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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Gov. Shapiro

-- MCall: Shapiro Highlights Future Priorities For PA In Allentown Visit

-- Gov. Shapiro Signs Disaster Proclamation For 21 Counties Following Severe Storms Across Commonwealth

-- Post-Gazette: Shapiro Hints That Decision Was Mutual On His VP Bid

-- TribLive: No VP Pick?  No Problem.  Experts See Bright Political Future For Shapiro

-- Post-Gazette: Shapiro Emerges From VP Speculation Whirlwind Focused On PA Governorship, Not Praise And Criticism

-- Post-Gazette: Much Of The Opposition To Shapiro’s VP Bid Emerged From Western PA

-- TribLive: Shapiro Delivers Rousing Speech At Harris-Walz Philadelphia Rally

-- Inquirer: PA Republicans Want To Send A ‘Thank You’ Card To Harris After She Passes On Shapiro

-- WITF: Shapiro Won’t Be VP But Is Now A National Figure, Can He Maintain Momentum?

-- Post-Gazette - Ford Turner: Ripple Effects Of Shapiro’s Time In National Spotlight Spread In Several Directions

-- TribLive Editorial: Shapiro Won’t Be VP, What Now For Pennsylvania

-- Spotlight PA - Stephen Caruso: Everything We Learned About Gov. Shapiro During The Veepstakes

-- AP: Harris Once Wanted To Ban Fracking; Ex-President Wants Voters In Energy-Rich Pennsylvania To Remember

-- Inside Climate News: In PA’s Competitive US Senate Race, Fracking Takes Center Stage

-- The Center Square: Complaint - Union Dues Illegally Funded Shapiro Campaign In 2022

-- Budget 2024

-- Spotlight PA: What PA’s $47.6 Billion Budget Does For State’s Rural Communities

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Pennsylvania Is Spending Billions More Than We Can Afford - By Commonwealth Foundation

-- Post-Gazette - Ford Turner: State Leaders Think ‘Skill’ Gambling Games Tax Could Help Boost Transit, Road, Bridge Spending

-- Statewide Races

-- City & State PA: Decision 2024 - The Attorney General Race

-- PA House/Senate

-- Inquirer: PA Lawmakers Moonlight As Lawyers, Landlords, Even A Pilot; Advocates Say It’s A Conflict Of Interest

-- US Senate/House

-- Inside Climate News: In PA’s Competitive US Senate Race, Fracking Takes Center Stage

-- TribLive: ‘Cheap Fake’ Video Clip Posted Online Misstates Fetterman’s Pick To Win PA

-- TribLive Editorial: Cheap Video Fakes Are Dangerous Knockoff Of AI Deep-Fake Threats

-- TribLive: PA Republican Cong. Kelly Vows Bipartisan Inquiry On Butler County Shootings Will Get Answers

-- TribLive Editorial: Butler Shooting Task Force Must Resist Shows Of Partisanship

-- Primary Election

-- Observer-Reporter: State Says Washington County’s Handling Of Provisional Ballots ‘Inconsistent’ With Guidelines

-- November Election

-- TribLive: PA Voters Along Lincoln Highway See Little Impact Of Reshaped Presidential Race

-- Post-Gazette: Erie Voters In Pivotal Battleground County Covet Role As Key Bellwether In Presidential Election

-- Post-Gazette: In Bucks County, Razor-Thin Margin And Voter Apathy Ahead Of Presidential Election

-- Post-Gazette: ‘Brat’ Memes And Gen Z: PA’s Young Voters React To Harris Campaign

-- AP: Legal Challenge Seeks To Prevent RFK, Jr. From Appearing On PA Ballot

-- Citizens Voice Editorial: Guaranteed Loser - RFK Jr.

-- Inquirer: Top PA Election Official Putting Pressure On Elon Musk To Do More About AI-generated Election Misinformation

-- TribLive: ‘Cheap Fake’ Video Clip Posted Online Misstates Fetterman’s Pick To Win PA

-- TribLive: State Election Officials: Elon Musk Should Stop His AI Chatbot From Sharing False Election Info About PA, Other States 

-- WESA/Spotlight PA: How Decentralized Election Administration Makes Big Fraud Basically Impossible

-- Post-Gazette: Republicans For Harris Group Kicks Off PA Effort

-- Marcellus Shale [Gas] Coalition Blog: How Natural Gas In Pennsylvania Shapes The Presidential Race

-- Election Enforcement

-- Courier Times: Montgomery County Man Accused Of Voter Fraud After Casting 5 Ballots In Different Locations In 2020, 2022 Races

-- National Politics

-- LancasterOnline: Fmr. Lancaster County Republican Chair Co-Leads Republicans For Harris In PA 

-- Post-Gazette: Republicans For Harris Group Kicks Off PA Effort

-- AP: Harris Once Wanted To Ban Fracking; Ex-President Wants Voters In Energy-Rich Pennsylvania To Remember

-- Inside Climate News: In PA’s Competitive US Senate Race, Fracking Takes Center Stage

-- Inquirer Editorial: Intense Storms Are In The Forecast And Climate Change Is On The Ballot

-- PA’s Role In Assault On US Capitol

-- Citizens Voice: Felony Obstruction Charge Dismissed Against Olyphant Woman Charged With Crimes In Assault On US Capitol

-- Miscellaneous State/Harrisburg Politics

-- TribLive Editorial: Cheap Video Fakes Are Dangerous Knockoff Of AI Deep-Fake Threats

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Pennsylvanians Can Now Pay Their Taxes Free, Online

-- Spotlight PA: The Artist Behind Official Portraits Of PA’s Most Powerful People

-- PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

-- AAA Gasoline Prices:  National- $3.45   Ohio- $3.42    PA- $3.60

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs Increased 1 To 21 This Week

-- FracTracker Alliance: PA Oil & Gas Industry Trends - Drilled Wells, Violations, Production, Waste 

-- Reuters: Petrochemical Makers Battle Global Glut

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Producers Eye More Output Cuts As Prices Sink

-- Reuters: US EIA Forecasts Larger Decline In US Natural Gas Output For 2024, Citing Record Low Prices That Prompted Producers To Curtail Gas Production

-- Reuters: US EIA Sees Tighter US Oil Market For 2024, Lowers Price Outlook

-- Guest Essay: Pennsylvania May Not Be Able To Keep All The Lights On In Four Years -  By Terry Fitzpatrick, Energy [Utilities] Association Of PA  [PaEN] 

-- Bloomberg: It Will Take More Than Record Payouts From PJM’s One Auction To Spur New Power Plants; Takes At Least 3 Years To Building A Gas-Fired Power Plant

-- Utility Dive: Dominion Energy Says Its Ratepayers Will Be Insulated From PJM Capacity Auction Record High Prices 

-- Utility Dive: Constellation Energy Raises 2024 Profit Guidance Amid PJM Load Growth, Tighter Power Supplies 

-- US Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Streamlines Environmental Review For Project That Fix Leak-Prone Natural Gas Pipelines

-- City & State PA Guest Essay: New Gas, Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Rules Must Be Enacted For The Health Of Current And Future Generations - By State Sen. Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia) and Pete Gosar, Wyoming, Western Leaders & Appalachian Leaders Voices

-- Marcellus Drilling News: Mountain Valley Pipeline Shuts Down Section Of Pipeline For Maintenance After Opening Brand New Pipeline 2 Months Ago  [PDF of Article] 

-- HartEnergy.com: Williams Opened Regional Energy Access Project Gas Pipeline Despite Federal Court Vacating Its FERC Permit, Will Seek Temporary Permit To Keep It Open 

-- Washington Examiner: US DOE Files Appeal To Continue Pause On New LNG Gas Export Facility Permits 

-- Reuters: New Fortress Energy Stock Tumbles As It Misses Earnings Estimates Due To Delay In Opening LNG Gas Export Facility In Mexico  [New Fortress Proposed PA LNG Export Facility]

-- Utility Dive: Federal Court Vacates FERC’s Reapproval Of 2 LNG Gas Export Terminals, Gas Pipeline

-- E&E News: Oil And Gas Jobs Decline Amid Record-Breaking Production

-- Reuters: Natural Gas Price Shocks Play Greater Role In Euro Zone Inflation, ECB Paper Says

-- Bloomsberg: European Natural Gas Prices Slump With Broader Financial Markets On Demand Risks

-- AP: Harris Once Wanted To Ban Fracking; Ex-President Wants Voters In Energy-Rich Pennsylvania To Remember

-- Inside Climate News: In PA’s Competitive US Senate Race, Fracking Takes Center Stage

-- Flooding

-- Gov. Shapiro Signs Disaster Proclamation For 21 Counties Following Severe Storms Across Commonwealth

-- DEP Flood Recovery Information 

-- AP: Flooding From Debby Leads To High Water Rescues In NY, Pennsylvania

-- Williamsport Sun: Destroyed Homes, Infrastructure Throughout Lycoming County And Beyond

-- Williamsport Sun: Force Of Flood Waters Severely Damaged Firehouse, Homes In Lycoming County

-- TribLive: Creek Inundates Northern Indiana County Town As Debby Pours On Rain 

-- York Daily Record: Debby Deluges York County [Photos]

-- PennLive: Boil Water Advisory Issued For Over 40,000 In Cumberland, York Counties

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: Harrisburg Cleanup From Debby Could Take Weeks 

-- PennLive: NWS Confirms EF1 Tornado Touched Down In Dauphin County 

-- Shapiro Administration Reminds Pennsylvanians To Exercise Caution During Tropical Storm Debby

-- Fox43: Kayakers Clear Flood-Prone Swatara Creek As Remnants Of Hurricane Debby Expected To Dump More Rain On Lebanon County 

-- PennLive Guest Essay: City Of Harrisburg’s Sewage Is Still Flowing Into The Susquehanna River, And Residents Of The Entire Region Should Be Alarmed - By Ted Evgeniadis, Lower Susquehanna RiverKeeper 

-- TribLive: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby Could Drop Heavy Rain In Western PA, Flooding Possible Friday

-- PennLive: Flood Watch Issued For Northcentral, Central PA For Friday And Saturday

-- MCall: Tropical Storm Debby To Bring More Rain, Flooding To Lehigh Valley 

-- PennLive: Wet Week Ahead For Central PA As Hurricane Debby Makes Landfall In Florida

--WHYY: Hurricane Debby Could Bring 6 Or 7 Inches Of Rain To Philly Area By End Of Week

-- Inquirer Editorial: Intense Storms Are In The Forecast And Climate Change Is On The Ballot

-- Gas Explosions

-- Triblive: 1 Year Later, No Answers On Plum Boro Home Natural Gas Explosion In Allegheny County

-- TribLive Podcast: Looking Back At The Plum Boro Natural Gas Home Explosion In Allegheny County

-- WFMZ: Natural Gas Leak Prompts Evacuations, Road Closure In Palmer Twp., Northampton County  

-- US Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Streamlines Environmental Review For Project That Fix Leak-Prone Natural Gas Pipelines

-- City & State PA Guest Essay: New Gas, Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Rules Must Be Enacted For The Health Of Current And Future Generations - By State Sen. Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia) and Pete Gosar, Wyoming, Western Leaders & Appalachian Leaders Voices

-- Train Derailments

-- The Center Square: Increased Health Care Funding Sought In Settlement For Norfolk Southern Train Derailment

-- Altoona Mirror: Cresson Neighbors Upset About Railroad Tank Cars Venting Liquified Carbon Dioxide In Nearby Rail Yard

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Fears Surface As Report Eyes Railroad Safety

-- Education

-- PA Capital-Star: Focusing On ‘Joy’ In Philly Schools Will Reduce Discipline Disparities, Group Says

-- Health Care

-- Insurance Dept. Announces Proposed 2025 Health Insurance Rate Increases, Encourages Public Comment

-- Post-Gazette: Health Insurers Seek Almost 8% Average Hike For Plans On PA’s Online Marketplace

 -- Post-Gazette: Xylazine Still Raving PA And Moving West

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Our Rural Hospitals Need Help - By Fmr. Gov. Tom Corbett

-- Law Enforcement

-- Courier Times: Montgomery County Man Accused Of Voter Fraud After Casting 5 Ballots In Different Locations In 2020, 2022 Races

-- The Economy

-- WESA: New State Funding Available To Revitalize Sites From Pittsburgh’s Industrial Past

-- The Center Square: Casino Lawsuit Seeks ‘Skill’ Gambling Game Tax Parity

-- TribLive: Just $10.5 Million Remains Of Westmoreland’s $105.3 Million Pandemic Relief Allocation

[Posted: August 11, 2024]   PA Environment Digest