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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- New Voting Districts - Senate, House, Congressional

-- AP: PA Lawmakers Navigate Primary Election With Unfamiliar Voting District Maps  

-- Governor’s Race

-- Washington Examiner - Salena Zito: In PA, Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Sen. Mastriano Win Would Cost Republicans House, Senate In That State

-- AP: Abortion Rights May Rest On Governor’s Races In Some States [PA Included]

-- Inquirer: Republican Sen. Mastriano Embodies A Christian Nationalist Movement As He Runs For Governor: ‘We Have The Power Of God’

-- City & State PA: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Sen. Mastriano Wrote A Paper Saying The U.S. Military’s ‘Hypersensitivity’ To Civilian Deaths Is An ‘Enormous Weakness’ 

-- PennLive: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Sen. Mastriano Ends Interview Over QAnon Questions, 2020 Election Claims

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Republican Gubernatorial Candidates Need To Unite Against Sen. Mastriano 

-- WPSU: Conversation With Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Jake Corman

-- WITF/AP: Protective Order Against Republican Lt. Governor Candidate Tossed

-- Warren Times: Republican Candidate For Lt. Gov. Jeff Coleman Highlights Need For ‘No Drama’ In Harrisburg

-- Inquirer: Democrat Josh Shapiro Just Made It Clear Which Republican He Wants To Run Against For PA Governor - Sen. Mastriano

-- The Center Square: Governor’s Election Will Decide PA’s Membership In RGGI

-- PennLive: F&M Poll: Fetterman Enjoys Big Lead Over Lamb; Republican Candidates Battling In U.S. Senate, Governor Races

-- Politics PA: F&M Poll: Fetterman, Mastriano Expand Leads

-- LancasterOnline Editorial: Shakedown Of Republican Gubernatorial Candidates By Local Republican Committees Unethical, Bad For Democracy

-- U.S. Senate Race

-- AP: Attacks Dominate PA’s U.S. Senate Republican Primary Debate

-- Inquirer: 4 Takeaways From Latest Republican U.S. Senate Debate

-- WLVR: Only Woman In Democratic Race For U.S. Senate Used To Uphill Battles

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Carla Sands Works Home Turf In Closing Stretch Of Republican U.S. Senate Race

-- Post-Gazette: Democratic U.S. Senate Candidates Want To Legalize Pot, But Appetite Not As Strong In Washington

-- PennLive: F&M Poll: Fetterman Enjoys Big Lead Over Lamb; Republican Candidates Battling In U.S. Senate, Governor Races

-- Politics PA: F&M Poll: Fetterman, Mastriano Expand Leads

-- TribLive: Fans Flock To Westmoreland Fairgrounds To See Ex-President, Hear More About Dr. Oz

-- Post-Gazette: Ex-President Takes The Stage In Greensburg With A Mixed Review Of Dr. Oz

-- TribLive: Westmoreland Sheriff’s Deputies Pull Out Of Helping Secret Service At Friday’s Dr. Oz Rally With Ex-President Due To Liability Concerns 

-- AP: Dr. Oz’s Ties To Turkey Attacked In PA Republican U.S. Senate Race

 

U.S. Supreme Court Abortion Opinion Leak

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Abortion Just Moved To Center Stage In PA’s Election

-- AP: Abortion Rights May Rest On Governor’s Races In Some States [PA Included]

-- PA Capital-Star: U.S. Supreme Court Abortion Opinion Could Put General Assembly In Driver’s Seat On Abortion Rights

-- WITF: PA Already Has Some Abortion Restrictions, But New Governor, General Assembly Could Change That

-- Gov. Wolf ‘Abortion Access In PA Will Remain Legal And Safe As Long As I Am Governor’

-- TribLive: Western PA Legal Experts Shocked By U.S. Supreme Court Leak: ‘It’s An Absolutely Seismic Event’

-- WHYY: How Philly, PA Officials Reacting To Court Abortion Leak

-- WESA: PA Politicians Responding To Leaked Draft Opinion Overturning Roe v. Wade

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: PA Reaction Divided Over Leaked U.S. Supreme Court’s Draft Decision Overturning Abortion Rights

-- Post-Gazette: Abortion Rights Advocates Concerned About PA Referendum Proposal, Looking Past 2022 Election

-- WESA: What Overturning Roe v. Wade Will Mean For Abortion Access In PA

-- Erie Times: Bill Could Make Fathers Liable For Unwanted Pregnancies In PA

-- Inquirer: Bob Casey Is One Of The Last ‘Pro-Life’ Democrats, The Supreme Court Decision Is Going To Test His Views

-- PA Capital-Star - John Micek: The Republican Anti-Abortion Crusade Is Not Pro-Family At All

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: Once Roe Is Reversed, Pennsylvanians Must Elect A Governor Who Will Abolish Abortion

-- Scranton Times Editorial: State Must Be Pro-Life Beyond Birth

-- TribLive Editorial: The Decision That Matters On Roe v. Wade

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: U.S. Supreme Court Leak Further Undermines Crumbling Legitimacy

-- May 2022 Primary Election

-- Post-Gazette: PA’s Gubernatorial Race Has High Stakes When It Comes To How We Vote

-- AP: PA Lawmakers Navigate Primary Election With Unfamiliar Voting District Maps  

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Trends To Watch For Among Older Voters In PA Primary

-- TribLive - Column: Opposition Picks Matter In PA Races - Joseph Sabino Mistick

-- Inquirer: PA’s Biggest Primaries Could Get Called On Election Night, But Don’t Get Used To It

-- Franklin & Marshall May 2022 Poll Results

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Supporting Local Election Officials Will Help Protect Our Democracy

-- PA Capital-Star: Pro-Private Charter Schools Billionaire Jumps Into Key PA House, Senate Races

-- MCall Guest Essay: How Harrisburg’s Delays Have Injected Chaos Into May Primary

-- MCall - Ford Turner: Top State Election Official ‘Very Concerned’ About Lehigh County Plan To Have Detectives Watch Ballot Drop Boxes

-- AP: Top State Voting Official Pushes Back On Ballot Drop  Box Warning

-- MCall: Lehigh Valley Ballot Drop Box Monitoring Could Keep Disabled Residents From Voting

-- MCall: ACLU, Disability Advocates, Other Groups Demand End To Plan To Monitor Ballot Drop Boxes In Lehigh County

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: Everyone Should Get Off Lehigh County DA’s Back About Ballot Box Detectives

-- Scranton Times Editorial: No Need To Eliminate Ballot Drop Boxes

-- PennLive - John Baer: Don’t Let The Devil, Gun-Toting Candidates Or Kathleen Kane District You From PA Primary Election

-- Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout

-- Inquirer: Dozens Of Mail-In Ballots Going To Republican Ward Leader’s PO Box In Philly Raising ‘Ballot Harvesting’ Concerns

-- Post-Gazette: PA’s Gubernatorial Race Has High Stakes When It Comes To How We Vote

-- AP: Baseless Election Fraud Claims Thrive On PA Republican Campaign Trail 

-- WITF: Republican Cong. Scott Perry’s Baseless Election Fraud Theories Have Real-Life Consequences, Election Experts Say

-- PA Capital-Star: Poll: PA Voters Call For Voter ID, End To Mail-In Ballots

-- Erie Times: Republican National Committee, Erie Republicans Conduct Poll Watcher Training

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Election Year Has Become A Case Study Of The Left-Right Divide - State Treasurer Stacy Garrity

-- LancasterOnline - Brad Busted: PA Voters, Buffeted By Election Fraud Claims, Aren’t Happy With How Elections Are Run, New F&M Poll Finds

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Supporting Local Election Officials Will Help Protect Our Democracy

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: Political Signs On Lawns: Free Speech Or Litter?

-- Scranton Times Editorial: No Need To Eliminate Ballot Drop Boxes

-- Reading Eagle Editorial: Time For PA To Allow Independents To Vote In Primaries

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Independent Voters Can Improve State Primaries

-- AP: New Design, Mission For Site of Pittsburgh Synagogue Attack

-- TribLive: Accusations Of Russian Spying, Vandalism, Ethnic Intimidation Rattle Shadyside Neighborhood 

-- Inquirer: PA Ranks Near The Top Nationally In Book-Banning Activity, Report Finds; Here’s Why

-- PA’s Role In Assault On U.S. Capitol

-- PennLive: Cumberland County Man Pleads Guilty To Criminal Charges Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol 

-- State Constitutional Amendments

-- TribLive Column: PA’s Constitutional Amendment Conundrum - Michael Torres

-- Spotlight PA: Complete Guide To More Than 70 Proposed Amendments To State Constitution

 

-- PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

-- Republican Senators Introduce Bill To Deregulate Oil & Gas Industry, Coal-Fired Power Plants, Open State Forests To Drilling, Withdrawn From RGGI  [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Gasoline Prices Hit Another Record High, AAA Says 

-- MCall - Ford Turner: PA Gasoline Price Hits New Record $4.46/Gallon 

-- Inquirer: Gasoline In Philadelphia Hits All-Time High, Tops $4.50 

-- TribLive: Gasoline Prices Jump 18 Cents In Pittsburgh Area Since Last Week

-- MCall: PA Diesel Fuel Price Spikes To Record $6/Gallon: ‘It’s Obviously Going To Affect Pricing Of Everything’

-- Altoona Mirror: Heating Oil Prices Skyrocketing

-- WGAL: PPL To Increase Electricity Cost 38% June 1 Due To Increased Natural Gas, Energy Costs

-- MCall: PPL To Increase Default Electricity Cost 38% June 1

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Marcellus Shale Coalition Urges Use Of Butane, A Natural Gas Byproduct, In Gasoline To Stretch Supplies

-- Bloomberg: Big Oil Spends On Investors, Not Output, Prolonging Crude Oil Crunch 

-- Harrisburg Politics Potpourri

-- LancasterOnline Editorial: Senate, House Need To Make Lawmakers’ Expenses Searchable Online

-- AP: How The Constitution Teaches Students To Disagree Civilly

-- MCall - Paul Muschick: What Today’s Politicians Can Learn From John Stoffa, The Late Northampton County Executive 

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Mayor, Other Democrats Call Out Attack Ads Against Summer Lee In Congressional Race

-- MCall: Why Republicans Should Pick Kevin Dellicker To Oppose Democrat Susan Wild For Congress

-- MCall: Why Republicans Should Pick Lisa Scheller To Oppose Democrat Susan Wild For Congress

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Republican Cong. Meuser Leaks Own Blind Partisanship

-- PennLive: Racehorses Continue To Die At ‘Staggering’ Rate, PA Redoubles Efforts To Protect Them 

-- Budget 2022

-- Gov. Wolf: April State Revenues Highest Ever Collected, Time To Make Historic Investments In Pennsylvanians

-- Independent Fiscal Office: April State Revenue Exceeded Its Estimate By 44.4% - $2 Billion; Exceeds Year-To-Date Estimate By $5.04 Billion  

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: April State Revenues Set High-Water Mark For A Single Month

-- PA Capital-Star: With Record Tax Collections, Not Spending Would Be ‘Irresponsible’ Wolf Says

-- The Center Square: Strong PA Tax Collection Revenue; Partisan Divide On The Economy

-- WESA: Advocates Push For More State Funding For Disability Services, Higher Wages For Workers

-- Scranton Times Editorial: Fix Business Tax Structure, Not Just Rate

-- Post-Gazette: PA Taking Baby Steps Away From Gasoline Tax, Toward Fee For Miles Driven

-- COVID Pandemic/Health

-- Dept. Of Health Provides Monthly Update On COVID Trends

-- MCall: PA COVID Update: 12,364 Cases, 92 Deaths Last Week

-- TribLive: PA Health Dept. Transitions To Weekly COVID Updates

-- Post-Gazette: COVID Levels Double In Allegheny County Wastewater

-- WHYY: Philly Counts Knocks On 100,000 Doors In 6 Months To Encourage Adult COVID Vaccinations

-- Dept. Of State To Roll Back Remaining Professional Licensing Waivers Issued During COVID Emergency

-- PennLive: State To Roll Back Remaining Professional Licensing Waivers Issued During Pandemic

-- PA Capital-Star: PA’s K-12 School Nurses Asking Lawmakers For Help

-- WHYY: Healthcare Workers Rally Against Crozer Health Cuts

-- Opioid Deaths

-- PA Capital-Star: With Months Left, Secretary Of Drug & Alcohol Programs Looking To Make Most Of The Time

-- Citizens Voice: Spiked Drugs Lead To Record Number Of Overdoses In Luzerne County

-- MCall - Ford Turner: Lawmakers Told Of Tragic Lack Of Access To Drug Abuse Treatment Medicine

-- Citizen Voice: Lawmakers Seek To Legalize Fentanyl Test Strips As Overdoses Surge

-- PA Capital-Star: State Officials Launch $10 Million Program To Help Substance Use Disorder Treatment Professionals Repay Their Student Loans

-- WITF: As 988 Hotline Goes Live In PA, Crisis Centers Need Workers

-- School Districts/Higher Education

-- Inquirer: PA Ranks Near The Top Nationally In Book-Banning Activity, Report Finds; Here’s Why

-- Erie Times: Erie School District Mulls Tax Hike To Keep COVID-Era Programs

-- PA Capital-Star: PA’s K-12 School Nurses Asking Lawmakers For Help

-- LancasterOnline: What We Know And Don’t Know About Hempfield H.S. Gay Sexuality Alliance Club’s ‘Drag’ Event

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Let’s Hear It For Our Local School Board Members, Thanks For Your Service

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Let Students Learn Extra Material Online

-- TribLive Editorial: Bullying Is More Than A School Problem

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: Auditor General’s Closure Of School Audit Bureau Draw Criticism During House Hearing

-- Inquirer: Wolf Announces $5 Million Investment In Cheyney University’s ThinkUbator Project

-- TribLive: University Of Pittsburgh Says ‘Thousands’ Have Supported University Funding

-- WITF Smart Talk: Is More Funding For Low And Middle Income College Students The Answer To PA’s Labor Shortage?

-- Gun Violence/Law Enforcement

-- AP: Fired Philadelphia Police Officer Charged With Murder In Shooting Of Boy, 12

-- Erie Times: After Shooting Rattled School, Erie High Students Return To More Security

-- KYW: Philly School District To Begin Periodic Weapons Screenings At Middle Schools

-- Scranton Times Editorial: State Moves On Ghost Gun Enforcement

-- USA Today: More Than 100 Gun Deaths A Day In U.S.: Gun Violence Reached ‘Staggering’ Record In 2020, Report Says 

-- Gov. Wolf Announces New Violence Intervention, Prevention Technical Assistance Project

-- WHYY: Everyone’s Trying To Solve Philly’s Gun Violence Crisis, Is More Collaboration The Answer?

-- WITF: Reading Youth Arts Group Regains Nonprofit Status, Continues Anti-Violence Work

-- AP: Suspended Somerset County DA Confined On House Arrest Awaiting Trial

-- The Center Square: Police Chiefs Call Attention To Hiring Problems Across PA

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Our Death By Incarceration State - Sandra L. Strauss, PA Council Of Churches

-- TribLive Editorial: Does Bail Work The Way It Should?

-- Inquirer Editorial: Sealing The Criminal Records Of More Former Offenders Is Right Move For PA

-- TribLive Editorial: Can Algorithms Help Or Hurt Child Protective Services?

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Pennsylvania’s McJustice [Public Defender Funding]

-- PA Economy

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: State, Small Business Owners Call For Legislature To Raise Minimum Wage

-- WITF Smart Talk: Is More Funding For Low And Middle Income College Students The Answer To PA’s Labor Shortage?

-- TribLive: Available Jobs Still Outpacing Job Seekers In Pittsburgh Region

-- Dept. Of State To Roll Back Remaining Professional Licensing Waivers Issued During COVID Emergency

-- PennLive: State To Roll Back Remaining Professional Licensing Waivers Issued During Pandemic

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: State Retirement Plan Would Save Taxpayers By Helping Workers Save

-- PennDOT: Federal REAL ID Enforcement Begins May 3, 2023

-- TribLive: Countdown Begins For PA REAL ID Requirement

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: App Store Owners Push Security Claims To Stifle Competition - Fmr Gov. Tom Ridge

-- Inquirer: Philly Delayed Property Assessments For 3 Years, Now Residential Values Are Jumping 31%

-- WHYY: With Property Values Up 21%, Philly Mayor Proposes Relief For Growing Real Estate Taxes

-- WHYY: Philly Rents Grew 6% During Pandemic, But Twice As Fast In Suburbs

-- MCall: Why The Lehigh Valley Will Soon See A Flood Of Home Foreclosures

-- Post-Gazette: Black Homeownership In Pittsburgh Falls As City House Prices Rise

-- WHYY: Philly Relaunches $10,000 First-Time Home Buyer Assistance Program

[Posted: May 7, 2022]