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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- PennLive: Statute Of Volunteer Firefighter Killed During Attack On President In Butler County Placed At The Site

-- Gov. Shapiro

-- The Center Square: Shapiro Talks Budget Impasse

-- LancasterOnline: Here Are All Of Gov. Shapiro’s Lawsuits Against The President’s Administration This Year

-- PennLive: Shapiro Keeping A Wary Eye On Texas Congressional Redistricting Efforts

-- Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania’s Recent History With Drawing Political Maps As Texas Pushes Redistricting Plan

-- The Hill: Blue State Republicans Sound Alarm On Congressional Redistricting Tit-For-Tat

-- Spotlight PA: We Finally Know Who Paid For Josh Shapiro’s Inauguration Celebrations (Kinda)

-- WITF: Gov. Shapiro Calls For Further US Aid For Gaza, Amid Worsening Humanitarian Crisis

-- Budget 2025

-- The Center Square: Shapiro Talks Budget Impasse

-- Tribune-Democrat: Stopgap Budget Unlikely In Pennsylvania As Stalemate Continues

-- Post-Gazette: State Budget Mess Deepens, PA State Treasurer Makes Some Payments And Sits On Others

-- TribLive: State Budget Impasse Reaches 36 Days, With Sides Still At Odds On Key Issues

-- City & State PA: PA Senate Republican Leader Suggests ‘6-Month Budget’ Amid Ongoing PA Budget Impasse

-- LancasterOnline Editorial: It’s Not A Surprise, But It’s Disappointing That Pennsylvania Still Doesn’t Have A State Budget

-- PennLive: PA House Democrats Nudge Transit Bill Forward As State Budget Picture Remains Murky

-- ABC27: PA Lawmaker Concerned ‘Getting Stuff Done’ Is Cutting Corners When DEP Has Too Few Inspectors To Oversee Gas Industry

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Pennsylvania Doesn’t Need To Spend $200 Million On Horse Racing

-- WITF: Education Advocates Pressure PA Lawmakers To Include Private Cyber Charter School Reforms In Late Budget

-- PA Capital-Star: Safety Net Programs Likely To Be First Affected By Continued PA Budget Impasse

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Counties Sound Alarm That State Budget Stalemate Threatens Essential Services - By Sherene Hess, Indiana County Commissioner

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader: Luzerne County Struggling With Funding Delays Due To State Budget Stalemate

-- WHYY: PA Home Health Care Agencies Call For $370 Million In State Budget To Avoid Care Crisis

-- Post-Gazette: Some Area Nonprofits In Wait-And-See Mode During State Budget Impasse, But Not Concerned About Any Program Cuts

-- The Center Square: ‘Time’s Up’: PA House Democrats Demand Progress As SEPTA Cuts Loom

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: Using ‘Skill’ Gambling Game Revenue To Fund SEPTA Will Disproportionately Harm PA’s Black Communities - By Solomon Jones

-- TribLive Editorial: Would Harrisburg Pass A Budget If PA Leaders Stopped Getting Paid?

-- PA House/Senate

-- City & State PA: PA Senate Republican Leader Suggests ‘6-Month Budget’ Amid Ongoing PA Budget Impasse

-- PennLive: PA House Democrats Nudge Transit Bill Forward As State Budget Picture Remains Murky

-- WESA: Health Care Is Embracing A.I.: Some PA Lawmakers Say Guardrails Are Needed

-- Spotlight PA: Hidden Talents Of PA Lawmakers: The Legislators Lurking In Episodes Of ‘Succession’ And ‘Cheers’

-- US Senate/House

-- Post-Gazette Letter: Republican Con. Mike Kelly Gets To Play Be Different Rules Than We Do - By Rob Power

-- Inquirer: Republican Con. Bresnahan’s Stock Trades Fuel Doubts About Republican Hold On Key PA Swing Seat 

-- Statewide Offices

-- ABC27: Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity Teases Run For Governor

-- Elections

-- Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Activists Raise Concerns About Potential Restrictions To Voting Access In PA

-- TribLive/Votebeat: President’s Administration Seeks More PA Voter Information, Raises Potential Legal Concerns

-- Inquirer: US DOJ Asked PA To Turn Over Its Voter Registration List; State Has Not Responded Yet

-- PennLive: Shapiro Keeping A Wary Eye On Texas Congressional Redistricting Efforts

-- Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania’s Recent History With Drawing Political Maps As Texas Pushes Redistricting Plan

-- The Hill: Blue State Republicans Sound Alarm On Congressional Redistricting Tit-For-Tat

-- Spotlight PA: Voting Machines Rarely Malfunction During PA Elections, New Data Show 

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Tariffs

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Americans Bear The Burden Of President’s Tariffs - By Jack Ochs, University of Pittsburgh

-- Post-Gazette: New Labor Dept. Report  Finds Nearly 2 Million Are Unemployed In US, Highest Since Pandemic

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Policies

-- MCall: Lehigh Valley Food Bank Says Federal Cuts Leaving Food Pantry Shelves Empty 

-- TribLive: Veterans Administration Voids Union Contracts For 400,000 Workers, Prompting Backlash

-- York Daily Record: Thousands Of Veterans Administration Workers In PA Affected By Agency’s Union Contracts Termination

-- AP: US Air Force To Deny Retirement Benefits To Transgender Service Members Being Forced To Separate From The Service

-- TribLive/AP: President Orders Colleges To Prove They Don’t Consider Race In Admissions

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh-Area Science Experts Say Public Health Could Be In Jeopardy After Cancellation Of Federal Vaccine Research Funding

-- WHYY: Some Philly-Area Scientists Get Federal Research Funding Back, But Say Lasting Damage Remains

-- TribLive/AP: President Signs Order Giving Politicians  Control Over All Federal Grants, Alarming Researchers

-- WHYY: Federal Transit Administration Bashes Green Technology While Investigating SEPTA Electric Bus Fires In 2022

-- MCall Guest Essay: President’s Proposal Threatens Public Land Preservation Fund - By Kaitlyn Sorensen, Appalachian Mountain Club

-- Inquirer: Federal Judge Dismissed Quakertown Student’s Lawsuit Alleging Her Rights Were Violated By Competing Against A Trans Athlete

-- WITF/LancasterOnline: Bilingual ‘Radio Centro’ Loses One-Third Of Its Budget From Federal Broadcasting Cuts 

-- WHYY: PA Advocates Call For Shutdown Of Clearfield County Federal ICE Detainee’s Hanging Death

-- Beaver Times: Democratic Cong. Deluzio Wants More Information On Federal ICE Activities In Abridge, Beaver County

-- Inquirer: Montgomery County Municipal Officials Face Pressure To Adopt Anti-ICE Policies Across 62 Communities

-- WESA/Spotlight PA: Fear Grips Berks County Latino Community As Federal ICE Raids Take Place Nearby

-- WITF: Federal ICE Arrests Lancaster City Mother At Alternatives To Detention Hearing

-- Observer-Reporter  ICE-Detained Washington County Church Member Awaits Immigration Hearing

-- Inquirer: Hundreds Rally In Philly To Support Cafe Owner Being Held In Federal ICE Detention Center

-- Courier Times: Federal ICE Arrested 2 Men In Bucks County Courthouse, Why This Worries Civil Rights Advocates

-- TribLive: Emiliano’s Restaurants Vows To Reopen After Feds Seize 16 In Immigration Raids In Butler County

-- TribLive: More Than $100,000 Raised To Help 16 Snared In Federal ICE Raids At Emiliano’s Restaurants

-- NextPittsburgh: Pittsburgh Nonprofits Rally Around Immigrants Amid Federal ICE Crackdowns

-- Centre Daily Times: How Centre County Residents, Organizations Are Responding To Growing Federal ICE Fears

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: The Government Can’t Turn Everyone Into Immigration Enforcement Officers

-- TribLive: Suspect In Federal ICE Custody After Fatal Coraopolis Hit And Run

-- The Center Square: Only Philadelphia In PA Remains On Federal ‘Sanctuary Jurisdiction’ List

-- MCall: Lehigh Valley Counties No Longer On List Of ‘Sanctuary Jurisdictions’ As President Releases New List

-- WESA: Pittsburgh, Allegheny County Absent From Revised Federal ‘Sanctuary Jurisdiction’ List

-- New Federal Administration

-- Inquirer: University Of Pennsylvania Law School Pauses Scholarship Honoring Its First Black Female Graduate Sadie T.M. Alexander; Plans To Close Equal Opportunity Office [Under Pressure From President] 

-- The Story Of Sadie T.M. Alexander

-- PennLive Letter: The Normalization Of Cruelty In American Politics Must Stop - By Karen Smith, Cumberland County

-- Observer-Reporter: Protesters March In Uniontown As Part Of National ‘Rage Against The Regime’ Demonstrations In Fayette County

-- WHYY/NPR: Individual Who Urged Rioters To ‘Kill’ Police During The Assault On The US Capital Hired As A Senior Advisor For US Dept. Of Justice 

-- WHYY: Philly Activists Rally At Independence Park To Protest President’s Moves To Remove Exhibits That Depict Slavery In Early America  

-- York Dispatch/AP: Reference To President’s Impeachments Removed From Smithsonian Exhibit  

-- Observer-Reporter Guest Essay: This Is How A Nation’s Spirit Is Broken - By Richard Robbins, Uniontown

-- York Dispatch Editorial: Waste, Fraud And Abuse Exist - At The White House 

-- Miscellaneous State/Harrisburg Politics

-- PennLive - John Baer: From PA To DC, Politicians Are Making A Long, Hot Summer Miserable

- Post-Gazette: Cryptocurrency Firm Among Dark Money Donors In Race For Pittsburgh Mayor

-- International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

-- AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $3.15  Ohio- $3.00  PA- $3.25

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

-- Guest Essay: Paying The Price For Natural Gas And A.I. Data Centers - By John Quigley, Senior Fellow, Kleinman Center for Energy Policy  [PaEN]

-- Utility Dive Guest Essay: We At PJM Need Realistic Solutions, Not Politics To Take On Energy Challenges - By Aftab Khan, PJM Executive Vice President Of Operations, Planning and Security  [PaEN] 

-- Erie Times: National Fuel Gas Increases Gas Rates 12.2%; How Much More Erie-Area Homes Will Pay

-- Reuters: Oil Price Falls As OPEC+ Proceeds With September Output Increase

-- Reuters: BP Makes Its Largest Oil & Gas Discovery In 25 Years Offshore Brazil

-- Reuters: Energy Transfer/Sunoco Complains About Limits On Exporting Ethane To China, Even Though They Have Been Lifted 

-- Flooding

-- Stroud Water Research Center: US Geological Survey Cuts To Water Resources Threaten Health & Safety 

-- LancasterOnline: Mount Joy Officials Agree To Find Solutions To Protect Community Against Flash Floods

-- Delaware Currents: Is The Upper Delaware River Ready For A Texas-Like Flood?

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation Blog: After Devastating Flooding In July Across The Country, What Does The Future Hold For The Chesapeake Bay Watershed?

-- PennLive: Remains Of Tioga County Man Swept Away In Flash Flood A Year Ago Still Not Recovered 

-- WTAE: Road Left With Gaping Hole, Garages Flooded After Massive PA American Water Main Break In Fox Chapel, Allegheny County

-- Tribune-Democrat: Somerset, Maryland Took Different Paths In Flood Recovery; Figures Illuminate Damage Toll

-- Williamsport Sun: Rebound From Tropical Storm Debby Damage Continues For Trout Run, Surrounding Communities

-- WPost: President’s DHS Delaying Millions In Already Approved North Carolina Flood Recovery Funds

-- TribLive/AP: Federal Judge Rules President Cannot Reallocate Billions Meant For Disaster Mitigation

-- Natural Resources Defense Council: New Report Outlines Reforms to Property Insurance Plans Of Last Resort Amid Escalating Climate Disasters 

-- AP: After Deep Cuts, National Weather Service Gets OK To Fill Up To 450 Jobs

-- AP: President Moves To Shut Down NASA Mission  Measuring Carbon Dioxide And Plant Health

-- A.I. /Data Centers

-- Guest Essay: Paying The Price For Natural Gas And A.I. Data Centers - By John Quigley, Senior Fellow, Kleinman Center for Energy Policy  [PaEN]

-- Utility Dive Guest Essay: We At PJM Need Realistic Solutions, Not Politics To Take On Energy Challenges - By Aftab Khan, PJM Executive Vice President Of Operations, Planning and Security  [PaEN] 

-- AP - Marc Levy: As Electric Bills Rise, Evidence Mounts That A.I. Data Centers Share The Blame, States Feel Pressure To Act  [PA Included]

-- MCall: As Electric Bills Rise Due To A.I. Data Center Demand, PJM Electricity Auction, What Lehigh Valley Utilities Say To Expect [PPL - Last 2 PJM Auctions Have Increased Monthly Bills $20 With No Benefit To Customers]  [PDF of Article]

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: The Price Of A.I. - How Is A.I. Impacting Energy Production And Prices? 

-- Inside Climate News: Why Electricity Prices Are Soaring In The PJM Grid Region Explained In 5 Charts 

-- PA Senate Republican Policy Committee To Hold Aug. 11 Hearing On A.I. Data Center Development In Lackawanna County  [PaEN]

-- Scranton Times: State Senate To Hold A.I. Data Center Hearing At Valley View High School

-- Scranton Times: Proposed State Senate Bill To Fast Track Data Centers, Limit Local Zoning  [Senate Bill 939]   [PDF of Article]

-- ReedSmith Law Firm: The A.I. Data Center Surge In PA - Legislative Initiatives

-- Physicians For Social Responsibility PA: The Harms And Impacts Of PA’s New A.I. Data Center Hype

-- Gov. Shapiro, DEP Secretary Shirley Highlight Work To Speed Up Permitting At Future Amazon A.I. Data Center Site In Bucks County  [Video/Photos]

-- Courier Times: Gov. Shapiro, Officials Tout Thousands Of Bucks County Construction Jobs With Ex-US Steel Site For A.I. Data Centers 

-- Financial Times Visual Story: Inside The Relentless Race For A.I. Capacity; Critics Question The Cost, Environmental Impact And Whether It’s All Needed 

-- Scranton Times: Al’s Quick Stop Convenience Store Developer Proposes A.I. Data Centers In Blakely, Lackawanna County; Q/A With Developer Aug. 13  [PDF of Article]

-- TribLive: Residents See 1st Glimpse Of Massive 180 MW A.I. Data Center In Springdale, Allegheny County 

-- KDKA: Former Site Of Springdale Coal-Fired Power Plant Could Become A.I. Data Center

-- TribLive: Springdale A.I. Data Center Could Be One Of Many In Region

-- TribLive: A.I. Data Center Tenant Could Be Announced At New TECfusions Upper Burrell Site Within Weeks In Westmoreland County 

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: $15 Billion A.I. Data Center Project In Cumberland County To Get First Plan Review Monday, Aug. 11

-- LancasterOnline: A.I. Data Center Noise Won’t Be Regulated By Lancaster City Ordinances 

-- WGAL: NRC Held 2nd Public Meeting On Possible Restart Of Undamaged Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant Unit One

-- The Center Square: Public Opinion Ranges From Those Eager For Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant To Restart To Serve A.I. Data Centers To Those Concerned About Human, Environmental Consequences 

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster City Planning Commission Sets Hearing To Look Into Zoning Approval Decision For A.I. Data Centers  

-- Bitfarms Announces Partnership To Develop A.I. Data Center At Panther Creek Waste Coal-Fired Power Plant In Carbon County  [PaEN] 

-- FracTracker Alliance Releases National A.I. Data Centers Tracker; Public Invited To Submit Information  [PaEN] 

-- Williamsport Sun Guest Essay: A.I. Data Centers And Cryptocurrency Mining Energy Use Needs A Clear Disadvantage - By Karen Elias, Climate Reality  [PDF of Article] 

--  Axios: Recently Upgraded Twin Ridges Wind Power Facility In Somerset County Could Help With A.I. Data Center Energy Needs

-- NorthcentralPA.com: A.I. Data Center- Fueled Natural Gas Gold Rush Bubbling In Northcentral PA 

-- Altoona Mirror: Pennsylvania Poised For A.I. Data Center Industry Growth  [PDF of Article]

-- Utility Dive: Independent Power Producers Hit Back At Utilities [Like PPL] That Want To Build Their Own Generation Due To PJM Price Surge 

-- Post-Gazette: Cryptocurrency Firm Among Dark Money Donors In Race For Pittsburgh Mayor

-- WESA: Health Care Is Embracing A.I.: Some PA Lawmakers Say Guardrails Are Needed

-- Post-Gazette: Cryptocurrency Firm Among Dark Money Donors In Race For Pittsburgh Mayor

-- AP: New Study Sheds Light On ChatGPT’s Alarming Interactions With Teens

-- Financial Times: Inside The A.I Race - Can Data Centres Ever Truly Be Green?

-- Financial Times: US Licenses Nvidia To Export A.I. Chips To China After CEO Meets With President

-- Education

-- WITF: Education Advocates Pressure PA Lawmakers To Include Private Cyber Charter School Reforms In Late Budget

-- The Center Square: Analysis: Nearly 40% Of PA Schools ‘Persistently Dangerous’

-- Inquirer: Federal Judge Dismissed Quakertown Student’s Lawsuit Alleging Her Rights Were Violated By Competing Against A Trans Athlete

-- TribLive: Fayette Legislator - Convert Penn State Fayette Into George Marshall Military College

-- Inquirer: University Of Pennsylvania Law School Pauses Scholarship Honoring Its First Black Female Graduate Sadie T.M. Alexander; Plans To Close Equal Opportunity Office [Under Pressure From President] 

-- The Story Of Sadie T.M. Alexander

-- WHYY: PA Universities Cutting Costs Thru Layoffs, Mergers To Meet Financial Challenges

-- AP: College Endowment Tax Is Leading To Hiring Freezes And Could Mean Cuts In Financial Aid  [Includes PA Schools]

-- WITF: Palestinians Influenced By Demons, Homosexuals By A Pagan God - Messianic Jews Share Beliefs At PA’s Messiah University

-- TribLive: Students For Justice In Palestine Fights Suspension Imposed By University Of Pittsburgh

-- TribLive/AP: President Orders Colleges To Prove They Don’t Consider Race In Admissions

-- AP: New Study Sheds Light On ChatGPT’s Alarming Interactions With Teens

-- Health Care

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Counties Sound Alarm That State Budget Stalemate Threatens Essential Services - By Sherene Hess, Indiana County Commissioner

-- WHYY: PA Home Health Care Agencies Call For $370 Million In State Budget To Avoid Care Crisis

-- Spotlight PA: Nursing Home Industry Fights Additional Oversight Of Wall Street Acquisitions

-- TribLive: Mark Cuban Touts Pharmacy Deal With Giant Eagle: ‘We’re Trying To Disrupt An Industry’

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Pennsylvania Won’t Have A.I. Without Good Rural Hospitals Providing Quality Medical Care To Employees - By Nicole Stallings, CEO, Hospital & Healthsystem Assn. Of PA

-- Inquirer: More Than 300,000 Pennsylvanians Could Lose Medicaid; Some Don’t Even Know They’re On It

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh-Area Science Experts Say Public Health Could Be In Jeopardy After Cancellation Of Federal Vaccine Research Funding

-- TribLive/AP: President Signs Order Giving Politicians  Control Over All Federal Grants, Alarming Researchers

-- WESA: Health Care Is Embracing A.I.: Some PA Lawmakers Say Guardrails Are Needed

-- TribLive/AP: President’s Dept. Of Health & Human Services Pulls $500 Million In Funding For Vaccine Development

-- Law Enforcement

-- AP: Suspect Who ‘Ambushed’ 2 PA State Troopers In Shooting Is Dead, Official Says

-- The Center Square: Violent Crime Continues Downward Trend In Pennsylvania

-- Spotlight PA: Detecting Child Abuse Can Require Medical Training, But PA Lacks Consistent Rules

-- Beaver Times: Democratic Cong. Deluzio Wants More Information On Federal ICE Activities In Abridge, Beaver County

-- Beaver Times: PA Reports Huge Growth In Number Of Gamblers Seeking Help To Stop

-- WHYY: PA Advocates Call For Shutdown Of Clearfield County Federal ICE Detainee’s Hanging Death

-- Inquirer: Montgomery County Municipal Officials Face Pressure To Adopt Anti-ICE Policies Across 62 Communities

-- Observer-Reporter  ICE-Detained Washington County Church Member Awaits Immigration Hearing

-- Inquirer: Hundreds Rally In Philly To Support Cafe Owner Being Held In Federal ICE Detention Center

-- Courier Times: Federal ICE Arrested 2 Men In Bucks County Courthouse, Why This Worries Civil Rights Advocates

-- WITF: Federal ICE Arrests Lancaster City Mother At Alternatives To Detention Hearing

-- WESA/Spotlight PA: Fear Grips Berks County Latino Community As Federal ICE Raids Take Place Nearby

-- TribLive: Emiliano’s Restaurants Vows To Reopen After Feds Seize 16 In Immigration Raids In Butler County

-- TribLive: More Than $100,000 Raised To Help 16 Snared In Federal ICE Raids At Emiliano’s Restaurants

-- NextPittsburgh: Pittsburgh Nonprofits Rally Around Immigrants Amid Federal ICE Crackdowns

-- Centre Daily Times: How Centre County Residents, Organizations Are Responding To Growing Federal ICE Fears

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: The Government Can’t Turn Everyone Into Immigration Enforcement Officers

-- TribLive: Suspect In Federal ICE Custody After Fatal Coraopolis Hit And Run

-- The Center Square: Only Philadelphia In PA Remains On Federal ‘Sanctuary Jurisdiction’ List

-- MCall: Lehigh Valley Counties No Longer On List Of ‘Sanctuary Jurisdictions’ As President Releases New List

-- WESA: Pittsburgh, Allegheny County Absent From Revised Federal ‘Sanctuary Jurisdiction’ List

-- The Economy

-- TribLive: As Contract Talks Loom, Union Workers Grapple With Rift Over US Steel-Nippon Deal

-- The Center Square: Dept. Of Labor & Industry Uses A.I. Chat System To Process Unemployment Compensation Requests 

-- WESA: Downtown Pittsburgh Offices Continue To Empty, But Efforts To Reimagine Them Take Hold

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Core Natural Resources Cuts Back On Metallurgical Coal Operations, Lays Off Workers Amid Market Downturn

-- Post-Gazette: New Labor Dept. Report  Finds Nearly 2 Million Are Unemployed In US, Highest Since Pandemic

[Posted: August 10, 2025]