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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Gov. Shapiro

-- Spotlight PA: Is Josh Shapiro Keeping Campaign Promises?  Test Your Politics Knowledge With This Quiz

-- WHYY: President Appoints Gov. Shapiro To New Advisory Council Of Governors

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Shapiro Corporate Tax Plans Good Start To Avoid Budget Blues

-- Budget 2025

-- Post-Gazette - Ford Turner: As PA Budget Hearings Kick Off This Week, Talk Of $6 Billion Deficit, Ozempic, And Federal Funding Freeze

-- Post-Gazette - Ford Turner: Big Disparity In PA Financial Projections Sets Off Sparks As Budget Hearings Begin

-- The Center Square: Budget Hearings Kick Off With Plenty Of Revenue Questions

-- WITF: PA Owned Universities Seek Funding Boost To Fend Off Tuition Hikes

-- Post-Gazette: Higher Education In PA Faces Declining Enrollment, Federal Uncertainty

-- PA Capital-Star: Budget Hearings Begin This Week: Here’s Who’s Up First

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Roads Would Get More Money In Next Budget, But A Highway Funding Gap Remains

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Shapiro Corporate Tax Plans Good Start To Avoid Budget Blues

-- TribLive: Proposed PA Minimum Wage Hike Is Bitter Pill For Many Business Owners

-- Budget - Federal

-- PA Capital-Star: Shapiro Administration Taking ‘Aggressive Wait And See’ Approach To Federal Funding Freeze

-- The Center Square: 95% Of PEMA, PA Crisis Management Agency Budgets Comes From Federal Funds Now At Risk

-- Post-Gazette: PA Farmers Feel Federal Funding Pinch As Freeze Triggers Labor And Infrastructure Instability 

-- Citizens Voice Editorial: Federal Cuts Thoughtlessly Target Jewels Of National And Local Heritage  

-- WESA: University Of Pittsburgh Pauses PhD Admissions Process Amid Federal Research Funding Uncertainty

-- WITF: President’s Cuts At National Institutes Of Health Mean Problems For Central PA Public Health Research

-- PA House/Senate

-- The Center Square: Republican Senate Leader Says Proposed Budget Leaves Kids Trapped In Failing Public Schools; More Funding Needed For Private Schools

-- PennLive: Republican Senate Appropriations Chair Casts Doubt On Legal Weed Deal With Shapiro

-- WITF: PA Considers Data Privacy Bill Friendly To Companies, Called Weak By Consumer Advocates

-- WNEP: Republican Rep. Ryncavage’s District Office Targeted By Molotov Cocktail

-- WESA: PA Legislators Push For Extreme Risk Protection Orders To Prevent Firearm Suicides

-- Erie Times: Republican Sen. Mastriano Proposes State Version Of DOGE In Pennsylvania

-- Spotlight PA: Republican Rep. Diamond Pushing His Song To Be State Song

-- US Senate/House

-- HuffPost: PA Republican Cong. Bresnahan Said He’ll Vote No If Budget Guts Health, Food Stamp Benefits His Constituents Rely On

-- Post-Gazette: Republican US Senator McCormick On Board With President, DOGE Shakeup While Fetterman Blasts ‘Chaos, Confusion’

-- TribLive: More Staff Members Exit Sen. Fetterman’s Office As He Seeks A Political Middle Ground

-- Statewide Offices

-- Post-Gazette: PA Attorney General To Address National Gathering Of Conservative Activists

-- Auditor General Releases Private Cyber Charter School Performance Audit, Calls For Major Reform To How They Are Funded

-- PA Capital-Star: Audit Finds PA Private Cyber Charter Schools Amassed Excessive Taxpayer-Funded Reserves

-- 2025 Elections

-- Spotlight PA: Republicans Have A Chance To Transform The PA Supreme Court This Year

-- Post-Gazette - Ford Turner: Top State Election Official Says PA Should Replace Its System For Early Voting

-- WITF: How President’s Cuts To Security Agencies Would Affect Election Security In PA

-- Elections

-- Beaver Times: PA Lawmakers Resume Push To Allow 1.3 Million Independents To Vote In Primaries

-- AP: 3 Politicians Accused Of Faking Mail-In Ballots In 2021 Mayoral Race In Delaware County

-- New Federal Administration

-- PA Capital-Star: Shapiro Administration Taking ‘Aggressive Wait And See’ Approach To Federal Funding Freeze

-- WHYY: President Appoints Gov. Shapiro To New Advisory Council Of Governors

-- WITF: How President’s Cuts To Security Agencies Would Affect Election Security In PA

-- PennLive: New Administration’s Crackdown Sparks Fear Among Immigrants In Central PA

-- Republican Herald: Schuylkill Aluminum Company Could Lose Competitive Edge In Wake Of Aluminum Tariff

-- WESA: University Of Pittsburgh Pauses PhD Admissions Process Amid Federal Research Funding Uncertainty

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: We Hope The White House Corrects Their Present Course On DEI And Make A Commitment To Meritocracy, Against Nepotism And Cronyism

-- PennLive Guest Essay: It’s Embarrassing To See An American President Bow To Putin - By Mark Singel

-- National Politics

-- PennLive - John Baer: I Have 5 New Questions About President’s ‘Golden Age Of America’

-- TribLive: Newly Elected Democratic Chairman Begins National Tour In Western PA

-- PA’s Role In Assault On US Capitol

-- Wall Street Journal: Individuals Pardoned For Crimes Related To Assault On US Capitol Argue Pardons Apply To Charges Including Murder Plot, Child Porn 

-- PA Energy Politics

-- AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $3.15  Ohio- $2.92  PA- $$3.35

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs At 15, Same For 10 Weeks

-- Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance, Black Appalachian Coalition, PennFuture, Partners Host March 4 Webinar -- Why Is My Electricity Bill So High?  And Going Higher?  [PaEN]

-- Washington & Jefferson College Hosts March 19 Webinar On Meeting The Challenges Of The Electric Grid - PJM's Role  [PaEN] 

-- MCall Guest Essay: US Dept. Of Energy LNG Gas Export Facility Plans Will Pollute Communities, Raise Prices - By Alex Bomstein, Clean Air Council

-- Reuters: EU Seeks More US LNG Gas, Renewable Energy To Replace Russian Supplies; Gas Prices Rose To 2-Year Highs Last Week

-- DailyEnergyInsider.com: Let PA Regulated Utilities Invest In And Own Electric Generation Resources, Says PPL Electric President  

-- LehighValleyNews.com  Guest Essay: Ex-PUC Chairmen Say The ‘New PPL’ Wants PA To Go Backward And Own Electric Generation - By James Cawley, Robert Powelson, Glen Thomas

-- Reuters: New US Energy Council Chief Calls On Power Plants To Produce 10% to 15% More Electricity To Meet A.I., Data Center Demands

-- The Energy Age Blog: Maryland State Senators Propose Bill To Legalize Fracking 

-- Reuters: Oil Price Increases For Third Day On US Fuel Stocks Draw, Worries About Russia Disruptions

-- Utility Dive: President’s New Executive Order Brings Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Under White House Review, Approval Process For Regulations, Actions 

-- Bloomberg: Stocks Of US LNG Gas Export Companies Drop Amid Talks Over Ending Ukraine War

-- The Economist: Will Europe Return To Putin’s Natural Gas If Negotiations End Ukraine War?  Lower Gas Prices Could Revive European Economy Without Expensive US LNG Gas 

-- Three Mile Island Restart

-- PennLive: Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant Owner Says Reopening Of Plant Is On Schedule 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: EQT Sees Growing Demand From A.I. Companies For Natural Gas Power

-- WITF/LancasterOnline: New Owner Plans A.I. Data Centers In Former Donnelley Printing Plants In Lancaster

-- Reuters: New US Energy Council Chief Calls On Power Plants To Produce 10% to 15% More Electricity To Meet A.I., Data Center Demands

-- Utility Dive: FERC Launches Colocation Review Of A.I./Data Centers, Plus 6 Other Open Meeting Takeaways 

-- Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh-based A.I. Firm Raises $250 Million, Deploys A.I. Platform In 100 Healthcare Systems

-- Financial Times: Pollution From Big Tech’s Data Centre Boom Costs US Public Health $5.4 Billion  

-- Flooding

-- TribLive: Heavy Rain Brings Flood Warnings To Western PA

-- KDKA: Officials Preparing For Possible Ice Jams, Flooding Along Pittsburgh-Area Rivers 

-- WPXI: South Buffalo Twp. Residents Evacuated Due To Flooding In Armstrong County 

-- Education

-- The Center Square: Republican Senate Leader Says Proposed Budget Leaves Kids Trapped In Failing Public Schools; More Funding Needed For Private Schools

-- Auditor General Releases Private Cyber Charter School Performance Audit, Calls For Major Reform To How They Are Funded

-- PA Capital-Star: Audit Finds PA Private Cyber Charter Schools Amassed Excessive Taxpayer-Funded Reserves

-- TribLive Editorial: What Will The Impact Of Carving DEI Out Of Schools Be?

-- WITF: PA Owned Universities Seek Funding Boost To Fend Off Tuition Hikes

-- Post-Gazette: Higher Education In PA Faces Declining Enrollment, Federal Uncertainty

-- WITF: President’s Cuts At National Institutes Of Health Mean Problems For Central PA Public Health Research

-- WESA: University Of Pittsburgh Pauses PhD Admissions Process Amid Federal Research Funding Uncertainty

-- Centre Daily Times: Ex-Penn State Students To Receive Small Payments After Judge Approves $17 Million COVID Lawsuit Settlement

-- Health Care

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Opaque Opioid Settlement Board Decisions Are Hurting Effectiveness Of Funds

-- PennLive: Republican Senate Appropriations Chair Casts Doubt On Legal Weed Deal With Shapiro

-- Centre Daily Times: Ex-Penn State Students To Receive Small Payments After Judge Approves $17 Million COVID Lawsuit Settlement

-- WNEP: Healthcare Workers Walk Out: Geisinger Nurses Strike For Better Pay And Safety

-- Spotlight PA: Public Health Improvements Not A Priority For Berks County Amid Budget Crunch, Officials Say

-- Reading Eagle: Airport, Passenger Rail Service, Fiscal Responsibility Among 2025 Priorities For Berks County Commissioners

-- Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh-based A.I. Firm Raises $250 Million, Deploys A.I. Platform In 100 Healthcare Systems

-- Law Enforcement

-- PennLive: Shooter Took Hostages, Killed Police Officer Before Dying In York County Hospital, Officials Say

-- WESA: PA Legislators Push For Extreme Risk Protection Orders To Prevent Firearm Suicides

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit Encourages Attendees To ‘Lean In’

-- The Economy

-- TribLive: Proposed PA Minimum Wage Hike Is Bitter Pill For Many Business Owners

-- WITF: PA Considers Data Privacy Bill Friendly To Companies, Called Weak By Consumer Advocates

-- Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh-based A.I. Firm Raises $250 Million, Deploys A.I. Platform In 100 Healthcare Systems

-- Republican Herald: Schuylkill Aluminum Company Could Lose Competitive Edge In Wake Of Aluminum Tariff

-- Dept. Of State: KnuckleMania Bare-Knuckle Fighting Championship In Philly Delivers Huge Numbers For Commonwealth

-- Other

-- PA Capital-Star: Tim Lambert New Editor Of PA Capital-Star

[Posted: February 23, 2025]