PA Capitol Report: Top 10 Stories On Harrisburg/PA Politics Last Week


Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else–

— Governor’s Race

— TribLive: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Takes Campaign To Westmoreland County; Stage Flanked By American And Christian Flags [His Opponent Josh Shapiro Is Jewish]

— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Shuts Down His Deposition To U.S. House Panel Investigating Assault On U.S. Capitol In Dispute Over Recording, Rules

— WHYY/AP: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Cuts Short Interview With U.S. House Panel Investigating Assault On U.S. Capitol

— WITF: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Used Legal Maneuvering To End His U.S. House Panel Interview Investigating The Assault On U.S. Capitol

— PennLive – Charles Thompson: PA Republican Candidate For Governor Mastriano To Appear For Questioning By U.S. House Panel Investigating Assault On U.S. Capitol

— Inquirer: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano’s Fight With U.S. House Panel Investigating Assault On U.S. Capitol May Help His Campaign

— Politics PA: Republican Florida Governor To Rally For Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano In Pittsburgh Aug. 19

— Post-Gazette – Julian Routh: Shapiro, Mastriano Race For Governor Puts Partisan Divide In Clear View

— LancasterOnline: Gubernatorial Candidates Mastriano, Shapiro Pitch To PA County Commissioners

— PA Capital-Star: Democratic Candidate For Lt. Gov. Davis Campaigns In Allegheny County Touting Education, Economy, Safety

— U.S. Senate Race

— Politics PA: Poll: Fetterman Leads Dr. Oz By Double Digits In PA U.S. Senate Race

— Post-Gazette – Julian Routh: Fetterman ‘Grateful To Be Here’ At Erie Campaign Rally For U.S. Senate

— Erie Times: Fetterman Revives U.S. Senate Campaign In Erie, 3 Months After Stroke

— PennLive: Fetterman Returns To Campaign Trail: ‘He’s Still The Same Fighter’

— Inquirer: ‘I Will Deliver Pennsylvania For Us’: Fetterman Returns To U.S. Senate Campaign

— Inquirer: Fetterman Keeps Attacking Dr. Oz For Being From New Jersey, It’s Resonating In Parochial PA

— WHYY: Fetterman’s ‘Real Doctors Against Oz’ Tour Say He’s A Danger To Public Health

— Bloomberg: Fetterman Tries To ‘Weirdify’ Dr. Oz In PA U.S. Senate Race And Builds Polling Lead

— Politics PA: Dr. Oz Challenges Fetterman To 5 Debates In U.S. Senate Race

— WVIA: Making Sense Of Social Media In PA’s Campaigns For Governor, U.S. Senator

— Courier Times: A Self-Funded Campaign And Sliding Poll Numbers Point To Trouble For Dr. Oz U.S. Senate Race

— Inquirer: 2 Super PACs Are Pouring Tens Of Millions Into PA U.S. Senate Race Ads

— TribLive Editorial: Too Much Super PAC Money In PA’s U.S. Senate Race

— May 2022 Primary Election

— AP: Commonwealth Court Judge Vows To Move Quickly On Dispute Between State, 3 Counties Over Mail-In Ballots

— Inquirer: State Elections Officials Said Error On Spreadsheets Led To Mistake In Certifying Some County Election Results

— Reading Eagle: Berks Republican Committee Questionnaire For Primary Winners To Determine Their ‘Eligibility’ To Be Seated Sparks Backlash

— November 2022 Election

— PA Capital-Star: Republicans Continue To Erode Democrats’ Voter Edge In Lehigh Valley Congressional District

— RealClear PA: Republican Establishment Dismisses Party’s PA Voters

— PA Capital-Star: Poll: Ahead Of Midterm Elections, PA Voters Want Lower Health Insurance Costs

— PA Capital-Star: Ahead Of Midterm Elections, Casey, Democrats Tout Impact Of U.S. Senate Climate, Energy, Health Care Bill

— PA Capital-Star: Roe’s Reversal Puts Abortion Access On The November Ballot In PA

— PA Capital-Star: How Coraopolis Is Becoming A Community Hub For Pittsburgh’s Growing Latino Population

— PennLive Guest Essay: RINOS Are Coming To The Rescue – By Mark Singel

— Wilkes-Barre Editorial: Republican Cong. Meuser Casts Brave Vote Supporting Same-Sex Marriage Bill

— Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout

— TribLive Guest Essay: Despite The Attacks, Let’s Vote – Mail-In Voting Is Still An Option In PA

— LancasterOnline Editorial: Voters Get A Win In PA Supreme Court Decision Uphold Mail-In Voting

— TribLive: Western PA Counties Weigh Options With Election Funding Grants

— Altoona Mirror: Republican Sen. Judy Ward Addresses Election Security “It Is A Huge Concern”

— TribLive Guest Essay: PA Exhibit A For Why Election Integrity Matters – Rep. Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland]

— WITF: Sen Schwank, Rep. Guzman Call For Meetings About Berks County Election Problems

— WESA: Allegheny County Preparations For Election Day Going Smoothly, Officials Say

— TribLive: Allegheny County Election Officials Debate Future Of Ballot Drop Boxes, Satellite Voting Centers

— Courier Times: Pennridge Group Files Court Petition To Change Election Rules For School Board Members

— Inquirer Guest Essay: PA Is Home To More Racist Incidents Than Any Other State

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

— York Daily Record: Is Harrisburg Coming Into Increased Focus Of U.S. House Panel Investigating Assault On U.S. Capitol?

— PA Capital-Star: Gunman Who Tried to Breach Cincinnati FBI Office Raised In Perry County

— TribLive Editorial: The Dangerous Side Of Social Media [Perry County Man’s Attempted Breach Of Cincinnati FBI Office]

— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Shuts Down His Deposition To U.S. House Panel Investigating Assault On U.S. Capitol In Dispute Over Recording, Rules

— WHYY/AP: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Cuts Short Interview With U.S. House Panel Investigating Assault On U.S. Capitol

— WITF: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Used Legal Maneuvering To End His U.S. House Panel Interview Investigating The Assault On U.S. Capitol

— Inquirer: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano’s Fight With U.S. House Panel Investigating Assault On U.S. Capitol May Help His Campaign

— PennLive: Jan Murphy/Charles Thompson: FBI Delivers Subpoenas To Several PA Republican Lawmakers

— LancasterOnline: Republican House Speaker Cutler Says He Won’t Back Alternate Electors’ Scheme If Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Elected

— AP: PA Republican Cong. Scott Perry Says FBI Agents Seized His Cellphone

— WPost: Who Is PA Republican Cong. Scott Perry, Ally Of Ex-President And Why Was His Phone Seized By The FBI?

— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Republican PA Cong. Scott Perry Says He’s Not A Target Of Federal Probe

— York Daily Record: Why Is The U.S. House Panel Investigating Assault On U.S. Capitol So Interested In Republican PA Cong. Scott Perry?

— Inquirer: Montgomery County Gym Owner Said His Martial Arts Training Compelled Him To Join Assault On U.S. Capitol

— Erie Times: PA Republicans React To FBI Search Of Ex-President’s Estate

— PennLive Guest Essay: RINOS Are Coming To The Rescue – By Mark Singel

— Inquirer Editorial: After FBI Search Of Ex-President’s Estate, Republicans Dangerously Close Ranks

— PennLive Editorial: Everyone Must Call For Non-Violence Now To Save Our Nation

— NPR: This Conservative Group Helped Push Disputed Election Theory In PA, NC

— State Constitutional Amendments

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

— PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

— PUC: 4 Major Electric Utilities Have Double Digit Electric Price Increases Coming Sept. 1 Caused By Spike In Natural Gas, Energy Costs, Hot Weather [PaEN]

— Pittsburgh Business Times: PUC Warns About Rising Electrical Rates Caused By Spike In Natural Gas Cost, Other Commodities, According To West Penn Power

— Inquirer – Andrew Maykuth: PECO’s Electricity Price Going Up 11%, Met Ed Going Up 18.4% Because Of Spike In Natural Gas Costs

— PennLive: Electric Utilities Raising The Cost Of Their Electricity Up To 19% Starting Sept. 1

— WV Metro News: WV Public Service Commission Warns Utility Customers Of 173% Increase In Natural Gas Rates Coming This Fall

— Reuters: U.S. Natural Gas Jumps 8% On Talk Of Higher Flows To Texas LNG Plant

— Baker Hughes PA Natural Gas Drill Rig Count Down 2 From Last Week – 23

— TribLive: PA Average Gasoline Price Could Fall Below $4 By Late August, Analyst Says [Other Areas At $4.06 Now]

— Post-Gazette: U.S. Gasoline Prices Dip Below $4; Pittsburgh And PA Averages Remain Near $4.30

— USA Today: Gasoline Prices Drop Under $4 Nationwide [But Not In PA]

— Citizens Voice: Gasoline Prices Drop Below $4 At Some Luzerne County Stations

— Irish Mirror: Dimock, Susquehanna County Man Who Said His Life Was Destroyed By Fracking Traveled To Ireland To Urge The Government To Block Shannon New Fortress Energy LNG Project

— Harrisburg Politics Potpourri

— Post-Gazette Editorial: PA Needs Legislator Gift Reform Now

— MCall – Ford Turner: Sen. Boscola Wants To Restore Property Tax Relief Funding As Wave Of School District Tax increases Hit Lehigh Valley

— PA Capital-Star: Republican Lawmaker Floats Constitutional Amendment To Eliminate Property Taxes

— Scranton Times Editorial: Find Revenue, Then Address Property Tax Burden

— PennLive -John Baer: Cheers To Audit Finding Liquor Control Board Bigwigs Taking From Top Shelf

— PennLive Guest Essay: Lawmakers Need To Address The Growing Threat Posed By Illegal Skill Games Gambling

— The Center Square: About $4.9 Billion In Unemployment Fraud Not Recovered In PA

— Budget 2022

— WHYY: New Grant Adds $375 Million In State Funds To Target Repair Of Crumbling Homes

— COVID Pandemic/Health

— MCall: PA COVID Update: Less Than Half School-Age Children Fully Vaccinated; 20,626 Cases Reported This Week

— Centre Daily Times: 10 PA Counties At High COVID Community Spread Levels

— Citizens Voice Editorial: Hospitalization Numbers Tell COVID Vaccine Tale

— WHYY: Philly Health Dept. Launches New Lab To Sequence, Track COVID Variants

— MCall: Widow Of Man Who Died During COVID Pandemic In A Lehigh Valley Nursing Home Sues County

— USA Today: Flu Coming Back With A Vengeance, Experts Say, And Children May Be At Risk

— AG Shapiro: 5 Individuals, 2 Nursing Facilities Indicted On Charges Of Conspiracy To Defraud The U.S. And Health Care Fraud

— TribLive: Brighton Rehab, Mt. Lebanon Nursing Home Officials Accused Of Health Care Fraud In Federal Indictment

— AP: 2 PA Nursing Homes Accused Of Health Care Fraud

— TribLive Editorial: Nursing Home Fraud Crimes Aren’t Just About Money

— WHYY: Sen. Comitta Introduces Bill To Reform Hospital Closure Process To Address Recent Closures

— Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh-Area Home Health Care Company Ordered To Pay $1.5 Million In Back Wages

— AP: CDC Issues New COVID Guidance For Schools, Drops Quarantine, Distancing Recommendations

— COVID – Schools

— WITF Smart Talk: COVID Caused Students To Struggle, Here’s How They Can Get Back On Track

— Inquirer: Philly Schools Must Wear Masks For First 10 Days Of Class, Optional After That

— PennLive: What Can Parents, Students Expect As PA Faces 2nd Full School Year Of COVID

— TribLive: Western PA Colleges Readying For Round 3 With COVID Mitigation Plans

— WHYY: Temple Makes Masks Optional For Fall Semester, But Not Everyone Is Happy

— WHYY: Report Details COVID’s Long-Term Impacts On Philly Students: ‘We’re Just Surviving’

— AP: CDC Issues New COVID Guidance For Schools, Drops Quarantine, Distancing Recommendations

School Districts/Higher Education

— MCall: Teacher Shortage Has Schools Scrambling, What It Means For Lehigh Valley

— Inquirer: 700 New Teachers Hired For Philly Schools This Year, They Could Have Worked Anywhere With Ongoing Teacher Shortage

— Scranton Times: Teacher Shortage Plague Some NE PA Schools; Scranton Needs 40 Teacher, 55 Personal Care Assistants

— Inquirer: As School Year Looms, Teacher Vacancies Remain, One District May Farm Its Students Out To A Community College

— WESA: 1 In 12 PA High Schoolers Attempted Suicide Last Year; Advocates Want More Counselors, Social Workers

— WHYY: Report Details COVID’s Long-Term Impacts On Philly Students: ‘We’re Just Surviving’

— Inquirer Guest Essay: Grief Over Gun Violence Is Weighing Down Philly Students

— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Republican Lawmakers Want Rhetoric About Gender Identity Off Dept. Of Education Website

— WHYY: Central Bucks School District Passes Policy Censoring Class Materials With ‘Sexualized Content’:  ‘It’s just Getting Worse’

— TribLive: Penn Hills School District To Form Its Own Police Force

— MCall: Lehigh Valley School District Adopts Code Of Conduct Acknowledging Transgender Students’ Rights

— WESA: Fmr North Allegheny H.S. Students Release Guide For The Next Generation Of Young Activists

— TribLive: No Cellphones When Penn Hills School District Students Return Aug. 29

— PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: To Prevent Shootings, Teachers Need To Be Armed With Information, Not Guns – Fmr Lawrence County DA

— Post-Gazette: Wolf, CMU President Among Pennsylvanians At Signing Of CHIPS And Science Bill

— Inquirer: Drexel Offers 50% Tuition Break For Community College Transfers

— Gun Violence/Law Enforcement

— NYT: ‘Everybody Is Armed’: As Shootings Soar, Philadelphia Is Awash In Guns

— PA Capital-Star: Gun Violence Surges In Philadelphia Despite Recent Efforts To Tame It

— PA Capital-Star: Philadelphia Youth Call For Tighter Firearms Restrictions, Increased Funding To Combat Gun Violence

— WITF Smart Talk: Philly Students Talk About Ending Gun Violence

— Inquirer Guest Essay: Grief Over Gun Violence Is Weighing Down Philly Students

— Inquirer: Philly DA Will Not Appeal Ruling On Police Shootings, Use-Of-Force Law

— WHYY: Can A New Faith-Based Coalition Move The Needle On Philly Gun Violence?

— Inquirer: Philly Community Festival Goes On Amid Historic Gun Violence

— Inquirer: Philly Gun Buyback Events Yield 1,000 Guns, None Had Been Used In Crimes

— TribLive: 1 Dead, 13 Wounded In Weekend Violence Across Allegheny County

— Inquirer: 2 Dead, 9 Wounded In Philadelphia Shootings Friday

— WHYY: More Than A Dozen Shot, 3 Dead In Philly Shooting Incidents

— AP: 1 Dead, 17 Injured As Car Plows Into Bar Filled With People At A Fundraiser For The 10 Victims Of Nescopeck Fire

— MCall: Bethlehem Musikfest Shut Down After Apparent Shooting Sends Crowd Scrambling

— Inquirer Guest Essay: I Spent 14 Years In Solitary Confinement, Here’s Why We Should End The Practice

— TribLive: Penn Hills School District To Form Its Own Police Force

— PennLive: Child Abuse Registry In PA Unconstitutional, Names Innocent People Lawsuit Claims

— PA Economy

— The Center Square: About $4.9 Billion In Unemployment Fraud Not Recovered In PA

— MCall: Lehigh Valley Employers Offering Stipends, Raises, Flexible Schedules To Fight Inflation

— York Daily Record: REAL ID Deadline Approaching, Why You Need To Apply Soon

— Post-Gazette: Wolf, CMU President Among Pennsylvanians At Signing Of CHIPS And Science Bill

— LancasterOnline: Republican Cong. Smucker Says Democrats’ Climate, Energy Bill Will Make Inflation Worse

— MCall: Could Outdoor Gambling Solve Impasse Over Smoking At Casinos?

— Dept. Of Labor & Industry Collected $8.3 Million For Labor Law Non-Compliance Since January 1

— MCall: Dixie Cup Plant Owner Years Behind In Property Taxes, Owes Hundreds Of Thousands To School District

— York Daily Record: Hershey Will Have Enough Candy For Halloween, But It Will Cost More

— MCall: Emergency Rent Aid Is Running Out In Lehigh County, Could That Lead To Surge In Evictions?

— Inquirer: Where To Find Grants For Small Businesses Owned By People Of Color, Women

— The Center Square: Broadband Expansion In PA Could Give Rural Economies A Boost

Other

— PennLive: In Memoriam: Peter Thornburgh, Son Of Fmr PA Gov. Thornburgh

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