Pennsylvania News & Current Events

Keystone Saves creates an individual retirement account program that automatically enrolls private-sector workers, who can choose to opt out. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

'Keystone Saves' Aims to Help Millions of Working Pennsylvanians

More than 40% of private sector workers in Pennsylvania earned their living at businesses without retirement plans, as of 2020. Multiple groups are …

Pennsylvanians must register to vote by Oct. 23 to be eligible to vote in the general election on Nov. 7. (Vesperstock/AdobeStock)

Voter Education for November General Election Already Underway in PA

The Keystone State's general election is less than six months away and a nonpartisan, grassroots organization is already getting the word out to …

In 2020, nearly 3.4 million people, or about 26% of Pennsylvania's 13 million residents, lived in 48 rural counties in the Keystone State. (Gary L Hider/Adobe Stock)

Rural PA Mayor Puts Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funds to Work

A small Pennsylvania community is hoping Congress will remember the needs of rural areas as lawmakers negotiate the final, contentious debt ceiling …

There used to be twice as many marshes and wetlands in Pennsylvania as there are today, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. (Christina Saymansky/Adobe Stock)

Court Opts to Protect Private-Property Rights Over Wetlands

From conservation to sportsmen's groups, the U.S. Supreme Court is getting plenty of backlash over its most recent ruling, which weakens federal …

Pennsylvania adults with disabilities represent 11% of the population, in terms of mobility<br />and/or cognitive challenges. (Jesse B/peopleimages.com)<br /><br />

PA Starts on New 'Master Plan for Older Adults'

A new Master Plan for Older Adults is being developed in Pennsylvania. Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order Thursday, directing the …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults do at least 2 hours and 30 minutes each week of aerobic physical activity that requires moderate effort. (TMdlungu/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Experts: Women's Health Month Prioritizes Health, Well-Being

May is National Women's Health Month, and experts are reminding women to prioritize their health and well-being. Brenda Shelton-Dunston, executive …

A new report predicts up to 639 premature deaths from respiratory illnesses would be prevented in Pennsylvania due to emission reductions resulting directly from participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. (Erik Bergen Photos/Adobe Stock)

New Report: Impact for PA to Join Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

A new report analyzed the potential impact of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative on Pennsylvania emissions, power generation, revenue, and jobs…

New, used, and demonstration vehicles with a final purchase or lease price of $50,000<br />or less are eligible for rebates in Pennsylvania. (Ake1150/AdobeStock)<br />

New EPA Rule: 2 Out of 3 New Cars Could Be Electric By 2032

The Environmental Protection Agency recently proposed more stringent vehicle emission standards, which could significantly help reduce air pollution …

In Pennsylvania, one of the voting requirements is that you will need to be at least 18 years of age on or before the day of the next primary, special, municipal or general election. (Andrey Popov/AdobeStock)

Community College of Philadelphia Designated as Voter-Friendly Campus

As the municipal primary election fast approaches, the Community College of Philadelphia is continuing to educate students on the importance of voter …

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2021 more than a third of high school students reported they experienced poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Alberto/AdobeStock)

Report: Black Girls Speak Out About Public Schools in Pennsylvania

A new report found Black girls across the Keystone State are subjected to "daunting educational barriers" in K-12 public schools and offers recommenda…

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every 15 minutes a person in the United States dies from an infection that's resistant to treatment with existing antimicrobial drugs.(Tashatuvango/AdobeStock)

Reintroduction of PASTEUR Act to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Infections

A bipartisan group of lawmakers has reintroduced the PASTEUR Act in Congress, which stands for Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions to End …

Volunteers with the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary place numbered tags on freshwater mussels so they can be tracked in the Delaware River. (Photo courtesy Partnership for the Delaware Estuary)

Restoring Freshwater Mussels to Improve Delaware River

By Katherine Rapin for Yale Environment 360.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Keystone State News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journal…

The Philadelphia Public School District purchased its first five electric school buses in 2022 and says it plans to expand its fleet this year to reduce its carbon footprint. (Viktoriia/Adobe Stock)

More PA Districts Look to Upgrade School Buses with EPA Grants

School districts in Pennsylvania and across the country can apply for grant funding to get new buses that run on cleaner fuel sources. There's $400 …

Pennsylvania voters also have the option of voting at the polls on May 16, provided they have not already voted by mail ballot. Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Tsado/AdobeStock)

Group Reminds Pennsylvanians of Mail-In-Ballot Deadline Ahead of Primary

With fewer than two weeks until the municipal primary election, Pennsylvanians planning to vote by mail ballot will need to apply online or in person …

In Susquehanna Valley, a hiring blitz is underway this month. With the U.S. Postal Service looking to fill openings for city and rural carriers, clerks, and mail-handler assistants. (Salarko/Adobe Stock)

USPS Employees Ask for More Staff, Better Work Environment

In Pennsylvania and across the country, U.S. Postal Service workers say they are struggling to keep up amid serious staffing shortages, and they have …

A recent analysis found the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in about 50,000 fewer births than expected nine months later. This suggests recent downward trends in the number of births will continue and perhaps accelerate. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Child Population Declines in Pennsylvania

The population is made up of fewer children - in Pennsylvania and across the United States, according to the latest analysis of census data. The …

The Spotted lanternfly is native to China and was first spotted in Pennsylvania in September 2014. They are invasive and can be spread long distances by people who move infested material or items containing egg masses. (ondreicka/Adobe Stock)<br />

USDA Warns Pennsylvanians to Protect Plants from Invasive Pests

April is Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is warning Pennsylvanians that it's the best time of …

Three-fourths of the coal consumed in Pennsylvania is burned for electricity generation, and the rest is used for steelmaking and other industrial applications. (Gary/AdobeStock)

Report: 'Green Steel' Would Reduce Carbon Emissions, Add Jobs

A new report reveals that the Keystone State steel industry has the potential to reduce or eliminate carbon emissions by making a switch to "green ste…

The Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint calls for Pennsylvania to reduce nitrogen runoff by 40% by 2025. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Agrees to Settlement in Chesapeake Bay Pollution Lawsuit

The Environmental Protection Agency has reached a tentative settlement in a lawsuit over the agency's failure to make Pennsylvania abide by the same c…

The Federal Trade Commission estimates its new proposed rule on noncompete agreements could increase wages by nearly $300 billion per year. (Adobe Stock)

FTC Proposes Rule to Help PA Workers Trapped in Non-Competes

The Federal Trade Commission has proposed a new rule which seeks to aid Pennsylvania workers who are stuck in noncompete agreements with low-paying jo…

The Commonwealth's K-12 public school system serves more than 1.7 million students. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Call to Action: PA Group Pushes for More K-12 School Funding

More school funding for basic and special education, along with more funding targeted to lower-income districts are on the wish list of a …

Eleven species of native milkweed (Asclepias) can be found in Pennsylvania. (Paul/AdobeStock)

Experts Seek Help to Save Eastern Monarch Butterfly From Extinction in PA

A colorful orange and black insect commonly seen flying through gardens in the Keystone State is now closer to extinction. In recognition of Earth …

Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program covers dental and vision care, as well as medical care. (Halfpoint/AdobeStock)

Pennsylvania DHS Now Oversees Children's Health Insurance Program

As families enrolled in Medicaid transition to the Children's Health Insurance Program, it is important for them to know Pennsylvania has changed how …

In the Keystone State, 474,000 cows produce more than 10 billion pounds of milk annually. (Adobe Stock)

Grant Money Geared to 'Keep Milk Local' in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania dairy processors and farmers can apply for grants to assist them with upgrading their facilities, as part of a larger effort to keep …

One of Pittsburgh's building efficiency goals is to reduce energy and water consumption by 50% by 2030, according to the city's Climate Action Plan. (Checubus/Adobe Stock)

Pittsburgh Plans for Climate Goal with Priority-Based Budgeting

By Claire Elise Thompson for Grist.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Keystone State News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Netwo…

Parents are concerned about their child experiencing violence at school has increased since last school year. Hispanic parents are significantly more worried than Black and White parents, according to a new survey by the National Parent Teacher Association. (Vasyl/AdobeStock)

Survey Explores Parents’ Mindsets During School Year 2022-2023

A new survey finds that parents are concerned about their children's emotional and mental health and want schools to provide resources services to sup…

In Pennsylvania, both the number of coal mines and amount of coal production have declined as less electricity has been generated from coal, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Adobe Stock)

PA's Homer City Coal Plant to Retire in July

The Keystone State's largest coal-burning power plant is set to begin decommissioning on July 1. Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter Director Thomas …

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 4% of Pennsylvania's electricity was generated from renewable-energy sources in 2020. (Stuart Monk/AdobeStock)

Expert: Dirty Energy Poses Health Risks to Children, Switching to Clean Energy Can Help

April is Earth Month, a time to raise environmental awareness worldwide. In Pennsylvania, a nonpartisan group called Science Moms wants families to …

According to a new report, 40% of all Black apprentices in the construction field face ongoing discrimination and exclusion from high-paying supervisorial and managerial roles. (Tongpatong/Adobe Stock)

PA Workforce Training Programs Work to Increase Black Apprenticeships

Labor leaders in various industries recently celebrated the 85th anniversary of a federal law that laid the groundwork for registered apprenticeship p…

Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, from October 2021 to September 2022, Pennsylvania has received a record $480.5 million for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program available this fiscal year. (Andreykr/AdobeStock)

PA Leaders Focus on Infrastructure, Transportation During NLC Conference

City leaders from Pennsylvania and across the country convened in Washington, D.C., this week for the National League of Cities Congressional City …

Senator Maria Collett (D-Montgomery) recently announced her plans to reintroduce legislation for SB144 to declare PFAS used in firefighting foams, as

EPA Takes Public Input on Proposal to Clean Up PA Drinking Water

The U.S. EPA is hosting a webinar this week on its proposed new drinking water regulations. The Agency has just announced plans to limit harmful …

The new AARP survey says Eight in ten (81%) say they are 'very likely' to vote in the 2023 primary election for Philadelphia Mayor, with just 4% saying they will not vote. (Rawpixel.com/AdobeStock)

Poll: Pennsylvanians Over 50 will Play Major Role in Mayoral Primary

With fewer than 60 days until the May 16 mayoral primary election, a new survey by AARP Pennsylvania shows what key issues voters over the age of 50 …

The Keystone State is a leading East Coast supplier of natural gas, coal, refined petroleum products and electricity to the nation. (vencav/Adobe Stock)

Report: Fossil Fuels "Unreliable" During Deep Freeze

A new report found forced power outages in this winter's extreme weather only added to "unreliability" in the fossil-fuel sector. The PJM …

This month Governor Shapiro announced his plan to give new teachers a personal income tax credit of up to $2,500 a year for three years. (Johoo/AdobeStock)

PSEA Call to Action: More Funding To Solve School Staffing Crisis

The shortage of school teachers and staffers has reached a crisis level in some public schools. An education advocacy group is making recommendations …

According to the State of Philadelphia Child Welfare Workforce report, 72% of respondents reported feeling overwhelmed by their student loan debt amount when compared to their salary or pay. (Nimito/AdobeStock)

Report: PA Child Welfare Workforce Faces Low Pay, Turnover

A recent report on the child welfare workforce shortage looks at how worker turnover, recruitment, and retention are impacting children and families …

In Pennsylvania, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for primary municipal elections. The first time you vote, you must bring a valid photo or non-photo form of identification. (Vesperstock/Adobe Stock)

PA Group Pushes to Educate Voters Ahead of Municipal Primary

As the municipal primary election fast approaches, there is an urgent push for more voter education in Pennsylvania. More than 8.7 million …

If the new Railway Safety Act of 2023 rail is passed, carriers would face heightened fines for wrongdoing, and it would substantially increase the maximum fine USDOT can issue for safety violations. (Brian Dunn/Wirestock Creators/AdobeStock)

PA: New Legislation To Prevent Future Train Derailments

Hoping to avoid future train disasters like Norfolk Southern's derailment in East Palestine, a bipartisan group of Pennsylvania lawmakers has …

It is estimated that as many as 300,000 to 760,000 oil and gas wells have been drilled in the Keystone State, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. (Perytskyy/Adobe Stock)

PA Groups Urge State To Address Abandoned Well Problem

Groups in the Keystone State are urging the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to move forward quickly and implement some of the sugg…

According to the American Lung Association, an EPA review of research on the health effects of fine particle pollution concluded non-white populations face higher risks. (Harold Stiver/Adobe Stock)

PA Group: Stronger EPA Soot Standard Would Save Lives

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing tougher air-quality standards for soot pollution, and a Pennsylvania clean-air advocacy group said …

A 2021 Pennsylvania Department of Education report found that Career and Technical Education participants (86.5%) had slightly higher odds of graduating on time from high school than non-CTE students (85%). (Adobe Stock)

Call to Action: More Funding for PA Career and Technical Education

A Pennsylvania advocacy group wants the state budget to include more funding for Career and Technical Education programs, or CTE, for high school …

Pennsylvania teacher Katie Harnish traveled to Antarctica to study and learn about the environment and wildlife. (Photo courtesy of Harnish)

PA Educator Explores Antarctica, Falkland Islands with Fellowship

A Pennsylvania educator is one of 50 teachers from around the U.S. and Canada who received a Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship, an honor that came with a …

In Pennsylvania, funding for K-12 education totals more than $30 billion or $19,369 per pupil, according to the website EducationData.org. (Adobe Stock)

PA Now Tasked with Public-School Funding Revamp

It's been two weeks since a Commonwealth Court judge ruled Pennsylvania's system of funding public schools is unconstitutional and must be revamped…

Civil rights organizations have said they believe the IHRA's definition of antisemitism and its

Palestinian Advocates Applaud New Info from U.S. Education Dept.

The U.S. Department of Education has a new fact sheet about religious discrimination from its Office for Civil Rights, and Palestinian advocates are …

The Who Mentored You? study by MENTOR reveals that youths who identify as BIPOC and those from lower income levels express significantly higher rates of unmet mentoring needs. (Daniel Ernst/AdobeStock)

More Black Mentors Urged for Pennsylvania

A new study shows despite a long-term increase in mentoring over time, there has still been recent backsliding with Generation Z, who appear to be …

More than 3.3 million people across 26 Pennsylvania counties may be exposed to exceeding levels of cancer risk in 2023 because of the air pollution caused by the oil and gas industry. (onyx124/AdobeStock)

Elected Officials: EPA Should Work to Reduce Methane Pollution

A group of lawmakers is urging the EPA to show the Keystone State support by enacting strong, comprehensive methane regulation standards. …

According to a mental health workforce study, Pennsylvania is one of many states struggling with a shortage of mental-health practitioners, especially in rural communities. (Valerii Honcharuk/Adobe Stock)

PA Needs More Mental, Behavioral Healthcare Workers

A Pennsylvania children's advocacy group said the state should be doing more to help end a critical staffing shortage of mental and behavioral health …

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that to reduce glare, consider a matte screen filter for your device. Adjusting the brightness and contrast of your screen and dimming nearby lighting can also help reduce eye strain. (AdobeStock)

Blue-Light Exposure May Affect Your Eyes, Sleep and Health

The increased use of digital devices, computers, television and tablets exposes us to more blue light each day. Eye professionals are concerned the …

Voters in Pittsburgh-area districts 32, 34 and 35 will head to the polls Tuesday to fill three vacancies in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. (MoiraM/AdobeStock)

Group Continues Calls for Better Legislative Rules in PA

While the Pennsylvania House is still out of session and won't resume until late February, the public and advocacy groups are voicing their concerns…

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