Former Congressman Joe Sestak announces that he’s running for President, while President Trump nominates a Uniontown native as his defense secretary. Here is the Playbook.

Sestak Running for President: The former Pennsylvania Congressman and two-time Senate hopeful is in Iowa, touting his military service and willingness to take on the party establishment.

June 21st Ups & Downs: The candidates are set for another special election in the state House, a former chief of staff to Gov. Tom Wolf takes on a new role, and controversial words are exchanged in a Wilkes-Barre bar and restaurant between a former Mayoral candidate staffer and a sitting Councilman. All of that and more are in this week’s Ups and Downs.

Harrisburg & DC  
Inquirer: Joe Sestak, former Delaware County congressman, is running for president
PA Post: Cash for the poor? Yes. Arming teachers? No. And 4 other highlights from #AskGovWolf
WITF: Pa.’s year-end surplus is official. But it won’t last long.
Post-Gazette: Trump nominates Uniontown native as defense secretary
AP: Former congressman Joe Sestak launches presidential campaign
AP: Budget pressure, policy agendas collide ahead of deadline
AP: Bills aim to end Pennsylvania’s straight-party voting option
AP: Justices: Landowner can take property case to federal court
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Will cash assistance for disabled adults be a budget casualty?
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: ‘It’s extremely important’: Senate schedules marathon hearing on probation and parole reform
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: How a bill to eliminate cash assistance for disabled Pennsylvanians turned into ‘Faustian’ budget dilemma
Post-Gazette: AG, governor to announce ‘major development’ in UPMC-Highmark dispute  
KDKA: Bipartisan Bill Would Toughen Penalties For Online Predators Who Target Children
StateImpactPA: Feds to investigate Philly refinery explosion as local health experts remain cautious
StateImpactPA: Fracking in Ohio series: How Ohio compares to Pennsylvania for oversight of gas industry
StateImpactPA: With bird populations at stake, naturalists renew calls to halt horseshoe crab harvest in Delaware Bay
PLSReporter: As budget talks continue, trade deal resolution sparks debate over minimum wage
PLSReporter: Did You Get The Memo? Property tax rates, pre-trial detention and parole eligibility
PLSReporter: House Transportation to consider alcohol-monitoring bracelets legislation
PLSReporter: 5 bills to watch for the week of June 24
KYW Newsradio: Auditor general to evaluate Pennsylvania’s gun background check system
WESA: Toomey Commends Trump’s Approach On Iran, Amid Growing Tensions
Tribune Review: Pa. jobless rate sets record low; nonfarm jobs at record high
Reading Eagle: Good week for Trump in a poll
Morning Call: Former Pennsylvania Congressman Joe Sestak announces presidential bid: ‘I want to be that president who serves the American people the way they deserve to be served’

Philadelphia   
Inquirer: Criminal justice system at center of swirling debate as gun violence continues in Philly
Inquirer: Under DA Krasner, more gun-possession cases get court diversionary program
Inquirer: Kenney visits Southwest Philly in wake of Father’s Day shooting  
Inquirer: Phila. court official backs off on Russian connection to computer virus
Inquirer: Undocumented immigrants and allies relieved but still angry after Trump delays sweeping removal operations
Philadelphia Magazine: Philly Politics Is a Mess. Here’s Why That’s Encouraging.
StateImpactPA: Philadelphia refinery fire: What we know (and what we don’t)
KYW Newsradio: Investigation gets set to begin as city says South Philly refinery fire is out
KYW Newsradio: Mayor, community activists respond to rise in gun violence in Philly

SEPA
Daily Local News: Joe Sestak enters 2020 presidential race as 24th Democratic candidate
Daily Local News: Volunteer firefighter bill passes Senate committee
Daily Local News: Former state Sen. John Rafferty inducted as honorary firefighter
Daily Local News: Chesco task force meets on Sikorsky closure, continues to develop response
Daily Local News: Chester County officials recognize 100th anniversary of 19th Amendment
Delco Daily Times: Private prison operator takes heat at packed session
Delco Daily Times: Glen Mills appoints new leadership team during transition
Bucks County Courier Times: Newspapers to be significantly delayed
Bucks County Courier Times: Hundreds gather for the inagural Doylestown Pride Festival
Bucks County Courier Times: Federal lawsuit raises ethics questions over Bucks municipal authority
Bucks County Courier Times: Rep. Frank Farry recognized for victims advocacy

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Trump nominates Uniontown native as defense secretary
Post-Gazette: With Ohio ‘heartbeat bill,’ Pittsburgh abortion clinics expect to see increase in patients
Post-Gazette: AG, governor to announce ‘major development’ in UPMC-Highmark dispute
Post-Gazette: County to host eighth voting system demonstration, aimed at assessing accessibility
Post-Gazette: City officials, Greenfield residents continue arguments over proposed flood mitigation, transit plans
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh planning director Gastil leaving for CMU post
KDKA: Bipartisan Bill Would Toughen Penalties For Online Predators Who Target Children
KDKA: ‘Be Kind:’ Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto Leaves Message On Clemente Museum Mural
KDKA: Philadelphia Oil Refinery Fire Causing Pittsburgh Gas Prices To Rise
Pittsburgh Business Times: Pittsburgh’s city planning director leaving post

SWPA
Altoona Mirror: House spars over cash cuts
Altoona Mirror: Joyce bill adds $15 million for CWD
Beaver County Times: County reassessment to be completed by 2023
Observer-Reporter: Promises for property tax relief through casinos short of expectations
Observer-Reporter: The numbers are in: After the vote totals, the campaign spending reports are due
Observer-Reporter: Commissioners approve land purchase for county airport
Observer-Reporter: Peters Township resident seeks update to nondiscrimination policy
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Lawmakers prepare for final push to pass state budget

NEPA
The Times Leader: Legislature sends series of victims’ rights bills to governor’s desk
The Times Leader: Luzerne County reassessment won’t be requested for 2020, manager said
The Times Leader: Luzerne County’s proposed $5 vehicle fee spending plan in report
The Times Leader: Does Wilkes-Barre energy savings program measure up?
Times-Tribune: Scranton settling lawsuit by UGI over city pave-cut rules
Times-Tribune: Task force takes aim at human trafficking in NEPA

South Central  
LNP | LancasterOnline: Voters get their say on ‘Marsy’s Law’ for crime victims; Here’s what it means, how it could impact Lancaster County
LNP | LancasterOnline: Medical marijuana dispensary planned for Lancaster city; will be county’s 2nd
LNP | LancasterOnline: Proposed Trump tariffs could hurt fireworks business, local store owners say
Patriot News: ‘100 years of women’s suffrage’: Pa. will mark anniversary of allowing women to vote
Patriot News: Rally held to mark Carlisle’s inaugural pride week celebration
Patriot News: State universities’ faculty contract negotiators report progress as talks continue

Lehigh Valley    
Express Times: Bill named after Palmer woman killed by sheet of ice gains momentum in Pa. Senate
Express Times: Allentown lawmaker says AR-15 use in city’s mass shooting ‘almost predictable.’ He and colleague call for ban
Express Times: Bethlehem says no permits for you to tax cheats, code violators
Reading Eagle: The Rundown: Muth joins rally for renewable energy
Reading Eagle: Reading waiting for a green light on renewable energy
Reading Eagle: WEEU’s licenses sold for $88,500
Morning Call: Want to stop violence in Allentown? Community leaders say stop the hand-wringing, invest in neighborhoods and recreation for kids
Morning Call: Bethlehem mayor opposes proposal for student housing in residential neighborhood near Lehigh University
Morning Call: U.S. honeybees suffered high losses last winter, including one colony in Sen. Pat Toomey’s backyard  

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Mayor upset by City Hall accessibility delays
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Council votes down water authority reappointment
Williamsport Sun Gazette: School districts bleeding money to cyber charter schools
Erie Times-News: How far has Erie Refocused come in 3 years?
Erie Times-News: Erie Coke to pay city $118,000 for wastewater violations
Erie Times-News: Government meetings in Erie County, week of June 24
Centre Daily Times: ‘A real failure in the community:’ County officials, residents search for mental health solutions

Opinion  
Inquirer Editorial Board: The stakes are huge in Philly and Pa. if we don’t get the census right
Inquirer Editorial Board: How about preventing next refinery explosion, instead of just responding?
Inquirer Editorial Board: Philly has had enough ‘bad apples’ excuses; time to bring real change to police
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Helping in Sudan: There are ways to aid those who are suffering
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Drowning in plastic: The nation must commit to reducing and reusing
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Money on the table: Don’t let tax/rent rebate program pass you by
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Worthy venture: Great Lakes states, including Pa., need capital
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Deaths in paradise: Dominican Republic’s tourism industry at risk
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Thanks, FBI: Bomb sting shows feds have the city’s back
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Broker-dealer rule enhances investor protections
Frances Wolf: Increasing Pa.’s minimum wage a no-brainer way to help women
Teresa Miller: How raising the minimum wage helps get people work their way off public assistance
John L. Micek: Bill banning female genital mutilation headed to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk | Friday Morning Coffee
Tim Hartman: Budget votes start Monday. What could possibly go wrong? | Editorial Cartoon
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Facebooking Philadelphia police
Brian O’Neill: Spruce up the parks. But a tax increase?
David M. Shribman: The prize fights begin for the Democrats
Amaha Kassa: The E-Verify bill is bad for immigrant families in Pa.
Will Bunch: Phase 2 of Trump’s American autocracy has arrived, and it’s as bad as your worst fears
Keith C. Burris: Ends, means and higher ed
Jenice Armstrong: Tracey Gordon is my newest shero and quite possibly Philly’s next Register of Wills
Mark O’Keefe: There’s been a lot of big talk about cannabis legalization. The reality is harder
Mark Zandi: Recession risks are uncomfortably rising as faith in the economy wanes
Abraham Gutman: A Harvard researcher has a plan to solve Philly’s homicide crisis | Q&A
Laura Bernert: College Board, like cheating celebrity parents, supports a school racket
Trudy Rubin: Trump’s Iran stand down shows the total incoherence of his policy
Ruth Ann Dailey: What do we really know?
Tony Norman: A tale of two women (and the rest of us)
Signe Wilkinson: Political Cartoon: Reparations? For what?