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

-- Spotlight PA: What Makes A Voting District Map Fair? Here’s What We Learned During PA’s Redistricting Cycle

-- WHYY: PA Latinos Want More Lawmakers From Their Communities, New Voting District Maps Offer That Chance

-- WESA/AP: PA State House, Senate Races Take Shape After Redistricting Delay

-- PennLive Guest Essay: It’s Time To Reform The Redistricting Process - Fmr Rep. Gene DiGirolamo

-- TribLive Editorial: Redistricting Process Needs To Be Fixed Sooner Rather Than Later

-- Governor’s Race

-- AP: Four Republican Candidates For Governor Set Rules To Join A Debate

-- WHYY: What’s Behind Republican Gubernatorial Candidates’ ‘Bizarre’ New Demand To Keep Debates Insular

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: 4 Republican Gubernatorial Candidates Set Unprecedented Rules For Their Participation In Debates

-- Inquirer: PA Republicans Running For Governor Want A Safe Space For Their Debates

-- PA Cap-Star: 4 Republican Candidates For Governor Demand Republican Moderator, No ‘Yes Or No’ Questions For Primary Debates

-- AP: Abortion To Elections, Republican Candidates For Governor On The Issues

-- PennLive - John Baer: PA’s Republican Primary For Governor Is The Incredible Shrinking Race

-- TribLive Editorial: Republican Candidates For Governor Should Embrace Better Debates

-- PG: Republican Candidates For Governor Take Magic Wand Approach To Fix One Thing In PA

-- Inquirer: Fact-Checking Republican Bill McSwain’s Campaign Ads, Statements As He Runs For PA Governor

-- PennLive: Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Shapiro Offers $2 Billion+ Tax Elimination And Rebate Plan ‘To Give People Relief Today’

-- PA Cap-Star: Two Republican Lt. Governor Hopefuls Ask Sen. Mastriano; Running Mate Daniels, To Be Civil In 2022 Primary

-- City & State PA: Democratic Candidate For Lt. Governor Looks To Build Momentum

-- Republican Herald: PA Republican, U.S. Senate, Gubernatorial Candidates All Vying For Fmr President’s Endorsement

-- U.S. Senate Race

-- Politics PA: Nearly $50 Million Spent So Far In PA U.S. Senate Race 

-- PA Cap-Star: Outside Group Flood PA’s U.S. Senate Race With Cash

-- Republican Herald: PA Republican, U.S. Senate, Gubernatorial Candidates All Vying For Fmr President’s Endorsement

-- Spotlight PA: Coalition To Host Debates For PA U.S. Senate With Republican, Democratic Candidates April 25-26 At Dickinson College

-- PG: Republican Candidate For U.S. Senate Jeff Bartos Says Opponents Aren’t True Pennsylvanians

-- TribLive: Democratic U.S. Senate Candidates Square Off In Forum At Carnegie Mellon

-- PG: Democratic Candidate For U.S. Senate Lamp Pushes White House To Extend Pause In Student Loan Repayments

-- PG: Democratic Contenders For U.S. Senate Split On Key Issues During Forum At Carnegie Mellon

-- WESA: Democratic Candidates For U.S. Senate Spar Over Climate Crisis, U.S. Supreme Court In Debate

-- PA Cap-Star: How PA  Teachers’ Pensions Fit Into The Feud Between Oz, McCormick

-- WBTimes: Dr. Oz Removed From Biden’s Sports Council

-- PennLive: Fmr President May Still Make Endorsement In Republican Primary Races

-- May 2022 Primary Election

-- WESA/AP: PA State House, Senate Races Take Shape After Redistricting Delay

-- MCall - Ford Turner: Open Lehigh Valley Senate, House Seats Draw Nearly A Dozen Candidates

-- The Center Square: Democrats Outraised Republicans By 33% In PA House Races

-- City & State PA: 5 PA Women To Watch During The Midterm Elections

-- TribLive: Democrat Steve Irwin’s Congressional Campaign Admits Some Petition Signatures Were Forged

-- PG: Democratic Congressional Candidate Steve Irwin Turns Over Candidacy Petitions Following Forgery Allegations

-- Courier Times Guest Essay: Battle For Hispanic Voters Comes To Allentown

-- November 2021 Election

-- MCall: Appeals Court Halts Certification Of Votes In Narrow Lehigh County Judicial Race During Appeal Over Mail-In Ballots

-- Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout

-- AP: PA Supreme Court Rules Republican Inspection Of Voting Machines Must Be Done By A Laboratory That Has Specific Credentials 

-- The Sentinel: Bill Changing PA Election Code To Be Considered In House Monday

-- AP: Republican Push For State Election Reviews Mixed, But Sows Distrust [PA Included]

-- MCall Guest Essay: Battles For Democracy Rage In Ukraine And State Capitols - Lehigh County Controller

-- WLVR: Hate Group Propaganda Is Surging In Pennsylvania, Study Finds

-- USA Today: Why Is There Support For Russia And Putin On America’s Far Right?

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

-- PG: Sharpsburg, Allegheny County Woman Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol

-- TribLive: Allegheny County Woman Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol

-- TribLive: Federal Prosecutors Seek Jail Time For Ross, Allegheny County Woman Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol  

-- MCall: Man In Charge Of Investigation Into The Assault On U.S. Capitol Raised In Lehigh Valley, An Allentown Teacher Inspired His Law Enforcement Career 

-- Post-Gazette: Republican Cong. Liz Cheney Tells Chatham University Students Findings Of Panel Investigating Assault On U.S. Capitol Will Be Of Concern To ‘Vast Majority’ Of Americans

-- State Constitutional Amendments

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

 

-- PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

-- WITF: Some Experts Want PA Lawmakers To Rethink Temporary Gasoline Tax Cuts

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: Why It Would Be A Colossal Mistake For PA To Waive Its Gasoline Tax

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Proposed Gasoline Tax Holiday Is A Bait-And-Switch As A Fiscal Crisis Looms - Commonwealth Foundation

-- YorkDR: Where Is The Gasoline Tax Money Going In PA?

-- TribLive Guest Essay: PA Should Take Lead In Hitting Russia In Its Budget By Unleashing Natural Gas Industry - House Republican Leader  [See this week’s 6th Oil/Natural Gas Shock for the real story]

-- AP: PA Police Agencies Sending Body Armor To Ukraine

-- MCall: Air Products Plans To Pull Out Of Russia Because Of Ukraine War, CEO Announces

-- USA Today: Why Is There Support For Russia And Putin On America’s Far Right?

-- Harrisburg Politics Potpourri

-- Politics PA: Special House Elections Just 2 Weeks Away

-- LancasterOnline: Millions Of House Lawmakers’ Expenses Would Be Accessible Online Under New Bill

-- LancasterOnline Editorial: Taxpayers Have The Right To See Expenses Claimed By House Members

-- MCall - Ford Turner: Open Lehigh Valley Senate, House Seats Draw Nearly A Dozen Candidates

-- WITF: Republican Rep. Cox Won’t Seek Another Term

-- PennLive: Republican Rep. Helm Will Not Seek Reelection

-- PA Cap-Star Guest Essay: Will PA Ever Get Serious About Property Tax Reform?

-- TribLive Guest Essay: America Deserves A U.S. Supreme Court That Reflects The Diversity Of Our People - Rep. Joanna McClinton (D)

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Staffing Crisis At PA State Prisons Is Creating Dangerous Conditions For Our Communities - Corrections Officers Union

-- The Center Square: PA Bill Would Require Gun Locks With Gun Sales: ‘Bring Back Some Law And Order’

-- PA Cap-Star: PA Lawmakers Unveil Bipartisan Plan To Prevent Abuse Within Guardianship System

-- WHYY: Why Are Republican Legislators Backing Philadelphia Democrats Housing Bill?  Blight Is A Statewide Issue

-- AP: PA Liquor Board Reverses Decision, Will Not Allow Beer, Wine Licensees To Seel Edible CBD Products

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Republican Lawmaker, Ex-Cop Explains His Support For Marijuana Legalization: ‘I Haven’t Lost My Mind’

-- Inquirer: PA’s Top Marijuana Regulator Decries Stubbornly High Retail Prices For Medical Marijuana

-- ScrantonT: Is The Push To Ban Smoking In PA Casinos Gaining Traction?

-- TribLive: Mississippi Duo Scammed More Than $10,000 From Rivers Casino

-- Inquirer: Hundreds Of Philly’s Elected Leaders Didn’t Vote Last Year, Others Don’t Live Where They Say They Do

-- TribLive Editorial: A Nomination Isn’t A Political Promise

-- Budget 2022

-- Post-Gazette: PA State Government’s Bank Accounts Are Flush With Cash. Will It Last?

-- Independent Fiscal Office Reports Gov. Wolf’s FY 2022-23 Budget Proposals Will Result In General Fund Deficits Of Over $1 Billion Starting In FY 2023-24

-- The Center Square: Independent Fiscal Office Update Casts Doubt On Wolf’s Rosy Budget Outlook

-- Gov. Wolf Calls On General Assembly To Provide Immediate Support To Small Businesses

-- Gov. Wolf Calls On General Assembly To Invest In Older Pennsylvanians Thru Property Tax Relief Program

-- MCall: PA Senior Citizens, Disabled Would Get Double Property Tax Or Rent Rebate For One Year Under Wolf Plan

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: Why It Would Be A Colossal Mistake For PA To Waive Its Gasoline Tax

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Proposed Gasoline Tax Holiday Is A Bait-And-Switch As A Fiscal Crisis Looms - Commonwealth Foundation

-- PA Cap-Star: PA Democrat Proposes Study Of 4 Day Work Week For State Employees

-- PA Cap-Star: Turnpike Officials Say Prepare For Toll Sticker Shock This Year

-- COVID Pandemic In PA

-- MCall: COVID Updated: New Omicron Variant Up Tenfold In A Month; 4,224 Infections This Week

-- WHYY: She Wanted To Vaccinate Their Kids, He Didn’t, A Judge Had To Decide

-- WESA: Wastewater Offers Clues To COVID’s Next Move In Allegheny County

-- WESA: Pittsburgh Transit Fired 4 People Over Vaccine Mandate, Disciplinary Hearings Continue

-- WPSU: Penn State Lifts Indoor Mask Mandate, Pauses Required COVID Testing

-- Dept. Of Health Announces Public Comment Period For Proposed Skilled Nursing Facility Care Regulations

-- PG: Alzheimer’s Caregivers In PA Face Huge Burden

-- AP: Two PA Workers Charged With Abusing Residents Of Beaver County Care Home

-- TribLive: Highmark Reports $22 Billion In Revenue

-- PG Editorial: Highmark’s Success Should Be Spread Around

-- The Guardian: U.S. Likely To See COVID Cases Rise From Omicron Subvariant, Dr. Fauci Says

-- COVID - Schools

-- PG: No Matter How Schools Handled Pandemic, Standardized Test Scores Still Fell

-- School Districts/Higher Education

-- State Auditor General: Responsibility For School District Audits Will Return To Dept. Of Education, Closes School Audit Office

-- PennLive: PA Legislative Black Caucus Accepting Applications For Roebuck Scholarship

-- AP: PA Approves Stronger Private Charter School Regulations

-- Gov. Wolf Applauds Independent Regulatory Review Commission Approval Of Updates To Minimum Wage Regulations

-- Gov. Wolf Applauds Independent Regulatory Review Commission Approval Of Private Charter School Accountability Regulations

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Gov. Wolf’s Private Charter School Accountability Regulations Pass Regulatory Hurdle

-- ScrantonT Editorial: Private Charter School Regs Further Necessary Reforms

-- York Dispatch: Student Gunned Down Near York High School

-- PA Cap-Star: Philly School District Launches Plan To Address Aging School Buildings

-- TribLive: Fewer Applications For College Financial Aid Could Signal Continued Dip In Higher Ed Enrollments

-- Post-Gazette: Parents, Alumni, Students Make Plea For Academic Freedom At Grove City College

-- Erie Times: Lobbying Firm Withdraws From Erie Community College Contract Negotiations

-- MCall: Alvernia University Receives $2 Million For Campus In Pottsville

-- WHYY: Temple’s Public Safety Director Stepping Down Amid Wave Of Violence

-- PG: Grove City College Awaits Committee’s  Finding On Critical Race Theory

-- Gun Violence/Law Enforcement

-- AP: Two PA State Troopers, Civilian Killed In Crash On I-95

-- TribLive: 5 Pittsburgh Police Officers Terminated After Investigation Into Death Of Jim Rogers

-- Post-Gazette: Activists See Mixed Bag In Firing Of Five Cops In Jim Rogers Death

-- York Dispatch: Student Gunned Down Near York High School

-- Erie Times: Despite Mayor’s Order, Erie Police Officer Never Suspended For Kicking Protestor

-- WHYY: Temple’s Public Safety Director Stepping Down Amid Wave Of Violence

-- Spotlight PA: Judge Admonishes PA State Police For Response To Right-To-Know Request Seeking Email, Phone Records 

-- WHYY/BillyPenn: Solutions Bubble Up In Philadelphia Neighborhoods Most Impacted By Gun Violence

-- PA Capital-Star: Philly City Council Members Sound Off On Gun Violence Efforts In Philadelphia

-- PennLive: City Of Harrisburg Leaders Want Action After String Of Shootings: ‘It’s At A Point Where It’s Unstoppable’

-- The Center Square: PA Bill Would Require Gun Locks With Gun Sales: ‘Bring Back Some Law And Order’

-- MCall: Lehigh County DA Seeks To Remove Allentown Constable From Office, Alleges He’s A Resident Of NJ

-- MCall: Scant Oversight Of PA Constables Allows Those With Troubled Histories To Be Elected

-- PA Cap-Star: PA Lawmakers Unveil Bipartisan Plan To Prevent Abuse Within Guardianship System

-- ScrantonT Editorial: End Wait For Juvenile Justice Reform

-- ErieT: ‘Thwarted’ Erie Lawyer Sues 2 District Magistrates, Claims Racial Bias

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Probation Reform A Solution To PA’s Workforce Crisis - PA Chamber Of Commerce

-- TribLive Editorial: Is Probation Enough For Westmoreland Sheriff’s Dept. Guilty Pleas?

-- AP: PA Police Agencies Sending Body Armor To Ukraine

-- PA Economy

-- Gov. Wolf Calls On General Assembly To Provide Immediate Support To Small Businesses

-- WHYY: Why New PA Tip Threshold Doesn’t Impress Restaurant Workers; A ‘Meaningless’ Change

-- TribLive Editorial: Tipped Minimum Wage Shows Wiggle Room On The Issue

-- MCall: Gov. Wolf Ranks Near Bottom Of ALEC-Conservative ‘Economic Freedom’ Scorecard; Republicans Dominate Top Of List

-- MCall: Air Products Plans To Pull Out Of Russia Because Of Ukraine War, CEO Announces

-- WHYY: Why Aren’t People Applying For Thousands Of Open Manufacturing Jobs In Delaware Valley? 

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Probation Reform A Solution To PA’s Workforce Crisis - PA Chamber Of Commerce

-- Dept. Of Labor & Industry Reports February Unemployment Fell 0.3% To 5.1%; Nonfarm Jobs Up 34,400

-- The Center Square: Almost 1,200 PA Workers Quit AFSCME Union In 2021; 20,000 Members Statewide

-- AP: In First Full Year Of Pandemic, Biggest Metros Lost Residents [Pittsburgh]

-- WITF: PA Food Stamp Enrollment Climbing Toward Levels Not Seen Since The Early Pandemic

-- PG: Amazon Eyes Other Allegheny County Locations For Distribution Warehouse

-- PA Cap-Star: Turnpike Officials Say Prepare For Toll Sticker Shock This Year

[Posted: March 27, 2022]