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: Frontrunning Republican Candidate For Governor Sen. Mastriano Still Focused On Unproven Election Fraud Claims From 2020

— PennLive – Letter: Religious Organizations Call On Republican Sen. Mastriano To Stop Using Jewish Symbols In His Gubernatorial Campaign

— Inquirer: Aide To Fmr President Says PA Republicans Should Back Sen. Mastriano For Governor- But That’s Not An Endorsement

— TribLive: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Sen. Corman Talks Energy, Gasoline Tax Holiday

— PG: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Lou Barletta Says PA Could Lead The Way For U.S. Energy By Unleashing Natural Gas Industry

— 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

— WHYY: Mariner East Pipeline Opponent Running For Governor On The Green Party To Advocate For Residents Affected By Industrial Pollution

— U.S. Senate Race

— WSJ: PA Primary Pushes Democrats To Choose Between Competing Styles Of U.S. Senate Candidates- Hoodie Or Blue Blazer?

— 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

— Inquirer: Super PAC Hammering Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Dr. Oz As A RINO Is Getting Money From Longtime Democratic Donors

— 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

— PG: Federal Judge, Among Others, Says She Never Signed Petition For Democratic Congressional Candidate Steve Irwin

— November 2021 Election

— MCall: Federal Judge Throws Out Lehigh County Voters’ Lawsuit Over Uncounted Mail-In Ballots

— MCall: Lehigh County Voters Ask Court To Delay Final Tally In Judicial Race During Appeal Over Unsigned 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: Allegheny County Woman Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol Wants Leniency, But Feds Want Jail For Lies, Lack Of Remorse 

— 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

— PG: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Lou Barletta Says PA Could Lead The Way For U.S. Energy By Unleashing Natural Gas Industry

— 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

— MCall: The Pandemic Uprooted Health Care, Lehigh Valley Health Care Experts Say These Changes Will Likely Stay

— 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’

— PA Cap-Star: Senate, House Republican Education Committee Members Urge Rejection Of Wolf Administration Private Charter School Accountability Regulations

— 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

— MCall: Sign In School Classroom- ‘You Belong. You Matter. We Are All Southern Lehigh’– Sparked Complaints About Inappropriate Commentary

— 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

— TribLive: Debate Goes On In Franklin School Board About Teaching Of A Novel About A Child Growing Up During The Iranian Revolution

— 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

— AltoonaM: Altoona City Council Passes Resolution On Prohibiting Spending Taxpayer Money To Enforce Newly Passed Gun Laws

— WHYY: PA Faces ‘Historic Shortage Of Police;’ AG Shapiro, Philly Police Commissioner Call On Harrisburg For Help

— 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

— AP: Attorney General’s Review Of How Local Police In York Handled Case That Ultimately Saw 2 Children Killed Finds ‘Major Concerns,’ But No Charges

— 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

— ScrantonT: Lackawanna County Forced To Return $2 Million In Rental Assistance Because It Didn’t Distribute The Money By The Required Deadline

— 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

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