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: Redrawn Senate, House Voting Districts Inject Uncertainty In Legislative Contests
— Governor’s Race
— WPost – George F. Will: Why PA Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano’s Candidacy Presents A Special Danger To The Nation
— WPost: Republicans In Key Battleground Races Refuse To Say They Will Accept Election Results [Including PA Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano]
— Post-Gazette – Salena Zito: Josh Shapiro Is Building A Diverse Coalition Across Pennsylvania
— PennLive: Calling Out ‘Extremism,’: Shapiro Campaigns In NE PA
— MCall: Morning Call/Muhlenberg Poll: Shapiro Holds Big Lead, Fetterman And Dr. Oz Is Close
— Post-Gazette – Julian Routh: Shapiro, Mastriano Gubernatorial Race Could Foreshadow 2024 In PA
— Spotlight PA: Basic Guide To Vetting Candidates For Governor, U.S. Senate, More
— PA Capital-Star: Voters Guide To PA’s Races For Governor, U.S. Senate
— PennLive: Fetterman-Dr. Oz Debate Set For Oct. 25; Chances Dim For Debate In Governor’s Race
— Post-Gazette Editorial: Shapiro And Mastriano Have A Chance To Strengthen Democracy Just By Talking
— Erie Times: Moral Decay, Civilian Bombings, Exploiting Division: 7 Takeaways From Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano’s Writing
— Inquirer: New ‘Prophet’ On Campaign Trail With Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Is A Prayer-Coin Salesman
— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano, Friends, Return To Launching Pad Of A Political Crusade, But Get Little Fresh Juice
— AP: Shapiro Wages Drama-Free PA Campaign For Governor Amid Big Personalities
— Erie Times: Celebrities For Shapiro: Led By Out-Of-State Donors, Crushing His Rival In Cash Race
— PA Capital-Star: With Santorum At His Side, Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Mines For Votes In Must-Win Philly Suburbs
— TribLive: Shapiro Vows To Create More Labor Protections For PA Workers
— Post-Gazette: Shapiro, Other Democrats Stump At Get-Out-The Vote Rally In Pittsburgh
— PennLive – John Baer: Here’s What Polls And Insiders Say About PA’s Governor, U.S. Senate Races
— TribLive: Libertarian Candidate For Governor Brings Campaign To Westmoreland County
— U.S. Senate Race
— PennLive – John Baer: Here’s What Polls And Insiders Say About PA’s Governor, U.S. Senate Races
— MCall: Morning Call/Muhlenberg Poll: Shapiro Holds Big Lead, Fetterman And Dr. Oz Is Close
— Spotlight PA: Basic Guide To Vetting Candidates For Governor, U.S. Senate, More
— PA Capital-Star: Voters Guide To PA’s Races For Governor, U.S. Senate
— Post-Gazette – Jeffery Gerritt: Dr. Oz’s Cruel Campaign Against Redemption
— MCall: Fetterman Says Dr. Oz ‘Not Fit To Serve’ During Lehigh Valley Appearance
— Post-Gazette: Some Activists, Democratic Elected Officials Want To See More Reach From Fetterman In Philly
— PennLive: Fetterman-Dr. Oz Debate Set For Oct. 25; Chances Dim For Debate In Governor’s Race
— AP: Dr. Oz Releases Health Records To Spotlight Fetterman’s Stroke
— Inquirer: Dr. Oz Is Barely Advertising On Facebook, Fetterman’s Ads Seen Millions Of Times
— Post-Gazette – Julian Routh: Fetterman Reaffirms Commitment To Rural PA Communities During IUP Rally
— PennLive: Fetterman Wins Endorsement Of PA State Building & Construction Trades Council
— TribLive – Joseph Sabino Mistick: Dr. Oz vs. Fetterman And The Future Of The Nation
— November 2022 Election
— Spotlight PA – Stephen Caruso: Looming Election Jolts Harrisburg Into Action As Lawmakers Pass Flurry Of Bills, Cash In On Fundraisers
— WPost: Republicans In Key Battleground Races Refuse To Say They Will Accept Election Results [Including PA Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano]
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Election Offices Challenged By Surge Of Voting Record Requests By Election Deniers: ‘Weaponization Of The Right To Know Process’
— Politics PA: PA House Election Preview – North By Northwest
— Politics PA: PA House Preview – Allegheny County
— Politics PA: PA House Preview: Northcentral
— Politics PA: PA House Preview – Northeast
— PA Capital-Star: First And Vote: Democrats To Make Voter Registration Play At PSU, Pitt Games
— WHYY: Philly Leaders, Political Activists Join To ‘Defend The Future’ Voting Drive
— WESA: Allegheny County Democrats Hope To Pick Up Pace On Mail-In Ballot Applications
— Post-Gazette: Midterm Election Ballots For Allegheny County May Hit The Mail In 2 Weeks
— LancasterOnline: Lancaster County Elections Office Suffers Substantial Loss Of Institutional Knowledge Since 2020
— WHYY: These Philly Poll Workers Love Being A Crucial Part Of Democracy
— PennLive: Young People Feel Energized About 2022 PA Election, But Will They Vote?
— Erie Times Guest Essay: Want A Better Erie And State Of PA? Listen To Black Pennsylvanians – Rep. Donna Bullock (D-Philadelphia)
— Inquirer: Progressive Group Pulling Endorsements Of PA Lawmakers Who Voted To Hold Philly DA In Contempt
— Politics PA: Republican Campaign Fund Releases New Ad, Allocates $7.2 Million Against Democratic Cong. Wild
— Post-Gazette: Race For Congress In Western PA Getting National Focus, And Infusion Of Cash
— AP: Ad Spending Shows Democrats Hinging Midterm Hopes In PA, Other Key States
— Inquirer Editorial: Debate Over Immigration Takes A Disgraceful Turn
— PennLive: At Harrisburg March For Life Anti-Abortion Advocates Call For Stricter Laws, Ban In PA
— Spotlight PA: These PA Voters Haven’t Missed A Single November Election For At Least 50 Years
— AP: Congressional House Republicans Unveil Midterm Agenda In PA
— WESA: National Republican Leaders Roll Out ‘Commitment To America’ In Mon Valley
— Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout
— PA Capital-Star: PA House Passes Legislation To Cancel Dead Voters’ Registrations, Improve Ballot Security During Transport
— Inquirer Guest Essay: False Claims Of Voter Fraud Threaten Disabled Pennsylvanians’ Right To Vote
— AP: Mail Ballot Fight Persists In Key States, Sure To Slow Count [Starts With PA]
— LancasterOnline Editorial: Lancaster County Republican Commissioners Should Cease Partisan Fights, Just Do Their Jobs
— Inquirer: Toomey Backs Bill To Change How Electoral College Counts Presidential Votes
— PA’s Role In Assault On U.S. Capitol
— Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Man Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol
— Williamsport Sun: Clinton County Man Faces Non-Jury Trial For Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol
— PennLive: Feds Seek Prison Sentence For Lycoming County Woman Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol
— TribLive: Mercer County Woman Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol To Wear Electronic Monitor
— Post-Gazette: Judge Orders GPS Monitoring For Mercer County Woman Accused Of Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol
— Post-Gazette: At Pittsburgh Summit, Panelists Say Leaders Must Stay Aware Of Hate Groups Recruiting Police Officers
— The Guardian: Proud Boys Designated A Hate Group By Southern Poverty Law Center; Memo Reveals Meticulous Planning For ‘Street-Level Violence’
— WITF: Republican ‘Parental Bill Of Rights’ Bill Designed To Quash Discussions On LGBTQ Issues In School
— Inquirer: West Chester Had To Cancel An LGBTQ Celebration After A ‘Hate-Filled’ Response
— The Atlantic: Ex-President’s New Recruits – Embracing The QAnon Conspiracy Theorists
— Post-Gazette – Gene Collier: Did Ex-President’s Youngstown Show Take Democracy To A New Threat Level?
— Inquirer – Will Bunch: QAnon-Flavored Soundtrack At Ex-President’s Rally For Republican Candidates Should Terrify You
— PennLive Guest Essay: The Chaos Around Ex-President Is Far From Normal – Mark Singel
— TribLive Editorial: U.S. Archivist’s Role Shouldn’t Be Political
— State Constitutional Amendments
— Spotlight PA: Complete Guide To More Than 70 Proposed Amendments To State Constitution
— PA Politics Of Russian Invasion
— Explainer: So Why Does A Susquehanna County Gas Company Have To Raise Rates 33.2% When Susquehanna County Is The #1 Shale Gas Producer In PA? [PaEN]
— PA PUC: Cost Of Natural Gas Provided By Major Utilities In PA Increased As Much As 154% Over Last Year [PaEN]
— Baker Hughes PA Natural Gas Drill Rig Count – After No Change For 7 Weeks, Up 1 – 24
— Reuters: U.S. Natural Gas Price Up 1% On Rising Demand, Daily Output Decline
— Bloomberg: European Natural Gas Posts 4th Weekly Loss As Winter Reserves Fill Up With Ample Supplies Of LNG
— TribLive: Decline In Gasoline Prices Breaks 2018 Record, But Change To Winter Fuel Could Snap Trend
— Republican Herald: Schuylkill County Heating Oil Dealers Advise Customers To Stock Up Now, Prices Expected To Rise
— Financial Times: BP Refinery Fire In Ohio Kills 2 Workers; Analysts Warn Prolonged Shutdown Could Push Fuel Prices Higher
— AAA Gasoline Prices: Downward Streak For National Average Gasoline Price Ends [PA Gasoline Prices ]
— Bloomberg: Oil Falls Below $80 En Route To Biggest Run Of Weekly Losses This Year
— Reuters: Oil Prices Slide 1% After U.S. Fed Raises Interest Rates
— The Guardian: How The Natural Gas Industry Capitalized On The Ukraine War To Change Biden Energy Policy
— Harrisburg Politics Potpourri
— Spotlight PA: Skill Games Gambling Company Woos PA Lawmakers With Free Trips To Wild Wyoming Rodeo; Legislators Still Refuse To Pass Gift Ban
— TribLive Editorial: No Ban On Gifts To Lawmakers Makes Harrisburg The Wild West
— Scranton Times Editorial: How PA Lawmakers Spent Their Summer Vacation [Spoiler – Free Trips To Wyoming Rodeo]
— LancasterOnline Editorial: Gifts To Lawmakers Promote Distrust In Government And Should Be Banned
— Spotlight PA – Stephen Caruso: Looming Election Jolts Harrisburg Into Action As Lawmakers Pass Flurry Of Bills, Cash In On Fundraisers
— City & State PA: Top 50 Pennsylvania Lobbyists 2022
— Inquirer – Andrew Maykuth: Gov. Wolf, Republicans Agree To Fill 3 Seats On 5 Member Public Utility Commission
— LancasterOnline – Brad Bumsted: PA’s Senior Judges Can Collect $611/Day Per Diems While Also Collecting Pensions
— Spotlight PA: Thousands Of Older Pennsylvanians At Risk Of Losing Property Tax Rebates Because Of Legislative Inaction
— Inquirer: PA State Employees Pension Fund Down Over $3 Billion In Value, Braces For Losses Ahead
— PennLive: PA Republican Lawmakers Push Bill With Language Broader Than Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Law
— WITF: Republican ‘Parental Bill Of Rights’ Bill Designed To Quash Discussions On LGBTQ Issues In School
— Post-Gazette Editorial: Rep. Dowling Making Good Things Out Of A Bad Decision [Alcoholism]
— TribLive Editorial: Voluntary Exclusion Could Help With Alcohol Addiction
— PA Capital-Star: Bill That Would End Sunday Ban On Football, Baseball Passes PA House [The Vote Was 200-2 (2 Republicans Voted No)]
— PA Capital-Star: PA Legislative Softball Game Won’t Save Democracy, But It Can’t Hurt
— Budget 2022
— PA Gaming Control Board Reports August 2022 Revenues Increased 4.24% Compared To August 2021 [$425.3 Million]
— Inquirer: Will Inflation Push Legislature To Give Cost-Of-Living Raises To State And School Retirees?
— Inquirer – Andrew Maykuth: PA Casino Fined For Allowing Underaged Gambling, Including An 11-Year-Old
— COVID Pandemic/Health
— TribLive: Experts: COVID Continues To Hospitalize, Kill In PA, Despite Biden Comments
— MCall: PA COVID Update: 18,981 Cases This Week, Lehigh Valley Hospitalizations On The Rise
— Centre Daily Times: PA Counties At High COVID Community Level Drops To 6
— MCall: For Some, Long COVID Can Last For Months, One Lehigh Valley Sufferer Reaching Out To Others
— Inquirer: Biden Said The Pandemic Is Over, Here’s Where The Cases Stand In PA, NJ
— Post-Gazette Editorial: Is The Pandemic Really Over?
— PennLive: Bucknell University Resuming Indoor Masking Mandate Due To Rising COVID Risk
— TribLive: Washington County School District Alerts Families To Potential Monkeypox Case
— TribLive: Fall Allergies Share Symptoms With COVID; Ragweed A Leading Trigger
— Inquirer: This Penn Lab Is Going After COVID Viruses The World Hasn’t Seen Yet
— Spotlight PA: Guide To Spotlight PA’s Investigations Of PA’s Flawed Medical Marijuana Program
— Post-Gazette: What The Juul Vaping Settlement May Mean For Pittsburgh
— COVID – Schools
— TribLive: Washington County School District Alerts Families To Potential Monkeypox Case
— School Districts/Higher Education
— PA Capital-Star: PA National Leader As An ‘Unprecedented Flood’ Of Book Bans Engulfs U.S. School Districts
— The Guardian: ‘Rapid Acceleration’ In U.S. School Book Censorship Leads To 2,500 Bans In A Year [PA Number 3 In U.S., Texas, Florida Lead]
— MCall/Inquirer: Most Commonly Banned Books In PA Schools, And The School District Responsible For Most Of Them– Central York
— WHYY: Bucks County Honors Books Banned By Schools In March Through Doylestown
— Courier Times: Central Bucks School District Received $7,300 Donation For Anti-Racism Books; Why It’s Giving The Money Back
— PA Capital-Star Editorial Cartoon: Banned Books Week – New Masking Requirement In PA’s Public Schools
— Inquirer: Bucks County School District Debating Policies Including ‘Teacher Advocacy’
— AP: Dauphin County DA: 10 Students Face Juvenile Court Charges In Middletown School Hazing Case
— PennLive: Students Criticize Middletown’s Hazing Response As School Board Moves To Expel Another Student
— Inquirer: West Chester Had To Cancel An LGBTQ Celebration After A ‘Hate-Filled’ Response
— MCall: Lehigh Valley H.S. Student With Loaded Gun In School Admits To Charges
— MCall – Paul Muschick: Secrecy Over Student Arrested With Gun In Lehigh Valley School Is Troubling
— Centre Daily Times: State College Elementary School Ends Lockdown After Reports Of Suspicious Person
— PennLive: Bomb Threat Forced Evacuation Of Schuylkill County Schools
— TribLive: Washington County School District Alerts Families To Potential Monkeypox Case
— LancasterOnline: Lancaster County Schools Respond To Staffing Shortages: ‘I’ve Never Seen Anything Like This’
— Inquirer: Will Inflation Push Legislature To Give Cost-Of-Living Raises To State And School Retirees?
— Post-Gazette: Allegheny College President Leaving, Interim Leader Named
— Post-Gazette: University Of Pittsburgh Announces Search Committee For New Chancellor
— Post-Gazette: University Of Pittsburgh Officials Say Next Leader Should Have A Global Perspective
— Post-Gazette: Penn State Trustees Approve Request For 48% Increase In State Funding Support
— TribLive Editorial: How Much Is Penn State’s Public-Private Hybrid Status Worth?
— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Penn State Trustees Approve Beer Sales To General Fan Base During Home Football Games
— Spotlight PA: Penn State Trustees Spent Nearly $318,000 On Meals, Lodging, More For Last 6 Meetings
— Post-Gazette Editorial: Penn State’s Executive Committee’s Private Meetings Are Shameful
— Gun Violence/Law Enforcement
— Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Summit: Shooting Survivors Stress Education As Key To Eradicating Hate
— TribLive: Trial For Accused Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooter To Start In April
— Erie Times: At Erie Millcreek Mall, Gun Fired As 2 Groups Of Teens Fought, Police Say
— PennLive: Shootings Didn’t End These Harrisburg Men’s Lives, But They’ll Never Be The Same
— Post-Gazette: Kennywood Amusement Park Shooting: 3 Wounded By Gunfire, Others Suffer ‘Trample Injuries’ Trying To Escape
— PA Capital-Star: Philly Libraries Look To Become A Safe Place From Gun Violence For City Youth
— Inquirer: Republicans Try To Make Philly DA Boogeyman, Some Democrats Keeping Their Distance
— Inquirer: Philly DA Now Providing Some Records To House Republicans Investigating Him
— Inquirer: Progressive Group Pulling Endorsements Of PA Lawmakers Who Voted To Hold Philly DA In Contempt
— PA Capital-Star: Philly’s Black Clergy, Officials Slam House Republican Philly DA Impeachment Probe: ‘A Political Stunt’
— MCall – Paul Muschick: Secrecy Over Student Arrested With Gun In Lehigh Valley School Is Troubling
— MCall: Northampton County To Hold Gun Buyback Event
— Inquirer: In Philly, Every Day Is National Day Of Remembrance For Murder Victims
— Inquirer Editorial: As Shootings Continue Unabated, They Exact An Emotional, Economic Toll
— PA Capital-Star: Lawmakers Hear About Challenges Victims, Law Enforcement Face Processing Rape Kits
— PA Capital-Star: Former ‘Lifers’ Call On Lawmakers To End ‘Death By Incarceration’
— PennLive Guest Essay: When Pennsylvanians With Old Criminal Records Are Given A 2nd Chance, Everyone Wins – TimeDone
— WITF: Lawmakers Want To Improve Conditions For Women In Prison
— PennLive: Dauphin County Prosecutor’s Office Hires Defense Attorney To Find Wrongful Convictions
— MCall: 2nd Chances: How PA Marijuana Pardon Project Can Help People Move On With Their Lives
— Post-Gazette: Texas Fraudster Gets Prison For Stealing $4 Million From PA Low-Income Meal Programs
— LancasterOnline – Brad Bumsted: PA’s Senior Judges Can Collect $611/Day Per Diems While Also Collecting Pensions
— PA Economy
— Erie Times: Erie Chamber Hopes Upcoming Job Fair Can Fill Hundreds Of Open Manufacturing Positions
— LancasterOnline: Lancaster County Schools Respond To Staffing Shortages: ‘I’ve Never Seen Anything Like This’
— PA Capital-Star: Changes To SNAP [Food Stamp] Income Thresholds Will Expand Eligibility For Benefits, Wolf Administration Says
— Post-Gazette: Allegheny County Court Finds Pittsburgh’s ‘Jock Tax’ Violates State Constitution
— WESA: National Republican Leaders Roll Out ‘Commitment To America’ In Mon Valley Near Pittsburgh
— AP: National Republican Leaders To Unveil Republican’s Big Ideas In Western PA, But Challenges Ahead
— Courier Times: Most Of $109 Million In Bucks County COVID Aid Went To OT, Businesses, Benefits; But The County Also Got Creative, Like Renting A Horse
— AP: Locked Up: The Prison Labor That Built Business Empires [Includes U.S. Steel]
— Other
— Post-Gazette Editorial: It’s Time For WPIAL Schools To End Native American Mascots