Pennsylvania News & Current Events

Gov. Tom Wolf already has increased the minimum wage for state employees and contractors, which is set to reach $15 an hour by July 2024. (Gov. Tom Wolf/Flickr)

Friday, October 22, 2021

Gov. Pushes for PA Worker Safety, Higher Minimum Wage

PITTSBURGH - As businesses across the country deal with a massive labor shortage, Pennsylvania aims to entice people back to the workplace by …

Pennsylvania ranks fifth in the country for total COVID vaccination doses administered. (Adobe Stock)

New COVID Vaccine Grant Supports PA Orgs Tackling Hesitancy

PHILADELPHIA - Pennsylvania hit a milestone last week with 70% of adults fully vaccinated - but there's still work to be done. A new grant program …

Northern Pennsylvania counties such as Potter, McKean, Susquehanna and Wayne are experiencing peak fall foliage this week, according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. (Adobe Stock)

PA's Warm Fall, Rainy Summer Might Be Impacting Autumn Foliage

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- October is usually the best time of year to see the bright, changing leaf colors that ring in autumn in Pennsylvania, but …

Organizers with the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership say they hope to hit their halfway goal of plating 5 million trees by the end of 2022. (Adobe Stock)

PA Groups Planting Trees as Part of "10 Million By 2025" Goal

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Now through November, Pennsylvania groups will plant an estimated 300,000 trees for fall, as part of a goal of 10 million new …

More than 40% of nursing-home respondents said they have 21 or more job openings within their facilities. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: PA Long-Term Care Industry in Crisis

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Amid staffing shortages at Pennsylvania's long-term care facilities, there are growing fears many vulnerable older adults and …

A majority of residents surveyed said parks and outdoor spaces were essential for their mental health, especially during the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Report: How COVID, DEI Impact Pennsylvanians' Relationships with Parks

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania's parks and outdoor recreational spaces became havens for many in the state looking for safe activities during the …

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro is suing student-loan service giant Navient for engaging in unfair practices that he alleges misled students about their repayment plans. (Adobe Stock)

Student Loan Forgiveness Overhaul Could Mean Big Changes for PA Educators

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Major changes are on their way to the U.S. Department of Education's Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which could have a …

Fewer than one in five bills introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly actually receives consideration. Democratic senators think amending the Senate rules could change those odds. (Adobe Stock)

PA Dems: New Rules Needed for State Senate Accountability

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- With just two weeks until the state Senate reconvenes, Pennsylvania lawmakers appear to have two different sets of priorities…

An estimated 25,000 Pennsylvania children were in the foster-care system in 2019, according to data from Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. (Adobe Stock)

With Federal Support, PA Focuses on Keeping Kids Out of Foster Care

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania implements a new, evidence-based prevention plan on Friday, to help kids at risk of out-of-home placement stay with …

The American Sustainable Business Council letter warns the extreme weather events becoming more frequent due to climate change are major threats to businesses across the country. (Adobe Stock)

Businesses to Congress: Pass the 'Build Back Better' Plan

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Congress is expected to vote on the Biden administration's Build Back Better agenda, which includes creating clean energy jobs to …

People who experienced a qualifying life event such as losing health insurance can enroll through the state-run program Pennie at any time during the year. (Adobe Stock)

Ahead of PA Open Enrollment, Make a Plan for Health Coverage, Experts Say

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvanians have less than two months until open enrollment through Pennie, the state-run health insurance marketplace…

A 2016 study from Princeton and Stanford found the combined emissions output of Pennsylvania's abandoned wells adds an estimated 50,000 metric tons of methane per year into the atmosphere. (Adobe Stock)

PA Groups Urge State to Increase Oil, Gas Well Bond Amounts

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Some environmental groups are formally requesting that Pennsylvania's Environmental Quality Board raise the bond amounts companies …

Pennsylvania's Legislative Reapportionment Commission has held three public hearings so far to gather resident's input on the redistricting process. (Adobe Stock)

PA Creates Redistricting Advisory Council to Help Prevent Gerrymandering

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A new Redistricting Advisory Council announced last week by Gov. Tom Wolf's office will focus on reducing gerrymandering as new …

A letter from high earners to Congress supports President Biden's plan to tax capital gains income as ordinary income for individuals making more than $1 million a year. (Adobe Stock)

200-Plus Wealthy Leaders from PA, Beyond Urge Congress to Pass Tax Hike

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- More than 200 high earners have written a letter urging Congress to raise taxes to help support social safety-net programs that …

People confined in Pennsylvania jails are eligible to vote as long as they are not currently serving time for a felony conviction. (Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Lacks Universal Policy for Voting in Jails

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Many Pennsylvania county jails don't have clear policies to support voting access for people in jails, according to a new report …

Pennsylvania's Supreme Court has one seat open after former Chief Justice Thomas Saylor hit the mandatory retirement age of 75. (Adobe Stock)

With Virtual Forum, Get to Know PA Judicial Candidates on Nov. Ballot

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvanians will vote this November to elect judges in the state's three appellate courts, and a virtual candidate forum next …

More than 2 million acres of state forest land in Pennsylvania is protected by public ownership. (Adobe Stock)

State Foresters' Group Celebrates 100-Plus Years in PA

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The National Association of State Foresters was formed in 1920, with its first meeting in Harrisburg amid an increase in large …

The majority of Pennsylvania's greenhouse-gas emissions are from energy consumption. (Adobe Stock)

PA Becomes 2nd State to Offer Climate-Change Leadership Training

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania is now the second state in the country to launch a program focused on training state and local leaders on tackling …

Since 2013, Pennsylvania's neighboring states New York, Maryland and New Jersey have all enacted legislation that puts them on a pathway to $15 minimum wages. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Increasing Minimum Wage in PA and Beyond Would Help Rebuild Economy

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- With the expanded unemployment benefits from the American Rescue Plan ending last week, a new report from the Keystone Research …

For the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Flight 93 National Memorial hosts several events, including a name-reading ceremony on Saturday at 10:03 a.m., the time of the crash. (Adobe Stock)

Chalk Portraits to Honor 'Heroes' of United Flight 93 on 9/11

STOYSTOWN, Pa. -- Many have called United Flight 93, one of the four hijacked planes on Sep. 11, 2001, the first battle in the war on terror…

Tropical Storm Ida left towns like Conshohocken, in Montgomery County, completely submerged in floodwaters. (Michael Stokes/Wikimedia Commons)

PA Forest Action Could Help Prevent Damage from Extreme Weather, Like Ida

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania's creeks and rivers flooded at historic levels last week after Tropical Storm Ida decimated the Northeast. In the …

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation report found many people enrolled in Medicare go without dental care. (Adobe Stock)

PA Groups Back Expanding Medicare to 'Treat the Whole Person'

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. -- Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa, has introduced legislation to expand Medicare coverage to include dental, hearing and vision care…

Since school started in Pennsylvania, the Department of Health says 5,000 students have tested positive for COVID-19. It's one reason for Gov. Tom Wolf's Sept. 7 mask mandate. (Gov. Tom Wolf/Flickr)

Mask Mandate Coming for All PA K-12 Schools, Child-Care Centers

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Face masks will be mandatory at all public and private K-through-12 schools in Pennsylvania, starting next week. Gov. Tom Wolf …

The letter to Pennsylvania's congressional representatives calls for infrastructure funding to support the return of the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps, with a focus on addressing climate change. (Adobe Stock)

PA Groups Call for Infrastructure Deal That Benefits Appalachia

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Three dozen Pennsylvania advocacy groups sent a letter last week to the state's congressional delegation, calling on them to …

The Biden administration is sticking with an Aug. 31 deadline to rescue refugees and remove U.S. troops from Afghanistan. (Adobe Stock)

Afghan Refugees Arriving Through Philadelphia International Airport

PHILADELPHIA - Several hundred refugees from Afghanistan started to arrive at Philadelphia International Airport this weekend, only a few days after …

In a new poll, 59% of voters in Pennsylvania say they're stressed out about not being able to afford their monthly premiums for health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: PA Voters Want Lawmakers to Help Keep Health-Care Costs Down

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvanians are growing more concerned with the affordability of their health care, according to a new poll. More than 600 …

According to a Villanova University study, more than 200,000 Pennsylvania residents, 100,000 of whom are Black, currently are underrepresented due to prison gerrymandering. (Adobe Stock)

PA Advocates Praise Commission's Vote to End 'Prison Gerrymandering'

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania's Legislative Reapportionment Commission, the body tasked with creating the state's legislative maps based on U.S…

This week, state Sen. Katie Muth, D-Moyersford, and Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Philadelphia, started circulating memos in the General Assembly seeking sponsorship of bills to increase TANF benefits to 50% of the federal poverty level. (Annie Spratt/Unsplash)

Report: TANF Benefits Vital for PA, But Program Needs Overhaul

HARRISBURG, Pa. - This week marks the 25th anniversary of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the cash-assistance program commonly known as TANF…

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and others have filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to hold Pennsylvania accountable for polluting the bay. (Adobe Stock)

Legislation Could Bring Funding to PA for Chesapeake Bay Cleanup

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania is behind on its goal to reduce pollution into Chesapeake Bay, and clean-water proponents say legislation in …

Many parents kept kids out of pediatricians' offices during the pandemic as a precaution. Those doctors are now saying it's time to get kids back on track with their wellness visits. (Adobe Stock)

PA Group Encourages Well-Child Doctor Visits Ahead of School Year

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- As students gear up for getting back to school, Pennsylvania childrens' advocates are asking parents to ensure kids are up-to-date …

Pennsylvania does not currently mandate students or teachers to wear face coverings and has left it up to school districts to decide. (Adobe Stock)

PA Offers New Testing Programs, More Vaccine Clinics to Keep Schools Open

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- With a few weeks until school starts, the state Departments of Health and Education have announced new initiatives to keep K-12 …

Pennsylvania's Legislative Reapportionment Commission has held public hearings in Harrisburg to gather input on redistricting based on 2020 census results. (Adobe Stock)

PA Groups Call for Public Comment to Be Part of Census Redistricting

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania's population has grown to more than 13 million, according to new census data - and as the mapmaking process gets under …

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported more than 2,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, August 12. (Gov. Tom Wolf/Flickr)

PA Sets Vaccine Requirements for Health-Care Workers

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania's Department of Health has announced an expectation that 80% of nursing-home staff in the Commonwealth be fully …

Pennsylvania is receiving funds from the federal Wagner-Peyser Act program to support SkillUp PA. (Glenn Carstens-Peters/Unsplash)

PA Creates Virtual Skills Training Program To Help Job Seekers

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania is launching an online job-training program focused on helping residents looking for a new career get the expertise …

Scranton, in Lackawanna County, is home to more than 10,000 public-school students. (Adobe Stock)

AFT President to Attend Scranton 'Back to School for All' Events

SCRANTON, Pa. - Community block parties in Scranton this evening are getting some national attention. American Federation of Teachers President …

Pennsylvania has the widest funding gap between wealthy and poor school districts of any state in the country. (Adobe Stock)

Some Racial Evidence to Be Permitted in PA School Funding Lawsuit

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- With less than a month until a Pennsylvania public school funding lawsuit is set to begin, a Commonwealth Court judge recently …

Gov. Tom Wolf's administration does not plan to reinstate a face-mask mandate for public schools in Pennsylvania, leaving it up to school districts' discretion. (Adobe Stock)

PA Educators: Use ARP Funds to Support Student Mental Health

HARRISBURG, Pa. - For many young people, the social isolation of the pandemic has had negative effects, and as Commonwealth students prepare to …

Pennsylvania unveiled its state-based health insurance marketplace, Pennie, in September 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Special Enrollment for PA Health Insurance Marketplace Ends Aug. 15

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania residents have until next week to enroll in a plan through the state's health-insurance marketplace, Pennie. Thanks …

According to a recent poll, 86% of Pennsylvanians are concerned about air pollution. (Adobe Stock)

Poll Finds Support for Holding Natural-Gas Industry Accountable in PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvanians are growing worried about the environmental consequences of natural-gas drilling in the state, according to a new …

To address racial disparities in youth detention, The Sentencing Project report recommends state and local governments invest in community programs that address social inequities. (Adobe Stock)

PA Cuts Youth Justice Racial Disparities; Still Above U.S. Detention Average

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Despite youth incarceration rates falling nationwide in the last few years, major racial disparities remain for kids in …

Chronic wasting disease can be transmitted between deer, along with food and soil contaminated by bodily fluids. (Adobe Stock)

Wildlife Feeding Ban Proposed in Allegheny National Forest

WARREN, Pa. -- A temporary animal-feeding ban is being proposed for the Allegheny National Forest after a captive deer tested positive for chronic …

A new study estimates for every dollar invested in universal access to eviction counsel in Pennsylvania, there is an estimated cost savings of $3 to $6. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Universal Access to Legal Counsel Could Help Prevent Evictions in PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- As housing advocates prepare for the end of the CDC's eviction moratorium Saturday, a new report showed expanding access to legal …

A white paper from ReImagine Appalachia estimates that reforestation of mountaintop removal sites could absorb 8% to 10% of carbon emissions in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. It's the type of project a new CCC could take on. (Adobe Stock)

Casey's Civilian Conservation Corps Could Help Fight Climate Change

HARRISBURG, Pa. - U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., wants to bring back the Civilian Conservation Corps, a public-works program from the 1930s that created …

Pennsylvania's parks and recreation economy provides an estimated $1.9 billion annually in state and local tax revenue. (Adobe Stock)

PA Mayors Call on Congress to Pass Parks, Jobs & Equity Act

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A petition signed by 19 mayors from across Pennsylvania urges the state's congressional delegation to pass the Parks, Jobs…

A new report finds programs like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Weatherization Assistance Program could eventually transform energy-bill assistance into self-reliance through investments in local solar energy. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 30M Solar Homes Could Boost Jobs, Benefit Environment

HARRISBURG, Pa. - With federal investment, a proposal to connect 30 million homes in the United States to solar energy could have a big impact in …

Reports suggest state and local municipalities can enact policies to keep more money in local economies and reduce damage to health and quality of life, in the wake of the natural-gas boom. (Adobe Stock)

Reports: What PA, Appalachia Can Learn from Natural Gas Boom's Failure

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A new report demonstrates why the last decade's natural-gas boom in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia fell below expectations …

Unconventional wells emit methane and lead to air pollution in nearby communities. (SkyTruth/Flickr)

Groups Urge Wolf Administration to Strengthen Methane Emissions Rule

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Advocates for clean air are calling on the Wolf administration to strengthen a proposed regulation on methane emissions. They say …

ATV environmental impacts include noise pollution, damage to vegetation, soil degradation, and disturbance to wildlife. (Adobe Stock)

PA Pilot Program Expands ATV Trail Connector Access

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- North Central Pennsylvania will soon have 70 miles of new roads open to all-terrain vehicles, connecting the existing Potter and …

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