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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Governor’s Race

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: F&M Poll Shows Mastriano Leading PA’s Packed Republican Gubernatorial Primary

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: F&M Poll Shows Republican Governor’s Race Still Unsettled

-- Inquirer: Republican Sen. Corman Staying In Republican Race For Governor After Moving To Drop Out 

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Ex-President Encourages Republican Sen. Corman To Remain In Governor’s Race - And So He Is

-- WHYY: Republican Sen. Corman Was Getting Out Of The Race For Governor, Then Ex-President Called

-- Politics PA: Corman Reverses Course, Stays In Governor Race

-- Erie Times: Republican Sen. Mastriano Could Ride 2020 Election Denial Into PA Governor’s Mansion

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Gubernatorial Candidates Offer Their Take On Career Politicians, Term Limits

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: PA Republican Gubernatorial Candidates To Hold Debate Tuesday

-- City & State PA: White, McSwain Trade Barbs In Republican Race For Governor

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Ex-President Does Not Endorse Republican McSwain For Governor

-- PennLive - John Baer: Ex-President Is Sticking His Nose Into Already Odd PA Republican Primaries For U.S. Senate, Governor

-- Inquirer: Ex-President Sowing Chaos In PA Republican Governor’s Race

-- AP: Ex-President Intervenes In PA Republican Gubernatorial Primary

-- Spotlight PA: See How Much Money Republican Candidates For Governor Have Raised

-- AP: Shapiro: Democratic Candidate’s Ad For Lt. Governor Wrongly Implies Endorsement

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Getting To Know The Candidates Who Want To Be Lt. Governor

-- U.S. Senate Race

-- WFMZ: At $80 Million And Counting, PA U.S. Senate Race Most Expensive In Country

-- Post-Gazette: New Franklin & Marshall Poll Has Fetterman Pulling Ahead, Republican U.S. Senate Race Wide Open

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: PA U.S. Senate Democratic Primary Has Everything, Differences In Style, Substance, Strategy

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Fetterman, McCormick Win First Quarter ‘Money Primaries’ In PA U.S. Senate Race

-- Inquirer: Democratic U.S. Senate Candidates Came To Philly To Talk About Gun Violence, 3 Takeaways

-- City & State PA: Democratic Candidate Conor Lamb’s Mission To Remake U.S. Senate Primary

-- Erie Times: Lamb Says Legislative Accomplishments Separate Him From Democratic Primary Crowd

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Lamb Should Disavow His Super PAC’s Deceptive Ad

-- Erie Times: Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Jeff Bartos: Opponents Are ‘Political Tourists” Who Don’t Understand Pennsylvania

-- MCall - Paul Mushick: Is PA Republican U.S. Senate Primary Over Because Ex-President Endorsed Dr. Oz?

-- PennLive - John Baer: Ex-President Is Sticking His Nose Into Already Odd PA Republican Primaries For U.S. Senate, Governor

-- Inquirer: What Ex-President’s Endorsement Means For Dr. Oz And PA U.S. Senate Race

-- NPR: PA U.S. Senate Race Tops The List Of State Races Most Likely To Flip To The Other Party

-- May 2022 Primary Election

-- PA Capital-Star: These PA Lawmakers Have Primary Challengers

-- PA Capital-Star: PA’s 2022 Primary Is A Race For The Base Of The Base

-- TribLive Guest Essay: High Stakes In PA’s Primary Races - David Thornburgh

-- Post-Gazette: Western PA Candidates Removed From Primary Ballot After Challenges

-- MCall - Ford Turner: Primary Rematch Back On With Rep. Schweyer After Judge’s Ruling

-- MCall - Ford Turner: Several Lehigh Valley House Candidates Ruled Off Primary Ballots

-- Post-Gazette: Democrat Steve Irwin Raises $600,000 In Congressional Race

-- Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout

-- Post-Gazette: After Failed Election Reform Negotiations, PA Republicans Turn To New Piecemeal Approach

-- AP: Senate Republicans Vote To End Mail-In Ballot Drop Boxes, Outside Money For Elections

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Senate Approves Bill Eliminating Drop Boxes: ‘The Ballots Are Called  Mail-In Ballots’

-- PA Capital-Star: More Than 664,000 PA Voters Have Applied For Primary Mail-In Ballots

-- PennLive Guest Essay: PA’s No Excuses Mail-In Ballot Law Is Unconstitutional - Fmr Republican Candidate For Attorney General Heather Heidelbaugh

-- LancasterOnline Editorial: Lancaster, State Republicans Make Partisan Moves To Eliminate Ballot Drop Boxes

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Senate Approves Legislation Prohibiting Third Parties From Funding Elections

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Legislative Fix Proposed To Improve Removal Of Deceased From PA’s  Voter Rolls

-- WESA: Why Voting Options In Allegheny County Have Changed Since 2020

-- Williamsport Sun: Lycoming County Commissioners Float Possible 2020 Election Audit

-- WITF Smart Talk: Should PA Primaries Be Open To All Registered Voters?

-- PA Capital-Star: Eight PA Republican Members Of Congress Help Kill Bill Honoring Iconic Black Judge

-- WHYY/ABC6: Delaware County Fire Company Will Disband After Racist Remarks Caught On Video

-- TribLive: Saint Vincent College Responds To Racism Claims Following Weekend Lecture

-- MCall: Video Shows Leader Of Allentown Nonprofit Using Racial Slur, Mayor Removes Him From Council Of Youth

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

-- Post-Gazette: Allegheny County Man Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol To Plead Guilty In June

-- State Constitutional Amendments

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Here Are Constitutional Amendments Republicans Should Try

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

 

-- PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

-- StateImpactPA - Jon Hurdle: In Pennsylvania, Ukraine Invasion And Urgent Climate Report Drive New Interest In Renewables, Efficiency

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Energy Freedom In PA Would Help Support Our European Allies - Boost Solar Energy & Micro Hydro - By Rep. Mike Puskaric (R-Allegheny) & Rep. Frank Burns (D-Cambria)  [PaEN]

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Dear Republican Cong. Smucker - Proliferation Of Natural Gas Production Has Resulted In More Methane Emissions - Michael Wright, Climate Psychology Alliance Of North America

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Clean Energy Boosts Security

-- WNEP: PA Natural Gas Industry Facing Labor Shortages - Programs Not Attracting Enough Students

-- Charleston Gazette-Mail Guest Essay: Natural Gas Is Energy Future - PA, OH, WV Shale Gas Coalitions

-- Altoona Mirror: Russia Slaps Sanctions On PA Republican Cong. Joyce, Other Legislators 

-- Post-Gazette: Multiple Western PA Members Of Congress Among Lawmakers Sanctioned By Russia

-- Harrisburg Politics Potpourri

-- WITF Smart Talk: #FixHarrisburg Aims To Change How PA Legislature Works (Or Doesn’t)

-- Spotlight PA: Draft Bills, Late-Night Emails Reveal Cozy Ties Between Sen. Tomlinson, Casino Lobbyists [Why the surprise? This is the way it works now. Add campaign contributions, talking points, whole speeches. Industry politicians are literally scripted by them.]

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Ghost Writers Of Legislation Secretly Shape Policy In General Assembly

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Lobbyists’ Influence Only Part Of Problem In General Assembly

-- LancasterOnline: New F&M Poll Shows Support For Biden, Wolf Falling, Republican Races Competitive

-- Franklin & Marshall College April 2022 Poll Results

-- PennLive: PA House Republican Twitter Account Back After Several Hour Suspension

-- TribLive Editorial: Elected Officials Need To Work Civilly

-- PA Capital-Star: House Votes To Ban Leasing Of Vehicles For Member Use, But Will Reimburse Vehicle Costs

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Legislators Lose Patience With Car Leasing

-- Spotlight PA: What Are Skill Games, And Why Are They At The Center Of A Multimillion-Dollar Gambling Fight

-- PA Capital-Star: Report: Tavern Gaming Licenses A Bust For PA

-- The Center Square: PA Inheritance Tax: A $1.2 Billion Burden

-- Inquirer - The Grammarian: New PA Book Banning Bill Gets An F For Its Proposal And Its Grammar

-- TribLive: PA House Passes Bill To Bring Back Whole Milk To School Lunches

-- TribLive: Bill Proposal Would Allow Medical Marijuana Edibles In PA Dispensaries

-- The Center Square: Marijuana Legalization Bills Make Progress In General Assembly

--Inquirer/TNS: PA Republican Senator’s Hearing Show Depth Of Opposition To Adult-Use Pot Legalization In The State

-- LancasterOnline - Brad Busted: Bill Would Give Senate, House Faster Access To Public Records

-- AP: Bill Would Change Plans For Fmr Lt. Governor’s Residence

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: Teen Vote Is Powerful, Here’s How To Harness It In PA

-- Budget 2022

-- Gov. Wolf Highlights Budget Plan To Improve Business Opportunities In PA

-- Gov. Wolf Continues To Push For $500 Million Cash Support To Pennsylvanians Using American Rescue Plan Funding

-- MCall - Ford Turner: Gov. Wolf Promotes Cash-For-Pennsylvanians Plan In Monroe County; Republicans Say Not So Fast

-- Gov. Wolf Urges General Assembly To Equitably Fund Education Thru Level Up Initiative

-- Inquirer: Gov. Wolf Wants To Give Philly Schools $119 Million Because ‘Some Students Aren’t Getting The Opportunities They Need’

-- Guest Essay: Skill Games Present A Golden Opportunity For PA - Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming)

-- LancasterOnline Editorial: Use Slot Machine Revenue For College Scholarships, Not To Prop Up Horse Racing Industry

-- The Center Square: PA Inheritance Tax: A $1.2 Billion Burden

-- COVID Pandemic/Health

-- MCall: COVID Cases Rising 7,852 This Week

-- Inquirer: BA.2 COVID Variant Spreads In PA, NJ Cases Rising Again

-- Post-Gazette/Kaiser Health News: As U.S. Nears 1 Million COVID Deaths, On Hard-Hit PA Town In Mifflin County Grapples With Unthinkable Loss

-- Inquirer: COVID Cases Rising Across Northeast, Mid-Atlantic As Philly Brings Back Masks

-- Inquirer: Philadelphia Again Imposes Mask Mandate Starting April 18 As COVID Cases Rise

-- AP: Lawsuit Seeks To Overturn Renewed Philadelphia Mask Mandate

-- Inquirer: COVID Killed More Than 5,000 In Philadelphia, These Neighborhoods Lost The Most

-- WESA: Unlike Philly, Allegheny County Has No Current Plans For A Mask Mandate

-- Post-Gazette: Allegheny County COVID Cases Nearly Double In A Week

-- Post-Gazette: Allegheny County Executive, Pittsburgh Mayor Test Positive For COVID

-- Post-Gazette: COVID Omicron Was Far Worse For Allegheny County’s Black Residents

-- Erie Times: Erie County Could Be Entering Endemic Phase Of COVID

-- WESA: Pennsylvanians Will Now Get A Full Year Of Medicaid Coverage After Giving Birth

-- WHYY: Delaware County’s New Health Dept. Fully Operational

-- WHYY: Crozier Health Quietly Threatening To Shut Off Paramedic Services To Delaware County Municipalities, Unless They Pay Up

-- COVID - Schools

-- Inquirer: Radnor Schools Go Virtual Amid Rise In COVID Cases

-- Opioid Deaths/Addiction

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Counties To Receive First Payments From $26 Billion Opioid Settlement This Summer

-- Inquirer: Oversight Of PA Addiction Recovery Homes Will Begin Soon, But Operators Slow To Opt-In

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: PA’s Addiction Recovery Homes Need Oversight; Underfunded Licensing Program Won’t Provide It

-- MCall: PA, Lehigh Valley Residents Can Get Recreational Marijuana In NJ Next Week, Here’s What They Risk

-- School Districts/Higher Education

-- Gov. Wolf Urges General Assembly To Equitably Fund Education Thru Level Up Initiative

-- Inquirer: Gov. Wolf Wants To Give Philly Schools $119 Million Because ‘Some Students Aren’t Getting The Opportunities They Need’

-- Inquirer - The Grammarian: New PA Book Banning Bill Gets An F For Its Proposal And Its Grammar

-- Erie Times: Call-Ins, Metal Detectors Highlight Erie High Shooting Recovery Plan

-- Erie Times: Albion School District Parents Challenge Elementary Social-Emotional Learning Plan

-- AP: Bill Against Trans Girls In Girls’ Sports Passes State House

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Republican Lawmakers Advance Bills Banning Transgender Athletes From Playing Women’s Sports

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: PIAA, Not Legislators, Should Craft Policies For Transgender Student Athletes

-- TribLive: PA House Passes Bill To Bring Back Whole Milk To School Lunches

-- AP: State-Owned Universities’ Board Passes Tuition Freeze For 4th Year

-- Post-Gazette: PA State University System Asks To Sell Off Part Of Its Housing Inventory

--PennLive - Jan Murphy: Mansfield University Receives $7 Million Loan To Sustain Operations Thru Current School Year

-- LancasterOnline Editorial: Use Slot Machine Revenue For College Scholarships, Not To Prop Up Horse Racing Industry

-- Centre Daily Times: Fmr Penn State All-American Fencer Sues Coach And University, Alleges Years Of Abuse

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: ESPN Report Shines Light On Little-Known Story Of Serial Rapist At Penn State

-- Post-Gazette: Which PA Colleges Struggle The Most With Spelling?  You May Be Surprised

-- Gun Violence/Law Enforcement

-- Inquirer: 24 People Shot In Philadelphia In 24 Hours, Police Say

-- York Daily Record: Three Die In Shootings In York This Week

-- Erie Times: Call-Ins, Metal Detectors Highlight Erie High Shooting Recovery Plan

-- Erie Times Editorial: Defeating Erie’s Gun Violence Starts With Love

-- AP: Feds: Hundreds Of Guns Illegally Trafficked To Philadelphia

-- AG Shapiro On Biden Announcement To Close Ghost Gun Loophole

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Biden, Shapiro Right To Target Ghost Guns

-- Inquirer: Gun Rights Groups Target AG Shapiro For Impeachment After ‘Ghost Guns’ Story

-- WHYY: Philly Man Accused Of Using 3D Printer To Make ‘Ghost Guns’ Faces Charges

-- WHYY: Philadelphia Rolls Out Summer Programs In Hopes Of Preventing Gun Violence

-- Post-Gazette: Program Dispatching Social Workers Rather Than Police Gains Traction In Pittsburgh

-- WITF: Reading Group Loses $225,000 Anti-Gun Violence Grant Because It’s Not A Nonprofit

-- TribLive: 3 Shot In Pittsburgh’s Hill District

-- AP: Police: 2 Dead, Several Injured In Pittsburgh Party Shooting

-- TribLive: Man, Teen Accused Of Shooting ‘Water Beads’ At People In Washington County

-- Inquirer: Democratic U.S. Senate Candidates Came To Philly To Talk About Gun Violence, 3 Takeaways

-- Inquirer Editorial: Compassion Hard To Come By In PA’s Broken Prison System

-- Post-Gazette: Study Shows Automated Speed Controls Around PA Road Construction  Sites Reduce Speeding, Accidents

-- PA Economy

-- Gov. Wolf Highlights Budget Plan To Improve Business Opportunities In PA

-- Gov. Wolf Continues To Push For $500 Million Cash Support To Pennsylvanians Using American Rescue Plan Funding

-- PA Capital-Star: Wolf Administration To Study Public Sector Workplace Protections

-- PA Capital-Star: AFL-CIO Requests Investigation Into Workplace Harassment Allegations

-- TribLive: Google Says It Will Invest $15 Million In PA This Year, Including Pittsburgh Expansion

-- Post-Gazette: PA Could See Huge Benefits If It Goes All In On Semiconductor Chip Production

-- TribLive: A Safe Bet: If You Want A Casino Job, Odds Are On Your Side

-- NextPittsburgh: Lawsuit Challenging Allegheny County Property Assessments Could Lower Thousands Of Tax Bills

-- Inquirer: Philly Man Sentenced To Prison For Using $1 Million Paycheck Protection Loan To Buy A Florida House, Lexus, Jewelry

-- MCall: Hellertown Restaurant Closes Indefinitely Due To ‘Extreme Understaffing’

-- WESA: Thousands Of Pennsylvanians Applied For Mortgage Aid, But Few Have Received Help So Far

-- Dept. Of Labor & Industry: Unemployment Falls Two-Tenths To 4.9% In March, Labor Force Increased 17,000

-- AP: PA’s Unemployment Rate Drops Two-Tenths To 4.9% In March

[Posted: April 17, 2022]