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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Pennsylvania Poll

-- PennLive/Bravo Group Poll: 73% Say Cost Of Living Will Increase Over Next Year; President’s Disapproval Rating 59%; 56% Disapprove Of President’s War On Iran; 59% Say US Headed In Wrong Direction; 60% Will Vote For Shapiro; 45% Approve Of Fetterman; 43% Approve Of McCormick

-- Gov. Shapiro

-- Post-Gazette: Shapiro Still Considering Joining Federal School Choice Program As Devides Remain

-- Spotlight PA: Shapiro Wants To Incentivize A.I. Data Centers To Be Better Neighbors; Will That Work?

-- Race For Governor

-- Tribune-Democrat: Garrity, Shapiro Tout Signature counts For Nomination Petitions For Governor

-- Tribune-Review: Republican Candidate For Governor Stacy Garrity Talks Policy, Values In Video Interview

-- Budget 2026

-- Tribune-Review: PA Democrats To Republican Lawmakers - Raise Revenue Or Show How You Would Cut The State Budget

-- The Center Square: Partisan Sniping Underway As PA Confronts $5 Billion Deficit

-- The Center Square: Proposed 62% Tax On Gambling ‘Skill’ Games Praised, Slammed At PA House Hearing

-- Spotlight PA: Lawmakers Press Shapiro Administration On Oversight, Accountability Measures For Elder Abuse Agencies

-- The Center Square: State-Owned Colleges Disappointed With Flat Funding Proposal

-- PA Capital-Star: State-Owned Universities, Community Colleges Grapple With Challenges Before Legislative Budget Committee

-- PA House/Senate

-- Inquirer: How Democrats In 4 Key PA Congressional Districts Plan To Use Republican Health Care Cuts To Win Back Congress

-- US Senate/House

-- PennLive: Fetterman Declines To Sign Letter Demanding Answers On Airstrikes That Killed Iranian Students

-- PA Capital-Star: Former Congressman Calls On Republican PA Cong. Bresnahan To Resign Over Allegations Of Stock Trading

-- TribLive: Western PA Members Of Congress Secure $406 Million In Federal Earmarks For Local Projects [Locks/Dams, Water/Sewage, Bridges, Airports]

-- Special Elections

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Special Election Season Comes To Midstate With PA House Matchup

-- 2026 Elections

-- Tribune-Democrat: Garrity, Shapiro Tout Signature counts For Nomination Petitions For Governor

-- Observer-Reporter: Republican Senators Bartolotta, Stefano Facing Primary Opposition 

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Open Seats, Challenges To Incumbents In State, Federal Races Spice Up Central PA Primary Ballots

-- Inquirer: How Democrats In 4 Key PA Congressional Districts Plan To Use Republican Health Care Cuts To Win Back Congress

-- Elections

-- Spotlight PA: Will Independents Ever Get To Vote In PA Primaries?  Advocates Hope A Lawsuit Moves The Needle 

-- TribLive/AP: Biggest Change To Voting In Congressional Republican Election Bill Could Become A Burden For Many US Voters [Proof Of Citizenship With Birth Certificate] 

-- National Elections

-- TribLive/AP: Biggest Change To Voting In Congressional Republican Election Bill Could Become A Burden For Many US Voters [Proof Of Citizenship With Birth Certificate] 

-- President’s War On Iran

-- KDKA: Rising Fuel, Fertilizer Prices Add To Tariffs And A Growing List Of Hardships For PA Farmers

-- Financial Times: US Oil/Gas Producers In Line For $63 Billion Windfall From Gulf War Disruption   [PDF of Article]

-- PennLive: Fetterman Declines To Sign Letter Demanding Answers On Airstrikes That Killed Iranian Students

-- AP: In A Time Of War With Iran, Americans Unite In Aggravation Over Sticker Shock At The Gas Pump  [PA Highlighted]

-- WESA/NPR: Oil Price Surges [Again] As Iran Steps Up Attacks On Ships In Persian Gulf

-- Wall Street Journal: Oil Prices Spike As IEA Declares Biggest-Ever Supply Disruption

-- TribLive/AP: Oil Shock From President’s War On Iran Prompts Counties To Open Strategic Reserves

-- Bloomberg: US Natural Gas Prices Following Global Prices Up And Down During President’s War With Iran 

-- Bloomberg: President’s War On Iran Is Good For America’s Natural Gas Industry

-- Reuters: Oil Prices Rise To Over $91 As Supply Fears Persist Despite IEA Plan For Record Reserve Release  

-- AP: As Iran War Shakes Oil/Natural Gas Energy System, Some See Powerful Argument For Renewable Energy [Homegrown Renewable Energy Has Never Been Cheaper, More Accessible Or More Scalable]

-- Financial Times: Iran War Energy Shock Will Force Businesses To Rethink Energy [Beyond Oil/Natural Gas] ‘No One Will Leave Themselves Exposed Like This Again’  [PDF of Article]

-- The Economist: An Attack On The World Economy - Whatever Happens In The Strait Of Hormuz, Energy Markets Have Been Changed For Ever  [PDF of Article]

-- Financial Times: Saudi Aramco Warns Of ‘Catastropic Consequences’ If Iran War Drags On

-- Protesting The President

-- PA Capital-Star: Pennsylvania Among 29 States, DC Now Rejecting President’s Federal Vaccine Guidance

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Tariffs

-- KDKA: Rising Fuel, Fertilizer Prices Add To Tariffs And A Growing List Of Hardships For PA Farmers

-- Bloomberg: President Laying Groundwork For New Tariffs With Trade Probes 

-- TribLive/AP: President Seeks To Close $1.6 Trillion Revenue Gap With Raft Of New Tariffs

-- Federal Funding Loss

-- PA Capital-Star: Bike And Walking Trails Lose Hundreds Of Millions Under President’s Cuts

-- Reversing Course

-- The Allegheny Front: USDA Restores $59 Million Contract With PASA Sustainable Agriculture Farm Group To Strengthen Agricultural Communities

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Policies

-- AP: Federal Judge To Decide If University Of Pennsylvania Must Produce Records In Federal Probe Of Antisemitism At Ivy League School

-- Morning Call/Spotlight PA: Berks County Warehouse Purchased By President’s ICE For Immigrant Detention Center Has Years Of Unresolved Construction Problems, Records Show 

-- Reading Eagle: State Rep. Barton Says Questions Remain About Proposed Upper Bern Twp. Warehouse ICE Detention Facility In Berks County

-- Republican Herald: Residents Continue To Share Concerns About Proposed Tremont Twp. Warehouse ICE Detention Facility In Schuylkill County

-- Republican Herald: Anxiety Mounts In Tremont, Schuylkill County As Warehouse Immigrant Detention Facility Looms [Part I]

-- PA Capital-Star: Federal Court Orders 2-Week Halt On Construction At Maryland Warehouse Immigration Detention Facility

-- WITF: President’s ICE Proposed ‘30-Day Surge,’ Lancaster, York Law Enforcement Were Uninterested

-- The Citizens’ Voice: Hazleton Police Join Program To Assist President’s ICE

-- Inquirer: More County, Local Governments Banning President’s ICE From Using Their Property, Philly Could Be Next

-- The Center Square: Cooperation With President’s ICE Up For Debate In Pennsylvania

-- TribLive: Allegheny County Council Approves Bill Prohibiting Employees From Cooperating With President’s ICE

-- TribLive: Family Of Springdale Man Detained By President’s ICE Struggles On As Community Plans Rally

-- PA Capital-Star: PA ACLU Wants Court To Rule On President’s Homeland Security Subpoenas Of Critics Once And For All

-- Inquirer: How Have Prices Of Necessities Changed In Philly? 

-- New Federal Administration

-- AP: 2 Weeks Into War With Iran, President Has Been Knocked Back On His Political Heels; Has Failed To Explain Why He Started The War

-- TribLive/AP: Biggest Change To Voting In Congressional Republican Election Bill Could Become A Burden For Many US Voters [Proof Of Citizenship With Birth Certificate] 

-- PA’s Role In Assault On US Capitol

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Man Who Argued Immunity Under President’s Pardon Found Guilty Of Voter Fraud In 2020 Election

-- Miscellaneous State/Harrisburg Politics

-- PennLive - John Baer: The Ides Of March Brings Us Plenty To Beware Of 

-- A.I. /Data Centers

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewsClips From Last Week - March 16 [PaEN]

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader Guess Essay: PA Never Had A Plan To Prepare For A.I. Data Centers, We Need A Temporary Statewide Moratorium - By Bill Jones, Republican Candidate For PA House District 117 

-- Spotlight PA: Pennsylvania’s A.I. Data Center Boom, By The Numbers: 53 Data Center Proposals; State Could Lose $2 Billion In Tax Money; 800% Increase In PJM Power Costs

-- ReedSmith Law: Navigating Permitted Challenges: A Practical Guide For A.I. Data Center Development In Pennsylvania

-- Erie Times: Can Tech Companies Bring Their Own Electricity To Power A.I. Data Centers [Like They Promised The President] In PA?  [PDF of Article]

-- LehghValleyLive.com: New Jersey Promoting Community Solar Energy Projects That Offer Steep Cuts To Electric Bills [Why Not PA?]

-- WESA/NPR: Easy-To-Use, Plug-In Solar Energy Panels To Reduce Electric Bills Are Here, But Utilities Are Trying To Delay Them 

-- AP: Virginia Has An A.I. Data Center Boon, State Officials Debate Whether It’s Time To Scrap Its Tax Breaks

-- TribLive/AP: A.I. Data Centers Spurring A Big Expansion Of High-Voltage Power Lines, Landowners And Locals Are Fighting Back  [PA Highlighted] 

-- PJM Interconnection Latest Power Auction Results In $164.70/MW-Day Clearing Price, Well Below $329/MW-Day Price Cap, Below Collar Floor  [PaEN]

-- Utility Dive: ‘Clear Warning Signs’ As PJM Wholesale Power Costs Jump 54% In One Year

-- PPL Utilities Files Non-Unanimous Rate Settlement Cutting Increase From $13.37/month To $7.42/Month; Providing 2-Year Freeze On Rates; Adding Large Load Tariff; $11 Million In Low-Income Energy Assistance  [PaEN] 

-- Bloomberg: US Natural Gas Prices Following Global Prices Up And Down During President’s War With Iran 

-- Financial Times: US Oil/Gas Producers In Line For $63 Billion Windfall From Gulf War Disruption   [PDF of Article]

-- International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

-- March 15: PA Average Gasoline Price Up 58 Cents/Gallon To $3.69 Since Feb. 27  [Still $3.79 at Sheetz In Harrisburg] 

-- March 15: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $3.69 Ohio- $3.40  PA- $3.69

-- Feb. 27: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $2.98  Ohio- $2.79  PA- $3.11

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs - 20 - Same As Last 4 Weeks

-- TribLive: US DOE Secretary - $6 A Gallon Gasoline Not Ruled Out 

-- Bloomberg: $5 Heating Oil Arrives In US In Latest Fuel Pain Point Resulting From President’s War On Iran 

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewsClips From Last Week - March 16 [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection Latest Power Auction Results In $164.70/MW-Day Clearing Price, Well Below $329/MW-Day Price Cap, Below Collar Floor  [PaEN]

-- Utility Dive: ‘Clear Warning Signs’ As PJM Wholesale Power Costs Jump 54% In One Year

-- Financial Times: US Oil/Gas Producers In Line For $63 Billion Windfall From Gulf War Disruption   [PDF of Article]

-- Reuters: Oil Prices Rise To Over $91 As Supply Fears Persist Despite IEA Plan For Record Reserve Release  

--  Bloomberg: EU Weighs Natural Gas Price Cap To Lower Power Costs Amid President’s War On Iran  

-- Bloomberg: US Natural Gas Prices Following Global Prices Up And Down During President’s War With Iran 

-- Bloomberg: President’s War On Iran Is Good For America’s Natural Gas Industry

-- Bloomberg: Brent Crude Oil Trades Above $100 As Iran Vows To Keep Hormuz Closed; US Issues 2nd Waiver To Allow Russia To Sell Oil

-- The Hill:  The President - ‘When Oil Prices Go Up, We [Oil Companies] Make A Lot Of Money’  

-- Reuters: The President - US [Oil Companies] Benefit From High Oil Prices, But Priority Is Stopping Iran   

-- Financial Times: Iran War Causing Largest Disruption In History To Oil Supplies, Says IEA [PDF of Article]

-- Wall Street Journal: Oil/Natural Gas Markets Brace For Lasting Turmoil In The Gulf

-- Financial Times: Iran War Energy Shock Will Force Businesses To Rethink Energy [Beyond Oil/Natural Gas] ‘No One Will Leave Themselves Exposed Like This Again’  [PDF of Article]

-- The Economist: An Attack On The World Economy - Whatever Happens In The Strait Of Hormuz, Energy Markets Have Been Changed For Ever  [PDF of Article]

-- TribLive/AP: Oil Shock From President’s War On Iran Prompts Counties To Open Strategic Reserves

-- WESA/NPR: Oil Price Surges [Again] As Iran Steps Up Attacks On Ships In Persian Gulf

-- Wall Street Journal: Oil Prices Spike As IEA Declares Biggest-Ever Supply Disruption

-- Post-Gazette/Inside Climate News: Price Spikes Caused By President’s War On Iran Could Have Major Repercussions For US Electricity, Natural Gas Prices [60% Of PA’s Electric Is Generated Using Gas, But The Price Is Set By International Markets]

-- Reuters Commentary: Tracking LNG Natural Gas Flows As Key Global Prices Go Haywire; Prices Likely To Be Elevated For Some Time [60% Of PA’s Electric Is Generated Using Gas, But The Price Is Set By International Markets]

-- AP: In A Time Of War With Iran, Americans Unite In Aggravation Over Sticker Shock At The Gas Pump  [PA Highlighted]

-- AP: As Iran War Shakes Oil/Natural Gas Energy System, Some See Powerful Argument For Renewable Energy [Homegrown Renewable Energy Has Never Been Cheaper, More Accessible Or More Scalable]

-- AP: Oil, Natural Gas Prices Spike As President’s War On Iran Impedes Production, Shipping; Higher Costs Begin Cascading Through Other Industries

-- Wall Street Journal: The Long-Feared Persian Gulf Oil/Natural Gas [Price] Squeeze Is Upon Us 

-- Financial Times: Saudi Aramco Warns Of ‘Catastropic Consequences’ If Iran War Drags On

-- Financial Times: Russia Rakes In $150 Million A Day In Extra Revenue From Surging Oil Prices

-- Flooding

-- Penn State's Prepare PA Hosts 4 Regional Meetings  Of The PA Climate Network In March, April  [PaEN] 

-- The Allegheny Front: Penn State’s Prepare PA Network Aims To Help Communities Build Climate Resiliency 

-- TribLive: Eminent Domain Still In Play For Properties Along Flood Control Project In Greensburg

-- Gas Explosions

-- TribLive: Plum Boro Police Say Man Intentionally Let Natural Gas Flow Freely To Blow Up House In Allegheny County

-- Warren Times Editorial: Proper Response To Warren High School Natural Gas Leak That Sent Students To Hospital

-- TribLive Editorial: Why Answers Help Communities Heal [Natural Gas Home Explosion]

-- Storms/Power Outages

-- March 14 Pennsylvania Power Outages Due To Wind Damage - 238,089 [8:15 a.m.]

-- WTAE: Large Brush Fire Breaks Out In Penn Hills After Power Lines Come Down In Allegheny County

-- WPXI: Boil Water Advisory Issued For Parts Of Beaver County Following Power Outage

-- Pennsylvania Power Outages

-- Education

-- Post-Gazette: Shapiro Still Considering Joining Federal School Choice Program As Devides Remain

-- The Center Square: State-Owned Colleges Disappointed With Flat Funding Proposal

-- PA Capital-Star: State-Owned Universities, Community Colleges Grapple With Challenges Before Legislative Budget Committee

-- The Center Square: Underage Online Gambling Awareness Raised In Pennsylvania

-- TribLive Editorial: Hunger Takes A Bite Out Of College

-- Morning Call: Lehigh Carbon Community College Trustee Says Data Breach Was Cause Of Extended Shutdown

--TribLive: Cyberattack Reported At Community College Of Beaver County

-- AP: Federal Judge To Decide If University Of Pennsylvania Must Produce Records In Federal Probe Of Antisemitism At Ivy League School

-- Health Care

-- York Daily Record: Up To 6.4% Of PA Adults [660,000] Could Be Problem Gamblers, Study Finds 

-- PA Capital-Star: Pennsylvania Among 29 States, DC Now Rejecting President’s Federal Vaccine Guidance

-- LancasterOnline Editorial: Please Heed Pediatricians When Making Decisions About Your Child’s Vaccinations

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader Guest Essay: Pennsylvania’s Pharmacy Deserts Are Growing - Harrisburg Needs To Take Action- Now - By Victoria Elliott, PA Pharmacists Association 

-- Law Enforcement

-- Inquirer: PA State Trooper Shot, Killed During Chester County Traffic Stop

-- WHYY: Philadelphia DA Sues Glock Says Gunmaker’s Firearms Are Too Easy To Make Fully Automatic

-- The Center Square: Underage Online Gambling Awareness Raised In Pennsylvania

-- Spotlight PA: Lawmakers Press Shapiro Administration On Oversight, Accountability Measures For Elder Abuse Agencies

-- Inquirer: 3 PA Men Arrested, FBI Searches Bucks County Home, After Violent Clash At Far-Right Protest In New York

-- PennLive: White Supremacist Flyers Distributed In Carlisle, Cumberland County: ‘We Are Everywhere!’ 

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Why Hate Groups Target Towns Like Carlisle And What Residents Are Doing About It In Cumberland County

-- WITF: President’s ICE Proposed ‘30-Day Surge,’ Lancaster, York Law Enforcement Were Uninterested

-- The Citizens’ Voice: Hazleton Police Join Program To Assist President’s ICE

-- Inquirer: More County, Local Governments Banning President’s ICE From Using Their Property, Philly Could Be Next

-- TribLive: Allegheny County Council Approves Bill Prohibiting Employees From Cooperating With President’s ICE

-- TribLive: Family Of Springdale Man Detained By President’s ICE Struggles On As Community Plans Rally

-- PA Capital-Star: PA ACLU Wants Court To Rule On President’s Homeland Security Subpoenas Of Critics Once And For All

-- The Economy

-- KDKA: Rising Fuel, Fertilizer Prices Add To Tariffs And A Growing List Of Hardships For PA Farmers

-- Inquirer: How Have Prices Of Necessities Changed In Philly? 

-- TribLive/AP: President Seeks To Close $1.6 Trillion Revenue Gap With Raft Of New Tariffs

[Posted: March 15, 2026]