Good morning, politicos. Here’s the Playbook:
Statewide
AP: A among states suing to force Trump administration over family separations
Capitolwire: Rep. Marguerite Quinn urges N.J. Gov. Murphy to sign income tax reciprocity protection into law.
Capitolwire: Office of Attorney General: Attorney General Shapiro files lawsuit challenging Trump administration’s unlawful family separation policy.
Capitolwire: Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission: PUC hosts ‘PA Operation Blue Flame 2018’; First-ever exercise testing response to large-scale natural gas distribution emergency.
Capitolwire: Rep. Jordan Harris: Harris’ ‘clean slate’ passes in the Senate, heads to governor’s desk.
Capitolwire: Long-awaited death penalty report doesn’t appear to settle argument about capital punishment in PA.
StateImpact PA: Republican congressman: Pruitt should quit after trying to block PFAS study
Philadelphia
Inquirer: With Gov. Wolf’s signature, Pa. marijuana research proceeds
Inquirer: For traditional Republicans, immigration, tariffs show risks of ‘silent bargain’ with Trump
Inquirer: ‘Cumbersome, inflexible, and slow’: It can take a year to get hired by the city, Pew finds
Inquirer: Pa. redistricting reform not dead … but close to it
Inquirer: In Bucks County congressional race, GOP seizes on Scott Wallace’s wealth
WHYY: ETP says its pipeline leaked into creek near Philadelphia
SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: EPA to host meeting on chemical contamination in Horsham
Bucks County Courier Times: State Rep. Helen Tai announces telephone town hall July 12
Pittsburgh
City Paper: Timeline of events in Antwon Rose shooting and protests
KDKA: 17 States, Including Pa., Sue Trump Administration Over Family Separations At Border
Tribune Review: Federal money could restart cleanup of abandoned Rostraver mine
Post-Gazette: Protesters mass outside Pittsburgh ICE HQ to decry Trump immigration policy
Post-Gazette: If a teen uses a parent’s gun in a crime, can mom or dad be charged?
Post-Gazette: Lifeline offline: Unreliable internet, cell service are hurting rural Pennsylvania’s health
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto: East Pittsburgh officer should face trial in Antwon Rose’s death
Southwest
Beaver County Times: U.S. Sen. Bob Casey holding meet-and-greet in New Castle
Tribune-Democrat: Legacy costs continue to hamper city, report finds
Altoona Mirror: Foreman chosen to lead Blair GOP
NEPA
Daily Item: State House recesses without taking up gun bill
Times Leader: Effort to rethink Luzerne County’s home rule charter fails to launch
Times Leader: Mayor George disputes vacancies cause firefighter OT already over budget
Standard Speaker: Luzerne County Council eyes reserve fund for windfall
South Central
WITF: Tired of ‘timid’ responses, anti-gerrymandering group occupies Wolf’s office
Patriot News: Pennsylvania Superior Court panel upholds Graham Spanier conviction in split decision
Patriot News: Former State System chancellor confirmed to fill top post in U.S. education department
Patriot News: Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse takes two tracks on Act 47 strategy
Patriot News: ‘We’ve crossed the Rubicon.’ Toomey battles Trump over tariffs, report
Patriot News: Tapped out: How Pennsylvania’s failing water system is hurting you
LNP: Study: Climate change could threaten dairy industry in Lancaster County
YDR: Questions remain in attack on former York mayor
YDR: ‘SHAMEFUL ruling against the very spirit of America’: Pa. reacts to travel ban ruling
Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Amid tight labor market, Lehigh Valley sees biggest one-month drop in unemployment
Morning Call: EPA deadline looms for municipalities’ plan to fix leak-prone sewer system
Morning Call: Pennsylvania Supreme Court says priest sex abuse grand jury report needs more review
Reading Eagle: Berks commissioner willing to change his stance on selling Berks Heim — with conditions
Express-Times: Pa.’s new tool for entrepreneurs showcased at Bethlehem site
North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Do students have enough say in Penn State’s governance?
Centre Daily Times: Penn State trustees to meet on ‘matter of reputational harm to the university’
Erie Times-News: Erie unemployment lowest in 18 years
Opinion
Standard Speaker: Ruling puts fair sales tax online
Daily Local: Local tax hikes demand solutions from state lawmakers
LNP: Pennsylvania gets a budget, and it’s not late, and not entirely great, but it’s progress (if only fleeting)
Patriot News: Op-ed: What rises from the ashes of Pa’s failed prison project?
Inquirer: Harrisburg’s answer to sexual harassment disappoints
Inquirer: Op-ed: ‘Never’ death penalty is what got Larry Krasner elected. Now, that campaign promise is broken
Post-Gazette: Judicial overreach: State Supreme Court undercuts grand jury process
Sun-Gazette: State funding hike meant to hold PCT tuition in place
2 Responses
Always excluding Dale Kerns and Libertarians
The border policy and other Trump stories are dominating the news cycles Trump’s ongoing activities are really making it hard for Republicans to break through. This is a very different year and all the old rules for political campaigns are out the window. An energized Democratic base is not good news for Scott Wagner, Lou Barletta and Republican congressional candidates. The Texas Ted Cruz Senate race is also a bad sign with Cruz up by 5 points against Dem Beto O’Rourke in a deep red state.