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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Gov. Shapiro

-- Post-Gazette: Shapiro, Garrity Divided Over Spending In Spotlight Amid Renewed PA Budget Battle

-- Inquirer: Philly DA Says ‘Don’t Be A Wimp’ After Gov. Shapiro Decried His Comparison Of President’s ICE Agents To Nazis

-- WESA: Shapiro Pick For Board Of Pardons Wins PA Senate Approval Despite Opposition From Public Defenders, Clemency Advocates

-- Spotlight PA: Shapiro’s New Memoir Doesn’t Tell The Full Story About His Time As PA Attorney General

-- Race For Governor

-- Post-Gazette: Shapiro, Garrity Divided Over Spending In Spotlight Amid Renewed PA Budget Battle

-- WITF: PA Republican Governor Hopeful Stacy Garrity Says She’d Work With President’s Administration On PA’s Elections After President Says He Wants To ‘Nationalize’ Election 

-- ABC6: Pennsylvania Officials Rejects President’s Call To ‘Nationalize’ Elections 

-- WITF: Lt. Governor Hopeful Jason Richey Gains State Republican Endorsement Before Primary

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Why Pennsylvania Republicans Think They Can Pull Off A Big Upset In Governor’s Race In 2026

-- PennLive: Garrity Says Shapiro Should Return Over $2 Million From Billionaire Reid Homman Mentioned 2,600 times In Epstein Files

-- Centre Daily Times: Republican Sen. Dush Drops Out Of Lt. Governor Race, Endorses Jason Richey

-- Budget 2026

-- Erie Times: Gov. Shapiro Proposes $53.26 Billion Budget, Draws On Rainy Day Fund

-- PennLive: Shapiro Floats New Budget Proposal, But The Politics Haven’t Changed

-- The Center Square: Balancing Shapiro’s Budget Proposal Hinges On Legislative Quagmires

-- TribLive: Shapiro Proposes Record $53.3 Billion In Spending For Coming Fiscal Year

-- Post-Gazette: Gov. Shapiro Unveils $53.3 Billion PA Budget For 2026-27, Will Not Require Any ‘Broad-Based Tax Increase’

-- Post-Gazette: Shapiro Calls On Lawmakers To Continue Pushing Millions Of Additional Dollars To Underfunded Schools

-- Post-Gazette: Shapiro, Garrity Divided Over Spending In Spotlight Amid Renewed PA Budget Battle

-- PennLive: Shapiro Proposes Cutting Millions Of Dollars From PA Cyber Schools For 3rd Year

-- Post-Gazette: Shapiro Wants To Start Talks Now On Extra Transit Funding For 2027

-- Post-Gazette: Shapiro Pitches PA ‘Skill’ Gambling Games Regulation As Potential $2 Billion Revenue Boost

-- WESA: PA Caregivers Say Shapiro’s Budget Fails To Address Home Health ‘Crisis

-- Spotlight PA: Shapiro Expected To Address Housing Costs, Energy Demand, Unfinished Business In Budget Pitch Feb. 3

-- Inquirer: Housing, Affordability And New Revenue: What To Watch For In Gov. Shapiro’s State Budget Address Today

-- TribLive: PA’s Budget Impasse Ended In November; It’s Already Time To Talk About The Next Budget

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: PA Politicians Must Not Let National Politics Delay The State’s Budget

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Why Taxing Natural Gas Drilling Industry Won’t Solve PA’s Budget Crisis - By American Petroleum Institute PA

-- TribLive: Western PA Casinos Report Mixed Results Despite 5th Year Of Statewide Gambling Revenue Growth

-- Dept. Of Revenue Reports January Tax Revenue $178,2 Million Over Estimate (4.7%), Up $416.8 Million For Fiscal Year (1.7%)

-- Independent Fiscal Office: January State Tax Revenue Exceeded IFO Estimate By $146 Million (3.9%); Fiscal Year To Date Revenues Up $362 Million (1.4%)

-- PA House/Senate

-- Post-Gazette: Southwest PA Republicans Clash With State Party Over Sen. Bartolotta

-- PA Capital-Star: PA House Panel Approves Bill To Limit Exceptions To Sunshine Act Notice Requirements

-- TribLive Editorial: Fixing The Sunshine Act’s Notice Problem

-- US Senate/House

-- TribLive: Fetterman Supports President’s ICE Agent Mask Use Amid Rising Efforts To Identify Agents By Protesters 

-- Post-Gazette: Fetterman Says He’s Opposed To Warehouse Purchases For ICE Detention Centers

-- Inquirer: Janelle Stelson Almost Beat Republican Con. Scott Perry In 2024, She Keeps Outraising Him As She Prepares For Rematch

-- Morning Call Guest Essay: Why Is Gov. Shapiro Backing A Candidate For Congress In Lehigh Valley With Little Or No Name Recognition, No Engagement With Latino Leaders - By Victor Martinez

-- PennLive: Republican Con. Lloyd Smucker Files Lawsuit Against LancasterOnline Claiming Editorial Defamed Him; Editorial Said Smucker Was ‘Lying To His Constituents’ 

-- Special Elections

-- ABC27: Special Election May 19 To Fill Vacant Seat Of Republican Rep. Grove In York County

-- 2026 Elections

-- Wall Street Journal: In Allentown, Republicans Are Fighting To Keep Latino Support, But Economy, Deportations Are Headwinds In Midterm Elections 

-- Elections

-- WITF: PA Republican Governor Hopeful Stacy Garrity Says She’d Work With President’s Administration On PA’s Elections After President Says He Wants To ‘Nationalize’ Election 

-- ABC6: Pennsylvania Officials Rejects President’s Call To ‘Nationalize’ Elections 

-- Warren Times Editorial: Too Much Campaign Money In State Elections

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Tariffs

-- Wall Street Journal: US Manufacturing In Retreat And President’s Tariffs Aren’t Helping

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Policies

-- Inquirer: Philly DA Says ‘Don’t Be A Wimp’ After Gov. Shapiro Decried His Comparison Of President’s ICE Agents To Nazis

-- Post-Gazette: Oakmont To Prohibit Police From Partnering With President’s ICE After Resident’s Arrest Sparks Concerns

-- TribLive: Salvadoran Family In Brentwood Seeks Answers As Father Languishes In President’s ICE Custody

-- TribLive: Fundraiser For Family Of Oakmont Man Detained By President’s ICE Raises Nearly $70,000

-- TribLive: Oakmont Bakery Harassed Over ICE Arrest By People Claiming They Facilitated The Arrest, Which Is Not True

-- TribLive: Oakmont Man Released From President’s ICE Custody ‘Profoundly Relieved and Grateful To God,’ Attorney Says 

-- Observer-Reporter: Haitian Community In Charleroi Prepares For End Of Temporary Protected Status

-- Altoona Mirror: Haitians In Berks County Brace For End Of Protections

-- AP: Federal Judge Pauses President’s Administration From Ending Protections For Haitians While Lawsuit Challenging It Proceeds

-- Post-Gazette: Charleroi Celebrates Temporary Block Of Immigration Status Termination For Haitians, But Uncertainty Still Remains In Washington County 

-- TribLive Editorial: Actions By President’s ICE Against Immigrants No Distant Story

-- Post-Gazette: Nationwide Outcry Against President’s ICE A Thorny Political Issue For PA’s Top Leaders

-- TribLive: Fetterman Supports President’s ICE Agent Mask Use Amid Rising Efforts To Identify Agents By Protesters 

-- Post-Gazette: Fetterman Says He’s Opposed To Warehouse Purchases For ICE Detention Centers

-- Morning Call: Lehigh County Leaders Urge Warehouse Owners Not To Sell To President’s ICE 

-- Spotlight PA: President’s ICE Buys $87 Million Warehouse In Berks County As It Plots Expansion Of Immigration Detention Centers Across The US

-- Morning Call: Purchase Of Berks Warehouse By President’s ICE Sparks Concern Among Neighbors

-- PennLive: PA Lawmakers Condemn President’s ICE Detention Center Plans In Berks County

-- Post-Gazette: Everything You Need To Know About ICE’s Plan To Open A Detention Center In Berks County Warehouse

-- Republican Herald: Schuylkill County Commissioners: ICE Immigrant Detention Center Planned For Tremont Twp. Could Hold 7,500 People

-- Republican Herald: Schuylkill County Democrats Continue Opposition To Tremont Twp. ICE Detention Facility

-- AP: President’s $45 Million Expansion Of Immigrant Detention Sites Faces Pushback From Communities

-- Miscellaneous State/Harrisburg Politics

-- Post-Gazette: Nationwide Outcry Against President’s ICE A Thorny Political Issue For PA’s Top Leaders

-- A.I. /Data Centers

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - February 9  [PaEN] 

-- Gov. Shapiro’s Proposed Budget Includes Performance Standards For Data Centers Seeking State Tax Credits; Renewed Call For Lightning Energy Plan; New PUC Benchmarks For Utility Profits  [PaEN] 

-- Reactions To Gov. Shapiro's Proposed Budget From Citizen, Environmental, Energy, Industry, Utility Groups  [PaEN]  

-- The Citizens Voice: Lawmakers, Residents Encouraged, Puzzled By Governor’s Guide For A.I. Data Centers  [PDF of Article]

-- House Committee OKs Bill To Give PUC More Authority To Regulate A.I. Data Centers, Other Large Loads To Protect Ratepayers, Electric Grid  [PaEN] 

-- Capitolwire.com: Senate Committee Amends, Does Not Report Out Bill Requiring Data Centers To Bring Their Own Power, Respecting Local Decisions  [PaEN]  

-- House Passes Bills Authorizing Clean Manufacturing, Reduce Fees For Small Nuclear Reactors, Advances Solar Warehouse Bill  [PaEN]  

-- Independent Fiscal Office Reports PA Electricity Prices Increased 46.1% From 2018 to 2025, More Than Other PJM States, Largely Due To Pennsylvania's Reliance On Natural Gas-Fired Electric Generation  [PaEN] 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: PA Electricity Rates Jump 46% Since 2018, Outpacing Neighboring States, Due To Reliance On Natural Gas To Generate Electricity [PDF of Article]

-- Morning Call: Lehigh Valley Officials Want Congressional Help To Protect Consumers From A.I. Data Center-Driven Rising Energy Costs

-- Guest Essay: A.I. Data Centers Pose Big Challenge For PA's Energy Future - Dramatically Increasing Costs For Energy Consumers, And It's Not Getting Any Cheaper - By Tom Gilbert, Pennsylvania Environmental Council   [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Beware Of Public Subsidies For A.I. - The Lesson Of The Volkswagen Plant In Westmoreland County - By Christopher Briem, University of Pittsburgh  [PDF of Article]

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak/Chloe Jad: Beaver Valley Becomes A.I. Data Center Target; Local Leaders Have Small Arsenal Of Tools To Inform And Protect Residents  [PDF of Article]

-- MarketPlace: US Is Planning 250+ GW Of New Natural Gas Power Generation For A.I. Data Centers [For The Machines, Not For People]

-- PJM Interconnection Issues Cold Weather Alert For Feb. 7 to 9 Across Its Entire Footprint  [PaEN] 

-- PJM Interconnection Reviews January Cold Weather Operations 

-- Utility Dive: Coal-Fired Power Plant Owners Say US DOE ‘Emergency’ Order To Run Plants Constitutes An Unconstitutional Physical Taking And Regulatory Taking’ Of Their Property 

-- WPost: The A.I. Data Center Boom Is So Huge It’s Causing Shortages Everywhere From Electricians To Energy 

-- International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

-- AAA Average Gasoline Price: National- $2.89  Ohio- $2.81  PA- $3.11 

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs - 19 - Same As Last Week

-- PJM Interconnection Issues Cold Weather Alert For Feb. 7 to 9 Across Its Entire Footprint  [PaEN] 

-- PJM Interconnection Reviews January Cold Weather Operations 

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - February 9  [PaEN] 

-- Independent Fiscal Office Reports PA Electricity Prices Increased 46.1% From 2018 to 2025, More Than Other PJM States, Largely Due To Pennsylvania's Reliance On Natural Gas-Fired Electric Generation  [PaEN] 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: PA Electricity Rates Jump 46% Since 2018, Outpacing Neighboring States, Due To Reliance On Natural Gas To Generate Electricity [PDF of Article]

-- Morning Call: Lehigh Valley Officials Want Congressional Help To Protect Consumers From A.I. Data Center-Driven Rising Energy Costs

-- Financial Times: The Political Cost Of America’s Surging Electricity Bills Driven By A.I. Data Centers 

-- Gov. Shapiro’s Proposed Budget Includes Performance Standards For Data Centers Seeking State Tax Credits; Renewed Call For Lightning Energy Plan; New PUC Benchmarks For Utility Profits  [PaEN] 

-- Reactions To Gov. Shapiro's Proposed Budget From Citizen, Environmental, Energy, Industry, Utility Groups  [PaEN]  

-- The Citizens Voice: Lawmakers, Residents Encouraged, Puzzled By Governor’s Guide For A.I. Data Centers  [PDF of Article]

-- City & State PA: PA Lawmakers Show Bipartisan Interest In Standards For A.I. Data Centers

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Beware Of Public Subsidies For A.I. - The Lesson Of The Volkswagen Plant In Westmoreland County - By Christopher Briem, University of Pittsburgh  [PDF of Article]

-- Utility Dive: US EIA: Natural Gas, Electricity Prices Spiked Year Over Year In November: Natural Gas Up 88.5%, Electricity Rates Rose 20.3% In PA 

-- Bloomberg: US Natural Gas Prices Plunge By Most In 30 Years On Warm Weather Forecast

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Coterra Energy’s Pennsylvania Gas Assets Could Be Sold After Devon Energy Merger [PDF of Article] 

-- MarketPlace: US Is Planning 250+ GW Of New Natural Gas Power Generation For A.I. Data Centers [For The Machines, Not For People]

-- WPost: The A.I. Data Center Boom Is So Huge It’s Causing Shortages Everywhere From Electricians To Energy 

-- Flooding

-- Inside Climate News - Kiley Bense: As Climate Change Supercharges Floods And Rainfall, Pennsylvania’s Water-Adjacent Landmarks Are Especially Vulnerable

-- US Army Corps Of Engineers, PEMA Other Partners Host Feb. 5 (Eastern/Central PA), Feb. 6 (Western PA) Ice Jam Webinars 

-- The Derrick: Chilly Temperatures Bring Back Memories Of Forgotten Ice Floods In Oil Region’s History [PDF of Article]  

-- Clairton Coke [Coal] Works Explosion

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: US Steel Clairton Coke [Coal] Works Battery To Return To Operation Months After Fatal Blast [PDF of Article]

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Last Coke Battery Involved In Fatal US Steel Clairton Coke [Coal] Works Blast Restarts Today  

-- TribLive: US Steel Clairton Coke [Coal] Works To Resume Work At Battery That Saw Fatal Explosions In August

-- Gas Explosions

-- Courier Times: What Attorneys In Bucks County Nursing Home Natural Gas Explosion See In NTSB Report

-- Train Derailments

-- WESA: New Tracker, Trial Aim To Document Residents’ Symptoms After Norfolk Southern Train Derailment

-- TribLive - Jack Troy: Pitt Researcher Studies Lingering Health Impacts From Norfolk Southern Train Derailment 

-- The Allegheny Front/The Lever: The Train Derailment That Never Ended [Norfolk Southern]

-- Beaver Times: On Anniversary Of Norfolk Southern Train Derailment, Rail Safety Reforms Pushed

-- TribLive: Fetterman Calls On US Senate To Pass Rail Safety Bill 3 Years After Norfolk Southern Train Derailment 

-- Education

-- The Citizens Voice: NE PA Schools Navigate The Age Of A.I.

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: We Must Help Young People Embrace Their Humanity In The Age Of A.I.’s Imitation Humanity

-- Law Enforcement

-- Inquirer: Philly DA Says ‘Don’t Be A Wimp’ After Gov. Shapiro Decried His Comparison Of President’s ICE Agents To Nazis

-- WESA: Shapiro Pick For Board Of Pardons Wins PA Senate Approval Despite Opposition From Public Defenders, Clemency Advocates

-- Reading Eagle: Concentrated Effort Puts Berks County Near Top In PA For Human-Trafficking Charges, DA Says

-- The Economy

-- TribLive: Western PA Casinos Report Mixed Results Despite 5th Year Of Statewide Gambling Revenue Growth

-- Wall Street Journal: US Manufacturing In Retreat And President’s Tariffs Aren’t Helping

-- Other

-- KDKA: Hoffmann Family Of Companies Expresses Interest In Saving Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 

[Posted: February 8, 2026]