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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Gov. Shapiro

-- Inquirer: As Josh Shapiro Seeks Reelection, His Business-Friendly Brand Has Drawn Millions From CEOs Including Some With Interests In Harrisburg

-- PennLive - John Baer: Shapiro’s Backyard Spat Is A Sign Of The Times And A Missed Opportunity

-- Inquirer: Gov. Shapiro Joins Other States Challenging President’s Latest Global Tariffs To Protect PA Farmers, Small Businesses, Families

-- PA Capital-Star: President’s 2nd Tariff Push Faces Immediate Legal Challenge From 2 Dozen States, Including PA

-- Financial Times: US  Companies Are Being Denied Refunds On President’s Illegal Tariffs

-- PennLive: Why Isn’t PA’s Attorney General Handling Lawsuits Against The President’s Administration?  He Explains

-- DEP Issued 5 Orders To Federal And Local Entities To Prevent The Use Of 3 Warehouses In Berks And Schuylkill Counties As Federal Immigrant Detention Centers Without Complying With State, Federal Environmental Laws  [PaEN] 

-- Republican Herald: PA DEP To DHS - No Warehouse Immigrant Detention Centers Until Environmental Regulations Are Met

-- Tribune-Democrat: DEP Issues Orders Against Homeland Security Over Planned PA Warehouse Immigrant Detention Centers

-- Morning Call: DEP Orders DHS To Comply With Environmental Rules Before Opening Warehouse Immigrant Detention Centers In Berks, Schuylkill Counties

-- PA Capital-Star: DEP: Proposed ICE Warehouse Immigrant Detention Centers ‘Will Overwhelm’ Existing Water, Wastewater Infrastructure In Berks, Schuylkill Counties

-- Republican Herald: Schuylkill County Commissions Say It’s Governor’s Duty To Stop President’s Immigrant Detention Facility In Tremont Twp.

-- Inquirer: Advocates Call On Gov. Shapiro To Close Berks County Youth Center Holding Immigrant Children

-- Race For Governor

-- Spotlight PA: Shapiro Has 15 to 1 Fundraising Advantage Over Republican Stacy Garrity

-- TribLive: New Poll: PA Voters Have More Favorable Opinion Of Shapiro Than President

-- Poll Results

-- PennLive: New Franklin & Marshall Poll--

     -- 51% President Doing A Poor Job

     -- 50% President Overstepping Constitutional Limits

     -- 62% Oppose National Control Of State Elections

     -- 75% Oppose ICE Entering Homes Without A Judicial Warrant

     -- 55% Oppose ICE Methods To Enforce Immigration Laws

     -- 57% Said ICE Agents Should Not Wear Masks

     -- 47% Favor replacing ICE With New Immigration Agency

     -- 53% Opposed Barriers To Voting Like Voter ID

     -- Shapiro Leading Garrity 48% to 28%

     -- Click Here for detailed results

-- TribLive: New Poll: PA Voters Have More Favorable Opinion Of Shapiro Than President

-- WITF: Voters’ Perceptions Of Economy, Immigration In Pennsylvania Could Hurt President, Republicans In Midterm Elections

-- Budget 2026

-- PennLive: PA Has A Way To Cover Lost Federal Healthcare Aid, It Only Needs Money - Lots Of Money 

-- Beaver Times: A PA ‘Skill’ Gambling Games Tax Would Generate Billions, But Who Would Pay?

-- Dept. Of Revenue Reports February State Revenues $35 Million (1.2%) Less Than Estimates; Year-To-Date $381.9 Million (1.4%) Above Estimates

-- Independent Fiscal Office Reports February State Revenues $16 Million (0.5%) Below IFO Estimates; Year-To-Date Revenue $346 Million (1.2%) Higher Than IFO Estimates

-- PA House/Senate

-- Spotlight PA: Home Finance Company Offered Customers Gift Cards To Send Testimony To A PA House Committee Opposing Legislation; Lawmakers Say That’s Unethical

-- US Senate/House

-- TribLive/AP: Fetterman Only Democrat To Vote Against Curbing President’s Power To Make War On Iran

-- PennLive: Gisele Fetterman’s X and Instagram Profiles Taken Down Weeks After She Spoke Against President’s ICE

-- Statewide Offices

-- PennLive: Why Isn’t PA’s Attorney General Handling Lawsuits Against The President’s Administration?  He Explains

-- Special Elections

-- Altoona Mirror: State May Cover Costs Of Special House Election In Blair County

-- Elections

-- PA Capital-Star: Top PA Election Officials Answers Questions On Elections At PA House Budget Hearing

-- President’s War On Iran

-- PUC Issues Cybersecurity Advisory To Electric, Natural Gas Other Utilities Amid Growing Global Tensions  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: US Warns Energy Companies To Increase Security In Response To Potential Threats From Iran; Utilities Lack Tools To Guard Grid From Drone Attacks 

-- Inside Climate News - Kiley Bense: How Will President’s War On Iran Affect Your Utility Bills? 

-- War Profits: Windfall Profits Tax On The Oil & Gas Industry?  Household Rebates To Offset Spiking Energy Costs

-- TribLive/AP: Fetterman Only Democrat To Vote Against Curbing President’s Power To Make War On Iran

-- TribLive/Bloomberg: President’s War On Iran Adds Potential Shock For American Economy, Voters 

-- TribLive/AP: President Threatens To Cut Trade With Spain After It Disallowed US Use Of Bases For President’s War With Iran [PA Exports $606 Million/Year To Spain; Imports $776 Million] 

-- Republican Herald Editorial: President, Congress Must Address Americans’ Concerns On Iran War

-- PennLive: Republican Congressman Warns President Bombing Iran ‘Won’t Make The Epstein Files Go Away’

-- The Guardian: President Allows India To Buy Russian Oil Amid War With Iran

-- TribLive/AP: Rising Energy Prices From President’s War On Iran Could Help Russia Pay For Fighting In Ukraine

-- Protesting The President

-- Republican Herald: Schuylkill County Commissions Say It’s Governor’s Duty To Stop President’s Immigrant Detention Facility In Tremont Twp.

-- Scranton Times: Lackawanna Commission Gaughan Releases ‘Confidential’ Legal Analysis Of Proposed County Ordinance Prohibiting Cooperation With President’s ICE

-- Reading Eagle: President’s ICE Gives Some Details About Proposed Warehouse Detention Center In Berks, But Most Questions Remain Unanswered 

-- Inquirer Editorial: State, Local Officials Right To Stand Against Expanding President’s Immigrant Detention Centers

-- Inquirer: Residents Berate Quakertown Council For Inaction On Police Chief After Quakertown H.S. Student Arrests During ICE Protest

-- Morning Call Guest Essay: I Represent One Of The Quakertown H.S. Students Arrested During Protest Against President’s ICE - Justice Isn’t Being Served

-- Scranton Times: Dickson City Police Rescinding ICE Agreement It Recently Entered, Mayor Says 

-- Inquirer: President’s ICE Cannot Use Montgomery County’s Property Or Resources In Civil Immigration Operations Under New Regulations

-- TribLive: Bill To Bar Allegheny County Cooperation With President’s ICE Advances To Council Vote

-- PennLive: Gisele Fetterman’s X and Instagram Profiles Taken Down Weeks After She Spoke Against President’s ICE

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Tariffs

-- Inquirer: Gov. Shapiro Joins Other States Challenging President’s Latest Global Tariffs To Protect PA Farmers, Small Businesses, Families

-- PA Capital-Star: President’s 2nd Tariff Push Faces Immediate Legal Challenge From 2 Dozen States, Including PA

-- AP: US Customs Officials Say New Process For Refunding President’s Illegal Tariffs Could Be Ready In 45 Days 

-- Financial Times: US  Companies Are Being Denied Refunds On President’s Illegal Tariffs

-- TribLive/AP: Federal Judge Rules Companies Are Entitled To Refunds Of President’s Tariffs Overturned By US Supreme Court

-- Wall Street Journal: Federal Judge Orders Government To Begin Refunding More Than $130 Billion In Tariffs Illegally Imposed By President

-- Morning Call/AP: Federal Court Rejects President’s Administration Attempt To Slow Tariff Refund Process

-- TribLive/Bloomberg: American Farmers See President’s New Tariffs As Yet Another Round Of Instability  

-- Federal Funding Loss

-- PennLive: PA Has A Way To Cover Lost Federal Healthcare Aid, It Only Needs Money - Lots Of Money 

-- Reversing Course

-- TribLive/NYT: Administration Abandons Efforts To Impose President’s Executive Orders On Law Firms 

-- TribLive/AP: A Day After Saying It Would Abandon Enforcing President’s Executive Orders Against Law Firms, President’s Administration Reverses Course Again And Says It Will Pursue Fight 

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Policies

-- AP: Families Turn To States For Civil Rights Support As President Dismantles Education Department [PA Highlighted]

-- The Center Square: States Intervene In PA Lawsuit As President’s Administration Lets Post Office Ship Guns

-- Reading Eagle: President’s ICE Gives Some Details About Proposed Warehouse Detention Center In Berks, But Most Questions Remain Unanswered 

-- Inquirer: Advocates Call On Gov. Shapiro To Close Berks County Youth Center Holding Immigrant Children

-- Morning Call Guest Essay: I Represent One Of The Quakertown H.S. Students Arrested During Protest Against President’s ICE - Justice Isn’t Being Served

-- Scranton Times: Dickson City Police Rescinding ICE Agreement It Recently Entered, Mayor Says 

-- TribLive: Bill To Bar Allegheny County Cooperation With President’s ICE Advances To Council Vote

-- Republican Herald: 3 More Schuylkill County Law Enforcement Agencies Sign On To President’s ICE Cooperation Program

-- TribLive/Bloomberg: American Farmers See President’s New Tariffs As Yet Another Round Of Instability  

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Farms’ Struggles Are All Of Our Struggles

-- TribLive: Federal Judge Shuts Door On President’s Dept. Of Justice Effort To Wrest Transgender Care Data From UPMC 

-- New Federal Administration

-- The Center Square: White Cops Sue Philadelphia Over Diversity Equity Inclusion In Promotions  

-- Miscellaneous State/Harrisburg Politics

-- Beaver Times: PA Has Scooped Up 800 Former Federal Workers Amid President’s Cuts To Federal Agencies

-- A.I. /Data Centers

-- Senate PUC Budget Hearing: PUC Chair Says PJM Market Auction Not Designed For Data Center Demands; PA Needs Diversify Fuels Used To Generate Electricity; Bring Your Own Power Critical [PaEN] 

-- House Committee Reports Out Bills To Require Data Centers To Disclose Energy, Water Use, Direct DCED To Develop Model Data Center Ordinance  [PaEN]  

-- New Comprehensive Report Lays Out Case For 3-Year A.I. Data Center Moratorium To Be Introduced In Pennsylvania  [PaEN] 

-- AP - Marc Levy: A.I. Data Centers Spurring Big Expansion Of High-Voltage Power Lines; Landowners And Locals Are Fighting Back [PA Featured] 

-- The Derrick: PA US Senator McCormick Cosponsors Bill To Adopt Permitting Reforms For Electric Transmission Lines To Meet Growing Energy Demands [PDF of Article] 

-- ABC27: County Emergency Management Officials Tour Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant As Restart Plans Progress To Provide Power To Microsoft A.I. Data Centers

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

-- Sen. Yaw Urges FERC To Allow PJM To Keep Charging Pennsylvania Ratepayers Record High Capacity Auction Prices For Power, But Charge Other States Even More [PaEN]

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Why Are Pennsylvanians Paying Higher Electric Bills - Data Center Demand, PJM, Natural Gas Price Spikes - By Trish Reilly, Centrist Democrats Of America 

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader Guest Essay: Power Prices Are Rising, But The Fix Is Sitting In A Queue -- Renewable Energy + Storage - By Ken Silverstein, InsideSources.com 

-- AP: President Says Deal On A.I. Data Centers Will Lower Electricity Prices As Tech Companies Vow To Cover Power Costs 

-- Penn State Extension Hosts April 7 Webinar On Data Centers - State And Local Regulation  [PaEN] 

-- Morning Call/AP: Iran Strikes Amazon Data Centers In Middle East Highlighting Industry’s Vulnerability To Physical Disasters 

-- International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

-- March 7: Average PA Gasoline Price Increased 43 Cents/Gallon Since Feb. 27 

-- March 7: AAA Average Gasoline Prices: National- $3.41 Ohio- $3.39  PA- $3.54

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

-- Rep. Joe Ciresi (D-Montgomery), Rep. Jim Haddock (D-Lackawanna) Call For Attorney General To Investigate Gasoline Price Spike

-- WFMZ: ‘Enough Is Enough:’ PA Lawmakers Call For Price Gouging Probe As Gasoline Prices Jump Overnight 

-- Fortune: Billionaire Owner Of PA’s United Refining Company Calls Iran War Price Hikes Temporary: ‘Suffer For One Month’ 

-- The Derrick: War In Iran To Cause Massive Disruption In Oil Industry, According To Oil City Native & Middle East Expert Andrew Tabler [PDF of Article]

-- AP: Oil And Gas Prices Rapidly Rise As President’s War On Iran Shows No Signs Of Letting Up

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Regional Gasoline Prices Spike As President’s War On Iran Creates Oil Uncertainty

-- Williamsport Sun: Oil, Gasoline Prices Rise Sharply Throughout The Region

-- Warren Times: Gasoline Prices Skyrocket After Iran Air Strikes

-- Reuters: President’s Iran War Threatens Prolonged Hit To Global Energy Markets - Supply Disruptions, Refinery Shutdowns, Damaged Facilities, Export Constraints, Spiking Prices

-- Bloomberg: Gasoline, Diesel, Jet Fuel Prices Climb As President’s Iran War Chokes Supplies

-- Bloomberg: Oil Market Chaos Set To Deepen As More Gulf Giants Cut Output Because Of President’s Iran War

-- Financial Times: Coal Prices Jump As Utilities Seek Alternative To Spiking Natural Gas Prices Due US President’s War With Iran

-- War Profits: Windfall Profits Tax On The Oil & Gas Industry?  Household Rebates To Offset Spiking Energy Costs

-- Inside Climate News - Kiley Bense: How Will President’s War On Iran Affect Your Utility Bills? 

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs - 20 - Same For Last 3 Weeks

-- PUC Issues Cybersecurity Advisory To Electric, Natural Gas Other Utilities Amid Growing Global Tensions  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: US Warns Energy Companies To Increase Security In Response To Potential Threats From Iran; Utilities Lack Tools To Guard Grid From Drone Attacks 

-- Morning Call/AP: Iran Strikes Amazon Data Centers In Middle East Highlighting Industry’s Vulnerability To Physical Disasters 

-- New Comprehensive Report Lays Out Case For 3-Year A.I. Data Center Moratorium To Be Introduced In Pennsylvania  [PaEN] 

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

-- Sen. Yaw Urges FERC To Allow PJM To Keep Charging Pennsylvania Ratepayers Record High Capacity Auction Prices For Power, But Charge Other States Even More [PaEN]

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Why Are Pennsylvanians Paying Higher Electric Bills - Data Center Demand, PJM, Natural Gas Price Spikes - By Trish Reilly, Centrist Democrats Of America 

-- Bloomberg: Data Center-Driven Soaring Power Prices Have US Politicians Searching For Solutions

-- Financial Times: US Shale Drillers Resist Quick Ride To Rescue For Iran War Oil Disruption [PDF of Article]

-- Reuters: There Is Little LNG Producers Can Do To Immediately Replace Lost Qatari Cargoes

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: How PA Natural Gas Producers May Help Ease The Impact Of President’s War On Iran On LNG Exports; European Gas Prices Jump 40% [War Is Good For The Oil/Gas Industry]

-- Financial Times: US LNG Gas Producers Rush To Seize On Surging Natural Gas Prices Trigger By President’s War On Iran 

-- The Guardian: President Allows India To Buy Russian Oil Amid War With Iran

-- TribLive/AP: Rising Energy Prices From President’s War On Iran Could Help Russia Pay For Fighting In Ukraine

-- TribLive/AP: Energy Prices Surge As Tanker Disruptions And Facility Shutdowns Rattle Global Supply  [US Natural Gas Prices Linked To World Markets Thanks To LNG]

-- Bloomberg: European Natural Gas Prices Hit 3-Year High As Qatar LNG Halt Rocks Markets  [US Natural Gas Prices Linked To World Markets Thanks To LNG] 

-- The Economist: The Nightmare Iran Energy Scenario Is Becoming Reality  [PDF of Article]

-- Bloomberg: President’s War On Iran Has Traders Staring Down An Energy Crisis [War-Caused Price Spikes Good For Oil & Gas Companies, Bad For Consumers]

-- Financial Times: Qatar Warns War Will Force Gulf To Stop Energy Exports ‘Within Days’ And Bring Down The Economies Of The World

-- Flooding

-- PA Emergency Management Agency To Hold 6 Flood Recovery Workshops Across The State Starting April 16  [PaEN]  

-- Gas Explosions

-- Warren Times: Natural Gas Leak Led To Warren High School Evacuation, 15 Students, 1 Adult Taken To Warren Hospital

-- Train Derailments

-- TribLive: Fetterman, Deluzio Part Of Bipartisan Push To Strengthen Rail Safety Requirements 

-- EPA Takes Action After Subcontractor Altered Measurements In Sampling For Groundwater Contamination Resulting From Norfolk Southern Train Derailment  [PaEN]  

-- The Center Square: US Supreme Court Rejects Lawsuit Challenging Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Settlement 

-- WNEP: Crews Contain Fuel Leak After Train Derailment In Scranton

-- PennLive: Norfolk Southern Train Derails Near PA’s Historic Horseshoe Curve In Blair County

-- Education

-- TribLive: Western PA School Districts Tally Expected Savings From Private Cyber School Charter School Funding Reform; Administrators Say Changes Barely Scratch The Surface Of Rising Costs 

-- AP: Families Turn To States For Civil Rights Support As President Dismantles Education Department [PA Highlighted]

-- Inquirer: Residents Berate Quakertown Council For Inaction On Police Chief After Quakertown H.S. Student Arrests During ICE Protest

-- Morning Call Guest Essay: I Represent One Of The Quakertown H.S. Students Arrested During Protest Against President’s ICE - Justice Isn’t Being Served

-- Observer-Reporter: Gov. Shapiro: A.I. Poses ‘Real Risk’ To Students 

-- PA Capital-Star: PA High School Students Weight In On State Policies For A.I. Use Following New Tools

-- Health Care

-- PennLive: PA Has A Way To Cover Lost Federal Healthcare Aid, It Only Needs Money - Lots Of Money 

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Pharmacists Call On State To Take A Bigger Role In How They’re Paid For Medicaid Patients

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader/Spotlight PA: Drug Plan Middlemen Face New Oversight Push As PA Pharmacies Close

-- TribLive: Federal Judge Shuts Door On President’s Dept. Of Justice Effort To Wrest Transgender Care Data From UPMC 

-- Law Enforcement

-- Inquirer: Advocates Call On Gov. Shapiro To Close Berks County Youth Center Holding Immigrant Children

-- Inquirer: Residents Berate Quakertown Council For Inaction On Police Chief After Quakertown H.S. Student Arrests During ICE Protest

-- Morning Call Guest Essay: I Represent One Of The Quakertown H.S. Students Arrested During Protest Against President’s ICE - Justice Isn’t Being Served

-- The Center Square: States Intervene In PA Lawsuit As President’s Administration Lets Post Office Ship Guns

-- The Center Square: White Cops Sue Philadelphia Over Diversity Equity Inclusion In Promotions  

-- WPXI: Antisemitic Messages Broadcast Over Pittsburgh-Area Emergency Communication Channels

-- TribLive: Hateful Broadcasts Disrupt Pittsburgh Public Safety Radio For 3rd Day

-- TribLive Editorial: Hatred Finds A Microphone - Pittsburgh Public Safety Radio Channel

-- The Economy

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Norfolk Southern-Union Pacific Merger Threatens Pennsylvania’s Farmers And Workers - By Matt Espenshade, Pennsylvania Grange 

-- TribLive/Bloomberg: American Farmers See President’s New Tariffs As Yet Another Round Of Instability  

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Farms’ Struggles Are All Of Our Struggles

-- TribLive/AP: President Threatens To Cut Trade With Spain After It Disallowed US Use Of Bases For President’s War With Iran [PA Exports $606 Million/Year To Spain; Imports $776 Million] 

-- TribLive: A.I. Drives Nvidia’s $2 Billion Investment With Butler County’s Coherent

-- NPR: US Unexpectedly Loses 92,000 Jobs In February Adding To Worries About The Economy 

-- TribLive/Bloomberg: President’s War On Iran Adds Potential Shock For American Economy, Voters 

-- Financial Times: Qatar Warns War Will Force Gulf To Stop Energy Exports ‘Within Days’ And Bring Down The Economies Of The World

-- Other

-- Post-Gazette: Post-Gazette Investigation Of Coal Mining And Black Lung Disease Enforcement Failures Receives National Recognition

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Files Closure Notice With State

[Posted: March 8, 2026]