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

— Inquirer: Shapiro Campaign Releases Letter From 60 Veterans Blasting Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano For Wearing A Confederate Uniform: ‘Shameful’

— 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

— Inquirer: Advisor For Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Demands Republican Governors Group Give Him Campaign Money

— WHYY: Cracking Down On Gun Trafficking Or Impeaching Public Officials?  Shapiro And Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano On Stopping Crime

— 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

— WESA: Dr. Oz Announces Support For Reducing Prison Sentences, After Criticizing Fetterman For Releasing Prisoners

— 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

— WHYY: Residents, Fmr Republican Administration Officials Sue Chester County Over Ballot Drop Box Monitoring

— 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

— WESA: Democratic U.S. House Leader Says Progress In Pittsburgh Underlines Democrats’ ‘Action Not Words’ Economic Legacy

— Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout

— PA Capital-Star: PA House Passes Legislation To Cancel Dead Voters’ Registrations, Improve Ballot Security During Transport

— WESA: Private Company Examined 2020 Ballots, Hard Drives From Allegheny, Fayette County, Company Does Not Claim Any Findings Indicate Fraud Or Malfeasance

— 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

— TribLive: First Amendment Likely Prevents Allegheny County School District From Disciplining Student After Racist Homecoming Sign Incident

— 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

— The Guardian: New Ken Burns Documentary Connects The U.S. Apathy To The Holocaust And The Pittsburgh Synagogue Massacre, Flaming Torches Of Charlottesville And The Mob Storming The U.S. Capitol

— 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: State Superior Court: Perry County Court Erred In Requiring UPMC Harrisburg To Give Ivermectin To COVID Patient

— 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

— TribLive: First Amendment Likely Prevents Allegheny County School District From Disciplining Student After Racist Homecoming Sign Incident

— 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: During Philadelphia Deadliest Gun Violence Summer On Record, Just One Weekend Brings An Incalculable Level Of Trauma

— 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

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