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: House Republican Leader Asks PA Supreme Court To Throw Out House Voting District Map
— PA Cap-Star: House Republicans Ask Court To Toss House Voting District Map, Reuse Current Lines In 2022
— MCall – Ford Turner: Allentown, South Whitehall Cited In House Republican Challenge To House Voting District Map
— WITF: Reading, Allentown Highlight How Redistricting Can Impact Latino Communities For Better, Worse
— City & State PA: How Pennsylvanians Are Trying To Bring Racial Equity To Drawing Voting Districts
— AP: House, Senate Voting District Maps Draw Legal Challenge Over Dividing Butler County
— AP: PA High Court Eyes How To Pick Congressional Voting District Map
— Spotlight PA: PA Supreme Court Weighs What Makes A Fair Congressional Voting District Map
— WHYY: PA Supreme Court Justices Trying, Begrudgingly, To Pick New Congressional Voting Districts Map
— PA Cap-Star: PA Supreme Court Arguments In PA’s Congressional Voting Districts Map Begin Today
— PA Cap-Star Guest Essay: PA’s Congressional Voting District Process Failed Again, Courts Have To Step In – Fair Districts PA
— WITF: PA Supreme Court Set To Start Weighing New Congressional Voting Districts Map
— YorkD Guest Essay: A Fair Congressional Voting Districts Map Awaits Final Approval – House Republicans
— Governor’s Race
— Inquirer: Several Staffers Have Left Republican Sen. Corman’s Campaign For Governor
— ReadingE: Republican Gubernatorial Hopeful Sen. Corman Visits Berks County
— City & State PA: Barletta, Mastriano Lead In Early Republican Polls For Governor
— LancasterOnline: U.S. House Subpoena Of Republican Candidate For Governor Sen. Mastriano Could Boost His Campaign
— PennLive – John Baer: Republican Race For Governor A Hot Mess, And It’s Just Starting To Bubble
— PA Cap-Star: Democratic Group Files Campaign Finance Complaint Against Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Barletta-Linked PAC
— ScrantonT: Republican Candidate For Governor David White Portrayed Himself As The Blue-Collar Candidate
— MCall – Bill White: Will PA’s Government Go Full MAGA Next Year?
— City & State PA: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Dr. Nche Zama Promises To Unite PA
— Inquirer Pro/Con: Should PA Governors, Lt. Governors Run On Same Ticket?
— AP: Democrats Eye Key Governors’ Races As Backstop Against Republicans [Including PA]
— U.S. Senate Race
— City & State PA: Endorsements In PA’s U.S. Senate Race Keep Stacking Up
— WESA: Republican U.S. Senate Contender McCormick Talks Crime, Immigration In Western PA
— Inquirer: The Very Different U.S. Senate Campaigns Of Fetterman, Lamb
— Inquirer: Conor Lamb (D) Campaigned With Indicted Union Official In Philadelphia
— ScrantonT: Casey Officially Neutral But Has Deep Ties To Lamb In U.S. Senate Race
— YorkD Editorial: Republican U.S. Senate Hopeful McCormick Fumbles With Super Bowl Ad
— May 2022 Election
— WHYY: Mail-In Ballot Applications Are Available For May Primary [Yes, You Can Still Request One]
— TribLive: Mail-In Ballot Applications Sent To Voters As Questions Remain Ahead Of May Primary
— WITF: Tech Issue Could Hinder Some PA Voters From Applying For Mail-In Ballot, Here’s What To Do
— YorkDR: York County Commissioners Name New Elections Director; Democrats Say She Has No Elections Experience
— Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout
— MCall – Ford Turner: Republican Sen. Argall Rip Wolf Administration For Skipping Election Reform Hearing; Counties Tell Of Pressing Need For Election Funds, More Time To Process Mail-In Ballots [Counties Have Been Asking For These For Years]
— ScrantonT Editorial: Republicans Responsible For Delays In Counting Ballots, Time To Listen To Local Experts
— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Progressive Activists Ask Wolf Administration To Bar Republicans Involved In Trying To Overturn The Nov. 2020 Election, Assault On U.S. Capitol From Primary Ballot
— PennLive Guest Essay: If You Participate In An Insurrection, You Can’t Hold Public Office – Mark Singel
— PA’s Role In Assault On U.S. Capitol
— PA Cap-Star: U.S. House Subpoenas Republican Sen. Mastriano In Fake Electors Scheme
— PA Cap-Star: Who In PA The U.S. House Committee Investigating The Assault On U.S. Capitol Wants To Hear From And Why
— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Progressive Activists Ask Wolf Administration To Bar Republicans Involved In Trying To Overturn The Nov. 2020 Election, Assault On U.S. Capitol From Primary Ballot
— PennLive Guest Essay: If You Participate In An Insurrection, You Can’t Hold Public Office – Mark Singel
— LancasterOnline: Lancaster County Man Sentenced To 2 Years’ Probation On Charges Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol
— Inquirer: Montgomery County Man Sentenced To 2 Weeks In Prison On Charges Related To The Assault On U.S. Capitol
— State Constitutional Amendments
— Spotlight PA: Complete Guide To More Than 70 Proposed Amendments To State Constitution
— PennLive Guest Essay: Republican Lawmakers Are Abusing The Constitutional Amendment Process – PA Common Cause
— TribLive Guest Essay: Constitutional Amendment On Liquor Privatization – A Glass Half Full Or Half Empty? – Bars & Taverns
— PennLive Guest Essay: Taverns, Restaurants Raise Questions On Proposed Republican Liquor Privatization Constitutional Amendment
— Harrisburg Potpourri
— WITF/AP: Democrats Fear Extinction In Rural PA And Across The Country
— AP: Fmr Rep. Davidson Fined All Of $150 Over Campaign Law Violations [Does That Seem Right To Anyone Else?]
— MCall – Paul Muschick: Talk About Getting Off Easy: A $150 Fine For A State Officials Who Ripped Off Taxpayers
— ScrantonT: Scranton Man Sent Email Threatening To Burn Down Wolf’s Home
— CourierT: PA Law Mandates Judges Retire At Age 75, Here’s How They Can Avoid It
— MCall – Ford Turner: Lawmakers Want State Approval Of Hospital Deals After 2 Chester County Hospital Closures
— AP: Dept. Of Aging Official Pressed Over Fate Of 3 Elderly Residents In Philadelphia
— PennLive Guest Essay: Legalizing Marijuana Could Compromise Public Health And Safety – Police Chiefs
— Gov. Wolf: Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman Departing; Mike Humphreys Named Acting
— WESA: New Doula Program Designed To Help Pregnant People In PA State Prisons
— PG Editorial: Lawmakers Have No Business Trading Stocks [On Inside Information]
— Budget 2022
— The Center Square: State Revenue Estimate Discrepancies Focus Of PA House Budget Hearing
— Independent Fiscal Office Budget Hearing Materials: Federal PA Pandemic Relief: $30.7 Billion Direct Aid To Businesses; $26.5 Billion Aid To State/Local Governments
— PA Gaming Board: January Gaming Revenue Up 26% Over Last Year To $393.1 Million
— The Center Square: Inflation, Workforce Issues Dominate PA House Budget Hearing
— Gov. Wolf Outlines $200 Million Plan To Make College Affordable
— AP: Wolf Renews High-Ed Scholarship Idea, Amid Worker Shortage
— PA Gaming Board: $68 Million In Wagers Placed On Super Bowl, 27% Increase Over Last Year
— PG: Pittsburgh’s Bridges On The Brink As Spans Decay With Little Help
— COVID Pandemic In PA
— Dept. Of Health Weekly Update On COVID Cases, Vaccinations, Hospitalizations
— Inquirer: More Than 9,000 Pennsylvanians Died In COVID Omicron Surge
— WHYY: Philly Drops COVID Vaccine Mandate For Indoor Dining
— Inquirer: PA Hospitals See Dramatic Drops In COVID Patients
— TribLive: Allegheny County’s COVID Stats ‘Headed In A Favorable Direction
— Inquirer: Philly Offering $100 To Get COVID Vaccination, Now It Just Needs Willing Residents
— Penn State: Insights Into Why Gun Violence Increased In PA During COVID Pandemic
— PG: Fmr. Acting PA Health Secretary Hired By UPMC
— COVID – Schools
— Reuters: School Boards Get Death Threats Amid Rage Over Race, Gender, Mask Policies [PA Schools Featured]
— Spotlight PA: As COVID Surged, Few PA Schools Signed Up For Free COVID Testing
— Opioid Epidemic
— Spotlight PA: U.S. Justice Dept. Finds PA Courts Discriminated Against People With Opioid Use Disorder
— PennLive: Lawmakers Grapple With Fatal Overdose Rate Jump, Addiction Crisis Worsened By COVID
— School Funding/Administration
–Spotlight PA: IFO Report Suggests No Correlation Between Money Spent On Public Schools And Standardized Test Scores
— Inquirer: Final Republican Witness In PA School Funding Trial Disputes $4.6 Billion Spending Gap
— ScrantonT: Final Witness Expected To Testify Tuesday In School Funding Trial
— Reuters: School Boards Get Death Threats Amid Rage Over Race, Gender, Mask Policies [PA Schools Featured]
— CourierT: Embattled Bucks County School Official Refusing Calls To Resign Over Anti-LGBTQ Political Flyer
— PennLive: Middletown Schools To Require Students To Use Clear Backpacks After Gun Found In Middle School
— Inquirer: Chester County H.S. Shuts Doors For A Day After ‘Threatening Statements’ Made Over Masking
— ErieT: Erie School Board Gets First Black Woman President
— LancasterOnline Editorial: McCaskey H.S. Response To Investigation Of Name-Calling Incident During Basketball Game In Lebanon ‘Wonderful’
— ScrantonT Editorial: ‘Shallow Dive’ By Independent Fiscal Office On Funding-Student Score Relationship Should Not Drive Policy
— TribLive Editorial: Online Education An Important Part Of School Choice Discussion
— TribLive Editorial: Suicide Prevention Programs Need To Utilize, Support Students
— Gov. Wolf Outlines $200 Million Plan To Make College Affordable
— AP: Wolf Renews High-Ed Scholarship Idea, Amid Worker Shortage
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: PA Nursing Loan Forgiveness Program Draws Nearly 15,000 Applications
— PG: Penn State Trustee Panel Proposes 3.5% Boost In Room, Board Charges
— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Penn State Sets 3.5% Hike In Room, Meal Rates For 2022-23 School Year
— TribLive: Indiana U. Of PA Plans Tuition Break For In-State Undergrads
— WITF: Students Consider Careers In Machining As Alternative To Increasing Expensive College Degrees
— WHYY: University Of Pennsylvania Receives $125 Million Gift To Train Nurse Practitioners For Free
— PG: Slippery Rock University President Stepping Down, Cites Pandemic
— Gun Violence/Law Enforcement
— State Police Responds To Recommendations From State Law Enforcement Citizen Advisory Commission
— MCall – Ford Turner: State, Federal Estimates Of PA Overdose Deaths Are Far Apart, Shapiro Points To ‘Historic’ Shortage Of Police
— ABC27: Philly DA Blames Republicans For Spike In City Violence
— Sen. Corman Renews Call To Impeach Philly DA
— AP: Commonwealth Court Rules Against Philadelphia Lost-Gun Reporting Law
— Inquirer Guest Essay: 7 Moms Whose Kids Were Killed By Gun Violence Share What They’ve Lost
— Inquirer Guest Essay: ‘Please Take Pictures:’ Philadelphia Moms Who Lost Children To Gun Violence Don’t Want Us To Look Away
— PennLive: Middletown Schools To Require Students To Use Clear Backpacks After Gun Found In Middle School
— Inquirer: 12-Year-Old Is Charged With Murder In Beating Death Of 70-Year Old Man During Carjacking
— PennLive: Town Hall Offers Answers To Harrisburg Gun Violence That’s ‘Worse Than You Think’
— TribLive: Westmoreland Man Charged In Shooting Outside Bar Treated City Street ‘Like It Was The O.K. Corral’
— Penn State: Insights Into Why Gun Violence Increased In PA During COVID Pandemic
– CitizensV Editorial: Remington Settlement Warning Shot For Insurers
— TribLive: Pittsburgh Activists, Officials Hope Legislation Will End ‘Systemic Racism’ In Traffic Stops
— MCall – Paul Muschick: Some PA Cops Can No Longer Stop Vehicles For Minor Infractions, What That’s A Problem
— LancasterOnline: Lancaster DA No Longer Using Civil Forfeiture Funds To Help Pay Drug Task Force Salaries
— PennLive Guest Essay: Legalizing Marijuana Could Compromise Public Health And Safety – Police Chiefs
— PA Economy
— Independent Fiscal Office Budget Hearing Materials: Federal PA Pandemic Relief: $30.7 Billion Direct Aid To Businesses; $26.5 Billion Aid To State/Local Governments
— MCall – Paul Muschick: They Reported Unemployment Fraud, They Never Got A Response, Then Came The Tax Forms
— MCall: State Unemployment Compensation, Other Systems To Go Down Temporarily Over The Weekend
— The Center Square: Inflation, Workforce Issues Dominate PA House Budget Hearing
— AG Shapiro Charges 5 Out-Of-State Residents For Defrauding PA’s Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program
— PA Cap-Star: New State Authority Meets To Tackle Broadband Expansion Across PA
— TribLive: What’s The Post-Pandemic Future Of Downtown Pittsburgh Development?
— WHYY: Philly Is Poised To Be First U.S. City To Run Its Own Bank
— Other
— Inquirer Editorial: Term Limits For Philly City Council Will Bring New Voices To Local Politics
— Inquirer: WHYY Lost At Least Half Its Journalists; Many Complain About Pay, Morale And Lack Of Innovation
— LancasterOnline: March 1 Fasnacht Day – What’s A Fasnacht? Historing, Meaning, Toppings
TAP HERE for all articles in February 21 EXPRESS Update
