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

— Scranton Times Editorial: Courts Ensure Fairer Voting Districts

— Governor’s Race

— PennLive: Federal Judge Recommends Dismissal Of Lawsuits Seeking To Take Republicans Mastriano, Perry Off Primary Ballot

— LancasterOnline – Brad Bumsted: Political ‘Shakedown:’ Republican Gubernatorial Candidates Say Some Local Party Committees Requiring Payments To Address Members

— PennLive: Republican Gubernatorial Candidates Accuse Corman, Mastriano Of Waffling In Their Opposition To No-Excuse Mail-In Voting

— AP: 4 Republican Candidates For Governor Claw For An Edge In Debate

— Inquirer: 4 Takeaways From Republican Governor’s Debate

— WHYY: Republican Candidates For Governor Want No Abortion, No Mail Voting, Lots Of Fracking

— PennLive Editorial: Kudos To Republican Candidates For Governor Who Respect PA Voters By Showing Up At Debate

— Inquirer: Republican Candidate For Governor Sen. Mastriano Campaigned At Event Promoting QAnon And 9/11, JFK Conspiracy Theories

— PA Capital-Star: Republican Candidate For Gov. Sen. Mastriano Campaigned At Event Promoting QAnon

— PennLive Guest Essay: I’m A Republican, Mastriano Is My Senator, Here’s What Pennsylvanians Should Know – Todd Peterson [Overturning Election, Audit His Campaign Expenses]

— Inquirer: Republican Candidate For Governor Sen. Mastriano Leading In Primary, Insiders Trying To Stop Him

— TribLive: Republican Candidate For Governor Sen. Corman  Vows To Undo Bridge Tolling Plan

— Inquirer: Wealthy Delaware County Republican Insider Dave White Is Running For Governor As A Blue-Collar Outsider

— WHYY: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Dave White Makes His Move

— Inquirer: A Dark Money Group Set Up To Support Republican Candidate For Governor Lou Barletta Just Turned On Him

— Erie Times Guest Essay: Fighting For Less Government, More Individual Liberty – Charlie Gerow, Republican Candidate For Governor

— PA Capital-Star: Q/A With Republican Lt. Gov. Candidate Clarice Schillinger

— AP: Republican Candidate For Lt. Governor Hit With Protection From Abuse Order By Wife

— TribLive Editorial: Domestic Violence And Public Office

— TribLive: Josh Shapiro Positioned To Enter General Election Campaign Flush With Cash

— Inquirer: Josh Shapiro Spends Big To Tell His Story Now, With No Democratic Primary Rival For Governor

— Erie Times Guest Essay: Delivering Real Results For Pennsylvanians – Josh Shapiro, Democratic Candidate For Governor

— U.S. Senate Race

— AP: Ex-President’s Endorsements Hovers Over Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Debate

— The Economist: U.S. Senate Race In Pennsylvania Could Predict Republican Party’s Future

— The Economist: Pennsylvania’s Primaries Point To The Future Of American Politics

— WESA: Lots Of Jabs, But Few Policy Differences In First Full Debate Of Republican U.S. Senate Candidates

— TribLive: Republican U.S. Senate Candidates Meet In Debate, Without Front-Runners

— PA Capital-Star: ‘Carpetbagger’ Accusations Continue In PA’s Republican U.S. Senate Race

— MCall – Paul Muschick: Why None Of The Republican U.S. Senate Candidates Is As Good As Pat Toomey

— Politics PA: The Politics Of Hunting In Pennsylvania

— TribLive: Democratic Candidates For U.S. Senate Square Off In 2nd Primetime Debate

— Post-Gazette: Democratic U.S. Senate Debate Brings Out Candidates’ Key Points With Single Question

— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Democratic Candidates For U.S. Senate Divide On Energy, Government Reforms, More In Debate

— Inquirer: 4 Takeaways From Monday’s Democratic U.S. Senate Candidates’ Debate

— MCall: PA Democrats Running For U.S. Senate Push For All-Hands Approach To Gun Violence

— TribLive Editorial: Candidate Debates Chance To Minimize Money’s Role In Election

— May 2022 Primary Election

— Spotlight PA: Complete Guide To May 17 Primary

— PennLive: Voters’ Guide To May Primary Election Candidates

— PennLive: Federal Judge Recommends Dismissal Of Lawsuits Seeking To Take Republicans Mastriano, Perry Off Primary Ballot

— PennLive: Lebanon County Democrat Seeks To Join Federal Court Fight To Keep Republican Candidate For Governor Sen. Mastriano Off Primary Ballot

— MCall/Reading Eagle: PA Republican Congressional Candidate Haunted By Antisemitic, Racially Tinged Social Media Messages

— Post-Gazette – Salena Zito: Republican Mike Doyle Is Running For Retiring Democrat Mike Doyle’s Congressional Seat

— MCall: Lehigh County Detectives To Watch Election Drop Boxes, Could Prosecute Anyone Who Deposits More Than One Ballot

— TribLive: Westmoreland County Poised To Scale Back Mail-In Ballot Drop Boxes

— PennLive – John Baer: How To Be A Better Voter In PA’s Primary Election

— Spotlight PA: Why Independents Can’t Vote In May Primary

— WHYY/BillyPenn: 1 In 5 Young PA Voters Can’t Participate In Big U.S. Senate, Governor Races Because Of Closed Primaries

— PennLive Guest Essay: Allow Independents To Vote In Primary Elections – Sen. Boscola (D-Lehigh)

— Post-Gazette Editorial: Opening PA’s Primary Elections Would Help De-Radicalize Politics

— TribLive: Butler County Twp Backtracks On Political Sign Ordinance

— WESA: Allegheny County In ‘Desperate’ Need of Poll Workers To Run The Upcoming Primary

— Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout

— Reuters: Allies Of Ex-President Breach U.S. Voting Systems In Search Of 2020 Fraud ‘Evidence’ [PA Breach Incident]

— Inquirer Guest Essay: PA Republicans Should Spend Money On Improving Our Elections, Not Trying to Expose Problems That Don’t Exist

— MCall: Lehigh County Detectives To Watch Election Drop Boxes, Could Prosecute Anyone Who Deposits More Than One Ballot

— TribLive: Westmoreland County Poised To Scale Back Mail-In Ballot Drop Boxes

— TribLive Editorial: Existing Resources Easily Available For Ballot Drop-Off

— Warren Times Editorial: Unsecured Voting Must Go Away

— TribLive: Anti-Defamation League: 82% Increase In Antisemitic Incidents In Western PA In 2021

— MCall/Reading Eagle: PA Republican Congressional Candidate Haunted By Antisemitic, Racially Tinged Social Media Messages

— PA Capital-Star: ‘All Of Us Share A Responsibility To Guard Against Hate,’ Wolf Says As PA Marks Holocaust Remembrance Day

— Wilkes-Barre Times: Man Who Complained Of Racist Comment At Luzerne County Golf Course Rejects Settlement Offer

— PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: How A Shuttered Bathroom At A Pittsburgh Grocery Store Explains Structural Racism

— PennLive Guest Essay: Book Burnings And Other Outrages – Mark Singel

— PA’s Role In Assault On U.S. Capitol

— WITF: Texts Show Details Of Republican Cong. Scott Perry’s Role In Plan To Overturn 2020 Election

— PA Capital-Star: Republican Cong. Scott Perry ‘Endorsed’ Plan To Send Right-Wing Extremists To U.S. Capitol Jan. 6 To Overturn 2020 Election Results

— PA Capital-Star: Republican Cong. Scott Perry Votes Against Military Aid For Ukraine

— PA Capital-Star Editorial Cartoon: Meet The Chair Of The U.S. House Freedom (From Reality) Caucus – PA Republican Cong. Scott Perry

— Post-Gazette: McKean County Woman Who Called For Members Of Congress To Be Hanged Shouldn’t Be Allowed To Make Arguments Outside The Facts Of Her Case, Feds Say

— MCall: Montgomery County Man Who Repeatedly Hit Capitol Police Officer With Flagpole Pleads Guilty To Criminal Charges In Assault On U.S. Capitol

— Inquirer: Republican Candidate For Governor Sen. Mastriano Campaigned At Event Promoting QAnon And 9/11, JFK Conspiracy Theories

— PA Capital-Star: Republican Candidate For Gov. Sen. Mastriano Campaigned At Event Promoting QAnon

— PennLive Guest Essay: I’m A Republican, Mastriano Is My Senator, Here’s What Pennsylvanians Should Know – Todd Peterson [Overturning Election, Audit His Campaign Expenses]

— State Constitutional Amendments

— Spotlight PA: Complete Guide To More Than 70 Proposed Amendments To State Constitution

— PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

— WHYY: Republican Candidates For Governor Want Lots Of Fracking

— Williamsport Sun Editorial: State Republican Candidates Reassuring On Energy Policies

— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Democratic Candidates For U.S. Senate Divide On Energy, Government Reforms, More In Debate

— Post-Gazette – Anya Litvak: Appalachian Natural Gas Companies Aren’t Enjoying Those High Prices – Yet

— Pittsburgh Business Times: CNX CEO Took Aim At Paris Climate Accord, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative For Hampering Natural Gas Industry

— NGI: Range Resources CEO Calls For Federal, State Support For Pipelines, Compression, LNG Terms To Increase Natural Gas Supply

— Harrisburg Politics Potpourri

— LancasterOnline – Brad Bumsted: House Advances Bill To Post Members’ Expenses Online

— Post-Gazette: PA Lawmakers Are On Recess, Here’s What We’re Watching For When They Come Back, And Upcoming Budget Negotiations

— PA Capital-Star: What The Founders Meant By ‘Virtue’ And How It Could Save Our Politics Now

— City & State PA: New Report Takes Stock Of Muslim Voter Participation In PA

— PA Capital-Star: Senate Republican Budget Chair Has Primary Opposition

— PA Capital-Star: Senate Probation Reform Bill Faces Pushback, Advocates Say They Prefer The Status Quo

— PA Capital-Star: House Passes Bill Limiting Philly DA To Two Terms

— WHYY: PA Lawmakers Urge Approval Of Rape Kit Tracking System Legislation

— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Lawmakers Look To Curb Online Sales Of Stolen Goods By Imposing Disclosure Rules

— WITF: Dance Teachers Wanting Easier State Certification Get Lawmakers To Strut Their Stuff

— PA Capital-Star: Civil Rights Group Sues Harrisburg Over Public Gathering Restrictions

— Budget 2022

— AP: Billions In Surplus Have PA Lawmakers Thinking Business Tax Cut

— Post-Gazette: State-Owned Universities Call On Legislature For More Funding

— City & State PA: State-Owned Universities Embarked On Groundbreaking, Fraught Quest To Redesign System

— MCall Guest Essay: Why We Must Lower The Cost Of Going To A State-Owned University – PASSHE Chancellor

— COVID Pandemic/Health

— Erie Times: New COVID Subvariant Sparks Surge In Erie County’s Cases

— MCall: PA Saw A 2nd Peak Of Flu Cases This Spring, Here’s Why That’s Unusual

— TribLive: FDA Chief Lays Health Misinformation Battle On Universities, Health Systems During Pittsburgh Seminar

— Inquirer: PA Nursing Home Buyers Would Face More Scrutiny Under State Health Proposal

— Erie Times Guest Essay: PA Nursing Homes Still Fighting Pandemic, Need Fair State Funding

— TribLive: Survey: 93% Of Pittsburgh Hospital Workers Are Thinking About Leaving Profession

— TribLive Editorial: Nursing, Teaching, Trucking – A Trifecta Of Burnout

— AP: An Algorithm That Screens For Child Neglect Raises Concerns In PA

— COVID – Schools

— Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Public Schools Makes Masking Optional

— Opioid Deaths

— PennLive – Guest Essay: COVID Brought The Opioid Epidemic Back With A Vengeance

— Inquirer Guest Essay: Why Is Sen. Schwank Making It Harder To Obtain Buprenorphine When It Saves Lives In Opioid Epidemic

School Districts/Higher Education

— WHYY: Study Used By Republicans Revised, Now Shows Low-Income Students Get Less State Funding

— PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: What Will Be The Fallout From PA’s Landmark School Funding Trial?

— LancasterOnline: Gay Sexuality Alliance Club Event At Hempfield H.S. Draws Backlash, Investigation

— Inquirer: Bucks County School District Drops Diversity Program, Black Families Say District Isn’t Acknowledging Racism

— PennLive Guest Essay: Book Burnings And Other Outrages – Mark Singel

— PennLive: Eastern PA Private Charter School Settles Grade-Rigging Lawsuit For $75,000

–TribLive: Beaver County School District Warns Parents Man Tried To Kidnap Elementary School Student

— TribLive: Shooter Threat Closes Imani Christian Academy In Pittsburgh

— Post-Gazette: Concerns Over Mass Shooting Response At Brashear H.S. Prompt Student Walkout

— PA Capital-Star: How A Philly Man Is Fighting City’s Gun Violence Epidemic One Drum Line At A Time

— TribLive: Anti-Bullying Protest At Allegheny County School District Canceled Due To Bullying

— TribLive Editorial: Nursing, Teaching, Trucking – A Trifecta Of Burnout

— Inquirer: Massive Philly School Planning Process Will Decide Future Of Its Infrastructure

— Post-Gazette: State-Owned Universities Call On Legislature For More Funding

— City & State PA: State-Owned Universities Embarked On Groundbreaking, Fraught Quest To Redesign System

— MCall Guest Essay: Why We Must Lower The Cost Of Going To A State-Owned University – PASSHE Chancellor

— PA Capital-Star: Community College Of Philadelphia, Philly Housing Authority Team Up To Offer Student Housing

— Citizens Voice: Salary For Luzerne Community College President Up To $196,711

— Post-Gazette: Penn State Surpasses Fundraising Goal, Raising More Than $2 Billion

— Altoona Mirror: Students, Faculty Protest PSU-Altoona Cuts, Layoffs

— Gun Violence/Law Enforcement

— PA Capital-Star: As Deaths Rise, A New Call For Gun Reform, Will Republicans Listen?

— Gov. Wolf Stands Against Gun Violence, Calls For Life-Saving Legislative Action

— PennLive: Beaver County Firearms Maker Disputes Federal Crackdown On ‘Ghost Guns’

— Gov. Wolf: State Police Prepared To Implement Stricter Ghost Gun Regulations

— Inquirer: 9 Local Gun Shops Supplied 15,000 ‘Crime Guns’ In Philly, New Report Shows

— Altoona Mirror Editorial: Bipartisanship Necessary On Gun Violence

— Post-Gazette Editorial: Don’t Take Your Guns To Town

— Post-Gazette Editorial: The Perverse Logic Of Capital Punishment

— TribLive: Cash Bail System Reform Being Explored In PA

— Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Houses Of Worship Receive State Grants To Enhance Security

— TribLive: Shooter Threat Closes Imani Christian Academy In Pittsburgh

— PA Capital-Star: How A Philly Man Is Fighting City’s Gun Violence Epidemic One Drum Line At A Time

— Post-Gazette: Concerns Over Mass Shooting Response At Brashear H.S. Prompt Student Walkout

— York Dispatch: Billboard Latest Step In One Aunt’s Quest for Justice In Child’s Death

— MCall: PA Cannabis Festival Focus On Legal Recreational Marijuana Use

— PA Capital-Star: Senate Probation Reform Bill Faces Pushback, Advocates Say They Prefer The Status Quo

— PA Capital-Star: House Passes Bill Limiting Philly DA To Two Terms

— Scranton Times: Bench Warrant Issued For Fmr AG Kathleen Kane On DUI Charges

— WHYY: PA Lawmakers Urge Approval Of Rape Kit Tracking System Legislation

— Inquirer: 5 Takeaways From Inquirer Investigation Of The Crisis In Philadelphia Jails

— Courier Times: ‘Video Vigilantes’ Have Come To Bucks County, Are They Catching Predators Or Jeopardizing Justice?

— AP: Fmr AG Kathleen Kane Jailed Again Awaiting Hearing On DUI Arrest

— PA Capital-Star: Biden Taps Openly LGBTQ Attorney As Top Federal Prosecutor For Philly Region

— PA Economy

— Post-Gazette Editorial: Flirting With Disaster: Bridge Inspections Must Stay Public

— TribLive Editorial: Nursing, Teaching, Trucking – A Trifecta Of Burnout

— WITF: Your Mass Transit Ride In PA May Get Better, Thanks To New Federal Funding

— Post-Gazette: Allegheny, Indiana, Fayette Lead A 10-County Region In Slow Internet Connections

— Post-Gazette Editorial: Scrap State Law Restricting Broadband Options

— Post-Gazette: Court Agreement Could Bring Tax Relief To Allegheny County Homeowners

— Post-Gazette: Assessment Decree Could Be Boon For Homeowners, Bust For School Districts, Municipalities

— TribLive Editorial: Property Tax Reform Is Long Overdue

— Post-Gazette Editorial: Allegheny County’s Botched Spot Assessment Shows Need For Broader Approach

— AP: Number Of Americans Collecting Unemployment At Lowest Level Since 1970

— PA Capital-Star: Philly Council ‘Turns The Key’ On Affordable Housing Program

— WESA: Pittsburgh Mayor Scraps Pittsburgh’s Guaranteed Income Program

— MCall: Pennsylvania Leads The Nation In Home Fire Deaths

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