November's election brought many shifts, with a number of Democratic candidates winning election over Republican candidates across the country. One of those candidates here in Central PA is La Tasha Williams. 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 or become a new sustaining member at www.witf.org/givenow and thanks!

Chesapeake Bay officials have elected Gov. Josh Shapiro to lead a regional agreement to help clean and restore the waterway which gets its largest source of freshwater from Pennsylvania. The first-term Democrat will take the reins of the Chesapeake Executive Council at a tumultuous time for the forty-year-old partnership. A growing number of people are struggling to pay utility bills as the price of electricity soars. Many Pennsylvania residents cannot be disconnected, starting this month. A bill requiring Philadelphia establishments to charge customers 10 cents for paper bags recently became law. The Trump administration has reversed course again on a new air pollution rule for coke oven plants. The White House is now granting two-year waivers on the rule, which affects U.S. Steel. A 26-year-old hunter was shot Tuesday morning, rescued from a remote area of Juniata County and taken to an area hospital, where he died of his injuries. The Pennsylvania Game Commission says the man was part of a hunting party of 24 people. A progressive group is targeting two Senate Democrats and an independent senator who voted to confirm some of President Donald Trump's judicial nominees. The group "Demand Justice" has launched a weeklong advertising campaign against Democrats John Fetterman and Maggie Hassan and independent Angus King. As pharmacy closures continue across Pennsylvania, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is questioning how the Shapiro administration is following through on the promises of a 2024 law created to support pharmacies. And some news that affects WITF, our sister newsroom of two years at LNP Lancaster Online, and Pennon - our parent organization. Pennon will be gifting LNP Lancaster Online to a newly formed nonprofit, Always Lancaster, to be led by award-winning journalist David Greene. 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

Central Pennsylvania on Tuesday got its first taste of winter weather, with between three and five inches of snow. Heavier totals were reported to the north and east of the Harrisburg area.  Schools were closed or delayed in many communities with PennDOT crews pressed into service for snow removal. Michael Mullins of northeastern PA died from ALS in 2022.  His son, state Rep. Kyle Mullins was motivated by the loss to fight for funding for neurodegenerative disease research. Mullins has helped secure 5 million dollars in the state budget to study diseases like ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Educators in the region and all over the country are facing a growing challenge-figuring out when a student actually did the work or outsourced it to Artificial Intelligence. According to a local researcher, teachers should be careful before making an accusation.  US Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania will have his work cut out for him if he decides to seek a second term in 2026. A poll commissioned by RealClear Pennsylvania shows Fetterman with a 31 percent approval rating among registered Democrats, compared to 57 percent from Republicans and 30 percent from independents. After decades of talk and planning, groundbreaking has finally taken place on a major redevelopment project in the city of Pittsburgh. The Esplanade is a 740-million-dollar project to transform 15 acres of brownfields on the city’s north side on the banks of the Ohio River.

Time is running out to take advantage of a tax credit for home improvements that help you use less energy. The federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit partially reimburses homeowners when they get an energy audit, weatherize their home, install new windows or buy a heat pump. Four western Pennsylvania school districts, including, have asked the courts to halt tuition payments to the state's largest cyber charter operator. The recently enacted state budget does not include changes to the way skill games are regulated, but that may not be the end of the story A state House committee has approved a proposal designed to standardize and expand programs that provide juveniles alternatives to the criminal justice system after they’re arrested Motorists traveling along US Route 222 in Lancaster County are advised to expect delays. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has announced that dog licenses for 2026 are now available for purchase. Under state law, dogs must be licensed at the point of adoption or purchase, or at three months if no transfer of ownership has taken place. The youngest age at which a dog can be purchased or adopted in Pennsylvania is eight weeks

Local government groups across Pennsylvania are celebrating a state Supreme Court ruling that makes it easier for agencies to change their meeting agendas on the fly. Some transparency advocates however are sounding the alarm.  Governor Josh Shapiro has joined 20 other states in another lawsuit against the Trump Administration. The latest fight centers on anti-homelessness funding.  Discriminating against someone based on their hair texture and style will soon be illegal in Pennsylvania. Gov. Shapiro says the CROWN Act sends a message that Pennsylvanians deserve to be judged on their character and qualifications — not their appearance.  Recently unsealed autopsy and toxicology reports show that the 2003 death of a federal prosecutor in Lancaster County was a homicide. Records obtained by our partners at LNP Lancaster Online show that 38-year old Jonathan Luna, an assistant U-S attorney in Baltimore, died from freshwater drowning and multiple stab wounds to the neck.  Cumberland County Commissioners have given preliminary approval to a $290 million budget for 2026.  PennDOT is proposing using part of a nature preserve as part of its on-going efforts to upgrade Route 30.  A volunteer fire company in York County is closing at the end of the year.  Three 10-foot Fraser fir trees from a Schuylkill County Christmas tree farm are gracing the official residence of Vice President JD Vance this holiday season.  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. 

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Monday that local officials do not need to give 24-hour notice to make changes to public agendas. Dwight Evans has been a fixture in Pennsylvania's politics for decades. Evans announced earlier this year he'll be retiring at the end of his term - and there's no shortage of contenders for his Congressional seat - 10 at last count, including a former climate advisor to the Biden administration. A Lancaster County judge signed an order Monday unsealing autopsy records in the 2003 death of a federal prosecutor whose body was found in a Brecknock Township creek. The move comes after a years-long effort by our sister newsroom, LNP LancasterOnline, to find out more about Jonathan Luna’s mysterious death. A food manufacturer is moving from Lancaster to Harrisburg. The nation’s leading couscous manufacturer, US Durum Products, is relocating and expanding operations at a site along South 17th Street. The $50.1 billion state budget includes increased funding for the Pennsylvania State Police One area hospital is celebrating a rare baby boom - four sets of twins born within the span of one week.

A township in suburban Philadelphia voted to ban gas-powered leaf blowers by 2029, becoming the first township in Pennsylvania to ban the noisy devices. While most of us are focused on the Thanksgiving holiday being observed this week, there's a group of Philadelphia musicians preparing for New Year's Day. The Mummers will head down Broad Street for the 125th time in just a few weeks. The director of the Penn State Cancer Institute resigned last Friday following an investigation by our partners at Spotlight PA focusing on his care of patients and leadership of the center. A Republican-led Senate committee is moving to subpoena the Shapiro administration for records of taxpayer-funded security upgrades underway at Governor Josh Shapiro's personal home near Philadelphia. PennDOT is reminding Pennsylvanians of the dangers of impaired driving and the importance of appointing a designated driver this holiday season. Nearly 3-point-4 million drivers will be using the Pennsylvania Turnpike this week for their Thanksgiving travels.

Hanover Foods has agreed to pay $1.1 million in fines - and improve its wastewater treatment - to resolve a federal lawsuit filed by the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association. The U.S. Department of Energy says it's loaning $1 billion to help finance the restart of the nuclear power plant on Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island. And today we have two deep dives into Pennsylvania’s water quality: Turning to Western Pennsylvania - while air pollution in the Mon Valley has been the focus of environmental concerns and lawsuits for many years, some groups are also looking at water quality. Microplastics have been found in humans’ bodies, at the bottom of the ocean and in the Arctic. They’re an emerging concern for scientists — and for a group of active seniors working to safeguard Philadelphia’s environment.

Catholic leaders are speaking out against immigration enforcement in President Donald Trump’s second term. One Chicago priest’s protest strategy? Walking from Pope Leo’s childhood home in Illinois, through Pennsylvania, on his way to Ellis Island in New York. A resolution approved by the state House designates this week as "Pennsylvania Education for Youth Experiencing Homelessness Week." State Rep. Ismail Smith Wade-El of Lancaster County is a co-sponsor of the resolution. Also in Harrisburg, state lawmakers are investing in childcare. This year’s state budget includes a $25 million fund for childcare workers. There's positive news in Pennsylvania's latest education assessments. The scores show improvements in math proficiency and graduation rates. A new White House initiative is aimed at reshaping how young people transition out of foster care. Pennsylvania experts share their reactions. A new study finds higher rates of skin cancer across central Pennsylvania's "farm belt"  including Dauphin, Cumberland and York counties. Internal probes uncovered errors in chemo treatment and toxic leadership by Penn State's cancer chief. That's according to reporting - bringing those probes to light - by our partners at Spotlight PA. Pennsylvania and its county and local governments are on track to spend nearly all of the $13 billion received in federal pandemic relief funding by the end of 2026.    

Protesters want Pennsylvania legislators to vote to bar themselves from receiving unlimited gifts or campaign contributions. Harrisburg Republicans joined energy-sector workers at the state Capitol to celebrate Pennsylvania's withdrawal from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative or "reggie." When Congress reached a deal to end the federal government shutdown,  it did not include extending additional tax credits for people who buy insurance plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. Pennsylvanians stand to pay, on average, double their current premiums in 2026. Some are considering buying cheaper catastrophic health plans instead. Temple University’s Kornberg School of Dentistry is partnering with the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership in Schuylkill County. The organizations have announced plans to open a rural dentistry campus. PPL's residential customers can expect a nearly 4% increase in their electricity costs starting December 1st. The public is invited to weigh in on Lancaster's proposed data center benefits agreement during a special city council meeting set for tonight (Thursday evening). The North Hanover Mall is condemned, after a wall collapsed last weekend. The City of Reading may be forced to pull millions of dollars from its reserves over the next few years to balance its budget.

Elected officials on both sides of the aisle cheered the passage of Pennsylvania's long-delayed state budget last week. But the Republican Party's likely nominee for governor next year is not among them. New trees were planted in Harrisburg City late last week as part of a $500,000 investment statewide to add shade, reduce stormwater runoff and make communities more welcoming. Penn State grad student workers have overwhelmingly voted to form a union. Unionized faculty at Harrisburg Area Community College have avoided a strike. A tentative agreement has been reached between school officials and the instructors, represented by the Pennsylvania State Education Association. Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman is back in Washington D-C this week - after being hospitalized in Pittsburgh last week. About 70 protesters with March on Harrisburg demonstrated at the state Capitol Monday, calling for a ban on gifts to lawmakers. More than a dozen of the protesters were arrested after they blocked the entrances to the House and Senate wings. The Lancaster County Commissioners will vote on their latest annual budget plan on Christmas Eve - not December 10th as previously planned. The change follows a two-week delay in unveiling the 2026 budget.

The brother of the man who died in ICE custody in Clearfield County in August has filed a lawsuit against the federal government. And a deep dive: Women going through menopause have a new option for treating symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats: An FDA approved, non-hormonal medication is now available.

Pennsylvania lawmakers abandoned an effort to limit climate pollution as part of a state budget deal. The program, called RGGI (“reggie") was labeled an obstacle. But it remains to be seen if the repeal will open the door to alternatives. Even though court fights meant the state never actually participated in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, observers say the repeal of the program is still a loss. Even though Halloween is over, the focus on bats is year-round at one Pennsylvania organization. We have a deep dive into their race to save Pennsylvania's bats from a disease that has decimated millions of them.

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania remains in a Pittsburgh hospital after a heart episode caused him to fall and injure his head on Thursday. After a 135-day budget stalemate, Pennsylvania finally has a budget. It's an agreement born of compromise, including the state withdrawing from a multi-state compact whose goal was to limit the emission of fossil fuels.  Pennsylvania’s new state budget is bringing relief to nonprofits and social-service agencies after a months-long impasse put many on the brink. For more than four months, organizations providing homelessness, mental health, and addiction services operated without state payments. That led to some cutting programs or relying on emergency credit to make payroll.   An Election Day poll book error left out third-party voters in Chester County and forced thousands to cast provisional ballots. The Chester County Board of Elections has established a timeline on its investigation.  Health officials in Philadelphia are warning recent air travelers about a possible measles exposure earlier this week.  The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is teaming up with the state Attorney General to go after motorists who fail to pay tolls on the Turnpike.  A new report shows the US Open golf championship held near Pittsburgh in June generated nearly $290 million for Pennsylvania's economy.  It's the end of an era, as the U.S. Mint has officially ended production of the penny. The last of the one cent coins were struck Wednesday at the US Mint in Philadelphia, where the country’s smallest denomination coins have been produced since 1793, a year after Congress passed the Coinage Act. 

Governor Josh Shapiro has signed a more than $50 billion state budget into law. Lawmakers praised compromise to end the four-month budget standoff. Legal battles over SNAP funding continue, even as Congress takes steps to end the federal government shutdown. Food retailers in Pennsylvania are worried what will happen if SNAP payments are paused any longer. An Adams County couple is suing the Bermudian Springs School District following the suicide death of their 15-year-old son in December 2023. More than $250,000 is heading to York County nonprofits, thanks to community grants from the York County Community Foundation. In total, grant funding is headed to 21 nonprofits. Pennsylvania State Police are reminding pet owners to take care of their furry friends as winter weather approaches. Pet owners not providing for animals' basic needs face potential animal neglect and cruelty charges.  

In Harrisburg, key legislative leaders appear to be in agreement on a budget deal, which would end Pennsylvania's months-long budget impasse. The news broke late last night - and legislators in both chambers are expected to return this morning to approve the deal. Meantime in Washington, the Senate passed a bill to reopen the federal government late Sunday night, and the House is expected to take their first look at the bill today. In order to pass the budget bill, eight Democratic Senators broke rank with their party to reach a deal with Republicans to end the federal government shutdown. Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman was among them. Some House members from Pennsylvania say it was a bad idea. Environmentalists have filed a lawsuit to stop the expansion of a major natural gas pipeline system in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The project would include ten miles of new pipe in Lancaster County and an expanded compressor station in Chester County. A 27-year-old Carlisle woman is being charged with murder in connection with the death of her daughter. Annjalee Nunez is being charged more than two years after her 2-year-old daughter died from fentanyl toxicity. An EMS funding crisis is forcing some Berks County communities to consider new taxes or fees. Only about a dozen of Berks County's 72 municipalities have a designated EMS tax, according to reporting by our partners at Spotlight PA. A popular area state park campground will be closing for upgrades next year. Gifford Pinchot State Park, located in York County, will close its campground after Labor Day in September of 2026 and remain closed through 2027. Yesterday was Veterans Day – and we end today with the story of a Lancaster County soldier whose remains were just returned to his family in September.

Penn State wants to be a leader in the field of artificial intelligence. The university’s provost recently laid out a vision for how that will happen during a meeting with the Penn State board of trustees. Pennsylvania's state budget is more than 4 months late, and there's no sign lawmakers will reach a deal anytime soon. Some legislators and environmentalists worry a major climate initiative could be on the chopping block as negotiations continue. Former Pennsylvania Senate GOP leader David "Chip" Brightbill of Lebanon County has died at the age of 83. In a joint statement, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward and Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman credited Brightbill for being a national leader in legislation to repurpose abandoned industrial sites and for establishing electric supplier competition statewide. PennDOT is launching a new pilot program involving high school students who are seeking a driver's license. It would allow students to take the test for their learner's permit at school instead of at a driver's license center. In Harrisburg, overnight work began Sunday and will continue through the week on the I-83 Capital Beltway project. PennDOT is preparing to demolish the 19th Street Bridge next Saturday, November 15th into Sunday the 16th. And today (Tuesday) is Veterans Day and a number of observances are being held throughout central PA. In Harrisburg, there will be a reading of the names of soldiers who served in the 8th United State Colored Troops. It's scheduled for 11 AM alongside the African-American Civil War Museum and Memorial - located at the National Civil War Museum.

As the federal government shutdown drags on, Pennsylvania families are waiting for heating assistance. A natural gas driller is facing criminal charges over its fracking operations in northcentral Pennsylvania. Open enrollment is underway for people seeking health insurance through the Pennsylvania Individual Exchange, known as Pennie. But State Attorney General Dave Sunday warns consumers to beware of scams. In Cumberland County, the latest round of exhumations of Native American students from a cemetery at the former Carlisle Indian Industrial School has resulted in the remains of 17 more students being repatriated to their families and tribes, the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma and the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma. And a deeper dive. Legislation before the state Senate would ban students from using their cell phones in school. More than half of U-S states have enacted similar restrictions in recent years. What do students think of these policies?

Pennsylvania Democrats made significant gains in Tuesday's election – even in places that strongly supported Donald Trump last year. Four members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives are preparing to leave their seats after winning local races. Now that election day voting is over, the next task for election officials in Pennsylvania is to officially certify the results. PA Secretary of State Al Schmidt says that process should take about 2 weeks. Health providers and emergency rooms in Philadelphia have seen an uptick in seizures among patients who use street drugs. Fathers are often left out of maternal and child health decisions but a bill which has been passed by the state House aims to change that. And a deep dive: Health systems across Pennsylvania are rapidly adopting artificial intelligence to aid them in administrative tasks like medical documentation and in clinical settings with imaging and diagnostics. But as the technology quickly evolves, clinicians, lawmakers and patient safety experts are trying to figure out how to monitor and regulate this new area of medicine.

What’s the status of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - or SNAP – benefits in Pennsylvania amid the ongoing government shutdown? A new report finds that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Pennsylvania still face major barriers to basic health care. Penn State is preparing for potential cuts in federal funding for research, and changes to visa regulations for international students and workers. A 15-year-old boy from Mount Joy is accused of beating three younger children and using racial slurs. We're learning more about Tuesday's election results: Dauphin County voters elected the first Black woman as judge. And Kenneth Hock narrowly won reelection as mayor of Chambersburg.

Democrats resoundingly swept the contentious statewide judicial races. Republicans, backed by billionaire donor Jeffrey Yass, sought to make history with a series of votes to remove three Democratic judges from the state Supreme Court. But all three Justices, Kevin Dougherty, Christine Donohue and David Wecht, will retain their seats.  Democrats also won a seat each on the state’s Superior and Commonwealth appellate courts.   In Harrisburg, incumbent Wanda Williams secured another four years as mayor by receiving 56% of the vote, over city treasurer Dan Miller's 43%.  And in Lancaster, Democrat Jaime Arroyo will be the city’s next mayor after securing a resounding victory.  In Dauphin County, a bomb threat triggered a lockdown at an elementary school serving as a polling location Tuesday afternoon.  A lawsuit challenging Pennsylvania’s ban on Medicaid coverage for abortions returns to court this week.  Graduate student workers at Penn State are holding a vote on whether to form a union.  Gov. Josh Shapiro and the leaders of all four legislative caucuses met in person several days last week.  Franklin and Marshall College is announcing a major initiative designed to make the Lancaster-based private school more affordable.  Cumberland County Commissioners are reminding volunteer fire, ambulance, and EMS personnel of an upcoming deadline. November 15th is the final day first responders can apply for the Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Tax Credit of up to $250. 

On this Election Day, Pennsylvanians will decide whether three state Supreme Court Justices should keep their seats. The unprecedented spending and polarization this year has put off some voters. Partisan control of the court could have major implications for the 2028 presidential race, since justices might be asked to rule on election disputes, as they did in 2020. Republican lawmakers across the mid-Atlantic met in Harrisburg last week to discuss rising electricity bills. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued a draft air permit to a natural gas fired power plant in Westmoreland County. Environmental groups say the draft has several flaws. American Water and Essential Utilities are merging. They’re the two largest municipal water and wastewater management companies in the United States. Both the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg released statements in response to a controversial float in the Hanover Halloween parade last week. Seven hundred faculty members at Harrisburg Area Community College - HACC - went on strike yesterday. The Lancaster Stormers are under new ownership. Prospector Baseball Group acquired the minor league baseball team from four Lancaster-area businessmen who owned the Stormers for the past 12 years.  

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court retention vote is unusually contentious this year. On today’s Morning Agenda, we’re going to dive into this vote from several angles and explain what’s at stake. It’s even putting Pennsylvania in the national spotlight. The leader of the national Democratic party is campaigning across the state in advance of Tuesday's elections. Reproductive health rights have become a key issue for the retention vote. How have the three justices ruled on environmental issues? Also joining us to dive a bit deeper and explain what's at stake is Elizabeth Estrada, Democracy Editor at Spotlight PA. See Elizabeth Estrada's story for Spotlight PA, How Pa. Supreme Court rulings have shaped cities. To learn how the Supreme Court has impacted rural communities, click here for Marley Parish's Spotlight PA story as well. Public media's federal funding has been revoked. Your support is now more vital than ever. Help power the independent journalism and trusted programming you find on WITF by making a gift of support now at www.witf.org/givenow.

As the federal government shutdown continues, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity says she could loan the state money to cover food-stamp benefits for 2 million Pennsylvanians. Governor Josh Shapiro says her proposal isn’t a solution. Mike Tyson is best known for his career as a heavyweight boxer. But now he’s making a name for himself in the pot industry. Iron Mike is lobbying for recreational marijuana use in Pennsylvania. Another opportunity for Pennsylvania hunters opens Saturday. A family in Bellefonte, Centre County recently got a big treat. And this Halloween the news is out on national television. Their historic home beside Union Cemetery was chosen for a renovation on the HGTV show Scariest House in America. Many musicians write songs about love, heartbreak or life on the road. But there's a Central Pennsylvania band that sings about slapshots, breakaways and cross checks. That's right, Light the Lamp is a band that writes songs exclusively about hockey. WITF Music’s Joe Ulrich recently faced off with the band in our studio. 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.

Gov. Josh Shapiro is suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture over the agency’s pause in food aid under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP during the federal government shutdown. Julie Bancroft, the CEO of nonprofit Feeding Pennsylvania, is calling on lawmakers to continue SNAP payments. Pennsylvania officials are scrambling to address the expected rise in food insecurity. About 12% of U.S. households, or one in eight, could feel the effects of an abrupt pause to federal food assistance programs like SNAP. Let's take a deep dive into WITF's listening area to find out how our area would be affected. In suburban Philadelphia, the City of Coatesville recently debuted a new sound-based, gunshot detection technology. Police are banking on it being an effective tool in combating gun violence.   State lawmakers held a hearing Tuesday on a set of bills aimed at reducing burdens felt by students tied up in juvenile court. Lancaster County Commissioners are searching for a financial adviser to join their consulting team working to build a new prison. A recent hearing before a state House committee examined the how growth of A.I. data centers will affect the energy grid and the price consumers pay. Pennsylvania's volunteer fire companies can apply for grants to help protect rural communities from wildfires. 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.

Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick visited Harrisburg Monday and was asked about the continuing federal government shutdown and the chances for Republicans and Democrats to negotiate a solution. Last month’s announcement from the Trump administration linking Tylenol use in pregnancy to autism in children has brought renewed attention to how we research medication risks during pregnancy. The state Insurance Department is reaffirming expectations for insurers to cover the COVID-19 vaccine. Last Friday was the 100th gathering of a group called Fridays at Fetterman. It was the 100th peace vigil held by the group which formed over the situation in Gaza. Pennsylvania’s Election Day is next Tuesday, November 4th. This past Tuesday was the last day to request a mail-in ballot. And more than 1.1 million voters have done so, as of Monday. Those figures are up 17% from the 20-21 municipal election. We are learning more about security upgrades and repairs to both the Governor's residence in Harrisburg and Governor Josh Shapiro's private home in suburban Philadelphia. Commissioners in Manheim Township, Lancaster County have appointed a new police chief, in the wake of the firing of former chief Duane Fisher in June. Federal funding for public media has been rescinded. Your monthly gift to WITF can help fill the gap as we navigate this new reality. Become a monthly sustaining member today at www.witf.org/givenow.

Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania households rely on a federally funded utility assistance program to help them keep their homes warm each winter. But the federal government shutdown means Pennsylvania has not received the funding it needs to run this program Allies for the LGBTQ+ community say state officials should act to protect same sex marriage in Pennsylvania, in case the U-S Supreme Court takes up a case this month designed to weaken marriage equality. Penn State Athletic officials are mounting a nationwide search for the next Head Football Coach to replace James Franklin who was fired October 12th, one day after the Nittany Lions lost to Northwestern. You can hear the full segment on The Spark, by logging onto the "Programs" page at witf.org, and tune into The Spark weekdays at 12 noon on WITF-FM The state ethics commission has directed Harrisburg city Mayor Wanda Williams to pay over 900 hundred dollars to the city A recent hearing before a state House committee examined the how growth of A.I. data centers will affect the energy grid, and the price consumers pay.   The PA Public Utility Commission voted this week to suspend and investigate a proposed rate increase by PPL Electric Utilities.  Public media's federal funding has been revoked. Your support is now more vital than ever. Help power the independent journalism and trusted programming you find on WITF by making a gift of support now at witf dot org slash give now

The clock is ticking for Congress to extend health care subsidies before open enrollment begins on Nov. first. The head of Pennsylvania’s health insurance marketplace is sounding the alarm. OB/GYNs and other doctors are expressing their concern over Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity's run for Governor. Southcentral Pennsylvania's Fall Foliage is at its peak as we head into this final week in October. State officials helped plant 700 trees along Orson run in southern York County in an effort to help reduce runoff, improve local water quality and provide the Chesapeake Bay. The 2-and-a-half acre streamside buffer is part of the ongoing work of the alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. An important deadline is approaching for registered voters in Pennsylvania planning on casting a ballot by mail. You have until this Tuesday October 28th to request a mail-in ballot, which must be returned by 8pm on Election Day, November 4th. PennDOT has announced that the 29th Street bridge has re-opened. The newly constructed span which carries traffic over Interstate 83 and Norfolk Southern train tracks had been closed since July of last year, as part of the long-term project to widen I-83 from 13th Street to the Eisenhower Interchange. An earlier detour has now been lifted. Public media's federal funding has been revoked. Your support is now more vital than ever. Help power the independent journalism and trusted programming you find on WITF by making a gift of support now at witf dot org slash give now

Employers and entrepreneurs are reacting to President Trump declaring a change to H1B visas. In Philadelphia, City Council members are planning to strengthen the city’s plastic bag ban and impose a ten-cent fee on paper bags, but Mayor Cherelle Parker may not be on board. PennDOT and the Pennsylvania State Police observed school bus safety week with a ceremony Wednesday at the State Museum. At one Pittsburgh high school, students from all over the world speak a total of around 50 languages. About 40% of Brashear High School's student population are English Language learners. Some good news of you’re a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles…Brandon Graham has come out of retirement. Public media's federal funding has been revoked. Your support is now more vital than ever. Help power the independent journalism and trusted programming you find on WITF by making a gift of support now at witf dot org slash give now

Pennsylvania is approaching four months without having a spending plan. The state Senate is doubling down on its effort to fund the state at last year’s levels.   A consultant hired by US Steel found high-pressure water used in a maintenance procedure exceeded the valve’s pressure rating prior to a fatal explosion in August. Two workers died in the blast at the company’s Clairton Coke Works near Pittsburgh. Proposed legislation in the state Senate would ban students from using cell phones during the school day, with support for such a ban on the increase.  Among those in favor is Aaron Chapin, President of the Pennsylvania State Education Association the state’s largest teacher's union.  Chapin expressed his support during a recent Senate hearing. Mechanicsburg Borough Council on Tuesday addressed a troubling incident from earlier this month. During the Borough's October 14th Halloween parade business cards were discovered in bags of children's candy with the words "Women of the Ku Klux Klan."  It is unclear how many cards were distributed.  Commonwealth Court has ordered Penn State to release certain internal Board of Trustee documents, ruling the university is not totally exempt from the state's Open Records law Gov. Josh Shapiro's memoir is coming out in late January. It touches on his political rise and the trauma of his home being set on fire. HarperCollins announced Tuesday that "Where We Keep the Light: Stories From a Life of Service" will be released Jan. 27. Public media's federal funding has been revoked. Your support is now more vital than ever. Help power the independent journalism and trusted programming you find on WITF by making a gift of support now at witf dot org slash give now.

At a gathering this week in Pittsburgh, university leaders are expressing optimism about the potential of artificial intelligence to improve health care. they caution there is much work ahead to guard against the risks. If one or more of the three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices seeking retention this fall DON’T get the approval of voters, the 7-member court could be shorthanded for two years. U-S Senator Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania is among those promoting a new federal income tax credit. The program funnels dollars into scholarships eligible families can use at the school of their choice, including private and religious schools. James Franklin says he was shocked when Penn State fired him hours after the Lions' October 11th home loss to Northwestern. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is seeking the public's help following the shooting death of a rare type of deer in Lancaster County. The number of peanut allergies can be cut drastically by feeding a baby  peanut products in its first three years. This according to a new study co-authored by Dr. David Hill, an allergist and researcher at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Cumberland County Commissioners are looking for residents interested in farmland preservation. The county's Agricultural Land Preservation Board is looking for new members. Pennsylvania continues to be national leader when it comes to farmland preservation. A recent agreement to preserve the Talview dairy farm in Lebanon County brings to 66 hundred, the number of farms in Pennsylvania added to the preservation rolls since the program was launched in 1988. Public media's federal funding has been revoked. Your support is now more vital than ever. Help power the independent journalism and trusted programming you find on WITF by making a gift of support now at www.witf.org/givenow.

Two Pennsylvania-based hydrogen hubs could be on the chopping block. A new list of clean energy projects slated for termination by the Trump administration includes the Philly-area MACH2 hydrogen hub and the Pittsburgh-based ARCH2. The projects could lose 1.7 billion dollars in federal funding. The Trump administration has reversed course and decided NOT to delay Biden-era rules limiting air pollution from the steel industry. The administration says the rules can now go into effect. The decision will affect U-S Steel’s Clairton Coke Works plant. The borough of Phoenixville in Chester County near Philadelphia is gearing up to use a new technique to process its sewage. The town plans to produce its own “bio-coal.” And a deeper dive.... A landfill in western Pennsylvania has been taking drilling waste from fracking for over a decade. This waste has created water pollution problems for the Monongahela River. The landfill has proposed a solution, but many are worried about its downstream impacts. 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. Thank you!

The trucking industry is growing nationwide, as well as in Pennsylvania. As a result, PennDOT is adding more parking spaces for trucks, across the state, in the hopes of improving safety on the road. Are you daydreaming about camping under the stars in a Pennsylvania state park? But not so sure about setting up a tent and sleeping on the ground? Now - you can consider "glamping." Pennsylvania is rolling out the glamping carpet in eight state parks. And a deeper dive... Tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians live in manufactured housing, also called mobile homes. It’s a unique arrangement where residents own their homes – but NOT the land underneath – makes the housing more affordable to homeowners. But it also makes them more vulnerable to rising rental costs for the underlying land. There’s a legislative effort by some manufactured housing residents to keep those costs reasonable so they can stay in their homes. 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.

The filmmaker Ken Burns came to the Philadelphia area late last week for a sneak peek of his new documentary about the American Revolution. The Philadelphia Museum of Art has changed its name. It is now known as the Philadelphia Art Museum. And a deeper dive. Red dirt country” is a rootsy style of country music originating in Oklahoma and Texas, known for its down-to-earth sound and storytelling. Cody Tyler of Reading describes his music as “black dirt country” since it’s derived from Central PA where the soil is darker. WITF Music's Joe Ulrich explains how Tyler also wants to change the way people think about the word “Pennsyltucky." 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.

WPSU-TV and radio will become part of Philadelphia-based WHYY, under a plan Penn State trustees unanimously approved Monday. There is also news affecting this media organization. Ron Hetrick, President and CEO of WITF, on Monday announced his resignation, effective immediately. Thousands of student teachers statewide are without pay as they wait for Pennsylvania lawmakers to agree on a budget. State officials are reminding Pennsylvanians we are now in the fall wildfire season. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn encourages people to practice safe habits when burning debris or building a campfire. Pennsylvania is investing more than $5.7 million in state money for the preservation of 24 farms across the state. Public media's federal funding has been revoked. Your support is now more vital than ever. Help power the independent journalism and trusted programming you find on WITF by making a gift of support now at www.witf.org/givenow.

The man accused of an arson attack on the Pennsylvania governor's residence in April pleaded guilty Tuesday at attempted murder and other charges. Today’s program is also a deep dive into how one local government is establishing an ordinance for future data centers. Chris Reber of our sister newsroom at LNP | Lancaster Online is in conversation with WITF’s Karen Hendricks to explain how Lancaster City officials are developing the rules – which will be submitted to the Lancaster County Planning Commission today. The entire process could serve as a model for communities across Central Pa. Public media's federal funding has been revoked. Your support is now more vital than ever. Help power the independent journalism and trusted programming you find on WITF by making a gift of support now at www.witf.org/givenow.

Election Day is three weeks from today in Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, November 4th. And there’s a snafu with some mail-in ballots in Luzerne County. More than half of Penn State’s staff say they don’t have confidence in senior leadership. That’s according to a newly released staff satisfaction survey. The Trump administration is asking the University of Pennsylvania and eight other schools to make drastic changes in the way they operate, in exchange for access to federal grants, research funding, and visas for international students. A loan program to help social-service agencies during the state budget impasse is drawing fire in Harrisburg. Republican treasurer Stacy Garrity says the loans will help schools and other groups waiting for state funds. But Democrats say Republicans are dragging out the budget fight to help Garrity, who hopes to unseat Governor Josh Shapiro next year. And a deep dive into how the state budget impasse is holding up Pennsylvania college students’ financial aid information. Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA is in conversation with WITF’s Karen Hendricks. Did you know that if every sustaining circle member 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 or become a new sustaining member at www.witf.org/givenow, and thanks!

A new Franklin and Marshall College Poll shows fewer Pennsylvania voters support Donald Trump’s handling of the economy. Meantime, Pennsylvania is in its fourth month without a state budget, and that subject was covered in Franklin and Marshall’s poll as well. And we have poll results in one additional area. Gov. Josh Shapiro continues to earn solid marks from Pennsylvania voters, according to the new Franklin and Marshall Poll. You can hear more from Berwood Yost on the October F&M Poll on the October 14th episode of The Spark LGBT centers across Pennsylvania are struggling to keep their doors open as federal funding dries up and donors cut support. We are in the midst of a week-long celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Navy and Marines underway in Philadelphia. We're learning more about the shootout Wednesday night between state police troopers and a retail theft suspect in Franklin County. The injured and hospitalized officers are identified as 23-year-old Trooper Thomas Pack and 31-year-old Trooper Lucas Amarose. Governor Josh Shapiro joined two dozen other Democratic governors in a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard troops in American cities. And state officials with the Department of Labor and Industry rededicated a bronze sculpture honoring the state's legacy of laborers, last week. 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.

Pennsylvania is now 100 days without a state budget, yet lawmakers appear no closer to reaching a deal. Frustrations are mounting in the Capitol. House G-O-P leader Jesse Topper says the state must help scale up the energy industry, reform education and find ways to make social safety-net programs sustainable in the long run. Meantime, Senate Democratic leader Jay Costa blames Republicans for failing to compromise on key issues, like funding public education funding and legalizing the adult use of cannabis. Gov. Josh Shapiro used a Lackawanna County appearance to place blame on the state Senate. More than 200 high school students protested the state budget impasse Wednesday, even during a steady morning rain in Lancaster County. Less than a month after a deadly shootout that claimed the lives of York County police officers, there's another shootout involving police, this time in Franklin County. Two Pennsylvania State Police troopers are hospitalized and a suspect is dead after a shootout Wednesday night. Enrollment at state-owned universities in Pennsylvania has taken a slight uptick. And drivers are being advised to prepare for a major traffic disruption this weekend in Lancaster County. PennDOT crews are continuing a major improvement project at the interchange between US Routes 30 and 222. Did you know that if every sustaining circle member 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 or become a new sustaining member at www.witf.org/givenow, and thanks!

Stock trading by members of Congress has come under public scrutiny in recent years, U.S. Senator Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania has profited from another type of market trading. State officials have unveiled a new campaign to spread awareness of drink spiking. Clearfield County will make one million dollars over five years - for acting as the middleman between ICE and the private contractor that operates the Moshannon Valley Processing Center. Nine people have died in boating incidents so far this year in Pennsylvania - and seven of the victims were not wearing a life jacket. Iron Hill Brewery has officially filed for bankruptcy, after abruptly closing all 16 locations in late September. 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. 

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is rolling out a new effort aimed at helping people with mental illness who commit low-level offenses, to avoid jail time. The program builds off the state’s Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative or LETI, originally created to address substance abuse. Governor Josh Shapiro is stepping onto the international stage. Eight U.S. governors and two premiers of Canadian provinces elected Shapiro to lead a partnership overseeing the Great Lakes. State House and Senate members held a joint public hearing to discuss artificial intelligence in education and workforce development. Trout stocking season is now underway along Pennsylvania waterways. Prosecutors are withdrawing DUI charges against a 37-year-old York Haven woman accused of hitting three people with her minivan at Harrisburg's Kipona Festival over Labor Day weekend. Online casinos continue to power growth in the state’s gambling revenue. That’s according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s recently-released annual report, which showed a 27% increase in online casino revenue, over the last fiscal year. Federal funding for housing is under threat - just as Berks County is facing record homelessness. And a recycling company’s bankruptcy is leaving tons of discarded artificial turf across the state. Did you know that if every sustaining circle member 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 or become a new sustaining member at www.witf.org/givenow, and thanks!

After more than four decades in prison, a Pennsylvania man’s murder conviction was vacated over the summer. On Friday, he was finally released — and immediately detained by ICE. Many County leaders in Pennsylvania say they’re fed up with the state’s late budget — now in its fourth month — as the federal government has also shut down. People with dementia and their family caregivers may be eligible for a new Medicare program called GUIDE. It's designed to bring better supportive services to families who may be struggling to afford or coordinate care for a loved one on their own. A 14-year-old Lancaster County boy is being charged with making terroristic threats after police said he threatened a school shooting on social media. In York County, police are searching for a 17-year-old wanted for homicide, in connection with a shooting victim found early Friday morning in York. Election day is less than a month away, on November 4th. In Lancaster County, six of the county's 18 boroughs have contested mayoral races this fall. For the third quarter of 2025, PA State Police denied over 4,200 individuals from purchasing a firearm through the Pennsylvania Instant Check System, or PICS. Legislation introduced in the state Senate would close a loophole in the law which allows disabled military veterans in Pennsylvania to apply for a hunting license at no cost to them. And drivers in downtown Carlisle are being advised to expect a major disruption this week. PennDOT is completing construction of a traffic roundabout, and as a result, Route 11 is closed from High Street to Clay Street. Did you know that if every sustaining circle member 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 or become a new sustaining member at www.witf.org/givenow and thanks!  

Critical service providers are still not receiving funding from the state, as lawmakers and Governor Josh Shapiro enter their fourth month without a state budget. These organizations warn that layoffs, service cuts and even closures are looming over their work. In Pennsylvania, a growing number of grandparents are raising grandchildren after the loss of their adult children. Now the state has set up a helpline for older residents to better help navigate custody issues, court proceedings and supportive resources. ... This summer, state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle introduced legislation to ban smartphones from K-to-12 classrooms across Pennsylvania. But a new survey shows school leaders feel mixed about a “one size fits all” approach. The 20-26 Pennsylvania Farm Show theme was unveiled late last week. "Growing a Nation" is the theme, tying into events marking America's 250th Birthday. Officials in South Heidelberg Township, Berks County will be learning more about a proposal for two warehouses totaling 1.3 million square feet. Faculty at HACC - Harrisburg Area Community College - voted Thursday to give their union leadership the authority to call a strike at any time without notice. 93 percent of the 750 HACC Education Association members representing five campuses voted yes to a strike. The University of Pennsylvania is one of nine colleges and universities the White House is asking to commit to Donald Trump's political priorities in exchange for greater access to federal funding. Pennsylvania has joined a coalition of states launching an investigation into allegations of false business practices by major tech companies. If you have a favorite trail in Pennsylvania, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources wants to hear from you. Nominations are now open for the Commonwealth’s 2026 Trail of the Year. Federal funding for public media has been rescinded. Your monthly gift to WITF can help fill the gap as we navigate this new reality. Become a monthly sustaining member today at www.witf.org/givenow.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is expanding on his promise to preserve vaccine access across the commonwealth… after a reversal on recommendations from the federal government. Pennsylvania researchers are pushing back against the recent announcement from the White House of a direct link between autism and the use of the painkiller acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are exploring a treatment that uses a patient’s own body in a surprising way to fight cancer.  CAR T-Cell Therapy: A Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment and the Path Ahead | The Spark House lawmakers approved background checks to purchase any type of firearm in Pennsylvania. The proposal faces long odds of passing the state Senate. Property owners in Pennsylvania who are worried about landslides and sinkholes may soon be able to breathe easier, after the state House voted to create a state-backed insurance program to cover them. As the federal government shutdown enters its third day, access to 400 National Park Service sites is varying on a park-by-park basis. Here in Central Pennsylvania, the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center is remaining open and maintaining its regular hours for visitors. It's a different scene in Philadelphia. Thirty-three Pennsylvania counties will elect a sheriff on November 4th. And Lancaster is named to the list of "best small cities in America" as determined by WalletHub. Public media's federal funding has been revoked. Your support is now more vital than ever. Help power the independent journalism and trusted programming you find on WITF by making a gift of support now at www.witf.org/givenow.

As Congress missed the deadline to pass a federal budget, more than 100,000 government workers in the commonwealth are now affected by the federal government shutdown. Today marks three entire months without a state budget. Pennsylvania’s counties, school districts and social service agencies are warning of mounting layoffs, borrowing costs and damage to the safety net, as the politically divided state government enters its fourth month of a budget stalemate. October 1st was also a milestone for WITF. For the first time in more than 50 years, public media is now operating without federal funding. For WITF, this moment is about our responsibility to YOU the public, across a 19-county area of central Pennsylvania. Planned Parenthood agencies nationwide can no longer bill Medicaid for providing basic medical care due to Congressional Republicans’ tax and spending law. Central Pennsylvania’s clinics say they will keep their doors open even as the cuts are reducing access to care around the country. In a 4-3 decision, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that voters who cast their ballot by mail must be notified if a ballot is rejected due to an incorrect date missing signature or similar issue. A federal judge has ruled that Pennsylvania will be shielded -- at least for now-- from losing millions of dollars in food-stamp benefits. 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. 

Plans for a new data center in Springdale in Allegheny County have been put on hold by the borough planning commission. And a deeper dive into the planning of a new museum focused on Black history in Gettysburg. Meet Andrew Dalton, President and CEO of the nonprofit Gettysburg History, which also operates the Adams County Historical Society and Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum. 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 or become a new sustaining member at www.witf.org/givenow.

What impacts are immigrants having on the Greater Philadelphia region? The latest on a new report from a Philadelphia nonprofit. Back in September of 2009, pollution killed off the fish, mussels, and other aquatic species in Dunkard Creek, a tributary of the Monongahela River in Western Pa. Now, sixteen years later, biologists are still working to bring life back to the stream. Federal funding for public media has been rescinded. Your monthly gift to WITF can help fill the gap as we navigate this new reality. Become a monthly sustaining member today at www.witf.org/givenow.

Democrats say Pennsylvania’s richest man is trying to buy the outcome of the state’s Supreme Court retention race this year. A judge has added Pennsylvania to a lawsuit over the Trump administration’s demand for personal information about food-stamp recipients. A new passenger bridge planned for Lancaster's Amtrak station is part of a five-year plan for improving Pennsylvania's railroads. The state Department of Transportation is updating the plan to identify needs for both freight and passenger rail projects across the state. WellSpan Health is hosting a week-long blood drive to honor the three Northern York County Regional Police officers killed in a September 17th shooting - as well as two officers who were injured. Pennsylvania health policy experts and disability advocates are worried about fallout from the Trump administration’s 2025 Budget Reconciliation Act. It includes major changes and cuts to programs which help vulnerable populations. Public media's federal funding has been revoked. Your support is now more vital than ever. Help power the independent journalism and trusted programming you find on WITF by making a gift of support now at www.witf.org/givenow.

Governor Josh Shapiro is pushing to reform how the regional electrical grid is managed so costs for consumers will go down. The state Treasurer’s office of Stacy Garrity is launching a $500 million loan plan for counties and pre-K programs impacted by the months-late state budget. And as the Republican gubernatorial candidate, Stacy Garrity blasted Governor Josh Shapiro in a campaign stop in Western PA earlier this week. Pennsylvania's unemployment rate held steady in August. The state's unemployment rate remained at 4% in August, marking the 28th straight month at or below the national average for unemployment. Federal funding for public media has been rescinded. Your monthly gift to WITF can help fill the gap as we navigate this new reality. Become a monthly sustaining member today at www.witf.org/givenow.

Pennsylvania's Attorney General is advising residents to watch out for a scam involving threats of arrest by a local sheriff. Rain in this week's forecast may help ease dry conditions across central Pennsylvania. Over the past two weeks, all of Dauphin County began showing up on the U.S. Drought Monitor's map. Six months after a flood poured more than 5,000 gallons of water into the Lancaster Public Library, parts of the building’s first floor remain closed. The two organizations responsible for fixing the damage appear to be blaming the other for the holdup in repairs. The first NFL regular-season game in Ireland is set for Sunday. The Pittsburgh Steelers face the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park in Dublin. 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.