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: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Tells Right-Wing Media Network  The Prestigious Childrens’ Hospital Of Philadelphia Is ‘Grabbing Homeless Kids’ And Experimenting On Them With Gender Transitioning’

-- Inquirer: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano’s Adviser Questions Shapiro’s Faith - ‘At Best A Secular Jew’

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Spells Out His Plan ‘To Take Pennsylvania Back’

-- York Daily Record Guest Essay: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano’s Crass Christianity Doesn’t Represent York’s Caring People Of Faith

-- Inquirer: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Will Again Flirt With QAnon Crowd At Lancaster ReAwaken America Rally 

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: ReAwaken American Tour Hits Lancaster, And The Audience Finds Uplift Amid The Angst

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano A No-Show At ReAwakening American Shows In Lancaster

-- York Daily Record: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Says He’ll Bus Illegal Immigrants To Biden’s Home In Delaware; PA Will Not Be A ‘Sanctuary State’ 

-- The Guardian: U.S. Politics’ Post-Shame Era: How Republicans Became The Party Of Hate [Includes PA]

-- Chambersburg Public Opinion: Sharp Divide Between PA Candidates For Governor On Natural Gas, Other Issues

-- WPost: Disaffected Republican Politicians, Donors Endorse Democratic Candidate [Includes Shapiro In PA]

-- Inside Climate News: Sinkholes And Damage Attributed To Mariner East II Natural Gas Pipeline Construction Underline The Stakes In PA’s Governor’s Race

-- Inquirer: How Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Deployed Facebook Live To Build His Far-Right Base

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Both Gubernatorial Candidates Guided By Their Faiths, But In Very Different Ways

-- Spotlight PA: Where Gubernatorial Candidates Stand On Rural Health Care, Broadband, Agriculture

-- WHYY: How Will Gubernatorial Candidates Address PA’s Hospital Crisis?

-- TribLive/Spotlight PA: Most Outside Spending On PA Governor’s Race Has One Aim: To Defeat Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano

-- Erie Times Editorial: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano’s Dangerous History Of Election denial And Contemptuous Disdain For System

-- Spotlight PA: 11 Voters On Candidates For Governor, U.S. Senate And Why Some Are Still Undecided

-- Politics PA: Fox 29 Poll: PA U.S. Senate Race Too Close To Call, Governor Tightening

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Shapiro’s Sound Competence Better Choice For Governor, Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Too Dangerous, Too Extreme

-- PennLive: Minor-Party Candidates For U.S. Senate, Governor Share Their Ideas With PennLive Editorial Board

-- U.S. Senate Race

-- Erie Times: Candidates For Governor Both Say They’re The ‘Freedom’ Guy, But What Does That Even Mean?

-- Post-Gazette/Inquirer: Inflation, Not Crime, Abortion Tops Voters’ List In U.S. Senate Race

-- TribLive/AP: Fetterman’s Doctor Says He’s Recovering Well From Stroke

-- PennLive/TNS: Gisele Fetterman’s History As Undocumented Immigrant Inspires Husband’s Policy

-- Erie Times: Fetterman Enjoys $1.6 Million Cash Advantage Over Dr. Oz Heading Into Campaign’s Final Weeks
-- AP: Dr. Oz Made His Reputation As A Surgeon, A Fortune As A Salesman

-- Post-Gazette: Allies Of Dr. Oz, Fetterman Give Advice Ahead Of U.S. Senate Candidates’ Debate - Just Stick To The Issues

-- PennLive: Fox News Brings Hannity Show To York, Uses It To Boost Dr. Oz Campaign

-- Politics PA: Fox 29 Poll: PA U.S. Senate Race Too Close To Call, Governor Tightening

-- Spotlight PA: 11 Voters On Candidates For Governor, U.S. Senate And Why Some Are Still Undecided

-- PennLive - John Baer: Fetterman-Dr. Oz U.S. Senate Debate Will Answer Critical Questions

-- Inquirer: Dr. Oz Said He Wouldn’t Take Corporate PAC Money, Then He Did

-- AP: Biden Stumps For Fetterman, Says ‘World Is Looking’

-- PennLive: Minor-Party Candidates For U.S. Senate, Governor Share Their Ideas With PennLive Editorial Board

-- November 8 General Election

-- AP:  PA Republicans Go To Court Again To Block Count Of Undated Mail-In Ballots 

-- PA Capital-Star: Republicans Asks PA Supreme Court To Take Immediate Action To Enforce Ballot Dating Requirement

-- AP: PA Supreme Court Takes Undated Mail-In Ballot Case, Doesn’t Halt Ballot Curing

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Supreme Court Will Consider Whether Mail-In Ballots Without Dates Should Be Counted

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: Undated Mail Ballots Could Throw PA Elections Into Chaos, Here’s A Simple Solution

-- MCall: Lehigh County Judge Strikes Down Lawsuit Demanding Ballot Drop Boxes Be Monitored, Limited To Business Hours

-- AP: PA Seeks Sanctions Over Access To Fulton County Voting Machines

-- Reuters: State Of PA Alleges Fulton County Breached Security Of Voting Machines For A 2nd Time 

-- WHYY: What You Need To Know Ahead Of The 2022 PA General Election

-- AP: Republican Voters Told To Hold Onto Mail-In Ballots And Hand Them In At Polling Place Or Election Offices [Note: Polling Places In PA Cannot Accept Mail-In Ballots, But You Can Surrender Them And Vote In Person On Election Day, Since You’re Already There]

-- WITF: Some PA Voters Don’t Get Much Out Of Debates Anymore

-- Inquirer: National Groups Pouring Millions Into PA To Try To Sway State Legislative Races In Home Stretch

-- MCall: Where’s Money Coming From In Lehigh Valley Congressional Race?

-- MCall: Rural Carbon County Will Play A Key Role In Lehigh Valley Congressional Race

-- Post-Gazette: Within Solid Republican, Democratic Congressional Districts, Voters Often Disagree On Key Issues, Cross Party Lines

-- Politics PA: Congressional Vulnerability In PA

-- TribLive Guest Essay: PA Is Epicenter Of Democrats’ Political Spending

-- MCall - Bill White: Toxic Political Ads Taking Over Your TV

-- WLVR: Lehigh County Stops Using Ballot Dropboxes Pending Court Decision

-- MCall: Map - Where PA Voters Requested The Most Mail-In Ballots Ahead Of Election

-- WESA: Pittsburgh State Senate Race Reflects Stakes In Effort To Change Checks And Balances In Harrisburg

-- Erie Times: Republican Candidate For State House Fueled By Discredited Conspiracies In Erie

-- LancasterOnline: Republican Candidate For State House Declines Debate Invitation

-- MCall: New Poll Shows Lehigh Valley Congressional Race In Dead Heat

-- Reading Eagle: Berks County Man Who Pleaded Guilty To Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol Wants Less Than Minimum Jail Time

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: We’re PA Clergy, Christian Nationalism Isn’t Christian, This Is Why

-- AP: Police: Campaign Signs Found Booby-Trapped With Razor Blades In Bucks County

-- WHYY: Faith-Based Groups Hitting The Road To Encourage Pennsylvanians To Vote

-- PennLive: PA Latino Voters Still Lean Democratic As Republicans Work To Woo Them

-- AP: Biden Seeks Symbol Of Rebuilding At Pittsburgh Bridge Site

-- AP: Biden Closely Tends His Pennsylvania Roots In Election Year

-- AP: Biden Touts Pittsburgh Bridge As Infrastructure Win

-- Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout

-- The Guardian: U.S. Politics’ Post-Shame Era: How Republicans Became The Party Of Hate [Includes PA]

-- Post-Gazette: Targeted With Death Threats, Philadelphia Republican Election Overseer Al Schmidt Now Works To Restore Elections

-- AP: PA Seeks Sanctions Over Access To Fulton County Voting Machines

-- Reuters: State Of PA Alleges Fulton County Breached Security Of Voting Machines For A 2nd Time 

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Senate Committee Advances Bill Proposing Guidelines For Storing Marked  Election Ballots

-- LancasterOnline Editorial: The Big Lie Will Get Big Event In Lancaster County This Weekend, Shameful

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: Undated Mail Ballots Could Throw PA Elections Into Chaos, Here’s A Simple Solution

-- MCall: Lehigh County Judge Strikes Down Lawsuit Demanding Ballot Drop Boxes Be Monitored, Limited To Business Hours

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

-- TribLive/AP: Federal Judge: Ex-President Knew Vote Fraud Claims In Legal Documents Were False When He Signed Them, Cannot Withhold Evidence Of Crimes

-- The Guardian: U.S. Politics’ Post-Shame Era: How Republicans Became The Party Of Hate [Includes PA]

-- Post-Gazette: Targeted With Death Threats, Philadelphia Republican Election Overseer Al Schmidt Now Works To Restore Elections

-- AP: Berks County Man Gets Nearly 3 Years In Prison For Attacking Journalist, Police In Assault On U.S. Capitol

-- MCall/AP: Columbia County Man Accused Of Sending Letter Threatening Biden Containing White Powder

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: ReAwaken America Proves Christian Nationalism Isn’t Christian

-- Erie Times: Republican Candidate For State House Fueled By Discredited Conspiracies In Erie

-- The Guardian: Penn State Students Outraged Over Invitation To Far-Right ‘Proud Boys’ Founder

-- Altoona Mirror: Penn State University Police Urge Residents Not To Attend Event Featuring Far-Right ‘Proud Boys’ Speaker

-- Inquirer Editorial: As Election Day Nears, U.S. House Committee Investigating Assault On U.S. Capitol Serves As A Reminder Democracy Is On The Ballot

-- State Constitutional Amendments

-- MCall Guest Essay: Proposed State Constitutional Amendments Are Dangerous Attacks On System - PA League Of Women Voters

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

 

-- PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

-- Post-Gazette: Steep Increase In Natural Gas Price Pushes Utility Bills Higher As The Weather Turns Colder

-- LancasterOnline: Heating Oil Costs Up 74%, Natural Gas Up 28%, Electricity Up 10% This Winter; Utilities Struggling With Surging Prices Of Natural Gas

-- Patch.com: Winter Heating Costs Spike: How Much More Will PA Residents Pay? 

-- MCall/AP: Sharp Prices Increases Projected For Home Heating This Winter; Natural Gas Customers To Pay Biggest Increase

-- WTAE: Rise In Global Natural Gas Prices Expected To Impact Home Heating Bills In PA This Winter 

-- PPL Utilities: Prepare For Winter Heating Season With Energy-Saving Tips, Rebates From PPL

-- TribLive: Gasoline Prices Turn Lower As Diesel, Heating Oil Rise On Low Inventories

-- Reuters: U.S. Natural Gas Price Falls 4% To 3-Month Low On Mild Weather, European Price Drop

-- Reuters: Dozens Of LNG-Laden Ships Queue Off Europe’s Coasts Unable To Unload

-- Bloomberg: Europe’s LNG Import Deluge Spurs Spanish Oversupply Warning

-- Freeport TX LNG Facility Explosion Recovery Plan Calls For Initial Resumption Of Operations In Mid-November, With 85% Capacity By End Of November

-- National Energy Assistance Directors Assn: Home Heating Costs Reach Highest Level In More Than 10 Years; Natural Gas Cost Increases Alone Mean Homeowners Will Pay $13.1 Billion More This Winter

-- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Winter Assessment: Natural Gas Exports, Lower Gas Storage Are Driving Natural Gas Prices Higher 

-- AP: U.S. Heating Worries Mount Amid Growing Costs, Uncertainty

-- Harrisburg Politics Potpourri

-- LancasterOnline Editorial: PA’s Bloated, Expensive Legislature Gets Shockingly Little Done

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Senate Hearing On ‘Parental Rights’ Bill Invigorates Supports, Riles ‘Book Ban’ Foes

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Senators Baker, Haywood Announce Bipartisan Guardianship Legislation

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: PA Expanding Eligibility For Food Stamp Benefits

-- Inquirer: Fmr Sen. Fumo Takes The Stand In A Tax Case In Which He’s Asked To Pay Million

-- Budget 2022

-- PA Gaming Control Board Reports September Revenue Was $448.4 Million, 7.89% Increase Over 2021

-- TribLive: PA Casino Revenue Jumps To $448 Million In September

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: No Excuse For Parents Who Gamble With Their Kids’ Lives By Leaving Them Alone In Cars At PA Casinos

-- COVID Pandemic/Health

-- MCall: PA COVID Update: Case Numbers Steady, 3 New Variants Rising Quickly

-- Centre Daily Times: One PA County At High COVID Spread Level, 29 At Medium

-- Post-Gazette: Allegheny County COVID Cases Drop Slightly

-- Scranton Times: COVID Still Killing Plenty Of Pennsylvanians Despite Case Declines

-- Erie Times: See Erie County’s Varied COVID Vaccination Rates By ZIP Code

-- Altoona Mirror Editorial: Don’t Let Your Guard Down Against COVID

-- TribLive: Penn State Researchers Engineer Protein That Could Be Used To Develop One COVID Vaccine

-- Post-Gazette/Capitolwire.com: IRRC Approves Medical Marijuana Regulations After Lengthy Debate

-- Post-Gazette: Looming Cut To Pharmacy Network Angers Western PA Veterans, Pharmacists

-- PA Capital-Star: Dire Predictions Follow PA Supreme Court’s Loosening Of Medical Malpractice Filing Rules

-- School Districts/Higher Education

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Senate Hearing On ‘Parental Rights’ Bill Invigorates Supports, Riles ‘Book Ban’ Foes

-- PennLive: 13-Year-Old Charged With Making Verbal Threats Against Mifflinburg Schools In Union County

-- Erie Times: Using Erie High As ‘Call-In’ Site, Unified Erie Focuses Anti-Violence Effort On Juveniles

-- WHYY: U.S. Dept. Of Education Will Investigate Central Bucks School District Following ACLU Complaint Alleging ‘Hostile’ Environment For LGBTQ Students

-- Courier Times: PA Schools Lack Policies That Protect LGBTQ Students And District Taxpayers, Experts Say

-- York Dispatch: Ex-Principal Of Lincoln Charter School Admits He Took Money For Fake Ph.D. Classes

-- City & State PA: Potential For High School Athletes Selling Their Name, Image And Likenesses

-- The Guardian: Penn State Students Outraged Over Invitation To Far-Right ‘Proud Boys’ Founder

-- Altoona Mirror: Penn State University Police Urge Residents Not To Attend Event Featuring Far-Right ‘Proud Boys’ Speaker

-- City & State PA: Can PA Erase Property Taxes Without Wiping Out Education?

-- Post-Gazette: Survey: Political Expression On Campus, Employee Engagement Are Areas Of Concern At State-Owned Universities

-- TribLive: Application Site Launches For Biden Student Debt Cancellation

-- Gov. Wolf: PA Won’t Tax You On Federal Student Loan Relief

-- TribLive/AP: Biden Student Debt Relief Plan Temporarily Blocked By Appeals Court In Republican Challenge

-- NPR: Federal Judge Dismisses Republican-led State’s Lawsuit To Block Student Loan Forgiveness Plan

-- Gun Violence/Law Enforcement

-- PA Capital-Star: House Republicans Cancel Hearing On Philly DA After He Insists It Be In Public

-- Inquirer: Philly DA Asked To Address House Republican Impeachment Committee In Public, The Panel Said No

-- Inquirer: Philly DA Expects Republican Impeachment Vote As Early As Next Week

-- AP: 3 People Killed, 1 Wounded In Pittsburgh Shooting

-- TribLive: 2 Women Killed In Pittsburgh Shooting Were Innocent Bystanders, Police Say

-- TribLive Editorial: Gunfire Makes Us All Innocent Bystanders

-- Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Council Members Search For Answers After Spate Of Shootings

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Mayor Announces Measures To Make Neighborhoods Safer

-- Erie Times: Using Erie High As ‘Call-In’ Site, Unified Erie Focuses Anti-Violence Effort On Juveniles

-- TribLive: TSA Catches 4 Guns At Pittsburgh Airport In 5 Days

-- Inquirer: 17-Year-Old Arrested In Fatal Shootings Of 2 Other Teens In Montgomery County

-- Inquirer: Wawa Cutting Overnight Hours For At Least 7 Bucks County Stores Due To Safety Concerns

-- Inquirer: Philadelphia Officials Threaten To Sue Gov. Wolf Over ‘Nightmare’ Conditions Inside Juvenile Facility

-- Inquirer: 5 PA Alcohol Laws That Can Get You In Trouble

-- Inquirer: There Are 400,000 People In Philly With Convictions And Criminal Records, Expungement Clinics Can Offer A Fresh Start

-- Wilkes-Barre: Senate Committee Advances Sen. Baker’s Juvenile Justice Reform Bills

-- Spotlight PA: How Well A Death In PA Will Be Investigated Depends Largely On Where Someone Dies

-- TribLive: Etna Man Gets 6 Years In Federal Prison For Threatening FBI Agents Online

-- Spotlight PA: Jail Officials Across PA Sound Alarm As Mental Health Crisis Puts People At Risk, Survey Finds

-- Inquirer: Gov. Wolf Exonerated 16-Year-Old Delaware County Teen Executed In 1931 For A Murder He Didn’t Commit

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Keep Ammo Away From Known Felons

-- Post-Gazette: Allegheny County Prosecutors, Public Defenders Band Together To Demand Higher Wages

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Pro-Life Activist Could Face 11 Years In Prison After Abortion Clinic Blockade

-- Scranton Times: Fmr Attorney General Kane Seeks Dismissal Of DUI Case

-- TribLive/AP: Justice Kagan At UPenn: ‘Time Will Tell’ Of U.S. Supreme Court Finds Common Ground

-- PA Economy

-- WESA: PA Doesn’t Live Up To Its Potential For Turning Innovation Into Jobs, New Report Finds

-- Dept. Of Labor & Industry Reports September PA Unemployment Down 0.1% To 4.1%

-- Post-Gazette: Lawsuit Seeks To Force Allegheny County To resume Assessment Appeal Hearings

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: PA Expanding Eligibility For Food Stamp Benefits

-- MCall: French Owner Of Lehigh Valley Cement Company Pleads Guilty To Paying Millions Of Dollars To Islamic State To Keep Syrian Plant Open

[Posted: October 23, 2022]