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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Gov. Shapiro

-- TribLive/AP: Josh Shapiro To Run For 2nd Term As PA Governor, Trailed By Talk Of 2028 White House Bid

-- Inquirer: Gov. Shapiro’s Reelection Campaign In PA Starts Now, But 2028 Presidential Race Looms Large

-- Post-Gazette: How Much Will Shapiro’s Potential White House Hopes Factor In Governor’s Race?

-- Inquirer: Shapiro Asks Pennsylvania Voters To Choose ‘Getting Stuff Done’ Over ‘Chaos’ As He Kicks Off 2026 Reelection Bid

-- NBCNews: Josh Shapiro Grapples With Pennsylvania’s Divided Government Ahead Of A Possible Presidential Bid

-- WITF: Gov. Shapiro Pans President’s Seizure Of Venezuelan President Saying US Should Not Be Engaging In Regime Change Wars

-- Governor: 2025 Impact Report Shows How PA Is Delivering Faster Permitting, Supporting Business Development, Creating New Economic Opportunity 

-- Governor: Pennsylvania Ranks Among Top States For New Business Survival

-- Race For Governor

-- Inquirer: Shapiro Asks Pennsylvania Voters To Choose ‘Getting Stuff Done’ Over ‘Chaos’ As He Kicks Off 2026 Reelection Bid

-- TribLive: Shapiro Formally Launches Reelection Campaign In Allegheny County

-- TribLive/AP: Josh Shapiro To Run For 2nd Term As PA Governor, Trailed By Talk Of 2028 White House Bid

-- Post-Gazette: How Much Will Shapiro’s Potential White House Hopes Factor In Governor’s Race?

-- Inquirer: Gov. Shapiro’s Reelection Campaign In PA Starts Now, But 2028 Presidential Race Looms Large

-- The Center Square: Shapiro/Davis Launch Campaign With Big Achievements, Bigger Crises

-- Inquirer: Race Between Shapiro And Garrity For PA Governor Has Begun; Here’s What You Need To Know

-- TribLive Editorial: What Does Pennsylvania’s 2026 Governor’s Race Tell Us? 

-- PA Capital-Star: Republican Stacy Garrity’s Campaign Will Put Josh Shapiro’s First 3 Years As Governor Under A Microscope

-- Post-Gazette - Adriana E. Ramirez: Is Pennsylvania  A Mediocre State Or Is Stacy Garrity A Mediocre Candidate? 

-- Post-Gazette: Shapiro Campaign Has Record $30 Million In Cash On Hand To Kick Off 2026  

-- Post-Gazette: ‘Intense Energy’ Around PA Governor’s Race, 35 Others Across US In 2026

-- Inquirer: Republican State Sen. Mastriano Won’t Run For Governor Again In 2026 

-- PennLive: Republican Sen. Mastriano Says ‘Only Way’ For Garrity To Win Governor’s Race Is With Him On The Ticket

-- PA House/Senate

-- WESA: New Analysis Says PA General Assembly Among The Least Effective In Country; Some Say Reform Is Needed

-- The Center Square: Predatory Home Lending Practices Eyed For Reform In PA

-- US Senate/House

-- Morning Call: Republican Cong. Mackenzie Splits With Republicans To Push Forward Extension Of Health Insurance Subsidies

-- Scranton Times: Republican Cong. Bresnahan Votes Yes On Extension Of Health Insurance Subsidies

-- Inquirer: Republican Cong. Fitzpatrick, PA Swing-District Republicans Join Democrats In Extending Health Insurance Subsidies

-- AP: US House Passes Extension Of Health Insurance Subsidies In Defiance Of Republican Leader

-- Morning Call: New Democrat Jumps Into Crowded Lehigh Valley Race For Congress

-- Special Elections

-- WHTM: PA House Speaker Sets March 17 Special Elections To Fill House Seats In Adams, Blair Counties

-- Morning Call: Democrats Choose New Candidate For Lehigh Valley PA House Special Election, Initial Candidate Drops Out For ‘Personal Reasons’

-- 2026 Elections

-- WITF: PA Democrats Seek Boost From Shapiro’s 2026 Campaign For Governor 

-- Spotlight PA: High-Stakes 2026 Elections Will Determine Control Of PA Legislature, Which Party Sets Policy 

-- Post-Gazette: Allegheny County Party Leaders Wonder If ‘Huge Blue [Democratic] Wave’ Will Continue In 2026 Legislative Elections 

-- Elections

-- Spotlight PA: PA Says It Isn’t In Talks To Hand Over Private Voter Information, Despite Ohio Official’s Claim

-- National Elections

-- TribLive: Democrats Look For Leader To Emerge, A Focus On Platform Issues Ahead Of Midterms

-- TribLive: Fight For The Right: Is The MAGA Movement The Future Of The Republicans?

-- York Daily Record: PA Lawmaker Seeks To Keep Ineligible Candidates Off Voting Ballots [Third-Term Presidential Candidates]

-- Protesting The President

-- Erie Times: Groups To Hold Erie Vigil For Immigrants, Refugees; How To Attend

-- Spotlight PA: PA Says It Isn’t In Talks To Hand Over Private Voter Information, Despite Ohio Official’s Claim

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Tariffs

-- AP: President Overturned Decades Of US Trade Policy In 2025; The Impact In 4 Charts, Tariffs Took $236 Billion Out Of US Economy Thru November 

-- Federal Funding Loss

-- Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania Could Lose $200+ Million In Federal Funding For Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Plugging Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned By Their Owners Under Budget Bill Passed By US House  [PaEN] 

-- Post-Gazette - Laura Legere: US House Spending Bill Cuts $785 Million From Federal Programs To Restore Abandoned Coal Mines, Plug Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned By Their Owners - A Severe Blow To Pennsylvania’s Cleanup Efforts  [PDF of Article]

-- Appalachian Voices: Coal Community Groups Urge Congress To Reject $500 Million Raid On Abandoned Mine Cleanup Funds; PA Would Lose Over $169 Million  [PaEN]

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Policies

-- Inquirer: PA, NJ Lost Thousands Of Jobs After Federal Workers Signed Up For President’s Resignation Program  

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Health Insurance Enrollments Drop As Congress Wrestles With Extending Health Insurance Subsidies 

-- PennLive - John Baer: Why Spike In Health Insurance Costs Isn’t Getting Fixed 

-- Morning Call: Republican Cong. Mackenzie Splits With Republicans To Push Forward Extension Of Health Insurance Subsidies

-- Scranton Times: Republican Cong. Bresnahan Votes Yes On Extension Of Health Insurance Subsidies

-- Inquirer: Republican Cong. Fitzpatrick, PA Swing-District Republicans Join Democrats In Extending Health Insurance Subsidies

-- AP: US House Passes Extension Of Health Insurance Subsidies In Defiance Of Republican Leaders

-- AP: Doctors Say Federal Changes To US Vaccine Recommendations Are Confusing Parents,  Could Harm Kids 

-- The Citizens Voice: Local Hospital Officials Concerned About President’s New HHS Vaccine Recommendations

-- Inquirer: President’s Administration Jails Migrant Teens In PA Facility Known For Child Abuse

-- The Citizens Voice: Schuylkill County Identified As Potential Location For ICE Detention Center 

--  TribLive: New Pittsburgh Mayor Vows City Won’t Cooperate With ICE

-- WNEP: Lewisburg Community Protests ICE Shootings

-- Erie Times Guest Essay: How Will Erie Neighborhoods Respond If Targeted By ICE?

-- Beaver Times: Where Is ICE? How To Track Immigration Raids Near You 

-- Morning Call: Lehigh Valley Business, Faith Groups Hold Vigils For Minnesota Woman Killed By ICE Agent

-- AP: What To Know About Fatal Shooting Of Woman By An ICE Officer In Minneapolis 

-- The Economist: The ‘Terrorist’ Killed By ICE Was A Mum In Her SUV

-- PennLive Editorial: In The Age Of Diversity-Equity-Inclusion Backlash, King’s Message Matters More Than Ever

-- The Guardian: President Has Left US Less Prepared For Natural Disasters, Experts Say

-- PA’s Role In Assault On US Capitol

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: The True Story Of The Assault On The US Capitol Jan. 6, Not The Current White House Version

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay-Joseph Sabino Mistic: Remember The Jan. 6 Assault On US Capitol - The Unvarnished Truth

-- PennLive: PA Democrats Criticize President For Pardons Of Those Involved In Jan. 6 Attack On The US Capitol  

-- Inquirer Editorial: Five Years On, Jan. 6 Assault On US Capital Propelled President’s Grotesque Return

-- TribLive/AP:  Plaque Made To Honor Capitol Police Who Defended Democracy During Jan. 6 Assault On US Capitol Is Not On Public Display As Required By Law   

-- Miscellaneous State/Harrisburg Politics

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: Pennsylvania’s Leaders Are Losing Gen Z [13 to 28] Because They Are Too Slow To Respond, Detached From Daily Realities, According To Survey - By Jarrett James Lash, Municipal Planner in Montgomery County 

-- Spotlight PA: Gen Z Has Entered City Hall, Meet 4 Young PA Mayors Who Want To Bring New Ideas To Local Government

-- PennLive Editorial: In The Age Of Diversity-Equity-Inclusion Backlash, King’s Message Matters More Than Ever

-- Erie Times: Emily Merski Sworn In As New Erie County Judge As Gov. Tom Ridge Looks On

-- A.I. /Data Centers

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - January 12  [PaEN] 

-- PennFuture News: There Isn’t Enough Energy For You And A.I. Data Centers In The PJM Grid, So Who Gets It? 

-- Canary Media: Is The US Headed Toward An Electricity Crisis Of Its Own Making As A Result Of A.I. Data Center Demand, President’s Policies? 

-- Washington & Jefferson College: Electric Bills Will Continue To Rise After PJM Auction Due To A.I. Data Center Power Demand Increases

-- Vistra Corp Buys 2 More PA Natural Gas Power Plants; Facebook/Meta Buys 20 Years Of Power From Beaver Valley Nuclear Plant; 18 PA Power Plants Now Locked Up To Feed A.I. Data Centers  [PaEN]

-- The Daily Yonder: The A.I. Data Center Rush In Appalachia, Rural Communities Push Back 

-- Wash Post: A.I. Data Center Rebellion Is Here And It’s Reshaping The Political Landscape  [PA Highlighted]  [PDF of Article] 

-- Sen. Boscola To Introduce 6-Bill Package To Protect Pennsylvania Communities And Ratepayers From Large-Scale A.I. Data Centers Rapidly Expanding Across The State  [PaEN] 

-- Republican Herald Editorial: State Must Aggressively Seek Regulations Specific To A.I. Data Centers [PDF of Article] 

-- International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

-- AAA Average Gasoline Prices: National- $2.79  Ohio- $2.72  PA- $3.02

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs- 18 - Same For 7 Weeks

-- PennFuture News: There Isn’t Enough Energy For You And A.I. Data Centers In The PJM Grid, So Who Gets It? 

-- Spotlight PA: As PA Energy Prices Rise, Advocates Skeptical That Lawmakers Will Put Aside Partisan Differences

-- Washington & Jefferson College: Electric Bills Will Continue To Rise After PJM Auction Due To A.I. Data Center Power Demand Increases

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Area Dollar Energy Fund Sees Requests For Heating Assistance Double From Last Year 

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - January 12  [PaEN] 

-- Sen. Boscola To Introduce 6-Bill Package To Protect Pennsylvania Communities And Ratepayers From Large-Scale A.I. Data Centers Rapidly Expanding Across The State  [PaEN] 

-- The Center Square: Sen. Boscola To Introduce Consumer Protection Package For A.I. Data Centers

-- Republican Herald Editorial: State Must Aggressively Seek Regulations Specific To A.I. Data Centers [PDF of Article] 

-- Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania Could Lose $200+ Million In Federal Funding For Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Plugging Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned By Their Owners Under Budget Bill Passed By US House  [PaEN] 

-- Bloomberg: A.I. Data Center Demand Added $6.5 Billion To PJM Interconnect Ratepayer Costs In Last Auction; $23.1 Billion In Costs June 2025 Through May 2028 

-- Utility Dive: A.I. Data Center Demand Was 40% Of The $47.2 Billion Cost Imposed On PJM Electric Ratepayers In Last Auction: PJM Market Monitor 

-- Vistra Corp Buys 2 More PA Natural Gas Power Plants; Facebook/Meta Buys 20 Years Of Power From Beaver Valley Nuclear Plant; 18 PA Power Plants Now Locked Up To Feed A.I. Data Centers  [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Water Quality Permits For The Appalachia To Market 3 Pipeline Project In Adams, York, Bedford Counties; 3 Other Natural Gas Pipeline Projects In Greene And Washington Counties  [PaEN]  

-- DEP Invites Comments On Water Quality Permits For Appalachia Midstream 3 Mile Natural Gas Gathering Pipeline In Lycoming County; And A 2nd Natural Gas Gathering Pipeline In Bradford County  [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection: 2025 Year In Review Part II: PJM Revised Market Rules With Goal Of Supporting Efficiency, Increasing Generation Resources  [PaEN]

-- Canary Media: Is The US Headed Toward An Electricity Crisis Of Its Own Making As A Result Of A.I. Data Center Demand, President’s Policies? 

-- Utility Dive: Electric Utilities Under Pressure: 6 Power Sector Trends To Watch In 2026

-- Inside Climate News: Looking Ahead To A Deepening Affordability Crisis, An Election And The Threat Of An A.I. Investment Bubble

Venezuela Action

-- WSJ: Consumers Love Cheap Gasoline, But With More Oil From Venezuela, The Oil Patch Will Pay The Price

-- WashPost: Exxon CEO Calls Venezuela ‘Uninvestable’ Without ‘Significant Changes;’ The Numbers Don’t Add Up

-- WSJ: President Presses Oil Executives To Invest In Venezuela, But Gets Lukewarm Reception

-- Financial Times: US Oil Groups Warn They Will Need Taxpayer Guarantees To Invest In Venezuela

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader/AP: President Promises Oil Executives ‘Total Safety’ If They Invest In Venezuela Oil Facilities

-- AP: Why Boosting Production Of Venezuela’s ‘Very Dense, Very Sloppy’ Oil Could Harm The Environment

-- Bloomberg: Satellite Images Reveal Venezuela’s Massive Oil & Gas Industry Methane Problem

-- NY Times: US To Control Venezuela Oil Sales ‘Indefinitely,’ DOE Secretary Says 

-- TribLive: President Says Venezuela Will ‘Turn Over’ Up To 50 Million Barrels Of Oil To US

-- TribLive/AP: President’s Plan To Seize, Revitalize Venezuela’s Oil Industry Faces Major Hurdles 

-- Warren Times Editorial: Does The President Have An Actual Strategy For Venezuela?

-- WITF: Gov. Shapiro Pans President’s Seizure Of Venezuelan President Saying US Should Not Be Engaging In Regime Change Wars

-- Post-Gazette: Fetterman To Democrats On Venezuela: ‘Stop Comparing Everything To Iraq’

-- Flooding

-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: Philadelphians Will See 15% Discount On Flood Insurance Starting In April 

-- WHYY: Thousands Of Bucks, Montgomery County Residents Live In Flood Zones; A New Study Of Perkiomen Watershed Suggests Ways To Lower The Risk ​​

-- Post-Gazette: As Severe Weather Increasingly Upends Lives, Forecasters Are Working Closer With Pittsburgh Emergency Managers

-- The Guardian: President Has Left US Less Prepared For Natural Disasters, Experts Say

-- Gas Explosions

-- PennLive: 3rd Person Dies After Natural Gas Explosion At Bucks County Nursing Home

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: Lawsuit Claims Bucks County Nursing Home Natural Gas Explosion Could Have Been Prevented; Nursing Home, PECO Failed To Protect People

-- AP: 4 Injured In Bucks County Nursing Home Natural Gas Explosion File Negligence Lawsuit

-- Inquirer: Survivors Of Bucks County Nursing Home Recount Persistent Gas Smell, Lack Of Concern By Staff And A Smoke Break Before Explosion

-- Indiana Gazette: Natural Gas Compressor On Private Property Damaged After A Series Of Five Explosions In Indiana County 

-- Health Care

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Health Insurance Enrollments Drop As Congress Wrestles With Extending Health Insurance Subsidies 

-- PennLive - John Baer: Why Spike In Health Insurance Costs Isn’t Getting Fixed 

-- TribLive: Health Insurance Costs Drive Benefit Cut In Westmoreland County

-- Morning Call: Republican Cong. Mackenzie Splits With Republicans To Push Forward Extension Of Health Insurance Subsidies

-- Scranton Times: Republican Cong. Bresnahan Votes Yes On Extension Of Health Insurance Subsidies

-- Inquirer: Republican Cong. Fitzpatrick, PA Swing-District Republicans Join Democrats In Extending Health Insurance Subsidies

-- AP: US House Passes Extension Of Health Insurance Subsidies In Defiance Of Republican Leaders

-- AP: Doctors Say Federal Changes To US Vaccine Recommendations Are Confusing Parents,  Could Harm Kids 

-- The Citizens Voice: Local Hospital Officials Concerned About President’s New HHS Vaccine Recommendations

-- Tribune-Democrat: Advocates Say Johnstown Stuck In ‘Pharmacy Desert:’ As Class-Action Lawsuit Continues

-- Morning Call: This Could Be Worse Flu Season In 20 Years, Here’s What’s Happening In Lehigh Valley 

-- Law Enforcement

-- The Center Square: Predatory Home Lending Practices Eyed For Reform In PA

-- Spotlight PA: Judges Are Identifying Suspected A.I. Hallucinations In PA Court Cases, Including One At The Highest Levels

-- Erie Times: Groups To Hold Erie Vigil For Immigrants, Refugees; How To Attend

-- Inquirer: President’s Administration Jails Migrant Teens In PA Facility Known For Child Abuse

-- The Citizens Voice: Schuylkill County Identified As Potential Location For ICE Detention Center 

-- Beaver Times: Where Is ICE? How To Track Immigration Raids Near You 

-- The Economy

-- Governor: 2025 Impact Report Shows How PA Is Delivering Faster Permitting, Supporting Business Development, Creating New Economic Opportunity 

-- Governor: Pennsylvania Ranks Among Top States For New Business Survival

-- Dept. Of Labor & Industry Reports November Unemployment Up 0.1% To 4.2%  [5% Is Considered Full Employment In US] 

-- Inquirer: PA, NJ Lost Thousands Of Jobs After Federal Workers Signed Up For President’s Resignation Program  

-- Morning Call: President Says He Wants To Ban Large Investors From Buying Houses, It’s Part Of His Affordability Plan

-- Other

-- Post-Gazette: Post-Gazette To Publish Final Edition And Cease Operations On May 3

-- TribLive:  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette To Cease Operations On May 3

-- WESA: Experts Talk About Impact Of Post-Gazette Closure

-- PennLive - Nancy Eshelman: Post-Gazette Closure Is A Warning No Community Is Too Big To Lose Its News Source

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: In Defense Of Newspapers

-- TribLive: A Look Back At The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s 240-Year History

-- TribLive: TribLive’s Enduring Commitment To Pittsburgh News

-- PennLive - John Beauge: Clinton County Record Ceases Publication After 154 Years

[Posted: January 11, 2026]