The number of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania rejected for technicalities saw a significant drop in last month’s primary election. It comes after election leaders tried anew to help voters avoid mistakes  Penn State is offering voluntary buyouts to employees at its Commonwealth Campuses -- including those in Harrisburg, York, Mont Alto, and Reading. Appliances sold in the state would need to meet stricter efficiency standards under a measure passed by the House. Schuylkill County is spotlighting how it pooled coronavirus pandemic-era funding to create a regional emergency training center.  The Pittsburgh Pirates have promoted Paul Skenes -- Major League Baseball's top pitching prospect -- for his major league debut Saturday.  Governor Josh Shapiro will sign legislation to criminalize the misuse of a powerful animal tranquilizer xylazine. The state House is backing legislation aimed at regulating how online social media platforms interact with children.  A Lancaster County Republican state lawmaker is pushing for school boards to be allowed to invite chaplains to serve as counselors to students and teachers.

A school voucher proposal is headed to a floor vote in the state Senate. Republican state lawmakers are advancing a $3 billion tax cut, in a counterproposal to Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro's budget plan. Nearly two weeks after an arrest warrant for Democratic state Representative Kevin Boyle of Philadelphia was revoked, House Republicans are calling on the state Attorney General to investigate Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. A Lebanon County man faces 11 years in prison for his  role in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.   A Cumberland Valley School board member has stepped down -- in the wake of the district's handling of a scheduled appearance by actor and children's book author  Maulik Pancholy. The Dauphin County Clerk of Courts is facing a crackdown by the president judge, and must meet specific deadlines to address deficiencies and a backlog of documents waiting to be processed. Authorities are looking for the person who shoved fishing hooks into dog treats and left them along the Appalachian Trail in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Two poll workers will no longer work elections at First United Methodist Church in Lancaster -- after two Black voters reported being racially profiled during last month's primary. A rally in Harrisburg has featured advocates backing  bipartisan legislation to provide up to 20 weeks of paid family leave to Pennsylvanians.      A Pennsylvania school district is celebrating the completion of its “Filter First” drinking fountain project.  The University of Pennsylvania’s newest union will have thousands of members, after graduate students voted overwhelmingly in favor of unionizing.     A nonprofit is considering laying off more than 100 people and shuttering three offices after losing its state funding.  A man who tried to shoot a pastor during a service in western Pennsylvania because “God told him to do it” was thwarted when his gun didn’t fire.  

The Maryland Air National Guard will no long fly low-level training flights over the PA Wilds.  Legislation passed by the state Senate would let energy companies bypass state agencies when securing a permit to build. Governor Josh Shapiro's proposed budget includes a significant increase in funding to reduce gun violence in communities. Ethnic intimidation charges have been filed against a Carlisle man for posting an anti-Semitic note at the door of the Asbell Center for Jewish Life at Dickinson College. Berks County is investigating an allegation of voter fraud that came to light during a choir practice. 

Dairy farmers across Central Pennsylvania are dealing with new measures to stop avian flu. Federal funds for public transit in Pennsylvania are running out this year and advocates and lawmakers alike are worried that will hurt systems across the state. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is funding removal of ten dams in Pennsylvania in the next few years.  Both Democrats and Republicans are checking in on protests at the University of Pennsylvania. GOP U.S. Senate candidate David McCormick had harsh words for some of them. One man is dead after a shooting involving police at a nursing home in York County, but not many details have been released.   A Pennsylvania nurse who administered lethal doses of insulin to patients is heading to prison for life after pleading guilty in the deaths of at least 17 people.  Teachers in a Northumberland County school district are voicing their unhappiness. Governor Josh Shapiro and state police are honoring Trooper Jay Rougeau Jr. and paying tribute to all troopers killed in the line of duty.  Each week, as part of our commitment to transparency in our journalism, Scott Blanchard, WITF’s Director of Journalism Scott Blanchard will take us behind the scenes of our newsroom. Today, he discusses the issue of fairness – for example, how WITF tries to give politicians a chance to respond if someone criticizes them. 

A measure to help counties process mail-in ballots by Election Day will move from the state House to the Senate. A big solar farm in Adams County is helping city buildings in Philadelphia get a little greener. Walleye have arrived at the Pleasant Mount State Fish Hatchery in Wayne County. The gold and olive fish help produce another generation for anglers to catch across Pennsylvania. The season for the freshwater fish begins Saturday.  A staffing company that performed COVID-19 contact tracing for Pennsylvania will pay $2.7 million in a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department and a whistleblower.  Rock Lititz is expanding. The Lancaster County based company hopes to have a new $52 million facility built in Nashville by the fall of 2025. A York County man says his emotional support alligator named Wally has gone missing amid the coastal marshes of Georgia.  A tent encampment in Montgomery County could soon become one of many places affected by a Supreme Court decision in a case that could have a major impact on how cities deal with homelessness. 

A Lancaster County chicken processing plant dumped millions of pounds of pollutants into waterways in a four year period. It's just one of many Tyson plants in the U.S. that researchers say pipe wastewater into rivers and streams.  Pennsylvania is accepting grant applications for school facility repairs beginning today. Schools can apply for up to $10 million in state funding to address environmental concerns, such as lead, asbestos and mold.  An ambulance service in Elk County is now offering “Stop the Bleed” classes to the general public. Organizers want bystanders to be ready for mass shootings, stabbings, hunting accidents and other life-threatening events. Violence against health care workers is growing, according to federal data. Some Pennsylvania health systems are installing high-tech weapons detection systems at hospital entrances. Pennsylvania is taking steps toward becoming the latest state to punish someone for using a Bluetooth-connected device to track someone without their permission.  The head of the Pennsylvania Game Commission has resigned.

A new federal rule banning non-compete agreements offers little comfort to many Pennsylvania doctors -- because the Federal Trade Commission has limited oversight of nonprofits, including UPMC. But. legislation that’s gaining momentum at the state Capitol would free clinicians from non-competes with their nonprofit employers. The energy efficiency industry is growing, but the sector is facing a wave of retirements. A pilot program in York aims to bring more people into the field.  The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a suite of pollution rules for natural gas and coal-fired power plants across the country. Jason Kelce will join ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” after retiring from the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this year. Penn State Health has stopped performing liver transplants at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Dauphin County -- while a national oversight body conducts a performance review. An activist group has rallied the support of business owners to demand an apology from two Republican Lancaster County commissioners, who they hold “partially responsible” for a series of threats made against a Drag Queen Story Hour event last month. An autopsy is scheduled for today on the body of a 16-year-old Central Dauphin High School student. Justin Johnson went into cardiac arrest Friday night and later died at Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

Investigators are looking for the cause of a six-alarm fire in York County that destroyed the former Stewartstown Furniture Factory over the weekend. Advocates are pushing for limits on polluting industries that want to locate or expand near vulnerable communities in Pennsylvania.  Flowers and trees are blooming across Central Pennsylvania as temperatures climb higher.  But, what's invisible to the naked eye is all the pollen circulating in the air.  Spring allergy season is starting earlier, lasting longer and becoming more intense.  A central Pennsylvania county is looking into claims made by two Black women who said they were racially profiled during last week's primary -- when an election worker dismissed their efforts to enter their polling place. A Westmoreland County man is the latest Pennsylvanian to be arrested for crimes related to the January 6th insurrection.

Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Casey and GOP businessman Dave McCormick each have earned more votes in their respective primaries than presidential candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump in Tuesday’s primary. The U.S. Senate candidates have some thoughts about what their parties should do before the general election. Central Pennsylvania has some of the unhealthiest air in the Mid-Atlantic region. Penn State is taking its “road map for the future” on the road.      A day of protests in Philadelphia has remained peaceful, though passions flared as hundreds marched from university to university.  The Pennsylvania Doula Commission is providing 1,500 to expecting families for doula services.  We’ve had a number of listeners and readers reach out to us, following a former NPR editor’s column that criticized the news organization for being politically liberal. They’ve asked us important questions about how that criticism relates to WITF.  Scott Blanchard, WITF’s director of journalism, joins Tim to discuss the importance of having a variety of perspectives in our stories.

The Cumberland Valley school board has reversed a controversial decision and reinstated an anti-bullying talk with actor and children's book author Maulik Pancholy. Election administrators are touting this week's primary as a success in terms of the process.  Both presidential candidates are dealing with a significant number of votes cast for candidates who already dropped out of the race.   Democracy is front in center in the race for the 10th Congressional seat, held by Republican Scott Perry. My colleague Jordan Wilkie has asked each candidate what their messaging on democracy is. Today, he reports on Perry, who will face Democrat Janelle Stelson in November. 

Voters have cast their ballots in Pennsylvania's primary to set the field for the November election. President Joe Biden ran unopposed on the Democratic side as did former President Donald Trump on the GOP ticket.  Former WGAL News anchor Janelle Stelson will face incumbent Republican Scott Perry in November’s race for the 10th Congressional District after beating a crowded Democratic field.  GOP Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick has defeated anti-abortion activist Mark Houck. State House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler has overcome a fierce Republican primary challenge in his southern Lancaster County district. One of the most high-profile races in the state has featured candidates for the U.S. Senate running unopposed in their parties. Incumbent Democrat Bob Casey Jr. now squares off directly with Republican challenger David McCormick. The state attorney general’s race is one of the biggest contests on the primary ballot. Find out who picked up the Democratic and Republican nominations. Businesswoman Erin McClelland is the Democratic nominee for state Treasurer and will face GOP incumbent Stacy Garrity in November.

The polls are open for Pennsylvania's primaries from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Democratic and Republican voters will cast their ballots to nominate their parties' candidates for president, U.S. Senate and House, the Legislature, statewide “row offices” and 17 Congressional seats. A company is abandoning plans to build a plastics chemical recycling plant along the Susquehanna River. State investigators have charged Shell with chronically underreporting spills of industrial waste during construction of a pipeline feeding the company’s Beaver County ethane cracker.  A warrant for allegations of violating a protective order is no longer pending against a Democratic state representative from Philadelphia.  A Pennsylvania man is looking at 70 years in prison after being sentenced for torturing a man in Iraq. The train that runs from Harrisburg to New York City is the most punctual in the nation. 

In a few instances tomorrow, voters will be asked to cast provisional ballots. They  are backstops to ensure people have the opportunity to vote even when there’s confusion or something goes wrong. The issue of  democracy is front in center in the race for the 10th Congressional seat, held by Republican Scott Perry. WITF has asked each candidate, including Perry, what their messaging on democracy is. Today, hear from Democrat Shamaine Daniels. The state House is sending two bills to the Senate that deal with transparency around dark money and campaign finance. A Texas-based company is embarking on nearly $3 million in projects to improve broadband in southern Lancaster County. Conversations with kids, about race and racism, can be difficult for parents. That’s why the University of Pittsburgh is launching a new six-week program to guide parents through those conversations, and build a network of support. 

A Cumberland County school district has canceled an upcoming appearance by actor and children’s book author Maulik Pancholy. The move came  after district leaders cited concerns about what they described as his activism and “lifestyle.” All Pennsylvania standardized tests - including the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment and Keystone Exams - will move online by 2026. Sandwiched between the uncontested presidential primary and scattered local races Tuesday are several statewide races that are contested within the Democratic and Republican parties. Democracy is a key issue that’s front and center in the race for the 10th Congressional seat, held by Republican Scott Perry. WITF's Jordan Wilkie has asked each candidate, including Perry, what their messaging on democracy is. Today, he reports on Democrat Janelle Stelson. More Pennsylvania-based health insurance companies are pledging to cover the full cost of the first daily birth control pill approved for  over-the-counter sale. A police officer in Reading has been cleared of any wrongdoing in a deadly shooting.  State House Democrats are proposing a process to determine if state representatives are “incapacitated” and to sanction or expel them.  The Sheetz convenience store chain has been hit with a lawsuit by federal officials who allege the company discriminated against minority job applicants.  Uri Berliner is a now former NPR business editor who wrote an opinion column recently in which he criticized the organization for having a “progressive” world view that often ignores other voices and that damages NPR’s credibility. He has resigned since it was published Scott Blanchard, WITF's director of journalism, wrote in our weekly email newsletter The Purple Buck about how Berliner’s views may reflect on WITF and the challenges of doing credible journalism. 

State House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler is facing a strong GOP primary challenge from Lancaster County business owner Dave Nissley. Democracy is front in center in the race for the 10th Congressional seat, held by Republican Scott Perry.   My colleague Jordan Wilkie has asked each candidate - including Perry who is unopposed in the primary - what their messaging on democracy is. Today, he reports on Democrat Mike O’Brien. The deaths of three highway construction workers on Interstate 83 in York County is offering a reminder for drivers to use extra care in work zones.  An arrest warrant is out for Democratic state Representative Kevin Boyle of Philadelphia for allegedly violating a restraining order. A federal judge is giving state utility regulators seven days to turn over inspection records in the investigation into a fatal explosion at a chocolate factory in Berks County.  Governor Josh Shapiro and his top human services official say the administration has a plan to end a waiting list of thousands of families who are considered to be in dire need of help for an intellectually disabled adult relative.  President Joe Biden has told an audience of cheering unionized steelworkers in Pittsburgh his administration will block the acquisition of U.S. Steel by a Japanese company. 

A former police officer from Lebanon County is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to remove one of six charges he faces for his role in the attack on the  Capitol on January 6th, 2021.  Democracy is front in center in the race for the 10th Congressional seat, held by Republican Scott Perry. WITF’s Jordan Wilkie has asked each candidate, including Perry, what their messaging on democracy is. Today, he reports on Democrat Blake Lynch. Philadelphia police say they've issued an arrest warrant for a state lawmaker for violating a restraining order.  A borough manager in a Cumberland County community has been charged for his alleged role in a number of financial discrepancies. The Biden administration is enlisting officials in Pennsylvania and 14 other state states to help enforce consumer-protection laws covering air travel.

To help address questions or concerns in the few days left before the primary, the state’s top election leader is holding daily updates online. Democracy is a key theme in the 2024 election, from state House to president. The issue is front in center in the race for the 10th Congressional seat, held by Republican Scott Perry. My colleague Jordan Wilkie has asked each candidate what their messaging on democracy is. Today, he reports on Democrat John Broadhurst. Penn State Extension offers expertise across the state in fields like gardening, forestry and stormwater management. But, budget shortfalls mean about one in five Extension Educator positions is currently empty. Pennsylvania will receive millions of dollars in federal funding to address threats posed to abandoned mines. More than a dozen people have been displaced by a fire in Schuylkill County. A former popular club in Lancaster -- The Village -- aims to reopen this summer after sitting idle for more than a year-and-a-half.

Voters are casting ballots in narrowly divided Pennsylvania for next week's primary..  Democracy is a key theme in the 2024 election, from state House to president.   The issue is front in center in the race for the 10th Congressional seat, held by Republican Scott Perry. Democratic state lawmakers are trying to boost the state’s minimum wage. Several child care programs have recently closed or will close soon in Centre County.  Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen hit his 300th home run -- becoming the became the 13th player in Major League history with 2,000 hits, 400 doubles, 45 triples, 300 homers and 200 stolen bases. The oldest living conjoined twins, who were born in Berks County, have died in Pennsylvania at age 62.  Federal investigators say the pilot of an experimental aircraft fell out of the plane and hit the tail before it went down in Luzene County in 2022. Now last week, you heard a series of stories from my colleague Rachel McDevitt -- about Centralia, Washington, and how it’s taking a unique approach to the upcoming shut down of a coal plant next year. The goal was to find out if there are any lessons Pennsylvania can learn from the effort. Rachel discusses what she learned.

Two major U.S. manufacturers of gun parts have agreed to temporarily halt sales of their products in Philadelphia and several counties -- including Berks and Lancaster. Some organizations in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania are collecting eclipse glasses so they don’t collect dust or end up in a landfill.  A natural gas company must pay a $1 million fine for a nearly two-week-long gas leak at a storage field in western Pennsylvania.  A couple of Chester County organizations are hosting a “poverty simulation" tomorrow. Thousands of applications have been submitted for the state’s first-ever student-teacher stipends. Chambersburg police have made an arrest in connection to a bomb threat at the Franklin Judicial Center that shut down the borough's Memorial Square on Wednesday. The U.S. Army is planning a seventh disinterment project for September at the Carlisle Barracks Cemetery --  as part of its efforts to return the remains of Native American children to their families. Centralia, Washington, is transitioning away from coal, and there may be lessons Pennsylvania can take away from the process. We visit the western Washington community to learn how how small businesses are affected by the plant closing, and how business owners view their role in the economy.

Primary voters who make a mistake on the date section of their mail-in or absentee ballot return envelopes will not have their votes counted. So, the American Civil Liberties Union  of Pennsylvania represents a coalition of groups suing in federal court to get rid of the date requirement. Pennsylvania drivers may soon face harsher penalties for using their cellphone while driving. State lawmakers have approved a bill requiring that consumers be notified when artificial intelligence is used to generate content.  Ten million dollars in student teacher stipends is being released today, putting thousands of dollars into the pockets of young people training to work in schools. Pennsylvania's 64th trout season is open, now... through Labor Day.  Republican state lawmakers have rolled out a counterproposal to Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro’s plan to boost college enrollment in Pennsylvania.  The Pennsylvania Turnpike is warning people about a scam involving the EZ-Pass System.   One of the region's minor league baseball teams has been sold. Debate over transitioning away from coal has been going on for years in Pennsylvania. But, how have communities in other states dealt with the issue? StateImpact Pennsylvania's Rachel McDevitt takes you to Centralia, Washington, where the economy is transitioning away from coal.

Toxic PFAS chemicals have contaminated drinking water in our region and nationwide for decades. Now, the EPA is implementing the first federal regulations on the “forever chemicals” in public drinking water nationwide.  Norfolk Southern railroad agreed to pay 600 million dollars to settle claims related to a derailment last year near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.  Vice President Kamala Harris has visited a North Philadelphia school as part of the Biden Administration's roll-out of a new nationwide student debt forgiveness program.  A midstate county is resolving a problem that led to some voters receiving the wrong ballots in the mail.  A York County community has rejected a proposal to decriminalize possessing a small amount of marijuana. Coal plants have been at the center of fights over climate change in Pennsylvania. what if the two sides had to come together? StateImpact Pennsylvania’s Rachel McDevitt takes you to Centralia, Washington, to see what that could look like -- in part one of a new series. . 

Elections leaders hope newly-designed envelopes for mail-in ballots will cut down on voters’ mistakes and help more ballots get counted. Students at the University of Scranton have used the solar eclipse to work on a ham radio project for NASA. Visitors to the Philadelphia Zoo had the opportunity to not only view the solar eclipse, but to help scientists find out whether animals sense the phenomenon.  State lawmakers have had a good view of the solar eclipse from the Capitol fountain. Efforts to ban TikTok from government devices have picked up steam in the past year in state legislatures (including Pennsylvania) and Congress even as politicians continue to use it to connect with and expand their base.  Supporters have rallied around the Lancaster Public Library -- by raising enough money to cover the entire donation East Hempfield Township supervisors plan to withhold from the facility to protest a Drag Queen Story Hour.

The solar eclipse will reach its peak today around 3:18 p.m. Almost 92 percent of the sun will be blocked by the moon over much of Central Pennsylvania.  Doctors stress people should not witness this rare astronomical event with the naked eye.  Because of the timing of the event, some school districts have announced plans for remote instruction, early dismissal, or are closed. Today's solar eclipse will provide students the chance to see a real-life science lesson outside the classroom. As millions of Americans look to the sky today to witness the total solar eclipse, a group of University of Pittsburgh undergraduates are chasing shadows in Texas Hill Country. 

State lawmakers are trying to enact a statewide rape kit tracking system. Mail-in ballots will hit voters’ homes as early as today in Dauphin County, which  has expanded the number of drop boxes available. The state House has passed a resolution to help Vietnam War-era veterans who are suffering from complications related to Agent Orange and other toxins.   A federal judge in Philadelphia has dismissed a case involving a nonprofit seeking a legal pathway to opening and operating a supervised injection site for people who use drugs. A central Pennsylvania county is closing its prison. More electric vehicle charging stations will be installed across central Pennsylvania in the coming months. Police are investigating bomb threats that caused panic and shuttered businesses in Lancaster, almost two weeks ago. Extremism experts say the events follow a familiar pattern.

 A new statewide organization bills itself as a resource for all school board members -- regardless of political ideology - despite Pennsylvania already having a longstanding professional organization serving that purpose. What the Pennsylvania School Directors Coalition's website doesn’t detail is its leaders’ history with the state’s conservative education movements. An estimated one million Pennsylvanians are dealing with medical debt. Under Governor Josh Shapiro's budget plan, about $400 million in debt would be erased for low-income Pennsylvanians.  Pennsylvania is handing out $3.3 million to fund pre-apprenticeship programs in agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, and gaming. A Lancaster County community will suspend its donation to the Lancaster Public Library in response to a planned Drag Queen Story Hour that was canceled amid a bomb scare last month. The former police chief in a Northumberland County community has pleaded guilty to theft charges.

Central Pennsylvania remains under a flood watch through tomorrow morning -- as heavy rains batter the region. If you want to catch a total solar eclipse in Pennsylvania, you won’t want to miss the big show on Monday. A grassroots environmental organization, is suing  a cryptocurrency plant and Governor Josh Shapiro. A federal judge has ruled New Mexico election leaders violated public disclosure provisions of the National Voter Registration Act by refusing to provide voter rolls to a conservative group and its public online database. How will this affect Pennsylvania? The remnants of two large tents -- used as a homeless encampment along the Schuylkill River -- have been taken down.

Centre County commissioners plan to buy a $19,500 columbarium to house unclaimed urns. New federal regulations take effect today to make treatment for opioid use disorder more patient-centered. Black and Latino Americans are up to two times as likely as whites to develop Alzheimer’s and related dementias. The Pittsburgh Pirates are 5-0 for the first time since 1983. The superintendent of a Berks County school district plans to resign.  A central Pennsylvania community's tribute to veterans who served in the Second World War will get a facelift.

Hordes of tourists will be flocking to one of the only places in Pennsylvania to see the total eclipse a week from today. Researchers at Drexel University are launching a new research center focused on the health impacts of climate change. The Department of Energy is awarding $90 million to a company that has promised to build a large solar project on a former coal mine in central Pennsylvania. Police are investigating a hoax call that led to a temporary lockdown at a college in Union County. A central Pennsylvania animal shelter is dealing with a large influx of stray dogs.

The state House is sending another piece of firearms legislation to the Senate -- this time to ban the purchase, sale and production of untraceable gun parts. Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt has toured two election bureaus in Northeastern Pennsylvania to learn how the state can support the offices. More than 280,000 Pennsylvanians are living with Alzheimer’s disease -- according to a new report for the Alzheimer's Association. Investigators say mailed bomb threats that resulted in the evacuation of parts of downtown Lancaster on Saturday likely originated outside the United States. More than $2 million  in state grants will be used to reduce gun violence in Berks County.

Mail-in voters who make an error on the date section of the return envelope will not have their ballots accepted, the U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled. Counties are almost done updating the technology that connects them to the state’s voter registration system. The two Republican Lancaster County commissioners are facing criticism after Saturday’s threats and evacuations in downtown Lancaster. A federal judge has rejected a request for a reduced sentence by one of the highest profile Pennsylvanians convicted in the January 6th U-S Capitol attack.

A federal court has dismissed an attempt by conservative state lawmakers to overturn automatic voter registration in Pennsylvania, along with lawmakers' other challenges to actions designed to boost voter access. The U.S. Supreme Court has heard oral arguments in a case that might require patients seeking abortion care to undergo procedures that some find invasive. The average household wastes about 10 thousand gallons of water a year.  Water providers are encouraging people to conserve their water by fixing leaky faucets and toilets. A pizza shop owner from Pennsylvania's coal region is gaining worldwide recognition. Whoever is behind an emailed bomb threat that prompted police to evacuate large parts of Lancaster on Saturday faces an array of possible criminal charges. The collision of three Norfolk Southern trains in Lehigh County early this month highlights the shortcomings of the automated braking system that was created to prevent such crashes. The company that had hoped to develop housing on a former country club in York County has withdrawn its plans. 

The suspicious package that prompted Lancaster Pride to cancel the Drag Queen Story Hour at the Lancaster Public Library on Saturday turned out to be a package of coloring books a staff member was expecting. Voters in the 10th Congressional district say reproductive rights are a top priority as they choose a candidate this election. State House Republicans are trying to add voter id requirements to the Pennsylvania Constitution. The Blair County Prison inmate who escaped in December has been captured. Police investigating the killing a pregnant Amish woman in Crawford County say they seized six guns, a variety of ammunition and a pair of sneakers that may match tread marks left at the crime scene during searches of the suspect’s home and vehicle. A national guard training center in Lebanon County will be building a new machine gun range.

 Authorities are investigating who is responsible for several bomb threats in Lancaster over the weekend. 911 dispatchers in Clinton County can now connect to a caller’s camera to get a better understanding of the situation. A bill to legalize syringe services across Pennsylvania has been voted out of a state House panel. Educators are discussing ways to bring more Black teachers into the classroom.     Several vendors impacted by last summer's fire at Harrisburg's Broad Street Market are set to move into temporary spaces. Two midstate high school basketball teams are celebrating state championships.

Number 11 seed Duquesne keeps retiring coach Keith Dambrot working a little bit longer. The Dukes picked up a 71-67 victory against sixth-seeded BYU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Lawmakers from both parties are calling for juvenile justice reform bills to be brought to a vote. To boost the economy, help struggling sectors of the arts community and bring the state more in line with its neighbors, advocates are calling for the state to increase arts funding by more than 50 percent. The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking a court order to enter an unclaimed parcel of contaminated land in northwestern Pennsylvania. The Allegheny County Board of Elections has voted to approve six ballot drop-off locations. A Lancaster County community is planning to discuss fulling its funding from Lancaster Public Library -- if it hosts its scheduled drag queen story hour tomorrow. A York County man has been found guilty for his role in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. 

Pennsylvania and many other states are facing a shortage of  poll workers ahead of the April 23rd primary and the November election. Governor Josh Shapiro’s plan to boost funding for public transportation systems has been approved by the state House. Home care workers that allow aging and disabled Pennsylvanians to live independently aren't paid that well. But, legislation has been proposed to change that. The debate over immigration is resonating in Lancaster County. People in the Philadelphia area had a chance to see a rare site — a battleship floating down the Delaware River. A central Pennsylvania county ranks number two in the state in number of cases of sexually transmitted diseases.

Republican state senators who opposed certifying Pennsylvania’s 2020 presidential votes are advancing two election bills, preparing them for a vote by the full Senate. A state House committee is moving several bills to the floor including two that deal with issues surrounding transparency and campaign finance. Budget holdups in Congress mean Pennsylvania has a gap in funding for a program that helps low-income residents pay their heating bills. Three people - including a Lutheran pastor - are facing charges of trespassing after protesting in front of Governor Josh Shapiro’s office in the state Capitol. Armed thieves working in broad daylight attacked a security guard and robbed his van of cash from video machine collection boxes in Franklin County. A Lancaster County judge won’t dismiss the state Department of Agriculture’s lawsuit against farmer Amos Miller over his raw milk sales.

 A group of experts is suggesting Pennsylvania can improve security around the state’s voting machines. The state House speaker wants to let qualified residents register at polling places on the day of elections and to permit two weeks of advance voting. Protesters are once again calling for state treasurer Stacy Garrity to stop using tax dollars to buy Israel bonds and for the United States to stop providing aid for the country. Kenny Pickett is ready for a fresh start in Philadelphia. Protesters aren't happy with the West Shore School District's decision to hold a closed door meeting with the conservative law firm the Independence Law Center. A school district in Adams County is moving to add a fourth police officer to its ranks this spring. An information session is set for Thursday in Lancaster County on a proposed $2.5 billion dam and power turbine on the Susquehanna River.

The primary is on April 23rd, and in a contentious voting environment,  poll watchers might be among the most closely watched people in the process. Find out what they can and can’t do. Pennsylvania’s Department of Aging is seeking public comments  on a 10-year plan that will guide policies to meet the needs of the commonwealth’s rapidly growing senior population. The Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site in Adams County have a new superintendent.  Duquesne has earned an NCAA Tournament bid for the first time in 47 years. Authorities say a man faces murder charges in Bucks County and carjacking and weapons charges in New Jersey after allegedly killing three family members and evading law enforcement for hours.  Efforts are underway to ramp up bilingual digital literacy education in several North Central Pennsylvania counties.

Some Pennsylvania senior citizens are taking issue with comments Donald Trump made recently about cutting Medicare and Social Security. The two Republicans running for state attorney general have squared off in a debate. Just six percent of teachers in Pennsylvania are people of color, compared to nearly 40 of all students.  So, educators in the southwestern part of the state are strategizing on how to break the trend. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library - which sends free books to young children - could go statewide. Pennsylvania's population has dropped by 34,000 over a three-year period. But several Central Pennsylvania counties experienced small population growth over that span. Penn State’s LION Mobile Clinic is planning to expand its fleet this summer and is working to connect with other mobile clinics in the state. The moves come as pharmacies and medical clinics close across the commonwealth. Organizers say they’re only part of the solution to declining health care access

Pennsylvania power plants may need to pay for their greenhouse gas emissions under a proposal from Governor Josh Shapiro. He is also calling for the largest increase in renewable energy in the state’s history. Navigating a serious health diagnosis, like cancer, is emotional. A new study from University of Pittsburgh researchers finds when mental health treatment is integrated into oncology care, patients do better. Two Republican Lancaster County commissioners are hearing from unhappy constituents for their social media posts and public comments against an upcoming Drag Queen Story Hour for children at Lancaster Public Library. A 38-year-old is hospitalized after being shot by a Harrisburg police officer during a traffic stop. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Philadelphia and four other cities will start wearing body-worn cameras under a new policy being rolled out. 

Governor Josh Shapiro is looking to nearly double the basic education funding budget for public schools. Five Democrats running for their party's nomination for state Attorney General have squared off in a debate. The Philadelphia region is slated to become one of seven “hydrogen hubs” across the country. But, environmentalists are clashing with the governor over  the issue. The Pittsburgh Steelers are luring inside linebacker Patrick Queen away from rival Baltimore. A 19-year-old Michigan man who lost his right eye after being shot with a firearm made from a ghost gun kit is suing his former best friend who accidently shot him and the Pennsylvania company that sold his friend the kit. Authorities say a massive explosion killed two people and destroyed a house in the Pittsburgh area near the Ohio River. 

The City of DuBois is moving forward with the process to fire its former city manager, Herm Suplizio, who's accused of stealing more than $600,000 in funds from the Clearfield County community. As SEPTA looks to beef up security in the wake of a spate of recent shootings, it's backing away from one plan. The agency has suspended an artificial intelligence program that was supposed to help detect guns.  Buprenorphine is a medication that helps wean people off illicit opioids. Providers are more likely to write prescriptions in areas that are very white. That's according to a recent study from University of Pittsburgh researchers. A Central Pennsylvania county is planning to create a home for transition-age young people in order to help them find long-term housing.

Woman with Central PA ties is honored with Oscar; many children in county custody lack access to care.

 Lebanon County is erecting a shed outside the county courthouse where voters can drop off their ballots. A Scranton Police Detective wounded in the line of duty earlier this year has attended President Joe Biden's State of the Union Address. Planned Parenthood Keystone says it will recognize union representation for its non-managerial staff. The Biden administration announced it would hold off on regulating carbon emissions from existing natural gas plants until after the election. The Pittsburgh Penguins have traded Jake Guentzel to Carolina. GOP state Senator Doug Mastriano will not face an ethics investigation for his actions supporting former President Donald Trump’s election fraud lie. Lancaster County farmer Amos Miller is asking a judge to allow him to sell raw milk and related dairy products to out of state customers.

With questions swirling about new methods of voting and large turnout expected for the presidential election, the Shapiro Administration is asking to spend more on voting education efforts. The ACLU is suing a central Pennsylvania county to gain more access for the public to observe vote counting. A central Pennsylvania county is warning voters about a new scam asking about their registration. Transparency advocates are criticizing the group that oversees how county governments are spending hundreds of millions of dollars coming to them from opioid settlements. Authorities say eight teenagers in northeast Philadelphia have been injured in another shooting involving a city bus. The head of the National Transportation Safety Board says the decision to blow open five tank cars and burn the toxic chemical inside them three days after a Norfolk Southern train derailed near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border last year wasn't justified. 

Carrying a physical ID in Pennsylvania could soon be a thing of the past in Pennsylvania. A Harrisburg woman who is one of the highest profile Pennsylvanians convicted in the January 6th Capitol attack is seeking an early release from prison.     President Biden delivers the annual State of the Union address tomorrow, and one theme will be healthcare costs. Hear how Pennsylvania could be impacted. Republican US Senate candidate Dave McCormick is laying out his energy policies. A township supervisor has resigned in Lancaster County after being accused of sexual harassment and theft. Police investigating the killing of a pregnant Amish woman in her Crawford County home last week say they recovered three firearms, bullets and two spent casings. 

A state court says spreadsheets of raw data associated with every ballot cast in an election aren't subject to public scrutiny. It's been nearly a year since Canadian wildfires caused dangerous air quality throughout the state. Now, the Department of Environmental Protection wants to expand its air quality measuring efforts. One building in Scranton is famous for an appearance on NBC's hit show, “The Office.” Now, the owner is asking the public to help finance recent repairs. Spring must be near, because the annual Philadelphia Flower Show is again in bloom. Arguing solitary confinement worsens mental health crises and violates Constitutional rights, six people incarcerated at prisons throughout Pennsylvania have filed a federal class action lawsuit and seek to end indefinite use of the practice. Norfolk Southern crews and contractors are working on cleanup and track repair after a collision and derailment in Northampton County over the weekend. Hanover’s public library is promising to stock any books the South Western school board might pull from their shelves.  

Pipeline builder Energy Transfer is back in Chester County to clean up what appears to be pollution related to its construction of the Mariner East pipelines. The largest school district in Berks County is opening a dedicated lounge and study space for unhoused students. Pennsylvania is the only state in which one party controls the House and the other controls the Senate. That means bills with widespread support are being stopped at the committee level. Authorities are investigating the derailment of three trains in Lehigh County. An Amish farmer in Lancaster County will not be allowed to sell raw milk or dairy products made from it to the public.

Drinking water providers in Pennsylvania must now test for toxic chemicals known as PFAS to meet new state regulations. Governor Josh Shapiro is creating an election threats task force to ensure a safe, free and secure election. The leaders of Pennsylvania’s four state-related universities have fielded questions from the state’s House Appropriations Committee. Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi is making the case about why the university should get more state funding. State leaders say school districts stand to save millions of dollars from proposed cyber charter reforms. A Lancaster County judge had one question -- after hearing testimony from food safety experts and customers about what Amos Miller’s raw milk does for their health. A York County school district is set to enact a policy stipulating that parents must sign off on the pronouns used by students -- but exempts staff from honoring those pronouns based on their beliefs.