Former Congressman Charlie Dent joins a law firm to help with government affairs, and Wagner resigns his state Senate seat to focus on his run for Governor.  Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

Dent Joins Law Firm: Former Congressman Charlie Dent is reportedly joining the international law firm DLA Piper in their government affairs division.

Wagner Resigns from Senate to Focus on Gubernatorial Bid: State Sen. Scott Wagner resigned his seat in the state Senate to give himself more time to focus on his gubernatorial bid.

Statewide
StateImpact: Study finds health threats from oil and gas wastewater spread on roads
City & State: Former PA Supreme Court Justice moves to block MontCo GOP chair vote
Capitolwire: Gaming Board launches sports betting process.

Philadelphia
Inquirer: Bucks and Montco towns with water contamination chosen for blood testing
Inquirer: Del. set to launch sports betting next week; Pa. opens petitions for casinos to conduct wagering
Inquirer: Why open primary elections won’t solve Pa.’s polarization problem
Inquirer: Inside the messy fight to lead Delco’s Democratic Party – and a possible compromise
Philly Mag: Pennsylvania and New Jersey Are the Worst States for Lyme Disease
WHYY: Mayor Kenney returns from Puerto Rico disappointed by the federal government’s work
WHYY: Pa.’s population increase in 2017 was the most dramatic in five years

SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: $164M Spring-Ford School District budget to raise taxes 2.35%
Bucks County Courier Times: Child abuse reports continue rising in Bucks and Montgomery counties
Bucks County Courier Times: State reimburses Quakertown airport land purchase
Delco Times: Delco legislators meet at local pre-k to talk about early education

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Gov. Wolf says opponent Scott Wagner chose campaigning over key Senate votes
Tribune Review: Toomey says Trump’s trade tariffs to harm American consumers
Tribune Review: Gun-control movement fuels students’ involvement in electoral process
Tribune Review: Work begins on Murrysville pump station that will aid in pipeline reversal
Post-Gazette: County Democrats keep secret ballot rule — for now
Post-Gazette: Could Peoples Natural Gas become a PWSA competitor for Pittsburgh drinking water?
Post-Gazette: ‘End Citizens United’ PAC targets Rothfus
Post-Gazette: Open primaries lead to more, not less political polarization, studies show
WESA: Allegheny County Dems Wrestle Over Secret Ballot Prior To Leadership Vote

Southwest
WJAC: Scott Wagner resigns from state Senate to focus on governor’s race
WJAC: Gov. Wolf calls for increase of state’s minimum wage
Daily American: Foreign-trade zone ‘holy grail’ still unoccupied
Beaver County Times: Finance reform group targets Rothfus campaign

NEPA
Times Leader: Libertarian Kerns hopes to make impact in U.S. Senate race
Times Leader: Nurses strike for patients; WB Gen owner locks them out until Tuesday
Standard-Speaker: PAY UP: Altamont developers delinquent on property taxes, sewer bills

South Central
Patriot News: Laudable or selfish? How Scott Wagner’s resigning from his Senate seat is being received
Patriot News: In 2017, 40 kids in Pennsylvania died from abuse and neglect
Patriot News: Parx Casino, after cool reception in Carlisle, looks at South Middleton, the township next door
York Daily Record: Here’s the (potentially) ironic part of Scott Wagner’s resignation from the Pa. Senate
LNP: Lancaster Democratic Party leader Sally Lyall to step down in coming weeks
Carlisle Sentinel: South Middleton Township in ‘preliminary talks’ about allowing mini-casino

Lehigh Valley
WFMZ: New tariff forces newspapers to cut back on employees, pages
Morning Call: Lehigh Valley developers need to offer millennials the amenities they want, panel says
Morning Call: PPL acquires New York solar-energy company
Reading Eagle: Berks County commissioners disagree on Mount Penn council, affordable housing

North by Northwest
WJET: What will happen to Scott Wagner’s Senate seat following his resignation?
WJET: Wolf responds to Scott Wagner’s Senate resignation to pursue run for governor
Centre Daily Times: Centre County’s first medical marijuana dispensary close to opening
Erie Times-News: Speaker: Erie’s racial disparities not unique
Erie Times-News: Council rejects appointee over procedural issue

Opinion
Tribune Review: Katie Pavlich: Nikki Haley stands up against evil at the UN
Patriot News: Yes, liberals can be condescending. Trump is still conservatives’ fault | Opinion
Patriot News: President Trump made America great again. He’s doing the same for Pa. | Opinion
Reading Eagle: Editorial: Newsprint tariffs put industry, jobs at risk
Post-Gazette: Ireland altered: The landslide vote to legalize abortion is landmark