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Wisconsin AG seeks to stop Elon Musk's $1M payments at rally giveaway; Rural advocates urge CA lawmakers to safeguard banking protections; Federal, state job cuts threaten FL workers' rights, services; Alabama counties lack high-speed internet and health access.

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President Trump says there are ways for him to take a third term. New tariffs are scheduled for this week, but economists say they'll hurt buying power. And advocates say the Trans Day of Visibility is made more important by state legislation.

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Rural folks face significant clean air and water risks due to EPA cutbacks, a group of policymakers is working to expand rural health care via mobile clinics, and a new study maps Montana's news landscape.

Advocates laud Shapiro’s lawsuit to unfreeze federal funding

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Thursday, February 27, 2025   

Environmental projects are restarting as advocates praise Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro for suing the Trump administration, leading to the release of 2 billion dollars in federal aid.

The previously frozen funds had disrupted key projects such as abandoned mine reclamation, plugging orphaned wells and other projects, while grants for electric school buses remain frozen.

Joanne Kilgour, environmental lawyer for the Ohio River Valley Institute, called it a win for Pennsylvania but said some local programs still await promised funds.

"This continued uncertainty is unacceptable," Kilgour argued. "The economic impact of this funding freeze was immediate and severe. Local contractors had to pause weatherization work. Environmental cleanup projects were put on hold. Job creating initiatives were thrown into chaos."

Kilgour pointed out during a webinar the governor's lawsuit continues because the state needs to ensure all promised funding reaches Pennsylvania communities and future funding remains secure.

Bobby Hughes, executive director of the Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, said his team is working on capacity building, geothermal research in Schuylkill County and a watershed assessment in Luzerne County, where mine drainage remains an issue. The funding freeze and continued uncertainty has slowed progress.

"It needs monitoring and it needs sort of evaluation, and other sites in that watershed have discharges that go to a trout stream that goes to the Susquehanna River," Hughes outlined. "It's being impacted and hasn't been treated yet for any of those particular discharges."

James Whitesel, director of facilities for the Unionville Chadds Ford School District, said the district secured $1.3 million in grants for five electric buses but postponed a $200,000 electrical upgrade due to the federal budget freeze. While hopeful for a resolution, he warned delays could affect bus replacements and infrastructure installation.

"In mid-March, our school board is going to vote either to proceed with the electric buses or to abandon the project and purchase five diesel buses instead," Whitesel noted. "Choosing the diesel bus route will entail higher up-front costs for us."

Whitesel pointed out the funding freeze could cost the district hundreds of thousands in electric bus savings. Whitesel applauded the governor's fight against the freeze, citing his strong leadership for Pennsylvania but uncertainties remain regarding grant funding for his district, along with other projects across the Commonwealth.


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