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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Gov. Shapiro

-- PennLive: President Signs Order To Establish A List Of Eligible Voters For Each State: Shapiro- ‘I Will Protect Your Right To Vote’

-- WESA/Votebeat: President Sued By States, Including PA, Over Executive Order That Would Establish Eligible Voter Lists For States 

-- Spotlight PA: As Shapiro Opposes ICE Warehouse Detention Centers, His Republican Opponent For PA Governor Stays Vague

-- PennLive: Shapiro Rises To #2 Democratic Leader Contender After Newsom In DC Poll 

-- Erie Times/USA Today: In 2022 When Gasoline Was Over $4, Gov. Shapiro Promised A $250 Rebate, What Ever Happened To That?  [Windfall Oil/Gas War Profits Tax?]

-- Dept. Of Labor & Industry Reports PA Unemployment 4.3% In January, Down One-Tenth Of A Percent

-- Race For Governor

-- Inquirer: Josh Shapiro Pulled In A Record $10 Million To Start 2026 Following National Media Blitz

-- Spotlight PA: As Shapiro Opposes ICE Warehouse Detention Centers, His Republican Opponent For PA Governor Stays Vague

-- Inquirer: Republican Stacy Garrity Is A Staunch Supporter Of The President, Will That Help Or Hurt Her Campaign For PA Governor?

-- TribLive/PennLive: President Hosts PA Republican Candidate For Governor Stacy Garrity At Mar-A-Lago Fundraisers, Calls Gov. Shapiro ‘A Stiff’ 

-- PennLive: Republican State Sen. Mastriano Write-In Campaign To Get On Ballot For Governor 

-- Politics PA: Susquehanna Poll: Shapiro Holds Commanding Lead Over Garrity - 58% to 36%

-- Budget 2026

-- WESA/WHYY: PA Home Care Workers Say Industry In ‘Crisis’ Without $800 Million Infusion Of State Funding

-- Dept. Of Revenue Reports March Tax Revenue $91.9 Million (1.4%) Over Estimates; Fiscal Year $473.8 Million (1.4%)  Over Estimates

-- Independent Fiscal Office: March State Revenue $19 Million (0.3%) Above IFO Estimates; Fiscal Year $365 Million (1.1%) Over Estimate

-- PA House/Senate

-- PennLive: $9.9 Million In 3 Years: PA Taxpayers Paid State Lawmakers’ Legal Bills With No Bidding, Few Details

-- PennLive: PA House Legal Spending Less Transparent Than Senate, Records Show 

-- PennLive: PA Senate Hired Ex-Staffer Drew Crompton, Former Commonwealth Court Judge, As Outside Lawyer - No Bidding Required 

-- PennLive: PA Senate Republicans Spent $1.1 Million On Legal Fights Related To 2020 Election  

-- The Center Square: Paid Family Leave Proposal: Vital Safety Net Or Massive Tax Increase?

-- Spotlight PA: PA Could Require Paid Family Leave-- If Lawmakers Can Decide Who Bears The Cost

-- US Senate/House

-- TribLive/PennLive: More PA Democrats Consider Challenging Fetterman In 2028 Primary

-- The Center Square: Group Behind Project 2025 Grades PA Incumbent Members Of Congress On Job Performance

-- Statewide Offices

-- Attorney General Sunday: PA Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Had Most Convictions In The US During 2025 Fiscal Year

-- 2026 Elections

-- Spotlight PA - Stephen Caruso: The PA Primary Races Likely To Shape PA House, Senate

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Will Pennsylvania Punish Republicans Over President’s War With Iran? - By Hunter Derensis, Bring Our Troops Home veterans advocacy group

-- WESA: Judge Keeps Buchtan On Ballot In Bid To Challenge Rep. State Sen. Bartolotta

-- Elections

-- WESA/Votebeat: President Sued By States, Including PA, Over Executive Order That Would Establish Eligible Voter Lists For States 

-- PennLive: President Signs Order To Establish A List Of Eligible Voters For Each State: Shapiro- ‘I Will Protect Your Right To Vote’

-- AP: President Signs Order Directing Creation Of A National List Of Eligible Voters For States, A Move Already Facing Lawsuit Threats

-- WITF/NPR: President Lacks Statutory Authority To Establish National Eligible Voter List For States

-- President’s War On Iran

-- April 5: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Continues To Climb - Up 1 More Cent From Yesterday To $1.03/Gallon Higher To $4.14 Since Feb. 27  [14 Counties At $4.17 or More] 

-- April 5: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.11 Ohio- $3.75  PA- $4.14

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

-- Warren Times: Warren County PA Gasoline Prices Still Highest In The State [Center Of Conventional Oil Industry, With Its Own Refinery]

--  Centre Daily Times: Iran War Price Hikes Stretch Centre County Farmers Thin

-- Inquirer: Bucks County Drivers Are Worried About Gas Prices, President, Iran: ‘The Average American Won’t Survive This’

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: This Isn’t The First Oil Price Shock, And For Some, It Can Launch A Whole New Lifestyle  

-- Erie Times/USA Today: In 2022 When Gasoline Was Over $4, Gov. Shapiro Promised A $250 Rebate, What Ever Happened To That?  [Windfall Oil/Gas War Profits Tax?]

-- WNEP: President Proposes Ending Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, Cutting Aid For Energy Bills Saying Program Is ‘Unnecessary’  

-- Inquirer: Return Of Gas Pump Stickers: How PA Democrats Are Using Affordability To Hammer President On His War On Iran

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Will Pennsylvania Punish Republicans Over President’s War With Iran? - By Hunter Derensis, Bring Our Troops Home veterans advocacy group

-- PennLive: Americans Just Spent $8 Billion More On Gasoline As A Result Of President’s War On Iran, And It’s Only Getting Worse

-- AP: President Now Threatens Widespread Destruction Of Iran’s Oil Infrastructure, Power Plants And Desalination Plants

-- Financial Times: US President Says He’s Considering Seizing Strategic Kharg Island, Taking Oil In Iran, Just Like In Venezuela

-- TribLive/PA: President Says He Has ‘No Problem’ With Russia Breaking The Oil Embargo Of Cuba He Imposed

-- BBC: US President Tells UK, Other Allies To ‘Go Get Your Own Oil’ From The Strait Of Hormuz As The President’s War Against Iran Continues 

-- Reuters: EU Tells Members To Prepare For ‘Prolonged Disruption’ To Oil/Natural Gas Energy Markets  

-- Protesting The President

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Space Provides A Source Of Light - ‘In Stark Contrast To The Capricious And Vicious State Of American Politics, And The [President’s] Administration’s  Actions In This Country And Around The World’

-- TribLive: Immigrant Rights Group Plans 8-Day Walk From Pittsburgh To ICE Detention Facility In Clearfield County 

-- TheDerrick.com: About 300 Join ‘No Kings’ Protest In Franklin, Venango County; 2 Grove City College Students Give Opposing Perspectives

-- Morning Call - Bill White Column: Why I Protested For The First Time At A Lehigh Valley ‘No Kings’ Rally-- We Will Not Give In To Hate Or Fear; We Are A Nation Of Laws, Not Tyrants; We Support Freedom, Not Oppression; Science, Not Ignorance; We Welcome, Not Exclusion; Value Truth, Not Lies [PDF of Article]

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Tariffs

-- PA Capital-Star: With $4.5 Billion On The Line, PA Businesses Seek Refunds Of President’s Illegal Tariffs; Lancaster Business: ‘This Is Not A Way To Make The World A More Just And Equitable Place For All’

-- WNEP: President Proposes Ending Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, Cutting Aid For Energy Bills Saying Program Is ‘Unnecessary’  

-- TribLive/AP: President Unveils 100% Tariff On Some Patented Drugs On ‘Liberation Day’ Anniversary  [US Supreme Court Declared Liberation Day Tariffs Illegal, Refund Process Not Yet Set Up]

-- Financial Times: President Readies New Tariffs On Pharmaceuticals To Raise Cost Of Prescription Drugs 

-- Federal Funding Loss

-- Newsweek: President Says Federal Government Should Stop Funding Medicare, Medicaid, Daycare To Focus On War

-- President's Proposed Federal Budget Is A 'Staggering Disinvestment' In Farmers And Rural Communities,' Puts Hurdles In The Way Of Chesapeake Bay Restoration  [PaEN] 

-- Friends Of The Allegheny Wilderness: US Forest Service New Regional Headquarters To Be In Warren  [PaEN] 

-- PennLive: US Forest Service To Close 4 Offices In PA As Part Of Restructuring

-- Warren Times: Warren To Host New US Forest Service Regional Headquarters Amid National Overhaul

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Policies

-- Inquirer: Return Of Gas Pump Stickers: How PA Democrats Are Using Affordability To Hammer President On His War On Iran

-- WITF/NPR: President’s Administration Cuts Turned Rural Towns Into Sitting Ducks For Floods, Other Disasters [PA Highlighted]

-- Spotlight PA: As Shapiro Opposes ICE Warehouse Detention Centers, His Republican Opponent For PA Governor Stays Vague

-- Republican Herald: Already Burdened, Tremont Water System Faces Additional Strain From  Proposed ICE Warehouse Detention Facility In Schuylkill County 

-- WESA: Questions Surround Constable Partnerships With President’s ICE In PA

-- TribLive: Federal ICE Says 13 Arrested At PennDOT Driver’s License Center In Armstrong County; County Sheriff Supports ICE, But ‘Their Tactics Are What I Question’

-- AP: Federal Judge Rules Against Deportation Of PA Man By President’s ICE After Murder Conviction Overturned After Spending 40 Years In Prison 

-- Inquirer: University Of Pennsylvania To Appeal Court Ruling Requiring Release Of List Of Employees Affiliated With Jewish Organizations To President’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

-- WESA/NPR: How President’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Is Attacking Diversity-Equity-Inclusion And Emphasizing White People

-- WPost: President’s Lawyers Cite White Supremacists In Bid To End Birthright Citizenship Before US Supreme Court 

-- New Federal Administration

-- TribLive/PennLive: President Hosts PA Republican Candidate For Governor Stacy Garrity At Mar-A-Lago Fundraisers, Calls Gov. Shapiro ‘A Stiff’ 

-- Federal Government

-- Wilkes-Barre Times Leader Editorial: We Have Questions About Luzerne County Management Of COVID Relief Funds

-- Miscellaneous State/Harrisburg Politics

-- PennLive - John Baer: Why Aren’t We Thinking Critically About Our Politics, Democracy?

-- A.I. /Data Centers

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - April 6  [PaEN] 

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: What You Can Do About Your Rising Electric Bills In Pennsylvania; March 31 Means End To Winter Moratorium On Utility Shutoffs

-- TribLive Letter: PJM Is The Reason Electric Bills Are So High - By Danielle Jouenne, General Counsel, Energy Association Of PA [PA Electric, Natural Gas Utilities]

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: PECO Files For 11.4% Rate Increase For Natural Gas Customers, 12.5% Rate Increase For Electric Customers; Typical Customer Bill Increases $420 Annually  

-- Scranton Times: UGI Electric Files For $17.3 Million Rate Increase, Residential Bills To Go Up 12.8% 

-- WNEP: President Proposes Ending Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, Cutting Aid For Energy Bills Saying Program Is ‘Unnecessary’  

-- Inside Climate News - Kyle Bagenstose: PA Lawmakers Are Talking The Talk On A.I. Data Center Regulation, But Will They Walk The Walk? 

-- City & State PA: The Battle Over A.I. Data Centers: $100 Billion Rush To Turn PA Into A.I. Engine, And The Local Efforts Trying To Stop It 

-- WNEP: University Of Scranton Panel Warns Of A.I. Data Centers’ Impact On Environment 

-- WITF/WVIA: Panel Discusses How Energy Demand From A.I. Data Centers Will Impact Pennsylvania

-- CNN: Scientists Find A.I. Data Centers Create Heat Islands, Warming Areas Around them By Up To 16 Degrees

-- Bloomberg: America’s A.I. Data Center Build-Out Relies On Chinese Electrical Parts- Transformers, Switchgear,  Batteries

-- DEP Seeks Proposals For Electric Generation, Battery Storage To Quickly Enter Service To Feed Rising Energy Demands From A.I. Data Centers, Improve Grid Reliability, Address High Energy Costs  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Invites Comments On Title V Air Quality Permit Modifications For Armstrong Natural Gas Power Plant In Armstrong County To Feed A.I. Data Centers  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: PJM Market Monitor Asks FERC To Reject Talen-Energy Capital Power Plant Deal Because Diverting The Power To Serve Data Centers, Removing Generation From PJM Capacity Market Would Increase Prices, Undermine Grid Reliability 

-- Observer-Reporter: $1.7 Billion High Voltage Power Line Project To Cross Greene, Fayette, 8 Other PA Counties To Feed A.I. Data Centers; Consumer Advocate Opposes As Too Costly, Violates President’s Bring Your Own Power Policy [PDF of Article]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Water Quality Permit For Carbon Node East Development Transmission Line, Utility Crossing In Nesquehoning Boro, Carbon County To Support A.I. Data Center Development  [PaEN]  

-- International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

-- April 5: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Continues To Climb - Up 1 More Cent From Yesterday To $1.03/Gallon Higher To $4.14 Since Feb. 27  [14 Counties At $4.17 or More] 

-- April 5: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.11 Ohio- $3.75  PA- $4.14

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

-- Warren Times: Warren County PA Gasoline Prices Still Highest In The State [Center Of Conventional Oil Industry, With Its Own Refinery]

-- TribLive: Western PA Gasoline Prices Surge Above $4.20/Gallon As President’s War Against Iran Continues To Push Oil Costs 

-- Inquirer: Bucks County Drivers Are Worried About Gas Prices, President, Iran: ‘The Average American Won’t Survive This’

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: This Isn’t The First Oil Price Shock, And For Some, It Can Launch A Whole New Lifestyle  

--  Centre Daily Times: Iran War Price Hikes Stretch Centre County Farmers Thin

-- Erie Times/USA Today: In 2022 When Gasoline Was Over $4, Gov. Shapiro Promised A $250 Rebate, What Ever Happened To That?  [Windfall Oil/Gas War Profits Tax?]

-- WNEP: President Proposes Ending Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, Cutting Aid For Energy Bills Saying Program Is ‘Unnecessary’  

-- DEP Seeks Proposals For Electric Generation, Battery Storage To Quickly Enter Service To Feed Rising Energy Demands From A.I. Data Centers, Improve Grid Reliability, Address High Energy Costs  [PaEN] 

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs - 18 - Same As Last Week

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - April 6  [PaEN] 

-- Lock Haven Express Guest Essay: In Response To Spiking Energy Prices Caused By Another War, Harrisburg Must Act To Break Our Addiction To Oil/Natural Gas By Doubling Down On Clean, Renewable Energy - By Molly Parzen, Conservation Voters Of Pennsylvania  

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Step Up Harrisburg! Break Oil/Natural Gas Energy Spikes By Moving To Clean, Renewable Energy - By Molly Parzen, Conservation Voters Of Pennsylvania   

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: PECO Files For 11.4% Rate Increase For Natural Gas Customers, 12.5% Rate Increase For Electric Customers; Typical Customer Bill Increases $420 Annually  

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: PECO Files For 12.5% Electric, 11.4% Natural Gas Rate Increases

-- PECO Files Request With PUC To Increase Electric, Natural Gas Rates

-- Scranton Times: UGI Electric Files For $17.3 Million Rate Increase, Residential Bills To Go Up 12.8% 

-- UGI Electric Files For $17.3 Million Rate Increase, Residential Customers To See 12.8% Increase

-- DEP Invites Comments On Title V Air Quality Permit Modifications For Armstrong Natural Gas Power Plant In Armstrong County To Feed A.I. Data Centers  [PaEN] 

-- Axios Pittsburgh: Largest Natural Gas Power Plant In PA To Provide 3,700 MW Of Power To Homer City A.I. Data Center Machines (82.2%), 800 MW (17.8%) For ‘Ordinary People’ To Use In Indiana County

-- Reuters: Constellation Energy To Ask FERC To Transfer Eddystone Delaware County Power Plant Rights To Connect To The Grid To Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant To Feed Microsoft A.I. Data Centers  [Eddystone Is Under A DOE ‘Emergency’ Order To Stay Open To Provide Power To The Grid] 

-- Utility Dive: ArcLight In Deal To Buy 2.2 GW From Infrabridge, Including Half Of Natural Gas Power Plant In Jessup, Lackawanna County To Help Power Data Centers

-- PennLive: Americans Just Spent $8 Billion More On Gasoline As A Result Of President’s War On Iran, And It’s Only Getting Worse

-- AP: President Now Threatens Widespread Destruction Of Iran’s Oil Infrastructure, Power Plants And Desalination Plants

-- Financial Times: US President Says He’s Considering Seizing Strategic Kharg Island, Taking Oil In Iran, Just Like In Venezuela

-- BBC: US President Tells UK, Other Allies To ‘Go Get Your Own Oil’ From The Strait Of Hormuz As The President’s War Against Iran Continues 

-- Reuters: EU Tells Members To Prepare For ‘Prolonged Disruption’ To Oil/Natural Gas Energy Markets  

-- Flooding

-- WITF/NPR: President’s Administration Cuts Turned Rural Towns Into Sitting Ducks For Floods, Other Disasters [PA Highlighted]

-- Gas Explosions

-- PennLive: Central Dauphin East H.S. Evacuated Tuesday Morning After Natural Gas Leak In Dauphin County 

-- Education

-- PennLive: Central Mountain H.S. Reopens After 3 Days Of Active Shooter, Bomb Threats In Clinton County

-- Inquirer: University Of Pennsylvania To Appeal Court Ruling Requiring Release Of List Of Employees Affiliated With Jewish Organizations To President’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

-- Health Care

-- WESA/WHYY: PA Home Care Workers Say Industry In ‘Crisis’ Without $800 Million Infusion Of State Funding

-- Attorney General Sunday: PA Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Had Most Convictions In The US During 2025 Fiscal Year

-- TribLive Editorial: Fear Of Unknown Medical Bills

-- TribLive/AP: President Unveils 100% Tariff On Some Patented Drugs On ‘Liberation Day’ Anniversary  [US Supreme Court Declared Liberation Day Tariffs Illegal, Refund Process Not Yet Set Up]

-- Financial Times: President Readies New Tariffs On Pharmaceuticals To Raise Cost Of Prescription Drugs 

-- Law Enforcement

-- WESA: Questions Surround Constable Partnerships With President’s ICE In PA

-- WESA: Pittsburgh Grand Jury Indicts 6 Residents Over Alleged Antisemitic Attack In Oakland Neighborhood

-- TribLive: Federal ICE Says 13 Arrested At PennDOT Driver’s License Center In Armstrong County; County Sheriff Supports ICE, But ‘Their Tactics Are What I Question’

-- AP: Federal Judge Rules Against Deportation Of PA Man By President’s ICE After Murder Conviction Overturned After Spending 40 Years In Prison 

-- The Economy

-- Dept. Of Labor & Industry Reports PA Unemployment 4.3% In January, Down One-Tenth Of A Percent

-- The Center Square: Paid Family Leave Proposal: Vital Safety Net Or Massive Tax Increase?

-- Spotlight PA: PA Could Require Paid Family Leave-- If Lawmakers Can Decide Who Bears The Cost

-- WESA/NPR: How President’s Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Is Attacking Diversity-Equity-Inclusion And Emphasizing White People

-- Other

-- Wall Street Journal: The Battle Inside A Midwestern Media Dynasty, Heirs To Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Toledo Blade Are Estranged

-- Erie Times: Star Wars Mandalorian And Grogu Come From Pennsylvania

[Posted: April 5, 2026]