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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

3 Police Officers Killed In York County

-- AP: 3 Police Officers Killed, 2 Injured In York County Shooting

-- PennLive: Who Were The 3 Police Officers Shot And Killed In York County?

-- AP: Prosecutor Says Stalking Suspect Ambushed York County Police Officers, Killing 3

-- Gov. Shapiro

-- PennLive: Gov. Shapiro Fires Back At President For Using The ‘Rhetoric Of Rage’ With His ‘Scum’ Remark

-- PennLive: Gov. Shapiro: President Trying To ‘Stifle Dissent’ After Kimmel Show Pulled

-- Inquirer: Shapiro Says The Threat Against Free Speech Is ‘Extremely Dangerous,’ Local Experts Agree

-- TribLive: Transcript Of Gov. Shapiro’s Remarks At Eradicate Hate Global Summit In Pittsburgh

-- Tribune-Democrat: Shapiro Says National Guard Deployments By President Are ‘Dangerous,’ Disrupts Community Trust 

-- Inquirer: Shapiro Touts Violent Crime Reduction In Chester, Reiterates His Command Of National Guard In Face Of President’s Threats

-- WHYY: PA Immigrant Advocates Call On Gov. Shapiro To End State Collaboration With Federal ICE 

-- PennLive: Shapiro Blasts RFK Jr., Federal Health Officials; Vows To Protect Vaccine Access In PA

-- Morning Call Guest Essay: Gov. Shapiro’s Gamble On Transgender Issue Is A Bad Bet - By Christoper Brooks, East Stroudsburg University

-- TribLive: Kamala Harris Had ‘Nagging Concern’ About Josh Shapiro As VP Candidate, Memoir Details

-- Race For Governor

-- PennLive: State Republican Committee Endorses State Treasurer Stacy Garrity To Challenge Gov. Shapiro In 2026  

-- City & State PA: Q&A With Republican Candidate For Governor Stacy Garrity: ‘Pennsylvanians Deserve Better’

-- Politics PA: Republican Candidate For Governor Stacy Garrity Says ‘Shapiro Makes Kirk Assassination About Himself’; Sharp Reversal From Her Tuesday Comments

-- Post-Gazette: Fmr Gov. Corbett Endorses Republican Stacy Garrity For Governor

-- Politics PA: Republican Sen. Mastriano Not Planning To Abandoned Race For Governor At PA Republican Meeting

-- Budget 2025

-- WITF: Political Gridlock Continues Over State Budget; Lawmakers Had A Busy Week Holding Political Fundraising Events While Counties, Schools, Nonprofits Coped With Financial Strain Of No Budget

-- PA Capital-Star: Pennsylvania’s Budget Is Nearly Three Months Past Due

-- Post-Gazette: State Budget Mess Tees Up Plans For Furloughs, Senior Center Closures In Western PA

-- Spotlight PA: A Big Transit Deal Is Off The Table, But PA’s Budget Still Isn’t Done, What Gives?

-- The Center Square: Can The Rainy Day Fund Balance The State Budget?

-- PennLive - John Baer: What’s Wrong With Late PA Budget - That’s Not A Question 

-- TribLive: Westmoreland County To Furlough Staff, Partially Close Parks As PA Budget Impasse Continues

-- TribLive: State Budget Impasse Prompts Allegheny County Hiring, Spending Freeze

-- Centre Daily Times: Shapiro Administration Will Close Rockview State Prison, Quehanna Boot Camp

-- PA Gaming Control Board Reports 14% Increase In Revenue Over August Last Year

-- PA House/Senate

-- PennLive: PA Legislative Black Caucus Expresses ‘Disgust’ Over Flag-Lowering Honors For Charlie Kirk; Expressed Sympathy To Kirk Family

-- US Senate/House

-- Inquirer: Fetterman Says President Is ‘Not An Autocrat;’ ‘This Is A Product Of A Democratic Election’

-- PennLive: PA Republican Con. Meuser Suggests Charlie Kirk Had Christlike Qualities

-- TribLive Editorial: Fetterman, McCormick And Moving Past Political Violence

-- Post-Gazette: Democrat Conor Lamb Is Stepping Back Into Political Spotlight

-- Statewide Offices

-- PennLive: State Republican Committee Endorses State Treasurer Stacy Garrity To Challenge Gov. Shapiro In 2026  

-- City & State PA: Q&A With Republican Candidate For Governor Stacy Garrity: ‘Pennsylvanians Deserve Better’

-- Politics PA: Republican Candidate For Governor Stacy Garrity Says ‘Shapiro Makes Kirk Assassination About Himself’; Sharp Reversal From Her Tuesday Comments

-- 2025 Elections

-- Post-Gazette: Campaign Heats Up Around Retention Of 3 PA Supreme Court Justices

-- Inquirer Editorial: Reject Republican Push To Oust PA Supreme Court Justices

-- Spotlight PA: Everything You Need To Know About Requesting, Filling Out, Returning Your Mail Ballot

-- WESA: Allegheny County To Offer Ballot Return Sites, Satellite Voting Locations Ahead Of Election Day

-- PA Capital-Star: New PA Democratic Party Chair Talks Goals For Party Moving Forward

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Policies

-- Tribune-Democrat: Health Insurance Costs To Soar In PA Without Congressional Action: Commissioner 

-- PA Capital-Star: Federal National Institutes Of Health Grants Cut Nearly $40 Million For PA Institutions

-- WESA: Amid Federal CDC Turmoil, PA Joins Northeastern States In Regional Public Health Coalition

-- PennLive: Shapiro Blasts RFK Jr., Federal Health Officials; Vows To Protect Vaccine Access In PA

-- Altoona Mirror Editorial: RFK Jr.’s Vision Of CDC Should Alarm Congress

-- TribLive: RFK Jr.’s Vision For The CDC Should Alarm Congress

-- WESA: President’s Administration Threatens To Withhold $460 Million In Food Stamp Funding If PA Doesn’t Share Personal Data 

-- WNEP: 100 Volunteers In Columbia County Pack 15,000 Meals For Families In Need At Bethany Church In Berwick 

-- Spotlight PA: Food Banks, Community Groups In PA Prepare For Strain As President’s Cuts To Food Stamp Benefits Draw Near  

-- WITF: Stricter Work Requirements For Food Stamps Program Already Underway In PA

-- AP: Fox News Host Apologizes For Saying Mentally Ill Homeless People Should Be Executed

-- WHYY: PA Immigrant Advocates Call On Gov. Shapiro To End State Collaboration With Federal ICE 

-- Inquirer: Inside PA’s Largest Immigrant Detention Center: Violence, Desperation, Little Oversight

-- Erie Times: Amid President's Deportation Push, Revenues Grow For Company Running PA Federal ICE Detention Center

-- AP: Without Insurance, Immigrant Patients May Face Unregulated ‘Medical Deportation’ [PA Included]

-- WHYY: Philly Democrats Plan Community Meetings Just In Case President Orders National Guard Into The City

-- New Federal Administration

-- PennLive: Gov. Shapiro: President Trying To ‘Stifle Dissent’ After Kimmel Show Pulled

-- Inquirer: Shapiro Says The Threat Against Free Speech Is ‘Extremely Dangerous,’ Local Experts Agree

-- Inquirer Editorial: President’s Attacks On Free Speech Are Only The Beginning

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader Guest Essay: A Pivotal Moment For Free And Independent Journalism In PA - By Christopher Baxter, Spotlight PA

-- Morning Call Guest Essay: America Started With A Promise Now Under Threat Of Fading - By John Schmoyer, Retired Teacher, Northwestern Lehigh School District

-- PennLive: Gov. Shapiro Fires Back At President For Using The ‘Rhetoric Of Rage’ With His ‘Scum’ Remark

-- PennLive: PA Legislative Black Caucus Expresses ‘Disgust’ Over Flag-Lowering Honors For Charlie Kirk; Expressed Sympathy To Kirk Family

-- Inquirer: They Talked About Charlie Kirk’s Death On Social Media, Now They’re Getting Death Threats  [Local Officials, Lawyers, Teachers, Even Teens Targeted]

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Let’s Learn The Right Lessons From The Murder Of Charlie Kirk - By John Sigle, retired Dickinson College professor

-- Morning Call Guest Essay: Gov. Shapiro’s Gamble On Transgender Issue Is A Bad Bet - By Christoper Brooks, East Stroudsburg University

-- TribLive Editorial: How Do We Eradicate Violence?

-- AP: Poll Finds Republicans Sour On Direction Of The Country Following Kirk’s Assassination

-- Miscellaneous State/Harrisburg Politics

-- PA Capital-Star: New PA Democratic Party Chair Talks Goals For Party Moving Forward

-- International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

-- AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $3.18   Ohio- $3.05  PA- $3.32

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs - 18 - Same As Last 8 Weeks

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles & NewClips From Last Week -  September 22  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: Residential Electricity Rates Up 6.6% Over Last Year As Natural Gas Prices Rise    

-- Bloomberg: EQT Shale Gas Driller Says High Electric Bills Will Drive Use Of More Natural Gas  ‘We’ve Never Produced More Energy… But Americans’ Energy Bills Are Up Over 35%’

-- Financial Times: Surging US Power Costs Defy President’s Pledge To Halve Power Bills

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: LNG Gas Exports Are On A Roll, EQT Is Rolling With It

-- Bloomberg: West Texas Natural Gas Falls To 14-Month Low As Negative Prices Persist Due To Pipeline Maintenance

-- US DOE Seeks Information On How Best To Support Large-Scale Power Generation, Transmission Projects To Feed A.I. Infrastructure, Data Centers  

-- Reuters: US Launches Effort To Speed Power Grid Projects To Support A.I. Infrastructure

-- Utility Dive: New FERC Chairman Rosner Outlines Priorities: ‘We Need To Build, Build, Build’ 

-- Flooding

-- Spotlight PA: Help PA Decide How To Spend $14 Million To Help Communities Recover From 2024 Tropical Storm Debby

-- US Steel Clairton Coke [Coal] Works Explosion

-- WESA: Allegheny County Shares Air Quality Testing Results Near US Steel Clairton Coke [Coal] Works Site From Mobile Air Monitoring Units Set Up Days After The Explosion

-- Post-Gazette: Preliminary Air Quality Results Show No Immediate Health Risks After US Steel Clairton Coke [Coal] Works Explosion, Experts Say [Mobile Testing Equipment Arrived 3 Days After Blast]

-- TribLive: No Immediate Health Risks From Air Pollution From Deadly US Steel Clairton Coke [Coal] Works Explosion, Experts Say 

-- A.I. /Data Centers

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles & NewClips From Last Week -  September 22  [PaEN] 

-- Education

-- Morning Call: 3rd Bomb Threat At An Allentown School In A Week Under Investigation

-- Warren Times: Warren School District Investigates 4th School Threat In A Week

-- WESA: Amid A.I. Summaries And Misinformation, Pittsburgh-Area Schools Teach Students To Check Their Facts

-- TribLive Editorial: Penn State President’s 47% Pay Raise Makes Financial Trouble Hard To Swallow

-- Post-Gazette: Penn State Branch Campus Professors Outraged As President Gets 47% Pay Raise Amid Campus Closures

-- Inquirer: Penn State’s WPSU First NPR Station In US Set To Go Dark Following President’s Funding Cuts [Penn State President Gets 47% Pay Increase]

-- PA Capital-Star: Federal National Institutes Of Health Grants Cut Nearly $40 Million For PA Institutions

-- Health Care

-- Tribune-Democrat: Health Insurance Costs To Soar In PA Without Congressional Action: Commissioner 

-- PennLive: Shapiro Blasts RFK Jr., Federal Health Officials; Vows To Protect Vaccine Access In PA

-- Inquirer: A Financial Experiment In PA Showed How Hard It Is To Stabilize Rural Hospitals

-- PA Capital-Star: New Website Tracks How PA’s $2.2 Billion In Opioid Settlement Funds Is Being Spent

-- PA Capital-Star: Federal National Institutes Of Health Grants Cut Nearly $40 Million For PA Institutions

-- WESA: Amid Federal CDC Turmoil, PA Joins Northeastern States In Regional Public Health Coalition

-- Altoona Mirror Editorial: RFK Jr.’s Vision Of CDC Should Alarm Congress

-- TribLive: RFK Jr.’s Vision For The CDC Should Alarm Congress

-- AP: Without Insurance, Immigrant Patients May Face Unregulated ‘Medical Deportation’ [PA Included]

-- Law Enforcement

-- AP: 3 Police Officers Killed, 2 Injured In York County Shooting

-- PennLive: Who Were The 3 Police Officers Shot And Killed In York County?

-- AP: Prosecutor Says Stalking Suspect Ambushed York County Police Officers, Killing 3

-- Post-Gazette: 5th Eradicate Hate Summit In Pittsburgh Expected To Draw Worldwide Participation

-- TribLive: Gov. Shapiro To Speak About Political Violence At Pittsburgh Summit

-- TribLive: New ‘Stand For All’ Organization Created In Pittsburgh To Combat Hate

-- TribLive Editorial: How Do We Eradicate Violence?

-- Tribune-Democrat: Shapiro Says National Guard Deployments By President Are ‘Dangerous,’ Disrupts Community Trust 

-- Inquirer: Shapiro Touts Violent Crime Reduction In Chester, Reiterates His Command Of National Guard In Face Of President’s Threats

-- Centre Daily Times: Shapiro Administration Will Close Rockview State Prison, Quehanna Boot Camp

-- WHYY: PA Immigrant Advocates Call On Gov. Shapiro To End State Collaboration With Federal ICE 

-- Inquirer: Inside PA’s Largest Immigrant Detention Center: Violence, Desperation, Little Oversight

-- Erie Times: Amid President's Deportation Push, Revenues Grow For Company Running PA Federal ICE Detention Center

-- WHYY: Philly Democrats Plan Community Meetings Just In Case President Orders National Guard Into The City

-- WTAE: FBI Searches For Suspect Who Crashed Into Pittsburgh FBI Building Gate And Left An American Flag: ‘This Was A Targeted Attack’

-- AP: Man Charged With Ramming Car Into FBI Gate In Pittsburgh, Later Use Latin Phrase About Tyrants

-- The Economy

-- Dept. of Labor & Industry Reports August Unemployment Remained At 4%

-- Williamsport Sun: Consumer Confidence Matters - Gap Is Now Widest It Has Ever Been Between High-Earners [Higher] And Low-Earners [Lower]

-- Spotlight PA: Amazon, SpaceX Won Slice Of PA’s $793 Million Broadband Funding Even Though Amazon Isn’t Fully Functional

-- WTAE: Charleroi Glass Plant Sale Blocked By Federal Trade Commission

-- Post-Gazette: Planned Sale Of Charleroi Glass Plant Collapses: ‘It’s Like A Big Joke’

[Posted: September 21, 2025]