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

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- PBS: The Greater Good: The Tom And Michele Ridge Story [7 Chapter Documentary]

-- Gov. Tom Ridge On Leadership: I Call For Pennsylvania To Be A Showcase Of Well-Reasoned And Inspired Environmental Leadership [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro

-- Spotlight PA: As Shapiro Pumps Money Into Downballot Democrats, Republicans Lean On Billionaire Jeff Yass

-- The Center Square: PA Republicans Say Disease Rule Proposals Allow For Warrantless Entry Into Homes

-- The Center Square: Shapiro Administration’s Controversial Communicable Disease Health Regulations Dropped, For Now

-- Inquirer: Shapiro Administration Will Rescind PA Disease-Tracking Proposal That Reignited COVID-Era Outrage

-- Race For Governor

-- TribLive: Shapiro Outspending Garrity by 20 to 1 Margin In Race For PA Governor

-- TribLive: A Third Of PA Voters Don’t Know Who Stacy Garrity Is, New Poll Shows

-- TribLive: Republican Candidate For Governor Stacy Garrity Touts Experience In Business, Military, State Government

-- Budget 2027

-- PennLive: PA Will Get Over $500 Million In Facebook Settlement, Now It Has To Decide How To Spend It

-- PA House/Senate

-- WITF: What PA Lawmakers Could Tackle When They Convene Sept. 28: Skill Games, Data Centers, Electric Rates, More

-- The Center Square: A.I. Data Center Court Fights Fester As PA Lawmakers Return To Session 

-- The Center Square: PA Republicans Say Disease Rule Proposals Allow For Warrantless Entry Into Homes

-- ABC27: PA Health Dept. Withdraws Updated Health Regulations Amid Backlash

-- Spotlight PA: The 2026 Races That Could Decide Control Of The PA House, Senate

-- US House/Senate

-- Inquirer: Fetterman’s Favorability Dips In New Poll As Voters See Him More As A Republican Than A Democrat

-- Morning Call: New Franklin & Marshall College Poll Give Democratic Congressional Challengers An Edge [62% Said President’s Policies Have Hurt Them]

-- City & State PA: PA Polls Show Democratic Congressional Candidates Leading As Midterm Election Nears

-- PennLive: Fetterman Again The Only Democrat To Vote Against Senate Resolution Condemning President’s War On Iran

-- WVIA: President’s Executive Order Does Not Cancel Stormwater Fees For Luzerne County Communities 

-- Scranton Times: TV Ad By Republican Congressman Bresnahan Claims On Stormwater Fee Are Murky, Ethically Questionable  

-- Republican Herald: Republican PA Congressman Meuser Backs Out Of Talks For 2nd Debate; Oct. 20 Debate Is Still On

-- Statewide Offices

-- Spotlight PA: Fighting Tech’s Influence On Kids Emerges As Focus For PA Attorney General Dave Sunday

-- Spotlight PA: State Auditor General Finds Weaknesses With PA Aging Dept. Oversight Could Leave Older Adults At Risk

-- Post-Gazette: State Auditor General’s First Audit Of Medical Marijuana Program Finds Glaring Problems

-- 2026 Elections

-- Spotlight PA: The 2026 Races That Could Decide Control Of The PA House, Senate

-- Morning Call - Bill White: Elections Aren’t About Perfection, They’re About Choices 

-- Elections

-- Republican Herald Editorial: President’s Assault On The Midterm Election Is Down But Not Out

-- Spotlight PA: US Dept. Of Justice Charges 4 More PA Residents With Noncitizen Voting; Bringing Total Number Charged With Noncitizen Voting To 7 In PA

-- President’s War On Iran

-- September 27: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Same As Yesterday $4.54/Gallon - $1.43/Gallon Higher Than On Feb. 27 [Warren County $4.77  Highest Average Price]  

-- September 27: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.47  Ohio- $4.33  PA- $4.54

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

-- PennLive: 260 PA Natural Guard Troops Will Be Deployed To Middle East

-- PennLive: Fetterman Again The Only Democrat To Vote Against Senate Resolution Condemning President’s War On Iran

-- TribLive: $6 Per Gallon: Heating Oil Prices Spike As Global Supply Chokes 

-- Post-Gazette: Home Heating Oil Prices In Western PA Have Ballooned, Diesel Prices Are Highest In 48 Years

-- The Center Square: PA Farmers Face ‘A Lot Of Uncertainty’ As Record Diesel Prices Squeeze Operations

-- Wall Street Journal: America’s Farmers Are Rethinking Their Loyalty To Republicans [Tariffs, Diesel, Gasoline, Fertilizer Prices, Imported Beef]  

-- WTAE: Higher Gas Prices Hit Drivers Where It Hurts In Allegheny County; Drivers Make Tough Financial Decisions

-- TribLive: Westmoreland Transit Authority Gasoline Costs Went From $55,000 to $92,000/Month, Looking For Alternatives 

-- The Citizens’ Voice: ‘Skyrocketing’ Diesel Prices Impacting NE PA Businesses

--  Bloomberg: US Diesel Export Ban Would Be Calamity For The Market; Potentially Increases Prices In America

-- Financial Times: US President Presses Ukraine To Stop Hitting Russian Refineries; It’s All About ‘Diesel, Diesel, Diesel’

-- Bloomberg: US LNG Natural Gas Producers Eye Bonanza Of Long-Term Supply Deals To Support Chinese Economy If President, Xi Can Ease Tariffs

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Tariffs/Trade

-- Wall Street Journal: America’s Farmers Are Rethinking Their Loyalty To Republicans [Tariffs, Diesel, Gasoline, Fertilizer Prices, Imported Beef]  

-- Reversing Course

-- Utility Dive: Federal Judge Restores $7 Billion Solar  For All Programs, Says EPA Illegally Axed It   [Pennsylvania Awarded $156 Million Thru The Program ]  

-- Utility Dive: 2nd Federal Judge Overturns $7 Billion Solar For All Cancellation [Pennsylvania Awarded $156 Million Thru The Program ]  

-- PA Impacts Of President’s Policies

-- Erie Times/USA Today: PA Health Insurance Rates To Rise By Double Digits Again In 2027  [Due To Congressional Inaction]

-- WHYY: Pennsylvanians Buying 2027 Health Insurance Will Face 16% Average Premium Increase

-- TribLive Editorial: Health Insurance Price Tag Is Sickening

-- Post-Gazette: Millions Of Americans Get Discount Prescription Drugs From Canada, That Back-Door Arrangement Is About To Be Closed By President’s Administration

-- Post-Gazette: Number Of Pennsylvanians Going Hungry Rises Sharply, Report Says

-- TribLive/Inquirer: President’s Administration Will Force PA To Pay More For Food Stamp Program, Shapiro’s Office Says It Can’t

-- WESA: Black Lung Disease Remains Threat To Coal Miners In PA; But Efforts To Address It Are Delayed 

-- The Guardian: US Coal Miners Plead For Benefits As Black-Lung Disease Cases Surge

-- WVIA: Clearfield County Commissioners Extend Contract With President’s ICE To Run Detention Center

-- Inquirer: Clearfield County Commissioners Extend Contract With President’s ICE For Detention Center; Facility May Be Sold To Federal Government

-- PA Capital-Star: Millions Of Dollars Of Waste Found In President’s Administration Push For Immigration Detentions, Including PA Warehouse Purchases

-- Post-Gazette: As President’s ICE Reaches Deeper Into Western PA Communities, A Backlash Grows

-- York Daily Record: York Pastor Deported To Haiti Despite Pleas From Advocates And Clergy After Traffic Stop By West Manchester Twp. Police 

-- WITF: York Immigrant Haitian Pastor Denied Request For Permanent Residence Status, Again Faces Deportation

-- WHYY: PA Democrats, Immigrant Rights Groups Question Contract For Clearfield County ICE Detention Center Ahead Of County Vote On Extension

-- Inquirer Editorial: Pennsylvania’s Shameful Contribution To President’s Immigration Crackdown

-- Federal Administration

-- TribLive: James Copenhaver, Wounded In Assassination Attempt On President At Butler Rally, Has Died

-- Miscellaneous State/Harrisburg Politics

-- PennLive: John Bair, Chronicler Of Capitol Politics For Half A Century, Dies At 79

-- Post-Gazette: Number Of Pennsylvanians Going Hungry Rises Sharply, Report Says

-- TribLive Editorial: Can You Fence Out The 1st Amendment?

-- PennLive Editorial: PA Lawmakers Must Defend A Free Press Now

-- Republican Herald Editorial: President’s Attack On Media Strikes At The Heart Of Free Speech

-- A.I. /Data Centers

-- PA Farm Bureau Supports Pause On A.I. Data Center Development, Issues Policy Paper On Why A Pause Is Needed  [PaEN] 

-- NBC10: PA Senate Republican Leader, House Democratic Speaker Reject A.I. Data Center Moratorium Legislation 

-- Pennsylvanians Are Finding Their Voices Again On Environmental, Energy Issues They Care About  [PaEN] 

-- 27+ Citizen, Environmental Groups To Hold No Data Center Rally Oct. 6 Main Capitol Rotunda In Harrisburg  [PaEN] 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: A.I. Data Center Developers Should Learn From Shale Gas Industry On How To Handle Public Controversy And Regulations Amid Public Backlash  [PDF of Article] 

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: Pennsylvania’s A.I. Data Center Boom Is Repeating Old Patterns Of Exploitation 

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - September 28  [PaEN]

-- Public Utility Commission To Hold Nov. 17 Technical Conference On Utility Costs Driven By A.I. Data Centers, Other Large Loads  [PaEN] 

-- PUC: Fewer, But Bigger Power Outages Impacted Nearly 2.9 Million Electric Customers In 2025, The Same As In 2024; But More Than Double The Number Of Customers Were Impacted By Major Outage Events  [PaEN]

-- International/National Impacts On PA Natural Gas

-- September 27: PA Average AAA Gasoline Price Same As Yesterday $4.54/Gallon - $1.43/Gallon Higher Than On Feb. 27 [Warren County $4.77  Highest Average Price]  

-- September 27: Average AAA Gasoline Prices: National- $4.47  Ohio- $4.33  PA- $4.54

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

-- The Center Square: PA Farmers Face ‘A Lot Of Uncertainty’ As Record Diesel Prices Squeeze Operations

-- Wall Street Journal: America’s Farmers Are Rethinking Their Loyalty To Republicans [Tariffs, Diesel, Gasoline, Fertilizer Prices, Imported Beef]  

-- Post-Gazette: Home Heating Oil Prices In Western PA Have Ballooned, Diesel Prices Are Highest In 48 Years

-- TribLive: $6 Per Gallon: Heating Oil Prices Spike As Global Supply Chokes 

-- WTAE: Higher Gas Prices Hit Drivers Where It Hurts In Allegheny County; Drivers Make Tough Financial Decisions

-- TribLive: Westmoreland Transit Authority Gasoline Costs Went From $55,000 to $92,000/Month, Looking For Alternatives 

-- The Citizens’ Voice: ‘Skyrocketing’ Diesel Prices Impacting NE PA Businesses

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - September 28  [PaEN]

--  Bloomberg: US Diesel Export Ban Would Be Calamity For The Market; Potentially Increases Prices In America

-- Financial Times: US President Presses Ukraine To Stop Hitting Russian Refineries; It’s All About ‘Diesel, Diesel, Diesel’

-- Utility Dive: North Carolina Utility Regulator Denies Duke Energy Natural Gas Power Plant Over ‘Staggering’ Cost, Uncertain Need

-- Bloomberg: US LNG Natural Gas Producers Eye Bonanza Of Long-Term Supply Deals To Support Chinese Economy If President, Xi Can Ease Tariffs

-- Flooding

-- PEMA: SBA Low-Interest Loans, State Disaster Grants Available To Northcentral Counties  From Sept. 2-3 Severe Storms, Flash Flooding; Outreach Centers To Open In Erie, Clinton, Lycoming Counties 

-- Erie Times: State, Federal Aid Available For Eligible Erie-Area Storm Victims

-- WTAE: Heavy Rain Causes Widespread Flooding, Water Rescues In Washington County 

-- WTAE: ‘My Trailer Might Go Down The Creek Next’: Canton Twp. Neighbors In Washington County Fear More Flooding After Creek Swells

-- Observer-Reporter: South Strabane Twp. Residents Upset Over Recent Flooding In Washington County

-- Observer-Reporter: Frequent Flooding Concerns Businesses, Residents Near Chartiers Creek In Washington County

-- Observer-Reporter: Officials In City Of Washington ‘Brainstorm’ Response To Flooding In Washington County

-- TribLive: Flooding Temporarily Shutters Westmoreland CleanWays Recycling Center For Cleanup; Expected To Reopen Friday

-- Education

-- TribLive Editorial: What Does Penn State Owe Closing Campus Communities?

-- Health Care

-- The Center Square: PA Republicans Say Disease Rule Proposals Allow For Warrantless Entry Into Homes

-- The Center Square: Shapiro Administration’s Controversial Communicable Disease Health Regulations Dropped, For Now

-- Inquirer: Shapiro Administration Will Rescind PA Disease-Tracking Proposal That Reignited COVID-Era Outrage

-- ABC27: PA Health Dept. Withdraws Updated Health Regulations Amid Backlash

-- TribLive: Western PA Experts On What To Know About This Year’s Flu Season

-- Spotlight PA: State Auditor General Finds Weaknesses With PA Aging Dept. Oversight Could Leave Older Adults At Risk

-- Post-Gazette: Millions Of Americans Get Discount Prescription Drugs From Canada, That Back-Door Arrangement Is About To Be Closed By President’s Administration

-- Erie Times/USA Today: PA Health Insurance Rates To Rise By Double Digits Again In 2027  [Due To Congressional Inaction]

-- WHYY: Pennsylvanians Buying 2027 Health Insurance Will Face 16% Average Premium Increase

-- TribLive: PA Measles Cases Near 800 In Ongoing Outbreak

-- Law Enforcement

-- WVIA: Clearfield County Commissioners Extend Contract With President’s ICE To Run Detention Center

-- Inquirer: Clearfield County Commissioners Extend Contract With President’s ICE For Detention Center; Facility May Be Sold To Federal Government

-- PA Capital-Star: Millions Of Dollars Of Waste Found In President’s Administration Push For Immigration Detentions, Including PA Warehouse Purchases

-- Post-Gazette: As President’s ICE Reaches Deeper Into Western PA Communities, A Backlash Grows

-- York Daily Record: York Pastor Deported To Haiti Despite Pleas From Advocates And Clergy After Traffic Stop By West Manchester Twp. Police 

-- WITF: York Immigrant Haitian Pastor Denied Request For Permanent Residence Status, Again Faces Deportation

-- WHYY: PA Democrats, Immigrant Rights Groups Question Contract For Clearfield County ICE Detention Center Ahead Of County Vote On Extension

-- Inquirer Editorial: Pennsylvania’s Shameful Contribution To President’s Immigration Crackdown

-- The Economy

-- Post-Gazette: Number Of Pennsylvanians Going Hungry Rises Sharply, Report Says

[Posted: September 27, 2026]