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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Gov. Shapiro

-- DCED: Gov. Shapiro Launches First Statewide Economic Development Strategy In Nearly 2 Decades

-- TribLive: Shapiro Visits Pittsburgh, Grumbles That He’s ‘Sick And Tired Of Losing To Ohio’ In Economic Development

-- PA Capital-Star: Shapiro Unveils 10-Year Economic Development Strategy For PA

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Shapiro’s Economic Plan Envisions A ‘New Allentown’ [Song By Billy Joel] And Beyond

-- Budget 2024

-- Spotlight PA: Transit, Education Expected To Headline Shapiro’s 2024 PA Budget Address

-- Politics PA: Five Things To Watch In Governor’s Budget Address

-- PA Capital-Star: Shapiro Plans To Propose $282.8 Million In New Transit Funding

-- Spotlight PA: Transit, Education Expected To Headline Shapiro’s 2024 PA Budget Address

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: PA Jobs Surpass Pre-Pandemic Levels, Dramatically Lower Unemployment Rate, Inflation Persists

-- AP: Shapiro To Push For Millions In Funds For Economic Development In PA Budget

-- Dept. Of Revenue Reports January Revenues $74.6 Million (1.9%) Over Estimates; Year-to-Date $6.6 Million Over Estimate

-- Independent Fiscal Office Reports January Revenues  $30.3 Million (0.8%) Below Their Estimates; Year-to-Date $124.2 Million (0.5%) Below Estimates

-- Independent Fiscal Office: Revised Monthly General Fund Revenue Estimates FY 2023-24

-- Independent Fiscal Office Mid-Year Fiscal Update Presentation

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: More Money Requested For Popular $120 Million Home Repair Program

-- PA House/Senate

-- WITF/AP: PA Supreme Court Revives Case Challenging Limits On State Medicaid Coverage For Abortions

-- Republican Sen. Mastriano Calls For Deployment PA National Guard To Texas Border With Mexico

-- US Senate/House

-- Inquirer: Super PAC Pouring Millions Into Republican US Senate Candidate Campaign To Beat Casey

-- PennLive - John Baer: Bob Casey’s Toughest US Senate Race Yet, And He Appears To Know It

-- LancasterOnline: Democratic Hopeful For Congress Apologizes After Threatening Reporter Saturday At Lancaster Gathering

-- TribLive: Campaign Cash Flows In For Cong. Summer Lee, Other Progressives, Amid Middle East Stance

-- PennLive: 2 Democrats Raise Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars To Unseat Republican Con. Scott Perry

-- Post-Gazette: Republican Con. Reschenthaler Draws Democratic War Veteran Opponent

-- 2024 Elections

-- New Franklin & Marshall Poll Results In Pennsylvania

-- Post-Gazette: New Franklin & Marshall Poll Show Improving Economy Could Help Biden’s PA Chances

-- PennLive: PA Residents Back Taxing Skill Games, Fees On Electric Vehicles, Legalizing Marijuana In New Franklin & Marshall Poll

-- Dept. Of State Database Of Candidates For Election In 2024 Now Available

-- Dept. Of State Encourages Voters To Serve As Poll Workers On Election Day

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: PA Needs More Election Volunteers As Senior Officials Leave

-- PA Capital-Star: Race For PA’s Open Attorney General Seat Spurs Robust Fundraising

-- Inquirer: Rep. Rozzi, An Advocate For Child Sex Abuse Survivors Is Leaving Politics To Focus On His Mental Health

-- Post-Gazette: Strategists Chart Keys To PA Victory In 2024 Presidential Election

-- Election Reforms

-- WESA/AP: PA Automatic Voter Registration Boosts Sign-Ups, But Not A Political Party, Data Shows

-- National Politics

-- TribLive: Ex-President Says He’ll Block US Steel Sale If Elected

-- Republican Sen. Mastriano Calls For Deployment PA National Guard To Texas Border With Mexico

-- City & State PA: PA Republicans Call For Shapiro To Support Texas Amid Border Standoff

-- Inquirer: Some Young PA Voters Can Bring Themselves To Vote For Biden Over War In Gaza

-- PA’s Role In Assault On US Capitol

-- Inquirer: Bucks County Man Behind Moment That Kicked Off Assault On US Capitol Convicted Of Crimes At Trial

-- Miscellaneous State/Harrisburg Politics

-- Inquirer: Former PA Republican Lt. Gov. Candidate Held On Alcohol Charges, Punching Teen At Her Daughter’s Birthday Party

-- MCall - Bill White: I’m Tired Of Pennsylvania Getting An F In Good Government, Aren’t You?

-- PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

-- AAA Gasoline Prices:  PA- $3.37  National- $3.15  Ohio- $3.01

-- TribLive: Steeper Gasoline Price Increases Expected In Mid-February, Analyst Says

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Shifting The Power Grid From Coal, Natural Gas To Wind And Solar Isn’t As Easy As Flipping A Switch  [PA Senate Committee Hearing]

-- DelcoTimes.com: Chester Mayor Says LNG Natural Gas Export Plant ‘Dead In The Water’ 

-- Inquirer: Biden’s Pause On New LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Approvals May Have ‘Saved Chester,’ The City’s New Mayor Says

-- WHYY: Chester LNG Natural Gas Export Project Promises Return, Despite Biden’s Pause And Other Hurdles 

-- The Hill: European Union Lawmakers To Biden: We Don’t Need More US Natural Gas  

-- The Energy Age Blog: Liquefied Natural Gas Or LNG: EU Lawmakers To Biden - We Don’t Need More US Natural Gas

-- Reuters: US LNG Natural Gas Exports Fall In January On Arctic Freeze, Plant Outages

-- Inquirer: Casey, Fetterman Split With Bide Over LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Pause

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Casey, Fetterman Say They’re Concerned About Biden’s LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Pause

-- PA Business Report: Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition, Other Groups Call For End To Permit Halts For New LNG Export Facilities

-- E&E News Energy: FERC Continues To Review LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Permit Despie Biden’s Pause

-- Financial Times: Household Energy Costs Factor Into Biden’s Pause On New LNG Natural Gas Export Facilities  [Industrial Energy Consumers: “More Exports Equal More Reliability And Price Risk”]

-- Baker Hughes PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs Same As Last Week - 21

-- MorningStar: US Natural Gas Futures Drop Over 8% On Texas LNG Facility Outage, Milder Weather

-- Bloomberg: Canada Energy Minister Sees Opportunity In US Pause On LNG; They Have Been Considering Climate Impacts Of LNG Facilities For Years

-- Reuters: US Pause On New LNG Natural Gas Export Facilities Raises Pressure On Canada, BC To Do The Same

-- Bloomberg: Biden’s LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Pause Has Asian Fuel Buyers Hunting For Other Options

-- Bloomsberg: Europe’s LNG Natural Gas Rush Spurs $223 Billion Of New Polluting Investment

-- Reuters: Shell Posts $28 Billion Profit In 2023, Boosts Dividend

-- Financial Times: ExxonMobil, Chevron Notch 2nd Biggests Profits In Decade

-- Bloomberg: Japan May Open $20 Billion Hydrogen Plan Applications In Summer

-- Gas Explosions

-- PUC To Seek Comment On $250,000 Penalty Settlement With Peoples Gas On Natural Gas Over-Pressurization Incident In Indiana County That Damaged Hundreds Of Appliances, Caused Distribution Pipeline Leaks  [PaEN]  

-- Train Derailments

-- Rep. Matzie Calls On State Senate To Pass Bipartisan House Rail Safety Bill

-- Gov. Shapiro: One Year After Norfolk Southern Train Derailment, State Agencies Focused On Supporting Local Communities, First Responders

-- Beaver County Times: PA Residents Seek Aid From Darlington Twp. A Year After Norfolks Southern Train Derailment

-- The Allegheny Front: A Year Later, A PA Resident Impacted By Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Pushes For Answers

-- PA Capital-Star: Ohio, PA Mark One Year Anniversary Of Norfolk Southern Train Derailment

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Don’t Forget About Norfolk Southern Train Derailment

-- The Allegheny Front: Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Reveals Gaps In Public Health Response To Chemical Emergencies, Experts Say

-- WESA: A Year After Norfolk Southern Train Derailment, East Palestine Businesses Try To Move Past ‘Toxic’ Perception

-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: Scientist Questions EPA’s Handling Of Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Cleanup: ‘They Should Have Tested Correctly’

-- PittsburghUnionProgress.com: On A Frigid And Fiery Night 1 Year Ago, A Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Upended Lives In East Palestine

-- PittsburghUnionProgress.com: Testing, Recovery Efforts Ongoing At Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Site

-- AP: A Year On, Small Ohio Town Is Recovering From Norfolk Southern Train Derailment, But Health Fears Persist

-- PittsburghUnionProgress.com: Drone Photographer Saw A Cloud And Thought, “It Was Much Larger Than I Ever Expected’

-- WTAE: Norfolk Southern Report Successful Remediation, Water Sampling At Train Derailment Site

-- Post-Gazette/AP: New Videos Show Towers Of Fire That Prompted Evacuations After Norfolk Southern Train Derailment

-- AP: Railroads Say They’re Making Safety Changes To Reduce Derailments After Norfolk Southern Crash

-- TribLive: Biden Will Visit Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Site

-- Education

-- TribLive Editorial: Keep Asking Questions About School Violence

-- TribLive Editorial: Does Anyone Want To Be A School Superintendent?

-- The Center Square: Antisemitic Allegations Hit Philadelphia’s School District

-- TribLive: PA Senator’s Report Highlights Ongoing Racism At 10 State-Owned Universities

-- WPXI: PA Program Helps Low-Income Residents Attend Community College

-- Health Care

-- Insurance Dept. Reports 435,000 Pennsylvanians Buy Health Insurance Thru PA’s Insurance Marketplace, A New Record

-- WESA: New PA Website Links Health Care And Social Services

-- Inquirer: PA Has Put Billions In Medicaid Business Out For Bid

-- The Center Square: Care Facility Staff Retention Key For State’s Master Plan On Aging

-- Spotlight PA: Spotlight PA Court Victory Leads To New Academic Research Into PA Medical Marijuana Program

-- Law Enforcement

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Lawmakers Need To Reform PA’s Juvenile Justice System… Now - By Logan Seacrest, Fellow at R Street

-- TribLive Editorial: Keep Asking Questions About School Violence

-- Spotlight PA: Police In PA Slow To Adopt New Use-Of-Force Rules, Study Finds

-- TribLive: Attorney General Launches Gun Task Force In Allegheny County

-- WITF/AP: PA Supreme Court Revives Case Challenging Limits On State Medicaid Coverage For Abortions

-- AP: Minnesota Town Used Its Anti-Crime Law Against A Protected Class, It’s Not The Only One [PA Included]

-- The Economy

-- DCED: Gov. Shapiro Launches First Statewide Economic Development Strategy In Nearly 2 Decades

-- TribLive: Shapiro Visits Pittsburgh, Grumbles That He’s ‘Sick And Tired Of Losing To Ohio’ In Economic Development

-- AP: Shapiro To Push For Millions In Funds For Economic Development In PA Budget

-- PA Capital-Star: Shapiro Unveils 10-Year Economic Development Strategy For PA

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Shapiro’s Economic Plan Envisions A ‘New Allentown’ [Song By Billy Joel] And Beyond

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Shapiro Economic Plan A Shot In The Arm For Moribund Pittsburgh Region

-- TribLive Editorial: Should US Steel Deal Be Open To Political Threats?

-- Inquirer: What Can Slow The Population Loss In Rural PA?  ‘More People Are Dying Than Having Babies’  Local Officials Have Ideas

-- Inquirer: In Chester’s Historic Bankruptcy, Court Ruling Gives State Receiver Powers In Fiscal Emergency

-- Post-Gazette - Ford Turner: PA Lawmakers Told Aliquippa Incident Shows Cyber Risks To Public Infrastructure

-- Observer-Reporter: Washington County Making ‘Process’ Following Cybertattack

-- Other

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Open Records Law In PA Embarrassingly Out Of Step

-- WITF/LancasterOnline.com: A Lancaster County Jeweler Made Taylor Swift’s Viral ‘TNT’ Friendship  Bracelet

[Posted: February 4, 2024]