inquirer: Yes, Pennsylvania’s governor blocked a company that makes American flags from operating during the pandemic 
Inquirer: Pennsylvanians can buy and sell a house in person again
Inquirer: Cocktails-to-go expected to be approved in Pennsylvania 
Inquirer: Kids with autism being denied an education during the pandemic, Pa. lawsuit says  
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: The latest on COVID-19 in Pa.: 63,666 confirmed cases in 67 counties
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Amid calls for her dismissal, Health Secretary Levine says Pa. is evolving its strategies to fight COVID-19 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: In showdown with lawmakers, Wolf vetoes reopening bills; then allows real estate agencies to reopen 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: House passes restaurant reopening with bipartisan support; Wolf says he’ll okay take out mixed drinks 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Wolf signs bill allowing for early release of property tax/rent rebates 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: SNAP recipients in Pa. will soon be able to have groceries delivered  
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: COVID-19 outbreak in Pa.: What’s open and what’s closed
Patriot News: After veto, Gov. Tom Wolf moves to allow more real estate sales 
Patriot News: Another Pa. lawmaker calls for resignation of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine 
Patriot News: Gov. Wolf signals he plans to sign bill allowing taverns, restaurants and hotel bars to sell mixed drinks to go 
Patriot News: Pa. to issue property tax and rent rebate checks early to assist seniors and individuals with disabilities 
Patriot News: Nearly 50 nursing homes in Pa. have 20 or more deaths tied to coronavirus 
Patriot News: Gov. Tom Wolf responds to Ben Roethlisberger barbershop visit: ‘I don’t care who you are …’
Patriot News: Will Penn State reopen for in-person classes this fall? President Barron said that’s how they are proceeding 
WHYY Newsworks: Lawsuit says Pa. is failing special needs kids during coronavirus school closures
PLSReporter: Wolf signs bill allowing state to fast-track property tax relief payments 
PLSReporter: Despite vetoing slate of GOP-backed reopening bills, Wolf says administration will issue new guidance on real estate 
PLSReporter: State, counties move to provide their own small business relief as a supplement to federal programming
StateImpactPA: Gov. Wolf vetoes bill that would halt new regulations during pandemic
Metro Philly: Pennsylvanians encouraged to vote by mail at #SaferAtHomePA Virtual Rally
KYW Newsradio: Pennsylvania Democratic lawmakers ask Wolf to allow curbside sales statewide 
National Journal: Bognet Releases Second TV Ad in PA-08
Politico: Biden keys in on Keystone
Real Clear Politics: ‘Joe Has Absolutely No Idea What’s Happening’
Philly Voice: Gov. Wolf discourages Pennsylvania residents from visiting beaches on Memorial Day weekend
Philadelphia Citizen: Watch: Six Things We Learned About AG Josh Shapiro  
KDKA: Gov. Wolf: Property Tax, Rent Rebates Will Be Issued Early 
KDKA: Gov. Wolf Allowing Real Estate Industry To Conduct Limited Business Transactions Statewide  
KDKA: Gov. Tom Wolf Says He Plans To Sign Bill Allowing Curbside Cocktails During Coronavirus Pandemic 
CNN: Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger got a haircut during the pandemic — and Pennsylvania’s governor does not seem pleased 
CNN: 5 takeaways from the first Senate hearing on the coronavirus relief bill 
CNN: New tool aims to help liberal donors get bigger bang for their political giving 
CNN: Why GOP can’t reopen the economy without Democratic buy-in
Post-Gazette: State Supreme Court hears argument on medical marijuana restrictions for probationers 
Post-Gazette: FCC chair: ‘Tremendous’ demand for telehealth, remote learning options amid pandemic
Pittsburgh Business Times: Pennsylvania to offer an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits amid ‘avalanche of claims’
PA Post: Explainer: The debate over letting Pa.’s real estate industry get back to work 
WESA: PA Justices Consider Whether Judges Can Stop Probationers From Using Medical Marijuana 

Philadelphia 
Inquirer: Most Pa. nursing homes with 20 or more coronavirus deaths are in Philly and its suburbs, long-sought data show
Inquirer: The owner of Hahnemann hospital says he’s not the coronavirus villain you think he is
Inquirer: Coronavirus trends are ‘quite encouraging’ in Philly as N.J. allows in-person car sales, bike service to resume
Inquirer: Pa. to send ‘strike teams’ to Montco long-term care facilities; Sixers’ Tobias Harris helps Philly families, health-care workers affected by pandemic 
Inquirer: Philly-area residents pay off more student debt — nearly $40,000, on average — than graduates in San Francisco and New York 
Inquirer: New Jersey authorizes 18,000 pharmacists to perform coronavirus tests; Pa. real estate allowed to resume in-person operation
WHYY Newsworks: Coronavirus update: Masks and distancing still necessary outdoors, says Philly mayor 
Billy Penn: Philly will now test everyone in its jails for the coronavirus
Billy Penn: Procrastinator’s Guide to the 2020 primary election in Philly
Philadelphia Citizen: Watch: Six Things We Learned About AG Josh Shapiro  
KYW Newsradio: Philly to test entire prison population for COVID-19
KYW Newsradio: 2 gyms, 2 decisions: Why 2 Philly gym owners made different reopening decisions
Philly Voice: Philly’s daily COVID-19 cases ‘dropping fairly rapidly’ as city tops 20,000 total 
Philadelphia Business Journal: Philadelphia-area nursing homes and long-term care facilities with the most Covid-19 cases, deaths 
Philadelphia Business Journal: See which Philadelphia law firms made the AmLaw 200 list 
Philadelphia Business Journal: 8 Philadelphia-area hotels ask lenders for relief on almost $170M in mortgage debt

SEPA
Delco Daily Times: New stats detail coronavirus toll in Delaware County nursing homes 
Delco Daily Times: Protesters call on release of vulnerable inmates at SCI Chester 
Pottstown Mercury: May 19 Update: Pennsylvania Department of Health reports 610 new coronavirus cases as total reaches 63,666
Bucks County Courier Times: Pa. lawmakers ask Gov. Tom Wolf for curbside retail pickup
Bucks County Courier Times: Wolf: Real estate business can resume
Bucks County Courier Times: Clean energy campaign growing in Bucks County
Bucks County Courier Times: Settlement: Bucks County pays $10M not $68M in prison lawsuit
Daily Local News: Chester County Coroner calls for probe of deaths at nursing homes 
Daily Local News: Chester County Realtors elated to be given green light to conduct limited business
Philly Voice: Montgomery County commissioners clash over face masks during COVID-19 briefing
Montgomery Media: Positive trend of fewer deaths continues in Montgomery County; new testing site opens in Lansdale 
Montgomery Media: Coronavirus stats for area nursing homes listed
Bucks Local News: Bucks County Commissioners outline $6 Million ‘Back to Work’ Small Business Grant Program 
Bucks Local News: Governor amends business closure order to allow real estate industry to conduct limited business transactions
Bucks Local News: MAY 18 COVID-19 UPDATE: New cases, death reports increase in Bucks County while overall decline continues

Pittsburgh
WESA: Kass Sues Democrats Amid Party Dispute In Controversial State House Race 
WESA: Ahead Of Pandemic Primary, Nearly 30 Percent Of Allegheny County Voters Apply To Vote By Mail
WESA: Allegheny County Expects To Have ‘Sufficient’ Poll Workers For Scaled-Back June Primary
WESA: Outreach Group Pushes For College Students Displaced By Pandemic To Vote By Mail 
WESA: Inmates, Nursing Home Residents, The Carless…Tests Still Out Of Reach For Many In Allegheny County 
City Paper: Three reps from Allegheny County ask Gov. Wolf to allow outdoor dining at restaurants 
City Paper: Advocates and elected officials demand action on Allegheny County paid sick leave bill 
City Paper: A short guide to voting in Allegheny County during a global pandemic
City Paper: Port Authority service mostly returns to normal this week, with some limitations
City Paper: The convenience of delivery apps comes with a hefty price for local restaurants
Post-Gazette: Allegheny County election officials describe around-the-clock efforts amid ‘perfect storm’ 
Post-Gazette: State data reveals previously unknown large COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes 
Post-Gazette: Nonprofit law firm drops suit against Allegheny County’s maintenance of voter rolls
Post-Gazette: Allegheny County election officials describe around-the-clock efforts amid ‘perfect storm’
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh City Council extends COVID-19 emergency disaster declaration 
Post-Gazette: Levine says curve continues to bend as new COVID-19 cases decline
Tribune Review: Gov. Wolf on law allowing to-go cocktail sales: ‘I will sign it’ 
Tribune Review: Allegheny County reports 1 new coronavirus death, 17 new cases 
The Incline: The procrastinator’s guide to Pittsburgh’s 2020 primary: Snail-mail edition
KDKA: Pitt Prof. Jerry Dickinson Challenging Rep. Mike Doyle, Says Region Needs Advocate For Climate Change, Universal Health Care And Racial Justice 
KDKA: Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Reports 17 New Cases And 1 Additional Death, Bringing Countywide Coronavirus Case Total To 1,658 
KDKA: ‘We Have Families’: Allegheny Co. Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Business Owners Say It’s Time To Reopen Restaurants, Hair Salons And Gyms 
KDKA: Coronavirus In Pittsburgh: Mayor Bill Peduto Says Plan In Place To Turn Market Square And Walnut Street Into Outdoor Dining Areas 
KDKA: With Buildings Closed, Pittsburgh Public Schools Plans On Finishing 42 Improvement Projects 
KDKA: ‘Something We Ought To Try To Avoid’: Gov. Wolf Expresses Concern Over Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger’s Visit To Barbershop
Pittsburgh Business Times: Here’s which Pittsburgh companies made this year’s Fortune 500 list 

SWPA 
Altoona Mirror: Gregory co-sponsors resignation resolution
Altoona Mirror: Blair eyes reopening courthouse to public
Altoona Mirror: Care facilities report COVID-19 stats
Beaver County Times: Beaver County officials: Still no word about contact tracing 
Beaver County Times: State planning additional COVID help for nursing homes; Brighton Rehab has largest outbreak 
Beaver County Times: State to issue property tax, rent rebates early this year
Observer-Reporter: Wolf gives real estate the green light 
KDKA: ‘Transparency Equals Trust’: Butler Co. Company Creates Webpage To Track Long-Term Care Facility Residents’ Coronavirus Tests
KDKA: ‘The Governor Was Absolutely Right’ But It’s Time To Open Businesses Safely, Westmoreland Co. Leaders Say
Post-Gazette: Armstrong County coroner claims state COVID-19 data ‘inflated’ in his region
Tribune Review: Westmoreland County aims for safe in-person voting June 2 
Tribune Review: Religious freedom bill proposed in Pennsylvania as churches navigate reopening
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Region spared nursing-home outbreaks; state now releasing COVID-19 data for long-term care centers 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Record number of voters seek ballots by mail

NEPA
The Times Leader: Luzerne County Council nears voting on proposal seeking movement to less restrictive coronavirus yellow phase 
The Times Leader: Luzerne County’s mail-in ballots contain instruction error
The Times Leader: Wolf Administration releases data on COVID-19 cases by facility 
The Times Leader: 22 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Luzerne County; 2 new deaths 
Citizens Voice: When will Luzerne County enter ‘phase yellow?’
Citizens Voice: 4 nursing homes had major outbreaks 
Citizens Voice: Area real estate industry gets back to work 
Citizens Voice: Left or right? Contradictory instructions on mail-in ballots 
Times-Tribune: Allied has fourth-highest resident COVID-19 cases in nursing homes statewide, but officials dispute numbers 
Times-Tribune: Coronavirus death toll creeps up in Northeast Pennsylvania 
Times-Tribune: Going into the yellow phase, law enforcement still favor a light touch for rule-breakers 
Times-Tribune: COVID-19 – Complete Coverage

South Central 
Patriot News: Some central Pa. nursing homes plagued by COVID-19 infections and deaths, new data shows
Patriot News: Dauphin County elections officials to give Facebook Live demonstration of new voting system: tune in Thursday 
Patriot News: Which states have the most confirmed coronavirus cases (5/19/2020): Where does Pa. stand?
York Dispatch: Hellam Twp. Dem launches late bid to oust 9-term Republican in state House
York Dispatch: York County has 6 new COVID-19 cases, no new deaths
York Dispatch: York City could ax 44 jobs amid budget crisis
Carlisle Sentinel: DOH reports fewer new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, but Cumberland County numbers still rising 
Carlisle Sentinel: DOH: Half of nursing facility deaths in county occurred at Shippensburg Health Care Center 
Carlisle Sentinel: Virtual town hall to feature state officials, congressional legislators
LNP | LancasterOnline: Which Lancaster County facilities are on Pa. Department of Health’s new report of COVID-19 cases & deaths 
LNP | LancasterOnline: E-town council asks Wolf to reopen but doesn’t back state Republicans’ move 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Wednesday’s COVID-19 updates: Lancaster County’s death-per-capita rate at 47.6 per 100,000 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Farmers without buyers due to COVID-19 look to alternatives to minimize losses
York Daily Record: Coronavirus in Pa.: State releases data on nursing homes, Haars Drive In to reopen 

Lehigh Valley      
Morning Call: Lehigh Valley election officials brace for an avalanche of mail-in ballots
Morning Call: Gracedale nearly tops list for coronavirus cases and deaths in Pennsylvania nursing homes, new data shows 
Morning Call: What rights do Lehigh Valley workers have as businesses reopen and the coronavirus crisis lingers? 
Morning Call: Coronavirus prompts some Lehigh Valley municipalities to lend a hand across borders during emergencies 
Morning Call: Wolf gives Pennsylvania real estate businesses OK to start up using coronavirus precautions
Reading Eagle: Berks County nursing home near top in Pennsylvania for coronavirus deaths, cases, data shows 
Reading Eagle: Climate report expects warming conditions good for chickens, not so hot for dairy cows, a key industry in Berks County
Express Times: Pa. coronavirus update: 63K cases, 4,600 deaths. Gracedale among hardest-hit nursing homes in state, new data shows. | COVID-19 case map (5/19/20) 
Express Times: Frustrated by shutdown, Lehigh Valley Grand Prix owner says he is running for the state House 
Express Times: Northampton County residents with COVID-19 symptoms can get tested for free until June 5 
Express Times: The Lehigh Valley’s mobile parking app just went belly up. Will you get your money back? 
WFMZ: Candidates in Pa. primary figure out ways to reach out to voters amid pandemic

North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Penn State buys 500K masks, but final decision on fall reopening will not come until next month
Centre Daily Times: Centre County adds no new cases of COVID-19; Pennsylvania overall total at 63,666 cases 
Centre Daily Times: Pa. releases more details on COVID-19 in nursing homes. Here’s the breakdown in Centre County 
Patriot News: Pa. Health Dept. ‘grossly negligent’ for not knowing about COVID-19 situation at skilled nursing home: legislator
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Everett angered by lack of response from DOH
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Commissioners extend property tax deadline

Opinion  
Mary Gay Scanlon: To the Class of 2020: Times are hard. We need you to lead us now
Inquirer Editorial Board: Jim Kenney’s budget for Philly makes tough cuts. But are they the right ones? 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Freezing tuition: State schools face pandemic challenges 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: A crowd in space: Tens of thousands of satellites planned for orbit
William R. Hite and Joyce Wilkerson: School District leaders: Maintain education funding for Philly students 
John L. Micek: New Planned Parenthood ad hits Pa. senators over telemed bill restricting abortion access | Tuesday Morning Coffee
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Governor Wolf: No beaches! Shelter at perfectly safe nursing homes
Stan Wischnowski: From the executive editor: Delivering essential COVID-19 information at a difficult time for many, including the local news industry
Helen Ubiñas: Who doesn’t care about the coronavirus death toll? Seemingly, a whole lot of us 
Will Bunch Newsletter: A Bill Gates coronavirus thing to worry about 
Joseph N. DiStefano: Nasdaq reopens options market in its Philly tower trading room
Fletcher McClellan: A second Trump term will be just as bad as we fear 
Trudy Rubin: COVID-19 offers a chance to halt Iran’s practice of taking Western hostages 
Dan Simpson: Vice President Oprah?

2 Responses

  1. I think Fox is getting 2016 and 2020 mixed up. Hillary was a tough sell and Biden is a lot easier. He is genuinely liked and, as much as the Republicans would not want to admit it, his authentic style and warmth makes it hard for their barbs to stick. Biden will win Pa.

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