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: PA Supreme Court Picks New Map Of Congressional Voting Districts

-- PennLive: New Congressional Districts Map Has Keller, Meuser Vying For Same Seat

-- Inquirer: Is New Congressional Districts Map Better For Democrats or Republicans?  We Tested It

-- PA Cap-Star: PA Supreme Court Picks National Democratic Map For New Congressional Voting Districts

-- Gov. Wolf Statement On PA Supreme Court Ruling On ‘Fair’ Congressional Voting Districts Map

-- TribLive: New Congressional Districts Map Bring Change For Pittsburgh-Area Voters

-- PA Cap-Star: New Congressional Districts Map Makes Swiss Cheese Of Swissvale, Complicating Pittsburgh Primary

-- MCall: Q&A - What The New PA Congressional Voting District Map Means For You, The 2022 Election

-- AP: Federal Lawsuit Seeks Halt To PA Supreme Court Picking Congressional Districts Map, Have Members Of Congress Elected At Large

-- PA Cap-Star: Federal Suit Asks To Block PA Judges From Picking Congressional Districts Map

-- TribLive Editorial: Redistricting Map Wasn’t Court’s Job, But Someone Had To Do It

-- ScrantonT Editorial: New Congressional Voting Districts Map Reflect State

-- ScrantonT Editorial: Litigation Over Congressional Map Shows Need For Citizens Redistricting Commission

-- ScrantonT Editorial: House Republicans Can’t Stand Prosperity

-- PA Cap-Star: PA Supreme Court Rejects House Republican Request To Use Old House Voting Districts; More Challenges Pending

-- AP: State Election Officials Argue Against Republican Bid To Use Old House Voting District Maps 

-- PA Cap-Star Guest Essay: The Republicans Showed Us Who They Are With Challenge To PA House Voting Districts Map

 

-- Governor’s Race

-- MCall: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Sen. Mastriano Said He’s Barely Spent Any Money On Campaign, How Can That Be? [He Actively Worked To Overturn the Nov. 2020 Election Results]

-- AP: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Sen. Mastriano Updates Campaign Cash, Spending Report In Late Filing [He actively worked to overturn the Nov. 2020 election results]

-- Inquirer: Sen. Corman Wants A Prosecutor To Probe Fellow Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Sen. Mastriano Campaign Finance Reporting

-- YorkDR: Franklin County DA Refuses To Investigate Republican Sen. Mastriano For Campaign Finance Violations Calling Corman’s Request ‘Shameful’

-- PA Cap-Star: Corman Asks For Investigation Of Republican Gov Rival Mastriano’s Campaign Finances

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Republican Chester County Chamber CEO Suspends Campaign For Governor 

-- City & State PA: Who Wants To Run For Governor As A Republican In PA

 

-- U.S. Senate Race

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Republican U.S. Senate Debate Turns Into Game Of Political Chicken As Key Candidates Postpone Confrontation

-- Inquirer: What We Learned From Republican U.S. Senate Debate That Oz, McCormick Skipped

-- PA Cap-Star: Oz, McCormick, Sands Skip Republican U.S. Senate Debate

-- PA Cap-Star: Some Republicans Vying For U.S. Senate Seat Face Off In Debate

-- AP: No Notes, Same Logo: Dr. Oz’s Campaign For Republican U.S. Senate Nomination Is Like His TV Show

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: Dr. Oz, Other Republican Carpetbaggers Insult PA Voters By Skipping U.S. Senate Candidates’ Debate

-- PA Cap-Star Guest Essay: It’s Campaign Season: Republican Ads Assault The Airwaves, Insult Our Intelligence - Ray Landis

-- WHYY: Dr. Oz Wants Us To Know Why He’s In PA, Will Enough Voters Buy It?

-- LancasterOnline: Oz, McCormick, Wealthy Republican Candidates For U.S. Senate, Unleash TV Ad Blitz

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Market Has Seen The Most Ads In High-Stakes U.S. Senate Race

-- NPR: PA Democrats Angling To Distinguish Themselves In Key U.S. Senate Race

-- Inquirer: Rep. Kenyatta Is Tired Of Being Told A Black Gay Man From North Philly Can’t Win PA

-- PennLive - John Baer: Biden’s State Of The Union Address Could Impact PA’s U.S. Senate Race

 

-- May 2022 Election

-- Dept. Of State: Nomination Petition Forms Available For Congressional, Statewide Candidates

-- AP: First Day Of Candidate Petitions Arrives For PA Primaries

 

-- Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: Civic Education Is Needed Now More Than Ever - Judge Marjorie Rendell

-- AP: Republicans Eye State Courts As Next Political Battlegrounds [PA Included]

-- York Dispatch Editorial: ‘If You Can Collect A Fare, You Can Collect A Vote’?  Respectfully No [York County’s New Elections Director Is Unqualified]

-- PennLive: PA Truck Protest Convoy Fizzles

-- TribLive: Westmoreland County School Director Critical Of A Teacher Assignment On Systemic Racism In America As Political Indoctrination

-- AP: Republican Candidates Find Transgender People The Latest ‘Wedge Issue’ [PA Included] 

 

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

-- LancasterOnline Editorial: Being Subpoenaed By U.S. House Committee Investigating Assault On U.S. Capitol Shouldn’t Be A Badge Of Honor 

-- LancasterOnline: Moderate Republican To Challenge Smucker For Congressional Seat [Smucker worked to overturn the Nov. 2020 election results]

--WBTimes: Lackawanna County Man Begins Federal Prison Sentence For Charges Related To The Assault On U.S. Capitol

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

-- CitizensV: Federal Prosecutors Reveal Details Of Assault On U.S. Capitol Ahead Of Luzerne County Woman’s Sentencing

 

-- State Constitutional Amendments

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

 

-- Harrisburg Potpourri

-- Fox43: PA Republicans Silent As 85% Of All Bills Await Movement In Legislature: ‘Too Many Bills Are Garbage’

-- AP: Republicans Eye State Courts As Next Political Battlegrounds [PA Included]

-- MCall Guest Essay: Our Fates Are Bound Together, Let’s Govern Like It - Rep. Schlossberg (D)

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Pittsburgh Bridge Collapse Symbol Of Toxic Politics, But Doesn’t Have To Be - Rep. Frankel (D)

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: PA Senate Committee To Hold 2nd Hearing On Pot Legalization Monday

-- PA Cap-Star: Court Date Set For Lawsuit Involving Anti-Abortion Group Spending Of Taxpayer Money

-- TribLive: Liquor Privatization In Washington State Could Provide Lessons For PA

-- ErieT: Presque Isle Casino Fined For Underage Gambling Incident

-- LancasterOnline: Moderate Republican To Challenge Smucker For Congressional Seat

-- Inquirer: Convicted Union Official Johnny Doc Gets Big Retirement Party

 

-- Budget 2022

-- PA Cap-Star: Wolf, Legislature Begin Budget Talks With Different Views On PA’s Fiscal Future - To Spend Or Save?

-- Gov. Wolf: Pennsylvanians Need The General Assembly To Act On $1.7 Billion In American Rescue Plan Funding Now

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Republican House Member Introduces Property Tax Elimination Plan That Taxes Certain Retirement Income, Expands Sales Tax To Food, Clothing 

-- CitizensV Editorial: Politics Ensures Failure For Honest Plan To Eliminate Property Tax [Plan Has To Include Tax On Retirement Funds]

-- MCall: Sen. Boscola Proposes 2-Month Halt In State Sales Tax To Help Inflation-Slammed Consumers

-- TribLive: PA Casinos Landed $393 Million In Revenues For January

-- PG: Tolling Bridges May Be Best Option To Fund Bridge Replacements, PennDOT Says

 

-- COVID Pandemic In PA

-- Gov. Wolf: 95% Of Pennsylvanians 18 And Older Received At Least 1 COVID Vaccination

-- TribLive: PA Touts High COVID Vaccine Rate Using Questionable Data

-- TribLive Editorial: 95% Vaccinated Number Seems Absurdly High

-- Dept. Of Health Provides Update On PA’s Transition To An Endemic

-- PA Cap-Star: COVID Isn’t Going Away, But State Health Officials Say PA Is Ready To Transition To Next Phase

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

-- PennLive: New Analysis Sheds Light On True COVID ‘Excess Deaths’ In PA

-- PG: Western PA Hospitals, Pharmacies Get First Shipments Of New COVID Drug For Omicron

-- TribLive: Hope Held That Pandemic Fades In Year 3, Becomes Part Of Normal Cycle

-- Inquirer: CDC Loosens COVID Masking Guidance, But Philly Is Keeping Mandate For Now

-- WHYY: How Nurses Can Be A Forefront Of Battling Pandemic Misinformation

-- PennLive: PA Physician General Pushes For Equity In Health Care

-- WITF: As Pandemic Drags On, Substitute Teacher Shortage Gets Worse

-- York Dispatch Editorial: Change The Law To Get Ivermectin?  No, Just Get Vaccinated Already

 

-- COVID - Schools

-- ErieT: Erie County Health Officials Recommend At-Risk Students Continue To Mask

 

-- Opioid Epidemic

-- AP: Feds Sue PA Court System Over Bans On Opioid Meds They Say Violate ADA

-- PA Cap-Star: PA Courts System Says It Intends To ‘Fully Comply’ With ADA, Following DOJ Letter Detailing Violations

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: PA Senate Committee To Hold 2nd Hearing On Pot Legalization Monday

-- Spotlight PA: Some PA Companies Promote Marijuana As An Addiction Treatment Using Misleading Or Dangerous Tactics

-- TribLive Editorial: Is Marijuana Marketing Proof Its The Next Big Pharma?

 

-- School Funding/Administration

-- Inquirer: Testimony In PA’s School Funding Trial Is Over, What Happens Now?

-- ScrantonT: Lack Of State Funding Means Fewer Opportunities In Old Forge, Other School Districts

-- MCall Guest Essay: We See The Effects That Fair And Unfair Funding Has On Our Students -- 55 PA School Board Members

-- PG Guest Essay: Every Kid Deserves A Chance In Public Schools, Republicans Don’t Agree

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: State Education Test Scores To Be Published Next Week, Education Secretary Says

-- Inquirer: Who Is In Charge Of PA School Employees Pension Fund, The Board Or Its Executives?

-- WITF: As Pandemic Drags On, Substitute Teacher Shortage Gets Worse

-- Inquirer: Number Of Philly Teachers Quitting Mid Year Up 200%

-- Inquirer: Too Many Lockdowns To County: Gun Violence Has Touched Everything At One Philly School

-- ErieT: Unified Erie Anti-Crime Effort To Focus On Middle School Kids

-- AP: Some School Systems Pause Diversity Programs Amid Pushback [PA Included]

-- TribLive: Westmoreland County School Director Critical Of A Teacher Assignment On Systemic Racism In America As Political Indoctrination

-- PA Cap-Star: Philly Council Tackles Infrastructure Issues At City Schools

-- PA Cap-Star Guest Essay: Happy 185th Birthday To Cheyney State University, America’s First Historically Black College

 

-- Gun Violence/Law Enforcement

-- Spotlight PA: State Police Push Back On Panel Recommendation Requiring Independent Investigations When Troopers Kill, Injure

-- MCall: PA State Police Cast Doubt On Annual Training To Prevent Bias, Despite Recommendation By Panel Set Up After George Floyd’s Death

-- CitizensV Editorial: Take Up State Judge’s Suggestion On Gun Law

-- AP: Feds Sue PA Court System Over Bans On Opioid Meds They Say Violate ADA

-- PA Cap-Star: PA Courts System Says It Intends To ‘Fully Comply’ With ADA, Following DOJ Letter Detailing Violations

-- PennLive: Statewide Review Of PA District Judges Asks To Cut 12 Offices, Could Save Taxpayers $5 Million

-- City & State PA: Link Between Race, Solitary Confinement In PA Prisons

-- AP: Philadelphia Bans Traffic Stops For Minor Infractions

-- AP: Philly Police Union Sues Over Ban On Low-Level Traffic Stops

-- PG: Marchers In Pittsburgh Demand Justice For Man Shot Dead In Venango County

-- MCall: Man Kissed Gun While Driving Past Crowded Allentown Park Before Firing, Police  Say

-- WESA: Pittsburgh Police Leadership Got Big Raises This Winter

-- Inquirer: Too Many Lockdowns To County: Gun Violence Has Touched Everything At One Philly School

-- ErieT: Unified Erie Anti-Crime Effort To Focus On Middle School Kids

-- Sunbury Daily Item: Federal Court: Victims Of Clergy Child Sexual Abuse Can Seek A Judgment To Have $95 Million In Harrisburg Catholic Diocese Assets Transferred Out Of 2 Trusts And Moved To its Bankruptcy Estate 

-- PennLive: Bucknell Students Stage Walkout, Demand Accountability For Student Safety

-- Inquirer: Philly DA Denounces Judge’s Decision To Dismiss Charges Against 2 Police Officers Charged With Beating Man With Special Needs

-- TribLive: Fmr Leechburg Police Chief Ordered To Prison For Failing To Register As Sex Offender

-- PG Editorial: Finally, A Former Public Defender For U.S. Supreme Court Justice

 

-- PA Economy

-- WESA: Bankruptcies Plummet In PA As Households Benefit From COVID Aid, Pandemic Savings

-- WESA: PA Logs Lowest Layoff Rate In Country As Employers Fight To Hold On To Workers

-- WHYY: UPS Cuts Wages More Than 20% For Hundreds Of Part-Time Workers In Philly

-- WPSU: Centre County Is Experiencing A ‘Homelessness Crisis’ Fueled By COVID And Rising Housing Costs

-- Inquirer Editorial: Philly Officials Should Steer Clear Of Cryptocurrency

-- PG: Shadowy Money Built Steel Empire With Bank’s Help

-- LancasterOnline: Mastermind Of $1.4 Billion Fraud In Lancaster County Died Feb. 10

 

-- Other

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: How To Avoid Forthcoming Russian Cyberattacks

-- WESA: Pittsburgh To Get Its Own Edition Of Monopoly Game

[Posted: February 27, 2022]