It has been one year since the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act became law, and Pennsylvania is seeing and using some of the funding.

The groundbreaking law directs $370 billion to clean-energy efforts through tax incentives, grants and loan guarantees. The Keystone State has set a goal of using 100% clean energy by 2050, and the law is helping to make it a reality.

Annie Regan, campaign director for the environmental watchdog group PennFuture, said together, the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have brought more than $300 million to Pennsylvania.

She pointed out a variety of projects are already benefiting from the funding.

"We also know the Inflation Reduction Act is lowering energy costs for families in Pennsylvania, with estimates ranging from $300 to $1,800 in annual savings," Regan observed. "Folks will notice -- within this year, in the next couple of years, especially -- that their energy bills will become lower and more affordable."

Regan added the funding has already added 64 electric school buses in seven school districts in the state, with more than $19 million in rebates. Republican opponents of the Inflation Reduction Act have cited concerns about the U.S. budget deficit and the effect on jobs in the oil and gas sector.

Regan explained funding from the law puts the Keystone State on the cusp of a Green Revolution, which promises not only cleaner skies, but economic growth and opportunities.

"It's going to bring an estimated $270 million of investment in large-scale, clean power generation and storage to Pennsylvania by 2030," Regan outlined. "It's going to provide $30 billion in tax credits to accelerate domestic production of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries and critical minerals processing."

Regan added her group, along with ReImagine Appalachia, are working to make sure the states in their region are all taking advantage of the federal funding for renewable energy opportunities, affecting communities in need.

"We want to create good-paying, family-sustaining union jobs with these federal climate investments," Regan emphasized. "I think that's where we've seen a pivot in the environmental movement, of not just employing clean energy, but making sure it's done right, using union labor."

The massive law also includes money to update the nation's power transmission systems, and tax credits for projects using American-made steel and iron, which should result in more jobs in those fields.

As the Appalachian Trail turns 100, conservation groups are sounding alarms over federal funding freezes and staff cuts.

The trail runs through the broader Appalachian region, including parts of southern Ohio and is a popular destination for thousands of Ohio hikers. Conservation groups warned recent layoffs at the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service could slow maintenance and repair work on the 2,200-mile trail.

Hawk Metheny, vice president of trail management for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, said Federal funds remain tied up in Congress, leaving local volunteers to carry the weight.

"We're carrying on. We've been here 100 years and we'll endure through this," Metheny emphasized. "It is the people's trail, the citizens' trail, so it's an all-hands effort."

More than 3 million people visit the Appalachian Trail each year. In Ohio, the outdoor recreation economy supports more than 125,000 jobs and brings in $11.8 billion annually, according to the Outdoor Industry Association.

Metheny noted recent extreme weather, such as flooding from Hurricane Helene, has damaged hundreds of trail miles. Volunteers have stepped in to relocate or reinforce affected areas but long-term stability requires federal support for land conservation and public access.

"It's an important resource for scenic values, recreational values, wildlife habitat, biodiversity protection," Metheny outlined. "The AT provides all those values across the entirety of the Appalachians from Georgia to Maine."

Several Ohio-based groups, including the Buckeye Trail Association, said public lands and trail systems provide vital health and tourism benefits. Events along the Appalachian Trail this summer aim to raise awareness and celebrate a century of stewardship and public access.

The dismantling of the 30-year-old AmeriCorps national service program by the Department of Government Efficiency will have significant effects in New Mexico.

Last year, AmeriCorps recruited more than 4,500 participants in the state to help meet local needs and strengthen communities. Program grants are administered by the Serve New Mexico Commission, working under the Department of Workforce Solutions.

Kristin Hsueh, executive director of the commission, said funding was eliminated for a planning grant and six of 10 operational programs, leaving only four still functioning.

"These program were offering services to the communities, everything from tutoring to after-school programming, mentorship, trail restoration," Hsueh outlined. "It's a significant cut, it's almost about two-thirds of our programs."

New Mexico has joined 24 states and the District of Columbia in a lawsuit suing over the Trump administration's cuts. The state's Attorney General said the action will hurt students, families and underserved communities. In New Mexico, a fourth of all AmeriCorps workers identify as Hispanic or Latino, the highest percentage in the nation.

Hsueh pointed out at least 84 AmeriCorps members in New Mexico were affected immediately, and 100 who were expected to participate this summer have been notified their positions have been defunded. She noted members and senior volunteers have previously served at more than 300 locations across the state.

"They are gaining a lot of experience," Hsueh observed. "They are serving something that's greater than themselves, which is really what AmeriCorps is all about, dedicating a portion of your life to make sure that you are improving the lives of others."

Initially known as Volunteers in Service to America or VISTA, AmeriCorps was created by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965 and renamed under President Bill Clinton. Nationwide, more than 75,000 people work in service each year, with land trusts, schools, public agencies and community and faith-based groups. Funding made up less than 1% of the federal budget.


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Results of a new survey of nearly 900 small business owners across the country show they are concerned about an uncertain economy, including the owners of small mom and pop operations in Nebraska.

The survey, conducted by Small Business for America's Future, shows that nearly 70% of small business owners think the Trump administration fell short on economic leadership during its first 100 days.

They cited tariffs as a key factor in creating instability.

Gladys Harrison, owner of Big Mama's Kitchen and Catering in Omaha, said the tariffs will affect the cost of the imported seasonings she uses for her family's oven-fried chicken recipe.

"They're telling me," said Harrison, "that they could see a 25% to 145% increase with these tariffs in what they're going to charge me for my seasonings."

The Trump administration has said it is imposing tariffs in an effort to create more U.S.-based jobs and improve the domestic economy.

Harrison said she is thinking of ways to avoid closing her doors or passing the price increases on to her loyal customers, many of whom have been eating Big Mama's fried chicken for generations.

"And we don't want to have our food so expensive," said Harrison, "that the people who live and work in our community can't come and spend their money with us."

Harrison said higher costs will also hinder her ability to be involved in the community, a tradition she said her mother and grandmother taught her was critical to any small, family-owned business.




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