PA Capitol Report: Top 10 Stories On Harrisburg/PA Politics Last Week
Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else–
— New Voting Districts – Senate, House, Congressional
— AP: PA Supreme Court Upholds Voting District Maps For Senate, House
— Spotlight PA: PA Supreme Court Rejects Challenges To State House, Senate Voting District Maps
— PA Cap-Star: PA’s New House, Senate Voting District Maps OK’d By PA Supreme Court
— MCall: Court Rejects Challenges To Voting District Maps Triggering Launch Of short, Intense Campaign Season
–WITF/Spotlight PA: Fringe Theory Cited By Republicans In PA Redistricting Case Could Give Legislature Unchecked Election Power
— TribLive: State Legislative Redistricting Causes Changes In Alle-Kiski Valley Communities
— TribLive: Westmoreland’s Clout In Harrisburg Cut Through Redistricting
— ScrantonT Editorial: No Man An Island, Except House Republican Leader Benninghoff After Unanimous PA Supreme Court Decision On Redistricting
— Governor’s Race
— AP: Big Republican Primary Field For Governor Has Party Leaders Worried
— City & State PA: Survey: Most Gubernatorial Candidates Support PA Gift Ban Legislation
— PennLive – Letter: Religious Organizations Call On Republican Sen. Mastriano To Stop Using Jewish Symbols In His Gubernatorial Campaign
— TribLive: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Sen. Corman Talks Energy, Gasoline Tax Holiday
— Inquirer: Bill McSwain ‘Put Himself Front And Center’ As U.S. Attorney In Philly, Now He Wants To Be PA Governor
— Politics PA: Republican Jason Richey Ends Campaign For Governor, Endorses McSwain
— Inquirer: Democratic Dark Money Group Spending Over 41 Million To Boost Josh Shapiro’s Run For PA Governor
— AP: Democrat Shapiro Rolls Out First Tax Relief Plan Of Governor’s Race
— PG: In Pittsburgh, Democrat Shapiro Promises To Cut Costs For PA Families If He’s Elected Governor
— City & State PA: Democrat Gubernatorial Candidate Josh Shapiro Unveils Plan To Cut Cell Phone Tax, Issues Gasoline Tax Refunds
— PG Guest Essay: To Offset Rising Costs, Let’s Cut Taxes And Give Money Back To Pennsylvanians – Josh Shapiro, Democratic Candidate For Governor
— U.S. Senate Race
— AP: Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Dr. Oz Would Renounce Turkish Citizenship If Elected
— NYT: Dr. Oz’s Heritage Is Targeted As Republican Rivals Vie For PA U.S. Senate Seat
— PG: Sean Parnell Stumps For Republican U.S. Candidate Dave McCormick At Rally In Pittsburgh
— AP: Republican Ex-Hedge Fund CEO Running For U.S. Senate Aims To Be Hometown Boy
— TribLive: Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Carla Sands Speaks To Hempfield Students As She Returns To Her Roots
— Inquirer: Philly Democrats Back Lamb For U.S. Senate
— May 2022 Primary Election
— PA Cap-Star: PA Incumbent Retirement And Primary Tracker
— PA Cap-Star: Little Has Changed For PA Election Officials, Voters Heading Into 2022
— PG Guest Essay: The Need For Greater Security For Election Workers Against An Increasing Number Of Threats – Al Schmidt, Fmr Republican Philadelphia Elections Commissioner
— PA Cap-Star: Early Guide To PA’s Governor’s, U.S. Senate Primary Election
— MCall – Ford Turner: House, Senate Candidates Prepare For 11-Day Signature-Seeking Frenzy
— City & State PA: With Midterms Nearing, Republicans Look To Keep PA In Republican Hands
— November 2021 Election
— MCall: Federal Judge Throws Out Lehigh County Voters’ Lawsuit Over Uncounted Mail-In Ballots
— Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout
— PA Cap-Star: Little Has Changed For PA Election Officials, Voters Heading Into 2022
— PG Guest Essay: The Need For Greater Security For Election Workers Against An Increasing Number Of Threats – Al Schmidt, Fmr Republican Philadelphia Elections Commissioner
— PA’s Role In Assault On U.S. Capitol
— PG: Another Western PA Resident Surrenders To The FBI On Charges Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol
— TribLive: Butler County Man Charged In Connection With Assault On U.S. Capitol
— WHYY: Philly DA Says Man Accused Of Election Interference Has Violated Bail Again
— AP: Cowboy Politician From New Mexico 2nd Person To Go On Trial On Criminal Charges Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol [PA Included]
— State Constitutional Amendments
— Spotlight PA: Complete Guide To More Than 70 Proposed Amendments To State Constitution
— PA Politics Of Russian Invasion
— 6th Oil/Gas Shock: Listen To What Europe Says They Need – Not What The U.S. Oil/Gas Industry Wants
— Guest Essay: Pennsylvania And Virginia Face Fight Of Their Lives – [What The Coal, Natural Gas Industries Want In PA] – By Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming)
— PG – Salena Zito: ‘Shalennial’ Natural Gas CEO Busts Expectations [What The Natural Gas Industry Wants]
— TribLive: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Sen. Corman Talks Energy, Gasoline Tax Holiday
— City & State PA: Democrat Gubernatorial Candidate Josh Shapiro Unveils Plan To Cut Cell Phone Tax, Issues Gasoline Tax Refunds
— PennLive – John Baer: Now Is The Spring Of Our Discontent, Thank Gasoline Prices, The Pandemic And Russia’s War
— ScrantonT: Support Growing For Proposed State, Federal Gasoline Tax Relief
— WHYY: Yes, Prices At The Gasoline Pump Are High, Republican Primary Candidates In PA Have Noticed Too
— TribLive: Diesel Price Rise A Pain At Pump And Consumer’s Pockets
— TribLive: Are Western PA Gasoline Prices Headed Toward $5 A Gallon?
— TribLive Editorial: Why Not A State Gasoline Tax Holiday, Gov. Wolf?
— PG Editorial: Gasoline Tax Holiday A Vacation From Common Sense
— Harrisburg Politics Potpourri
— PA Cap-Star: PA Incumbent Retirement And Primary Tracker
— Inquirer: Progressives Scored Big In Philly Politics, Here Comes The Establishment Pushback
— PennLive Guest Essay: True Leadership Is More Than Telling A Good Story – Mark Singel
— LancasterOnline – Brad Busted: House Of Representatives Lags On Expenses Transparency
— ScrantonT Editorial: State Needs Term Limits
— PA Cap-Star: Conservative Group Targets House Republican Appropriations Chair Stan Saylor For Gasoline Tax, Budget Votes
— CourierT: Republican Sen. Tomlinson Set To Retire
— CourierT: Republican Rep. Farry To Run For Tomlinson’s Senate Seat
— MCall: Republican Sen. Scavello To Retire, Rep. Rosemary Brown To Run
— Independent Sen. John Yudichak Not Seeking Reelection To State Senate
— PennLive: Republican Rep. Andrew Lewis Will Not Seek Reelection
–TribLive: Westmoreland Republican Rep. Brooks Won’t Seek Reelection
— ScrantonT: Republican Rep. Boback Won’t Seek Reelection To House
— WITF: Mixed Drinks To-Go Could Be Back On The Menu At PA Bars, Restaurants
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Senate Panel Exploring Recreational Marijuania Legalization Criticized For Not Hearing Both Sides
— Inquirer: PA’s Sudden Move To Recall Marijuana Vapes Raises Questions Like Were These Products Harmful All Along?
— Spotlight PA: Top PA Drug Official Denies Blame For Botched Medical Marijuana Guidance, But Her Claims Don’t Add Up
— AP: Fmr PA Attorney General Kathleen Kane Charged With DUI After Crash
— AP: Fmr Attorney General Kathleen Kane Charged With Drunken Driving After Crash
— Budget 2022
— Independent Fiscal Office Finds House Republican Proposals To ‘Reform’ Corporate Tax Laws Will Cost The State From $30 to $200 Million A Year
— PG: Lawmakers Push For $500 Million Trust Fund To Help Fix PA’s Decaying Bridges
— PennLive Guest Essay: Budget Proposal Makes Good On Outstanding Commitments and Provides Taxpayers Relief – Gov. Wolf
— ErieT Guest Essay: How To Make The State Budget Work For PA – Enact A 2-Year Budget – Sen. Augment (R-Lancaster)
— PA Cap-Star: Conservative Group Targets House Republican Appropriations Chair Stan Saylor For Gasoline Tax, Budget Votes
— PA Gaming Control Board Reports February Gaming Revenue Of $375.6 Million
— TribLive: March Madness Delivers At Western PA Casinos, Sportsbooks
— TribLive: PA Sports Betting Slips, But March Madness May Bring Recovery
— COVID Pandemic In PA
— MCall: COVID Update: State Passes 44,000 Deaths With 203 This Week
— WHYY: How Do We Get To The Pandemic’s ‘Next Normal’?
— ErieT: Erie Hospital Reaches COVID Milestone: Erie County Sees More Flu
— TribLive: What To Know About COVID Omicron BA.2 Subvariant
— TribLive: Allegheny County To Rely More On Wastewater Surveillance To Calculate Spread Of COVID
— WHYY: PA Health Care Leaders, Advocates Urge Congress To Approve More COVID Funding
— Inquirer: Philly Hospitals, Key Insurers, City Plan Novel Effort To Improve Health Equity
— PA Cap-Star: ‘The Stats Are Unacceptable:’ Philly Panel Explores Improving Black Community Health
— TribLive: With Driver Shortages Because Of Vaccine Mandate, Pittsburgh Transit Offers Free Rides
— PennLive: Dr. Rachel Levine Named Among Women Of The Year By USA Today
— COVID – Schools
— PA Cap-Star: Staffing Shortage, COVID, Politics Taking Toll On PA Teachers
— School Districts/Higher Education
— PA Cap-Star Guest Essay: The Trial Is Done. What’s Next For School Funding In PA?
— MCall – Ford Turner: PA Teacher Certifications Drop 66%, Official Says Supply Of New Educators At ‘Breaking Point’
— City & State PA: Wolf’s Private Charter School Regulations Face Opposition From Republican Lawmakers
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Wolf’s Likely Last-Ditch Attempt To Fix ‘Broken’ Private Charter School Law Arrives Monday At IRRC
— PA Cap-Star: Staffing Shortage, COVID, Politics Taking Toll On PA Teachers
— CourierT: School Threats Are On The Rise, Is It Time To Change Our Response?
— TribLive: Debate Continues On Racism, Critical Race Theory In Westmoreland School District
— York Daily Record: Susquehannock Student Speaks Out Against Racial Bullying In The High School
— WESA: Some Sewickley Academy Students Say They No Longer Feel Welcome At School
— PennLive: Juvenile Arrested After Shooting, Bomb Threats At Shippensburg Middle School
— PennLive: Read Emails That Led To Harrisburg Teacher Being Charged With Terroristic Threats
— TribLive: Book Challenges In Schools Are Becoming More Frequent, Driven In Part By Social Media
— ErieT: Erie Community College Board Hires Familiar Lobbyist
— TribLive: BotsIQ Brings Manufacturing, Teamwork To Westmoreland Community College
— Inquirer: Merger Of 6 State-Owned Universities Gets OK By Accrediting Body
— Gun Violence/Law Enforcement
— WHYY/Billy Penn: Philly’s Plan To Treat Gun Violence As A Public Health Crisis Is Getting An Update With Ideas From The Community
— PG: Pittsburgh Man’s Killing In Venango County Ruled Justified By County DA
— AP: Playground Gunfire During Fight Kills 1, Hurts 3 On Playground, No Arrests
— PA Cap-Star: Philly Council Delves Into Links Between Gun Violence And Domestic Violence
— PennLive: Amid Recent Homicides, Harrisburg Residents Meet Again To Talk About Curbing Gun Violence
— AP: Philadelphia Police Officer Charged With Perjury After Arrest Audit
— WHYY: Jury Trials Increase In Philadelphia To Help Eliminate 34,000 Case Backlog
— PA Cap-Star: 13 Men Died After Going To Allegheny County Jail, Here Are Their Stories
— PA Cap-Star: PA Lawmakers Unveil Bipartisan Plans For Juvenile Justice Reform, Standardized Practices
— ErieT: Life Sentence Vacated For Erie ‘Juvenile Lifer’ Who Killed 5-Year-Old
— PA Cap-Star: PA’s Pandemic Experiment In Virtual Courts Yielded Mixed Results
— ErieT: Is Possession Of Fake Drugs Illegal? Erie County Judge Offers Answer [Spoiler – No]
— PA Economy
— Wolf Administration Highlights Equal Pay Day, Calls For Pay Equity For Pennsylvanians
— WITF: PA Commission On Women: Fair Pay Is A Woman’s Right, The Wage Gap Must End
— WHYY: What’s Fueling The Great Resignation? More Money, More Meaning, Less Burnout
— PG: Amazon Withdraws Plans For Controversial Distribution Warehouse In Churchill
— Inquirer: Philly’s Rental Assistance Program Marks $250 Million Milestone
— TribLive Editorial: Rental Assistance Needs Better Messaging
— PG: Congressional Lawmakers From SW PA Bring Home $51.5 Million Under New Earmark Reforms
— Other
— PA Cap-Star: U.S. Interior Dept. Research Into History Of Abusive Native American Boarding Schools Should Be Released In Coming Weeks [Including Carlisle ‘Indian School’]
— Spotlight PA: Joins 4 State Newsrooms In Fighting Alleged First Amendment Violations In Reviewing York County Court Records