Pennsylvania News & Current Events

Pennsylvania's Legislative Reapportionment Commission has held three public hearings so far to gather resident's input on the redistricting process. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 20, 2021

PA Creates Redistricting Advisory Council to Help Prevent Gerrymandering

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A new Redistricting Advisory Council announced last week by Gov. Tom Wolf's office will focus on reducing gerrymandering as new …

A letter from high earners to Congress supports President Biden's plan to tax capital gains income as ordinary income for individuals making more than $1 million a year. (Adobe Stock)

200-Plus Wealthy Leaders from PA, Beyond Urge Congress to Pass Tax Hike

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- More than 200 high earners have written a letter urging Congress to raise taxes to help support social safety-net programs that …

People confined in Pennsylvania jails are eligible to vote as long as they are not currently serving time for a felony conviction. (Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Lacks Universal Policy for Voting in Jails

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Many Pennsylvania county jails don't have clear policies to support voting access for people in jails, according to a new report …

Pennsylvania's Supreme Court has one seat open after former Chief Justice Thomas Saylor hit the mandatory retirement age of 75. (Adobe Stock)

With Virtual Forum, Get to Know PA Judicial Candidates on Nov. Ballot

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvanians will vote this November to elect judges in the state's three appellate courts, and a virtual candidate forum next …

More than 2 million acres of state forest land in Pennsylvania is protected by public ownership. (Adobe Stock)

State Foresters' Group Celebrates 100-Plus Years in PA

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The National Association of State Foresters was formed in 1920, with its first meeting in Harrisburg amid an increase in large …

The majority of Pennsylvania's greenhouse-gas emissions are from energy consumption. (Adobe Stock)

PA Becomes 2nd State to Offer Climate-Change Leadership Training

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania is now the second state in the country to launch a program focused on training state and local leaders on tackling …

Since 2013, Pennsylvania's neighboring states New York, Maryland and New Jersey have all enacted legislation that puts them on a pathway to $15 minimum wages. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Increasing Minimum Wage in PA and Beyond Would Help Rebuild Economy

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- With the expanded unemployment benefits from the American Rescue Plan ending last week, a new report from the Keystone Research …

For the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Flight 93 National Memorial hosts several events, including a name-reading ceremony on Saturday at 10:03 a.m., the time of the crash. (Adobe Stock)

Chalk Portraits to Honor 'Heroes' of United Flight 93 on 9/11

STOYSTOWN, Pa. -- Many have called United Flight 93, one of the four hijacked planes on Sep. 11, 2001, the first battle in the war on terror…

Tropical Storm Ida left towns like Conshohocken, in Montgomery County, completely submerged in floodwaters. (Michael Stokes/Wikimedia Commons)

PA Forest Action Could Help Prevent Damage from Extreme Weather, Like Ida

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania's creeks and rivers flooded at historic levels last week after Tropical Storm Ida decimated the Northeast. In the …

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation report found many people enrolled in Medicare go without dental care. (Adobe Stock)

PA Groups Back Expanding Medicare to 'Treat the Whole Person'

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. -- Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa, has introduced legislation to expand Medicare coverage to include dental, hearing and vision care…

Since school started in Pennsylvania, the Department of Health says 5,000 students have tested positive for COVID-19. It's one reason for Gov. Tom Wolf's Sept. 7 mask mandate. (Gov. Tom Wolf/Flickr)

Mask Mandate Coming for All PA K-12 Schools, Child-Care Centers

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Face masks will be mandatory at all public and private K-through-12 schools in Pennsylvania, starting next week. Gov. Tom Wolf …

The letter to Pennsylvania's congressional representatives calls for infrastructure funding to support the return of the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps, with a focus on addressing climate change. (Adobe Stock)

PA Groups Call for Infrastructure Deal That Benefits Appalachia

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Three dozen Pennsylvania advocacy groups sent a letter last week to the state's congressional delegation, calling on them to …

The Biden administration is sticking with an Aug. 31 deadline to rescue refugees and remove U.S. troops from Afghanistan. (Adobe Stock)

Afghan Refugees Arriving Through Philadelphia International Airport

PHILADELPHIA - Several hundred refugees from Afghanistan started to arrive at Philadelphia International Airport this weekend, only a few days after …

In a new poll, 59% of voters in Pennsylvania say they're stressed out about not being able to afford their monthly premiums for health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: PA Voters Want Lawmakers to Help Keep Health-Care Costs Down

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvanians are growing more concerned with the affordability of their health care, according to a new poll. More than 600 …

According to a Villanova University study, more than 200,000 Pennsylvania residents, 100,000 of whom are Black, currently are underrepresented due to prison gerrymandering. (Adobe Stock)

PA Advocates Praise Commission's Vote to End 'Prison Gerrymandering'

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania's Legislative Reapportionment Commission, the body tasked with creating the state's legislative maps based on U.S…

This week, state Sen. Katie Muth, D-Moyersford, and Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Philadelphia, started circulating memos in the General Assembly seeking sponsorship of bills to increase TANF benefits to 50% of the federal poverty level. (Annie Spratt/Unsplash)

Report: TANF Benefits Vital for PA, But Program Needs Overhaul

HARRISBURG, Pa. - This week marks the 25th anniversary of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the cash-assistance program commonly known as TANF…

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and others have filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to hold Pennsylvania accountable for polluting the bay. (Adobe Stock)

Legislation Could Bring Funding to PA for Chesapeake Bay Cleanup

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania is behind on its goal to reduce pollution into Chesapeake Bay, and clean-water proponents say legislation in …

Many parents kept kids out of pediatricians' offices during the pandemic as a precaution. Those doctors are now saying it's time to get kids back on track with their wellness visits. (Adobe Stock)

PA Group Encourages Well-Child Doctor Visits Ahead of School Year

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- As students gear up for getting back to school, Pennsylvania childrens' advocates are asking parents to ensure kids are up-to-date …

Pennsylvania does not currently mandate students or teachers to wear face coverings and has left it up to school districts to decide. (Adobe Stock)

PA Offers New Testing Programs, More Vaccine Clinics to Keep Schools Open

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- With a few weeks until school starts, the state Departments of Health and Education have announced new initiatives to keep K-12 …

Pennsylvania's Legislative Reapportionment Commission has held public hearings in Harrisburg to gather input on redistricting based on 2020 census results. (Adobe Stock)

PA Groups Call for Public Comment to Be Part of Census Redistricting

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania's population has grown to more than 13 million, according to new census data - and as the mapmaking process gets under …

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported more than 2,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, August 12. (Gov. Tom Wolf/Flickr)

PA Sets Vaccine Requirements for Health-Care Workers

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania's Department of Health has announced an expectation that 80% of nursing-home staff in the Commonwealth be fully …

Pennsylvania is receiving funds from the federal Wagner-Peyser Act program to support SkillUp PA. (Glenn Carstens-Peters/Unsplash)

PA Creates Virtual Skills Training Program To Help Job Seekers

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania is launching an online job-training program focused on helping residents looking for a new career get the expertise …

Scranton, in Lackawanna County, is home to more than 10,000 public-school students. (Adobe Stock)

AFT President to Attend Scranton 'Back to School for All' Events

SCRANTON, Pa. - Community block parties in Scranton this evening are getting some national attention. American Federation of Teachers President …

Pennsylvania has the widest funding gap between wealthy and poor school districts of any state in the country. (Adobe Stock)

Some Racial Evidence to Be Permitted in PA School Funding Lawsuit

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- With less than a month until a Pennsylvania public school funding lawsuit is set to begin, a Commonwealth Court judge recently …

Gov. Tom Wolf's administration does not plan to reinstate a face-mask mandate for public schools in Pennsylvania, leaving it up to school districts' discretion. (Adobe Stock)

PA Educators: Use ARP Funds to Support Student Mental Health

HARRISBURG, Pa. - For many young people, the social isolation of the pandemic has had negative effects, and as Commonwealth students prepare to …

Pennsylvania unveiled its state-based health insurance marketplace, Pennie, in September 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Special Enrollment for PA Health Insurance Marketplace Ends Aug. 15

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania residents have until next week to enroll in a plan through the state's health-insurance marketplace, Pennie. Thanks …

According to a recent poll, 86% of Pennsylvanians are concerned about air pollution. (Adobe Stock)

Poll Finds Support for Holding Natural-Gas Industry Accountable in PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvanians are growing worried about the environmental consequences of natural-gas drilling in the state, according to a new …

To address racial disparities in youth detention, The Sentencing Project report recommends state and local governments invest in community programs that address social inequities. (Adobe Stock)

PA Cuts Youth Justice Racial Disparities; Still Above U.S. Detention Average

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Despite youth incarceration rates falling nationwide in the last few years, major racial disparities remain for kids in …

Chronic wasting disease can be transmitted between deer, along with food and soil contaminated by bodily fluids. (Adobe Stock)

Wildlife Feeding Ban Proposed in Allegheny National Forest

WARREN, Pa. -- A temporary animal-feeding ban is being proposed for the Allegheny National Forest after a captive deer tested positive for chronic …

A new study estimates for every dollar invested in universal access to eviction counsel in Pennsylvania, there is an estimated cost savings of $3 to $6. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Universal Access to Legal Counsel Could Help Prevent Evictions in PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- As housing advocates prepare for the end of the CDC's eviction moratorium Saturday, a new report showed expanding access to legal …

A white paper from ReImagine Appalachia estimates that reforestation of mountaintop removal sites could absorb 8% to 10% of carbon emissions in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. It's the type of project a new CCC could take on. (Adobe Stock)

Casey's Civilian Conservation Corps Could Help Fight Climate Change

HARRISBURG, Pa. - U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., wants to bring back the Civilian Conservation Corps, a public-works program from the 1930s that created …

Pennsylvania's parks and recreation economy provides an estimated $1.9 billion annually in state and local tax revenue. (Adobe Stock)

PA Mayors Call on Congress to Pass Parks, Jobs & Equity Act

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A petition signed by 19 mayors from across Pennsylvania urges the state's congressional delegation to pass the Parks, Jobs…

A new report finds programs like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Weatherization Assistance Program could eventually transform energy-bill assistance into self-reliance through investments in local solar energy. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 30M Solar Homes Could Boost Jobs, Benefit Environment

HARRISBURG, Pa. - With federal investment, a proposal to connect 30 million homes in the United States to solar energy could have a big impact in …

Reports suggest state and local municipalities can enact policies to keep more money in local economies and reduce damage to health and quality of life, in the wake of the natural-gas boom. (Adobe Stock)

Reports: What PA, Appalachia Can Learn from Natural Gas Boom's Failure

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A new report demonstrates why the last decade's natural-gas boom in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia fell below expectations …

Unconventional wells emit methane and lead to air pollution in nearby communities. (SkyTruth/Flickr)

Groups Urge Wolf Administration to Strengthen Methane Emissions Rule

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Advocates for clean air are calling on the Wolf administration to strengthen a proposed regulation on methane emissions. They say …

ATV environmental impacts include noise pollution, damage to vegetation, soil degradation, and disturbance to wildlife. (Adobe Stock)

PA Pilot Program Expands ATV Trail Connector Access

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- North Central Pennsylvania will soon have 70 miles of new roads open to all-terrain vehicles, connecting the existing Potter and …

A yellow-crowned night heron seen on a Harrisburg rooftop. State ornithologist Sean Murphy says a few years ago, a night heron nest was found in a sycamore tree on the Governor's Residence property. (Jen Hirt)

State-Endangered Night Herons Find Refuge in Urban Harrisburg

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Some rare birds that have called Harrisburg's tall sycamore trees home are taking flight this week. Yellow-crowned night herons …

In Pennsylvania, if you're in prison in connection to a misdemeanor or parole violation, you are still eligible to vote. (Adobe Stock)

Petition Calls for an End to Prison Gerrymandering in PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania should get some 2020 Census data this summer, to be used in the redistricting process. But some groups want the state …

U.S. Steel's Clairton plant is the largest coke manufacturing facility in the United States. (Roy Luck/Wikimedia Commons)

Study Details Health Implications of PA Coke-Plant Fire

PITTSBURGH -- In southwestern Pennsylvania, the health effects of an industrial fire more than two years ago are just now coming to light. A new …

Among other recommendations, child-care advocates want to see Pennsylvania expand its Infant/Toddler Contracted Slots Program to provide free child care to 3,000 to 4,000 more kids from eligible families. (Adobe Stock)

PA Child-Care Providers: State Budget Falls Short for Youngest Learners

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Gov. Tom Wolf signed the new state budget last week, which includes a historic $416 million increase in public-education funding…

Due to higher costs of production, coal-powered electricity's share in Pennsylvania has fallen from 57% in 2001 to 16% in 2021. It's expected to fall to 4%, with or without the state's participation in RGGI, by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

Report: RGGI Could Provide Financial Boost to PA Coal Communities

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania's Environmental Quality Board is expected to make its final ruling on whether the state will join the Regional …

To qualify for Pennsylvania's Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), household income must be 80% or less of the county's Area Median Income (AMI). (Adobe Stock)

Groups Working to Prevent PA Evictions: "30 More Days Isn't Enough"

PHILADELPHIA - The federal moratorium on evictions has been extended through July 31 - but the Biden administration says this is the final extension…

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden announced a comprehensive strategy to address gun violence, which has increased in cities like Philadelphia since the start of the pandemic. (Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons)

Philly to Be Part of Biden Community Violence Intervention Plan

PHILADELPHIA -- The Biden administration has a new federal strategy to address gun violence surging in cities across the country, including …

The Black Appalachian Coalition hopes to change the stereotypical narrative that this region is just rural and white, and hopes to see federal funding allocated to communities equitably. (Adobe Stock)

New Coalition Aims to Change "Whitewashed" Narrative of Appalachia

PHILADELPHIA - The Appalachian region has long dealt with environmental pollution and economic disinvestment, and a new coalition wants to ensure its …

A new report says in the year before the pandemic, fewer Pennsylvania children were living in poverty and more of their parents had secure employment. (Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Families Need National Support in Pandemic Recovery

PHILADELPHIA -- Families with children in Pennsylvania and beyond were hit hard during the pandemic, and returning to pre-COVID levels of support …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know "a little bit" or "nothing at all" about Juneteenth, the date that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. (DoDEA.edu)

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by …

Both energy and climate advocates agree investment in electrifying transportation would have positive economic and health benefits for Pennsylvanians. (Andrew Roberts/Unsplash)

Report: Push for Electric Vehicles in American Jobs Plan would Benefit PA

PHILADELPHIA - A new report predicts big benefits for Pennsylvania, and millions of jobs nationwide, if Congress decides to invest in upgrading the …

According to a 2020 Climate Nexus poll, 65% of voters said they wanted comprehensive climate legislation to be a priority for the White House and Congress (Adobe Stock)

Could PA Gas Preemption Bill Derail Local Climate Action Plans?

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A gas preemption bill in the state Senate would prevent Pennsylvania municipalities from adopting policies to restrict or prohibit …

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