PA Headlines | July 3 | Where to celebrate Independence Day across Central Pa.

PA Headlines | July 3 | Where to celebrate Independence Day across Central Pa.

Heated debate in Harrisburg Wednesday shows the two parties are far apart on a state tax credit that benefits private schools. And that's just one reason the state budget is overdue. A Pennsylvania State Police trooper was killed Tuesday after being hit by a tractor trailer as he inspected a stopped tractor trailer along I-81 in Schuylkill County. In Dauphin County... Lower Paxton Township Police are beginning an enforcement effort they're calling Operation Colonial Crush.  Environmental advocates continue to fight against a proposed hydroelectric project in Cuffs Run, York County.  As we head into the July 4th weekend, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is raising awareness of boater safety and the dangers associated with Boating Under the Influence, or BUI.  As America celebrates its 250th birthday, a Central Pennsylvania amusement park is marking its 100th anniversary. 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:   Amid all the stories about America’s 250th, here’s one that could help you party like it’s 1776. [https://www.npr.org/2026/06/19/nx-s1-5843321/george-washingtons-original-beer-nypl] The New York Public Library asked a local brewery to make a beer concocted from a 250-year old recipe in their collection - George Washington’s original recipe. 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 | July 2 | Celebrating “Revolutionary Things” at the State Museum in Harrisburg.

Just in time for the nation's 250th birthday, visitors to The State Museum of Pennsylvania can now see more than 140 artifacts highlighting Pennsylvania’s role in the American Revolution. The state Senate left Harrisburg with an unfinished budget, which should have been in place by midnight Tuesday. Democrats were quick to say they want to stay in town to hammer out a deal.  Environmental groups say recent investments announced by Nippon Steel for its U.S. Steel plants in the Pittsburgh area won’t do much to improve the region’s air quality because the company’s plants will still rely on coal.  We are currently under an extreme heat warning issued by the National Weather Service. It stretches through Friday evening.  The Pennsylvania Game Commission is asking people to report sightings of all wild turkeys they see this summer, now through August 31st. The commission says the reports allow the agency to estimate how good the wild turkey "hatch" was.  If you already support WITF with an ongoing monthly contribution, thank you. If every member of WITF's Sustaining Circle increased their gift by as little as $12 a month, we could close the budget gap caused by cuts in federal funding and keep this programming going strong. Increase your monthly gift today 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 | 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.