The PAGOP announces some staff changes as Lawrence Tabas begins his term as Chair. Here is the Playbook. 

July 26th Ups & Downs: Three Pennsylvania Congressional Representatives get their spotlight in the Mueller hearing, Scranton selects an interim mayor, a celebrity pays a visit to a friend in Harrisburg, and a Pennsylvania convenience store unites two fan-bases. All of that and more are in this week’s Ups and Downs.

PAGOP Staff Changes Announced as Tabas Term Begins: The state GOP hired a new Executive Director and a Compliance Officer as other changes are expected to be announced in the near future.

Harrisburg & DC   
AP: Pennsylvania’s absentee ballot rules mean many arrive late
Tribune Review: Population estimates show Pennsylvania losing congressional district
WITF: Wolf admin says SNAP restriction could impact 200,000 Pennsylvanians
Philly Voice: Joe Biden leads campaign contributions in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania 
Post-Gazette: Retirement overhaul hits roadblocks as Toomey wants debate  
Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania launches grant program for urban farmers  
Beaver County Times: Casey bill reauthorizes funding for domestic violence program
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Preemption, explained: How Pennsylvania’s biggest city and the Legislature grapple over power
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Washington County state reps call for federal study of rare cancer 
PLSReporter: Attorney General issues grant to curb illegal gun purchases
PLSReporter: Did You Get The Memo? Veteran employment, government spending and state countermand power
PLSReporter: Philadelphia legislators, activists push to resolve prison-based gerrymandering
StateImpactPA: Three Mile Island Unit 2, site of nation’s worst nuclear accident, to be sold, dismantled
StateImpactPA: Activists in Bucks and Montgomery counties are skeptical about Pentagon PFAS task force
StateImpactPA: CBS/ProPublica documentary: ‘Powerless: The high cost of cheap gas’
Morning Call: Pennsylvania Republican who bucks Trump draws challengers  
Inquirer: When Hillary trounced Trump: Polls are unreliable a year before an election. So why are Dems watching?
Patriot News: State grants help sick students by providing in-class robots

Philadelphia
Billy Penn: DA Krasner slams Kenney over ‘no excuse’ meddling with police complaints
Billy Penn: After promising increased transparency, Philadelphia is redacting police complaint records
Billy Penn: Hepatitis A outbreak spreads in Kensington, prompting pleas to ‘Get vaccinated!’
Philadelphia Tribune: Philadelphia, state consider rebooting ‘focused deterrence’ to combat gun violence
Inquirer: ‘Ashdale family tree’: Philadelphia Parking Authority has hired 10 relatives of board chairman Joseph Ashdale
Inquirer: Does Philly still need Harrisburg to oversee its budget?
Inquirer: St. Christopher’s sale: Bankruptcy court agrees to keep Philadelphia officials in the loop
Inquirer: Raided by ICE three times, Philly migrant works to help others who could face deportation
Inquirer: SEPTA invests big in solar panels to save money, reduce greenhouse gas pollution
Inquirer: Hahnemann University Hospital residents face another costly blow: Breaking apartment leases
Inquirer: They’re 16. They’re earning free college degrees. How’s it going for these Philly students? 
KYW Newsradio: Controversial tax helps ambitious initiative reach major milestone
KYW Newsradio: City awards grants to 13 tech start-ups from underserved communities
KYW Newsradio: To improve care, Philly-area hospitals examine challenges of neighborhoods
Philly Voice: Joe Biden leads campaign contributions in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania

SEPA 
Delco Daily Times: Delaware County officials roll out services for laid-off refinery and hospital employees
Delco Daily Times: Kirkland: Why no outcry over possible DELCORA sale
Delco Daily Times: Groups take a stand to support immigrant children 
Daily Local News: Chester County starts wiping slate clean on arrest records
Daily Local News: Chesco leaders back Chester Water Authority Board
Daily Local News: Chester County OKs $2.5M in revitalization awards; Coatesville getting new public parking garage
Bucks Local News: DRBC releases report on the State of the Delaware River Basin: Overall, conditions are generally good and improving
Bucks County Courier Times: Doylestown joins Supreme Court brief supporting LGBT anti-descrimination cases
Pottstown Mercury: New voting machines arrive in Berks County

Pittsburgh  
KDKA: State Rep. Innamorato Says Stickers From White Supremacist Group Left Outside Office
KDKA: Local Representatives Co-Sponsor Bill To Help Police Obtain Mental Health Services
KDKA: Chicago Resident Writes Mayor Bill Peduto Apology Letter For Not Understanding The “Pittsburgh Left” 
KDKA: Lawrenceville United And City Of Pittsburgh Team Up To Provide Affordable Housing
KDKA: ‘I’ve Had A Marvelous Journey’: Ralph Iannotti Retiring After 52-Year Career In Broadcasting 
KDKA: Department Of Mobility And Infrastructure Launches Bike Safe Survey
WESA: Democratic Field Set In County Council Nominee Fight 
City Paper: Large developers in Lawrenceville are now required to provide affordable housing
City Paper: Here’s what experts say Pittsburgh should implement instead of driverless cars 
Tribune Review: Population estimates show Pennsylvania losing congressional district
Tribune Review: Progressive Democrat Hallam got personal in Allegheny County Council primary campaign
Tribune Review: How 3 new Allegheny County Democrats are shaking up the party’s old guard
Pittsburgh Business Times: Pittsburgh chosen to host conference of technology councils
Pittsburgh Business Times: Local leaders question U.S. Steel and health department settlement
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh calls argument against gun law ‘erroneous’
Post-Gazette: State Rep. Sara Innamorato says her office was stickered with anti-communist slogan by white supremacist group
Post-Gazette: Interim County Councilman Paul Zavarella will face Bhavini Patel and Ryan O’Donnell for District 8 Democratic nomination  
Post-Gazette: Local leader honored as ‘woman of power’ at National Urban League conference
Post-Gazette: Congress investigates Education Department in wake of abrupt Art Institute closures
Post-Gazette: Anniversary of ADA brings rally to Freedom Corner
Post-Gazette: New law means snow days can be work days for many students — from home
Post-Gazette: Port Authority to lead Oakland-Downtown rapid bus project  

SWPA
Beaver County Times: Lamb to IRS: Don’t make Beaver County taxpayers pay for a mistake
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Local political groups at odds over 2017 effigy
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: ‘Very optimistic’: Rigby tackles opioids, blight, gas tax in wide-ranging interview
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Williams back in race for Johnstown City Council
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Cambria commissioners OK grant application for upgrades at airport
Observer-Reporter: Comparing school taxes before and after the countywide reassessment
Altoona Mirror: Schools see red as lunch debts rise

NEPA
The Times Leader: Meuser looks to increase accountability, transparency for budget process
The Times Leader: Rick Morelli applies for vacant Luzerne County Council seat
The Times Leader: Eight Luzerne County school districts increased real estate taxes this year
The Times Leader: Wilkes-Barre firefighters’ OT exceeds budget; relief coming?
Citizens Voice: Good news for seniors: Pa. lottery sales reach new high

South Central  
Patriot News: Scott Perry constituents demand larger venue for town hall after event ‘sold out’ immediately
Patriot News: Annual Central Pa. Pride Festival brings thousands to State Capitol
Patriot News: State grants help sick students by providing in-class robots
LNP | LancasterOnline: Urban Outfitters again mulls Gap expansion as new law opens window into tax-break decisions

Lehigh Valley    
Reading Eagle: Berks County gets its first new voting machines in 30 years
Reading Eagle:Berks-area congressional fundraising ranges quite a bit
Reading Eagle: The Rundown: Rep. Thomas Caltagirone cheers help for low-income people to buy homes
Reading Eagle: The Briefing: Ben Renkus discusses Mayor Wally Scott’s flag-raising change of heart video
Inquirer: Two families arrested in Trump immigration raids have been sent to the Berks center in Pennsylvania
Morning Call: Using Facebook, Susan Wild raised money for suicide prevention after her partner’s death. Is that OK for a member of Congress to do?
Morning Call: Frustrated Allentown residents walk for peace in wake of recent shootings: ‘Stop the violence now’
Morning Call: Seeing red over neighborhood fireworks? This Pennsylvania lawmaker has an idea
Morning Call: You’re invited to this meeting on school property taxes

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Township talks political sign regulations
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Mayor seeks requests for proposals
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Officials contemplate future of aging City Hall 
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: 2nd ethics complaint filed to state
Erie Times-News: How Erie-area legislators voted, week ending July 26

Opinion  
Inquirer Editorial Board: Hahnemann closure is symptom of a bigger disease 
LNP Editorial Board: We must not let the Russians — or any other bad actors — interfere in our elections again 
Bucks County Courier Times Editorial: PA needs to give the Delaware River its ‘fair share’  
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Secret justice: Sealing of Hall documents discredits courts
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Healthy challenge: Hillman Foundation has $1.5M for big idea
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: A prisoner returned: Have U.S. talks, Warmbier case affected North Korea?
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Honor fallen journalists: Capital Gazette shooting is catalyst for memorial  
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: He’s still inspiring: Trailer for Mister Rogers movie is a hit by itself  
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Ban cat declawing: Outdated practice prioritizes convenience over care
John L. Micek: A Bucks County Dem makes the case against Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick. Is she right? | Friday Morning Coffee
Franklin L. Kury: SCOTUS gerrymandering decision a reminder that reformers can’t rely on courts to solve their problems
John L. Micek: While you weren’t looking Trump declared war on the poor with food stamps cuts 
Keith C. Burris: Much man
Karen Kane: Transparency needed in the Calvin Hall case
Pennsylvania Capital-Star Editorial: We’re Pennsylvania nurses: We support the struggle for Medicaid coverage of abortion
Tim Hartman: The Legislature spent how much on PR? | Editorial Cartoon
Ernest Owens: Of Course Penn Is Complicit in Amy Wax’s Racism. Of Course Penn Should Fire Her. 
Bill Mason: West Chester stirs up a bad law with plastic bag ban
Christine Flowers: Robert Mueller’s testimony was embarrassing and hard to watch 
Trudy Rubin: Trump should be wary of Pakistani help with ending Afghan war 
Nora V. Demleitner: How the government can steal your stuff: 6 questions about civil asset forfeiture answered
Jenice Armstrong: She’s not a public speaker, but she’ll take the microphone because she must 
Christine Flowers: The real injustice of the Meek Mill saga
David M. Shribman: Energetic O’Rourke must move fast or be left behind
Will Bunch: The cruelty is the point as AG Barr, Trump return to death penalty barbarism 
Jenice Armstrong: If there’s a black gathering in heaven, photographer Robert Mendelsohn is there 
Gene Therapy: Mueller just blew his shot at a Daytime Emmy
Ruth Ann Dailey: Harley-Davidson’s struggle to survive