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

-- PA Capital-Star: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Courting Voters On Gab Pushes Republicans Further Right

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Jewish, Black Leaders Call Out Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano For Ties To Gab Social Platform

-- Post-Gazette: Western PA Lawmakers Condemn Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano For Paying Controversial Gab Website For Advertising

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: IRS Complaints Filed Against Cumberland County Church For Screening Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano’s Movie

-- Inquirer: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate For Governor Is Deleting His Videos From Facebook As He Runs For Governor

-- PennLive: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Blames Disappearing Videos On Facebook Setting

-- Inquirer: Extremist Social-Media Site Founder Working With Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano-- “We’re taking back this country for the glory of God and there’s absolutely nothing you can do to stop us.”

-- Inquirer: ‘We Must All Hang Together’: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Courts A Still-Standoffish Republican Governors Group

-- Post-Gazette - Tony Norman: What Did PA Do To Deserve The Likes Of Republican Cong. Mike Kelly Or Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano?

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Republican Establishment Backing Josh Shapiro Wont’ Save Them From Mastriano

-- PA Capital-Star Editorial Cartoon: Coming Soon To A Theater Near You!

-- U.S. Senate Race

-- Post-Gazette - Julian Routh: Fetterman Talks Recovery, Return To U.S. Senate Campaign Trail

-- AP: Fetterman: ‘100% Able’ To Run For U.S. Senate After Stroke

-- Inquirer: Fetterman Inches Back Onto The Campaign Trail In Philly

-- PennLive: Dr. Oz Takes Gloves Off In U.S. Senate Race, Calls Out Fetterman For ‘Hiding’

-- Erie Times: Dr. Oz Pumps Another $2.2 Million Into His Campaign, Fetterman Thrives On Small Contributions

-- PennLive Guest Essay: We’re In An Age Of Political Tourism [Carpetbaggers] - By Mark Singel

-- May 2022 Primary Election

-- AP: PA Certifies Primary Election Results In 64 Of 67 Counties

-- TribLive Editorial: Westmoreland County Handles Elections Office Like An Afterthought

 

-- November 2022 Election

-- AP: PA Republicans Again Challenge PA’s Mail-In Voting Law In Court

-- WHYY: Voting Rights Lawyers Say Latest PA Republican Mail-In Voting Challenge Is ‘Fueling The Big Lie’

-- Politics PA: Fayette County Lawsuit Imperils Republicans In Selecting Replacement For Rep. Dowling

-- Post-Gazette: Uncertainty Continues For A 6th Statewide Election: How Are Western PA’s County Election Officials Preparing?

-- TribLive Editorial: Is State Election Money A Gift Or A Problem?

-- PA Capital-Star: 5 PA State Senate Races To Watch In 2022

-- Politics PA: PA Congressional Vulnerability - July 2022 Rating

-- WESA: PA Democrats May Be Facing A Tough November, But They Aren’t Going In Empty-Handed

-- PennLive: See How Many Democrats Became Republicans In PA In 2022 [Spoiler 35,000+ of 8,745,929 Total Registered Voters]

-- WHYY: Unresolved Issues Have PA Election Experts Planning For A Rough 2022 Midterm

-- WITF: Elections Officials In PA, Across The Country Urged To Prepare For Shortages, Delays

 

-- Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout

-- TribLive Editorial: Quecreek Mine Rescue Brought Us Together, It Would Serve Us Well To Remember That

-- PA Capital-Star: Republican Rep. Grove Amplifies Call For Election Reform, State Officials Push Back On Misinformation 

-- AP: PA Republicans Again Challenge PA’s Mail-In Voting Law In Court

-- WHYY: Voting Rights Lawyers Say Latest PA Republican Mail-In Voting Challenge Is ‘Fueling The Big Lie’

-- Erie Times: How Pending U.S. Supreme Court Case Could Strengthen The Power Of PA Republicans In Elections

-- PennLive: Republican Election-Related Constitutional Amendments Could Bring Big Changes

-- WESA: PA Counties Want To Count Mail-In Ballots Early, Republican Lawmakers Have Yet To Agree

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Drop The Big Lie On Mail-In Ballot Drop Boxes

-- TribLive Editorial: Is State Election Money A Gift Or A Problem?

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Republican Lawmaker Says PA Election System Could Be Fixed On Gov. Wolf’s Porch ‘Over A Nice Cup Of Tea’

-- MCall - Ford Turner: Republican Lawmaker Says Outcome Of Lehigh County Undated Mail-In Ballots Case Undermines State’s Mail Voting Law

-- LancasterOnline: Conservative Audit The Vote PA Targets Nursing Home Administrators As Part Of ‘Election Integrity Task Force’ Plan

-- Post-Gazette - Tony Norman: What Did PA Do To Deserve The Likes Of Republican Cong. Mike Kelly Or Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano?

-- TribLive Editorial: Quecreek Mine Rescue Brought Us Together, It Would Serve Us Well To Remember That

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

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: A Pennsylvania-Centered Look At U.S. House Committee Investigation So Far Into Assault On U.S. Capitol

-- PennLive: Judge Refuses To Lift Restrictions On Dauphin County Woman Charged With Crimes Related To Stealing Pelosi’s Laptop During Assault On U.S. Capitol  

-- Reading Eagle: Berks Man Facing Criminal Charges Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol Strikes Deal With Federal Prosecutors

-- Williamsport Sun: Lycoming County Man Convicted Of Crimes Related To Assault On U.S Capital Has Died

-- Inquirer: Bucks County Woman Who Won Election As A Republican Committee Person Is Going To Prison For Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol

-- TribLive: Federal Judge Won’t Move Trials For Ex-Allegheny County Teacher, Others Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol

-- Post-Gazette: Fmr Army Ranger, 3 Others Charged With Crimes In Assaulting U.S. Capitol Lose Attempt To Dismiss Counts Ahead Of Trial

-- Erie Times: Judge Says Erie Postmaster Can Sue Project Veritas For Libel Over 2020 Mail-In Ballot Claims

-- Courier Times: As Central Bucks School Board Votes On Controversial Library Policy, Woke PA Comes Under Scrutiny

-- TribLive Editorial: Quecreek Mine Rescue Brought Us Together, It Would Serve Us Well To Remember That

-- State Constitutional Amendments

-- PennLive: Republican Election-Related Constitutional Amendments Could Bring Big Changes

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

 

-- PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

-- TribLive: Gasoline Prices Continue To Fall On Drop In Demand, Declining Oil Prices

-- WESA: Gasoline Prices Falling In Western PA

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: PA Marcellus A Big Part Of Natural Gas Production, Even With Pipeline Limits

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shale Gas Producers Urge Biden To Hold Off On Declaring Climate Emergency

-- WSJ: Heat Wave Sends Natural Gas Prices Soaring, Futures Climbed 48% In July Reviving A Key Driver Of Inflation

-- The Express Letter: Drilling Is Not The Way To Energy Independence

-- Baker Hughes: No Increase In PA Natural Gas Drill Rigs Last Week And In July

-- Harrisburg Politics Potpourri

-- TribLive Editorial: Quecreek Mine Rescue Brought Us Together, It Would Serve Us Well To Remember That

-- MCall/Reading Eagle: Gov. Wolf’s Plan To Send $2,000 Checks To Some Residents Has Stalled

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: Stop Calling Today’s Republicans ‘Conservatives’

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Member Of Congress Madeleine Dean Arrested Protesting Supreme Court’s Roe Decision

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: PA Republican Members Of Congress Fitzpatrick, Meuser, Perry Help Pass Gay, Interracial Marriage Protection Bill

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: In Politics, To Err Is Human, To Forgive Divine - And Necessary

-- Post-Gazette: Unpaid PA Turnpike Tolls Rise Nearly 48% To $155 Million

-- PA Capital-Star: Court Affirms Open Records Office Ruling - Real Alternatives Does Not Have To Disclose Taxpayer Funded Service Provider Agreements

-- Scranton Times Editorial: PA Supreme Court Upholds Secret Use Of Public Money

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Local Journalism Is Essential, Bipartisan Bill Would Protect It

-- Budget 2022

-- TribLive Guest Essay: We Have The Number For Real Growth, So Let’s Put It On Speed-Dial -- Sen. Augment [PA Corporate Tax Reduction]

-- MCall - Ford Turner: PA Property Tax Relief Mechanism Eliminated In Closed-Door Budget Negotiations: ‘This Legislature Should Be A Little Ashamed’

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: Despicable Scheme By Governor, Some Lawmakers Proves You’ll Never See Property Tax Relief In PA

-- Post-Gazette: All PA School Districts To Get Safety, Mental Health Grants As Part Of $200 Million Investment

-- Spotlight PA: PA Budget Injects $125 Million Into [Republican] Private School Tax Credit Program That Lacks Basic Accountability

-- Gov. Wolf Announces $268 Million In New Federal American Rescue Plan Funding To Boost Small Businesses

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: After Years Of PA Budget Uncertainty, We Have Turned The Tide - Gov. Wolf

-- PA Gaming Control Board Reports FY 2021-22 Revenue Reached Record $5 Billion

-- PA Gaming Control Board Reports June Revenue Was $389.8 Million, Up Slightly Over 2021

-- AP: PA Casinos Reach New Fiscal Year Record For Gambling Revenue

-- TribLive: PA Casinos Post Record $5 Billion In Revenue In FY 2021-22

-- COVID Pandemic/Health

-- MCall: PA COVID Update - Hospitalizations Up Statewide As Cases Creep Up

-- TribLive: 2 Million+ Expired COVID Vaccine Doses Discarded Across PA

-- TribLive Editorial: Vaccines Work And Vaccine Waste Is A Tragedy

-- TribLive: Ex-Pitt Emergency Management Director Gets Probation For Stealing/Reselling PPE

-- Altoona Mirror: Blair County Moves To Quell COVID Outbreak In Prison

-- Warren Times: COVID Community Level Rises To Medium In Warren

-- Post-Gazette: Allegheny County Health Report 12th Cases Of Monkeypox

-- AP: UN Health Agency Chief Declares Monkeypox A Global Emergency

-- Post-Gazette: Are There Enough Doctors In Your Health Insurance Network?  The PA Insurance Dept. Wants To Know

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Republican Cong. Fitzpatrick Votes With Dems On Bill Guaranteeing Contraception Access

-- School Districts/Higher Education

-- Courier Times: Wolf Traded Private Charter School Reform For Education Funding

-- Spotlight PA: PA Budget Injects $125 Million Into [Republican] Private School Tax Credit Program That Lacks Basic Accountability

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Wolf Administration Unveils Strategy To Recruit, Retain Teachers In PA

-- Post-Gazette: All PA School Districts To Get Safety, Mental Health Grants As Part Of $200 Million Investment

-- Erie Times: Erie School District Got $17 Million More From State, Why Are Taxes Going Up?

-- Courier Times: As Central Bucks School Board Votes On Controversial Library Policy, Woke PA Comes Under Scrutiny

-- WITF: State-Owned Universities To Share $200 Million In New State Funding

-- Post-Gazette: State-Owned University System Vows To Grow Enrollment Significantly

-- PennLive: Penn State Students Will See Biggest Tuition Hike Since 2010

-- WITF: Penn State’s Planning 2.5% Salary Increase For Employees

-- PA Capital-Star: Penn Law Professor Faces Evaluation By Peers For ‘Racist Speech’

-- Gun Violence/Law Enforcement

-- Inquirer: 300 People Killed In Philly Homicides Already This Year

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: We Need To Talk About Stop-And-Frisk, Says Philly City Council President

 -- WHYY: Task Force Tracks Man Accused Of Building Ghost Guns In Philly

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: Why Are So Many People Who Aren’t Allowed To Have Guns Trying To Buy Them In Pennsylvania? 

-- Inquirer: PA Supreme Court Sides With Philly Cop Facing Murder Charges, Says Philly DA Can’t ‘Rewrite The Law’

-- Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Seeking Surge In Deadly Shootings In 2022

-- Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Detective Could Face Discipline For Unapproved Interviews With Conservative News Outlets

-- Erie Times Guest Essay: Hold Elected Officials Accountable For Gun Safety Votes - Bucks County Women’s Advocacy Coalition

-- TribLive Editorial: Accreditation Could Be Key To Fixing Police Officer Database

-- Inquirer - The Grammarian: A Typo Caused A PA Town To Mistakenly Hire Tamir Rice’s Killer

-- PennLive Editorial: PA Lawmakers Should Visit Prisons And See The Old People Inside

-- Spotlight PA: A Beginner’s Guide To Requesting Public Records On PA Law Enforcement

-- Post-Gazette: No Bomb Found As Authorities Investigate Threates At 2 Pittsburgh LGBT Businesses

-- PA Economy

-- Spotlight PA: PA’s Unemployment Trust Fund Is Broke, Wolf Administration Says A Long-Term Fix Will Save Taxpayers Millions

-- Dept. Of Labor & Industry: PA Unemployment 4.5% In June, Down Slightly From May

-- WESA: PA Workforce Shrinks As More People Homeschool Children And Care For Elderly Parents

-- TribLive Guest Essay: We Have The Number For Real Growth, So Let’s Put It On Speed-Dial -- Sen. Augment [PA Corporate Tax Reduction]

-- MCall - Ford Turner: PA Property Tax Relief Mechanism Eliminated In Closed-Door Budget Negotiations: ‘This Legislature Should Be A Little Ashamed’

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: Despicable Scheme By Governor, Some Lawmakers Proves You’ll Never See Property Tax Relief In PA

-- Gov. Wolf Announces $268 Million In New Federal American Rescue Plan Funding To Boost Small Businesses

-- TribLive: Plan To Convert Unused Pittsburgh Office Spaces Into Housing Gets $2.1 Million

-- MCall: Montgomery County Offering Sign-On Bonuses To ‘Help Recruit For Critical Roles With High Vacancy Rates’

-- TribLive: Here’s A Look At Pennsylvania’s 17 Billionaires

[Posted: July 24, 2022]