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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Gov. Shapiro

-- Gov. Shapiro Encourages Working Pennsylvanians To Take Advantage Of New State Tax Credit

-- Gov. Shapiro’s Statement On PA Supreme Court Decision On Mandatory Sentences For 2nd Degree Murder

-- Gov. Shapiro’s Statement On House Passage Of Bill To Increase Minimum Wage

-- Gov. Shapiro: Watch PA Families Impacted By Predatory A.I. Speak Out On Importance Of Work To Strengthen A.I. Protections And Launch Toolkit

-- Gov. Shapiro Unveils 3 Free FIFA Fan Zones Across PA For 2026 FIFA World Cup

-- Gov. Shapiro Appointed Co-Chair Of Bipartisan Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus

-- PennLive: Gov. Shapiro Raved About His Gun Tracing Database, Then It Vanished And Nobody Will Say What Happened

-- Race For Governor

-- Post-Gazette: PA Republicans Try New Playbook In 2026 Governor’s Race After ‘Jumbled Mess’ In 2022

-- Budget 2026

-- Beaver Times: Who Should Pay When State Police Are The Local Force In PA

-- PA House/Senate

-- TribLive: PA House Votes To Boost State’s Minimum Wage To $15/Hour By 2029

-- TribLive: PA House Again Passes Bill To End State’s Unenforced Gay Marriage Ban

-- ABC27: PA Republicans Want A Voting SAVE Act Of Their Own, Requiring All Citizens To Have IDs To Show On Demand   [‘Papers Please’]

-- Tribune-Democrat: PA House Speaker - More Women Serve In PA House Than Ever Before

-- PoliticsPA: Republican Rep. Stephenie Scialabba Resigned From Her Butler County PA House Seat Due To Concerns About Her Family

-- US Senate/House

-- TribLive: Fmr Member Of Congress Susan Wild Reports She’s Considering US Senate Run Against Fetterman

-- Erie Times: PA Congressional Republicans Join Sharia Free America Caucus Denounced As An ‘Anti-Muslim, Extremist Organization’

-- PA Member Of Congress Summer Lee, Other Members Form Environmental Justice Caucus

-- Post-Gazette: PA Member Of Congress Summer Lee Renews Push For Environmental Justice As Federal Policies Are Rolled Back

-- Republican Herald: Republican Con. Meuser Shares ICE Update On Warehouse Detention Centers

-- PA Capital-Star: ‘No Kings’ Protest In Reading Brings Out Opposition To Proposed ICE Warehouse Detention Facility

-- Statewide Offices

-- Attorney General Sunday Charges 2 Western PA Companies With Illegally Storing, Disposing Of Hazardous Waste In Beaver County That Cost Taxpayers $2.4 Million To Clean Up  [PaEN]

-- Beaver Times: Attorney General Sundy Files Criminal Charges In Pool Doctor Chemical Case

-- TribLive: Attorney General Files Charges Against 2 Companies For Allegedly Unlawfully Storing, Disposing Of Hazardous Waste

-- 2026 Elections

-- Spotlight PA: Shapiro Parodies, Chatbot Phone Banks - How A.I. Is Popping Up In PA Elections

-- Inquirer: Republicans Were On Track To Lead PA Voter Registration For First Time In 30 Years; Anger At President Brought New Momentum To PA Democrats

-- Elections

-- Post-Gazette - Adriana E. Ramirez: The Congressional Republican SAVE Act Supported By The President Is Based On Proven Lies 

-- ABC27: PA Republicans Want A Voting SAVE Act Of Their Own, Requiring All Citizens To Have IDs To Show On Demand   [‘Papers Please’]

-- Spotlight PA: Automatic Voter Registration Is Getting More Pennsylvanians On The Rolls, But They Don’t Always Vote

-- AP: President Casts Florida Mail-In Ballot As He Pushes Congress To Severely Limit That Voting Option Nationwide

-- President’s War On Iran

-- March 29: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Same As Yesterday-- 83 Cents/Gallon Higher To $3.94 Since Feb. 27

-- March 29: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $3.98 Ohio- $3.83  PA- $3.94

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

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Peoples Gas Requests 13% Hike In Monthly Payments, 11.25% Return On Equity, Adding To Rising Natural Gas Costs

-- Peoples Gas Proposes To Increase Residential Base Rate By 13.1% or Just Over $16 Per Month 

--  TribLive - Jack Troy: Peoples Natural Gas Proposes Raising Average Monthly Bill $16 Or 13.1%

-- WNEP: Diesel Prices Spike To Nearly $6 In PA; Truckers Cut Loads, Businesses Struggle To Stay Profitable [As A Result Of President’s War On Iran]

-- Reuters: Spiking US Diesel Prices Keep Trucking Industry Stuck In Years-Long Slump

-- TribLive: Some PA Lawmakers Call For Suspending State Taxes On Gasoline, Diesel To Reduce High Costs On Consumers Caused By President’s War On Iran [Cutting Millions In Funding For Roads, Bridges]  

-- Williamsport Sun: Ongoing Conflict In Middle East Leads To Home Heating Oil Price Spike

-- TribLive: High Oil, Natural Gas Prices Could Outlast President War On Iran

-- TribLive/AP: President Interrupts Cabinet Meeting On His War With Iran And Rising Gasoline, Diesel Prices To Talk About Sharpies 

-- Inside Climate News: President’s ‘Drill Baby Drill’ Meets Volatile Oil/Natural Gas Market Reality

-- Reuters: Big Oil [Natural Gas ]To Reap Billions From Iran War Windfall After A Month Of Soaring Energy Prices

-- Financial Times: Oil Hits $110 As President’s Deadline Extension Fails To Calm Markets

-- Wall Street Journal: The Oil Supply Crunch From President’s War On Iran Spreading From The Gulf To The Rest Of The World

-- WPost: [War Profits:] US Natural Gas Exporters At Least One Winner From President’s War With Iran

-- Inquirer: As President’s Rudderless War On Iran Rages On; Republican Lawmakers Ratchet Up Anti-Muslim Rhetoric 

-- Protesting The President

-- PA Capital-Star: ‘No Kings’ Protest In Reading Brings Out Opposition To Proposed ICE Warehouse Detention Facility

-- TribLive: ‘No Kings’ Rally In Greensburg Draws 3,700 Participants 

-- Observer-Reporter: ‘No Kings’ Protest Returns To Washington, PA Drawing Hundreds 

-- Erie Times: Thousands Join ‘No Kings’ Protests At Three Erie County Locations

-- Morning Call: Thousands Rally At ‘No Kings’ Protests Across Lehigh Valley

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: ‘I Want My Country Back:’ ‘No Kings’ Demonstration Held On Wilkes-Barre Public Square 

-- LancasterOnline: 5,000 Protesters Gather At ‘No Kings’ Protest In Lancaster City 

-- Reading Eagle: ‘No Kings’ Protests Draw Hundreds In Reading, Kutztown

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Policies

-- Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Area Loses Population Amid Nationwide Immigration Crackdown 

-- Spotlight PA: President’s ICE Wants To Return To Berks County; The Fight Against It Will Look Very Different

-- York Daily Record: Public Outcry Ends Plan For West Manchester Twp. Police To Partner With President’s ICE 

-- Republican Herald: Republican Con. Meuser Shares ICE Update On Warehouse Detention Centers

-- Reading Eagle: Proposed Upper Bern Twp. Proposed Federal ICE Warehouse Detention Center Sparks Water, Traffic And Tax Concerns In Berks County

-- PA Capital-Star: ‘No Kings’ Protest In Reading Brings Out Opposition To Proposed ICE Warehouse Detention Facility

-- AP: President’s Administration’s $1 Billion Taxpayer Settlement With TotalEnergies Blocks 4 GW Of Much-Needed Wind Power Generation, Diverts Funding To Oil, Natural Gas Development

-- New Federal Administration

-- Post-Gazette - Adriana E. Ramirez: The Congressional Republican SAVE Act Supported By The President Is Based On Proven Lies 

-- Miscellaneous State/Harrisburg Politics

-- Spotlight PA: Even More Of PA’s Broadband Funding Will Go To Satellites After Last-Minute Cost-Cutting

-- TribLive: Derry Twp. Man Says Gallows In Front Yard Are ‘Part Of History’ Not Meant To Invoke Lynchings In Westmoreland County

-- TribLive Editorial: This Isn’t Gallows Humor In Westmoreland County

-- A.I. /Data Centers

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - March 30  [PaEN] 

-- PA House Passes Bill To Authorize Public Utility Commission To Regulate A.I. Data Centers To Make Them Pay Their Own Way  [PaEN]

-- The Center Square: House Moving Bill To Require A.I. Data Centers To Warn State Regulators About Water Needs

-- PA House Passes Bill To Expand Solar Energy Electric Generation To Warehouses, Distribution Centers  [PaEN]

-- House Energy Committee Hears How Geothermal Energy Could Meet 100% Of PA’s Electricity, Heating Needs Offering True Energy Independence And Freedom From Foreign Energy Markets Costing Pennsylvanians Billions  [PaEN]  

-- DEP Issues Request For Information On Proposed Electric Generation Or Storage Projects Eligible For State Sponsorship Under PJM Expedited Interconnection Track [PaEN]

-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: Green Group Calls For Halt To A.I. Data Centers In PA Until New Laws Are Passed

-- TribLive: Digital Gold Rush: With The A.I. Data Center Boom Heading To Western PA, Virginia Offers A Roadmap And Warnings

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Mystery Site For 4.3 GW Natural Gas Power Plant Site In SW PA Has Officials Wondering; Transmission Line Project May Hint At Site 

-- Scranton Times: PPL To Hold March 31 Open House On A.I. Data Center Transmission Line, Infrastructure Projects In Archbald, Luzerne County Paid For By Ratepayers  [To Take 3 Years To Build]  [PDF of Article]

-- Scranton Times - Chris Kelly Opinion: PPL Unveils Mammoth ‘Massively Lucrative’  Infrastructure Project To Feed A.I. Data Centers  [PDF of Article]

-- WVIA: Residents, Elected Officials Want Gov. Shapiro’s PA Permit Fast Track Program To Slow Down When It Comes To A.I. Data Centers

-- Pottstown Mercury: Model Data Center Zoning Ordinances Coming To The Fore  [PDF of Article]

-- PA Community Organizing Summit On A.I. Data Centers April 18 In Pittsburgh  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Hosts April 21 Webinar: Agriculture Meets Hyperscale A.I. Data Centers   [PaEN] 

-- International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

-- House Energy Committee Hears How Geothermal Energy Could Meet 100% Of PA’s Electricity, Heating Needs Offering True Energy Independence And Freedom From Foreign Energy Markets Costing Pennsylvanians Billions  [PaEN]  

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - March 30  [PaEN] 

-- March 29: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Same As Yesterday-- 83 Cents/Gallon Higher To $3.94 Since Feb. 27

-- March 29: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $3.98 Ohio- $3.83  PA- $3.94

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

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Peoples Gas Requests 13% Hike In Monthly Payments, 11.25% Return On Equity, Adding To Rising Natural Gas Costs

-- Peoples Gas Proposes To Increase Residential Base Rate By 13.1% or Just Over $16 Per Month 

--  TribLive - Jack Troy: Peoples Natural Gas Proposes Raising Average Monthly Bill $16 Or 13.1%

-- TribLive: Utilities, Health Care Costs Top Westmoreland County Residents’ Affordability Concerns, Survey Finds

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs - 18 - Down 2 From Last Week 

-- WNEP: Diesel Prices Spike To Nearly $6 In PA; Truckers Cut Loads, Businesses Struggle To Stay Profitable [As A Result Of President’s War On Iran]

-- Reuters: Spiking US Diesel Prices Keep Trucking Industry Stuck In Years-Long Slump

-- Williamsport Sun: Ongoing Conflict In Middle East Leads To Home Heating Oil Price Spike

-- TribLive: Some PA Lawmakers Call For Suspending State Taxes On Gasoline, Diesel To Reduce High Costs On Consumers Caused By President’s War On Iran [Cutting Millions In Funding For Roads, Bridges]  

-- TribLive: High Oil, Natural Gas Prices Could Outlast President War On Iran

-- TribLive/AP: President Interrupts Cabinet Meeting On His War With Iran And Rising Gasoline, Diesel Prices To Talk About Sharpies 

-- Inside Climate News: President’s ‘Drill Baby Drill’ Meets Volatile Oil/Natural Gas Market Reality

-- WNEP: Massive Explosion Reported At Valero Oil Refinery In Texas

-- Utility Dive Guest Essay: 5-Year Waits And Rising Costs For Natural Gas Generation Turbines Redefining The Energy Market - By Electric Power Research Institute [Utility Industry Group] 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Mystery Site For 4.3 GW Natural Gas Power Plant Site In SW PA Has Officials Wondering; Transmission Line Project May Hint At Site 

-- Utility Dive: NextEra To Develop 9.5 GW Of Natural Gas Power Generation In PA, TX [Still No Details Offered On Data Center Projects] 

-- WPost: [War Profits:] US Natural Gas Exporters At Least One Winner From President’s War With Iran

-- Reuters: Big Oil [Natural Gas ]To Reap Billions From Iran War Windfall After A Month Of Soaring Energy Prices

-- Financial Times: Oil Hits $110 As President’s Deadline Extension Fails To Calm Markets

-- Wall Street Journal: The Oil Supply Crunch From President’s War On Iran Spreading From The Gulf To The Rest Of The World

-- Flooding

-- PA Emergency Management Agency Announces Over $38.4 Million In Federal Aid Was Delivered To Help Recovery From 2024 Hurricane Debby In 13 Counties

-- Observer-Reporter: Locust Ave. In South Strabane Twp. Closed Due To Landslide In Washington County

-- WHYY: US Army Corps Scales Down Eastwick Levee Proposal In Flood-Prone Philadelphia Neighborhood In Favor Of Buyouts, Other Measures

-- Gas Explosions

-- PUC Approves $325,000 Penalty Settlement With Peoples Natural Gas Over 2021 Explosion In Blair County That Killed One Person, Injured Others  [PaEN]  

-- Reading Eagle: West Reading Chocolate Factory Natural Gas Explosion: 3 Years Later ‘It Hurts’

-- Train Derailments

-- PA House Passes Bill To Improve Rail Safety In Bipartisan Vote, 3 Years After Norfolk Southern Train Derailment  [PaEN] 

-- The Center Square: Railroad Safety Bill Clears PA House 3 Years After Norfolk Southern Train Derailment [House Bill 1191]

-- Education

-- TribLive Editorial: Should Pittsburgh Public Schools Close For The NFL Draft?

-- AP: Perfect Homework, Blank Stares: Why Colleges Are Turning To Oral Exams To Combat A.I.  [PA Highlighted]

-- Centre Daily Times: Penn State Remains Largely Exempt From PA’s Open Records Law, Should That Change?

-- AP: Perfect Homework, Blank Stares: Why Colleges Are Turning To Oral Exams To Combat A.I.  [PA Highlighted]

-- Health Care

-- Spotlight PA: Why PA Pharmacies Keep Closing And How Lawmakers Want To Slow The Trend, Explained In 7 Stats 

-- The Center Square: A.I. Infiltrates Health Care In PA, But Concerns And Skepticism Abound

-- Law Enforcement

-- TribLive: PA Supreme Court: Mandatory Life In Prison For 2nd Degree Murder Is Unconstitutional

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Supreme Court Ruling On Life Sentences For 2nd Degree Murder Could Lead To Largest Resentencing Effort In State History

-- Beaver Times: Who Should Pay When State Police Are The Local Force In PA

-- PennLive: Gov. Shapiro Raved About His Gun Tracing Database, Then It Vanished And Nobody Will Say What Happened

-- Morning Call: Execution Of Lehigh Valley Convicted Killer Stayed By Gov. Shapiro Amid PA Death Penalty Moratorium

-- TribLive: PA House Again Passes Bill To End State’s Unenforced Gay Marriage Ban

-- Spotlight PA: President’s ICE Wants To Return To Berks County; The Fight Against It Will Look Very Different

-- York Daily Record: Public Outcry Ends Plan For West Manchester Twp. Police To Partner With President’s ICE 

-- The Economy

-- TribLive: PA House Votes To Boost State’s Minimum Wage To $15/Hour By 2029

[Posted: March 29, 2026]