Well over a thousand people protesting Donald Trump’s presidency rallied on Harrisburg’s Capitol steps Saturday.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court late last week ruled that mandatory life sentences without parole are unconstitutional for people convicted of second-degree murder.

Last summer, our partners at Spotlight PA broke the story about pharmacies disappearing across the Pennsylvania landscape. Spotlight’s Ed Mahon continues to track this trend and its data. His latest story is “Why Pennsylvania pharmacies keep closing and how lawmakers want to slow the trend – explained in 7 stats.” Ed Mahon joins WITF’s Karen Hendricks on today’s Morning Agenda for a deep dive into the data.

Well over a thousand people protesting Donald Trump&rsquo;s presidency rallied on Harrisburg&rsquo;s Capitol steps Saturday.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court late last week ruled that mandatory life sentences without parole are unconstitutional for people convicted of second-degree murder.
Last summer, our partners at Spotlight PA broke the story about pharmacies disappearing across the Pennsylvania landscape. Spotlight&rsquo;s Ed Mahon continues to track this trend and its data. His latest story is &ldquo;<a href="https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/03/pennsylvania-pharmacies-access-closures-medications-lawmakers-pbms-health/">Why Pennsylvania pharmacies keep closing and how lawmakers want to slow the trend &ndash; explained in 7 stats.</a>&rdquo; Ed Mahon joins WITF&rsquo;s Karen Hendricks on today&rsquo;s Morning Agenda for a deep dive into the data.

Sometimes, your mornings are just too busy to catch the news beyond a headline or two. Don’t worry. The Morning Agenda has got your six. Each weekday morning, host Karen Hendricks will keep you informed, amused, enlightened and up-to-date on what’s happening in central Pennsylvania and the rest of this great commonwealth.

Sometimes, your mornings are just too busy to catch the news beyond a headline or two. Don&rsquo;t worry. The Morning Agenda has got your six. Each weekday morning, host Karen Hendricks will keep you informed, amused, enlightened and up-to-date on what&rsquo;s happening in central Pennsylvania and the rest of this great commonwealth.

Sometimes, your mornings are just too busy to catch the news beyond a headline or two. Don’t worry. The Morning Agenda has got your six. Each weekday morning, host Tim Lambert will keep you informed, amused, enlightened and up-to-date on what’s happening in central Pennsylvania and the rest of this great commonwealth.

The Morning Agenda

Sometimes, your mornings are just too busy to catch the news beyond a headline or two. Don’t worry. The Morning Agenda has got your six. Each weekday morning, host Karen Hendricks will keep you informed, amused, enlightened and up-to-date on what’s happening in central Pennsylvania and the rest of this great commonwealth. The Morning Agenda — where our only agenda is you.

Sometimes, your mornings are just too busy to catch the news beyond a headline or two. Don&rsquo;t worry. The Morning Agenda has got your six. Each weekday morning, host Karen Hendricks will keep you informed, amused, enlightened and up-to-date on what&rsquo;s happening in central Pennsylvania and the rest of this great commonwealth.&nbsp;The Morning Agenda &mdash; where our only agenda is you.

PA Headlines | March 30 | Over 1,000 people protest Trump at Pa. Capitol for “No Kings” rally.

In Western Pennsylvania, the Allegheny County board of health is looking at how it can reduce the impacts of fracking. It formed a subcommittee on fracking last year, and the committee presented their plans to the full board of health earlier this month.

State environmental regulators recently held a hearing for an air permit for Shell’s plant in Beaver County.

The State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has announced they'll cover the costs for Pennsylvanians to remove invasive trees and shrubs and replace them with native species for the second year in a row.

And a deep dive:

A silent fly arrived on our shores about 250 years ago, around the same time Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. How one of the country’s first invasive species spurred suspicions of biological warfare, threatened the new nation’s economy, and inspired citizen science.

And continuing our weekly feature “The Bright Spot,” we share a positive news story that may have gotten lost amid this week's news cycle. This week’s Bright Spot is both artistic and altruistic.

https://www.npr.org/2026/03/25/nx-s1-5742397/pablo-picasso-painting-to-be-raffled-off-to-benefit-alzheimers-research

 

In Western Pennsylvania, the Allegheny County board of health is looking at how it can reduce the impacts of fracking. It&nbsp;formed a subcommittee on fracking last year, and the&nbsp;committee presented their plans to the full board of health earlier this month.
State environmental regulators recently held a hearing for an air permit for Shell&rsquo;s plant in Beaver County.
The State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has announced they'll cover the costs for Pennsylvanians to remove invasive trees and shrubs and replace them with native species for the second year in a row.
And a deep dive:
A silent fly arrived on our shores about 250 years ago, around the same time Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia.&nbsp;How one of the country&rsquo;s first invasive species spurred suspicions of biological warfare, threatened the new nation&rsquo;s economy, and inspired citizen science.
And continuing our weekly feature &ldquo;The Bright Spot,&rdquo; we share a positive news story that may have gotten lost amid this week's news cycle. This week&rsquo;s Bright Spot is both artistic and altruistic.
<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/03/25/nx-s1-5742397/pablo-picasso-painting-to-be-raffled-off-to-benefit-alzheimers-research">https://www.npr.org/2026/03/25/nx-s1-5742397/pablo-picasso-painting-to-be-raffled-off-to-benefit-alzheimers-research</a>
&nbsp;

PA Headlines | March 27 | From fracking to invasive species: environmental news across Pa.

A bi-partisan group of state lawmakers has announced the formation of the new Pennsylvania Anti-Human Trafficking Caucus.

When school districts across the U-S violate civil rights laws, families can file a complaint with the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. But given the Trump administration’s dismantling of the U-S Department of Education, many are turning to state agencies to carry out civil rights enforcement.

Drexel University plans to launch a 3-year medical school as an alternative option to its 4-year program. Leaders hope the shorter pathway can help students save money and bring more doctors into the workforce faster.

State officials are encouraging Pennsylvanians to get screened early for colorectal cancer. The call comes at a time when the number of cases is rising in younger adults...

State House Democrats have unveiled their budget proposal and it’s identical to one introduced by Governor Josh Shapiro last month. One of their priorities is raising the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $15, which has passed in the House.

New cases of avian influenza are confirmed at three Lancaster County farms this month, affecting more than one million birds. The new outbreaks bring this year's total number of Lancaster County bird flu cases to 8.6 million.

The city of Reading has a new fire chief – and he’s the city’s first Black fire chief. Robert Leonard II brings more than 20 years of experience in fire and emergency medical services to the position.

Pennsylvania's outdoor recreation industry is growing faster than the national average. Pennsylvania's outdoor economy grew by 1.5 billion dollars in 2024, reaching 20.4 billion dollars in total economic impact.

 

A bi-partisan group of state lawmakers has announced the formation of the new Pennsylvania Anti-Human Trafficking Caucus.
When school districts across the U-S violate civil rights laws, families can file a complaint with the Department of Education&rsquo;s Office of Civil Rights.&nbsp;But given the Trump administration&rsquo;s dismantling of the U-S Department of Education, many are turning to state agencies to carry out civil rights enforcement.
Drexel University plans to launch a 3-year medical school as an alternative option to its 4-year program.&nbsp;Leaders hope the shorter pathway can help students save money and bring more doctors into the workforce faster.
State officials are encouraging Pennsylvanians to get screened early for colorectal cancer.&nbsp;The call comes at a time when the number of cases is rising in younger adults...
State House Democrats have unveiled their budget proposal and it&rsquo;s identical to one introduced by Governor Josh Shapiro last month.&nbsp;One of their priorities is raising the state&rsquo;s minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $15, which has passed in the House.
New cases of avian influenza are confirmed at three Lancaster County farms this month, affecting more than one million birds.&nbsp;The new outbreaks bring this year's total number of Lancaster County bird flu cases to 8.6 million.
The city of Reading has a new fire chief &ndash; and he&rsquo;s the city&rsquo;s first Black fire chief.&nbsp;Robert Leonard II brings more than 20 years of experience in fire and emergency medical services to the position.
Pennsylvania's outdoor recreation industry is growing faster than the national average.&nbsp;Pennsylvania's outdoor economy grew by 1.5 billion dollars in 2024, reaching 20.4 billion dollars in total economic impact.
&nbsp;

PA Headlines | March 26 | The new Pa. Anti-Human Trafficking Caucus forms.

A recently proposed settlement in a central Pennsylvania electric utility rate case aims to protect average residential customers from rising rates connected to new data centers. Consumer advocates hope it'll serve as a model to protect all residential customers in the commonwealth.

One year ago, half of U.S. Department of Education staff were laid off, including many in the Office of Civil Rights. That’s left enforcement of the agency’s agreements with school districts in limbo. That includes Western Pennsylvania's Norwin School District. The settlement with Norwin stems from a 2021 incident in which two students came to the school dressed in Confederate flag attire.

Pennsylvania hunters harvested more deer in the most recently concluded hunting seasons.

Gettysburg Borough Council Monday night appointed Alison Lintal as Gettysburg's new mayor from a slate of 14 candidates who applied for the position. She replaces Chad-Alan Carr who abruptly resigned less than three months into the job before being arrested on charges of alleged child sex crimes dating back to 20-11.

Pennsylvania's political candidates are using artificial intelligence tools more than ever. They're using A-I to generate parody images of their opponents, create campaign materials, and answer questionnaires. But tech and election experts are worried about what's to come - including the possibility of deepfakes.  

And a deep dive: Let’s say you’ve run for office and won a seat on your local borough or township council. How do you get job training to be an elected official?

A recently proposed settlement in a central Pennsylvania electric utility rate case aims to protect average residential customers from rising rates connected to new data centers.&nbsp;Consumer advocates hope it'll serve as a model to protect all residential customers in the commonwealth.
One year ago, half of U.S. Department of Education staff were laid off, including many in the Office of Civil Rights. That&rsquo;s left enforcement of the agency&rsquo;s agreements with school districts in limbo. That includes Western Pennsylvania's Norwin School District.&nbsp;The settlement with Norwin stems from a 2021 incident in which two students came to the school dressed in Confederate flag attire.
Pennsylvania hunters harvested more deer in the most recently concluded hunting seasons.
Gettysburg Borough Council Monday night appointed Alison Lintal as Gettysburg's new mayor from a slate of 14 candidates who applied for the position. She replaces Chad-Alan Carr who abruptly resigned less than three months into the job before being arrested on charges of alleged child sex crimes dating back to 20-11.
Pennsylvania's political candidates are using artificial intelligence tools more than ever.&nbsp;They're using A-I to generate parody images of their opponents, create campaign materials, and answer questionnaires.&nbsp;But tech and election experts are worried about what's to come - including the possibility of deepfakes. &nbsp;
And a deep dive: Let&rsquo;s say you&rsquo;ve run for office and won a seat on your local borough or township council.&nbsp;How do you get job training to be an elected official?

PA Headlines | March 30 | Over 1,000 people protest Trump at Pa. Capitol for “No Kings” rally.

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