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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- New Voting Districts - Senate, House, Congressional

-- AP: House Republican Leader Asks PA Supreme Court To Throw Out House Voting District Map

-- PA Cap-Star: House Republicans Ask Court To Toss House Voting District Map, Reuse Current Lines In 2022

-- MCall -  Ford Turner: Allentown, South Whitehall Cited In House Republican Challenge To House Voting District Map

-- WITF: Reading, Allentown Highlight How Redistricting Can Impact Latino Communities For Better, Worse

-- City & State PA: How Pennsylvanians Are Trying To Bring Racial Equity To Drawing Voting Districts

-- AP: House, Senate Voting District Maps Draw Legal Challenge Over Dividing Butler County

-- YorkDR: Republican Rep. Seth Grove Wants To Cut The ‘Political BS’ On Elections, Maps; Democrats Call BS On Him

-- AP: PA High Court Eyes How To Pick Congressional Voting District Map

-- Spotlight PA: PA Supreme Court Weighs What Makes A Fair Congressional Voting District Map

-- WHYY: PA Supreme Court Justices Trying, Begrudgingly, To Pick New Congressional Voting Districts Map

-- PA Cap-Star: PA Supreme Court Arguments In PA’s Congressional Voting Districts Map Begin Today

-- PA Cap-Star Guest Essay: PA’s Congressional Voting District Process Failed Again, Courts Have To Step In - Fair Districts PA

-- WITF: PA Supreme Court Set To Start Weighing New Congressional Voting Districts Map

-- PA Cap-Star: How PA Residents Are Trying To Bring Racial Equity To A Fraught Redistricting System

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: PA Voters, Candidates Stuck In Limbo Because Politics Has Polluted State Government

-- YorkD Guest Essay: A Fair Congressional Voting Districts Map Awaits Final Approval - House Republicans

 

-- Governor’s Race

-- Inquirer: Several Staffers Have Left Republican Sen. Corman’s Campaign For Governor

-- ReadingE: Republican Gubernatorial Hopeful Sen. Corman Visits Berks County

-- City & State PA: Barletta, Mastriano Lead In Early Republican Polls For Governor

-- LancasterOnline: U.S. House Subpoena Of Republican Candidate For Governor Sen. Mastriano Could Boost His Campaign

-- PennLive - John Baer: Republican Race For Governor A Hot Mess, And It’s Just Starting To Bubble

-- PA Cap-Star: Democratic Group Files Campaign Finance Complaint Against Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Barletta-Linked PAC

-- ScrantonT: Republican Candidate For Governor David White Portrayed Himself As The Blue-Collar Candidate

-- MCall - Bill White: Will PA’s Government Go Full MAGA Next Year?

-- City & State PA: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Dr. Nche Zama Promises To Unite PA

-- Inquirer Pro/Con: Should PA Governors, Lt. Governors Run On Same Ticket?

-- AP: Democrats Eye Key Governors’ Races As Backstop Against Republicans [Including PA]

 

-- U.S. Senate Race

-- City & State PA: Endorsements In PA’s U.S. Senate Race Keep Stacking Up

-- WBTimes: Bartos Says Grassroots Campaign For Republican U.S. Senate Nomination Favors Him Over ‘Two Political Tourists’

-- WESA: Republican U.S. Senate Contender McCormick Talks Crime, Immigration In Western PA

-- Inquirer: The Very Different U.S. Senate Campaigns Of Fetterman, Lamb

-- Inquirer: Conor Lamb (D) Campaigned With Indicted Union Official In Philadelphia

-- ScrantonT: Casey Officially Neutral But Has Deep Ties To Lamb In U.S. Senate Race

-- YorkD Editorial: Republican U.S. Senate Hopeful McCormick Fumbles With Super Bowl Ad

-- PA Cap-Star Editorial Cartoon: Dr. Oz’s Hollywood Star Turn

 

-- May 2022 Election

-- WHYY: Mail-In Ballot Applications Are Available For May Primary [Yes, You Can Still Request One]

-- TribLive: Mail-In Ballot Applications Sent To Voters As Questions Remain Ahead Of May Primary

-- AP: Republican Commonwealth Court Judge Issues Order Blocking Mail-In Voting For Primary Election; PA Supreme Court Reviewing Underlying Decision

-- WITF: Tech Issue Could Hinder Some PA Voters From Applying For Mail-In Ballot, Here’s What To Do

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: PA Voters, Candidates Stuck In Limbo Because Politics Has Polluted State Government

-- YorkDR: York County Commissioners Name New Elections Director; Democrats Say She Has No Elections Experience

 

-- Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout

-- MCall - Ford Turner: Republican Sen. Argall Rip Wolf Administration For Skipping Election Reform Hearing; Counties Tell Of Pressing Need For Election Funds, More Time To Process Mail-In Ballots [Counties Have Been Asking For These For Years]

-- ScrantonT Editorial: Republicans Responsible For Delays In Counting Ballots, Time To Listen To Local Experts

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Progressive Activists Ask Wolf Administration To Bar Republicans Involved In Trying To Overturn The Nov. 2020 Election, Assault On U.S. Capitol From Primary Ballot

-- PennLive Guest Essay: If You Participate In An Insurrection, You Can’t Hold Public Office - Mark Singel

-- YorkDR: Republican Rep. Seth Grove Wants To Cut The ‘Political BS’ On Elections, Maps; Democrats Call BS On Him

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: PA Voters, Candidates Stuck In Limbo Because Politics Has Polluted State Government

 

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

-- AP: U.S. House Subpoenas Republican Candidate For Governor Sen. Mastriano In Fake Republican Electors Scheme

-- PA Cap-Star: U.S. House Subpoenas Republican Sen. Mastriano In Fake Electors Scheme

-- YorkD: ‘Subpoena Was Long Overdue:’ For Republican Sen. Mastriano From U.S. House Committee Investigating Assault On U.S. Capitol 

-- PA Cap-Star: Who In PA The U.S. House Committee Investigating The Assault On U.S. Capitol Wants To Hear From And Why

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Progressive Activists Ask Wolf Administration To Bar Republicans Involved In Trying To Overturn The Nov. 2020 Election, Assault On U.S. Capitol From Primary Ballot

-- PennLive Guest Essay: If You Participate In An Insurrection, You Can’t Hold Public Office - Mark Singel

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster County Man Sentenced To 2 Years’ Probation On Charges Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol

-- Inquirer: Montgomery County Man Sentenced To 2 Weeks In Prison On Charges Related To The Assault On U.S. Capitol

 

-- State Constitutional Amendments

-- Spotlight PA: Complete Guide To More Than 70 Proposed Amendments To State Constitution

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Republican Lawmakers Are Abusing The Constitutional Amendment Process - PA Common Cause

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Constitutional Amendment On Liquor Privatization - A Glass Half Full Or Half Empty? - Bars & Taverns

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Taverns, Restaurants Raise Questions On Proposed Republican Liquor Privatization Constitutional Amendment

 

-- Harrisburg Potpourri

-- WITF/AP: Democrats Fear Extinction In Rural PA And Across The Country

-- AP: Fmr Rep. Davidson Fined All Of $150 Over Campaign Law Violations [Does That Seem Right To Anyone Else?]

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: Talk About Getting Off Easy: A $150 Fine For A State Officials Who Ripped Off Taxpayers

-- ScrantonT: Scranton Man Sent Email Threatening To Burn Down Wolf’s Home

-- CourierT: PA Law Mandates Judges Retire At Age 75, Here’s How They Can Avoid It

-- MCall - Ford Turner: Lawmakers Want State Approval Of Hospital Deals After 2 Chester County Hospital Closures

-- AP: Dept. Of Aging Official Pressed Over Fate Of 3 Elderly Residents In Philadelphia

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Legalizing Marijuana Could Compromise Public Health And Safety - Police Chiefs

-- Gov. Wolf: Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman Departing; Mike Humphreys Named Acting

-- WESA: New Doula Program Designed To Help Pregnant People In PA State Prisons

-- PG Editorial: Lawmakers Have No Business Trading Stocks [On Inside Information]

 

-- Budget 2022

-- The Center Square: State Revenue Estimate Discrepancies Focus Of PA House Budget Hearing

-- Independent Fiscal Office Budget Hearing Materials: Federal PA Pandemic Relief: $30.7 Billion Direct Aid To Businesses; $26.5 Billion Aid To State/Local Governments

-- PA Gaming Board: January Gaming Revenue Up 26% Over Last Year To $393.1 Million

-- The Center Square: Inflation, Workforce Issues Dominate PA House Budget Hearing

-- Gov. Wolf Outlines $200 Million Plan To Make College Affordable

-- AP: Wolf Renews High-Ed Scholarship Idea, Amid Worker Shortage

-- PA Gaming Board: $68 Million In Wagers Placed On Super Bowl, 27% Increase Over Last Year

-- PG: Pittsburgh’s Bridges On The Brink As Spans Decay With Little Help

 

-- COVID Pandemic In PA

-- Dept. Of Health Weekly Update On COVID Cases, Vaccinations, Hospitalizations

-- MCall: PA COVID Hospitalizations Ahead Of Last Year’s Rate Despite Falling Case Numbers, 20,898 More Cases Last Week

-- Inquirer: More Than 9,000 Pennsylvanians Died In COVID Omicron Surge

-- WHYY: Philly Drops COVID Vaccine Mandate For Indoor Dining

-- Inquirer: PA Hospitals See Dramatic Drops In COVID Patients

-- TribLive: Allegheny County’s COVID Stats ‘Headed In A Favorable Direction

-- Inquirer: Philly Offering $100 To Get COVID Vaccination, Now It Just Needs Willing Residents

-- Penn State: Insights Into Why Gun Violence Increased In PA During COVID Pandemic  

-- PG: Fmr. Acting PA Health Secretary Hired By UPMC

 

-- COVID - Schools

-- Reuters: School Boards Get Death Threats Amid Rage Over Race, Gender, Mask Policies  [PA Schools Featured]

-- Inquirer: Question Of How And When To End School Mask Mandates Dividing Philly-Area School Communities

-- Spotlight PA: As COVID Surged, Few PA Schools Signed Up For Free COVID Testing

-- TribLive Editorial: Poor School COVID Testing Participation Subverts Parent Choice

 

-- Opioid Epidemic

 -- Spotlight PA: U.S. Justice Dept. Finds PA Courts Discriminated Against People With Opioid Use Disorder

-- PennLive: Lawmakers Grapple With Fatal Overdose Rate Jump, Addiction Crisis Worsened By COVID

 

-- School Funding/Administration

--Spotlight PA: IFO Report Suggests No Correlation Between Money Spent On Public Schools And Standardized Test Scores 

-- Inquirer: Final Republican Witness In PA School Funding Trial Disputes $4.6 Billion Spending Gap

-- ScrantonT: Final Witness Expected To Testify Tuesday In School Funding Trial

-- WHYY: From Pupil Counting to Plagiarism, PA’s School Funding Trial Takes Twists During Republican Defense Phase

-- PG: Increased Investment In Schools Could Help Resolve Social-Emotional Issues, Says State Education Secretary

-- Reuters: School Boards Get Death Threats Amid Rage Over Race, Gender, Mask Policies  [PA Schools Featured]

-- TribLive: White Students ‘No Longer Members’ Of Winchester Thurston School In Pittsburgh After Video Mocking George Floyd

-- CourierT: Embattled Bucks County School Official Refusing Calls To Resign Over Anti-LGBTQ Political Flyer

-- PennLive: Middletown Schools To Require Students To Use Clear Backpacks After Gun Found In Middle School

-- Inquirer: Chester County H.S. Shuts Doors For A Day After ‘Threatening Statements’ Made Over Masking

-- ErieT: Erie School Board Gets First Black Woman President

-- LancasterOnline Editorial: McCaskey H.S. Response To Investigation Of Name-Calling Incident During Basketball Game In Lebanon ‘Wonderful’

-- ScrantonT Editorial: ‘Shallow Dive’ By Independent Fiscal Office On Funding-Student Score Relationship Should Not Drive Policy

-- TribLive Editorial: Online Education An Important Part Of School Choice Discussion

-- TribLive Editorial: Suicide Prevention Programs Need To Utilize, Support Students

-- Gov. Wolf Outlines $200 Million Plan To Make College Affordable

-- AP: Wolf Renews High-Ed Scholarship Idea, Amid Worker Shortage

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: PA Nursing Loan Forgiveness Program Draws Nearly 15,000 Applications

-- PG: Penn State Trustee Panel Proposes 3.5% Boost In Room, Board Charges 

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Penn State Sets 3.5% Hike In Room, Meal Rates For 2022-23 School Year

-- TribLive: Indiana U. Of PA Plans Tuition Break For In-State Undergrads

-- WITF: Students Consider Careers In Machining As Alternative To Increasing Expensive College Degrees

-- WHYY: University Of Pennsylvania Receives $125 Million Gift To Train Nurse Practitioners For Free

-- PG: Slippery Rock University President Stepping Down, Cites Pandemic

-- MCall: Northampton Community College Offering 2 Classes On UFOs In Lehigh Valley

 

-- Gun Violence/Law Enforcement

-- State Police Responds To Recommendations From State Law Enforcement Citizen Advisory Commission

-- MCall - Ford Turner: State, Federal Estimates Of PA Overdose Deaths Are Far Apart, Shapiro Points To ‘Historic’ Shortage Of Police

-- ABC27: Philly DA Blames Republicans For Spike In City Violence

-- Sen. Corman Renews Call To Impeach Philly DA

-- AP: Commonwealth Court Rules Against Philadelphia Lost-Gun Reporting Law

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: 7 Moms Whose Kids Were Killed By Gun Violence Share What They’ve Lost

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: ‘Please Take Pictures:’ Philadelphia Moms Who Lost Children To Gun Violence Don’t Want Us To Look Away

-- PennLive: Middletown Schools To Require Students To Use Clear Backpacks After Gun Found In Middle School

-- Inquirer: 12-Year-Old Is Charged With Murder In Beating Death Of 70-Year Old Man During Carjacking

-- PennLive: Town Hall Offers Answers To Harrisburg Gun Violence That’s ‘Worse Than You Think’

-- TribLive: Westmoreland Man Charged In Shooting Outside Bar Treated City Street ‘Like It Was The O.K. Corral’

-- Penn State: Insights Into Why Gun Violence Increased In PA During COVID Pandemic  

- CitizensV Editorial: Remington Settlement Warning Shot For Insurers

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Activists, Officials Hope Legislation Will End ‘Systemic Racism’ In Traffic Stops

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: Some PA Cops Can No Longer Stop Vehicles For Minor Infractions, What That’s A Problem

-- PennLive: Video Of Harrisburg Police Using Knee Strikes Against Man On Ground Triggers Review

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster DA No Longer Using Civil Forfeiture Funds To Help Pay Drug Task Force Salaries

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Legalizing Marijuana Could Compromise Public Health And Safety - Police Chiefs

 

-- PA Economy

-- Independent Fiscal Office Budget Hearing Materials: Federal PA Pandemic Relief: $30.7 Billion Direct Aid To Businesses; $26.5 Billion Aid To State/Local Governments

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: They Reported Unemployment Fraud, They Never Got A Response, Then Came The Tax Forms

-- MCall: State Unemployment Compensation, Other Systems To Go Down Temporarily Over The Weekend

-- The Center Square: Inflation, Workforce Issues Dominate PA House Budget Hearing

-- AG Shapiro Charges 5 Out-Of-State Residents For Defrauding PA’s Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program

-- PA Cap-Star: New State Authority Meets To Tackle Broadband Expansion Across PA

-- TribLive: What’s The Post-Pandemic Future Of Downtown Pittsburgh Development?

-- WHYY: Philly Is Poised To Be First U.S. City To Run Its Own Bank

 

-- Other

-- WHYY/NPR: How To Prepare For Russian Cyberattack; Federal Cyber Security & Infrastructure Agency Issued A ‘Shields Up’ Warning To U.S. Companies

-- Inquirer Editorial: Term Limits For Philly City Council Will Bring New Voices To Local Politics

-- Inquirer: WHYY Lost At Least Half Its Journalists; Many Complain About Pay, Morale And Lack Of Innovation

--AP: Native American Tribal Leaders Want Ancestors Remains From Carlisle Indian School Cemetery Brought Back To Their Land

-- LancasterOnline: March 1 Fasnacht Day - What’s A Fasnacht?  Historing, Meaning, Toppings

[Posted: February 20, 2022]