Vice President Pence is set to fundraise in Philadelphia for Lou Barletta and promote the tax cuts, while Republicans set date to pick PA-15 special election candidate. Happy Monday politicos, here’s the Playbook.

July 20th Ups & Downs: Mayor Jim Kenney scores a victory in the courtroom, but gets called out by Jay-Z. The Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation actually came together on a topic? Education debates makes its way into the PA spotlight.
PA-16: DCCC Moves Race for Red to Blue Program: DiNicola thinks his message is resonating with voters while Kelly believes his opponent is exactly what Pelosi is looking for.

Harrisburg & DC
AP: Council member convicted of bribery, theft in kickback case
Tribune Review: Can Pennsylvania casinos compete with the sports betting black market?
Tribune Review: Better defining public hunting the goal of new rules likely coming to Pennsylvania
Tribune Review: Pitt, Penn State tuition freezes come after decades of steady hikes at Pennsylvania colleges and universities
AP: As Trump weathers firestorm, Barletta picks up a shield
StateImpactPA: Sunoco: Exposed pipe in Uwchlan Township is inactive, not Mariner East 1
StateImpactPA: Trump administration rolls back coal ash rules aimed at groundwater protection
PLSReporter: DePasquale report cites $581 million in potential recreational marijuana revenue, but that doesn’t mean lawmakers are biting
WITF: Pa. unemployment dips to an 11-year low
Inquirer: Trump support a ‘double-edged sword’ for Barletta’s Senate run
NPR: GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick: ‘The President Was Manipulated By Vladimir Putin’

Philadelphia
Philadelphia Business Journal: 3 Philadelphia casinos nab highest revenue since they opened
Philadelphia Business Journal: Board of Ethics says pro-soda tax coalition violated lobbying law
KYW Newsradio: ‘Handsmaid’s Tale’ protesters to swarm Union League during Pence visit
KYW Newsradio: CIty officials still deciding whether to continue to share arrest data with ICE
WHYY Newsworks: Philly hospitality industry doesn’t want Jay-Z’s MIA to go MIA
Inquirer: PPA lobbyist paid $3,000 a month. For what?
Inquirer: VP Mike Pence to visit Philly Monday to promote GOP’s Lou Barletta, tax cuts

SEPA
Daily Local News: Parkesburg councilman waives hearing in $100G bank theft case
Bucks Local News: Council Rock School Board member announces resignation; candidates sought to fill vacancy
Bucks Local News: Bucks County lawmaker announces bill to provide property tax relief through sports betting revenue
Bucks Local News: Congressman Fitzpatrick named ‘Defender of Children for working to improve lives of children through public policy

Pittsburgh
PLSReporter: Pittsburgh residents plead with council to keep the PWSA public
Post-Gazette: Overdose response effort off to slow start: Few referrals from medics, police
Post-Gazette: Soda tax stands in Philadelphia, but does it have pop in Pittsburgh?
Post-Gazette: Former Beaver County legislator Mike Veon called to give deposition in racetrack lawsuit
Tribune Review: Highlands expanding pre-K program with $289K state grant
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh police charge protesters accused of attacking motorist

SWPA
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Local leaders look back to future for Johnstown’s industrial sites
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: New Johnstown manager tackles ‘budget’ concerns, ponders merging fire, police chief roles
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Central Cambria teachers poised to strike over salaries, benefits
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Judge orders redacted briefs in grand jury case be made public, says records don’t violate grand jury secrecy
Altoona Mirror: Inspector General cites Van Zandt VA Medical Center

NEPA
Citizens Voice: Games to have huge impact on economy
The Times Leader: Expert is touring Luzerne County schools to give safety tips
The Times Leader: Luzerne County Council meeting on the road
The Times Leader: Keystone State Games Fetival of Sports major economic boost, official says
The Times Leader: Cartwright: Unions must act in solidarity to fend off attacks
The Times Leader: Wyoming police commissioner suspended on heels of felony charges
Times-Tribune: Power plant project in Jessup eyes the finish line
Times-Tribune: Scranton council to hear from operators of city parking garages, meters today

South Central
PennLive: Survivors of Catholic priest abuse brace for scathing grand jury report
PennLive: Sexual abuse is the story, but grand jury process is the issue before Pa. Supreme Court
Carlisle Sentinel: Carlisle school district unveils draft comprehensive plan for public review
Carlisle Sentinel: Fundraising surges for George Scott, but Perry still has more cash
York Daily Record: Abc27 continues to lose advertising following harassment complaints

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Pennsylvania leads nation in youth voter registration uptick, says Dem data firm analysis
Morning Call: Wake-Up Call: Mike Pence heads to Philly: and a Pa. GOP congressman says Trump was ‘manipulated’ by Putin
Morning Call: Republicans set date to pick PA-15 special election candidate
Express Times: Wilson Area School District principals, supervisors got a new deal. Here are the details.

North by Northwest
AP: Former city councilman pushes for Erie Lightway project
Erie Times-News: Erie bus drivers keep an eye on Congress
Erie Times-News: City of Erie switches phone, Internet service to Velocity Network

Opinion
Cyrus Ahalt: Nalaxone remains controversial to some, but here’s why it shouldn’t be
Philadelphia Citizen: Stop Backroom Philly Politics  
Peter Tobia: Another shooting in Philadelphia, so where’s the outrage?
Sandy Hingston: The Best Thing That Happened This Week: The Soda Tax Ruling
John Baer: The strange case of a cyber strike that (briefly) renamed a government agency
Will Bunch: Not a president but he plays one on TV – why The 41 Percent stick with Trump
Jenice Armstrong: I’m worn out by all of these #livingwhileblack cases
Trudy Rubin: Never mind Mueller results. Trump is colluding with Putin now.
Adam Garfinkle: How afraid should Americans be right now?
Mike Newall: Now that Philly won the soda-tax fight, it’s way past time to do right by our libraries and rec centers
Mike Pence: Vice President Mike Pence: Our agenda is working for Philadelphia
Sean Stratton: Refueling tankers sustain Philadelphia region’s military leadership
Adam Goldin: Democracy and the Arc of Progress
Lata Nott: Do Americans know what the First Amendment says?
Shane Fitzgerald: Drama aside, public has right to know
Dave Neese: God, Mammon and politics
Mairi Robertson: Grow the Pittsburgh region’s economy from the inside out
Rich Fitzgerald: Allegheny County bounces back
David M. Shribman: It’s Trump’s party now