PA Capitol Report: Top 10 Stories On Harrisburg/PA Politics Last Week
Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else–
— 2022 Priorities
— TribLive Guest Essay: Final Year Will Focus On Issues That Matter Most – Gov. Wolf
— MCall Guest Essay: How We Helped Stabilize PA’s Economy During Pandemic – Sen. Browne (R)
— PA’s Role In Jan. 6 Assault On U.S. Capitol
— AP: Michigan AG Asks Feds To Investigate Fake Republican Electors In 2020 [Includes References To Fake Republican Electors In PA]
— WITF: New Muhlenberg Poll Shows PA Voters Remain Divided About 2020 Presidential Election
— MCall – Paul Muschick: How Schools Should Teach About Jan. 6 Assault On U.S. Capitol
— WITF: Police, Constables In PA Joined ‘Anti-Government’ Oath Keepers
— CourierT: Bucks County Man, 19, To Spend 14 Days In Jail As A Result Of Charges In Assault Of U.S. Capitol
— AP: Man Accused Of Shooting Into PA Democratic Party HQ In Montgomery County Pleads Guilty
— LancasterOnline: Militia, ‘Patriots’ Met In Lancaster County 3 Days Before Attack On U.S. Capitol, Here’s Why
— WBTimes Editorial: PA Republicans Need To Get Over The Big Lie, Drop Sham Election Probe
— PG Editorial: Social Media Companies Allowed ‘Big Lie’ On Election Fraud To Fester
— New Voting Districts – Senate, House, Congressional
— AP: Republicans Seek Sole Control Over Drawing Senate, House Voting District Maps
— Inquirer: PA Republicans Want A Lot More Power In State Voting District Maps
— WITF: House Republicans Want To Change How Elections, Redistricting Happen
— YorkDR Guest Essay: Another Republican Power Grab When ‘Find The Votes’ Turns Into ‘Draw The Lines’ – Rep. Bizzarro (D)
— PA Cap-Star Editorial Cartoon: The Elephant In The Room On PA Redistricting – The Elephant In Sheep’s Clothing
— MCall – Ford Turner: PA Redistricting Puts Incumbents, Potential Challenges In Limbo
— PennLive Guest Essay: Political Partisanship In Redistricting is Causing Confusion For Mid-Term Elections – Mark Singel
— PA Cap-Star: PA’s Bitter, Chaotic Effort To Redraw Congressional, State Voting Districts Likely To Reach Crescendo In Court
— Gov. Wolf: Fair Congressional Voting District Maps Are Possible, Highlights Gerrymander-Free Examples
— Inquirer: Wolf Unveiled Proposed Congressional Voting District Maps As Deadlines Loom
— Spotlight PA: House Republicans Approve Proposed Congressional Voting District Map As Court Challenges Loom
— WITF: Republican-Favored Congressional Voting District Plan Passes House, But There’s A Long Way To Go
— PG: House Republicans Approve New Congressional Voting District Map As Court Challenges Loom
— PA Cap-Star: Harrisburg Republicans Advance Redistricting ‘Reform’ Amid Voting Districts Map Fight
— Inquirer Guest Essay: PA’s New House Voting District Map Can Fix Decades Of Gerrymandering
— WilliamsportS: Local Leaders Question Redistricting Proposal
— TribLive: Northern Westmoreland Would Get New State Senator Thru Redistricting
— CourierT Editorial: How Proposed State House Voting District Plan Will Hurt Bucks County
— LancasterOnline Editorial: House Republicans Shouldn’t Be Allowed To Get Away With Their Latest Power Grab On Redrawing Voting Districts
— ScrantonT: Gerrymandering Truest Form Of Election Fraud
— ErieT: City Of Erie Will Challenge U.S. Census Count
— NPR: Fmr Administration Interfered With 2020 Census Beyond Cutting It Short, Email Shows
— Governor’s Race
— Republican Leaders Poll Shows Governor’s Race: White (21%), McSwain (17%), Barletta (16%), Gerow/Martin (12%), Corman (7%), Mastriano (6%) Leading
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Lunch Pail-Carrying ‘Worker Guy’ Emerges As Favorite In Regional Republican Leaders Poll
— Inquirer: Fmr President Is Front And Center In PA’s Race For Governor, Will It Stay That Way?
— Republican Leaders Poll Shows Lt. Governor’s Race: Schillinger (39%), Coleman (22%), Diamond (19%), Saccone (10%)
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: PA Farm Show Provides One-Stop-Shop For Campaigning Politicians
— LancasterOnline – Brad Bumsted: Republican Sen. Corman Says He Has $3 Million To Fund Race For Governor
— WTAE: Fmr Republican House Speaker Turzai Running For Governor
— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Fmr Republican House Speaker Turzai Asks To Appear Before State Committee About Governor’s Race
— WHYY: PA Republican Primary Candidates Warn Of Immigrant ‘Ghost Flights,’ But Lack Facts And Context
— PennLive – John Baer: Don’t Be Surprised If Republican Sen. Mastriano Wins Republican Nomination For Governor
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Republican Sen. Mastriano Endorses Fellow Army Veteran For Lt. Governor
— WBTimes: Republican Teddy Daniels Announces For Lt. Governor After Appearing At Rally For Sen. Mastriano
— PennLive – Fmr Republican Rep. Jeff Coleman Announces Campaign For Lt. Governor
— PA Cap-Star: Republican Jeff Coleman Running For Lt. Governor To Restore Civility
— U.S. Senate Race
— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Republican Leaders Straw Poll Shows Strong Support For Bartos, Barnette In U.S. Senate Race
— Republican Leaders Poll Shows U.S. Senate Race: Bartos (49%), Barnette (30%), McCormick (15%), Sands (8%), Oz (1%)
— USA Today: PA’s Candidate-Packed, Toss-Up Celebrity-Laden U.S. Senate Race Could Decide Control Of Congress
— AP: Republican U.S. Senate Hopefuls Attack Carpetbaggery: ‘Why Lie To Me?’
— PG: Republican U.S. Senate Candidate David McCormick Buys Home In Pittsburgh’s East End
— AP: Ex-Hedge Fund CEO David McCormick Enters Topsy-Turvey Republican U.S. Senate Race
— AP: Philly Lawyer George Bochetto Joins Republican Field For U.S. Senate Seat
— ReadingE: 2 Republican Berks County Commissioners Endorse Jeff Bartos For U.S. Senate
— PA Cap-Star: U.S. Senate Democratic Hopefuls Fetterman, Lamb Join Call For Congressional Stock-Trading Ban
— Inquirer: Philly’s Largest Worker Union Backing Democratic Rep. Kenyatta For U.S. Senate
— Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout
— PG Editorial: MLK Day Call To Action On Voting Rights
— AP: PA Supreme Court Puts Hold On Republican ‘Inspection’ of County Voting Machines
— AP: Commonwealth Court Won’t Block Entire Senate Republican Voter Information Subpoena
— PA Cap-Star: PA Court Declines To Quash Senate Republican Election ‘Investigation’ Subpoena, Needs More Time For Review
— PennLive Guest Essay: Giving Personal Data To Politicians ‘Investigating’ The 2020 Elections Is Dangerous
— PA Cap-Star: Watchdog Group Latest To Sue Fulton County Over Missing 2020 Election Review Documents
— WITF: House Republicans Want To Change How Elections, Redistricting Happen
— PA Cap-Star: Conservative Groups Target State, Local Voter Registration Rolls In PA With Lawsuits
— ScrantonT: Lackawanna NAACP Calls For Protection Of Voting Rights
— WITF: New Muhlenberg Poll Shows PA Voters Remain Divided About 2020 Presidential Election
— PennLive Guest Essay: The ‘Sore Loser Effect’: Rejecting Election results Can Destabilize Democracy And Driver Terrorism
— PA Cap-Star Guest Essay: It’s Up To Democrats In PA And DC To Defend Democracy, So Far That Isn’t Happening
— Inquirer Guest Essay: Voting Rights Bill Will Undermine The Rights Democrats Claim To Protect – Sen. Toomey
— YorkD Editorial: Sen. Toomey Can Be The One Republican Senator Who Can Make A Difference On The ‘Big Lie’
— TribLive: Pittsburgh Mayor Supports Efforts To Host National Political Convention Regardless Of Party
— PG Editorial: Benefits Of Hosting Republican Convention Outweigh Perils
— Harrisburg Potpourri
— Spotlight PA: Voters Could Be Flooded With Proposed Changes To PA Constitution In 2023
— PA Cap-Star Guest Essay: Unable To Win The Battle Of Ideas, PA Republicans Are Damaging The State Constitution
— CourierT Guest Essay: Proposed Constitutional Amendments Threaten Independence Of PA Judiciary – Pennsylvanians For Modern Courts
— Spotlight PA: Legislature’s Redacted Legal Bills Flout Court Ruling, Leave Taxpayers Guessing On Expenses
— ScrantonT Editorial: Taxpayers’ Pay High Price For Lawmaker Expense Secrecy
— PG: Special Election April 5 Will Decide Gainey’s Replacement In House
— House Speaker: Special Election April 5 To Replace Rep. Toohil In Luzerne County
— TribLive: Aide To Sen. Costa Announces Bid To Fill Rep. Gainey Vacant House Seat
— Northeast Times: Democrats Pick Ward Leader Dillon For State Senate Special Election
— ErieT: Republican Rep. Curt Sonney Won’t Seek Reelection
— WBTimes: Rep. Mullery Will Not Seek Reelection In 2022
— Center Square: House Committee Approves Bills To Align PA, Federal Tax Codes
— WESA: New Report To Legislators Says Concerns Remain About PA’s Unemployment System
— TribLive – Deb Erdley: Rep. Matzie To Introduce Bill Requiring Notice Sex Offenders Are Entering Long-Term Care Facilities
— PennLive: Fmr Judicial Advocate Appointed To Be Board Of Prisons Secretary
— Budget 2022
— MCall Guest Essay: How We Helped Stabilize PA’s Economy During Pandemic – Sen. Browne (R)
— PG Editorial: The Least Of These – A Hidden Crisis In Services For People With Intellectual Disabilities And Autism
— PA Cap-Star: Sen. Flynn Wants Turnpike To Use Cash Apps For Tolls
— CentreDT: Mini-Casino In Centre County Is Running Behind Schedule
— WHYY: Why A Philly Business Decided To Sit Out The Sports Betting Boom
— COVID Pandemic In PA
— MCall: PA COVID Hospitalizations Top 7,000 For First Time, 197,000 New Cases Last Week
— MCall: 194,782 New COVID Cases Last Week, But Surge Is Slowing, Hospitalizations Set Another Record
— CourierT: When Do PA Hospitals Turn To Crisis Standards Of Care? What Does That Mean To Patients
— ErieT: Erie Hospitals See COVID Admissions Approach Record Levels
— Inquirer: Delaware County Hospitals Are Full, An ER Is Closing As COVID Surge Intensifies In Philly Area
— Inquirer: Philadelphia-Area Hospitals Are Overwhelmed, But Not Only By COVID Patients
— MCall: COVID Patients Ending Up In ICU Putting Strain On Overworked Health Care Workers
— AltoonaM: Region’s Hospital Admission Rates Rival 2020 COVID Peak
— TribLive: Allegheny Health Network To Require N95 Masks In All Facilities
— PennLive: Look Up How Many COVID Patients Are In Your Hospital
— YorkD: York County With A Population Of 456,000 Has Now Seen 100,000 COVID Cases
— WITF: Centre County Schools, Penn State, Mount Nittany Medical Push Ahead As COVID Cases Climb
— PG: Weekly COVID Cases Hit All-Time High In Allegheny County
— CourierT: Bucks County COVID Cases And Deaths Tracker
— Inquirer Guest Essay: I Dropped My Guard During COVID And Paid The Price
— TribLive: Experts Say Too Soon To Tell What Drop In COVID Countes Means For Western PA
— Inquirer: Philly, NJ Officials Say Peak Of Omicron Surge Could Be Near
— AP: COVID Omicron May Be Headed For A Rapid Drop In U.S.
— NPR: U.S. Supreme Court Halts COVID Vaccine Mandate For U.S. Businesses
— MCall – Paul Muschick: Why I Applaud The U.S. Supreme Court For Killing Biden’s Vaccine Mandate
— TribLive Editorial: U.S. Supreme Court Decision On Vaccine Mandates Could Make Hospital, Nursing Home Jobs Harder
— ErieT: Erie County Executive Says Vaccines, Testing Provide Path Out Of COVID Surge
— AP: Wolf: Vaccine Is Strategy To Fight COVID, Not Shutdowns
— PA Cap-Star: State Focused On Coordinating Federal COVID Relief, Not Statewide Mask, Vaccine Mandates
— PA Cap-Star: PA Health Officials Urge COVID Vaccines Among New, Expecting Parents
— WHYY: Philadelphia Extends Vaccine Mandate Deadline For City Workers
— PennLive Guest Essay: Gov. Wolf, It’s Time To Declare An Emergency On COVID Omicron – Rep. Nelson (D)
— WHYY: Start Ordering Free At-Home COVID Test Kits Starting Wednesday
— WilliamsportS: Home COVID Tests To Be Covered By Insurers Starting Saturday
— TribLive Editorial: Insurance Payment For COVID Tests Should Have Better Coordination
— ScrantonT: COVID Pills In Short Supply At Local Pharmacies
— ScrantonT: Federal Fund Pays For COVID-Related Funeral Costs, But Many Do Not Apply
— TribLive: Pittsburgh Transit To Require COVID Vaccinations For All Employees By Mid-March
— PG: Transit Union, Pittsburgh Transit Authority At Odds Over Vaccination Mandate
— COVID – Schools
— TribLive Editorial: If Schools Want Parents To Decide About Masks, How Do They Enforce That?
— PA Cap-Star: 6 Months Into School Year, Here’s How Pittsburgh Schools Are Managing Pandemic
— PG: Debates Over School Mask Policies Intensify As COVID Numbers Spike
— ScrantonT: More School Districts Considering In-School COVID Tests To Keep Kids In Classrooms
— CourierT: Central Bucks School Board Rejects New CDC COVID Rules, Keeps ‘Safety’ Plan Unchanged
— TribLive: North Allegheny School District File Lawsuit To Block Mask-Optional Policy Says It Endangers Their Children
— TribLive: Baldwin-Whitehall Schools End Week With Remote Learning Due To COVID-Related Staffing Issues
— PG: Pittsburgh Public Schools Facing Larger COVID Problem Than What’s Show On Dashboard
— TribLive: Freeport H.S. Goes Remote After Surging COVID Counts
— ErieT: Why Erie County Executive Lifted School Mask Mandate
— PennLive: Harrisburg School District Moves To Remote Learning Due To COVID Spike
— WESA: Pittsburgh Public Schools, Child Care Providers Grapple With Staffing Shortages
— TribLive: Staffing Shortage Closing 20 Pittsburgh Public Schools, Programs Monday
— Inquirer: 102 Philly Schools Closed Due To COVID, At Some Still Open ‘Everything’s Not Fine’
— Inquirer: Most Philly Schools Returning To In-Person After MLK Day
— ReadingE: Berks County Schools Go Virtual Due To COVID-Related Staffing Shortages
— TribLive Editorial: Schools Reacting To COVID Staffing Challenges
— NextPittsburgh: Pittsburgh Public Schools, Other Districts Address Pandemic Learning Interruptions
— PG: Pitt Says It “Disenrolled’ Students For Failing To Get COVID Vaccinations
— PG: With Campuses Nearly 100% Vaccinated, Pitt Says It’s Time To Rethink COVID
— PG: California U., Clarion, Edinboro To Have In-Person Classes, But With New COVID Rules
— Opioid Epidemic
— MCall – Ford Turner: Strong Support In Harrisburg For Letting Drug Users Test For Fentanyl
— YorkDR: A PA Mom: ‘The Opioid Crisis No Longer Exists, It’s Now The Fentanyl Crisis’
— CitizensV Editorial: Lawmakers: Authorize Fentanyl Test Strips To Save Lives
— WITF: Opioid Addiction, Sobriety Highlighted In Social Media Campaign Across PA
— School Funding/Administration
— Inquirer: Philly School Superintendent Says Students Minimal Standards ‘Because That’s All They Have Access To’ [School Funding Case]
— WHYY: Schools Can’t ‘Cure Every Societal Ill’ Republican Lawyers Argue In School Funding Lawsuit
— CentreDT: State College School Board Voices Support For PA Fair School Funding Lawsuit
— WHYY: Penn Wood Students’ Podcast Covers PA’s Fair Education Funding Trial From The Inside Out
— Inquirer Guest Essay: Kids On Supposed ‘McDonald’s Track Are Living In A Rigged System [School Funding Inequities]
— PennLive Letter: PA Students Need A Broad Education, Not Just Enough To Flip A Pizza [As Republicans Said At School Funding Trial]
— ReadingE Editorial: Fair School Funding Trial Shows The Tale Of Haves And Have-Nots
— Inquirer: These Humble PA County Pension Plans Beat PSERS’ Returns By Keeping It Simple
— PG: Student In Custody And Gun Found During Lockdown At Pittsburgh H.S.
— ErieT: Unfounded Threat Leads To Lockdown At Erie H.S., No Weapon Found
— TribLive: Student’s Rampage Caused Lockdown At Indiana County Senior High
— TribLive: Conservative Republican School Board Member Wants To Bar CNN News For Students
— PG: AG Shapiro: Navient Reaches $1.85 Billion Settlement Over Student Loan Practices
— WilliamsportS: State Merger Hits Sour Note At Lock Haven University
— ErieT Guest Essay: Diversity At The Core Of Erie County Community College
— WHYY: Lawyer Who Once Clerked For RBG To Serve As Penn’s Next President
— WHYY: Philly Lawmakers Call On Penn To Revoke Professor’s Tenure After Racist Comments
— Inquirer: Penn Among Colleges Sued For Colluding To Hold Down Financial Aid Packages
— Gun Violence/Law Enforcement
— PA Cap-Star: Reluctant Witnesses Hampering Gun Violence Prosecution, Philly DA Says
— PG Special: ‘Unchecked Flood’ Of Guns Driving Wave Of Shootings, Deaths In Pittsburgh
— Inquirer: Republican Rep. White Wants To Ban Philly DA From Serving 3rd Term
— Inquirer: Delaware County Officials Say Drop In Murders In Chester Result Of ‘Unprecedented’ Collaboration
— PG: Student In Custody And Gun Found During Lockdown At Pittsburgh H.S.
— ErieT: Unfounded Threat Leads To Lockdown At Erie H.S., No Weapon Found
— PG: Pittsburgh Man Charged With Illegally Buying 34 Guns
— PG: Firearm Enthusiasts Arm Themselves At Monroeville Gun Show
— PG: Pittsburgh Parishes Ask AG Shapiro To Get Involved In Jim Rogers Death Case
— WESA: Pittsburgh Community Group Takes Concerns About Death Of Jim Rogers To AG Shapiro
— PG Editorial: Send Rogers Pittsburgh Police Taser Case To Harrisburg For Justice
— WHYY: Delaware County Community Members Demand Justice For 8-Year-Old Fanta Bility Shot By Police
— AltoonaM: Blair County Officials Begin Work On Gun Sanctuary
— KYW: Philadelphia Police Outline Plan To Combat Rising Carjackings In City
— PennLive: Wrongly Labeled A Sex Offender, Central PA Man Can’t Shake Felony For Missing Job Reporting Deadline
— PG: COVID Surge Prompts Suspension Of Federal Grand Juries In Pittsburgh, Erie
— TribLive: Allegheny County Jail Now Says 87 Inmates In Solitary Last Month, Not 294
— TribLive Editorial: Allegheny County Jail Should Follow The Law
— WHYY: Eight Facing Charges In Alleged Philly Home Stealing Ring
— PA Economy
— Inquirer: COVID Surge Is Causing Workers Absences, SEPTA Delays, Late Trash Pickup Across Philly Region
— ScrantonT: Restaurants Scrap Indoor Dining Amid Surging COVID Cases: ‘The Last Thing I Want Right Now Is A Full Dining Room’
— PennLive: Amid Latest COVID Surge, Some Central PA Restaurants Notice Drop In Business
— WESA: New Report To Legislators Says Concerns Remain About PA’s Unemployment System
— MCall Guest Essay: Congress Must Focus On The Economy In 2022 – Cong. Susan Wild
— PG Editorial: Why Is Pennsylvania Shrinking?
— LancasterOnline: Did All Of That Pandemic Baking Lead To More Competition At 2022 Farm Show?
— TribLive: Red Cross: Blood Donations Needed To Reverse Worst Shortage In A Decade