PA Headlines | May 21st | Pa Lags in Renewable Energy

PA Headlines | June 8 | A deep dive: Why half of Pa.’s child death cases are unreviewed.

Many Pennsylvania counties are not reviewing the death of every child - even though there's a 2008 state law that requires them to do so. Since 2020, about half of all childhood deaths statewide have gone unreviewed. Jaxon White of our partners at Spotlight PA looked into this issue and joins us to share more of his reporting. The Trump administration is spending $700 million to build or refurbish the coal industry’s infrastructure in several states including Pennsylvania. Attorney General Dave Sunday is charging a Cumberland County company and its owner for causing a spill never reported to authorities that led to contamination of a Franklin County community's water supply. Nine environmental projects in Berks County are receiving funding from the Berks County Community Foundation’s Innovation Fund. 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]

PA Headlines | June 5 | A deep dive into conditions in Moshannon. Hear from an ICE detainee.

We’re going to begin with a deep dive today: An ICE detainee says he was put in solitary confinement and transferred out of state in retaliation for speaking out about conditions. The alleged retaliation came after a protest at Pennsylvania’s Moshannon Valley Processing Center, ICE’s largest immigrant detention facility in the northeast United States.  The U.S. House, including Pennsylvania Republican Brian Fitzpatrick, voted to approves a measure to restrain President Trump's action in Iran. Fitzpatrick is one of four Republicans who voted with all Democrats to adopt the resolution Wednesday. Motorists in Pennsylvania will soon face fines for distracted driving.   The 10th Annual Lancaster Water Week kicks off today (Friday 6/5). The week-long series of events is designed to raise awareness for the health of Lancaster County's 1400 miles of streams and rivers. The Lancaster County borough of Columbia continues to celebrate its 300th anniversary. The latest celebration is a parade set for this Saturday afternoon, June 6th, beginning at 2. And now it’s time for our weekly segment called The Bright Spot. Every Friday, I share a positive news story that may have gotten lost amid this week's news cycle.   Today’s bright spot is this: Paper ephemera is still very collectible, from old postcards to World War I and II posters. We met some digital natives who have a passion for collecting some of these paper items, at the Allentown Paper Show recently. One even talks about how much she enjoys writing letters – and how much the recipients value receiving them. They stand out, amid all the texts, emails and other digital messages. Here’s the link to this uplifting, quirky 3-minute audio story by NPR. [https://www.npr.org/2026/05/29/nx-s1-5781183/in-todays-digital-age-paper-ephemera-attracts-new-generation-of-collectors]  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 4 | The legal battle continues, over a NPS slavery exhibit in Philadelphia.

A federal appeals court on Tuesday heard arguments in the closely watched legal battle over the slavery exhibit at Philadelphia's President's House Site. Two-hundred forty-seven students recently competed in this year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee. Central Pennsylvania’s champion, Vedika Burman who was backed by WITF and Pennon Education, finished in the top third and hopes to return next year. Forbes is out with its annual "College Financial Grades." Central Pennsylvania colleges received a full range of grades in the report. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is offering one-day summer camps across the state. Junior Game Warden Camps are for youth between the ages of 12 and 15. And now a deep dive – or maybe we should say hop.  A State College-area festival, focused on frogs, returned last weekend under new leadership after a two-year hiatus. Organizers say it’s important to continue hosting events like this, especially as the federal government cuts back on conservation programs.           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 3 | House lawmakers pass bill to ban cellphones in school.

A measure to keep cellphones out of schools throughout the day has passed the state House. The bill had supporters AND foes in both parties. Stacy Garrity – the Republican candidate for governor – reiterated her call for a pause on data center development in Northeastern Pennsylvania Monday. Almost every part of modern life requires reliable internet, but access remains uneven in many rural areas across Pennsylvania. An expert appeared on a recent edition of The Spark to explain how funding will soon help many communities catch up on broadband access.  Click here to hear the full conversation on broadband from WITF’s The Spark  [https://www.witf.org/2026/05/29/the-challenge-of-expanding-broadband-access-in-rural-pennsylvania/] Monday marked the 5th annual Pennsylvania Native Species Day, designed to highlight the thousands of plants and insects indigenous to the state, and the threat posed by invasive species like the spotted lanternfly. A former industrial site in Carlisle is receiving state funding for remediation. The former Frog, Switch and Manufacturing Company along High Street once supplied railway components and manganese steel casting for mining. Higher electricity rates took effect across Pennsylvania on Monday. In Harrisburg, state lawmakers took a closer look at the issue, as experts testified before the House Energy committee. 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 2 | Hershey’s Chocolate World celebrates America250.

Chocolate World in Hershey is celebrating America’s 250-year anniversary with a fresh look on its free ride. The Hershey Company is looking back and celebrating its history, too.  It’s now June - and for many people, the summer months mean trips to the beach. A new "state of the shore" report finds the New Jersey coastline is healthy and in good shape.   Pennsylvania's flags are flying at half-staff, after an order by Governor Josh Shapiro over the weekend, in honor of a Berks County police officer who died in the line of duty. Officer Kristen Yeager of the Central Berks Regional Police department died Friday night while responding to a call. Grief counselors are available to Harrisburg school students, after two students lost their lives late last week.  Controversial data center projects have cropped up all around the state, and some state House members say local communities should have more power to determine if the centers come to their town.   The state Agriculture Department is awarding nine grants totaling $1.3 million, to boost sales, promotion, and quality of craft beers in the state.