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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Gov. Shapiro

-- Inquirer: Gov. Shapiro Says National Democrats Folded In Federal Shutdown, While He Stayed ‘At The Table’ For PA’s Late State Budget Deal

-- PennLive - John Baer: Books By Shapiro, Fetterman Are As Different As They Are

-- Spotlight PA: Republican State Senator Threatens Subpoenas Over $1 Million In Security Upgrades At Shapiro’s Private Home

-- AP: Potential Presidential Candidates Are Less Coy About 2028 Plans  [Shapiro Mentioned]

-- Race For Governor

-- WESA: Gov. Shapiro Says Republican Challenger Garrity At Odds With Republican Legislative Leaders On Budget Remarks

-- Post-Gazette: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Garrity Bashes Bipartisan State Budget Deal As Shapiro Links Her With Republican Sen. Mastriano

-- Spotlight PA: Voter Support For President Remains Wildcard As PA Approaches Major Election For Governor

-- Budget 2025 (Almost 2026)

-- TribLive Editorial: State Budget Vote Doesn’t Make Funding Flow

-- Altoona Mirror Editorial: State Budget Process Needs An Overhaul

-- Independent Fiscal Office Fiscal Outlook Report Projects $3.6 Billion Operating Deficit In FY 25-26 Enacted State Budget

-- Spotlight PA: Barstool Sports Blog Influencers Pushed Anti-Gambling Tax Message As PA Lawmakers Privately Debated Sports Betting Tax Proposal To Fund Transit

-- PA Gaming Control Board: Record iGaming Revenue Highlights October’s 20.22% Increase In Gambling Revenue Over Last October 

-- TribLive: Westmoreland Transit Authority Cuts Ties With Harrisburg Lobbyists

-- PA House/Senate

-- Post-Gazette: PA’s 2026 Legislative Battle Begins Taking Shape As Democrats Defend A One Vote Edge In PA House

--  WESA: Dormont Official Launches Bid To Replace Miller In 42nd House District Special Election

-- WITF: Protesters Take To PA Capitol, Call For Ban On Gifts To Lawmakers 

-- TribLive Editorial: Why Won’t PA Lawmakers Consider A Gift Ban?

-- PennLive: PA Senate Quietly Spent At Least $133,000 Settling Discrimination Complaint Against Republican Sen. Mastriano

-- Spotlight PA: Republican State Senator Threatens Subpoenas Over $1 Million In Security Upgrades At Shapiro’s Private Home

-- Tribune-Democrat: Suspected Terrorist Arrested In Kansas By Federal ICE Had CDL From PA; State Republicans Demand Investigation

-- Erie Times: Gov. Shapiro Says Federal Database Allowed Man With Alleged Terror Ties To Get CDL Driver’s License

-- Post-Gazette: Bipartisan Pair Of PA Lawmakers Outraged At Federal Attempt To Prevent States From Regulating Development, Use Of A.I.  

-- US Senate/House

-- Inquirer: President Accuses 2 PA Democratic Members Of Congress And Veterans Of Sedition ‘Punishable By Death’ After They Urged Members Of The Military And Intelligence Community To ‘Refuse Illegal Orders’ 

-- TribLive: PA Cong. Deluzio, Other Democrats Tell Troops To Refuse Illegal Orders; President Calls Message ‘Seditious’

-- TribLive: PA Democratic Cong. Deluzio’s Offices Targeted With Bomb Threats After President’s Comments About ‘Seditious Behavior’

-- PennLive: PA Democratic Cong. Chrissy Houlahan’s Office Threatened After President’s Comments About ‘Seditious Behavior’

-- Inquirer: PA Democratic Cong. Houlahan ‘Profoundly Disappointed’ In Lack Of Support From Republican Colleagues After President’s Sedition Accusation

-- City & State PA: PA Republican Lawmakers Weigh In On President Accusing Democratic Members Of Congress Who Are Veterans Of ‘Seditious Behavior’: US Sen. McCormick, State Sen. Pennycuick, Cong. Reschenthaler Defend President

-- TribLive Guest Essay: All Patriots Must Condemn Political Violence - By PA Cong. Chris Deluzio (D)

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: President’s Threats Make Political Violence More Likely 

-- PennLive - John Baer: Books By Shapiro, Fetterman Are As Different As They Are

-- Statewide Offices

-- Post-Gazette: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Garrity Bashes Bipartisan State Budget Deal As Shapiro Links Her With Republican Sen. Mastriano

-- 2025 Elections

-- TribLive: Westmoreland County To Break 200 Municipal Election Tie Votes With Draws From A Jar 

-- Elections

-- Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania Still Fighting President’s Administration Over Sensitive Voter Information

-- National Elections

-- AP: Potential Presidential Candidates Are Less Coy About 2028 Plans  [Shapiro Mentioned]

-- Protesting The President

-- Inquirer: President Accuses 2 PA Democratic Members Of Congress And Veterans Of Sedition ‘Punishable By Death’ After They Urged Members Of The Military And Intelligence Community To ‘Refuse Illegal Orders’ 

-- TribLive: PA Cong. Deluzio, Other Democrats Tell Troops To Refuse Illegal Orders; President Calls Message ‘Seditious’

-- TribLive: PA Democratic Cong. Deluzio’s Offices Targeted With Bomb Threats After President’s Comments About ‘Seditious Behavior’

-- PennLive: PA Democratic Cong. Chrissy Houlahan’s Office Threatened After President’s Comments About ‘Seditious Behavior’

-- Inquirer: PA Democratic Cong. Houlahan ‘Profoundly Disappointed’ In Lack Of Support From Republican Colleagues After President’s Sedition Accusation

-- City & State PA: PA Republican Lawmakers Weigh In On President Accusing Democratic Members Of Congress Who Are Veterans Of ‘Seditious Behavior’: US Sen. McCormick, State Sen. Pennycuick, Cong. Reschenthaler Defend President

-- TribLive Guest Essay: All Patriots Must Condemn Political Violence - By PA Cong. Chris Deluzio (D)

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: President’s Threats Make Political Violence More Likely 

-- WITF: Chicago Priest Walks Across Pennsylvania During 800-Mile Protest Against Immigration Enforcement Under President 

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Policies

-- AP: President’s Administration Threatens To Withhold $75 Million From PA Over Immigrant Truck Drivers Receiving CDL Licenses; Shapiro Says Fault Lies With Federal Data Base Used To Check Immigration Status 

-- Tribune-Democrat: Suspected Terrorist Arrested In Kansas By Federal ICE Had CDL From PA; State Republicans Demand Investigation

-- Erie Times: Gov. Shapiro Says Federal Database Allowed Man With Alleged Terror Ties To Get CDL Driver’s License

-- PennLive: Are Health Insurance Premiums Skyrocketing Where You Live In PA? Here’s Why  [Spoiler- Congressional Republicans Are Letting Federal Tax Credits Expire]

-- PennLive: Month Of Despair: One Man’s Ordeal Inside A Federal ICE Detention Center In PA

-- Inquirer: Federal Judge Hands Children' s Hospital Victory In Its Fight To Protect Transgender Children’s Medical Records From President’s Dept. Of Justice

-- The Center Square: Temple Medical School Renames Diversity-Equity-Inclusion Office, Recommits To Equity

-- New Federal Administration

-- PennLive Guest Essay: President’s Grip On Power Weakens As Voters Reject Chaos For Kitchen Table Concerns - By Mark Singel

-- Miscellaneous State/Harrisburg Politics

-- TribLive Editorial: PA’s CROWN Act Prevents Discrimination Based On Hair Styles 

-- TribLive: Westmoreland Transit Authority Cuts Ties With Harrisburg Lobbyists

-- A.I. /Data Centers

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - November 24  [PaEN] 

-- PUC Invites Comments On Proposed Model Tariff To Balance A.I. Data Center Growth And Ratepayer Protection  [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: PUC Proposes Special Treatment For A.I. Data Center Power Connections To Contain The Cost Burden On Existing Ratepayers [PDF of Article]

-- Inquirer: Human Reporters Explain Why A.I. Data Centers Are So Controversial In The Philly Suburbs And Beyond  [PDF of Article]  

-- NRDC: PJM Grid Members Fail To Recommend Any Of 12 Proposals To Prevent Existing Electric Ratepayers From Bearing The Costs, Reliability Risk Of Soaring A.I. Data Center Energy Demand  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: PJM Members Fail To Agree On A.I. Data Center Interconnection Rules; Board May Develop A Proposal, But Timing Unclear 

-- The Center Square: Consensus For Soaring A.I. Data Center Power Demands Still Elusive Among PJM Members

-- Post-Gazette: Bipartisan Pair Of PA Lawmakers Outraged At Federal Attempt To Prevent States From Regulating Development, Use Of A.I.  

-- International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

-- AAA Average Gasoline Prices: National- $3.07  Ohio- $2.91  PA- $3.28

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs Increase To 18, After Being At 17 for 7 Weeks

-- WITF/LancasterOnline: Mild Forecast For PA Winter Heating Bills In Peril As Natural Gas Prices Surge

-- PUC: Natural Gas Utility Winter Reliability Reports Forecast Slightly Higher Usage, Costs  [PaEN]

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: UGI Gas Company Contributes $500,000 For Customers Struggling To Pay Heating Bills

-- DEP Issues Air Permit For Largest Natural Gas Power Plant In US To Feed Proposed 3,200 Acre Homer City A.I. Data Center Campus In Indiana County  [PaEN]

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - November 24  [PaEN] 

-- NRDC: PJM Grid Members Fail To Recommend Any Of 12 Proposals To Prevent Existing Electric Ratepayers From Bearing The Costs, Reliability Risk Of Soaring A.I. Data Center Energy Demand  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: PJM Members Fail To Agree On A.I. Data Center Interconnection Rules; Board May Develop A Proposal, But Timing Unclear 

-- The Center Square: Consensus For Soaring A.I. Data Center Power Demands Still Elusive Among PJM Members

-- North American Electric Reliability Corp: Electric Grid At Elevated Risk Of Insufficient Energy Supplies During Extreme Weather Due To Rising A.I. Data Center Demands, 'Precarious' Natural Gas Supplies  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: North American Electric Reliability Corp: Winter Peak Demand Is Rising Faster Than Resource Additions

-- The Economist: Geothermal Energy’s Time Has Finally Come; Could Become Bigger Than Nuclear    [PDF of Article] 

-- OilPrice.com: The A.I. Boom Is Driving A Massive Geothermal Energy Revival 

-- Flooding

-- WPXI: Federal SBA Disaster Relief Offered To Western PA Small Businesses, Nonprofits Affected By Drought 

-- WashPost: President’s FEMA Again Denies Federal Disaster Relief For Flash Flooding In Illinois

-- Clairton Coke [Coal] Works Explosion

-- White House Extends Regulatory Relief For Coke [Coal] Works Facilities By 2 Years

-- Train Derailments

-- AP: Plan Revived For $20 Million Firefighter Training Center Near Site Of Norfolk Southern Train Derailment In Ohio

-- Education

-- TribLive: Increased School Funding Could Lead To Higher Test Scores, But It’s More Complicated Than That

-- Warren Times: Increase In English-As-A-2nd-Language Students Drives Need For Additional Teacher In Warren County School District

-- TribLive: Fayette County Commissioners Created Education Authority In Response To Penn State Campus Closure

-- The Center Square: Temple Medical School Renames Diversity-Equity-Inclusion Office, Recommits To Equity

-- Health Care

-- PennLive: Are Health Insurance Premiums Skyrocketing Where You Live In PA? Here’s Why  [Spoiler- Congressional Republicans Are Letting Federal Tax Credits Expire]

-- Spotlight PA: Director Of Penn State Cancer Institute Resigns 1 Day After Spotlight PA Investigation Reveals Chemo Errors, ‘Toxic’ Leadership

-- Post-Gazette: Rural Somerset County Mounts Pushback Against Loss Of Pharmacies

-- Inquirer: Federal Judge Hands Children' s Hospital Victory In Its Fight To Protect Transgender Children’s Medical Records From President’s Dept. Of Justice

-- Law Enforcement

-- WHYY: Philadelphia Achieved ‘Unprecedented’ Reduction In Gun Violence, Experts Gathered To Discuss How

-- TribLive Editorial: KKK Flyers Are Cry For Attention 

-- WESA: PA Supreme Court Hears Arguments On Legality Of ‘Skill’ Gambling Games

-- PA Capital-Star: A PA Jury Found Nation’s Leading ‘Skill’ Gambling Game Maker Liable For A Store Clerk’s Murder

-- TribLive Editorial: PA’s CROWN Act Prevents Discrimination Based On Hair Styles 

-- AP: President’s Administration Threatens To Withhold $75 Million From PA Over Immigrant Truck Drivers Receiving CDL Licenses; Shapiro Says Fault Lies With Federal Data Base Used To Check Immigration Status 

-- Tribune-Democrat: Suspected Terrorist Arrested In Kansas By Federal ICE Had CDL From PA; State Republicans Demand Investigation

-- Erie Times: Gov. Shapiro Says Federal Database Allowed Man With Alleged Terror Ties To Get CDL Driver’s License

-- PennLive: Month Of Despair: One Man’s Ordeal Inside A Federal ICE Detention Center In PA

-- The Economy

-- Spotlight PA: PA State Government, Local Governments On Track To Use Nearly All $13 Billion In Pandemic Relief Funding By End Of 2026

-- Republican Herald: Shenandoah Boro Faces Potential $144,000 Debt Due To Alleged Improper Use Of Pandemic Relief Funds

Other

-- PittsburghUnionProgress.com: Post-Gazette Journalists Vote To End Country’s Longest Strike And Notify PG They Are Returning To Work

[Posted: November 23, 2025]