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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Inquirer: PA’s Political Elite Return To New York’s Waldorf Astoria For Ritzy Pennsylvania Society Dinner In Its 127th Year

-- Gov. Shapiro

-- The Center Square: Gov. Shapiro, Utah Governor Joined Journalist Savannah Guthrie For Discussion Of Intense Polarization And Political Violence At National Cathedral

-- PennLive - John Baer: Gov. Shapiro’s Big-Time Media Ride Was Impressive Despite Some Bumps

-- WITF: PA Senate Republicans Subpoena Records For Security Upgrades At Gov. Shapiro’s Private Residence

-- TribLive Editorial: Oversight Of Public Spending Starts With Receipts But Shouldn’t Stop There  [Shapiro Home Security Measures] 

-- AP: Federal Judge Orders FEMA To Restore Billions In Canceled Disaster Mitigation Funding [PA Included] 

-- Race For Governor

-- Post-Gazette: Republican Attorney General Sunday Endorses Republican Stacy Garrity For Governor

-- Budget 2026

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Financial Cliff Looms For State Budget

-- Post-Gazette: Allegheny County And Officials Elsewhere Want State To Pay For State Budget Impasse Costs

-- Erie Times: When Feds Block PA Funding, Should State Bite Back And Withhold Funds?  Democrats Say Yes  [PDF of Article]

-- PA House/Senate

-- Inquirer: PA Democrats Begin Efforts To Flip State Senate With Challenge To Sen. Pennycuick In Montgomery County

-- WITF: PA Senate Republicans Subpoena Records For Security Upgrades At Gov. Shapiro’s Private Residence

-- Erie Times: When Feds Block PA Funding, Should State Bite Back And Withhold Funds?  Democrats Say Yes  [PDF of Article]

-- The Center Square: PA House Republican Bill Would Mandate English Language Proficiency Test For All Drivers

-- US Senate/House

-- Post-Gazette: Republican PA Con. Thompson Wants More Farmer Help After A Year Of President’s Tariffs

-- Post-Gazette: PA Members Of Congress Traded Up To $58.8 Million In Stocks In 2025 As Congress Considers Stock Trading Ban 

-- Statewide Offices

-- Post-Gazette: Republican Attorney General Sunday Endorses Republican Stacy Garrity For Governor

-- 2025 Elections

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Voter Turnout Topped 42% In November’s Election

-- 2026 Elections

-- AP: President Led Republicans To Power In 2024, But 2026 Could Be A Different Story

-- Elections

-- Beaver Times/PA Capital-Star: Pennsylvania Independent Voters File Lawsuit To End Closed Primaries

-- Protesting The President

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Pettiness Is Not Governance [Changing Dr. Rachel Levine Portrait Name]

-- Inquirer: Would PA Coal Miners Really Turn Down A ‘Beautiful, Magnificent’ Manhattan Penthouse, As President Claims?  We Asked Them  [Spoiler: ‘Sure As Hell Wouldn’t Turn A Penthouse Down’]

-- Post-Gazette: Thousands Of Coal Miners Left In Danger By Critical Federal Enforcement Gaps: Toxic Levels Of Dust Can Remain Undetected For Days

-- Observer-Reporter: Robena Coal Mine Disaster That Killed 37 In 1962 Remembered In Greene County [PDF of Article]

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Tariffs

-- Post-Gazette: Republican PA Con. Thompson Wants More Farmer Help After A Year Of President’s Tariffs

-- TribLive: Local Farmers Skeptical About Impact Of President’s Farm Help Program To Compensate For Impact Of President’s Tariffs

-- AP: President Giving Farmers $12 Billion In Aid To Compensate For Economic Harm Done To Farmers By The President’s Tariffs

-- Wall Street Journal Editorial: President’s Latest Round Of Aid For US Farmers Hurt By His Global Trade Wars [Money Coming From Tariffs - ‘Now Watch, As The Left Hand Pays Off The Right’]

-- AP: Shoppers Say ‘Tis The Season For Inflation, AP-NORC Poll Finds [President’s Tariffs, Grocery, Electricity Prices]

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Policies

-- TribLive: Expiring Federal Health Insurance Subsidies Prompt Thousands To Drop Insurance In PA [Republicans In Congress Have Not Acted To Extend Subsidies]

-- PA Capital-Star: Congressional Health Insurance Tug-O-War Puts Pennsylvanians In A Lurch; Premiums Expected To Double Without Action 

-- WESA: Pennsylvania See Health Insurance Premium Rise As Congress Continues Debate Over Reauthorizing Subsidies To Lower Costs

-- Post-Gazette: US Farmers Say President’s $12 Billion Bailout Won’t End Industry Slump [Caused By President’s Tariffs, Low Crop Prices]

-- Beaver Times: Regional Organizations Prepare For More Federal Food Stamp Benefits Losses, Holidays

-- WITF: Lancaster County Officials, Advocates Still Uncertain Amid President’s Administration Changes In Homelessness Policies, Funding

-- AP: Federal Judge Orders FEMA To Restore Billions In Canceled Disaster Mitigation Funding [PA Included] 

-- Wall Street Journal: Fed Chair Jerome Powell Says US May Be Drastically Overstating Jobs Numbers: May Be Losing 20,000 Jobs A Month 

-- New Federal Administration

-- AP: President’s Speech On Combating Inflation Turns To Grievances About Immigrants From ‘Filthy’ Countries

-- Inquirer: President Calls Affordability A ‘Hoax’ And PA A ‘Dumping Ground’ For Immigrants

-- Morning Call: President Savages Rivals, Touts Economic Record At Packed Mount Airy Casino Rally

-- The Center Square: President Beings Down-Ballot Rallying In Pennsylvania

-- Post-Gazette: President Touts Economy In Poconos As Democrats Apply Pressure On Affordability, Health Care

-- Beaver Times: Presidents Slams ‘Stupid People’ Critical Of Him, Defends Economic Record In PA Rally

-- Inquirer Editorial: President Can No Longer Disguise The Bigotry Behind His Immigration Policies

-- Beaver Times: Fmr. Gov. Wolf, PA Democrats Slam Federal HHS ‘Deadname’ Of Dr. Rachel Levine Portrait

-- Miscellaneous State/Harrisburg Politics

-- York Dispatch Editorial: Our Elected Officials Must Stop Hiding From The People They Represent

-- A.I. /Data Centers

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - December 15  [PaEN] 

-- Morning Call - Elizabeth Deornellas: How A.I. Data Centers Are Driving Up The Cost Of Electricity And What Grid Operators Can Do [PDF of Article]

-- PUC: Most PA Electric Utility Consumers To See 3.7% To 10.6% Increase In Electricity Prices During The Next 3 Months Starting Dec. 1  [PaEN] 

-- Scranton Times - Chris Kelly Opinion: PPL Proposed 7% Rate Hike A.I. Data Center Driven  [PDF of Article] 

-- Scranton Times: Customer, Elected Officials Blast Proposed PPL Rate Increase, Concerns About Ratepayers Footing The Bill For A.I. Data Centers   [PDF of Article] 

-- Morning Call: Lehigh Valley Residents Warn Of Affordability Crisis, Ask PUC To Reject PPL’s Proposed 7% Rate Increase 

-- PaGasSwitch.com: Natural Gas Costs Increased From 9.26% to 57.5% Over The Last Year For Natural Gas Utility Customers Not Shopping For A Fuel Supplier  [PaEN] 

-- Scranton Times: A.I. Data Center Developer Tied To Projects In Archbald, Blakely Proposes Projects In Dickson City; 54 Data Center Buildings Now Proposed Across Archbald, Dickson City, Jessup In Lackawanna County [PDF of Article] 

-- YaleEnvironment360:  Pennsylvania Faces A New Natural Gas Fracking Boom With Soaring Energy Demands Needed To Feed A.I. Data Centers  [PaEN] 

-- Capitol Wire: Natural Gas Fracking Activity In Pennsylvania Surges As Power Demand From A.I. Data Centers Increases 

-- Environmental Quality Board Votes To Accept Petition To Study An Increase In Setback Safety Zones From Shale Gas Wells; And 3 Petitions From Oil & Gas Industry To Change Other Requirements  [PaEN] 

-- Wall Street Journal: The Political Skirmish Over President’s A.I. Order Is Just Beginning The Populist Opposition Against Technology That Holds The Promise Of Eliminating Lots Of Jobs [PDF of Article]  

-- International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

-- AAA Average Gasoline Prices:  National- $2.91  Ohio- $2.83  PA- $3.16

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs - 18 - Same As Last 3 Weeks

-- PaGasSwitch.com: Natural Gas Costs Increased From 9.26% to 57.5% Over The Last Year For Natural Gas Utility Customers Not Shopping For A Fuel Supplier  [PaEN] 

-- Morning Call - Elizabeth Deornellas: How A.I. Data Centers Are Driving Up The Cost Of Electricity And What Grid Operators Can Do [PDF of Article]

-- PUC Highlights Ways Natural Gas Customers Can Manage Winter Energy Use, Costs, Explore Energy Affordability Options  [PaEN] 

-- PUC Publishes Updates To Low-Income Natural Gas, Electric Utility Usage Reduction Program Regulations  [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: PUC Approves Columbia Gas Rate Increase - 13th Since 2008

-- Independent Fiscal Office: 2025 Act 13 Shale Gas Impact Fee Revenue Estimate $239.9 Million, Up $75.3 Million From Last Year  [PaEN] 

-- YaleEnvironment360:  Pennsylvania Faces A New Natural Gas Fracking Boom With Soaring Energy Demands Needed To Feed A.I. Data Centers  [PaEN] 

-- Capitol Wire: Natural Gas Fracking Activity In Pennsylvania Surges As Power Demand From A.I. Data Centers Increases 

-- Sen. Yaw Bill To Subsidize Building Only Natural Gas Power Plants To Help Meet The Energy Demands Of A.I. Data Centers; Continues ‘One Of The Above’ Energy Policy  [PaEN]

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - December 15  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Invites Comments On Water Quality Permit Approvals For Eastern Gas Transmission & Storage Appalachian Reliability Pipeline Project In Armstrong, Greene, Westmoreland Counties  [PaEN] 

-- PJM Interconnection Issues Cold Weather Alert For Dec. 13 In Illinois, And Dec. 14, 15 In Its Western Region, Including Duquesne Light, Penn Power, West Penn Power  [PaEN]

-- Reuters: US House Passes Bill To Fast-Track Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting

-- KYW: NJ Governor Declares Emergency Over Propane Shortage Due To Nov. 21 Power Outage At Marcus Hook Refinery In Delaware County

-- Bloomberg: EU Offers Easier Path For US LNG Gas Exporters To Meet Methane Rules

-- Reuters: US EIA: US Power Use To Reach Record Highs In 2025, 2026: Natural Gas Generation Slides 2%; Renewables Increase 2%; Nuclear Drops 1%; Coal Same 

-- Flooding

-- Pottstown Mercury: Perkiomen Creek Mapping And Flood Mitigation Plan Completed

-- Gas Explosions

-- TribLive: Some Defendants In Plum Boro Fatal Natural Gas Explosion Case Ask Judge To Dismiss Negligence Claims 

-- Train Derailments

-- WFMJ: Norfolk Southern Reports Restoration Complete At Ohio Train Derailment Site

-- Health Care

-- TribLive: Expiring Federal Health Insurance Subsidies Prompt Thousands To Drop Insurance In PA [Republicans In Congress Have Not Acted To Extend Subsidies]

-- PA Capital-Star: Congressional Health Insurance Tug-O-War Puts Pennsylvanians In A Lurch; Premiums Expected To Double Without Action 

-- WESA: Pennsylvania See Health Insurance Premium Rise As Congress Continues Debate Over Reauthorizing Subsidies To Lower Costs

-- Spotlight PA: Opioid Settlement Spending Faces Growing Scrutiny As PA Awaits Millions More

-- Spotlight PA: New Documentary Reveals Faults In PA’s System To Protect Older Adults From Abuse, Neglect

-- Beaver Times: Fmr. Gov. Wolf, PA Democrats Slam Federal HHS ‘Deadname’ Of Dr. Rachel Levine Portrait

-- Law Enforcement

-- Spotlight PA: New Documentary Reveals Faults In PA’s System To Protect Older Adults From Abuse, Neglect

-- WESA: Commonwealth Court Judge Questions A.I. ‘Hallucinations’ In Plaintiff's Brief Challenging PA Human Relations Commission Protections Of Transgender Students Involving Beaver County School District, 2 PA House Members 

-- The Center Square: Judicial Tort Reform Advocates Single Out Philadelphia

-- TribLive: Springdale Police Quietly Ink Deal With Federal ICE Without Public Vote, Notice

-- The Economy

-- Dept. Of Labor & Industry Reports September PA Unemployment 4.1%, Up 0.1% From August

-- Wall Street Journal: Fed Chair Jerome Powell Says US May Be Drastically Overstating Jobs Numbers: May Be Losing 20,000 Jobs A Month 

-- Other

-- TribLive: Sports Betting Websites To Require Valid ID In PA

[Posted: December 14, 2025]