PA Capitol Report: Top 10 Stories On Harrisburg/PA Politics Last Week
Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else–
— 2022 Priorities
— Gov. Wolf Highlights Strong Financial Position Of Commonwealth Going Into Next Budget [He forgot to thank Biden & Congress for billions in federal aid]
— PA Cap-Star: Wolf Touts Multi-Billion State Surplus, But Projections Depict Gloomy Fiscal Future
— TribLive: Wolf Joins Pittsburgh Leaders To Tout PA’s Fiscal Improvements
— WESA: ‘Seize The Moment’: Gov. Wolf Talks About His Legacy And Sets Table For Budget Speech
— Governor’s Budget Address Feb. 8
— Spotlight PA: Jan. 27 Panel Discussion On 2022 Legislative Agenda And What’s At Stake
— PA’s Role In Assault On U.S. Capitol
— WPost: As Giuliani Coordinated Plan To Get Fmr President Electoral Votes In States Biden Won, Some Electors Balked [PA Republican Actions]
— New Voting Districts – Senate, House, Congressional
— Spotlight PA: Effort To Redraw PA Voting Districts Enters Final Stretch To Complete House, Senate Maps
— PA Cap-Star: PA Creeps Closer To Voting District Map Deadline Without Final Lines In Place
— PA Cap-Star: Lawsuit Asks State Court to Clean Up PA’s Political Calendar Disrupted By Redrawing Voting Districts
— AP: Commonwealth Court Sets Jan. 30 Deadline To Break Stalemate On Congressional Voting Districts Map
— Spotlight PA: Proposed Congressional Voting District Map Advances As Wolf, Lawmakers Prepare For Court Battle
— WHYY: With Court Deadline Looming, Lawmakers Ready One Last Congressional Map Attempt
— TribLive: Candidate Withdraws From Race For Rep. Gainey’s House Seat Due To New Voting District Map
— PA Cap-Star: Where To Draw Voting District Lines In Black, Latino Communities At Center Of PA Legislative Map Fight
— TribLive Guest Essay: House Redistricting Plan Will Improve Latino Representation – Reps Burgos, Cruz, Guzman (Ds)
— Inquirer Guest Essay: End Prison Gerrymandering: Count People In Philly-Run Jails In Their Home Districts
— PA Cap-Star Guest Essay: We’re PA Small City Mayors, Fair Voting District Maps Will Aid Our Recovery
— PA Cap-Star Guest Essay: Prison Gerrymandering: Who Counts In PA? That Depends On Who’s Counting
— YorkD Editorial: Republicans March Backwards On Redistricting
— WilliamsportS Editorial: Gerrymandering Truest Form Of Election Fraud
— ScrantonT Editorial: Reject Republican Bill To Gerrymander Judicial Branch
— Governor’s Race
— LancasterOnline: Republican Candidate For Governor Dave White Puts $3 Million Of His Own Money Into Campaign
— AP: Republican Candidate For Governor Bill McSwain Endorsed By Billionaire Campaign Funder Jeffrey Yass
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Republican Sen. Martin Is ‘Running’ For Governor, Well More Like Scooting These Days With Broken Leg
— ABC27: Republican Mike Turzai Opts Against Run For Governor
— Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Sen. Corman Calls On House Leaders To Begin Impeachment Proceedings Against Philly DA Krasner [Corman worked to overturn 2020 election results]
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Republican Corman Calls For Impeachment Of Philly DA
— ScrantonT Editorial: Corman Could Help Fight Crime In Philly Rather Than Pander
— TribLive Editorial: Open Governor, U.S. Senate Seats Chance To Step Up
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Republican Candidate For Lt. Gov. Ends His Campaign, Endorses Jeff Coleman
— U.S. Senate Race
— AP: Democrats’ No. 1 Issue In PA’s U.S. Senate Race? Kill The Filibuster
– PG: Conor Lamb Gets Big Boost In U.S. Bid With Endorsement From Philly Mayor Kenney
— ScrantonT: Dr. Oz A No Show At Campaign Event In Wyoming County
— ScrantonT: Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Dr. Oz Visits Lackawanna County
— PG – Gene Collier: We’re Looking At 10 Months Of TV Ads From The Land Of Oz
— Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout
— WITF: Election Experts Say PA’s Voting Process Well-Protected From Ballot Tampering
— WESA: Fulton County’s Voting Machine Review Has Its Roots In 2020 Election Fraud Lies
— WITF Smart Talk: Looking At Fulton County Voting Machine Issues
— LancasterOnline: PA Republicans’ Hedge Language May Save Them From Prosecution Over Fake Electoral Vote Scheme
— MCall Guest Essay: Why It’s Dangerous For Our Society To Tolerate Intolerance
— Gov. Wolf Urges U.S. Senate To Pass Voting Rights Act
— PA Cap-Star: Casey, Toomey Split Vote On U.S. Senate Filibuster Change For Voting Rights Bill
— LancasterOnline Editorial: Fierce Urgency Of The Battle For Voting Rights Demands We Join It
— Harrisburg Potpourri
— Spotlight PA: PA Republicans Answered Wolf’s Pandemic Vetoes With Constitutional Changes, That Strategy Is Here To Stay
— YorkD Editorial: Amending The State Constitution Is An Easy Trick For Republicans, It Shouldn’t Be
— PennLive – John Baer: COVID And Politics In PA And Beyond – Where Time Stands Still
— ScrantonT Editorial: Reject Republican Bill To Gerrymander Judicial Branch
— CourierT Guest Essay: Can PA Republicans Ride A Republican Wave?
— PA Cap-Star: Updated PA Incumbent Retirement Tracker
— WTMZ: Rep. Rosemary Brown Will Not Seek Reelection
— The Sun: Republican Rep. Ryan Not Running
— ReadingE: Rep. Knowles Announces He Will Not Run For Reelection
— TribLive Editorial: PA Senate Shouldn’t Be Childish With Open Records
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Proposed Constitutional Amendment Would Get State Out Of Liquor Business
— MCall – Ford Turner: Legislative Report Seeks Action On PA Primary Care Doctor Shortage
— AP: Senate Passes Bills Aimed At Ransomware, Data Breaches
— TribLive: Allegheny Health Network Patients Possible Victims Of Data Breach
— PG: CMU, City Of Pittsburgh Have Concerns About Proposed Bill For Self-Driving Vehicles
— WESA: Pittsburgh Could Make $200 Million From Republican Convention, But There’s No Guarantee
— The Patch: William J. Green Dies, Was Notable Pittsburgh Political Analyst
— PennLive: Bill Green, Longtime Political Analyst Who Served Multiple Roles Under Thornburgh, Dies At 76
— PennLive: Budd Dwyer’s Suicide At Press Conference After 35 Years Still Shocks
— YorkDR: Fmr Auditor General’s Official Portrait Pays Homage To Star Wars, Football
— Budget 2022
— Gov. Wolf Highlights Strong Financial Position Of Commonwealth Going Into Next Budget [He forgot to thank Biden & Congress for billions in federal aid]
— PA Cap-Star: Wolf Touts Multi-Billion State Surplus, But Projections Depict Gloomy Fiscal Future
— TribLive: Wolf Joins Pittsburgh Leaders To Tout PA’s Fiscal Improvements
— WESA: ‘Seize The Moment’: Gov. Wolf Talks About His Legacy And Sets Table For Budget Speech
— Governor’s Budget Address Feb. 8
— MCall – Paul Muschick: Remember The Republican Plan To Tax Retirement Income In PA? It’s Back
— PA Cap-Star: PA To Get $1.6 Billion Extra For Bridge Funding, But Toll Plans Still On Amid Funding Shortfalls
— Gaming Control Board Reports 2021 Revenue Of $4.7 Billion, All-Time Calendar Year High
— PG: PA Casinos Had Record-Breaking Year In 2021
— Gaming Control Board Reports $406.3 Million In December Gaming Revenue
— AP: PA Sets State Record For Gambling Revenue In 2021
— TribLive: PA Casinos Shatter Record, Generate $4.7 Billion In Revenues In 2021
— Dept. Of Drug & Alcohol Programs Releases Report On Impact Of Interactive Gaming In PA – Half Exhibit At Least One Problem Gambling Behavior
— Inquirer Editorial: Lawmakers Must Seize The Opportunity To Upgrade Public Transit In PA
— PA Gaming Control Board: Awards Mini-Casino License in Cumberland County
— PennLive: Shippensburg Mini-Casino Wins State License; Opening Expected By Year’s End
— Inquirer Pro/Con: Should We Ban Sports Betting Ads During Games?
— ScrantonT: Proposed Legislation Would Pay Retention Bonuses To Long Term Care Facility Employees
— PennLive: PA’s Nursing Loan Forgiveness Program’s Popularity Outstrips Available Funding
— COVID Pandemic In PA
— Dept. Of Health Weekly Update On COVID Trends, Vaccinations, Hospitalizations
–WHYY: Overwhelmed Delaware County Hospitals Get Help From Volunteers During COVID Surge
— ErieT: Erie County Set COVID Case Record For January After Just 16 Days
— ErieT: COVID Cases Drop Nearly 18% In Erie County, But Peak Might Not Have Passed
— TribLive: PA COVID Data Follows Recent International Trends, But Hospitals Remain Busy
— CitizensV: COVID Surging Again At Luzerne County Nursing Homes
— CentreDT: Centre County Sets More Daily COVID Case Records
— WHYY: COVID Surge Has Peaked In Philadelphia; City Issues New School Guidance
— PG: Allegheny County Officials Say COVID Cases Stabilizing
— TribLive: Westmoreland Group Holds Prayer Vigil For COVID Victims
— MCall: Berks County Medic Pepper-Sprayed During COVID Call
— TribLive/AP: White House Soft-Launches Free COVID Test Request Website
— PG: Here’s How To Get Free At-Home COVID Tests
— Dept. Of Health Adds New Free COVID Test Sites Across PA
— WHYY: Company That Opened Pop-Up COVID Testing Site In Philly Faces Lawsuit
— PG Editorial: Free At-Home COVID Tests A Milestone In Public Health
— CentreDT: Patton Township Puts Indoor Masking Requirement Back In Place
— ErieT: Biden Administration To Ship 400 Million Free N95 Masks Across The U.S. Starting This Week
— TribLive: Experts Back CDC Guidance Recommending N95, KN95 Masks
— Reuters: Is COVID Retreating In U.S.? Data Paints Encouraging Scenario
— PennLive – John Baer: COVID And Politics In PA And Beyond – Where Time Stands Still
— TribLive: Republican Rep. Nelson Wants ‘Natural Immunity’ Exemption For Employer Vaccine Mandates [Science Isn’t There Yet To Determine Natural Immunity Levels]
— Inquirer: Philadelphia’s Full Vaccine Mandate Now In Effect; COVID Cases Dropping Across Region
— WHYY: Philly Again Delays Vaccine Mandate For City Workers Due To Union Disputes
— PG: Other Transit Agencies Not Suffering From Vaccine Mandate Proposed By Pittsburgh Authority
— MCall: Lehigh Valley Doctors Start Prescribing Antiviral COVID Pills, Supplies Limited
— Dept. Of Health Update On Flu Season, Urges Pennsylvanians To Get Flu Vaccine
— MCall – Ford Turner: Legislative Report Seeks Action On PA Primary Care Doctor Shortage
— PG: Staffing Issues Stresses Western PA 911 Centers Due To COVID
— ScrantonT: Proposed Legislation Would Pay Retention Bonuses To Long Term Care Facility Employees
— PennLive: PA’s Nursing Loan Forgiveness Program’s Popularity Outstrips Available Funding
— ErieT: In 1894, PA Supreme Court Ruled In Favor Of Smallpox Shots For Students. What Does It Mean Today?
— COVID – Schools
— ErieT: Erie County Reports First Child Death Due To COVID
— TribLive: COVID Hospitalizations High Among Young Children In Allegheny County
— TribLive: Parents Sue Upper St. Clair School District Over Lifting Mask Mandate
— TribLive: Federal Judge Rejects Request To Reinstate Masking In Upper St. Clair Schools
— TribLive: Judge Orders North Allegheny School District To Reinstate Universal Masking
— TribLive: Pittsburgh Public Schools Close, Cancels Activities Tuesday Due To COVID Surge
— TribLive: More COVID Tests From Feds Likely To Help On Western PA Schools Already Using Them
— CourierT: Photo Of Teacher Taping Mask To Student’s Face Causes Outrage In Montgomery County School District
— ScrantonT: Some NE PA Colleges Increase COVID Restrictions As Students Return
— Opioid Epidemic
— MCall – Ford Turner: Lawmakers Propose Needle Exchange Programs As Drug Crisis Worsens
— School Funding/Administration
— ScrantonT Editorial: No Automatic Tax Credit Increases For Private Schools
— PA Cap-Star: Senate Committee Advances Bill To Increase Tax Credit Caps To Fund Private Schools
— YorkD Guest Essay: It’s Long Past Time For Legislature To Pass Private Charter School Reform – Rep. Bernie O’Neill (R) and Fmr Auditor General Eugene DePasquale (D)
— LancasterOnline: Efforts To Ban Books In Lancaster County School Districts Part Of National Trend
— The Mercury: Teen Come Out For Newly Created Kutztown Banned Book Club
— Spotlight PA: School Pension Fund Board Members Asked To Sign Secrecy Oaths
— Inquirer: Lawmakers Mull Pension Reforms As School Pension Fund Remains Under Scrutiny
— ScrantonT Editorial: No Excuse To Withhold School Pension Fund Investigation
— Inquirer Guest Essay: Black Community Needs Better Internet Access Now
— Inquirer: Penn To Invest Nearly $5 Million Over 5 Years In Another West Philly School
— PG: Technology Glitches Fixed Saying 2,400 Pitt Students Owed Thousands More In Tuition
— ReadingE: State Of The Art Esports Facility Coming To Albright College
— AP: Penn Pledges To Work With NCAA, Support Transgender Swimmer
— ErieT Guest Essay: Diversity Of Talent And Experience Tapped To Lead New Erie Community College
— PennLive Guest Essay: Don’t Blame COVID For Turnover In PA College Presidents
— Gun Violence/Law Enforcement
— PA Cap-Star: Senate Committee Advances Local Firearm Ordinance Preemption Bill
— ScrantonT Editorial: Republican Senators Should Stop Accommodating Gun Traffickers
— WHYY: Police Commissioner: 2022 Brings ‘Same Troubling Trends’ For Crime In Philly
— Inquirer: Community-Based Violence Prevention Works, But It Needs Sustained Support
— Gov. Wolf Announces $15 Million In Grants For Gun Violence Prevention
— Inquirer: Family Believes Jamaican Immigrant’s Death From 9 Gun Shots In Venango County Was A ‘Modern-Day Lynching’
— AP: Pittsburgh Student Dies After 2 Shoot Into School Van At Dismissal Time
— WESA: New Mayor Says Pittsburgh Need To Address Gun Violence Following Deadly Shooting Of 15-Year-Old
— PG Editorial: Pittsburgh School Van Shooting A Call For Action
— PG Editorial: Give Young People A Voice On Gun Violence
— TribLive: 3 People Injured After Shooting At Butler County Mall
— AP: Suspected Arrested In Butler County Mall Parking Lot Shooting That Injured 3
— TribLive: Police: Woman Had Protection Order Against Ex Accused Of Killing Her With Her Own Gun
— TribLive: Accused Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooter Wants Trial Moved Out Of Western PA
— TribLive: Judge Denies Motion To Suppress Statements Made By Defendant In Pittsburgh Synagogue Murders
— TribLive: Pittsburgh Racial Justice Summit Jan. 21 Goes Virtual Again For ‘Equity In Action’ Program
— Inquirer Guest Essay: My Father Survived the Holocaust By A Miracle, It Shouldn’t Take A Miracle To Be Jewish And Alive – Cong. Houlahan [Most Recent Synagogue Shooting]
— TribLive Editorial: Big Criminal Cases Defy Change Of Venue
— PG Editorial: Don’t Play Politics With Antisemitism
— AP: 3 Police Officers Charged In Shooting Death Of 8-Year-Old Girl In Delaware County
— WHYY: 3 Police Officers Fired After Being Charged In 8-Year-Old’s Shooting Death In August
— TribLive: Court Won’t Force Pittsburgh To Turn Over Jim Rogers Taser Death Report To DA’s Office
— TribLive: Pittsburgh Considers Stop-And-Frisk Policy For Police
— PA Cap-Star: Advocates Call For Further Investigation After Allegheny County Jail Officials Deny Abuse Allegations
— PA Cap-Star: Allentown Police In Line To Undergo Active Bystander Training
— TribLive: FBI Warning Of Hoax Mexican Kidnapping Scam Targeting Western Pennsylvanians
— CentreDT: Why State College Ranks Among The Best For LGBTQ Community Protections
— PennLive: Chambersburg Poised To Become First To Repeal LGBTQ Protections
— PennLive: Biden Nominates First Black Woman To Federal Court In PA
— PA Economy
— PennLive: Staffing Shortages Still Hurting Retailers As Sales Are ‘Through The Roof’
— ScrantonT: Grocery Stores Continue To Feel Effects Of Supply Chain Issues
— PG: Western PA Hotels Could Bounce Back To Near Pre-Pandemic Levels In 2022
— PG – Anya Litvak: PPG Details Supply Chain Difficulties – ‘If We Could Make Product, We Could Sell Product’
— MCall: Untold Numbers Of Lehigh Valley Workers Have Joined The ‘Great Resignation,’ Here Are Their Stories
— WESA: Unemployment Fraud Problems Continue For State, Laid-Off Claimants In PA
— Dept. Of Labor & Industry Offers Free Credit Monitoring Services To Unemployment Claimants Amid Ongoing Fraud Investigation
— Dept. Of Labor & Industry Reports PA Unemployment Rate Fell 0.3% to 5.4% In December; Workforce Decreased Over 18,000
— AP: PA Payrolls Grew In December Amid Labor Shortage
— TribLive Guest Essay: PA No. 22 By Site Selection Trade Magazine – Sen. Aument (R)
— ScrantonT: Proposed Legislation Would Pay Retention Bonuses To Long Term Care Facility Employees
— PG: Staffing Issues Stresses Western PA 911 Centers Due To COVID
