Pennsylvania News & Current Events

In 2022, fatal drug overdoses in Philadelphia hit a peak of 1,413, with people of color hit hardest. More than 80% of the overdose fatalities in 2022 involved opioids, almost always fentanyl. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, July 1, 2024

New Medicaid policy boosts 'street medicine' in PA

Philadelphia is addressing its opioid crisis by deploying mobile medical units to provide Medicaid-funded "street medicine" to the unhoused population…

American manufacturing has led to a significant increase in solar deployment in 2023. A record 32.4 gigawatts of solar capacity were installed nationwide, up 50% from 2022. (freshidea/Adobe Stock)<br />

New plan to increase tariffs on Chinese imports garners public support

Today is the last day for Pennsylvanians to submit feedback to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative about a Biden administration proposal to …

Danyelle Blackwell, Councilwoman, Upper Darby Township, District 4 PA goes for a test drive in an EV during EOPA's United for Health and Energy Security Tour, (Lauren Urbiztondo)

Electric vehicle tour touts clean energy, job creation, cost savings

Pittsburgh is one stop on a nationwide summer tour to raise awareness about electric vehicles and clean energy. The group Elected Officials to …

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation faced unprecedented levels of damage caused by floods and landslides in 2018, leading to costs exceeding $125.7 million for repairing and replacing infrastructure across the state. (Alliance/Adobe Stock)

Pennsylvania braces for extreme weather exacerbated by climate change

Despite the official start of the summer season on Thursday, climate change is exacerbated by extreme weather events in the Keystone State. The …

Gov. Josh Shapiro's fiscal 2024-25 budget includes $1.5 billion over five years to repair schools and make them healthy and safe. (wavebreak3)

Education bill awaiting PA Senate vote would boost billions in funding

A bill to increase Pennsylvania public school funding by billions of dollars passed the State House and is heading to the Senate for a vote. House …

States are already using an initial $1.4 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to protect homes and infrastructure from landslides and clean up streams polluted with acid mine drainage, all of which is creating new employment. (Oleksii Zelivianskyi)

PA secures $244 million for abandoned mine cleanup

Pennsylvania will receive $244 million to clean up the pollution left over from decades of coal mining. The money is part of $725 million in …

Pennsylvania's economic well-being ranks 23rd and shows improvements in children in poverty, with only 394,000, compared to more than 583,000 nationwide, according to the new Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (WavebreakmediaMicro/AdobeStock)

Report: PA ranks 23rd among states in child well-being

Pennsylvania ranks in the middle among states for the well-being of its children, at 23rd overall in the new Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E…

Upon release from prison, Section 1115 waivers would offer individuals reentry services, case management, medication-assisted treatment and a minimum 30-day medication supply. (AliFuat/Adobe Stock)

PA aims to simplify health coverage for kids with Medicaid waiver

A proposed waiver would eliminate Medicaid issues by ensuring uninterrupted coverage for qualified children until they turn 6. If approved by the …

Eligible Pennsylvania children live in families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level. Children with access include those enrolled in high-quality providers using public funds to support their pre-K education. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

PA pre-K advocates back governor's funding boost to expand access

Recent data on pre-K education in Pennsylvania revealed much work remains to improve investments in pre-K education in the state. In Pennsylvania…

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates its new clean car standards will reduce air pollution enough to provide $13 billion in annual health benefits. (Rh2010/Adode Stock)

PA leaders unite to champion federal clean car standards

The Environmental Protection Agency's new clean car standards are getting praise from groups in Pennsylvania. The EPA estimated by 2032, more than …

A $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs under Medicare Part D will be implemented Jan. 1, 2025. (Sherry Young/Adobe Stock)

$35 monthly insulin cap under IRA aids retired nurse's budget

The Inflation Reduction Act has brought tangible improvements to Pennsylvanians' lives. Health care premiums are declining, monthly insulin costs …

The median length of stay in juvenile detention has increased in Pennsylvania. The average and median lengths of stay have increased, from 17 and 11 days in 2018 to 27 and 14 days in 2022. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Report: PA in 'crisis' with shortage of juvenile detention beds

A new report is sounding the alarm on Pennsylvania's juvenile-detention capacity challenges, citing understaffing and long wait times for the young …

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says unionized workers in the United States enjoyed a 6.3% increase in nominal wages in the 12 months ending in March, compared with 4.1% for nonunion workers. (Dragana Gordic/Adobe Stock)

PA economy booms as April unemployment stays at record low 3.4%

For Pennsylvanians on the hunt for employment opportunities, the Keystone State offers a favorable landscape. The state's jobless rate stayed at a …

As of 2020, around 3.4 million individuals, which equated to approximately 26% of the total population of Pennsylvania at the time of 13.0 million residents, were living in the 48 counties considered rural areas within the state. (Synthex🇺🇦/AdobeStock)

Poll: Rural Pennsylvania voters overwhelmingly oppose bans on abortion

Pennsylvanian's general election takes place in November and a new poll from the Rural Democracy Initiative showed likely voters from rural areas of t…

A new AARP Pennsylvania poll revealed incumbent Sen. Bob Casey, Jr., D-Penn., leads GOP challenger Dave McCormick, 48% to 44%, in a very competitive race. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Poll: Pennsylvanians 50+ to play major role in Nov. elections

A new poll for AARP Pennsylvania revealed candidates must focus on issues critical to voters age 50 and older ahead of the November elections…

The Pennsylvania Climate Action Plan lays out a strategy for the state to achieve its greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. It requires cutting emissions 26% by 2025, and 80% by 2050. (Chris/Adobe Stock)

Scientists engage moms to help fight climate change on behalf of kids

Moms from a nonpartisan climate science group are gearing up for summer, getting the word out to Pennsylvania families on how more frequent and …

Junior and senior Educators Rising members with Dr. Khalid Mumin, PA Secretary of Education, and Dr. Keith Miles, School District of Lancaster Superintendent. (School District of Lancaster)<br />

Education association tackles teacher shortage with 'Educators Rising' program

The shortage of educators and school staffers has reached a crisis level in some Pennsylvania public schools, prompting a new "Educators Rising" …

Gov. Josh Shapiro ensured $100 million for mental-health services for students and $20 million for mental health support at the county level, in Pennsylvania's 2023-24 budget. (JenkoAtaman/Adobe Stock)

Expert: Practical tools, neuroscience help parents build mentally strong kids

As Children's Mental Health Awareness Week kicks off in Pennsylvania, an expert said parents can help their children have a healthy brain to thrive…

At Bryn Mawr College, President Kim Cassidy asked the organizers of the pro-Palestinian encampment on Merion Green to leave the site by the end of the day. (Halfpoint/Adobe)

Students at Bryn Mawr College in PA protest war in Gaza

Pennsylvania is among the states where massive protests and tent encampments opposing the war in Gaza are growing. Elez Beresin-Scher, a sociology …

According to the American Lung Association, nearly four in 10 people in America live in places with unhealthy levels of air pollution. (Pcess609/AdobeStock)

PA groups monitoring soot pollution pleased by new EPA standards

The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized stronger air quality standards for soot pollution and one regional organization said it is a step in…

It's estimated that invasive pests destroy up to 40% of food crops and cause $220 billion in trade losses worldwide. (Lee/Adobe Stock)

USDA: Spring in PA is time to be on lookout for invasive pests

April has been "Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month," but the pests don't know that. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it's the …

A GeoHealth study reveals census tracts with high Hispanic and Latino populations accounted for 40% of 73,000 childhood asthma cases. (Hihitetlin/Adobe Stock)

Study: PA ranks high for health impacts of oil and gas flaring emissions

A new study raised red flags about respiratory health in Pennsylvania, particularly for those living near oil and gas activity. The study by …

In Pennsylvania, more than 400,000 people are living with Alzheimer's disease. (C. Nathaniel Brown)

Documentary on dementia in African American communities in PA

Alzheimer's disease is the eighth-leading cause of death in Pennsylvania. A documentary on the topic debuts Saturday in Pittsburgh. "Remember Me: …

Frequent staff turnover has resulted in delays for families to start or even end child welfare-related services because of delays in response time, from either the lead caseworker or supervisors. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

STEM model may offer hope for PA child welfare workforce crisis

The child welfare system in Pennsylvania faces a staffing crisis affecting children and families throughout the system. The Child Welfare Resource …

In March, state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, introduced House Bill 2063, which would reform the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit programs. (Jasmina/AdobeStock)

Report: PA track record on private-school vouchers finds still no accountability

A new report analyzes Pennsylvania's existing voucher programs, that divert public funds to private schools. This comes on the heels of Gov…

A 412Justice report reveals many nearby communities experience higher rates of childhood asthma and more emergency room visits during bad air days, which are happening more frequently. Residents also have experienced higher risk of cancer. (Breathe Project)

Environmental groups rally at U.S. Steel for 'voice at the table'

People working for environmental justice are rallying today at the downtown Pittsburgh headquarters of U.S. Steel, voicing their concerns to company …

In Pennsylvania, infants and toddlers qualify for Early Intervention services if they exhibit a 25% or greater developmental delay in one or more key areas of development. (santypan/Adobe Stock)

PA Early Intervention programs vital for child development

A new study highlights the importance of Pennsylvania's Early Intervention program and its services for infants and toddlers at risk of developmental …

More than 20,000 people have applied to help people file their tax returns since the pandemic began. (igorkol_ter/Adobe Stock)<br />

Last-minute free tax prep provided for procrastinators in Pennsylvania

In less than a week, Pennsylvania residents who need assistance in filing their income-tax returns can use the free services of the AARP Foundation's …

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has set a goal to boost the retention rates for educators of color from 80% to 90% by August 2025. (Adobe Stock)

PA high school focuses on attracting new teachers to the field

The shortage of educators and school staffers has reached a crisis level in some Pennsylvania public schools. The state will need to fill thousands …

Vital habitats for plants and animals classified as being of special concern would be obliterated if the York Energy Storage project is approved. Cuffs Run, home to naturally reproducing brook trout, would be devastated. (Chesapeake Bay Foundation/B.J. Small)

CBF takes legal action to stop hydroelectric facility for Cuffs Run

A proposed pumped-storage hydroelectric facility for Cuffs Run near the Susquehanna River in York County has been challenged by the Chesapeake Bay Fou…

Making a big push to reduce pollution by 2030 is expected to create jobs spread across many industries, from building wind turbines and electric cars to cleaning up abandoned oil wells and developing new technologies. (Rh2010/Adobe Stock)

Advocates back tougher EPA emissions rules for cars, trucks

The Environmental Protection Agency has set new air pollution standards under the federal Clean Air Act for cars and light/medium vehicle models from …

A Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership survey found 92% of Pennsylvania sportsmen and women support designating streams for protections when they meet the right criteria. (Adobe Stock)

A push to update PA stream designations for wild trout protection

Pennsylvania's wild trout streams are getting some much-needed attention and outdoor enthusiasts across the state can voice their views on safeguardin…

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is seeking $112 million in new funding to produce more graduates in six high-growth jobs, including social services. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

'Empowering Social Workers,' in March and beyond

Social workers are in the spotlight in March for National Professional Social Work Month. They play a crucial role in addressing society's most …

According to the USPS, for the 2022 midterm election cycle more than 98% of ballots were delivered from voters to election officials, in an average of three days. (cat027/Adobe Stock)

PA postal workers voice concerns about understaffing, delivery delays

Postal union workers from Pennsylvania will head to the nation's capital in early May for a national rally to raise awareness about the challenges fac…

Pennsylvania voters with disabilities now have the opportunity to mark their absentee or mail-in ballot electronically. (Darylann Elmi/Adobe Stock)

Getting word out to PA voters about mail-in, absentee ballots

With Pennsylvania's primary election less than 60 days away, a nonpartisan group is stepping up the pace to educate people on voting by mail and by …

Fuel switching to hydrogen for high-temperature processes is a significant decarbonization lever and is applied to 60% of emissions after efficiency by 2050, according to a report from Strategen Consulting. (Antony Weerut/Adobe Stock)

Report: A roadmap for industrial decarbonization in PA

Pennsylvania is a major source of greenhouse gas pollution in the U.S. A new study has identified a path for its industries to reduce their …

Last year, the Biden-Harris administration announced $196 million in grants for 37 pipeline modernization projects in 19 states, including Pennsylvania. (MaxSafaniuk/Adobe Stock)<br />

Advocates push for swift update of gas pipeline safety rules

Pennsylvania environmental groups want to see a new rule implemented to improve the detection and repair of leaks from gas pipelines. The Keystone …

Chesapeake Bay Foundation educators, with students on a field trip, explore the Susquehanna River at City Island. The Capitol building is in the background. (Chesapeake Bay Foundation)

PA students gain hands-on experience in watershed conservation

It is almost time for some Pennsylvania students to get out of the classroom and into a canoe. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Pennsylvania Rivers …

The average Pennsylvanian uses about 62 gallons of water a day, at a cost of about 30 cents a day. <br />(Maridav/Adobe Stock)

PAWC rate hike proposal would affect 770,000 PA households

If Pennsylvania American Water gets its latest rate hike, more than 770,000 water and wastewater customers in 37 counties would be affected. For now…

The American Climate Corps will reflect a comprehensive approach to tackling climate change across the country. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Climate Corps could open doors to job opportunities in Appalachian PA

The American Climate Corps seeks to create 20,000 jobs related to conservation, climate issues and clean energy. The program originated by the Biden …

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Educators voice concern PA school voucher programs 'discriminate'

Pennsylvania's teachers' union is voicing concerns that the state's public school voucher program will negatively affect public education in lower-inc…

Children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children who do not. (Georgerudy/AdobeStock)

Expert tips to prevent cavities for Children's Dental Health Month

During Children's Dental Health Month in February, parents are encouraged to establish good oral health habits early on so kids can avoid dental …

Hispanic adults are the fastest-growing group in Pennsylvania, and in 2022 had a college-degree attainment rate of 29.7%. (Brastock Images/Adobe Stock)

PA nears 60% college degree attainment goal, but work remains

Pennsylvania lags only slightly behind national figures for the number of working-age adults who have earned college degrees or other professional cer…

A 2024-2025 budget proposal from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro includes $100 million in mental health funding for K-12 schools, building upon one-time federal funds, to ensure schools have the resources to provide mental health services to students and staff. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

PSEA applauds Gov. Shapiro's record budget proposal for public schools

Looking to tackle inequitable education funding across the state, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has unveiled a new budget plan, including a major …

Pennsylvania offers online, mail-in and in-person options to register to vote, including at PennDOT driver's license centers. (KilmerMedia/Adobe Stock)

Group pushes to register 60,000 new voters in Pennsylvania

The Keystone State's primary election is less than 90 days away, and a nonpartisan, grassroots organization is already getting the word out to …

A new report reveals one in four rural workers would see his or her pay increase if Pennsylvania's minimum wage were increased to $15 per hour in 2026. (Flamingo Images/Adobe Stock)

Report: 1.34 million PA workers would benefit from higher minimum wage

A new report has shed light on who would benefit most in Pennsylvania from raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026. More than 1.3 million …

About 77% of Pennsylvania students who experienced homelessness lived in doubled-up situations, 11% lived in shelters or transitional housing, 8% stayed in hotels and 4% lived in unsheltered locations, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. (Homeless Children Education Fund)

Mobile classroom 'Winnie’s Wagon' helping unhoused students

In Pennsylvania, a unique mobile classroom brings education and support directly to unhoused youths. More than 3,100 school-aged children in …

An American College of Physicians report noted in 2020, nearly one in four eligible people were not registered to vote, and around one in eight voter registration records had serious issues, potentially preventing those voters from casting a ballot. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Doctors' insight: Voting could improve U.S. healthcare

A medical report shows voting is not only good for democracy, it is also good for your health. As stated by the American College of Physicians…

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