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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Gov. Shapiro

-- Spotlight PA: Gov. Shapiro Has Sued President’s Administration Dozens Of Times; Here’s Everything To Know About Those Lawsuits

-- PA Capital-Star: Gov. Shapiro Faces Calls To Close Youth Detention Center In Berks County, End State Collaboration With Federal ICE 

-- Race For Governor

-- Spotlight PA: Where Governor Candidates Garrity, Shapiro Stand On Energy Costs, The Environment, More 

-- PennLive: Republican Candidate For Governor Garrity Uses Farm Plan To Knock Data Centers, Distances Herself From President’s Tariffs 

-- Scranton Times: Republican Candidate For Governor Garrity Calls For Protecting Farmland From A.I. Data Center Development At Ag Roundtable

-- TribLive/PennLive: Shapiro Takes The Gloves Off With New Campaign Ad Labeling Republican Challenger Garrity As ‘100% MAGA’

-- PennLive: Latest Scrapple Poll: Shapiro Leads Garrity 53% to 28%; Fetterman- 58% Said They Would Vote For Someone Else; McCormick At 37% Approval; President Drops To 38% Approval

-- Budget 2026

-- WVIA: Lt. Governor Says PA Can’t Backfill Projected Federal Medicaid Losses

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Lawmakers Urged To Preserve Federal Food Stamp Benefits, Assist Farming Industry At Senate Hearing

-- Post-Gazette: Maximum State Grant For PA College Students Reaches All-Time High With Additional Funding In State Budget 

-- PA House/Senate

-- The Center Square: State Lawmakers Denied Entry To Talen Energy/Amazon Data Center In Luzerne County

-- TribLive: PA Supreme Court Denies Allegheny County DA Request To Give Senate/House More Time To Rewrite Unconstitutional Felony Murder Statute

-- PA Capital-Star: What Happens When Senate/House Miss Court Deadline On Addressing Illegal Felony Murder Convictions?

-- PennLive: Latest Scrapple Poll: Shapiro Leads Garrity 53% to 28%; Fetterman- 58% Said They Would Vote For Someone Else; McCormick At 37% Approval; President Drops To 38% Approval

-- US House/Senate

-- City & State PA: Q/A With PA US Sen. Dave McCormick - Data Centers, Other Issues

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Member Of Congress Scanlon Makes Unannounced Visit To Clearfield County ICE Immigrant Detention Center

-- Inquirer: PA Republicans Aren’t Pushing Back Against President’s New Unsupported Election Fraud Claims As They Lobby For SAVE America Act

-- AP: Democrat’s TV Ad Uses Data Centers In Effort To Oust PA Republican Congressman

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader/AP: Democratic Candidate [Cognetti] For PA Swing Congressional Seat Targets A.I. Data Centers To Oust Republican [Bresnahan]

-- Scranton Times: Republican Con. Bresnahan Calls For Local Control Of A.I. Data Center Development

-- PennLive: Latest Scrapple Poll: Shapiro Leads Garrity 53% to 28%; Fetterman- 58% Said They Would Vote For Someone Else; McCormick At 37% Approval; President Drops To 38% Approval

-- 2026 Elections

-- Spotlight PA: Pennsylvania Asks President’s Administration How It Identified 14,000 Potential Noncitizens Registered To Vote; Pointing Out Gaps In How The Feds Identify Noncitizens 

-- Post-Gazette: PA Republicans Struggle To Unify Ahead Of Midterm Elections

-- PennLive Editorial: PA Needs Trained Poll Observers To Defend Democracy In November

-- Inquirer Editorial: President Isn’t Done Interfering With Elections

--2020 Election

-- PennLive - John Beauge: Litigation Stemming From 2020 Presidential Election Still Active In Lycoming County 

-- Elections

-- Republican Herald: After President’s Claims Of Voter Fraud, Local Officials Say Elections In Schuylkill County Are Secure

-- PA Capital-Star: Lawyer Says Musk’s PAC Won’t Turn Over Documents In Lawsuit Over Pay-For-Petition Signatures Scheme In PA

-- Inquirer: PA Republicans Aren’t Pushing Back Against President’s New Unsupported Election Fraud Claims As They Lobby For SAVE America Act

-- National Elections

-- Republican Herald: After President’s Claims Of Voter Fraud, Local Officials Say Elections In Schuylkill County Are Secure

-- PA Capital-Star: Lawyer Says Musk’s PAC Won’t Turn Over Documents In Lawsuit Over Pay-For-Petition Signatures Scheme In PA

-- Inquirer: PA Republicans Aren’t Pushing Back Against President’s New Unsupported Election Fraud Claims As They Lobby For SAVE America Act

-- President’s War On Iran

-- August 2: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Same As Yesterday To $4.21/Gallon - $1.10/Gallon Higher Than On Feb. 27 [Pike County Average Price Highest at $4.36]

-- August 2: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.09  Ohio- $4.08  PA- $4.21

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

-- Wall Street Journal: Tanker Ships Are Being Blown Out Of The Water; See How Mideast Strikes Are Piling Up

-- Financial Times: Chevron, Exxon Earnings Soar As President Threatens Price Interventions

-- Bloomberg: Big Oil, Natural Gas Making Big Money During Iran War Market Turmoil

-- Protesting The President

-- Inquirer: President’s War On Truth

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Tariffs/Trade

-- Post-Gazette/AP: Small Businesses File Lawsuits Against President’s New Sweeping Double-Digit Tariffs On 60 Trading Partners To Replace Tariffs Declared Illegal In Feb. 

-- Reuters: 18 Months Into President’s Term, Economy Is A Tale Of Shocks, Resilience, Signs Of Stalled Progress; President’s Vow To Lower Prices, Boost Factory Jobs, Improve Life For Middle Class Has Yet To Materialize 

-- Federal Funding Loss

-- WVIA: Lt. Governor Says PA Can’t Backfill Projected Federal Medicaid Losses

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Lawmakers Urged To Preserve Federal Food Stamp Benefits, Assist Farming Industry At Senate Hearing

-- TribLive: Federal AmeriCorps Funding Cut Ends Allegheny County Health Program After 30 Years

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Policies

-- TribLive: PA Advocates Call For Healthcare Cost Freeze As Insurers Seek 17% Increase [After Congress Fails To Act] 

-- WVIA: Lt. Governor Says PA Can’t Backfill Projected Federal Medicaid Losses

-- TribLive Editorial: Pennsylvania Health Insurance Rates Need Triage

-- AP: President’s Administration To End Medicare Drug Subsidy, Raising Costs For Seniors On Medicare 

-- Post-Gazette: The Viral Online Attack On Pittsburgh Doctors That Sparked A National Debate Over Vaccines; Local Medical Experts Launch Effort To Halt Vaccine Decline 

-- Inquirer: Delaware County Launches Vaccine Campaign As PA Measles Cases Reach Highest Level In More Than 30 Years

-- Wall Street Journal: President Turns Up The Heat On RFK Jr. To Cut Back Childhood Vaccines

-- TribLive: Federal AmeriCorps Funding Cut Ends Allegheny County Health Program After 30 Years

-- PA Capital-Star: Gov. Shapiro Faces Calls To Close Youth Detention Center In Berks County, End State Collaboration With Federal ICE 

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Nonprofit Sues President’s Administration Over Policies To Deport Unaccompanied Children 

-- Inquirer - Will Bunch - Columnist: Mount Holly Springs, Cumberland County ‘Speed Trap’ For Immigrants For Federal ICE

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Member Of Congress Scanlon Makes Unannounced Visit To Clearfield County ICE Immigrant Detention Center

-- TribLive: Haitians Leaving Charleroi, Washington County As Temporary Protected Status Ends

-- York Daily Record: Haitians In York Fear Being Returned To A Country In Dangerous Chaos

-- EPA: Promoting Data Centers, ‘Safeguarding Communities’ By Exempting Power Plants Not Connected To The Grid [And Serving Data Centers] From Acid Rain Clean Air Act Requirements 

-- WIRED: President’s EPA Wants To Change Public Engagement Rules For Polluters, Requiring Little Or No Public Notice To Benefit Gas Power Plants, Data Centers

-- Utility Dive: President’s ‘Vindictive’ Use Of $7.6 Billion In Energy, Other Grants Sparks Backlash

-- Friends Of Allegheny Wilderness: 4 Former Chiefs Of US Forest Service Support Keeping Roadless Area Conservation Rule For America's National Forests

-- Federal Government

-- Spotlight PA: Gov. Shapiro Has Sued President’s Administration Dozens Of Times; Here’s Everything To Know About Those Lawsuits

-- Miscellaneous State/Harrisburg Politics

-- Republican Herald Editorial: Make Luzerne County Sheriff Hire [First Woman, Hispanic] Start Of New Era Locally

-- A.I. /Data Centers

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - August 3  [PaEN]  

-- The Center Square: Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Endorses Statewide Moratorium On A.I. Data Center Development Amid Eminent Domain, Farmland Preservation Worries  [PaEN]

-- The Center Square: State Lawmakers Denied Entry To Talen Energy/Amazon Data Center In Luzerne County  [Warning] 

-- WHYY - Zoe Read: ‘We Will Not Be Bullied:’ Plymouth Township Pushes Back Against Developer Or Proposed A.I. Data Center In Montgomery County  [Warning]

-- Scranton Times - Chris Kelly Opinion: Coldwell Banker A.I Data Center Developer Calls Local Opponents Of Data Centers ‘Cave People’   [Warning]

-- Scranton Times: Archbald’s Latest A.I. Data Center Developer PNK Group Distances Itself From Russian Origins

-- Independent Fiscal Office Reports Average Cost Of Electricity In PA Jumped 14.6% Over Past Year, Total Average PA Electricity Bill Has Increased 20.6% Since 2024  [PaEN]

-- FYI: -- A.I. Data Center Legislative Scorecard: Pennsylvania Failed To Finalize Meaningful Legislation On Energy Affordability, To Increase Electric Generation And Give Communities The Tools They Need To Cope With A.I. Proposals [PaEN] 

-- Erie Times/USAToday: Pennsylvania Electric Bills Rise 20% In 2 Years [Driven By Surge In Power Demands From Data Centers]

--  Capital & Main: In Pennsylvania, The A.I. Data Center Wars Hit The Ballot Box; Voters Angry About Rising Electricity Bills

-- Warren Times Editorial: Rising Electricity Rates Keep Shocking Customers

-- PA Capital-Star: Leftover Low-Income Energy Assistance Funds Used To Give PA Enrollees $100 Supplemental Benefit In Face Of Spiking, Data Center-Driven Energy Costs 

-- PJM Interconnection Proposes One-Time Backstop General Capacity Auction In September With A $555/MW-Day Cap On Prices - Nearly 71% Higher Than Current $325 Cap  [PaEN]

-- Spotlight PA: PJM, Power Grid Can’t Handle A.I. Boom Demands As Summer Heat Triggers Emergency Orders  [Warning]

-- The Shenandoah Sentinel: PPL Follows Through With Threat, Begins Eminent Domain Proceedings For Grid Improvements Paid For By Ratepayers To Feed Proposed A.I. Data Center In Luzerne County 

-- Scranton Times: PPL Corp, Blackstone Spend $40.4 Million To Purchase 500 Acres In Jenkins, Plains, Salem Twps. On Possible A.I. Data Center Power Plants In Luzerne County

-- Utility Dive: FirstEnergy’s Mon Power, Potomac Edison Plan To Assess A Surcharge On Their Ratepayers To Help Finance $2.7 Billion In Generation In West Virginia For A.I. Data Centers  [Warning] 

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Three Mile Island Nuclear Data Center Power Plant Restart Continues Checking Boxes, Stoking Fears

-- PA Capital-Star: Concerns Persist As Three Mile Island Nuclear Data Center Power Plant Progresses Toward 2027 Restart

-- TribLive: Data Center Dash: A.I. Data Center Industry Expands Hopes In Western PA, But Its Future Remains Uncertain

-- TribLive: Wary Of A.I. Data Center Boom, Pittsburgh And Allegheny County Proceed With Caution

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: More A.I. Data Centers Will Mean More Shale Gas Fracking In PA; These Advocates Want Better Health, Environmental Protections For Citizens

-- DEP Invites Comments On Water Quality Permit For Fill, Utility Lines Related To Aligned Data Centers Project, Shippingport Boro & Raccoon Twp., Beaver County  [PaEN] 

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Concerned Citizen Involvement Is Vital In Addressing A.I. Data Center Projects And There Are Many Ways To Get Involved

-- Environmental Health Project Blog: Strategies From The Front Lines - How Communities Fight Data Centers - One Person's Experience From Springdale, Allegheny County

-- The Water Center, University Of Pennsylvania: Research Examines Case Studies On The Local Impact Of A.I.- Driven Data Center Growth In PA And Water Use, Energy, Communities  

-- PennLive Guest Essay: A.I. Data Center Are Coming To PA, Here’s How Watts Twp., Perry County Can Protect Itself While Benefiting - By Jim Enders, Member Plumbers, Pipefitters Local 520 [Who Construct These Facilities And Move On, Rarely Living With The Consequences]

A.I./Data Center Politics

-- Spotlight PA: Where Governor Candidates Garrity, Shapiro Stand On Energy Costs, The Environment, More 

-- PennLive: Republican Candidate For Governor Garrity Uses Farm Plan To Knock Data Centers, Distances Herself From President’s Tariffs 

-- Scranton Times: Republican Candidate For Governor Garrity Calls For Protecting Farmland From A.I. Data Center Development At Ag Roundtable

-- City & State PA: Q/A With PA US Sen. Dave McCormick - Data Centers, Other Issues

-- AP: Democrat’s TV Ad Uses Data Centers In Effort To Oust PA Republican Congressman

-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader/AP: Democratic Candidate [Cognetti] For PA Swing Congressional Seat Targets A.I. Data Centers To Oust Republican [Bresnahan]

-- Scranton Times: Republican Con. Bresnahan Calls For Local Control Of A.I. Data Center Development 

--  Capital & Main: In Pennsylvania, The A.I. Data Center Wars Hit The Ballot Box; Voters Angry About Rising Electricity Bills

-- PA Capital-Star: Pro-Data Center Industry Group Behind Ad Campaign In Oregon, Pennsylvania And 5 Other States

-- Bloomberg: Backlash Over A.I. Data Centers, Energy Costs Tests Republican Hold On Ohio 

-- International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

-- Independent Fiscal Office Reports Average Cost Of Electricity In PA Jumped 14.6% Over Past Year, Total Average PA Electricity Bill Has Increased 20.6% Since 2024  [PaEN]

-- Erie Times/USAToday: Pennsylvania Electric Bills Rise 20% In 2 Years [Driven By Surge In Power Demands From Data Centers]

-- Warren Times Editorial: Rising Electricity Rates Keep Shocking Customers

-- PJM Interconnection Proposes One-Time Backstop General Capacity Auction In September With A $555/MW-Day Cap On Prices - Nearly 71% Higher Than Current $325 Cap  [PaEN]

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs-- 17-- Same For Last 12 Weeks

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - August 3  [PaEN]  

-- Bloomberg: European Natural Gas Prices Poised For Biggest Monthly Gain Since March; Winter Storage 56% Full, Average Is 73% This Time Of Year

-- Wall Street Journal: Tanker Ships Are Being Blown Out Of The Water; See How Mideast Strikes Are Piling Up

-- Reuters Guest Essay: US Is Fueling Chinese Factories It’s Competing With - LNG Natural Gas, Ethane  [Both Are Produced In PA] 

-- Financial Times: Chevron, Exxon Earnings Soar As President Threatens Price Interventions

-- Bloomberg: Big Oil, Natural Gas Making Big Money During Iran War Market Turmoil

-- Flooding

-- Altoona Mirror: SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center Set Up In Tyrone Thru Aug. 13 For Victims Of July 5-6 Flash Flooding In Blair County 

-- PEMA: SBA, State Disaster Assistance Loans, Grants Available To Flood Victims In Blair, Surrounding Bedford, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Huntingdon Counties

-- Morning Call: Storms Dump Up To 7 Inches Of Rain On Part Of Lehigh Valley Causing Flash Flooding, Mudslide 

-- TribLive: Flood-Prone Hempfield Twp. Home Will Be Razed After Flooding More Than A Dozen Times Since 1996

-- Post-Gazette: Why The Pittsburgh Region Is On The Verge Of Setting An Annual Record For Tornadoes

-- Education

-- Post-Gazette: Maximum State Grant For PA College Students Reaches All-Time High With Additional Funding In State Budget 

-- Health Care

-- TribLive: PA Advocates Call For Healthcare Cost Freeze As Insurers Seek 17% Increase [After Congress Fails To Act] 

-- TribLive Editorial: Pennsylvania Health Insurance Rates Need Triage

-- WVIA: Lt. Governor Says PA Can’t Backfill Projected Federal Medicaid Losses

-- AP: President’s Administration To End Medicare Drug Subsidy, Raising Costs For Seniors On Medicare 

-- Post-Gazette: The Viral Online Attack On Pittsburgh Doctors That Sparked A National Debate Over Vaccines; Local Medical Experts Launch Effort To Halt Vaccine Decline 

-- Inquirer: Delaware County Launches Vaccine Campaign As PA Measles Cases Reach Highest Level In More Than 30 Years

-- Wall Street Journal: President Turns Up The Heat On RFK Jr. To Cut Back Childhood Vaccines

-- TribLive: Federal AmeriCorps Funding Cut Ends Allegheny County Health Program After 30 Years

-- Law Enforcement

-- TribLive: PA Supreme Court Denies Allegheny County DA Request To Give Senate/House More Time To Rewrite Unconstitutional Felony Murder Statute

-- PA Capital-Star: What Happens When Senate/House Miss Court Deadline On Addressing Illegal Felony Murder Convictions?

-- PA Capital-Star: Gov. Shapiro Faces Calls To Close Youth Detention Center In Berks County, End State Collaboration With Federal ICE 

-- TribLive: Pittsburgh Nonprofit Sues President’s Administration Over Policies To Deport Unaccompanied Children 

-- Inquirer - Will Bunch - Columnist: Mount Holly Springs, Cumberland County ‘Speed Trap’ For Immigrants For Federal ICE

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Member Of Congress Scanlon Makes Unannounced Visit To Clearfield County ICE Immigrant Detention Center

-- TribLive: Haitians Leaving Charleroi, Washington County As Temporary Protected Status Ends

-- York Daily Record: Haitians In York Fear Being Returned To A Country In Dangerous Chaos

-- The Economy

-- TribLive: Haitians Leaving Charleroi, Washington County As Temporary Protected Status Ends

-- Reuters: 18 Months Into President’s Term, Economy Is A Tale Of Shocks, Resilience, Signs Of Stalled Progress; President’s Vow To Lower Prices, Boost Factory Jobs, Improve Life For Middle Class Has Yet To Materialize 

-- Post-Gazette/AP: Small Businesses File Lawsuits Against President’s New Sweeping Double-Digit Tariffs On 60 Trading Partners To Replace Tariffs Declared Illegal In Feb. 

[Posted: August 2, 2026]