Wagner raises $500,000 during a fundraiser with Maryland’s popular Governor, and the Ups & Downs highlight the latest state budget updates and FBI investigations.  Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

Exclusive: Wagner Raises $500K in Fundraiser with Hogan: State Senator and Gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner held a fundraiser with Maryland Governor Larry Hogan last night, netting his campaign over $500,000.

7/28 Ups & Downs: Corman strikes a deal, the CLEAR Coalition sees the first step towards a severance tax, Costello welcomes his second child, Pawlowski is officially charged, and Brady is implicated in a corruption investigation. See who made this week’s Ups & Downs!

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: House members prepare for severance tax fight
State House Sound Bites: Episode 16: A fiscal change of heart
StateImpact: After years of debate, severance tax saga continues
Capitolwire: Capitolwire’s Weekly Wrap for the week of July 24, 2017.

Philadelphia
WHYY: Pa. House members prepare for severance tax fight
WHYY: After years of debate, Pa. severance tax saga continues
WHYY: As Pa. budget negotiations pause, here’s the lay of the land
Philly Voice: Philly police commissioner responds to Trump’s comments on treatment of prisoners
Philly Voice: A former reporter is running for elected office in Philly
Philly Voice: Wolf writes, shares another rejection letter to Trump’s voter fraud commission
Inquirer: Former Pa. mayor charged with trying to lure teens into car for sex
Inquirer: Without Medicaid funding, many Philadelphia area hospitals could close
Inquirer: Need a job? Bob Brady and the art of the political buyout
KYW: No End In Sight To PA Budget Stalemate
Philadelphia Business Journal: As Pa. budget negotiations pause, here’s the lay of the land
Philadelphia Tribune: State Rep. Jordan Harris talks severity of Cheyney University’s problems

SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Environmental groups deliver Delaware River Basin fracking ban petitions to Army Corps, governors
Bucks County Courier Times: ACLU, transgenders take aim at Trump’s proposed ban on transgender military service
Bucks County Courier Times: Congressmen Brian Fitzpatrick, Brendan Boyle split on repeal of arbitration rule
Bucks County Courier Times: Penndel district judge says he’s ready to take cases from Lower Southampton
Bucks County Courier Times: Congressmen OK funds for PFC cleanup, health screenings
Pottstown Mercury: Far-left group serves Meehan ‘notice’ on women’s issues
Pottstown Mercury: Berks marijuana grower racing the clock to meet state deadline

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Game Commission seat opens
Post-Gazette: Former Pa. judge in ‘kids for cash’ case receives appeal hearing
Tribune Review: Allowing first-time DUI offenders to use lock devices might make roads safer
Tribune Review: Highmark can now invest in Allegheny Health Network without state approval
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh lawyers form medical marijuana firm
WESA: Casey Easily Leads Pack In Fundraising In Bid For Third Term
Pittsburgh Business Journal: Senate passes budget compromise with severance tax
KDKA: ‘Keep Fighting’: ACA Supporters Rally In Oakland

Southwest
Observer-Reporter: Trump has new chief of staff, old health care fight
Observer-Reporter: Trump’s travel ban keeps orphan kids from United States foster families
Altoona Mirror: Eichelberger seeks rewrite
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Residents fear for Planned Parenthood funds
Beaver County Times: Report: Prescription opioid misuse among young Pennsylvanians decreasing

NEPA
Times Leader: CAPITOL ROUNDUP: Funding bill includes border wall, increase for veterans
Times Leader: Physician General talks opioid epidemic with Wilkes-Barre responders
Time Leader: Rep. Pashinski: Sequester negotiators until Pa. budget complete
Times Leader: Pennsylvania Department of Health looking for docs for Medical Marijuana Program
Citizens Voice: Nine of 12 districts in county increased rates this year
Citizens Voice: State’s top doctor stresses importance of opioid reversal drug
Times-Tribune: New state rules in child immunizations
Times-Tribune: Economic groups narrow sights on government
Standard Speaker: House to consider requiring public hearings before prison closures

South Central
Patriot News: Wolf impressed at transformation of former Harrisburg eyesore
Patriot News: Harrisburg apartment owners admit they own collapsed wall
Patriot News: As Philadelphia’s port expands, the surrounding road network braces for its impacts
Patriot News: What do Pa. Senate and House GOPs agree on? A work/work search requirement for Medicaid
Patriot News: Too early to call Pa. state budget talks at an impasse? That’s how some state House members see it
Patriot News: No budget yet: Pa. House majority starts ‘review’ of Senate/Wolf plan
LNP: MOONLIGHTING LAWMAKERS: 130 of 253 Pennsylvania House and Senate members earn income from other sources; Does moonlighting create conflict of interest?
LNP: Report: Students in the Northeast spend 70 percent more on college than the rest of US
LNP: Tuktuk Lancaster files second appeal, argues PUC erred in ruling against city sightseeing business
LNP: State Sens. Ryan Aument, Scott Martin vote against Senate GOP’s budget plan

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Beleagured Mayor Pawlowski ‘humbled’ by support from crowd at Puerto Rican Festival and Parade
Morning Call: Prosecutors face high bar in proving case against Pawlowski
Reading Eagle: Trump again threatens to end health payments unless there’s an overhaul
Express Times: Allentown mayor’s indictment creates schism among Democrats

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Mayoral candidates visible in Erie
Erie Times-News: Roll Call: How Erie’s representatives voted this past week
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Local Reps say state House budget passage is unlikely
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Pa. Senate approves higher taxes to balance budget
Centre Daily Times: Bob Brady runs Philadelphia Democrats amid run of corruption
WJET: Several Organizations Holding 24 Hour Vigil Outside Senator Toomey’s Office

Opinion
Patriot News: Trump, who values trust and loyalty, doesn’t show much in return: Charlie Gerow
Patriot News: Welcome to Donald Trump’s ‘Catch-22’: Tony May
Citizens Voice: State should raise smoking age to 21
Standard Speaker: Progress on smoking age
Standard Speaker: A focus on distraction
Standard Speaker: Budget bill falls short
LNP: Parties understandably use redistricting to their advantage
Daily News: McCain’s courage stands in sharp contrast to Trump’s behavior
Inquirer: Health care too important to be part of Trump’s ‘Game of Thrones’
Inquirer: Changes to Pennsylvania and Philly’s forfeiture rules too weak
Inquirer: Pennsylvania needs to fill climate change leadership void
Inquirer: Insurance companies doing fine without an Obamacare repeal
WHYY Newsworks: The week when Trump burnished his rep as a loser
Reading Eagle: Editorial: Open-records law should be applied consistently
Post-Gazette:House alarm: The state budget needs lower chamber action
Bucks County Courier Times: Budget plan faces uncertain future
Tribune Review: An A’s declining worth: Earning what’s fair