A state Rep. is stepping down this summer, and the vice president returned to Pennsylvania to back another Republican campaign. And ICYMI, last week’s Ups & Downs, and Wagner’s continued push for a rigorous debate schedule. Good morning, politicos, here’s the Playbook!

Evankovich to Step Down in August

State Rep. Eli Evankovich announced Monday afternoon plans to step down at the end of the summer to take a position with a manufacturing firm.

Pence Returns to Pa. for Rothfus

Less than a week after he appeared in Philadelphia to give the nod to gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner, Vice President Mike Pence returned to the commonwealth to stump for another Republican.

6/22 Ups & Downs

We’ve weighed in on both gubernatorial candidates and have an update on two Pittsburgh journalists. See who had a good week, and who did not, in this Friday’s Ups & Downs!

Wagner Continues Pushing Debate Schedule

While he’s not at the 67 debates he wants, Republican gubernatorial nominee Scott Wagner said he’s working on it. He announced today he has accepted debates at 11 venues, and he will attend regardless of whether Gov. Tom Wolf does.

Statewide

State House Sound Bites: Justices elaborate on decision to stay clergy abuse report

Capitolwire: Plenty of disappointment to go around in the state Capitol following the apparent last session day until the fall.

Capitolwire: Scaled-down fiscal code includes school safety funding transfer, big money for PA’s Community HealthChoices program.

Capitolwire: Budget bills not the only things sent to the governor’s desk on Friday.

StateImpact PA: Republican congressman: Pruitt should quit after trying to block PFAS study

Philadelphia

Inquirer: Lou Barletta rolls with Trump, as president shifts policy at border

Inquirer: Pennsylvania’s death penalty needs a radical rethinking, long-awaited report finds

Inquirer: In Philly, Sen. Casey demands Trump administration produce plan to reunite separated families

Inquirer: Is separating children from their parents un-American? Not at all, historians say

Inquirer: Pa. Supreme Court explains why it blocked release of clergy sex-abuse report, citing challenges from ‘many’ people

WHYY: New video: GOP gubernatorial hopeful loves West Philly

KYW: Brian Fitzpatrick calls for resignation of EPA director following dangerous water report

SEPA

Bucks County Courier Times: Bill to protect NJ-PA tax pact advances in NJ

Bucks County Courier Times: Boyle, Fitzpatrick criticize EPA head Scott Pruitt on chemicals,

Delco Daily Times: Wolf signs ‘Stoneleigh’ bill into law, will protect against eminent domain seizures

Pittsburgh

Post-Gazette: Transit group launching new campaign to back ‘realistic, achievable solutions’

Post-Gazette: Could a grand jury find sexual abuse among non-Catholic organizations? Religious leaders say yes

Post-Gazette: State Rep. Eli Evankovich announces summer resignation

Tribune Review: Westmoreland transit authority may jump on Uber-style rides

WESA: In Year Of Budget Firsts, Plan Passes On Time And Wolf Signs It

WESA: PWSA Wants To Raise Rates, But First Needs State Approval

Pittsburgh Business Times: DEP wants more information from Shell on ethane pipeline

Southwest

Altoona Mirror: Fireworks business booming

Tribune-Democrat: Pennsylvania grapples with increase in elder abuse

Beaver County Times: DEP finds ‘deficiencies’ in Shell Pipeline’s permit application

NEPA

Standard-Speaker: CAN DO outgoing chair: investments paying off

Daily Item: Support for the president grows in his base

Daily Item: Hazleton voters: Only actions in office matter

Times Leader: Time to Toke: Recreational marijuana battle pits advocates against law, government

Times-Tribune: Lackawanna County settles one of two prison sex abuse lawsuits

South Central

Patriot News: Mayor to declare fiscal crisis in Harrisburg: ‘City now faces a looming financial catastrophe’

Patriot News: Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse takes two tracks on Act 47 strategy

Patriot News: Pa. House exits, leaving for fall decisions on several key bills

Patriot News: Gov. Wolf lauds Brian Sims’ part in news organization’s Pride Month project

Carlisle Sentinel: Bill could impact CV’s eminent domain case for McCormick Farm

YDR: Remembering Cornelia Wolf: Private funeral set for Gov. Tom Wolf’s mom

Public Opinion: Hispanics fuel Franklin County population growth

LNP: Group of concerned Hempfield residents sues school district over cell towers

Lehigh Valley

Morning Call: Harley-Davidson, stung by tariffs, shifts some production overseas

Morning Call: Pennsylvania House bows out on bill to cut its size

Morning Call: Lou Barletta: Images of crying children led to his reversal on Trump’s ‘zero-tolerance’ border policy

Express-Times: Six things to know about NTSB report on gas blast that killed UGI worker

Express-Times: Phillipsburg’s GOP congressman seeks to force Trump to reunite separated immigrant families

Reading Eagle: Civil vs. criminal is the question for Reading Parking Authority

North by Northwest

Sun-Gazette: Women eye House seats across 12th district

Erie Times-News: Erie County policy tells officers to call 911

Centre Daily Times: Pittsburgh shooting spurs State College demonstration

Centre Daily Times: Hawley campaign paid attorneys to screen Mizzou emails for public release

Opinion

Tribune Review: Lend your feedback to the Pa. School Safety Task Force

Tribune-Democrat: Victims deserve release of dioceses reports without further delay

Inquirer: Op-ed: Don’t make assumptions when it comes to Pa.’s redistricting fight

Delco Daily Times: The problem of rising property taxes is not going away

Observer-Reporter: It’s well past time to raise minimum wage

Patriot News: Op-ed: What rises from the ashes of Pa’s failed prison project? | Opinion

Reading Eagle: Houses of worship should be welcomed but regulated