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: How Redistricting Could Alter Control Of The Legislature And Other Changes To Watch Nov. 8

-- Governor’s Race

--WITF: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Wants To Use PA State Police To Bus Migrants To Delaware, Why That Breaks Federal, State Law

-- AP: In PA Governor’s Race, Faith Surfaces In Contrasting Ways

-- The Guardian: Is PA Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Backed By Ex-President Election Denier Too Extreme To Win? 

-- WHYY: PA Republican Candidates Dodging The Press, Ditching Debates, What Does that Mean For Democracy?

-- PA Capital-Star: Fmr Republican Strategist Says PA Governor’s Race ‘Critical To Protecting Our Democracy’

-- Spotlight PA: Where Candidates For Governor Stand On Mail Ballots, Election Security, Voting Rights

-- WESA: Increase State Funding For Schools Or Cut It In Half?  How The Next PA Governor Could Shape Education

-- PennLive: ‘Joy As A Tool Of Resistance’: Protestors Stage Dance Party Outside Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano’s Home 

-- Post-Gazette: Battle For Catholic Vote Inflames PA Governor’s Race

-- AP: Dr. Oz, Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano: An Awkward Pair Atop PA’s Republican Ticket

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Shapiro Has Crushed Republican Opponent In Money Race, Will Votes Follow?

-- PA Capital-Star: ‘I Feel The Weightiness Of The Moment’: Shapiro Says As Governor’s Race Enters Its Final Days

-- Franklin & Marshall College New Poll Results

-- LancasterOnline - Brad Bumsted: F&M Poll Offers A Tale Of 2 Races - Shapiro Soaring, But U.S. Senate Race Effectively Tied

-- U.S. Senate Race

-- AP: Dr. Oz, Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano: An Awkward Pair Atop PA’s Republican Ticket

-- Altoona Mirror: Fetterman’s Rocky Debate Raises Anxiety Among PA Democrats

-- TribLive: Fetterman, Dr. Oz Face Off In Chaotic Debate

-- PennLive: Fetterman Struggles In Rapid-Fire Debate Format As He, Dr. Oz, Trade Well-Worn Barbs

-- PA Capital-Star: PA’s U.S. Senate Debate - What Did We Learn?

-- WHYY: Philadelphia’s Suburbs Will Be Key For Dr. Oz, Fetterman, What Do Voters Think?

-- PennLive - John Baer: After Their Only Debate, What’s Next For Dr. Oz, Fettermand And The Voters?

-- TribLive Editorial: Did Fetterman - Dr. Oz Debate Change Any Minds?

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Despite Turbulent U.S. Senate Race, Dr. Oz Better Prepared To Lead

-- Erie Times: Fetterman, Dr. Oz Have At Least One Thing In Common To Critics: They’ve Waffled On Fracking

-- AP: Biden Says Of Candidate Fetterman: ‘John IS Pennsylvania’

-- Franklin & Marshall College New Poll Results

-- LancasterOnline - Brad Bumsted: F&M Poll Offers A Tale Of 2 Races - Shapiro Soaring, But U.S. Senate Race Effectively Tied

-- November 2022 General Election

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Why We Won’t Have Results On Election Night - It Takes Time To Count 1.3 Million Mail-In Ballots - Acting PA Secretary Of State

-- Spotlight PA: How Redistricting Could Alter Control Of The Legislature And Other Changes To Watch Nov. 8

-- Post-Gazette - Salena Zito: Diverse Voters Who Confound Media Categories Will Determine Midterm Election Success

-- PennLive: In Red PA, Voting Has Become A Choice Of ‘Good vs. Evil’: Election 2022

-- PA Capital-Star: What State Legislative Races The Capital-Star Is Watching

-- PA Capital-Star: Election 2022: Voters’ Guides, Candidate Q&As, More

-- Politics PA: State House Election Guide

-- Politics PA: Political Poll Tracker

-- PennLive: In Purple PA, ‘Polite’ Conservation No Longer Includes Divisive Politics

-- Erie Times: The Keystone Party Is PA’s Newest Political Body, Here’s What Members Are Pushing For 

-- WSJ: Immigration Becomes Key Issue In Cartwright-Bognet Congressional Race

-- PennLive: Ex-President Has Added Pennsylvania Back On His Election Itinerary

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Philadelphia Republican Al Schmidt Shows The Path To Election Integrity is Personal Integrity

-- York Daily Record: Who Are Pennsylvania’s Split-Ticket  Voters?  We Talked To Some

-- PennLive: Election Officials See Spike In Poll Watchers Amid Increased Threats And Intimidation

-- York Dispatch Editorial: Republican Candidates Didn’t Show Up At NAACP Political Forum

-- WHYY: How Are PA’s Biggest Campaigns Reaching Latino Voters?

-- WITF: Lawsuit Demands York County Do More To Help Spanish-Speaking Voters

-- WHYY: ‘Trend That Jawn’ Highlights Political Issues that Matter To Young Philadelphians: ‘I Can’t Just Not Do Anything’

-- Inquirer: What To Do If You Mess Up Your PA Mail-In Ballot

-- AP: No, Pennsylvania Didn’t Send 255,000 Mail-In Ballots To ‘Unverified’ Voters

-- AP: PA Supreme Court Justices To Sort Out If Mail-In Ballot Envelopes Need Dates

-- PennLive: See How Many People Have Voted By Mail So Far In PA

-- TribLive: Early Voting Soars In Westmoreland County

-- MCall: All Lehigh County Ballot Drop Box Locations Available Starting Today

-- WESA: PA ACLU Details Concerns About Mail-In Ballot Printing Errors In Letter To Allegheny County Elections Officials

-- Inquirer: Philly’s Elections Chief Misled Voters About Delays In Sending Out Mail Ballots

-- Citizens Voice: Democratic Voter Registration In Luzerne County Spiked After Abortion Ruling

-- Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Why We Won’t Have Results On Election Night - It Takes Time To Count 1.3 Million Mail-In Ballots - Acting PA Secretary Of State

-- PA Capital-Star: ‘We Will Have To Be Ready’ To Protect Elections Every Day, Black Lawmakers Warn

-- Inquirer: What To Do If You Mess Up Your PA Mail-In Ballot

-- AP: No, Pennsylvania Didn’t Send 255,000 Mail-In Ballots To ‘Unverified’ Voters

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

-- The Economist: Why The Republicans’ Anti-Democracy Turn Has Become Normalised [Includes PA Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano]

-- Meadville Tribune: Defense Requests Jan. Trial Date For Meadville Man Charged With Crimes - Using A Bike Rack To Injure Police Officer During Assault On U.S. Capitol

-- AP: Suspect In Assault At U.S. Speaker Pelosi’s Home Made Racist Posts, Supported Ex-President And QAnon

-- AXIOS: PA Republican Cong. Scott Perry Drops Lawsuit Against Dept. Of Justice Over Phone Data

-- TribLive: Penn State Protests Lead To Last-Minute Cancellation Of ‘Proud Boys’ Founder’s Appearance

-- Centre Daily Times: Penn State Event Featuring ‘Proud Boys’ Founder Canceled Due To ‘Threat Of Escalating Violence’

-- AP: Anti-Semitism Decried 4 Years After Pittsburgh Synagogue Attack

-- TribLive: Conservative Republican School Director Post Social Media Meme Offense To Autistic Children In Westmoreland

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Four Years Since Pittsburgh Synagogue Massacre, Antisemitism Still On The Rise

-- WESA: Group Led By Fmr Aide To Ex-President Runs Anti-Trans Political Ads On Pittsburgh Radio Stations

-- State Constitutional Amendments

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

 

-- PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

-- TribLive: Homeowners Brace For Winter As Prices To Heat Homes Skyrocket, Biggest Spike Is For Natural Gas - More Than 34% Increase 

-- National Fuel Gas Requests PUC To Approve 9.2% Increase In Base Delivery Charge; Separate Cost Of Gas Up 127.8% Since May 2021 [PaEN]

-- PUC Approves 9% Increase In The Basic Monthly Bill For Typical PECO Natural Gas Division Customers; On Top Of An 103.2% Increase In Cost Of Natural Gas [PaEN]

-- Ohio River Valley Institute Blog: Natural Gas Costs Are Principal Driver Of Current Inflation; Increasing Gas Production For Export Also Increases Prices And Volatility

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh, National Gasoline Prices Continue Seasonal Decline

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Range Resources Plans Cutback To One Drilling Rig In 2023 To Keep Production Flat Or Only Slighting Growing, Limiting Capital Expenditures

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: We Need More Drilling, More Pipelines, More Refineries As Families Struggle With Higher Heating Bills

-- DelcoTimes Letter: Many Questions About Proposed LNG Export Terminal In Chester, Delaware County - PA League Of Women Voters

-- Reuters: Column: Higher LNG Exports May Turbocharge U.S. Energy Transition By Driving Higher Natural Gas Prices

-- Reuters: U.S. Natural Gas Price Gains 5% On Technical Move, Forecast LNG Export Rise

-- Bloomberg: Two Massive LNG Plants Start Construction In Texas

-- CNBC: Wave Of 60 LNG Tankers Waiting To Unload Is Overwhelming Europe, Hitting Natural Gas Prices 

-- Reuters: LNG Ships Play Waiting Game Off Spain’s Coast As Higher Prices Eyed

-- Bloomberg: European Natural Gas Glut To Help Ease Winter LNG Crunch In Asia

-- Bloomberg: West Texas Natural Gas Prices Go Negative For First Time In Two Years [Obviously, Not In PA]

-- Bloomberg: Heating Oil Being Rationed In New York City; New England Utility Urges Biden To Declare Emergency To Avoid Natural Gas Shortage 

-- Financial Times: US Exports Record Oil Volumes As Fuel Price Tensions Build At Home

-- Bloomberg: Exxon Said It Is Returning Its Profits To The American People In The Form Of Higher Dividends To Its Shareholders 

-- Bloomberg: Windfall Oil & Natural Gas Profits Go To Shareholders, Companies Face Backlash

-- Harrisburg Politics Potpourri

-- Gov. Wolf: Legislature Leaves Town Failing To Act On Issues To Support, Protect Pennsylvanians

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: PA’s Overpaid Lawmakers Did 2 Really Good Things  Before They Quit For The Year, But Left A Lot Hanging

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Retiring Sen. Corman Urges Colleagues To ‘Keep The Faith’ In The Senate As An Institution In Farewell Remarks

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Fmr Lawmakers Wins Senate Confirmation To Serve On PA Liquor Control Board

-- MCall/PennLive: PA Stopped Selling Russian-Made Vodka In Protest Of Ukraine Invasion, What To Do With The 7,000 Bottles In Storage?

-- TribLive: PA Supreme Court Hears Case On Abortion Funding

-- Budget 2022

-- StateImpactPA: PA’s Natural Gas Industry Set To Benefit From Billions In State Tax Credits

-- AP: PA Lawmakers Send Gov. Wolf Large Package Of Energy Tax Credits

-- Inquirer: With Markets Down, Billions Are Gone From PA State Pension Funds

-- WESA: $100 Million In Federal Funds Allocated By Legislature For Mental Health Needs Unlikely To Be Spent Due To Legislative Inaction

-- Erie Times: Fewer Horses Didn’t Stop Presque Isle Downs From Earning More Money

-- COVID Pandemic/Health

-- MCall: PA COVID Update: Case Numbers Unchanged As Hospitalizations Decline; 20,000  Boosters Given Daily

-- Scranton Times: COVID Cases Still On The Decline, Deaths Dropping Too

-- Erie Times: Erie County Battles Respiratory Virus Triple Threat From RSV, COVID And Flu

-- Inquirer: Nursing Home Regulations Approved With Higher Staffing Standards, Transparency On ‘Who Exactly Is Responsible For The Care Of Residents’

-- WESA: $100 Million In Federal Funds Allocated By Legislature For Mental Health Needs Unlikely To Be Spent Due To Legislative Inaction

-- WITF: Bill To Simplify Medical Insurance In PA Heads To Wolf’s Desk

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: How Thousands Were Wrongly Shut Out Of PA’s Marijuana Pardon Program

-- Opioid Deaths

-- WHYY: PA To Monitor Emerging Drugs In The Addiction And Overdose Epidemic

-- Inquirer: PA Lawmakers Vote To Legalize Fentanyl Testing Strips, While Fight For Syringe Exchanges Continues

-- School Districts/Higher Education

-- PA Capital-Star: Report Details Pandemic’s Toll On Philly Students’ Test Scores

-- Post-Gazette: Report: More PA Teachers Hired Under Emergency Permits Than Received Formal Certifications

-- Courier Times: How PA Educators Convicted Of Sex Crimes Keep Their State Pensions

-- Citizens Voice: Luzerne County DA Seeks Public’s Help To Gather Info On 5 Armed Men In Wilkes-Barre School Incident

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Editorial: Quick Action Averted Serious Violence, Harm At Wilkes-Barre High School From 5 Armed Men

-- TribLive: Weapons Found On 2 Allegheny County Junior/Senior High School Students

-- WHYY: Guns Used In Philly H.S. Shooting Later Sold By Philadelphia Sheriff’s Deputy

-- TribLive: Penn State Protests Lead To Last-Minute Cancellation Of ‘Proud Boys’ Founder’s Appearance

-- Centre Daily Times: Penn State Event Featuring ‘Proud Boys’ Founder Canceled Due To ‘Threat Of Escalating Violence’

-- TribLive: Penn State Latest University To Grapple With Controversial Speech

-- Spotlight PA: Penn State Cancels Its Center For Racial Justice After Faculty Push For Funding Decision

-- Erie Times: Erie College Enrollments Run Gamut From Sharp Decline To Record High

-- TribLive: State Employees To Get 20% Tuition Discount For Online Courses From State-Owned PennWest University

-- Inquirer: With Mounting Deficit, Cabrini University Eliminates Positions, Including Provost

-- Inquirer: Fmr Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley Gets Permanent President Post At Rosemont College

-- Gun Violence/Law Enforcement

-- TribLive: 18-Year-Old Fatally Shot In Pittsburgh’s Highland Park Neighborhood

-- TribLive: Police: 6 People Shot Outside Of Church In Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights Neighborhood

-- TribLive: 3 People Shot In Pittsburgh’s Spring Hill Neighborhood

-- MCall: 17-Year-Old Charged With Threat That Emptied Bethlehem Private Charter School Monday

-- Citizens Voice: Luzerne County DA Seeks Public’s Help To Gather Info On 5 Armed Men In Wilkes-Barre School Incident

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Editorial: Quick Action Averted Serious Violence, Harm At Wilkes-Barre High School From 5 Armed Men

-- WHYY: Guns Used In Philly H.S. Shooting Later Sold By Philadelphia Sheriff’s Deputy

-- TribLive: Police: Turtle Creek Motorist Shoots Another Motorist

-- AP: Philadelphia Sues State To Reduce Youth Justice Overcrowding

-- WITF: Mandatory Reporting Was Supposed To Stop Severe Child Abuse, It Punishes Poor Families Instead

-- PennLive: Sunbury Wants To Ban Those Convicted Of Violent Crimes From Renting Property For 7 Years

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh’s Soaring Homicide Rate Leaves Officials Baffled

-- AP: Anti-Semitism Decried 4 Years After Pittsburgh Synagogue Attack

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Four Years Since Pittsburgh Synagogue Massacre, Antisemitism Still On The Rise

-- WESA: State Prison Report Highlights Rearrest And Reincarceration Trends In PA

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: How Thousands Were Wrongly Shut Out Of PA’s Marijuana Pardon Program

-- TribLive: Braddock Man Who Served 18 Years For Crime He Didn’t Commit Struggled To Find His Way After Release

-- TribLive Editorial: The Tragedy Of Wrongful Conviction Is The Price Not Paid

-- Inquirer Editorial: Damning Audit Of Philadelphia Police Must Be An Impetus For Real Reform

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: If PA Republicans Were Serious About Crime In Philly, They’d Actually Fight It

-- Inquirer: PA Lawmakers Issue Report Criticizing Philly DA But Didn’t Recommend Impeachment

-- PA Capital-Star: House Panel Investigating Crime In Philly Puts Blame On DA For Lack Of Prosecutions

-- AP: House Republican Lawmakers Move Toward Removal Of Philly DA

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: House Republican Lawmakers Introduce Resolution To Impeach Philly DA

-- Spotlight PA: Washington County Charging To Search Court Documents, An Unusual And Undue Burden, Experts Say

-- Erie Times: Suspected Cyberattack Took Out Erie County 911 For Nearly 2 Hours

-- PA Economy

-- Independent Fiscal Office: Sept. PA Unemployment Rate Falls To Record Low, Labor Market Will Remain Extraordinarily Tight Thru 2025

-- TribLive Editorial: Capitalize On Innovation On Main Street

-- Courier Times: 1,900+ Ukrainian Refugees Look To Settle In Bucks County

-- MCall: PA Bacon Fest Preview: What You Need To Know About The Easton Event

[Posted: October 30, 2022]