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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Gov. Shapiro

-- NYT: Why Josh Shapiro Isn’t Acting Like Other Potential 2028 Presidential Candidates 

-- Gov. Shapiro Releases Full Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development Standards (GRID) For A.I. Data Centers; New Local Government Data Center Planning Toolkit  [PaEN] 

-- Republican Candidate For Governor Stacy Garrity Calls For ‘Pause’ In Development Of A.I. Data Centers To Allow Time For Communities ‘To Protect Themselves’  [PaEN]

-- Race For Governor

-- Gov. Shapiro Releases Full Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development Standards (GRID) For A.I. Data Centers; New Local Government Data Center Planning Toolkit  [PaEN] 

-- Republican Candidate For Governor Stacy Garrity Calls For ‘Pause’ In Development Of A.I. Data Centers To Allow Time For Communities ‘To Protect Themselves’  [PaEN]

-- Scranton Times - Chris Kelly Opinion: Shapiro Is ‘Patient Zero’ Of A.I. Data Center Virus; State Treasurer Garrity Has Decided To At Least Appear To Take The Medicine [PDF of Article]

-- TribLive: As Shapiro, Garrity Set To Face Off For Governor, Here Are 7 Hurdles That Could Shape Race

-- Spotlight PA: Before She Was A Republican Candidate For Governor, Stacy Garrity Was A Military Whistleblower On Treatment Of Iraqi War Prisoners

-- Budget 2026

-- ABC27: Independent Fiscal Office Says Shapiro’s $53 Billion Budget Proposal Would Spend $4.7 Billion More Than The State Will Take In Next Year

-- Spotlight PA: Legislature Unlikely To Act On ‘Skill’ Gambling Games Until PA Supreme Court Rules On Their Legality

-- PA House/Senate

-- LancasterOnline: York County State Lawmakers Propose Eliminating School Property Taxes, Raising State Sales Tax, Including Retirement Income In State Income Tax

-- TribLive Editorial: State Lawmakers Should Present Case For Why They Should Continue To Receive Gifts From Companies Seeking Favors

-- US Senate/House

-- WESA: PA Members Of Congress Lee, Deluzio Visit Clearfield County ICE Detention Center, First Members Of Congress To Do So

-- AP: PA Democrats Hope To Flip Republican-Held Congressional Seats Once They Settle Toss-Up Primaries 

-- The Center Square: Republican, Democrat Super PACs To Spend $33 Million On Ads In Pennsylvania Congressional Races

-- AP: Republicans’ Recent Stumbles In Congress Highlight The Difficult Road Ahead For Their Agenda

-- WHYY - Zoe Read: PA Members Of Congress Push Federal Bill To Boost Renewable Energy To Reduce Energy Costs 

-- PA US Sen. McCormick To Hold Defense And Innovation Summit At Army War College In Carlisle July 14-15 Focusing On Defense, Energy & Technology

-- President’s War On Iran

-- TribLive: From The Alle-Kiski Valley To Harrisburg, Residents Advocate For Solutions To The ‘Affordability Crisis;’ Healthcare Costs, Utility Costs 2 Biggest Concerns   

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Why Low-Income Pennsylvanians Are Feeling The Squeeze As Gasoline Prices Rise - By Hannah Wiseman, The Conversation  

-- May 31: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Dropped 10 Cents Since Tuesday, Now $4.49/Gallon - $1.39/Gallon Higher Than On Feb. 27 [Venango County Average Price Still Highest at $4.83]

-- May 31: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.33 Ohio- $4.35  PA- $4.49

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

-- The Guardian Guest Essay: The President’s War Against Iran Reminds Us - We’ll Never Be Energy [Price, Supply] Independent With Fossil Fuels, Energy Security Comes From Using Local, Renewable Sources

-- Financial Times: Iran War Hits Americans With $40 Billion Fuel Bill 

-- Wall Street Journal: The World Can’t Get Enough US Energy (Oil, Transportation Fuels) - Keeping Prices High For Americans 

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Tariffs

-- AP: President Plans To Appeal Court Order Allowing Importers Who Paid His Illegal Tariffs To Seek Refunds

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Policies

-- TribLive: From The Alle-Kiski Valley To Harrisburg, Residents Advocate For Solutions To The ‘Affordability Crisis;’ Healthcare Costs, Utility Costs 2 Biggest Concerns   

-- PennLive Guest Essay: PA’s Health Insurance Crisis Forcing Families To Gamble With Their Lives; 85,000 Pennsylvanians Dropped Coverage After Congress Failed To Prevent Premiums From Doubling - By Jenny Englerth, Family First Health

-- TribLive: As Raids Continue By President’s ICE-- Frontline Dignity And Its 23-Year-Old Founder Become Force In Western PA 

-- WESA: PA Members Of Congress Lee, Deluzio Visit Clearfield County ICE Detention Center, First Members Of Congress To Do So

-- PennLive: Women In Clearfield County ICE Immigrant Detention Facility Call Out For Help, According To 2 PA Members Of Congress Who Toured The Facility For The First Time 

-- WPSU: Clearfield County Commissioners Limit Public Comment At Meetings Because Of Complaints About The Federal ICE Immigrant Detention Facility The County Runs Under Contract With A Private Prison Firm 

-- PennLive: Federal ICE Detainee In Clearfield County Detention Center Being Denied Care For Kidney Failure, Advocates Say 

-- PennLive: How A Small Town In Clearfield County Became Home To One Of ICE’s Largest Immigrant Detention Centers [ 3 of 8 In Series ] 

-- PennLive: County Officials Could Change Oversight At PA ICE Immigration Detention Facility: ‘What Are They Hiding?’  [Part 5 of 8]

-- Spotlight PA: Federal ICE Warehouse Developer Agrees To Pay $82,000 To Resolve Deficiencies At Upper Bern Twp., Berks County Site Before ICE Bought The Property

-- WHYY: NJ Governor Demands Access To ICE Immigrant Detention Facility As Hunger Strike Widens In 1,000 Bed Privately Run Prison

-- Inquirer: President’s Justice Department Purges Information About Individuals From PA Convicted Of Crimes Related To Assault On US Capital Jan. 6

-- Inquirer: Norristown School District Eliminating Its Diversity-Equity-Inclusion Director, But Rejects Accusations Of MAGA Behavior

-- AP: President Touts Adding 600+ Generic Prescription Drugs To His Rx Website; Those With Health Insurance Still Get Best Prices  [Unfortunately, Health Insurance Costs Spiked Under This President]

-- Natural Resources Defense Council: EPA Plan Allows A.I. Data Centers, Power Plants, Industries To Build First, Get Their Permit Later 

-- EPA: Advances PFAS Strategy With ‘Legally Defensible, Practical, Scientifically Sound Drinking Water Protections - Systems Can Apply For 2-Year Delay; Nearly $1 Billion In Funding Available

-- NRDC: EPA Seeks To Gut PFAS Protections, Leaving Millions Exposed To ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Drinking Water

-- EPA Announces $39.2 Million For Pennsylvania To Address PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals,’ Emerging Contaminants In Drinking Water  [PaEN] 

-- WESA/The Allegheny Front: EPA Announces $39 Million To PA To Address PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Drinking Water, While Rolling Back PFAS Limits

-- AP: Fact Focus: President Distorts Recent Revisions Of Scientific Projections Of Global Warming

-- The Allegheny Front: President To Eliminate US Forest Service Research And Close 4 Facilities In Pennsylvania  [Regional Forest Office Will Relocated To Warren]

-- WHYY: US Forest Service Wants To Move West, Close Regional Offices, Including 4 In Pennsylvania

-- New Federal Administration

-- AP: Republicans’ Recent Stumbles In Congress Highlight The Difficult Road Ahead For Their Agenda

-- AP: In IRS Settlement With President, Agency Is ‘Forever Barred’ From Examining Or Prosecuting President, His Family And His Company In Existing, Not Future Tax Examinations 

-- PA’s Role In Assault On US Capitol

-- PennLive/AP: People Convicted Of Crimes For Assaulting US Capital Jan. 6 And Pardoned By President Clamor For Payments From President’s Fund As Federal Court Freezes Fund Pending Legal Challenges

-- Inquirer: President’s Justice Department Purges Information About Individuals From PA Convicted Of Crimes Related To Assault On US Capital Jan. 6

-- Miscellaneous State/Harrisburg Politics

-- Spotlight PA: Democratic PA Supreme Court Justice Defends Independence After Criticising Democratic Party

-- A.I. /Data Centers

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - May 25/June 1  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: From The Alle-Kiski Valley To Harrisburg, Residents Advocate For Solutions To The ‘Affordability Crisis;’ Healthcare Costs, Utility Costs 2 Biggest Concerns   

-- PUC: Electric Utilities Changing Cost Of Electricity For Customers On June 1 From 0.05% to 19.8%   [PaEN] 

-- PUC Hearings Begin June 10 On Proposed UGI Electric 12.8% Rate Increase  [PaEN]

-- PUC Schedules In-Person, Telephonic Public Hearings On 13.1% Rate Increase Proposed By Peoples Natural Gas Starting June 2  [PaEN]  

-- WESA/WHYY - Susan Phillips: PA Lawmaker’s Bill Would Rein In Utility Profits: ‘The Entire System Is Out Of Whack’ 

-- Bloomberg: European Power Prices Turn Negative Due To Renewable Generation As Heat Wave Breaks Records  [Natural Gas Can’t Do That]

-- The Guardian Guest Essay: The President’s War Against Iran Reminds Us - We’ll Never Be Energy [Price, Supply] Independent With Fossil Fuels, Energy Security Comes From Using Local, Renewable Sources

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Pennsylvania’s A.I. Data Center Energy Future Must Not Leave The Working Class Behind - Chad Quinn, Dollar Energy Fund  

-- PennLive Editorial: Don’t Let A.I. Data Centers Stick You With Their Electric Bill 

-- Gov. Shapiro Releases Full Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development Standards (GRID) For A.I. Data Centers; New Local Government Data Center Planning Toolkit  [PaEN] 

-- Republican Candidate For Governor Stacy Garrity Calls For ‘Pause’ In Development Of A.I. Data Centers To Allow Time For Communities ‘To Protect Themselves’  [PaEN]

-- Scranton Times - Chris Kelly Opinion: Shapiro Is ‘Patient Zero’ Of A.I. Data Center Virus; State Treasurer Garrity Has Decided To At Least Appear To Take The Medicine [PDF of Article]

-- Sen. Muth To Introduce Legislation To Prohibit A.I. Data Center Developers From Becoming Public Utilities With Power To Condemn Private Property For Their Own Use [PaEN]

-- Scranton Times: Valley View School District Files Actions In Lackawanna County Court Against 2 Proposed A.I. Data Center Developments Saying They Are ‘Dangerously Close’ To Its Schools  [PDF of Article]

-- Choose Clean Water Coalition: Legislative Recommendations To Protect Pennsylvania's Waterways For The Future - Agriculture, Abandoned Mines, PFAS, Lead, A.I. Data Centers  [PaEN] 

-- Spotlight PA: PA Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman Said He Isn’t Advancing Any Bills Regulating PA Data Centers Right Now Arguing State Should ‘Make Sure That We’re Competing Against Our Neighboring States’  

-- Citizen-Run Map, Description Of A.I. Data Center Proposals, Status In Pennsylvania [Scroll Down For: 76 Proposals, 24.97 GW, 31,578 Acres] 

-- Utility Dive: PJM Moves Up Backstop Auction For A.I. Data Center Demand To September, Amid Uncertainty Over Data Center Cost Allocation  

-- North American Electric Reliability Corp Summer Reliability Outlook Says Record Additions Of Generation- Solar, Batteries And Some Natural Gas- Have Strengthened Readiness, But Elevated Risks Remain  [PaEN] 

-- International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

-- May 31: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Dropped 10 Cents Since Tuesday, Now $4.49/Gallon - $1.39/Gallon Higher Than On Feb. 27 [Venango County Average Price Still Highest at $4.83]

-- Let’s Celebrate! My Neighborhood Sheetz Dropped Gasoline 35 Cents, Diesel 21 Cents In Last 16 Days

-- May 31: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.33 Ohio- $4.35  PA- $4.49

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

-- TribLive: From The Alle-Kiski Valley To Harrisburg, Residents Advocate For Solutions To The ‘Affordability Crisis;’ Healthcare Costs, Utility Costs 2 Biggest Concerns   

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Why Low-Income Pennsylvanians Are Feeling The Squeeze As Gasoline Prices Rise - By Hannah Wiseman, The Conversation  

-- Baker Hughes [May 29]: Natural Gas Drill Rigs In PA- 17-- Same For 3 Weeks

-- Baker Hughes [May 22]: Natural Gas Drill Rigs In PA- 17-- Same For 2 Weeks

-- Fox Business: Exxon Chief Warns Of Skyrocketing Oil Prices, Could Go As High As $160; ‘We’re Approaching Unheard Of Inventory Levels,’ ‘Really, Really Low Levels’

-- The Street: Chevron CEO Drops Stark Warning That Oil Inventories That Cushioned The Shock Of The Iran War Are Nearly Gone, Prices Likely To Jump

-- Bloomberg: European Power Prices Turn Negative Due To Renewable Generation As Heat Wave Breaks Records  [Natural Gas Can’t Do That]

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - May 25/June 1  [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: What PA Utility Customers Can Expect From A.I. Data Center-Driven Electric Costs

-- WESA/WHYY - Susan Phillips: PA Lawmaker’s Bill Would Rein In Utility Profits: ‘The Entire System Is Out Of Whack’ 

-- The Center Square Guest Essay: Heatwaves Are Driving Up Power Bills, But PA Has A Better, Cheaper Option Using Resources We Already Have - Virtual Power Plants - By Chris D’Agostino, Advanced Energy United

-- Warren Times Guest Essay: Heatwaves Are Driving Up Power Bills, But State Has Options - Virtual Power Plants - By Chris D’Agostino, Advanced Energy United

-- PUC: Electric Utilities Changing Cost Of Electricity For Customers On June 1 From 0.05% to 19.8%   [PaEN] 

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Electric Bills Around Pittsburgh Will Be Rising (Again) Next Month 

 -- TribLive: Electric Bills To Increase For Duquesne Light, West Penn Power Customers 

-- PUC Hearings Begin June 10 On Proposed UGI Electric 12.8% Rate Increase  [PaEN]

-- PUC Schedules In-Person, Telephonic Public Hearings On 13.1% Rate Increase Proposed By Peoples Natural Gas Starting June 2  [PaEN]  

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Peoples Gas Customers Can Tell The PUC What They Think About A Proposed 13.1% Rate Increase

-- WPSU: Companies Want To Develop Natural Gas-Powered Data Center In Cameron, Potter Or Tioga Counties  

-- Utility Dive: PJM Moves Up Backstop Auction For A.I. Data Center Demand To September, Amid Uncertainty Over Data Center Cost Allocation  

-- The Center Square: Natural Gas, Energy Storage Projects Line Up En Masse To Plug Into PJM Power Grid

-- Reuters: US DOE Again Delays Closure Of Constellation Energy Eddystone Fossil Fuel Power Plant In Delaware County  

-- Utility Dive: US Dept. Of Energy Grants PJM Request For Emergency Order To Curtail A.I. Data Center Use Of Electricity From The Grid And Go To Back-Up Generators To Cope With May 18-20 Hot Weather Alert  [PaEN] 

-- Bloomberg: Heat Strains US Power Grids That Need Off-Season Repairs; PJM Asked All Generators To Remain Online To Help Prevent Blackouts, But Some Plants Remained Offline  

-- North American Electric Reliability Corp Summer Reliability Outlook Says Record Additions Of Generation- Solar, Batteries And Some Natural Gas- Have Strengthened Readiness, But Elevated Risks Remain  [PaEN] 

-- The Guardian Guest Essay: The President’s War Against Iran Reminds Us - We’ll Never Be Energy [Price, Supply] Independent With Fossil Fuels, Energy Security Comes From Using Local, Renewable Sources

-- Financial Times: Iran War Hits Americans With $40 Billion Fuel Bill 

-- Wall Street Journal: The World Can’t Get Enough US Energy (Oil, Transportation Fuels) - Keeping Prices High For Americans 

-- Reuters: Four US LNG Gas Vessels Sailing To China After President’s Summit 

-- Flooding

-- Choose Clean Water Coalition: Legislative Recommendations To Protect Pennsylvania's Waterways For The Future - Agriculture, Abandoned Mines, PFAS, Lead, A.I. Data Centers  [PaEN] 

-- Post-Gazette: Severe Weather Is Increasingly Causing Widespread Power Outages In Pittsburgh, This Organization Wants To Find Solutions

-- Scranton Times: Scranton Plans $6.4 Million Stormwater Improvement In Keyser Creek Watershed 

-- LancasterOnline Letter: We Can’t Take A Step Backward In Regulating Stormwater - By Tom Hassler, Lancaster

-- WHYY: Conservationists Launch Plan To Protect Wissahickon Valley Park, Creek In Aftermath Of Hurricane Ida In 2021

Train Derailments

-- WESA: PA Cong. Deluzio Rail Safety Reforms Find Bipartisan Support, Advance To Full US House 3+ Years After Norfolk Southern Train Derailment  

-- Post-Gazette: Rail Safety Legislation Finally Moves Through Congress 3+ Years After Norfolk Southern Train Derailment  

Gas Explosions

-- WGAL: Nearly 50 Homes Evacuated After Contractor Hits Natural Gas Line In East Donegal Twp.

-- Education

-- PA Capital-Star: Billionaire, Republican Megadonor Is Funding Scholarships For Students At Closing Philly Schools

-- Inquirer: Norristown School District Eliminating Its Diversity-Equity-Inclusion Director, But Rejects Accusations Of MAGA Behavior

--TribLive: Swarthmore College Will Be Tuition Free For Families Earning Under $200,000

-- AP: Spotlight PA, Other Newsrooms Sue Penn State Trustee Leaders Over ‘Gag Policy’ That Silences Trustees

-- Post-Gazette: As Students Protest Artificial Intelligence, Pitt Professor Cautions: ‘We Cannot Delay The A.I. Adoption’

-- Health Care

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Grapples With Implementing Medicaid Work Requirements

-- TribLive: From The Alle-Kiski Valley To Harrisburg, Residents Advocate For Solutions To The ‘Affordability Crisis;’ Healthcare Costs, Utility Costs 2 Biggest Concerns   

-- PennLive Guest Essay: PA’s Health Insurance Crisis Forcing Families To Gamble With Their Lives; 85,000 Pennsylvanians Dropped Coverage After Congress Failed To Prevent Premiums From Doubling - By Jenny Englerth, Family First Health

-- AP: President Touts Adding 600+ Generic Prescription Drugs To His Rx Website; Those With Health Insurance Still Get Best Prices  [Unfortunately, Health Insurance Costs Spiked Under This President]

-- Law Enforcement

-- TribLive: As Raids Continue By President’s ICE-- Frontline Dignity And Its 23-Year-Old Founder Become Force In Western PA 

-- WESA: PA Members Of Congress Lee, Deluzio Visit Clearfield County ICE Detention Center, First Members Of Congress To Do So

-- PennLive: Women In Clearfield County ICE Immigrant Detention Facility Call Out For Help, According To 2 PA Members Of Congress Who Toured The Facility For The First Time 

-- WPSU: Clearfield County Commissioners Limit Public Comment At Meetings Because Of Complaints About The Federal ICE Immigrant Detention Facility The County Runs Under Contract With A Private Prison Firm 

-- PennLive: Federal ICE Detainee In Clearfield County Detention Center Being Denied Care For Kidney Failure, Advocates Say 

-- PennLive: How A Small Town In Clearfield County Became Home To One Of ICE’s Largest Immigrant Detention Centers [ 3 of 8 In Series ] 

-- PennLive: County Officials Could Change Oversight At PA ICE Immigration Detention Facility: ‘What Are They Hiding?’  [Part 5 of 8]

-- WHYY: NJ Governor Demands Access To ICE Immigrant Detention Facility As Hunger Strike Widens In 1,000 Bed Privately Run Prison

-- The Economy

-- PA US Sen. McCormick To Hold Defense And Innovation Summit At Army War College In Carlisle July 14-15 Focusing On Defense, Energy & Technology 

-- Post-Gazette: As Allegheny County Mortgage Foreclosures Surge, The Eastern Suburbs Are Hit The Hardest

-- Inquirer: Bankrupt Chester, Delaware County Home To Philly Area Pro Soccer Team, World Cup May Not Be A Game-Changer 

-- AP: President Plans To Appeal Court Order Allowing Importers Who Paid His Illegal Tariffs To Seek Refunds

[Posted: May 31, 2026]