President Donald Trump tweets out his support for several congressional candidates including Lisa Scheller, while the state’s unemployment rate hits 15.1%. Here is the Playbook. 

PA7: Trump Endorses Scheller: President Donald Trump tweeted out his support for Lisa Scheller’s candidacy for the 7th Congressional District on Friday night.

PA7 GOP Candidates Punch Left: Both candidates competing in the Republican primary accuse the other of being liberal in an ongoing ad war.

May 22nd Ups & Downs: The state’s unemployment rate shoots up to a new high, the Berks County Republican Party share a post on Facebook that called Gov. Tom Wolf a “Nazi,” and a former U.S. Attorney from Western PA is tapped to serve on a Congressional panel. All of that and more are in this week’s Ups and Downs.

Legislative Election Update:

SD-1: Local 98 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ union has endorsed Nikil Saval, a co-founder of Reclaim Philly, for his bid for the 1st Senate District, according to Billy Penn. Saval is facing incumbent state Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Philadelphia) in the Democratic primary. 

Harrisburg & DC   
Politico: Key swing state warns of November election ‘nightmare’
AP: All of Pennsylvania poised for at least a partial reopening
AP: Pennsylvania jobless rate hits 15.1% as payrolls collapse
AP: State: $93K sought from nursing homes amid inspections
AP: Pennsylvania track to resume racing, flouting shutdown
AP: Charitable runs, walks learn to adapt to crowd limits
Spotlight PA: All Pa. counties will be in ‘yellow’ coronavirus reopening phase by June 5 under Wolf administration plan: sources 
Spotlight PA: Pa. sold nursing home testing plan as ‘universal’ and ‘radical’ but advocates say it’s optional and insufficient
PA Post: Clash between Gov. Wolf, GOP legislature hinges on different understandings of power under the Pa. Constitution
PA Post: Plexiglass barriers, no in-person visitation: What Pa. correctional facilities will start to look like in reopening 
Inquirer: Voting by mail is a safe option during coronavirus. Here’s what you need to know about absentee ballots in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Inquirer: Sen. Pat Toomey, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick to weigh in against Philadelphia supervised injection site 
Inquirer: Pandemic takes no holiday as coronavirus cases and deaths grow in New Jersey and Pennsylvania
Inquirer: Calls to Pennsylvania’s child-abuse hotline have plunged. Some fear fewer are watching out for kids
Inquirer: Pennsylvania prisons to begin lifting lock downs without universal testing
Inquirer: If transportation is essential, why has taking a driving test been so difficult in Pennsylvania? 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: The latest on COVID-19 in Pa.: 68,186 confirmed cases in 67 counties
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: 17 Pa. counties to transition to green, eight more turn yellow next week, Wolf says
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: With a bottom line rocked by COVID-19, Pa. lawmakers set to pass stop-gap budget this week
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Department of Health walks back comments on testing data
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. changed the way it reports negative COVID-19 tests. But officials can’t say when it began or how many tests are affected
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Amid pandemic, gig workers’ jobless benefits at center of upcoming state court decision
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Here’s how COVID-19 impacted Pa’s non-emergency care | The Numbers Racket
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Memorial Day 2020: 14-Day quarantine complicates tourist rentals
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Librarians, national guard recruited for states’ new contact tracing armies
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Memorial Day 2020: Observing the holiday in the middle of COVID-19 | Five for your weekend
Patriot News: Pa. lawmakers expected to tackle partial year state budget this week
Patriot News: Pa. lawmakers welcome plans to lift stay-at-home order; some say it should’ve happened sooner
Patriot News: Healthcare, education top priority lists for 9th Congressional challengers | 2020 primary 
PLSReporter: Wolf: All counties will be out of ‘red phase’ by June 5; 17 counties will move to ‘green phase’
PLSReporter: ‘This is unprecedented’: Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate hits 15 percent in April
PLSReporter: State prisons to begin loosening lockdown next week, aim to further drop inmate population
PLSReporter: Limited access to public records during pandemic prompts calls for transparency, reforms
Fox News: Pennsylvania’s Wolf begins to feel pressure from fellow Dems over restrictions: report
Fox News: GOP candidate Parnell blasts Pa. governor’s ‘absolutely absurd’ benchmark for full reopening
Fox News: Pa. congressional candidate Sean Parnell: ‘Absolutely absurd’ to wait for vaccine to reopen state
Fox News: Banner planes troll NJ, Pennsylvania governors over beach reopenings: report
Fox News: Pennsylvania diner opens in defiance of gov’s shutdown order: Time to stand up and ‘flatten the fear’
LNP | LancasterOnline: This economic crisis will long outlast COVID-19. Here’s what that means for you and your wallet
Erie Times-News: How Pennsylvania’s senators voted, week ending May 22   
Post-Gazette: Rachel Levine is the calm in the eye of the COVID-19 storm 
Post-Gazette: In Washington, COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes turn focus to federal oversight of long-term care facilities
Post-Gazette: Pennsylvanians are heading across state lines for haircuts
Post-Gazette: Dispute between state and coroners over COVID-19 deaths might have a resolution
WHYY Newsworks: With Pa.’s last-minute polling place changes, voters might get conflicting information
WHYY Newsworks: Public health insurance claims soar in Pa., N.J. and Del. 
KYW Newsradio: Pa. releases summer camp guidelines, but some camps still undecided about opening
KYW Newsradio: Pa. Corrections Department lays out plan for getting state prisons to new normal
Philadelphia Magazine: Price Gouging in Pennsylvania Still a Huge Problem at Stores Like This One 
National Journal: 2020 swing states
WESA: State Clarifies How It Counts Coronavirus Cases
The Hill: Trump lends support to swing district Republicans
The Hill: Where Biden, Trump stand in key swing states
The Hill: Ex-elections judge in Philadelphia admits to taking bribes to tamper with elections

Philadelphia 
Billy Penn: Local 98 backs Nikil Saval, Bernie-endorsed challenger for Philly state Senate seat 
Billy Penn: Philadelphia is still waiting in line for critical PPE ordered months ago 
Billy Penn: Procrastinator’s Guide to the 2020 primary election in Philly 
Inquirer: Sen. Pat Toomey, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick to weigh in against Philadelphia supervised injection site 
Inquirer: The Philadelphia region will move to the ‘yellow’ coronavirus reopening phase on June 5, Wolf announces, and some other counties will go ‘green’ next week
Inquirer: Election fraud case sparks renewed accusations about ballot security in Philadelphia
Inquirer: Courts around the Philly region are inching toward a busier — and more digital — new normal
Inquirer: Why many Philly students aren’t logging on for school, and what that could mean for September
Inquirer: Philly region to begin reopening June 5 | Morning Newsletter
Philadelphia Tribune: Pastors reject Trump’s call to reopen churches
Philadelphia Tribune: State Representative’s impassioned defense of low-wage workers goes viral
Philadelphia Tribune: Lincoln University graduate to be featured in ESPN’s virtual ‘HBCU Day’
Philadelphia Tribune: School District issues call to action for public education funding
KYW Newsradio: Analysis: City budget hearings open online, in shadow of half-billion dollar deficit
KYW Newsradio: Philadelphia, neighboring counties likely to reopen in ‘yellow’ phase on June 5, Wolf says
KYW Newsradio: Philly officials unsure about reopening timeline, but one thing is certain: ‘Get a mask and get used to’
KYW Newsradio: Pa. releases summer camp guidelines, but some camps still undecided about opening
KYW Newsradio: School District sending out EBT cards for families to buy meals
KYW Newsradio: Philly hiring for COVID-19 contact tracing pilot program
KYW Newsradio: ‘Free parking’ coming to an end as PPA outlines reopening plan to start June 1
Philly Voice: Philadelphia region to enter COVID-19 yellow phase on June 5, Gov. Wolf says 
WHYY Newsworks: Coronavirus update: Philly area Muslims mark the end of a socially distant Ramadan
Philadelphia Business Journal: Philadelphia-area counties will move to ‘yellow’ reopening phase June 5 
Philadelphia Business Journal: Philadelphia’s consumer spending bounces back to pre-pandemic levels 
Philadelphia Business Journal: Philadelphia region ‘well-positioned’ to capitalize when leisure travel recovery begins 

SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Christina Finello, Skylar Hurwitz face off in Democratic 1st District primary 
Bucks County Courier Times: Fitzpatrick, Meehan face off in GOP race for 1st District nomination
Bucks County Courier Times: Campaigning, social-distancing style 
Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks, Montgomery counties to move to yellow phase by June 5 
Delco Daily Times: County’s DELCORA moves raise questions 
Delco Daily Times: Radnor BOC tables discussions on legal marijuana sales and safe injection sites in the township 
Delco Daily Times: Nursing home coronavirus outbreak numbers still in question 
Daily Local News: Monday Update: An increase of 473 coronavirus cases brings Pennsylvania total to 68,186 according to Department of Health 
Daily Local News: Kichline: CHOP study makes Chester County’s case to reopen
Daily Local News: Wolf moves Chester County to ‘yellow’ status effective June 5
Daily Local News: In Chester County, Newlin Township has no coronavirus cases
Daily Local News: Even in coronavirus outbreak, Chester County Drug Court proves successful
Inquirer: Sen. Pat Toomey, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick to weigh in against Philadelphia supervised injection site 
KYW Newsradio: Delco business considers what yellow phase means for its future
KYW Newsradio: More COVID-19 testing to come after 2-day site closes Friday, say Delco officials
Montgomery Media: Montgomery County surveys financials amid coronavirus pandemic 
Montgomery Media: Commissioners sanction $5M transfer for MontcoStrong program 
Montgomery Media: Montgomery County reports 121 new COVID-19 cases and 15 deaths
Bucks Local News: ‘WE WORKED WITH GOV. WOLF TO REOPEN BUCKS:’ Bucks County House Democrats say Bucks County to move to yellow phase by June 5
Bucks Local News: Bucks County House Republicans introduce legislation to give counties power to safely reopen 
Bucks Local News: PREPARING FOR YELLOW: Bucks County begins planning transition from red to yellow by June 5
Bucks Local News: Gov. Wolf adds eight counties to yellow and 17 to green on May 29; remainder, including Bucks, moving to yellow by June 5
Bucks Local News: ‘I’M STILL PRAYING FOR YELLOW:’ Bucks County reports 51 new cases of COVID-19, six deaths
Pottstown Mercury: Montgomery County commissioners spar over primary election ballot boxes 
Pottstown Mercury: Commissioners sanction $5M transfer for MontcoStrong program 
Pottstown Mercury: $65.7M Pottstown school budget won’t raise taxes

Pittsburgh 
WESA: Three Republicans Vie To Replace Turzai In The 28th House District 
WESA: Kass Withdraws Portion Of Lawsuit, But Democratic Party Dispute Continues 
WESA: Republicans Call For In-Person Voting Changes Weeks Before June Primary 
WESA: LIVE BLOG: Coronavirus In Pittsburgh, May 25-31 
City Paper: Democratic leaders decry Chris Roland’s mailers spreading falsehoods about Summer Lee 
City Paper: Study says Pittsburgh is one of the ‘least house-poor’ cities in US, but housing issues still abound 
City Paper: ELECTION 2020 VIDEO TRAINING: Understanding Vote-By-Mail and Inspiring High School Voter Work, including COVID-19 Challenges
KDKA: ‘American Fraud’: President Trump Attacks Congressman And Veteran Conor Lamb On Twitter In Show Of Support For Sean Parnell
KDKA: ‘We Are All Americans, We Should All Be Treated As Such’: Some Voters Concerned About Changes Ahead Of Pa.’s Fast-Approaching Primary Election
KDKA: Pittsburgh Public School Families To Get SNAP Benefits For Missed Lunches During School Closure
KDKA: Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Says Coronavirus Death Toll Remain Steady While Cases Climb To 1,805
KDKA: Allegheny Co. Leader: If Pools Open, It Would Not Be Until Late June At The Earliest
KDKA: ‘Whoever Did This. Please Leave.’: Mayor Peduto Responds After WWI Monument Vandalized With Mysterious Message On Memorial Day
KDKA: Pittsburgh Parks And Recreation Department Reopen Tennis, Pickleball Courts 
KDKA: Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Reports 24 New Coronavirus Cases, No Additional Deaths 
Post-Gazette: Michael Lamb faces five challengers in Democratic primary for auditor general 
Post-Gazette: Heather Kass withdraws emergency petition for injunction; lawsuit seeking damages to continue 
Post-Gazette: Educator, former prosecutor vie to unseat incumbent in Pa. House 30 
Post-Gazette: In Washington, COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes turn focus to federal oversight of long-term care facilities
Post-Gazette: Republicans DeVito, Francis hope for chance to unseat Rep. Kulik in northwestern Pittsburgh suburbs 
Post-Gazette: COVID-19 Update: Allegheny County reports no new deaths, 28 more cases
Post-Gazette: Virtual Memorial Day ceremony got entire Pittsburgh region involved
The Incline: The procrastinator’s guide to Pittsburgh’s 2020 primary: Snail-mail edition
Tribune Review: Allegheny County records 28 more coronavirus cases, no new deaths
Tribune Review: Allegheny County election officials promise mail-in ballots will arrive soon

SWPA 
Altoona Mirror: Wolf gives Huntingdon yellow light
Altoona Mirror: GOP, allies move to break Wolf’s orders
Altoona Mirror: Burns seeks to reopen hunting, shooting ranges
Altoona Mirror: Burns says Wolf provided few answers
Altoona Mirror: BG senior receives diploma from Trump
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: COVID-19 caseload remains unchanged in Cambria, Somerset, Bedford and Indiana counties
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Rigby backing law to compel governor to terminate virus declaration; Wolf says he’d veto it
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Region still awaits green light: Cambria, Somerset remain in yellow phase
Observer-Reporter: Thousands taking advantage of mail-in ballots, but application deadline is Tuesday 
Observer-Reporter: Observer-Reporter eliminating Saturday print edition
Observer-Reporter: Face shields will be available for polling place personnel
KDKA: Pa. State Representative Pam Snyder Extremely Frustrated Her District Wasn’t Included In ‘Green’ Announcement
KDKA: ‘Now Is Not The Time To Go Wild’; Lawrence County To Enter The ‘Green’ Phase Of Pa. Governor Tom Wolf’s Reopening Plan 
Tribune Review: 1 new coronavirus case reported in Westmoreland
Beaver County Times: Lawrence County gets green light
Beaver County Times: Day Tripper, no: Pennsylvania officials warn against going sight-seeing, taking day-trips despite move to yellow
Beaver County Times: State hits record-breaking 15% unemployment in April
Beaver County Times: Mail-in votes skyrocket; all but one Beaver County precinct open 
Beaver County Times: State to begin reopening plan for prisons Tuesday

NEPA
Times-Tribune: Pandemic alters campaign terrain and tactics for 8th Congressional District candidates
Times-Tribune: 33 new COVID-19 cases, one death reported for NEPA
Times-Tribune: No virus deaths reported in Lackawanna County for first time in two weeks
Times-Tribune: Cammisa says president handled pandemic well, criticizes House 
Times-Tribune: Bognet praises Trump response to crisis, calls state effort ‘fiasco’
Times-Tribune: COVID-19 – Complete Coverage
Citizens Voice: State officials: Stay vigilant against virus 
Citizens Voice: 6 new COVID-19 cases reported in Luzerne County 
Citizens Voice: 8th District candidates: Bognet critical of state’s virus response 
Citizens Voice: 8th District candidates: Cammisa hopes to help next generation
The Times Leader: Wolf: Luzerne County to go yellow on Friday, May 29
The Times Leader: Luzerne County mail-in ballot requests rising as deadline nears
The Times Leader: 6 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Luzerne County; no new deaths
The Times Leader: Luzerne County government was battling a different virus Memorial Day weekend last year
The Times Leader: Luzerne County Council meeting cancelled because push for fewer coronavirus restrictions granted

South Central 
Patriot News: Three Democrats hope to unseat Republican representing Cumberland and York
Patriot News: Healthcare, education top priority lists for 9th Congressional challengers | 2020 primary 
Patriot News: What is the future of Harrisburg beyond the pandemic? 
York Dispatch: State says no organized team sports until green
York Dispatch: York County has six new positive cases of COVID-19 on Monday
LNP | LancasterOnline: 7 things to know as Lancaster County begins $42 million COVID-19 testing, contact tracing 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Tuesday’s COVID-19 updates: Lancaster County has nearly 2,900 virus cases, 280 deaths 
LNP | LancasterOnline: COVID-19 model predicts that new cases in Lancaster County will decrease; researcher says county ready to reopen 
Carlisle Sentinel: DOH reports few new cases over holiday, with Cumberland County numbers rising slightly 
Carlisle Sentinel: Yellow Phase: Businesses reopen in downtown Carlisle Friday, but some remain wary

Lehigh Valley      
Morning Call: Donald Trump weighs in on the Lehigh Valley’s GOP congressional primary, backing Lisa Scheller 
Morning Call: Lehigh Valley among last counties that will move to yellow phase June 5, as Chamber CEO says, ‘We should be further along’ 
Morning Call: Ad Watch: Dean Browning targets Lisa Scheller on immigration enforcement, Trump tariffs 
Morning Call: Pennsylvania coronavirus updates: 866 new cases added Friday to make state total 66,258; death toll reaches 4,984 
Morning Call: Easton reopening plan would close streets to vehicles and open them to businesses 
Morning Call: On opposite sides of Lehigh River, one town is ‘red,’ the other ‘yellow’ 
Reading Eagle: Primary 2020: The contest to represent Democrats in the 9th Congressional District 
Reading Eagle: Primary 2020: The uncontested races for the state Legislature 
Reading Eagle: 5 Democrats, 2 Republicans compete to win nomination for 127th Pa. House District 
Reading Eagle: State reports 18 additional coronavirus cases in Berks; coroner lists 8 more deaths 
Express Times: To keep cases from piling up, Northampton County expands video court 
Express Times: Pa. coronavirus update: Nearly 500 more state cases as counties move towards ‘yellow’ phase | Pa. county COVID-19 case map (05/25/20) 
Express Times: Social distancing in home selling: How Lehigh Valley real estate agents are adapting to new reality 

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Candidates for state offices react to Gov. Tom Wolf’s reopening plan
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Lycoming County commissioners seek clarity for reopening
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Lycoming County extends tax deadline and other votes taken in the past week
Centre Daily Times: Centre County commissioners change course, now support earlier entry into ‘green phase’ 
Centre Daily Times: Ready, set, go: Centre County will soon move to the ‘green phase.’ Here’s what that means for you
Centre Daily Times: 1 new COVID-19 case reported in Centre County; Pennsylvania total at 68,186 cases
Erie Times-News: Third of Erie County households haven’t filled out census 
Erie Times-News: Former Erie County Executive Barry Grossman dead at 74

Opinion  
Charlie Gerow: An introduction to the GOP candidates for statewide offices as primary day approaches
Mark S. Singel: Pa. auditor general spot drawing much interest among Democrats 
Joe Lieberman & Tom Ridge: What’s next? When it comes to infectious disease, time is not on our side
Jeff Snyder: Growing mental health concerns deserve sustainable investment
Inquirer Editorial Board: States must move quickly on virus tracking
Inquirer Editorial Board: Larry Farnese’s experience matters as Pennsylvania and the nation are in crisis | Endorsement
Inquirer Editorial Board: Amanda Cappelletti is a fresh opportunity for a troubled Pa. Senate seat | Endorsement 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: When to reopen schools: Officials have many factors to consider 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Disheartening vote: Senate rejects commonsense privacy protections 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: No singing in church: Restrictions needed to limit COVID-19 spread 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: How shall we honor them? 
Rory Fleming: Did a political rivalry fuel Shapiro’s case against Philly DA’s aide?
JD Mullane: As Wolf maintains lockdowns, Bucks businesses quietly reopen
Jenice Armstrong: Pa. State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta to fellow lawmakers: ‘You can boo but it’s true!’ 
Dan Pearson: Mayor Kenney has squandered Philadelphia’s fiscal boom years 
John Weaver: The Elephant in the Room: Our national debt amid the COVID-19 pandemic
John L. Micek: Looking to fill a COVID-19 budget hole, backers push for video gambling in bars, restaurants | Friday Morning Coffee
Joseph S. Bushra: Coronavirus shutdown was needed, but unseen health risks of restrictions need consideration | Expert Opinion
Helen Ubiñas: You think your rights are being denied? Here’s a little Oppression 101 
Joshua M. Liao and Amol S. Navathe: Saving the economy means reopening wisely and changing minds 
Daniel M. DiLella and Ronald S. Coleman: Drawing strength from Memorial Days of the past as we face COVID struggles today 
Keith C. Burris: COVID days
David M. Shribman: A tale of two wars
Diana Nelson Jones: Walkabout: Seeing positivity even in homelessness
Jill Sunday Bartoli: Let’s work on making America kind again
Rob Tornoe: MLB missing an opportunity with its massive coronavirus rulebook: cartoon
Maria Panaritis: ‘Everything’s drying up’: Blowup pools and hardware supplies are vanishing. Blame COVID. 
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Remembering on Memorial Day
Dick Polman: Trump is preparing to yell ‘Fraud!’ if he loses in November 
Thomas J. Wilson: Schools are pillars of our community. When classes resume, we need to treat them that way
Randy Bish: Just another day in Trumplandia | Editorial Cartoon