Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe will headline the Lancaster County Democrats Fall banquet, while a political website places Erie County as one of the ten most important counties that will decide the 2020 election. Here is the Playbook. 

The Hill: Erie County Listed On Top 10 Counties to Decide 2020 Election: The website notes that President Donald Trump was the first Republican presidential candidate to win the county since Ronald Reagan in 1984 and described it as a working-class county that’s socially conservative.

Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe to Headline Lancaster County Dems Fall Banquet: McCabe will discuss the firing of FBI Director James Comey, his one-on-one interactions with President Donald Trump and the Mueller investigation. The Lancaster Dems see McCabe as well suited to address various issues facing the nation, while the Lancaster County GOP says McCabe betrayed the FBI and slammed the Democrats for inviting him to speak.

Harrisburg & DC   
Post-Gazette: Gov. Wolf announces fees for Pennsylvania Department of Education charter school services 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pittsburgh Dem Ravenstahl attracts primary challenger in Bellevue’s Marburger
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: After nearly a decade, Pa. sentencing commission adopts risk assessment tool over objections of critics
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Enviros fume as Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan downplays rift with Pa. over Chesapeake cleanup
AP: New Risk-Analysis Approved For Use By Pennsylvania Judges 
WITF: Pennsylvania gets $55.9M to help people living with opioid addiction
StateImpactPA: Lawmaker: Proposal for Pa. cap-and-trade system to cut carbon emissions is ‘a beginning’
Inquirer: Spotlight PA: Meet the team of reporters watching out for you in the state capital
Inquirer: Haverford student who tried to hack IRS for Trump tax returns pleads guilty, could get 2 years in jail, $200,000 fine
Inquirer: Haverford student who came this close to hacking Trump tax returns will plead guilty. Here’s how he did it.
Fox News: Trump donors and their businesses face fresh wave of boycotts, public shaming 
PLSReporter: Supporters and skeptics gear up for Marsy’s Law vote in November
PLSReporter: Study considering later start times for PA high schools
PLSReporter: VIDEO: McCarter calls for new advisory board to oversee cyber charter school funding 
PLSReporter: DOS defends voting machine re-examination after advocates raise security concerns
Politico: David Plouffe to join ACRONYM board of directors

Philadelphia 
Philly Clout: Donald Trump Jr. claims elite Pottstown boarding school gave him ‘blue-collar’ insight
Inquirer: Judge probes whether U.S. ‘crack-house statute’ would make Philly supervised injection site illegal
Inquirer: Accused gunman in North Philly police shootout likely to face dozens more attempted murder charges, prosecutors say
Inquirer: Following upset in register of wills race, FOP moves to protect patronage employees 
Inquirer: Deal to end ex-Philly deputy mayor’s bribery case with one-year sentence crumbles in court
Inquirer: Hahnemann residency program sale approved by bankruptcy judge in controversial decision
Inquirer: Callowhill neighbors group concedes defeat in the creation of a business improvement district
Inquirer: In a nation paralyzed by ‘active shooter’ situations, local colleges have to balance informing students and curbing fear
WHYY Newsworks: Who benefits most from Philly’s tax abatement? Center City developers
WHYY Newsworks: Safehouse, feds dispute whether ‘crackhouse’ statutes applies to injection site
WHYY Newsworks: Bankruptcy judge approves $55 million sale of Hahnemann residency program
WHYY Newsworks: St. Christopher’s doctors call for local nonprofit to buy hospital 
Philadelphia Magazine: Pa. Rep. Chris Rabb on His Push for State-Level Reparations for Slavery
KYW Newsradio: Prosecutors delay Maurice Hill hearing to file more attempted murder, assault charges 
KYW Newsradio: How is Philadelphia’s ‘trash cam’ campaign against illegal dumping going? 
KYW Newsradio: Federal judge in Philly hears arguments in case to determine if safe injection sites are legal
KYW Newsradio: Judge approves sale of Hahnemann’s residency programs
KYW Newsradio: Concerned for their future, St. Christopher’s Hospital employees hold a rally
Billy Penn: Malcolm Jenkins, the Eagles, and why the NFL still doesn’t have a policy on kneeling
SEPA
Daily Local News: Democrat Houlahan denounces Trump’s decision to slash military funding to build border wall 
Daily Local News: Senior Life: Comitta Hosts Senior Expo on Sept. 14
Daily Local News: French Creek State Park needs millions in infrastructure repairs 
Montgomery Media: Montco commissioners receive financial update, approve 6 resolutions 
The Hill: Pennsylvania fire company shut down after failing to remove volunteer who was allegedly joining Proud Boys
Inquirer: The goal? Clean water. The issue? Philly-area towns and state officials at odds over treatment system 
Bucks County Courier Times: Last defendant in Lower Southampton corruption case sentenced 
Bucks County Courier Times: Report: $24 million needed to repair Nockamixon State Park
Bucks County Courier Times: Solebury voters to decide $12M open space referendum
Pottstown Mercury: Pottstown pension payments to jump nearly $680,000

Pittsburgh  
KDKA: Mayor Peduto’s Remarks About Shopping At Malls Brings Strong Rebukes From Downtown Business Owners 
KDKA: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Donates Pulitzer Money To Tree Of Life Synagogue 
KDKA: Auditor General DePasquale Wants Increased Help For Volunteer Firefighters 
WESA: House Democrats Discuss Domestic Terrorism With Pittsburgh Jewish Community 
Post-Gazette: Gov. Wolf announces fees for Pennsylvania Department of Education charter school services 
Post-Gazette: President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark to temporarily chair Jail Oversight Board to “get it under control” 
Post-Gazette: Dreamers look to 2020 election for permanent DACA fix 
Post-Gazette: Meet the Spotlight PA journalists covering state government and statewide issues 
Pittsburgh Business Times: Methane reduction rules won’t change gas producer’s plans to cut back on emissions
Pittsburgh Business Times: Port Authority planning to offer 24-hour service on busiest routes
Tribune Review: Allegheny County Judge Kim Berkeley Clark will lead county jail oversight board
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh pension board delays vote on divestment in guns, gas and private prisons

SWPA
Altoona Mirror: Area GOP committees host Jordan 
Altoona Mirror: Casey speaks on ‘state’s future’
Altoona Mirror: Local airports see subsidy extended 
Observer-Reporter: Redrawing the lines: Some voters in five municipalities will be going to new polling places 
Observer-Reporter: City council petitions governor to remove Staniszewski 
Observer-Reporter: Greene unveils marketing campaign for economic development 
Observer-Reporter: Politicos have opportunities to fill ballot vacancies 
Observer-Reporter: Democratic Committee seeking candidates for vacancies
Beaver County Times: DePasquale: Law keeps fire associations from access to funding 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: DePasquale: State needs to give fire departments more freedom to spend aid

NEPA
The Times Leader: Local organizers for Bernie Sanders to open Wilkes-Barre office 
Citizens Voice: LCTA names interim director; board member resigns over Gavlick firing 
Citizens Voice: Election board’s role still not clear, solicitor says 
Citizens Voice: Cartwright to host coffee event today 

South Central  
LNP | LancasterOnline: Former FBI top director Andrew McCabe to headline Lancaster Democrats’ fall dinner 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Local gun store owners react to Walmart’s decision to stop selling certain ammunition 
Patriot News: As county commissioner seeks fifth term, ex-wife accuses him of once punching her 
Patriot News: Rep. Patty Kim welcomes Harrisburg community to join her Friday morning, offer support for students 
Patriot News: Pa. auditor general looks to relief funds to help address declining volunteer firefighter ranks
Patriot News: Plan to reduce raw sewage in Susquehanna River not good enough: Harrisburg mayor
Carlisle Sentinel: Funding, transportation emerge as key issues in helping homeless in Carlisle 
York Daily Record: Redlining in York: Policies kept blacks segregated

Lehigh Valley     
Morning Call: Lower Macungie library tax heading to voters
Express Times: Without $5.9M casino sale windfall, Bethlehem looks to rainy day fund for $3.9M of projects
Reading Eagle: Wernersville OKs 3-year deal with South Heidelberg for police coverage 
Reading Eagle: Applications for law enforcement jobs in Berks plummet as negative publicity takes toll

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Congressman discusses flood management, economy, trade 
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Proposed ordinances in township under review
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Muncy supervisors to meet with county officials over zoning
Erie Times-News: Wolf supports Erie community college, county officials want action 
Erie Times-News: City of Erie in danger of losing $425,000 from Parking Authority 
Centre Daily Times: Penn State international enrollment may be down this year. Is ‘political climate’ to blame?

Opinion  
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Aiding the most afflicted: Opioid funds should be distributed proportionally 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: A broken system: A process that helps stem blight is confounding
Inquirer Staff: Should public college be free? Pro/Con | Opinion
Larry Ceisler: A Candidate Without a Podium is a Dead Candidate Talking
William L. Harder: Pa. politicians shine on Twitter. Look to hot dog maps, wedding plans, and @PaTreasury for proof. 
John L. Micek: With battle lines drawn, is there a way to ‘Yes’ on charter school reform? 
Greg Drew: Pa’s Medicaid program is paying more than it needs to for prescription drugs. This is why
John L. Micek: In states with red flag laws, critics are raising due process concerns. Are they right? | Thursday Morning Coffee
Paul Muschick: Shootings don’t make Allentown a ‘cesspool.’ But shiny new buildings mask problems 
Will Bunch: Joe Biden’s big black wall: Does African-American support make the ex-VP unbeatable? 
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Business deals with gun control
Brian O’Neill: Port Authority focuses on realities rather than dreams
JD Mullane: Why schools should preserve snow days as downtime for kids
Christine Flowers: The Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings still offer a warning one year later 
Chris Kelly: A SHARPIE PORTRAIT OF DORIAN TRUMP
Katherine Divasto: Philly must support and not criminalize youth 
Maria Panaritis: He’s turning 104, plays pool, swims, fought in World War II. Fred Gomez has advice for us. 
Jason Snyder: Progress is being made in the opioid overdose death epidemic, but the work must continue