PA Headlines | Jan. 21 | Pennsylvanians navigate new health insurance.

Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick broke with his party last week when he led a discharge petition to extend healthcare subsidies for three years. A new online tool is set up, to connect Pennsylvania's SNAP recipients with volunteer opportunities. It's designed to help recipients meet the ne…

PA Headlines | Jan. 20 | State Budget Preview: R and D Priorities

Pennsylvania Republicans want to change how the state runs Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Their effort comes as federal changes are already tightening the use of both programs statewide.  Democrats in the state House and Senate have successfully won more public school …

PA Headlines | Jan. 19 | Regulating Pa.’s hemp industry.

Pennsylvania's hemp business leaders are embracing statewide calls to regulate their products in the face of an upcoming federal ban. State lawmakers expect to consider restrictions sometime this year. And Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana industry is pushing state lawmakers to rein in hemp product…

The mental health crisis facing PA’s farmers. And meet a local “Bells Across PA” artist.

Pennsylvania farmers and agricultural experts say they’re dealing with a mental health crisis and need more support from the state.  A joint hearing of the state House and Senate Agriculture committees at the Pennsylvania Farm Show included testimony from Penn State researchers.  During this week…

Pa.’s maternity care desert expands. And analysis finds some Pa. kindergartners in classes below herd immunity threshold.

As of this week there are eight counties in northwestern Pennsylvania without a hospital where a person can give birth. Warren County is the latest addition to the region’s expanding maternity care desert. Some public health experts worry the Trump administration's new vaccine guidelines could har…

Garrity backtracks. And Penn State charts new path for Mont Alto forestry degree.

Republican gubernatorial candidate and State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who hopes to unseat Josh Shapiro as Governor this year, has previously suggested Donald Trump won the 20-20 election. She revised those remarks on Monday. Meantime, Garrity says rural Pennsylvania should embrace the data center …

A Lancaster Co. man already accused of stealing remains from 100 graves is now being investigated for additional alleged thefts. And we celebrate Terry Gross.

A Lancaster County man is accused of stealing human remains from 100 graves at Delaware County's Mount Moriah Cemetery. Jonathan Gerlach, a resident of Ephrata, is also being investigated in connection with November’s theft of two bodies from Good Shepherd Memorial Park in Luzerne County.   A new …

Could Pa. Democrats ride on Gov. Shapiro’s coattails? And a deep dive: How fracking waste ends up in landfills.

Governor Josh Shapiro has officially launched his reelection campaign, telling supporters in Pittsburgh late last week that he will try to build on his earlier successes -- and defuse rampant partisanship. Democrats in Pennsylvania are hoping Governor Josh Shapiro’s bid for reelection this year wi…

Gov. Shapiro announces reelection; Mastriano bows out. And whiskey makers revive historic whiskey tradition in Pa.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is running for a second term. Shapiro made the official announcement Thursday at events in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Meantime, Republican State Senator Doug Mastriano has announced that he is not running for his party's nomination for governor this year. Pittsbur…

Pa. lawmakers observe and denounce Jan. 6 attack on U.S. Capitol, at 5-year mark. And addressing trauma in foster children.

In Harrisburg, Democratic state lawmakers held a ceremony this week, marking the five year anniversary of the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump. A Pennsylvania lawmaker is pushing new legislation aimed at shoring up local journalism as news deserts expand acr…