Top 10 Stories: Harrisburg/PA Politics Reported By Local News Media Last Week

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- 2022 Priorities

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Final Year Will Focus On Issues That Matter Most - Gov. Wolf 

-- MCall Guest Essay: How We Helped Stabilize PA’s Economy During Pandemic - Sen. Browne (R)  [Spoiler: He didn’t thank Biden/Congress for the federal aid that propped up state, local budgets.]

 

-- PA’s Role In Jan. 6 Assault On U.S. Capitol

-- ErieT: House Speaker Cutler, Fmr PA Secretary Of State Boockvar Questioned By U.S. House Committee Investigating Assault On U.S. Capitol 

-- AP: Michigan AG Asks Feds To Investigate Fake Republican Electors In 2020 [Includes References To Fake Republican Electors In PA] 

-- WITF: New Muhlenberg Poll Shows PA Voters Remain Divided About 2020 Presidential Election

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: How Schools Should Teach About Jan. 6 Assault On U.S. Capitol

-- WITF: Police, Constables In PA Joined ‘Anti-Government’ Oath Keepers

-- NPR: Oath Keepers Founder, 10 Others, Charged With Seditious Conspiracy Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol

-- CourierT: Bucks County Man, 19, To Spend 14 Days In Jail As A Result Of Charges In Assault Of U.S. Capitol

-- MCall: Lehigh Valley Man Sentenced To House Arrest, Probation For Charges Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol

-- AP: Man Accused Of Shooting Into PA Democratic Party HQ In Montgomery County Pleads Guilty

-- LancasterOnline: Militia, ‘Patriots’ Met In Lancaster County 3 Days Before Attack On U.S. Capitol, Here’s Why 

-- WBTimes Editorial: PA Republicans Need To Get Over The Big Lie, Drop Sham Election Probe

-- PG Editorial: Social Media Companies Allowed ‘Big Lie’ On Election Fraud To Fester

 

-- New Voting Districts - Senate, House, Congressional

-- AP: Republicans Seek Sole Control Over Drawing Senate, House Voting District Maps  

-- Inquirer: PA Republicans Want A Lot More Power In State Voting District Maps

-- WITF: House Republicans Want To Change How Elections, Redistricting Happen

-- YorkDR Guest Essay: Another Republican Power Grab When ‘Find The Votes’ Turns Into ‘Draw The Lines’ - Rep. Bizzarro (D)

-- PA Cap-Star Editorial Cartoon: The Elephant In The Room On PA Redistricting - The Elephant In Sheep’s Clothing

-- MCall - Ford Turner: PA Redistricting Puts Incumbents, Potential Challenges In Limbo

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Political Partisanship In Redistricting is Causing Confusion For Mid-Term Elections - Mark Singel

-- PA Cap-Star: PA’s Bitter, Chaotic Effort To Redraw Congressional, State Voting Districts Likely To Reach Crescendo In Court

-- Gov. Wolf: Fair Congressional Voting District Maps Are Possible, Highlights Gerrymander-Free Examples

-- Inquirer: Wolf Unveiled Proposed Congressional Voting District Maps As Deadlines Loom

-- Spotlight PA: House Republicans Approve Proposed Congressional Voting District Map As Court Challenges Loom

-- WITF: Republican-Favored Congressional Voting District Plan Passes House, But There’s A Long Way To Go

-- PG: House Republicans Approve New Congressional Voting District Map As Court Challenges Loom

-- WHYY: The Arcane, Unlikely Doomsday Redistricting Law Looming Over PA Congressional Voting District Map Impasse

-- PA Cap-Star: Harrisburg Republicans Advance Redistricting ‘Reform’ Amid Voting Districts Map Fight

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: PA’s New House Voting District Map Can Fix Decades Of Gerrymandering

-- WilliamsportS: Local Leaders Question Redistricting Proposal

-- TribLive: Northern Westmoreland Would Get New State Senator Thru Redistricting

-- CourierT Editorial: How Proposed State House Voting District Plan Will Hurt Bucks County

-- LancasterOnline Editorial: House Republicans Shouldn’t Be Allowed To Get Away With Their Latest Power Grab On Redrawing Voting Districts

-- ScrantonT: Gerrymandering Truest Form Of Election Fraud

-- ErieT: City Of Erie Will Challenge U.S. Census Count

-- NPR: Fmr Administration Interfered With 2020 Census Beyond Cutting It Short, Email Shows

 

-- Governor’s Race

-- Republican Leaders Poll Shows Governor’s Race: White (21%), McSwain (17%), Barletta (16%), Gerow/Martin (12%), Corman (7%), Mastriano (6%) Leading

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Lunch Pail-Carrying ‘Worker Guy’ Emerges As Favorite In Regional Republican Leaders Poll

-- Inquirer: Fmr President Is Front And Center In PA’s Race For Governor, Will It Stay That Way?

-- Republican Leaders Poll Shows Lt. Governor’s Race: Schillinger (39%), Coleman (22%), Diamond (19%), Saccone (10%)

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: PA Farm Show Provides One-Stop-Shop For Campaigning Politicians

-- LancasterOnline - Brad Bumsted: Republican Sen. Corman Says He Has $3 Million To Fund Race For Governor 

-- WTAE: Fmr Republican House Speaker Turzai Running For Governor  

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Fmr Republican House Speaker Turzai Asks To Appear Before State Committee About Governor’s Race

-- Inquirer: Republican Candidate For Governor Barletta Warns Of ‘Ghost Flights’ For Immigrants, Critics Call It A Political ‘Stunt’

-- WHYY: PA Republican Primary Candidates Warn Of Immigrant ‘Ghost Flights,’ But Lack Facts And Context

-- PennLive - John Baer: Don’t Be Surprised If Republican Sen. Mastriano Wins Republican Nomination For Governor

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Republican Sen. Mastriano Endorses Fellow Army Veteran For Lt. Governor

-- WBTimes: Republican Teddy Daniels Announces For Lt. Governor After Appearing At Rally For Sen. Mastriano 

-- PennLive - Fmr Republican Rep. Jeff Coleman Announces Campaign For Lt. Governor

-- PA Cap-Star: Republican Jeff Coleman Running For Lt. Governor To Restore Civility

 

-- U.S. Senate Race

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Republican Leaders Straw Poll Shows Strong Support For Bartos, Barnette In U.S. Senate Race

-- Republican Leaders Poll Shows U.S. Senate Race: Bartos (49%), Barnette (30%), McCormick (15%), Sands (8%), Oz (1%)

-- USA Today: PA’s Candidate-Packed, Toss-Up Celebrity-Laden U.S. Senate Race Could Decide Control Of Congress

-- AP: Republican U.S. Senate Hopefuls Attack Carpetbaggery: ‘Why Lie To Me?’

-- Inquirer: Dr. Oz Spending Millions On TV To Boost His U.S. Senate Campaign, He’s Not Along In Ultra-Wealthy Republican Field

-- PG: Republican U.S. Senate Candidate David McCormick Buys Home In Pittsburgh’s East End

-- AP: Ex-Hedge Fund CEO David McCormick Enters Topsy-Turvey Republican U.S. Senate Race

-- WESA: Republican David McCormick Officially Joins U.S. Senate Race, Democrats Want Ad Spending Investigation

-- AP: Philly Lawyer George Bochetto Joins Republican Field For U.S. Senate Seat

-- ReadingE: 2 Republican Berks County Commissioners Endorse Jeff Bartos For U.S. Senate

-- PA Cap-Star: U.S. Senate Democratic Hopefuls Fetterman, Lamb Join Call For Congressional Stock-Trading Ban

-- Inquirer: Philly’s Largest Worker Union Backing Democratic Rep. Kenyatta For U.S. Senate

 

-- Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout

-- PG Editorial: MLK Day Call To Action On Voting Rights

-- AP: PA Supreme Court Puts Hold On Republican ‘Inspection’ of County Voting Machines

-- AP: Commonwealth Court Won’t Block Entire Senate Republican Voter Information Subpoena

-- PA Cap-Star: PA Court Declines To Quash Senate Republican Election ‘Investigation’ Subpoena, Needs More Time For Review

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Giving Personal Data To Politicians ‘Investigating’ The 2020 Elections Is Dangerous

-- PA Cap-Star: Watchdog Group Latest To Sue Fulton County Over Missing 2020 Election Review Documents

-- WITF: House Republicans Want To Change How Elections, Redistricting Happen

-- PA Cap-Star: Conservative Groups Target State, Local Voter Registration Rolls In PA With Lawsuits

-- ScrantonT: Lackawanna NAACP Calls For Protection Of Voting Rights

-- WITF: New Muhlenberg Poll Shows PA Voters Remain Divided About 2020 Presidential Election

-- PennLive Guest Essay: The ‘Sore Loser Effect’: Rejecting Election results Can Destabilize Democracy And Driver Terrorism

-- PA Cap-Star Guest Essay: It’s Up To Democrats In PA And DC To Defend Democracy, So Far That Isn’t Happening

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: Voting Rights Bill Will Undermine The Rights Democrats Claim To Protect - Sen. Toomey

-- YorkD Editorial: Sen. Toomey Can Be The One Republican Senator Who Can Make A Difference On The ‘Big Lie’

-- WESA: Mayor Tells Republicans Pittsburgh ‘Would Be Excited To Host’ 2024 Convention, But Not Everyone Agrees

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Mayor Supports Efforts To Host National Political Convention Regardless Of Party

-- PG Editorial: Benefits Of Hosting Republican Convention Outweigh Perils

 

-- Harrisburg Potpourri

-- Spotlight PA: Voters Could Be Flooded With Proposed Changes To PA Constitution In 2023  

-- PA Cap-Star Guest Essay: Unable To Win The Battle Of Ideas, PA Republicans Are Damaging The State Constitution

-- CourierT Guest Essay: Proposed Constitutional Amendments Threaten Independence Of PA Judiciary - Pennsylvanians For Modern Courts 

-- Spotlight PA: Legislature’s Redacted Legal Bills Flout Court Ruling, Leave Taxpayers Guessing On Expenses

-- ScrantonT Editorial: Taxpayers’ Pay High Price For Lawmaker Expense Secrecy

-- PG: Special Election April 5 Will Decide Gainey’s Replacement In House

-- House Speaker: Special Election April 5 To Replace Rep. Toohil In Luzerne County

-- TribLive: Aide To Sen. Costa Announces Bid To Fill Rep. Gainey Vacant House Seat

-- Northeast Times: Democrats Pick Ward Leader Dillon For State Senate Special Election

-- ErieT: Republican Rep. Curt Sonney Won’t Seek Reelection

-- WBTimes: Rep. Mullery Will Not Seek Reelection In 2022

-- Center Square: House Committee Approves Bills To Align PA, Federal Tax Codes

-- WESA: New Report To Legislators Says Concerns Remain About PA’s Unemployment System

-- TribLive - Deb Erdley: Rep. Matzie To Introduce Bill Requiring Notice Sex Offenders Are Entering Long-Term Care Facilities

-- PennLive: Fmr Judicial Advocate Appointed To Be Board Of Prisons Secretary

-- WHYY: City Of Chester Receiver Says City Officials Gave Themselves Raises ‘Yet Again,’ Intends To Go To Court

 

-- Budget 2022

-- MCall Guest Essay: How We Helped Stabilize PA’s Economy During Pandemic - Sen. Browne (R)  [Spoiler: He didn’t thank Biden/Congress for the federal aid that propped up state, local budgets.]

-- PG: PA To Receive An Extra $1.63 Billion In Federal Infrastructure Funds To Fix Bridges From Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

-- PG Editorial: The Least Of These - A Hidden Crisis In Services For People With Intellectual Disabilities And Autism

-- PA Cap-Star: Sen. Flynn Wants Turnpike To Use Cash Apps For Tolls

-- CentreDT: Mini-Casino In Centre County Is Running Behind Schedule

-- WHYY: Why A Philly Business Decided To Sit Out The Sports Betting Boom

 

-- COVID Pandemic In PA

-- MCall: PA COVID Hospitalizations Top 7,000 For First Time, 197,000 New Cases Last Week

-- MCall: 194,782 New COVID Cases Last Week, But Surge Is Slowing, Hospitalizations Set Another Record

-- CourierT: When Do PA Hospitals Turn To Crisis Standards Of Care?  What Does That Mean To Patients

-- WITF: Want To Know Where COVID Will Spread? Ask People If They Plan To Follow CDC Guidelines, Researchers Say

-- ErieT: Erie Hospitals See COVID Admissions Approach Record Levels

-- Inquirer: Delaware County Hospitals Are Full, An ER Is Closing As COVID Surge Intensifies In Philly Area

-- Inquirer: Philadelphia-Area Hospitals Are Overwhelmed, But Not Only By COVID Patients

-- MCall: COVID Patients Ending Up In ICU Putting Strain On Overworked Health Care Workers

-- AltoonaM: Region’s Hospital Admission Rates Rival 2020 COVID Peak

-- TribLive: Allegheny Health Network To Require N95 Masks In All Facilities

-- PennLive: Look Up How Many COVID Patients Are In Your Hospital

-- YorkD: York County With A Population Of 456,000 Has Now Seen 100,000 COVID Cases

-- WITF: Centre County Schools, Penn State, Mount Nittany Medical Push Ahead As COVID Cases Climb

-- CourierT: Doylestown Health To Central Bucks School District: Change Your COVID Safety Plan, Our Hospital Is ‘Overwhelmed’ With Cases

-- PG: Weekly COVID Cases Hit All-Time High In Allegheny County

-- CourierT: Bucks County COVID Cases And Deaths Tracker

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: I Dropped My Guard During COVID And Paid The Price

-- TribLive: Experts Say Too Soon To Tell What Drop In COVID Countes Means For Western PA

-- Inquirer: Philly, NJ Officials Say Peak Of Omicron Surge Could Be Near

-- AP: COVID Omicron May Be Headed For A Rapid Drop In U.S.

-- NPR: U.S. Supreme Court Halts COVID Vaccine Mandate For U.S. Businesses

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: Why I Applaud The U.S. Supreme Court For Killing Biden’s Vaccine Mandate

-- TribLive Editorial: U.S. Supreme Court Decision On Vaccine Mandates Could Make Hospital, Nursing Home Jobs Harder

-- WITF: York City Police To Patrol WellSpace Hospital Amid Rising Threats And Violence Against Health Care Workers

-- ErieT: Erie County Executive Says Vaccines, Testing Provide Path Out Of COVID Surge

-- AP: Wolf: Vaccine Is Strategy To Fight COVID, Not Shutdowns 

-- PA Cap-Star: State Focused On Coordinating Federal COVID Relief, Not Statewide Mask, Vaccine Mandates

-- PA Cap-Star: PA Health Officials Urge COVID Vaccines Among New, Expecting Parents

-- WHYY: Philadelphia Extends Vaccine Mandate Deadline For City Workers

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Gov. Wolf, It’s Time To Declare An Emergency On COVID Omicron - Rep. Nelson (D)

-- WHYY: Start Ordering Free At-Home COVID Test Kits Starting Wednesday

-- WilliamsportS: Home COVID Tests To Be Covered By Insurers Starting Saturday

-- TribLive Editorial: Insurance Payment For COVID Tests Should Have Better Coordination

-- ScrantonT: COVID Pills In Short Supply At Local Pharmacies

-- ScrantonT: Federal Fund Pays For COVID-Related Funeral Costs, But Many Do Not Apply

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Transit To Require COVID Vaccinations For All Employees By Mid-March

-- PG: Transit Union, Pittsburgh Transit Authority At Odds Over Vaccination Mandate

 

-- COVID - Schools

-- Inquirer: CDC And Children’s Hospital Of Philadelphia Guidelines For Schools Still Recommend Masks To Keep Students In Classrooms

-- TribLive Editorial: If Schools Want Parents To Decide About Masks, How Do They Enforce That?

-- PA Cap-Star: 6 Months Into School Year, Here’s How Pittsburgh Schools Are Managing Pandemic

-- PG: Debates Over School Mask Policies Intensify As COVID Numbers Spike

-- ScrantonT: More School Districts Considering In-School COVID Tests To Keep Kids In Classrooms

-- CourierT: Doylestown Health To Central Bucks School District: Change Your COVID Safety Plan, Our Hospital Is ‘Overwhelmed’ With Cases

-- CourierT: Central Bucks School Board Rejects New CDC COVID Rules, Keeps ‘Safety’ Plan Unchanged

-- MCall: Lehigh Valley School Districts Allows Students Who Don’t Want To Be In A Non-Mask Environment To Get Their Education Online

-- TribLive: North Allegheny School District File Lawsuit To Block Mask-Optional Policy Says It Endangers Their Children

-- TribLive: Baldwin-Whitehall Schools End Week With Remote Learning Due To COVID-Related Staffing Issues

-- PG: Pittsburgh Public Schools Facing Larger COVID Problem Than What’s Show On Dashboard

-- TribLive: Freeport H.S. Goes Remote After Surging COVID Counts

-- ErieT: Why Erie County Executive Lifted School Mask Mandate

-- PennLive: Harrisburg School District Moves To Remote Learning Due To COVID Spike

-- WESA: Pittsburgh Public Schools, Child Care Providers Grapple With Staffing Shortages

-- TribLive: Staffing Shortage Closing 20 Pittsburgh Public Schools, Programs Monday

-- Inquirer: 102 Philly Schools Closed Due To COVID, At Some Still Open ‘Everything’s Not Fine’

-- Inquirer: Most Philly Schools Returning To In-Person After MLK Day

-- ReadingE: Berks County Schools Go Virtual Due To COVID-Related Staffing Shortages

-- TribLive Editorial: Schools Reacting To COVID Staffing Challenges

-- NextPittsburgh: Pittsburgh Public Schools, Other Districts Address Pandemic Learning Interruptions

-- PG: Pitt Says It “Disenrolled’ Students For Failing To Get COVID Vaccinations

-- PG: With Campuses Nearly 100% Vaccinated, Pitt Says It’s Time To Rethink COVID

-- PG: California U., Clarion, Edinboro To Have In-Person Classes, But With New COVID Rules

 

-- Opioid Epidemic

-- MCall - Ford Turner: Strong Support In Harrisburg For Letting Drug Users Test For Fentanyl

-- YorkDR: A PA Mom: ‘The Opioid Crisis No Longer Exists, It’s Now The Fentanyl Crisis’

-- CitizensV Editorial: Lawmakers: Authorize Fentanyl Test Strips To Save Lives

-- WITF: Opioid Addiction, Sobriety Highlighted In Social Media Campaign Across PA

 

-- School Funding/Administration

-- WHYY: Philly School Superintendent Cites Staffing Shortfalls, Crumbling Buildings As Proof Of unconstitutional School Funding System

-- Inquirer: Philly School Superintendent Says Students Minimal Standards ‘Because That’s All They Have Access To’  [School Funding Case]

-- WHYY: Schools Can’t ‘Cure Every Societal Ill’ Republican Lawyers Argue In School Funding Lawsuit

-- CentreDT: State College School Board Voices Support For PA Fair School Funding Lawsuit

-- WHYY: Penn Wood Students’ Podcast Covers PA’s Fair Education Funding Trial From The Inside Out

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: Kids On Supposed ‘McDonald’s Track Are Living In A Rigged System [School Funding Inequities]

-- PennLive Letter: PA Students Need A Broad Education, Not Just Enough To Flip A Pizza [As Republicans Said At School Funding Trial]

-- ReadingE Editorial: Fair School Funding Trial Shows The Tale Of Haves And Have-Nots

 -- Inquirer: These Humble PA County Pension Plans Beat PSERS’ Returns By Keeping It Simple

-- WHYY: Pennridge Parents In Bucks County, Resisting The School District, Are Filling Little Libraries With Diverse Books

-- PG: Student In Custody And Gun Found During Lockdown At Pittsburgh H.S.

-- ErieT: Unfounded Threat Leads To Lockdown At Erie H.S., No Weapon Found

-- TribLive: Student’s Rampage Caused Lockdown At Indiana County Senior High

-- TribLive: Conservative Republican School Board Member Wants To Bar CNN News For Students

-- WPSU: Bellefonte School Board Returns To Native American Logo And ‘Red Raiders’ Nickname At A Cost Of $100,000 

-- AP: AG Shapiro: Settlement With Student Loan Collection Company Results In Canceling $1.7 Billion In Debt Owed By 66,000 Students

-- PG: AG Shapiro: Navient Reaches $1.85 Billion Settlement Over Student Loan Practices

-- WilliamsportS: State Merger Hits Sour Note At Lock Haven University

-- ErieT Guest Essay: Diversity At The Core Of Erie County Community College

-- WHYY: Lawyer Who Once Clerked For RBG To Serve As Penn’s Next President

-- WHYY: Philly Lawmakers Call On Penn To Revoke Professor’s Tenure After Racist Comments

-- Inquirer: Penn Among Colleges Sued For Colluding To Hold Down Financial Aid Packages

 

-- Gun Violence/Law Enforcement

-- PA Cap-Star: Reluctant Witnesses Hampering Gun Violence Prosecution, Philly DA Says

-- PG Special: ‘Unchecked Flood’ Of Guns Driving Wave Of Shootings, Deaths In Pittsburgh 

-- Inquirer: Republican Rep. White Wants To Ban Philly DA From Serving 3rd Term

-- Inquirer: Delaware County Officials Say Drop In Murders In Chester Result Of ‘Unprecedented’ Collaboration

-- PG: Student In Custody And Gun Found During Lockdown At Pittsburgh H.S.

-- ErieT: Unfounded Threat Leads To Lockdown At Erie H.S., No Weapon Found

-- PG: Pittsburgh Man Charged With Illegally Buying 34 Guns

-- PG: Firearm Enthusiasts Arm Themselves At Monroeville Gun Show

-- PG: Pittsburgh Parishes Ask AG Shapiro To Get Involved In Jim Rogers Death Case

-- WESA: Pittsburgh Community Group Takes Concerns About Death Of Jim Rogers To AG Shapiro

-- PG Editorial: Send Rogers Pittsburgh Police Taser Case To Harrisburg For Justice
-- WHYY: Delaware County Community Members Demand Justice For 8-Year-Old Fanta Bility Shot By Police

-- AltoonaM: Blair County Officials Begin Work On Gun Sanctuary

-- KYW: Philadelphia Police Outline Plan To Combat Rising Carjackings In City

-- PennLive: Wrongly Labeled A Sex Offender, Central PA Man Can’t Shake Felony For Missing Job Reporting Deadline

-- PG: COVID Surge Prompts Suspension Of Federal Grand Juries In Pittsburgh, Erie

-- TribLive: Allegheny County Jail Now Says 87 Inmates In Solitary Last Month, Not 294

-- TribLive Editorial: Allegheny County Jail Should Follow The Law

-- WHYY: Eight Facing Charges In Alleged Philly Home Stealing Ring

 

-- PA Economy

-- MCall: COVID Omicron Exacerbates Uncertainty, Stress For Lehigh Valley Employers, Some Are Delaying Return To Workplace

-- Inquirer: COVID Surge Is Causing Workers Absences, SEPTA Delays, Late Trash Pickup Across Philly Region

-- ScrantonT: Restaurants Scrap Indoor Dining Amid Surging COVID Cases: ‘The Last Thing I Want Right Now Is A Full Dining Room’

-- PennLive: Amid Latest COVID Surge, Some Central PA Restaurants Notice Drop In Business

-- WESA: New Report To Legislators Says Concerns Remain About PA’s Unemployment System

-- MCall Guest Essay: Congress Must Focus On The Economy In 2022 - Cong. Susan Wild

-- PG Editorial: Why Is Pennsylvania Shrinking?

-- LancasterOnline: Did All Of That Pandemic Baking Lead To More Competition At 2022 Farm Show? 

-- TribLive: Red Cross: Blood Donations Needed To Reverse Worst Shortage In A Decade

[Posted: January 16, 2022]