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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Gov. Shapiro

-- Gov. Shapiro, German Ambassador Sign Joint Agreement To Strengthen Workforce, Expand Access To Apprenticeships, Spur Economic Development Between PA, Germany

-- Gov. Shapiro Announces $30 Million Investment From Nokia To Expand Semiconductor Productions in Lehigh Valley

-- ICYMI: Legislation To Codify Gov. Shapiro’s GRID Data Center Standards Into Law Voted Out Of House Finance Committee

-- Legislation To Codify Gov. Shapiro’s GRID Data Center Standards Into Law Introduced In PA House [House Bill 2650]

-- Race For Governor

-- The Center Square: PA’s Energy Future A Defining Issue In Gubernatorial Race

-- The Guardian: How The Fight Over US A.I. Data Centers Is Scrambling Pennsylvania’s Politics: ‘We Don’t Want It’

-- Latest Poll Results

-- New Franklin & Marshall Poll--

-- 50% to 28% Shapiro Lead Over Garrity

-- 48% - Shapiro Dong Excellent, Good Job

-- 47% - Said state is on the wrong track, up from 44% in March

-- 58% - President Doing Poor Job - Up from 51% - F On Inflation, Immigration, Foreign Policy

-- 47% - Worse off than a year ago

-- 32% - Expect situations to worsen

-- 73% - Disagreed With Statement Federal Government Has Very Little Official Corruption

-- 70% - Support Independent Commission To Redraw Legislative Districts, Not Legislators

-- 58% - Oppose redistricting efforts before elections

-- 58% - Favor more gun regulations

-- 72% - Support prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity

-- 71% - Support regulating ‘skill’ gambling games

-- 89% - Support limits on student cellphone use

-- 86% - Said abortion should be legal in any or some circumstances

-- Budget 2026

-- The Center Square: Observers Hope Election Will Turn Up Heat On State Budget Process

-- Erie Times/USA Today: What To Know About PA’s Rainy Day Fund And 2026-27 State Budget

-- PA Gaming Control Board Reports Record Revenue In May

-- Spotlight PA: PA Supreme Court Rules ‘Skill’ Gambling Games Are Slot Machines, Must Adhere To PA’s Gambling Law

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Supreme Court Finds ‘Skill’ Gambling Games Are Unlawful

-- PennLive: PA Supreme Court Ruling Puts Future Of ‘Skill’ Gambling Games In Question

-- TribLive: PA Supreme Court Ruling Could Spur Legislative Action On ‘Skill’ Gambling Games, Officials Say

-- TribLive Editorial: PA ‘Skill’ Gambling Games Limbo In Lawmakers’ Hands

-- PA House/Senate

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Senate Committee Reports Out Bill To Establish Paid Family, Medical Leave For PA Workers

-- Tribune-Democrat: State Senate Passes Republican Bill Seeking State, Local Government Public Meeting Transparency

-- PennLive Column: PA’s Proposed Cellphone Ban In Schools Ignores Students’ Biggest Fear - School Shootings

-- Inquirer: Man Charged With Threatening Staff And Disrupting Office Of Republican Rep. Kathleen Tomlinson In Bucks County

-- The Guardian: How The Fight Over US A.I. Data Centers Is Scrambling Pennsylvania’s Politics: ‘We Don’t Want It’

-- US Senate/House

-- TribLive: PA Republican Cong. Kelly - Fixing Social Security Crisis ‘Is Not Going To Be Pleasant’

-- TribLive/Inquirer: PA Member Of Congress Madeleine Dean Blocked From Speaking To Detainees At Clearfield County ICE Immigrant Detention Center

-- Statewide Offices

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Supreme Court Ruling Curbs Philly District Attorney, Adds State Attorney General Oversight

-- Elections

-- Spotlight PA: Bipartisan State Election Law Board Hasn’t Met In 3 Years, Governor Fails To Appoint New Members

-- PA Capital-Star: Local Election Officials Reel Over ‘Logistical Nightmare’ Of President’s Vote-By-Mail Executive Order  [PA Included]

-- President’s War On Iran

-- June 21: PA Average AAA Gasoline Prices Same As Yesterday, Now $4.10/Gallon - $.99/Gallon Higher Than On Feb. 27 [Beaver County Average Price Highest at $4.57]

-- June 21: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $3.93 Ohio- $3.84  PA- $4.10

-- Feb. 27: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $2.98  Ohio- $2.79  PA- $3.11

-- AP: Higher Prices For Gasoline, Groceries And Flights Will Likely Outlast The President’s War With Iran

-- Financial Times: President To Allow $300 Billion Privately Funded Reconstruction Fund For Energy Rich Iran Contingent On Final War Settlement

-- Federal Funding Loss

-- Congressional Cuts To Abandoned Mine Reclamation Funding Means PA To Lose $169.4 Million, Largest Cut Of Any State, And Our Own PA Members Of Congress Voted For It; Can We Get It Back?  [PaEN]  

-- Reversing Course

-- Erie Times: Presque Isle State Park Beaches To Get Federal Funding For Sand Replenishment In Reversal

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Policies

-- Spotlight PA: Advocates, Lawmakers Weigh Ways To Keep PA Kids Health Insurance As President’s Medicaid Cuts Loom 

-- York Daily Record/USA Today: Report: PA Hospitals Had $1.1 Billion In Unpaid Health Care In 2025, 16.4% Jump From 2024

-- TribLive: A Year Later, US Steel Workers Remain Divided Over Benefit Of Nippon Steel Takeover 

-- Morning Call: Lehigh County Executive Unveils Anti-ICE Rules: ‘We Will Not Let Ourselves Become The Next Minnesota’ 

-- WESA: Butler County Woman Pleads With Local Officials On Immigration After Husband Is Detained By ICE

-- TribLive: Springdale Father Detained By Federal ICE Back Home After 4 Months

-- Inquirer: President’s Administration Sues Philadelphia Over ICE Out Face Mask Ban For Law Enforcement 

-- TribLive/Inquirer: PA Member Of Congress Madeleine Dean Blocked From Speaking To Detainees At Clearfield County ICE Immigrant Detention Center

-- Inquirer Column: For 15,000 Haitians In PA Facing Deportation, The World Cut Is A Rare Source Of Hope 

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Federal ICE Is Detaining My Church Friend Omar In Cruel Conditions Despite His Breaking No Laws - By John Kelly, Susquehanna Twp., Dauphin County 

-- PennLive Editorial: We Can’t Say We Don’t Know What’s Happening At Clearfield County ICE Immigrant Detention Facility 

-- PA Capital-Star: New York Times Reports Federal ICE Plans To Sell Warehouses In Berks And Schuylkill Counties Intended For Immigrant Detention Centers

-- PA Capital-Star: Schuylkill County Wrestles With Spectre Of ICE Warehouse Immigrant Detention Center Plan In Tremont 

-- Spotlight PA: Emails Detail How Berks County Leaders Worked Behind The Scenes After Federal ICE Warehouse Detention Facility Surprise

-- Miscellaneous State/Harrisburg Politics

-- Guest Essay: For America's 250th, Let's Return Power To The Town Square - The Right To Plan Our Future, Protect Our Backyards, Have A Seat At The Table -  By David M. Sanko, PA State Association Of Township Supervisors   [PaEN]

-- Morning Call Guest Essay: Juneteenth A Reminder To Keep Fighting For Justice - By Mohammid Khaku, Past President Al Ahad Islamic Center, Allentown

-- TribLive Editorial: Latest Examples Of Efforts To Narrow Public Discourse Should Be Opposed

-- A.I. /Data Centers

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

-- PA House Passes Legislation Authorizing Virtual Power Plants To Use Existing Energy Resources More Effectively, Address Grid Reliability, Rising Energy Bills; 16 House Energy Bills Now In Senate  [PaEN] 

-- House Committee OKs Bills To Add Energy Storage To Grid To Improve Reliability; Add Conditions For Receiving State Data Center Tax Credit; Speed Connection Of Clean Energy Generation To Grid To Help Reduce Energy Costs  [PaEN] 

-- ICYMI: Legislation To Codify Gov. Shapiro’s GRID Data Center Standards Into Law Voted Out Of House Finance Committee

-- Legislation To Codify Gov. Shapiro’s GRID Data Center Standards Into Law Introduced In PA House [House Bill 2650]

-- PennLive: As PA Data Center Development Surges, PA House Fast-Tracks Bills To Address It [Not Senate] 

-- The Center Square: PA’s Energy Future A Defining Issue In Gubernatorial Race

-- The Center Square: Republican Senators Ward, Yaw Say State Losing Out Because Of Shapiro-Backed Price Caps On Electricity Prices   [But Yaw Asked FERC In March To Require PJM To Keep Charging PA Ratepayers The Same Record High Rates ]  [Warning]

-- The Guardian: How The Fight Over US A.I. Data Centers Is Scrambling Pennsylvania’s Politics: ‘We Don’t Want It’

-- Centre Daily Times Column: Climate Watch - Energy Concerns Now Focus For State Lawmakers

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: $1.2 Billion, 4,000 Acre Land Deal Announced With 194 Landowners For 2nd A.I. Data Center Project With 39 Buildings, 4 GW Power Plant Demand In Salem Twp., Luzerne County By 4-3 Group 

-- The Citizens’ Voice: 3rd A.I. Data Center Proposal In Salem Twp. Could Generate $1.2 Billion For Landowners In Luzerne County 

-- Scranton Times: Lackawanna County Eyes A.I. Data Center Health Impact Study, Emergency Response Assessment 

-- Scranton Times - Chris Kelly Opinion: ‘Wildly Unpopular, Obscenely Invasive’ Wildcat Ridge A.I. Data Center Developers Rests Its Comically Unconvincing Case In Archbald Hearing  [PDF of Article]

-- LehighValleyLive: Massive Lehigh Valley Warehouse Set To Convert To A.I. Data Center In Allen Twp., Northampton County

-- Republican Herald: Amazon Web Services Outlines Plans For 380 Acre A.I. Data Center In Kline Twp., Schuylkill County 

-- Williamsport Sun: Former Muncy Twp. Zoning Officer Said Data Center Proposal Was Being Pushed Thru As A Warehouse And It Should Be Denied, Resubmitted As A Conditional Use 

-- TheDerrick.com: Venango County Residents Pack Meeting To Voice Concerns Over Proposed A.I. Data Center Proposal In Scrubgrass Twp. At Scrubgrass Power Plant  [PDF of Article]

-- PA Capital-Star/The Conversation: How PA Towns Are Protecting Themselves From The Noise, Heat And Utility Costs Of A.I. Data Centers

-- PennEnvironment Offers A.I. Data Center Resources: True Costs Of Data Centers To The Environment, Consumers; Impacts Of Dirty Backup Generators;  Slowing Transition To Clean Energy  [PaEN] 

-- International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

-- June 21: PA Average AAA Gasoline Prices Same As Yesterday, Now $4.10/Gallon - $.99/Gallon Higher Than On Feb. 27 [Beaver County Average Price Highest at $4.57]

-- June 21: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $3.93 Ohio- $3.84  PA- $4.10

-- Feb. 27: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $2.98  Ohio- $2.79  PA- $3.11

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs-- 17-- Same For Last 6 Weeks

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

-- Natural Resources Defense Council Blog: President Wants PJM To Give The Gas Industry A Multibillion Gift To Supply Power To A.I. Data Centers In Upcoming Power Auction - By Tom Rutigliano  

-- Utility Dive: US EIA: Natural Gas Generation Down 60% From 2024 On Same Capacity In California As Cheaper Solar, Power Imports Surge 

-- AP: Higher Prices For Gasoline, Groceries And Flights Will Likely Outlast The President’s War With Iran

-- Financial Times: President To Allow $300 Billion Privately Funded Reconstruction Fund For Energy Rich Iran Contingent On Final War Settlement

-- Flooding

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Stormwater Project Aims To Reduce Flooding In South Pittsburgh Neighborhoods

-- Storms/Power Outages

-- TribLive: About 5,000 Western PA Households Without Power Following Sunday Storms  

-- WTAE: Tree Topples Onto Home, Roads Blocked By Debris In Beaver County

-- KDKA: Pittsburgh-Area Storms Bring Tornado Warnings, Widespread Damage And Power Outages

-- Pennsylvania Power Outages: 23,523 Outages As Of June 15, 6:30 a.m.  

-- Education

-- PennLive Column: PA’s Proposed Cellphone Ban In Schools Ignores Students’ Biggest Fear - School Shootings

-- Health Care

-- Spotlight PA: Advocates, Lawmakers Weigh Ways To Keep PA Kids Health Insurance As President’s Medicaid Cuts Loom 

-- York Daily Record/USA Today: Report: PA Hospitals Had $1.1 Billion In Unpaid Health Care In 2025, 16.4% Jump From 2024

-- PennLive:  Is Gambling Addiction PA’s Next Public Health Crisis?  ‘I’m Not Going To Be Alive Tomorrow’

-- Law Enforcement

-- Spotlight PA: PA Supreme Court Rules ‘Skill’ Gambling Games Are Slot Machines, Must Adhere To PA’s Gambling Law

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Supreme Court Finds ‘Skill’ Gambling Games Are Unlawful

-- PennLive: PA Supreme Court Ruling Puts Future Of ‘Skill’ Gambling Games In Question

-- TribLive: PA Supreme Court Ruling Could Spur Legislative Action On ‘Skill’ Gambling Games, Officials Say

-- TribLive Editorial: PA ‘Skill’ Gambling Games Limbo In Lawmakers’ Hands

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Supreme Court Ruling Curbs Philly District Attorney, Adds State Attorney General Oversight

-- Morning Call: Lehigh County Executive Unveils Anti-ICE Rules: ‘We Will Not Let Ourselves Become The Next Minnesota’ 

-- WESA: Butler County Woman Pleads With Local Officials On Immigration After Husband Is Detained By ICE

-- TribLive: Springdale Father Detained By Federal ICE Back Home After 4 Months

-- Inquirer: President’s Administration Sues Philadelphia Over ICE Out Face Mask Ban For Law Enforcement 

-- TribLive/Inquirer: PA Member Of Congress Madeleine Dean Blocked From Speaking To Detainees At Clearfield County ICE Immigrant Detention Center

-- Inquirer Column: For 15,000 Haitians In PA Facing Deportation, The World Cut Is A Rare Source Of Hope 

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Federal ICE Is Detaining My Church Friend Omar In Cruel Conditions Despite His Breaking No Laws - By John Kelly, Susquehanna Twp., Dauphin County 

-- PennLive Editorial: We Can’t Say We Don’t Know What’s Happening At Clearfield County ICE Immigrant Detention Facility 

-- PA Capital-Star: New York Times Reports Federal ICE Plans To Sell Warehouses In Berks And Schuylkill Counties Intended For Immigrant Detention Centers

-- PA Capital-Star: Schuylkill County Wrestles With Spectre Of ICE Warehouse Immigrant Detention Center Plan In Tremont 

-- Spotlight PA: Emails Detail How Berks County Leaders Worked Behind The Scenes After Federal ICE Warehouse Detention Facility Surprise

-- The Economy

-- TribLive: A Year Later, US Steel Workers Remain Divided Over Benefit Of Nippon Steel Takeover 

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Senate Committee Reports Out Bill To Establish Paid Family, Medical Leave For PA Workers

-- Dept. Of Labor & Industry Reports May Unemployment Was 4.2%, Just Under National Rate Of 4.3%

-- AP: Higher Prices For Gasoline, Groceries And Flights Will Likely Outlast The President’s War With Iran

[Posted: June 21, 2026]