Author

A 3-decade veteran of the news business, John L. Micek is the Pennsylvania Capital-Star's Editor-in-Chief. An award-winning political reporter, Micek’s career has taken him from small town meetings and Chicago City Hall to Congress and the Pennsylvania Capitol. His weekly column on U.S. politics is syndicated to 800 newspapers nationwide by Cagle Syndicate. He also contributes commentary and analysis to broadcast outlets in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Micek’s first novel, “Ordinary Angels,” was released in 2019 by Sunbury Press.
On ‘Hardball,’ Sen. Katie Muth rolls out her plan to save cash assistance | Tuesday Morning Coffee
By: John L. Micek - July 2, 2019
A viral moment grows ever larger. And that's a problem for Republicans.
On a busy Monday, Wolf signs bills benefiting Pa. National Guard families, farmers, and job hunters
By: John L. Micek - July 1, 2019
With the Legislature out of town for its annual summer recess, Wolf's staff set up a series of well-scripted media events, spread across an otherwise sleepy news day, during a holiday week.
Eugene DePasquale declares candidacy for #PA10 against Republican Perry | Monday Morning Coffee
By: John L. Micek - July 1, 2019
You're only as good as your next campaign.
Read all of the Capital-Star’s budget week coverage in one place
By: John L. Micek - June 29, 2019
With the final votes out of the way, and the ink from Gov. Tom Wolf’s pen drying on the finished documents, another Pennsylvania budget season is in the books. And since it’s the Capital-Star’s first-ever budget season, we thought it would be useful to have all our coverage from this very busy week in one […]
The DePasquale Effect? Dem George Scott says he won’t run again in #PA10 in 2020
By: John L. Micek - June 28, 2019
George Scott, the pastor and Army veteran who unsuccessfully challenged Republican Scott Perry in central Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District in 2018, said Friday that he won’t be making a second bid in 2020. In a statement, Scott said he “consulted a variety of people, talked it over with my family, and of course prayed over […]
Northampton Co. DA candidate quit his job after black colleague said he left a stuffed monkey at her desk, report
By: John L. Micek - June 28, 2019
A Republican candidate for Northampton County district attorney is facing fresh scrutiny over a 12-year-old incident for leaving a stuffed monkey at the desk of a black colleague, evoking a particularly hateful racist stereotype, a newspaper has reported. The candidate, Tom Carroll, resigned his position in the Northampton County District Attorney’s office after the colleague, […]
The Top 5 Tweets that sum up our very weird #PaBudget Week | Friday Morning Coffee
By: John L. Micek - June 28, 2019
Pictures speak way more than 1,000 words.
Nineteen Pa. counties are actively collaborating with ICE to deport immigrants in local custody, new report finds
By: John L. Micek - June 28, 2019
Pennsylvania's county governments are "systematically cooperating" with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to deport undocumented immigrants who end up in local police custody.
U.S. Supreme Court’s decision allowing courts to sit out partisan gerrymandering won’t stifle reform efforts, Pa. activists say
By: Robin Bravender Capital-Star Washington Bureau and John L. Micek - June 27, 2019
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday issued two of its most-anticipated rulings of this term, delaying the addition of a citizenship to the 2020 census and declaring that the courts can’t settle partisan gerrymandering disputes.
Why the General Assistance floor fight was an inflection point in state politics | Thursday Morning Coffee
By: John L. Micek - June 27, 2019
History tends to side with the disruptors.
Pa. House, Senate Republicans tout looming completion of package of pro-farmer bills
By: John L. Micek - June 26, 2019
With Farm Show milkshakes in hand (of course), Republican leaders in the state House and Senate gathered in the Capitol rotunda on Wednesday to tout a package of bills that they say reiterates the Legislature’s commitment to Pennsylvania farmers. “I laid out a challenge to my colleagues and to the governor to really step up […]
‘A very serious vote:’ A few scenes from Day 2 of Budget Week | Wednesday Morning Coffee
By: John L. Micek - June 26, 2019
First rule of minimum wage club, don't talk about the minimum wage.