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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Gov. Shapiro

-- The Center Square: Shapiro Touts Economic Impact Of World Cup Coming To Pennsylvania

-- Gov. Shapiro Announces RISE PA Grant To Support Sanofi Pasteur Project To Replace Natural Gas-Fired Dehydrators With A Cleaner, More Efficient Option In Monroe County; RISE PA Applications Being Accepted Now  [PaEN] 

-- PA House Passes Bill Limiting State Data Center Sales Tax Exemption To Those Developers Following Gov. Shapiro's Responsible Infrastructure Development Standards  [PaEN] 

-- PA House Nearly Unanimously Passes Bill To Repeal State Data Center Computer Equipment Sales Tax Exemption  [PaEN] 

-- Race For Governor

-- Spotlight PA: Shapiro, Garrity Both Say They’re Willing To Debate In This Year’s PA Governor’s Race

-- ABC27: Shapiro Outfundraises Garrity By Millions In Latest Campaign Finance Report

-- Inquirer: Stacy Garrity On Potentially Being The First Female Governor Of PA: ‘It’s My Least Favorite Thing To Talk About’

-- Inquirer: President Was Welcomed To PA By Stacy Garrity, He Didn’t Mention Her At All

-- Budget 2026

-- LancasterOnline: As PA State Budget Deadline Nears, Here’s Where Negotiations Stand Among Divided General Assembly

-- PennLive: A Week Out From Deadline, Hurdles Loom On The Road To PA’s Budget Signing

-- York Daily Record/USA Today: Pennsylvania’s Budget Is Due June 30, Will Lawmakers Make It?

-- Spotlight PA: Why PA Lawmakers May Need To Tap Rainy Day Reserves To Balance State Budget

-- Tribune-Democrat: Education Tax Credit Overhaul Narrowly Moves Out Of PA House

-- WESA: PA House Democrats Want To Make $680 Million Private School Choice Program More Accountable

-- PA Capital-Star: Small Private Cyber Charter School Leaders In PA Raise Alarm Over Calls For Funding Accountability

-- City & State PA: 300 Rally At State Capitol To Regulate, Tax ‘Skill’ Gambling Games In Wake Of PA Supreme Court Decision Declaring Them Illegal

-- TribLive: Local Officials Concerned PA Supreme Court Ruling Could Cost ‘Skill’ Gambling Game Revenue

-- PA House/Senate

-- WITF: PA House Committee Advances Republican Bill On Civil Asset Forfeiture Reforms

-- Erie Times/USA Today: PA Lawmakers Want To Keep Feds Out Of Polling Places In November

-- TribLive: PA Lawmakers Propose Bills To Keep Federal ICE Officers Away From ‘Sensitive’ Spaces Like Schools, Polling Sites, Hospitals  

-- PA Capital-Star: PA House Committee Splits Along Party Lines Over Regulation Proposed A.I. Chatbots

-- US Senate/House

-- WESA: PA Democratic Cong. Deluzio: Opposing President ‘Not Enough’ For Democrats

-- The Center Square: PA Democratic Cong. Deluzio Challenges His Party To Be More Than Just Against The President

-- PennLive: Fetterman Casts Only Democratic ‘No’ Vote As US Senate Passes Measure To Block Restart Of President’s War Against Iran

-- PennLive: PA Republican Con. Scott Perry Pushes Amendment To US Constitution To Strip Voters Of Their Right To Elect US Senators, Have State Lawmakers Appoint Them

-- TribLive/PennLive: PA US Senators McCormick, Fetterman  Secure PA’s Presence At Great American State Fair In DC After Shapiro Snub  

-- WVIA: PA Republican Con. Dan Meuser Said Federal ICE Has Dropped Plans For Warehouse Immigration Detention Centers In Berks, Schuylkill Counties

-- The Center Square: Democratic Super PAC Commits Portion Of $50 Million Spending To PA

-- Post-Gazette: President To Attend McCormick Innovation Summit In Cumberland County On Defense Technology

-- PennLive: Republican PA Con. Scott Perry Proposes Legislation To Eliminate Funding For Peace Corps

-- Elections

-- PennLive Guest Essay: President’s War Against Voting Rights Is Happening Right Now - By Mark Singel, Former Lt. Governor 

-- PA Capital-Star: US Postmaster General: States That Won’t Obey President’s Order To Turn Over Voter Lists Will Have Their Mail Ballots Halted

-- VoteBeat: Federal Judge Blocks Key Pillars Of President’s Executive Order Restricting Mail Voting In 2026 Election 

-- PennLive: PA Republican Con. Scott Perry Pushes Amendment To US Constitution To Strip Voters Of Their Right To Elect US Senators, Have State Lawmakers Appoint Them

-- VoteBeat: Federal Judge Blocks Key Pillars Of President’s Executive Order Restricting Mail Voting In 2026 Election

-- Erie Times/USA Today: PA Lawmakers Want To Keep Feds Out Of Polling Places In November

-- President’s War On Iran

-- June 28: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Down 9 Pennies Since Last Sunday, Now $4.01/Gallon - $.90/Gallon Higher Than On Feb. 27 [Beaver County Average Price Still Highest at $4.53]

-- June 28: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $3.86 Ohio- $3.84  PA- $4.01

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

-- Inquirer: President’s War On Iran Has Cost US Households $1,000 And Counting

-- Reuters: President Calls For Probe Into High Gasoline Prices Caused By His War On Iran, Accuses Oil Companies Of ‘Gouging’ 

-- CNBC: President Again Threatens Iran With Annihilation As Kuwait And Bahrain Report Attacks [June 28 - 4:43 a.m.]

-- PennLive: Fetterman Casts Only Democratic ‘No’ Vote As US Senate Passes Measure To Block Restart Of President’s War Against Iran

-- Bloomberg: Qatar Says Explosion At Natural Gas Export Facility That Left 13 Dead Should Not Affect LNG Exports   

-- AP: Qatar Says Natural Gas Export Terminal Blast Killed 13 As Workers Tried To Resume Operations

-- Federal Funding Loss

-- Spotlight PA: President’s Cuts To Clean Energy Tax Credits Threatens Planned Renewable Projects Across PA

-- Reversing Course

-- TribLive/AP: Federal Judge Blocks President’s Plan To Limit Graduate Student Loans In Nursing, Other Fields

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Policies

-- Morning Call: Lehigh Valley Farmers Devastated By Fruit Crop Losses Find Only Limited Relief Available

-- Inquirer: More People In Philly, Region, Struggle With Insufficient Food After President’s Cuts To Food Stamps: ‘Hunger Has Never Been Higher’

-- TribLive: Western PA Families Declining Vitamin K Shots, Other Preventive Care For NewBorns 

-- Post-Gazette: PA Measles Cases Jump, Spread To Northumberland County, 81 Cases Statewide

-- WESA: Uncertainty And Outrage In Charleroi’s Haitian Community In Washington County Over US Supreme Court Immigration Decision

-- WVIA: PA Republican Con. Dan Meuser Said Federal ICE Has Dropped Plans For Warehouse Immigration Detention Centers In Berks, Schuylkill Counties

-- TribLive: Westmoreland Sheriff Ends Federal ICE Partnership But Vows To Continue To Assist Outside Agencies

-- PennLive: Federal ICE Contractor Denies State Dept. Of Corrections Inspectors, Clearfield County Commissioners Access To Clearfield County Immigrant Detention Facility Run Under Contract With Clearfield County

-- TribLive: PA Lawmakers Propose Bills To Keep Federal ICE Officers Away From ‘Sensitive’ Spaces Like Schools, Polling Sites, Hospitals  

-- Morning Call/Tribune News Service: US Workers Lose Buying Power After Iran War Drives Up Prices

-- New Federal Administration

-- Inquirer: President Was Welcomed To PA By Stacy Garrity, He Didn’t Mention Her At All

-- Morning Call: At Mack Trucks, President Touts Economy And Iran Deal, Making Case For Republicans In 2026 Midterms

-- Morning Call: At Lehigh Valley Rally, Fans Stick With President, As Democrats Pounce

-- WVIA: President Shifts Focus To Economy In Allentown-Area Appearance

-- A.I. /Data Centers

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - June 29  [PaEN]

-- Hundreds Of Residents From Communities Across PA Dealing With A.I. Data Center Development Rally At State Capitol To Support Bipartisan Legislation To Enact A 3-Year A.I.  Data Center Moratorium  [PaEN]

-- PA House Passed 20 A.I. Data Center Bills, Many By Lopsided Bipartisan Votes; PA Senate Acts On Tax Changes  [PaEN] 

-- PA House Passes Bill Giving Individual Municipalities Authority To Pause Consideration Of A.I. Data Center Proposals For 6 Months  [PaEN] 

-- PA House Nearly Unanimously Passes Bill To Repeal State Data Center Computer Equipment Sales Tax Exemption  [PaEN] 

-- PA House Passes Bill Limiting State Data Center Sales Tax Exemption To Those Developers Following Gov. Shapiro's Responsible Infrastructure Development Standards  [PaEN] 

-- PA House Unanimously Passes Bill To Eliminate 6% Gross Receipts Tax On Electric Bills, Fix Electric, Natural Gas, Water, Wastewater Utility Ratemaking Process To Limit Shareholder Profits  [PaEN] 

-- PennLive: PA Senate Passes Bill With Changes To Tax Code, Including Repealing Data Center Sales Tax Exemption; Eliminating 6% Gross Receipts Tax On Electricity; Opening Sales Tax Holiday For School Supplies; Other Changes

-- The Citizens’ Voice: Project Hazelnut A.I. Data Center Offers $10,000 To Hazle Twp. Households As An Incentive To Approve The Plan  [4,505 Households In Twp. - $45 Million] 

-- The Center Square: A.I. Data Center Developer’s Proposed $10,000 Per Household Payment To Hazle Twp. Residents In Luzerne County Called ‘Bribe’ For Local Approval 

-- Scranton Times: A.I. Data Center Developer Tells Court Olyphant Boro Public Hearings An Unnecessary Delay, Asks Judge To Compel Boro To Approve Zoning Permit; Residents Disgusted By Company

-- Inquirer: Constellation Energy Three Mile Island Nuclear Data Center Power Plant Engineer Manager Indicted On Federal Insider Trading Charges Of Illegally Profiting On Stock Options Related To The Plant Reopening

-- Republican Herald: Work Begins On A.I. Data Center Complex In Butler Twp.,  Schuylkill County- 6 Buildings, 1.2 GW Power Plant

-- Financial Times: Exelon CEO Warns US Faces Blackouts As Soon As 2027 Due To Power Supply Shortfall As A Result Of Data Center Power Demands [PDF of Article]

-- PJM Interconnection Holds Next Generation Capacity Auction June 30, Results To Be Announced July 14  [PaEN]

-- PJM Adds New Emergency Procedures To Deal With Strained Grid: A Capacity Advisory; Directive For Data Centers To Use Backup Generators  [PaEN] 

-- PJM Interconnection Issues Hot Weather Alert For June 29 In Western Region, June 30 to July 3 For Entire Service Area; 5th Alert This Season  [PaEN] 

-- PA Capital-Star: PA House Committee Splits Along Party Lines Over Regulation Proposed A.I. Chatbots

-- International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

-- June 28: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Down 9 Pennies Since Last Sunday, Now $4.01/Gallon - $.90/Gallon Higher Than On Feb. 27 [Beaver County Average Price Still Highest at $4.53]

-- June 28: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $3.86 Ohio- $3.84  PA- $4.01

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

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs - 17 - Same For Last 7 Weeks

-- DEP Invites Comments On Significant Modification To Title V Air Quality Permit For Constellation Energy Eddystone Natural Gas Power Plant In Delaware County  [PaEN]

-- Financial Times: Exelon CEO Warns US Faces Blackouts As Soon As 2027 Due To Power Supply Shortfall As A Result Of Data Center Power Demands [PDF of Article]

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - June 29  [PaEN]

-- Inquirer: President’s War On Iran Has Cost US Households $1,000 And Counting

-- Reuters: President Calls For Probe Into High Gasoline Prices Caused By His War On Iran, Accuses Oil Companies Of ‘Gouging’ 

-- CNBC: President Again Threatens Iran With Annihilation As Kuwait And Bahrain Report Attacks [June 28 - 4:43 a.m.]

-- Spotlight PA: President’s Cuts To Clean Energy Tax Credits Threatens Planned Renewable Projects Across PA

-- PJM Interconnection Holds Next Generation Capacity Auction June 30, Results To Be Announced July 14  [PaEN]

-- PJM Adds New Emergency Procedures To Deal With Strained Grid: A Capacity Advisory; Directive For Data Centers To Use Backup Generators  [PaEN] 

-- PJM Interconnection Issues Hot Weather Alert For June 29 In Western Region, June 30 to July 3 For Entire Service Area; 5th Alert This Season  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: North American Electric Reliability Corp: Deployable Generation Reserves Shrinking As Coal, Gas-Fired Power Plants Forced Outage Rates Rise 

-- Utility Dive: TVA Considers Up To 26 GW Of Natural Gas-Fired Generation To Help Meet A.I. Data Center Demand

-- Bloomberg: Solar And Batteries Are Coming For Natural Gas’ Crown On Texas Power Grid

-- Bloomberg: Qatar Says Explosion At Natural Gas Export Facility That Left 13 Dead Should Not Affect LNG Exports   

-- AP: Qatar Says Natural Gas Export Terminal Blast Killed 13 As Workers Tried To Resume Operations

-- Financial Times: Electricity Prices Soar As Europe Battles Heatwave; Bountiful Solar Energy Supply Kept Prices Low During The Day, But Without Storage Prices Spiked At Night

-- Bloomberg: Europe’s Heat Wave Is The Worst On Record, Researchers Find

-- AP: European Heat Wave Triggers Health Warnings From London  To Milan As Temperatures Rise Even Higher

-- Education

-- Tribune-Democrat: Education Tax Credit Overhaul Narrowly Moves Out Of PA House

-- WESA: PA House Democrats Want To Make $680 Million Private School Choice Program More Accountable

-- PA Capital-Star: Small Private Cyber Charter School Leaders In PA Raise Alarm Over Calls For Funding Accountability

-- Morning Call Guest Essay: Pennsylvania’s Free Breakfast Program Leaves Private Cyber Charter Students Hungry - By Jane Swan, CEO of Reach Cyber Charter School & Debra Heath Horton, CEO of PA Virtual Cyber Charter School

-- PA Capital-Star: Some PA Private Charter, Cyber School Education Leaders Join Republican Push For PA To Join Federal School Choice Program

-- TribLive/AP: Federal Judge Blocks President’s Plan To Limit Graduate Student Loans In Nursing, Other Fields

-- Health Care

-- Spotlight PA: Records Show Watchdog’s Elder Abuse Probe Kept Secret As Shapiro’s Office Claims Confidentiality

-- PA Capital-Star: Lessons From The Military Might Help Close Healthcare Gaps In Rural PA: Primary Care Medics

-- Spotlight PA: Crawford County Dentist Treats 1,000s Of Patients From Multiple Rural Counties, What Will Happen When He Retires?

-- TribLive: Western PA Families Declining Vitamin K Shots, Other Preventive Care For NewBorns 

-- Post-Gazette: PA Measles Cases Jump, Spread To Northumberland County, 81 Cases Statewide

-- Law Enforcement

-- WITF: PA House Committee Advances Republican Bill On Civil Asset Forfeiture Reforms

-- WVIA: PA Republican Con. Dan Meuser Said Federal ICE Has Dropped Plans For Warehouse Immigration Detention Centers In Berks, Schuylkill Counties

-- PennLive: Federal ICE Contractor Denies State Dept. Of Corrections Inspectors, Clearfield County Commissioners Access To Clearfield County Immigrant Detention Facility Run Under Contract With Clearfield County

-- TribLive: PA Lawmakers Propose Bills To Keep Federal ICE Officers Away From ‘Sensitive’ Spaces Like Schools, Polling Sites, Hospitals  

-- The Economy

-- The Center Square: Shapiro Touts Economic Impact Of World Cup Coming To Pennsylvania

-- Morning Call: Lehigh Valley Farmers Devastated By Fruit Crop Losses Find Only Limited Relief Available

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: First Chrome Production Facility In US In Decades Comes To Lawrence County

-- Morning Call/Tribune News Service: US Workers Lose Buying Power After Iran War Drives Up Prices

-- Post-Gazette: President To Attend McCormick Innovation Summit In Cumberland County On Defense Technology

[Posted: June 28, 2026]