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

-- Politics PA: New Poll - Fetterman, Shapiro Extend Leads

-- Inquirer: Democratic Candidate For Governor Shapiro’s New Ads Cites Republican Mastriano’s Ties To Antisemitic Content On Gab Online Social Media Site

-- Inquirer: Florida Governor Campaigning For Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano In Pittsburg, But A Multifaith Group Is Pushing Back

-- TribLive: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano, FL Gov. DeSantis Focus On Crime, Pandemic Closures At Pittsburgh Rally

-- Inquirer: 3 Big Takeaways From Republican Rally In Pittsburgh: Don ‘The Full Armor Of God’

-- WITF: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastrianop, Some PA Republican Leaders Think Christianity And Government Should Be Linked

-- Inquirer: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Said Islam Is Not Compatible With The Constitution In 2018 Radio Interview

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano And Gab - Words Of Hate Can Bring About Acts Of Hate

-- WESA: After WESA Inquiry To U.S. Army, Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Dials Back Military Imagery On Social Media

-- PA Capital-Star: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Removes Social Media Profile Pics After Warning From U.S. Army

-- NBC10: U.S. Army Contacts Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Over Use Of Military ‘Imagery’ In Campaign

-- LancasterOnline: The LifeGate Church Members Providing Security For Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Challenges Shapiro To 2 Debates, But Only On His Terms

-- Post-Gazette - Julian Routh: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Challenges Democrat Shapiro To 2 Debates, But With Conditions

-- LancasterOnline: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Declines LNP Debate Invitation Citing ‘Inflammatory’ Coverage And ‘Hack’ Reporters

-- Inquirer: Mastriano Critics Become Mastriano Boosters While Avoiding The Name Mastriano

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Resolving The Tedious Debate Over Candidate Debates

-- Scranton Times Editorial: State Debate Commission Sound Idea

-- York Dispatch Editorial: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano, Republican PA Cong. Scott Perry Giving PA A Black Eye

-- PA Capital-Star: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano’s Education Funding Plan Would Devastate PA’s Public Schools, Advocates Say

-- WESA: Problematic Rules For Covering Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Campaign Event Featuring Florida Governor Pose Ethical Quandary For Media

-- Scranton Times: Ex-President To Hold Sept. 3 Rally For Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano, Dr. Oz At Mohegan Sun Arena

-- U.S. Senate Race

-- Politics PA: New Poll - Fetterman, Shapiro Extend Leads

-- WPost: PA U.S. Senate Race No Longer A Tossup As Fetterman Memes Zero In On Dr. Oz’s Wealth

-- Erie Times: Fetterman Unveils 5-Point Accountability Plan If Elected To U.S. Senate

-- PennLive: Fetterman Social Media Picks On Dr. Oz’s Use Of ‘Crudite,’  ‘In PA We Call This A Veggie Tray’

-- Post-Gazette - Julian Routh: Dr. Oz Responds To Crudites Video At ‘Wegners’ As Fetterman Rakes In Donations

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Veggie Trays Or Crudite?  The Battle For PA Votes

-- PA Capital-Star Editorial Cartoon: Thank You For Shopping At ‘Wegners’

-- PennLive: Dr. Oz Campaigned At Bethlehem’s Musikfest Against Its Policy, Organizers Say

-- PennLive: Ex-President’s Advisor Steve Bannon Suggested Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate Fetterman Is ‘Satanic’

-- TribLive: Reports: Republicans Cut Ad Spending In PA U.S. Senate Race

-- Scranton Times: Ex-President To Hold Sept. 3 Rally For Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano, Dr. Oz At Mohegan Sun Arena

-- May 2022 Primary Election

-- AP: Court Orders 3 PA Counties To Count Mail-In Ballots

-- Citizens Voice: Luzerne County DA Finds No Criminal Wrongdoing In 2021 Primary Election Problems

 

-- November 2022 Election

-- York Dispatch Editorial: A Eulogy For The Republican Party

-- York Daily Record: Poll Shows Republican Cong. Scott Perry Losing To Democratic Opponent

-- PennLive: Republican Cong. Scott Perry Losing Voter Support Over Allegations Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol, Poll By Democratic Opponent Says

-- PA Capital-Star: Internal Polls Show ‘Tight Race’ In Cartwright’s Congressional District

-- York Daily Record: Did Overturning Roe v. Wade Lead To Spike In New PA Voters?  It’s Complicated

-- PA Capital-Star: Older Voters Delivered For Dems In 2020, Will They Repeat In PA In 2022?

-- Post-Gazette: Want To Help Democracy? Sign Up To Be A Poll Worker

-- WPost: Current Republican Maryland Governor Calls Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mentally Unstable

-- Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout

-- Daily Item: County Commissioners Assn. Votes Down Proposal To Prioritize Repeal Of PA’s Mail-In Voting Law

-- LancasterOnline: Republican Lancaster County Commissioners Led Effort To Repeal Law Authorizing No Excuse Mail-In Voting At State County Commissioners Meeting 

-- Inquirer: Nearly All PA Counties Apply For Election Money, Are Worried About The Rules For Using It

-- MCall - Ford Turner: Lawmakers Hear Calls To Open PA Primary Elections To All Voters

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Urgent Case For Open Primary Elections

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: Want To Improve Election Integrity In PA?  Philadelphia Offers A Great Model To Adopt

-- Post-Gazette: Voting Machine Company To Subpoena Fmr PA Secretary Of State Boockvar In Lawsuit Against Fox News

-- WPost: Attempts To Inappropriately Access Voting Machines Spurred Investigations, Including In PA, CO, Georgia 

-- Post-Gazette: Butler County Finishes Review Of 2020 Ballots, Finds No Inaccuracies

-- Reading Eagle: Fmr Berks County Elections Director Says Commissioners Wanted Her To Be ‘Scapegoat’

-- LancasterOnline Editorial: Republican State Senate Candidate’s Spurious Records Request Makes Legitimate Pursuit Of Transparency More Difficult

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

-- York Dispatch Editorial: A Eulogy For The Republican Party

-- AP: Ex-President’s Angry Words Spur Death Threats And Real Violence [PA Connections Included] 

-- WITF: FBI Subpoenaed Several PA Republican Lawmakers And We Still Don’t Know Why

-- Inquirer: FBI Bolsters Security Following Attacks By Men With PA Ties And Threats Prompted By Search Of Ex-President’s Florida Estate

-- PennLive: Cumberland County Woman Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol Wants Off House Arrest To Visit The PA Renaissance Faire

-- PennLive: Cumberland County Woman Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol Approved For PA Renaissance Faire Outing By Court

-- PennLive: Judge Denies Request By Cumberland County Woman Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol To Move Trial From Central PA

-- TribLive: Allegheny County Man Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol Chooses Trial By Judge, Not Jury

-- Post-Gazette: Allegheny County Man Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol Close To Plea Deal

-- Inquirer: A QAnon Follower Who Drove To Philly’s 2020 Vote Count In A Hummer Filled With Guns Now Facing Criminal Charges Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol 

-- MCall: PA Man Who Rammed U.S. Capitol Barricade Before Killing Himself Lived In Lehigh Valley, Had Lengthy Criminal History

-- Erie Times: Man With PA Connection Crashed Car Into Barricade Near U.S. Capitol, Fired Gunshots Before Killing Himself, Policy Say

-- PA Capital-Star: Gunman Who Tried to Breach Cincinnati FBI Office Raised In Perry County 

-- Inquirer: Mercer County Man Arrested For Threatening To Slaughter FBI Agents And ‘Water The Trees Of Liberty’ With Their Blood

-- TribLive: FBI: Mercer County Man Makes Online Threats Against Law Enforcement After Ex-President’s Estate Was Searched 

-- TribLive: Mercer County Man Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol To Remain In Custody, Accused Of Threatening FBI Agents On Gab

-- Post-Gazette: Mercer County Man Accused Of Threatening FBI Agents Emerged From Home With Assault Rifle Before Arrest, FBI Says

-- Post-Gazette: Mercer County Man Charged In FBI Threats Split Online Personas Between Adventure Photographer, Right-Wing Ranter 

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Mercer County Man Charged With Threatening The FBI On The Social Media Site Gab Another Warning 

-- York Dispatch Editorial: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano, Republican PA Cong. Scott Perry Giving PA A Black Eye

-- WPost: Current Republican Maryland Governor Calls Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mentally Unstable

-- TribLive/AP: Republican Candidate For Congress Says U.S. Attorney General ‘Should Be Executed’

-- State Constitutional Amendments

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

 

-- PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

-- Erie Times: Erie Sees Gasoline Prices Fall Below $4, Will It Keep Dropping?

-- PA PUC: Cost Of Natural Gas Provided By Major Utilities In PA Increased As Much As 154% Over Last Year  [PaEN]

-- Warren Times: National Fuel Gas To Increased Cost Of Natural Gas 39.7% Effective Aug. 1

-- Inquirer - Andrew Maykuth: Philadelphia Natural Gas Works Proposes To Cap Its Weather Normalization Charge To Prevent Future Billing Mayhem

-- Independent Fiscal Office Reports Decline In PA Natural Gas Production For 2nd Quarter In A Row For First Time; But An Increase In New Wells Drilled  [PaEN]

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: State’s Natural Gas Production Drops 2nd Quarter In A Row

-- Baker Hughes PA Natural Gas Drill Rig Count - No Change From Last Week - 23

-- Bloomberg: Natural Gas Shortage Fears Has Prices Flirting With Levels Not Seen In U.S. In 15 Years

-- CNN: U.S. Natural Gas Prices Spike To 14-Year High, Prices Up 525% Since June 2020

-- Harrisburg Politics Potpourri

-- LancasterOnline: PA Lawmakers In Line For Largest Automatic Pay Raise Ever, Pushing Base Pay Over $100,000

-- Spotlight PA - Stephen Caruso: PA Lawmakers Set To Get Huge Raises Next Year; They Can Return Them, But Almost Nobody Does

-- TribLive Editorial: State Lawmakers’ Big Raises An Affront To PA Taxpayers

-- LancasterOnline Editorial: As Pennsylvanians Struggle, State Lawmakers Set To Receive Automatic Pay Raise That Will Push Their Base Pay Above $100,000  

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Lawmakers - Let Them Eat Crudite

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: We Can Stop Corrupt In Harrisburg, Start With Lawmaker Gift Ban

-- Warren Times: Democrats Want Republican Lawmakers To Stop Carrying Guns In State Capitol Building 

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Liquor Control Board Weighs Change In Liquor Lotteries To Restore Confidence In Their Integrity

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Lawmakers Need To Address The Growing Threat Posed By Illegal Skill Gambling Games - Pete Shelly

-- PennLive Guest Essay: What Does A Moose Lodge Or Grocery Store Have In Common With A Casino? Nothing - Taverns Association [Supporting Games Of Skill Gambling]

-- Altoona Mirror Editorial: Legislature Raising Stakes On Gambling By Considering Legalizing Games Of Skill

-- Post-Gazette: Wolf Signs Executive Order To Protect LGBTQ Pennsylvanians From Conversion Therapy

-- PennLive - John Baer: I’ve Changed My Mind About Ex-President, He’s Never Going Away

-- Scranton Times: Political Activist Sues Scranton, Pottsville For Halting Burning Demonstrations Of Ex-President’s Flag

-- Budget 2022

-- LancasterOnline: ‘Historic’ State Budget Increase To Education Funding Too Late To Prevent Lancaster County Tax Hikes

-- PA Gaming Control Board Reports Gaming Revenue For July - $429 Million

-- TribLive: PA Casino Revenue Jumps To $429 Million In July After Late Spring Lull

-- COVID Pandemic/Health

-- Centre Daily Times: PA Counties At High COVID Community Levels Up To 14

-- TribLive: Pitt Move-In Days Coincide With High COVID Levels, Masks Required Indoors

-- Erie Times: Erie County Reports 2 More Monkeypox Cases

-- TribLive: Monkeypox Case Confirmed At YMCA Camp In Beaver County

-- PennLive: Penn State Reports Monkeypox Case At Main Campus

-- MCall: Lehigh Valley Schools, Universities Share Their Monkeypox Plans

-- Inquirer: Another Public Health Threat Looms As College Students Return To Campus: Monkeypox

-- PennLive: PA Colleges Plan Monkeypox Education, Testing To Prevent Campus Outbreaks

-- PA Capital-Star: State Health Officials Urge Pennsylvanians To Get Polio Vaccine

-- MCall - Ford Turner: Kratom Industry Pushes PA Lawmakers To Improve Safety For Unregulated Product Used By Millions

-- COVID - Schools

-- TribLive: Pitt Move-In Days Coincide With High COVID Levels, Masks Required Indoors

-- Opioid Deaths

-- AG Shapiro, State AGs Reach $450 Million Settlement With Endo As Part Of Opioid Manufacturer’s Bankruptcy

-- TribLive Editorial: Westmoreland Commissioners Should Be Open About How Opioid Settlement Money Is Used

-- School Districts/Higher Education

-- LancasterOnline: ‘Historic’ State Budget Increase To Education Funding Too Late To Prevent Lancaster County Tax Hikes

-- WHYY: ‘A Fascist Approach To Education’: Local Authors React To Central Bucks School District Book Policies

-- MCall: Debate Continues Over Proposed Pennridge School District Policies Banning ‘Advocacy’

-- TribLive: Hempfield School District Policy Changes Gives Parents Bigger Role In Review Of Challenged Books

-- Centre Daily Times: Centre County Schools Face Staff Shortages: ‘The Worst I’ve Ever Seen It’

-- KYW: Philadelphia School District Workers Vote To Authorize Strike Ahead Of School Year

-- Spotlight PA: Penn State Spent $500,000 On Police Overtime At Football Games In 2021

-- Gun Violence/Law Enforcement

-- Warren Times: Democrats Want Republican Lawmakers To Stop Carrying Guns In State Capitol Building 

-- TribLive: Survey: Many At-Risk Youths In Allegheny County Lose Family To Gun Violence

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Pittsburgh Needs A Youth-Driven Anti-Violence Task Force

-- KYW: Man Shot At Least 16 Times On Basketball Court At East Mt. Airy Playground In Philly

-- USA Today: These 5 Ads For Guns Are Alarming Critics, Changing Laws

-- AP: Luzerne County Kids-For-Cash Judges Ordered To Pay More Than $200 Million

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Federal Judge Turns The Tables - Cash For Kids

-- PA Economy

-- WITF: PA Works To Tackle Unemployment Compensation Problems, Advocates Want Job  Done Right

-- Dept. Of Labor & Industry Reports PA Unemployment Rate 4.3% In July, Down 0.2%

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster County Is At Full Employment, So Why Are Employers Still Scrambling For Workers?

-- MCall - Ford Turner: PA Workers’ Pay Falling Behind Inflation By Growing Margin: ‘It Affects Everything’

-- Centre Daily Times: OSHA: Workplace Deaths Up 40% In Southcentral PA, Including Centre County 

-- AG Shapiro Takes Lead Role In Multistate Lawsuit Against Predatory Personal Lending Company

-- Scranton Times: Lackawanna County’s First Property Tax Reassessment In 50+ Years Unfolds

-- Citizens Voice: Study: Pennsylvania Home To The Most Spam Calls In U.S.

--  KDKA: Allegheny County Business Man Pleads Guilty To Stealing Almost $4 Million In Paycheck Protection Loans

-- Other

-- WITF/AP: Little League World Series Is Back In Williamsport With 4 More Teams

[Posted: August 21, 2022]