PA Headlines | May 28 | Ten million trees, achieved.

PA Headlines | July 1 | Immigration arrests are surging in Pa.

Pennsylvania, like much of the nation, has seen a surge in immigration arrests since the start of the second Trump term. We have now passed the deadline for a state budget. While House Democrats approved Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposal in April, Senate Republicans are holding firm against increased state spending. Pennsylvania's May unemployment numbers are out. The monthly figures include a record high. Nearly 8,400 Pennsylvanians have served in the U.S. Peace Corps since President John F. Kennedy started the program in 1961. But midstate Republican Congressman Scott Perry is trying to eliminate funding for the agency’s $410 million annual budget. The Justice Department is suing Pennsylvania and three other states, saying they refused to provide the past five years of applicant data for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Senators Dave McCormick and John Fetterman say they will make sure Pennsylvania has a strong presence at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C. Pennsylvania was one of the handful of states with an empty booth on the National Mall, when the fair opened last week. A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist is headed to central PA to serve as a keynote speaker this September. Eugene Robinson will headline a fundraising event for the future Underground Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, being planned in Columbia, Lancaster County. A beloved and longtime Harrisburg community leader has died. Betty Hungerford was 94. In uncertain times, our community counts on facts, not noise. Support the journalism and programming that keep you informed. Donate now at www.witf.org/givenow. [https://www.witf.org/givenow] And thank you.

PA Headlines | June 30 | How will this week’s heat wave affect Pa.?

As we transition from June to July this week, we are also transitioning into a heat wave. Near-record-breaking temperatures are expected much of the week, headed toward July 4th. The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat watch for the entire listening area, from Wednesday afternoon through Friday evening. This summer is likely to be the worst tick season in a decade in Pennsylvania, and a lot of bites aren't taking place on trails or in the woods--they're happening in backyards. An ongoing measles outbreak here in central Pennsylvania has state health officials urging people to get vaccinated against the highly contagious disease. They’re also warning vulnerable populations to be cautious. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry is leading a coalition of 22 states to oppose a proposed joint employment rule by the U-S Department of Labor. Today - June 30th - is the deadline for Pennsylvania lawmakers to pass a new state budget. And this year, lawmakers are likely to balance the budget by dipping into the state's rainy-day fund.  Pennsylvania Representative Scott Perry is co-sponsoring legislation that would stop voters from directly electing their U.S. senators. Local and state officials say they're waiting for answers on what will happen next now that the Trump administration plans to get rid of a Berks County warehouse that was going to be used as an ICE detention center. As we approach America’s 250th birthday, a Schuylkill County borough is celebrating its 150th. Did you know that if every one of WITF’s sustaining circle members gives as little as $12 more a month, we'd close the gap caused by federal funding cuts? Increase your gift at https://witf.org/increase [https://witf.org/increase] or become a new sustaining member at www.witf.org/givenow. [https://www.witf.org/givenow] And thanks!

PA Headlines | June 29 | Will lawmakers pass a state budget by tomorrow’s deadline?

The Pennsylvania legislature has until tomorrow, June 30th, to pass a state budget or it will once again miss the constitutionally mandated deadline. Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis says negotiations are going well. Meantime, state lawmakers passed three measures last week designed to pump the brakes on data center development.  Several central Pennsylvania counties are dealing with measles outbreaks. Experts say vaccination is the best protection against the highly contagious virus. Faculty at some public universities are finding themselves under increasing scrutiny. Penn State’s president said during a recent faculty senate meeting, the university has no such plans. In uncertain times, our community counts on facts, not noise. Support the journalism and programming that keep you informed. Donate now at www.witf.org/givenow. [https://www.witf.org/givenow] And thank you.

PA Headlines | June 26 | Plans evolve at York County’s Susquehanna Riverlands State Park.

Plans for Susquehanna Riverlands State Park in York County continue to evolve, more than three years after the land bordering the Susquehanna River was acquired. The park's riverside cliffs will feature prominently in those plans. President Donald Trump is coming to Carlisle this summer, as part of a technology and defense summit. Hundreds of skill game supporters gathered in Harrisburg Wednesday to urge a “fair tax” on the devices. An inmate at the Dauphin County Prison died of an apparent suicide Tuesday. Meantime, Dauphin County has agreed to a $3.3 million settlement with the parents of a 21-year-old man who died in the Dauphin County Prison in 2019. A York City police officer was justified when he shot and killed a dog, also wounding its owner last week.  And now it’s time for our weekly segment called The Bright Spot. Every Friday, I’ll share a positive news story that may have gotten lost amid this week's news cycle.   Today’s bright spot is this: In addition to being your companion here on the Morning Agenda, starting this week you can also catch me on a brand new podcast from WITF called Susquehanna Scout. [https://www.witf.org/programs/susquehanna-scout/] And today we’re bringing you the trailer as a preview. If you're already a member of WITF's Sustaining Circle, you know how convenient it is to support programs like this. By increasing your monthly gift, you can help WITF close the budget gap left by the loss of federal funding. Visit us online at witf.org/increase [https://witf.org/increase]or become a new Sustaining Circle member at witf.org/givenow [https://www.witf.org/givenow] to help build a sustainable future for WITF and public media. Thank you.

PA Headlines | June 25 | Pride in Harrisburg: A new art exhibit highlights LGBTQ+ artists.

During this Pride Month, a new exhibit aims to showcase LGBTQ+ artists throughout Harrisburg. This year, Pride Month is being celebrated as public support for the movement decreases nationally.  Most car companies are forbidden from selling directly to consumers in Pennsylvania. Tesla Motors is the only electric vehicle manufacturer that meets the requirements of a 2014 exception to the rule. Some state lawmakers now want to level the playing field.  Pennsylvania Democrats want to make the state’s $680 million private school choice program more accountable. The House voted this week to overhaul the state’s education tax credit programs. Representative Nikki Rivera of Lancaster says the changes would allow lawmakers to better measure their impact.  An hour-long rally at the state Capital Tuesday took aim at Governor Josh Shapiro for his welcoming embrace of the data center industry. The event is the most recent grassroots backlash to data center development in Pennsylvania. A slew of parades is set for the entire Central PA region as we approach America’s 250th birthday on July 4th. One of the first parades is set for Pottsville this weekend.  A senior executive is filing a whistleblower lawsuit against WITF’s parent company, Pennon, in Lancaster County Court. The suit by Cassie Farrelly, Pennon's senior vice president and chief impact officer, alleges misuse of funds related to its 2023 acquisition of LNP Lancaster Online. In uncertain times, our community counts on facts, not noise. Support the journalism and programming that keep you informed. Donate now at www.witf.org/givenow. [https://www.witf.org/givenow]