PA Headlines | June 15 | Lancaster Co. student journalists take a deep dive, reporting for PBS.

PA Headlines | June 12 | Why school nurses are asking lawmakers for a new nurse-to-student ratio in Pa. schools

State lawmakers are considering a proposal that would update the commonwealth’s public school code on nurse-to-student ratios and the funding formula for medical needs. The legislation would increase reimbursement rates and the required number of nurses per student. Here in Pennsylvania, it used to be, if you had a seizure, you had to wait 6 months to drive again. It’s now three months and many patients and advocates alike are celebrating the reduction, which lawmakers approved this year and went into effect in March. State funding for arts groups has been flat for a decade at $9.6 million dollars in Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, the money has increasingly gone toward entrepreneurship and economic investment. Now, key programs are poised to sunset when the fiscal year ends on June 30th. Over the past year, the Penn State Board of Trustees and its committees held nearly 20 private conferences in which top university officials briefed members on key projects, plans, and initiatives... as a review of university records by our partners at Spotlight PA discovered. The practice potentially runs afoul of Pennsylvania’s open meetings law, according to legal and First Amendment experts. On this holiday weekend, Juneteenth celebrations are planned across the region - including Harrisburg. Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19th every year to commemorate the end of slavery in the U-S. And the city of Reading is gearing up for its World Cup watch parties. Mayor Eddie Moran says the Berks County community is being transformed into a destination for soccer fans from around the region. Reading is one of three official “Fan Zone” sites across Pennsylvania, in addition to Pittsburgh and Scranton. 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.  Sports often offers bright spots in our lives – and right now, in the midst of the World Cup, there are many stories serving as bright spots. Today’s bright spot is a story about loyal, rowdy soccer fans from Scotland [https://www.npr.org/2026/06/17/nx-s1-5856528/scotland-fans-rent-school-buses-to-head-to-teams-first-world-cup-game] who discovered a unique form of transportation here in the U.S. 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 18 | Why food insecurity rises over the summer.

Summer vacation is starting for school students, but it isn’t all pool days and sunshine. Children and families tend to struggle with food insecurity more during the summer months. A bill to enhance nuclear power plant inspections has passed the State House.  The measure appears to have bipartisan support. We’ve already experienced temperatures above 90 degrees this June – and the official start of summer is just days away. As we prepare for the continuing heat, many of us are also looking for ways to reduce our energy bills. Dan McCunney, senior communications manager at NRG Energy, says wisely setting your thermostat and changing or cleaning your system’s air filter can make a significant difference. Summer Energy-Saving Tips from NRG | The Spark [https://www.witf.org/2026/06/10/summer-energy-saving-tips-from-nrg/] Pennsylvania's highest court has ruled that skill games are considered slot machines under state law. This means they must comply with crime and gambling statutes.  A Dauphin County golf course is being sold to a data center developer. Final settlement took place Monday for the sale of Dauphin Highlands Golf Course – from the Dauphin County General Authority to Texas-based Provident Realty. More than a dozen minor victims and their parents are suing Lancaster County Day School, AI companies, and two students who created 350 deepfake nude images of their classmates. The State Department of Labor and Industry is reminding employers, parents and young workers about their rights and responsibilities as the summer jobs season gets into full swing.  The National Weather Service confirms a tornado touched down in southern Lancaster County on Sunday night. Thursday (today) a central PA tradition returns for its 95th annual celebration. It’s Jubilee Day in Mechanicsburg, billed as the largest, longest-running one-day street fair on the East Coast. 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 17 | A deep dive: Mister Rogers finds a new audience on YouTube.

Today we have a deep dive: “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” helped raise generations of American children.  Now, a new YouTube channel dedicated to the classic PBS show hopes to grow Mister Rogers’ legacy even more.  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 16 | Hospital prices and why they’re so hard to find.

A recent report from a healthcare consumer advocacy group finds most Pennsylvanians struggle to get clear and accurate information about the price of medical care. Legislation approved by the House Education Committee would require cyber charter school students to stay on camera during all live virtual instruction. 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 15 | Lancaster Co. student journalists take a deep dive, reporting for PBS.

Today we have a deep dive: A new museum in downtown Lancaster is dedicated to exploring the legacy of Thaddeus Stevens.  He’s a 19th century Congressman who fought to end slavery, and he played a major role in shaping the U-S Constitution. A group of teen reporters from Warwick High School in Lancaster County recently covered the museum’s opening as part of “PBS News Student Reporting Labs” - that’s the youth journalism program from PBS.  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.