The Morning Agenda

Hurricane season begins this Friday, on June 1st. National Weather Service forecasters predict the Mid-Atlantic region will see ‘lower than average’ tropical storm activity this year. 

Despite rainy conditions over the holiday weekend – and much of the past week – much of Pennsylvania continues to be under drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.   

Last week, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it would give Pennsylvania nearly $40 million to address PFAS contamination in drinking water, the agency also said it would roll back PFAS regulations.  

A recent study by the National...

On this Memorial Day, we have a special episode for you – a conversation with Dale and Jan Hanby, hosts of WITF’s newest podcast “Cloth of the Nation.”

Tuesday’s primary saw incumbents and moderate candidates prevail despite high levels of political polarization and dissatisfaction with the Democratic and Republican parties.

State lawmakers are considering shifting oversight of Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program to a new entity. Some say it could be a key step toward legalizing recreational cannabis.

PennDOT has announced bridge repairs on coming to a span in Adams County beginning June 1st. 

With motorcycle riding season in full swing, PennDOT is reminding cyclists, as well as the entire motoring public, the importance of sharing the road and cutting down...

Pennsylvania lags behind most of the country in increasing renewable energy.

State Senator Doug Mastriano has been nominated to serve as the next US ambassador to Slovakia.

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Brian Miller as the United States Attorney for the Moddle District of Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has temporarily suspended Cumberland County attorney Richard Lee King.

The City of Reading has officially broken ground on a major solar energy project on the public works campus.

Bonus Episode: Primary Election Night Results

In the wake of the arrest of a Lebanon County man in connection with threats made against state lawmakers, some legislators say PA state needs to a better job on informing them of such dangers. 

State Senator Doug Mastriano has been nominated by Donald Trump to be the next U.S. ambassador to Slovakia. 

It’s known as the State of Preschool Yearbook. It’s an annual report dating back to 2002, designed to track enrollment in and funding for and quality standards related to state-funded preschool programs. Lead author of the report Allison Friedman-Kross recently joined...

Penn State faculty members have voted overwhelmingly in favor of joining a union.  

It’s primary election day in Pennsylvania. The most closely watched race in our area is for the Democratic nomination for Congress in the 10th District. Voters will choose between former TV news anchor Janelle Stelson and Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas

In the race for Governor, incumbent Democrat Josh Shapiro is running unopposed, as is Republican Stace Garrity, who currently serves as state Treasurer.

The artificial intelligence boom is leading to fights in some states over growing utility profits

You might think of the last week of May as the week of Memorial Day. But for nearly 250 spelling bee champions from across the country, it’s “bee week” as they head to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. That includes our very own WITF Central PA Spelling Bee Champion Vedika Burman of Harrisburg. Meet our 11-year-old champion and hear how she’s preparing for the big competition, in today’s deep dive.

Pennsylvania State Police say twenty Democratic state lawmakers were targeted by online threats, which led to the arrest of a suspect last week. 

State police arrested a 42-year-old Lebanon County man last week, after they say he made a series of threats on social media last month.

 Voting by Penn State faculty on whether to unionize ended last week. Ballot counting began Wednesday and is slated to be completed by today (Fri).

The York County SPCA is asking for the public's help, after rescuing more than 50 dogs from a hoarding situation. Officials say it...

The Shapiro Administration is now two months into its “Healthy Moms, Vibrant Futures” maternal health strategic action plan. The goal is to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, supported by community input, collaboration from multiple state departments and a 5-year federal grant.

A Lebanon County man is charged with making terroristic threats online, against 20 Pennsylvania lawmakers. Pennsylvania State Police arrested and charged 42-year-old Adam Berryhill after they say he posted quote "politically violent" posts including a "hit list" on his X account in late April.

President Donald Trump is nominating State Senator and former GOP gubernatorial cand...

Homelessness is increasing in central Pennsylvania. The number of people living in shelters, cars, and tents are near record highs.

The Mutter Museum is opening a new exhibit examining one of the darkest periods in Philadelphia history, the 1976 outbreak at an American Legion convention that left nearly 3 dozen people dead. It led to the discovery of Legionnaires' Disease.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice David Wecht said Monday he has changed his political affiliation.

In Cumberland County, Wormleysburg is considering withdrawing from its current regional police department.

Operators of the Millersburg Ferry are...

Early estimates show Pennsylvania's specialty crop industry could be facing losses between $150 million and $200 million dollars this season. That's due to early warm weather that produced blossoms on fruit trees - followed by freezing temperatures in April. Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding says the size and scope of damage is unprecedented.

Governor Josh Shapiro is requesting expedited disaster assistance from the U-S Department of Agriculture. 

For the better part of a century, the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel has carried drivers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike through the eastern continental divide.  It’s at the highest point on the...

Pennsylvania has just a few months left to spend its first round of federal funding dedicated to rural health.  The money is intended to offset Medicaid losses during the next decade, with this initial award prioritizing existing program stabilization.  Emergency responders are exploring what future funding rounds could mean for their services.

Submissions are now being accepted for The Older Artists of PA Showcase planned for later this summer at the State Capitol. 

And a deeper dive:

In suburban Philadelphia, a farm and a nonprofit are teaming up and forging a unique partnership to...

With Commencement season upon us, the State System of Higher Education is sending thousands of graduates out into the workforce. 

Nearly 20,000 students are graduating from state system universities. Nearly 90% of the students are from Pennsylvania and most graduates stay in the state. 

Four-day school schedules are gaining in popularity across the country. Starting this fall, students at a Catholic secondary school in Williamsport, Lycoming County are joining the trend.

The State Department of Health is working closely with health care providers in Lebanon County after three individuals were hospitalized with measles. 

The...

Governor Josh Shapiro says the system formed in the last century to regulate utilities is broken. Shapiro wrote a letter to two dozen water, gas and electric utilities in the state outlining benchmarks required for his Administration to support any future rate hikes.

Pennsylvania has been awarded a federal grant to install a geothermal project at an existing natural gas site in western Pennsylvania. The pilot project is the first of its kind in the Eastern U.S.

Pennsylvania has filed suit against a company that specializes in artificial intelligence, claiming its chatbots illegally hold...

A memorial service Monday honored fallen Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Timothy J. O'Connor Jr. at PSP Headquarters in Harrisburg. The 40-year-old O'Connor was fatally shot on March 8th in Chester County during a traffic stop.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has joined a coalition of nearly two-dozen states urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse new restrictions on medication abortion. 

Pennsylvania has more than 450 community health centers that serve more than a million patients each year, many of whom are low-income earners. They operate without consistent state funding, despite supporters saying they’re a good inv...

A pro-immigrant coalition recently rallied on the Capitol steps. They were there to pressure Governor Josh Shapiro to use his executive power to limit the state’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority has been approved to spend over $711 million to connect remaining locations in the Commonwealth to high-speed internet service.

The new owners of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette are making deep cuts to the newsroom staff.

The twice-yearly ritual of changing clocks has its detractors, but is making daylight saving time or standard time permanent a better idea? Wh...

 This is the second year Pennsylvania hunters can bag certain game on Sundays, once again with the exception of migratory game birds. The Pennsylvania Game Commission recently approved dates and regulations for the upcoming seasons.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is accepting works for its 2027 Working Together for Wildlife Art Contest. 

An environmental group has issued a ‘notice of intent to sue’ the Neville Chemical Company for polluting the Ohio River near Pittsburgh.

York City officials have notified a homeless encampment that they'll be shutting down the encampment within a month. The city is callin...

Researchers have been polling Pennsylvanians for 14 years on their feelings about public health issues facing the commonwealth. This year’s survey from Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion and the Muhlenberg College Public Health program documented a record number of respondents dissatisfied with the overall quality of healthcare in the state.

In just a few weeks, Philadelphia will host World Cup soccer games and soon after, the city is throwing a big celebration for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The National Liberty Museum, in Philadelphia, now has an exhibit that shows how...

Pennsylvania lawmakers are advancing legislation to end the death penalty. Advocates say the movement comes as public support for the death penalty has declined, with one poll showing it’s dropped from 42 percent to 29 percent during the past decade. The two bills’ prime sponsors offer different rationales for opposing capital punishment.

A federal judge is siding with Pennsylvania over an out-of-state advocacy group in a lawsuit about voter data.

Pennsylvania's high court ruled Tuesday that spreadsheets of raw data from ballots are public records.

A man who managed voter registration drives in Pennsylvania ahea...

Democrats are trying to find a candidate who can beat incumbent Republican Scott Perry in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional race The primary race is between centrist Janelle Stelson and progressive Justin Douglas.

Some Pennsylvania lawmakers say, as immigrant students’ rights have come under attack, they want to take steps to ensure public schools remain safe and welcoming. New state legislation would require schools to adopt policies that protect students’ privacy and limit ICE enforcement on school grounds.

Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians rely on direct care workers to get a little assistance at home. Most work for...

The Shapiro administration is proposing that Pennsylvania pass new funding to provide meals for Medicaid recipients with diabetes and other diseases. Providing nutritious meals that are tailored to a person’s specific medical needs can improve health care outcomes, research shows. But the meals aren’t typically covered by health insurance.

As more Americans live with obesity and diabetes, ultra processed food, like chips, candy, and cereal, have come under a lot of scrutiny lately. Two Pennsylvania food policy researchers argue that governments should regulate those products like tobacco. This comes as some other scientists, and policy makers...

The American Lung Association is out with their 2026 State of the Air Report, and more than half of Pennsylvania's counties have some form of air pollution. 37 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties received less-than-perfect grades for either ozone or particle pollution - and that includes 9 counties in our listening area - Adams, Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Northumberland and York.

Gov. Josh Shapiro announced two Western Pennsylvania coal plants will push back their retirement date by at least four more years.

Pennsylvania received $193 million this year from the Rural Health Transformation Program. But the state’s rural heal...

The Pennsylvania Turnpike is preparing to activate a solar microgrid to provide power for a data center at its regional office and State Police barracks in New Stanton.

A transit system in Northeast Pennsylvania is investing in a multi-million-dollar expansion project. It’s known as the Pocono Pony.

If you have tickets for FIFA World Cup matches this summer, you might be wondering how to travel to the games or where to park.

Pennsylvania's spring turkey hunting season will soon open. The latest edition comes on the heels of the best harvest in the...

Advocates for the state’s 47 rape crisis centers say the state must double its funding for their services next year, or some survivors may go without support.

State officials are highlighting a grant program to recruit and retain childcare workers across the Commonwealth. The Department of Human Services announces Dauphin County's Follow Me Christian Child Care Center is the recipient of the largest Child Care Recruitment and Retention Program bonus award.  

The State Attorney General's office is warning of a new twist on cash scams circulating in the Commonwealth.

Millions of Americans are los...

In six of the last ten years, Pennsylvania lawmakers have missed their June 30 deadline to deliver a state budget. New legislation is aimed at ensuring state funding can still get out, even when lawmakers blow their deadline.

Pennsylvania’s decades-old ban on using Medicaid to cover an abortion is on the edge of unraveling. A statewide court ruled Monday that the ban is unconstitutional.

Free testing, treatment and counseling for sexually-transmitted infections is available at all 59 state health centers in Pennsylvania – which is why, state officials say, the overall number of sexually-transmitted infections are declining. 

...

Pennsylvania is introducing new privacy protections for people with disabilities, including those with autism. Governor Josh Shapiro announced the changes last week in a series of executive orders.

The Pennsylvania auditor general says the state’s so-called motor-voter system is working as intended, despite one error caught during a review.

A Florida energy company is planning to build a high-voltage power line in southwest Pennsylvania to feed data centers in Northern Virginia. The company is seeking the right of eminent domain.

A house fire claimed the lives of a mother and six children Sun...

Two Bhutanese refugees living in central Pennsylvania are detained and facing deportation. It’s the latest in a series of cases where the Trump administration is deporting the refugees back to a country that simply kicks them out again.

Getting mail-in ballots ready for counting is a time-consuming process that has slowed results on every election night since 2020, when Pennsylvanians first got the option to cast absentee ballots without an excuse. State lawmakers are considering a measure that would let county election workers begin that work as far as a week out from Election Day.

The...

With a new state law now in effect, vape vendors in Pennsylvania may only purchase products from certified manufacturers. 

Geisinger and Risant Health are asking the Pennsylvania Insurance Department to lower the amount of money they have to keep in reserves. That could give the health system access to another 100 million dollars. The state’s largest healthcare workers’ union wants to know what Geisinger will do with that money.

Brown and rainbow trout were recently stocked in a section of the Conowingo Creek in Lancaster County to highlight stream restoration efforts. The project was supported by tw...

The Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s historic 28th Infantry Division has created a new unit to counter modern threats. The change is part of a broader initiative across the U-S Army in response to lessons learned in Ukraine, where drones and other electronic warfare made traditional tactics obsolete.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, slated for closure in May, will instead continue operations under a new nonprofit owner.

The Pennsylvania state House has approved two bills to regulate data center development.

The State Department of Labor and Industry has announced nearly 3 million dollars in Industry Partnership gr...

One way Pennsylvania is marking America's 250th anniversary is through a geocaching trail which includes 25 state parks. The GPS-driven scavenger hunt has sites in several state parks located in the midstate.

York County Commissioner Julie Wheeler hailed the announcement as a great way to tie recreation together with local history.

More news from Pennsylvania’s state park system: Pennsylvania is adding its 125th state park this month — and this one is entirely underground.

And in Blair County, Hollidaysburg Borough Council members are compromising on their vision for a Slinky museum. The iconic spring toy wi...

Governor Josh Shapiro is rallying Democrats ahead of this year’s midterm elections. Shapiro spoke to a nearly packed room of almost 400 people at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center.

Several high-profile Democrats also spoke at the weekend event. Conor Lamb, a former U.S. Representative who also ran against Senator John Fetterman, says Democrats have a large window of opportunity this year.

For decades, social scientists studying bias and prejudice have relied on Project Implicit, a nonprofit research collaborative and website where people can take tests to measure their own unconscious biases. Millions of pe...

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is appealing orders that have basically stalled two detention centers planned in Pennsylvania. Part of the issue is the sites’ water and sewage capacity wouldn’t support the number of people who’d be there, should the facilities come to fruition.

The continued detention of an asylum-seeker arrested in Central Pennsylvania highlights many of the Trump administration’s changes to immigration policy.

The State Attorney General's Office is warning Pennsylvanians about the prevalence of fraudulent investment schemes on Meta social media platforms.

And the deadline to file your taxe...

The National Weather Service issued an elevated risk of wildfire spread Thursday. Forecasters say the combination of marginally dry and breezy conditions is creating an elevated risk of wildfire spread across most of central Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania's wildfire season runs from March through May.

Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity recently donated nearly $38,000 in unclaimed property to five nonprofit agencies.

One of the nonprofits receiving those donations is the Caring Cupboard based in Palmyra, Lebanon County.

Officials with an animal rehab center in northeastern Pennsylvania are looking to re-house hundreds of pigeons that were rescued from a W...

Five weeks before Pennsylvania’s primary, a self-declared grassroots candidate is trying to upset the Democratic Party’s endorsed choice for Congress. The winner will face Republican Scott Perry in a contest projected to be competitive for a U.S. House seat.

The voter registration deadline for the upcoming primary is less than a month away.

Dozens of new data centers are planned across Pennsylvania. State lawmakers have introduced a flurry of legislation to address their rapid growth.

This year, all of Pennsylvania's state Representatives and half of Pennsylvania's state Senators will be on t...

More than 120,000 Pennsylvanians have dropped health insurance coverage through the state's marketplace this year. Premium spikes and the loss of federal subsidies are playing a role.

It’s well known that smoking can lead to lung cancer. New research now finds a connection between lung cancer and air pollution.  

U.S. Steel’s new owner scored near the bottom in a new climate ranking for steel companies.

Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor and Industry has released a preliminary report on unemployment and the workforce from January. Combined with the latest national jobs data, it’s gener...

Pennsylvania Democrats recently got a bill to raise the minimum wage through the state House, though it likely will face resistance in the GOP-controlled Senate. It’s the third time in four years that this chain of events is playing out on this issue. But a public relations firm is now getting involved, opposing the measure on behalf of industries that rely on low-wage workers and their allies. 

The Governor's proposed budget includes nearly a million dollars in state funding for healthy meals for Medicaid recipients with chronic health conditions. The money would fund a new pilot program...

Pennsylvania firefighters say they’re feeling the pinch as private equity firms buy up truck manufacturers. At one time, fire departments had two dozen independent companies to choose from to acquire and service their apparatus – but options have dwindled as private equity firms consolidate factories and grow profits.

A recent study finds that energy generated in Pennsylvania will be used for out-of-state data centers. Representatives from three environmental organizations detailed the report at the University of Scranton.

A federal judge has ordered the University of Pennsylvania to comply with a subpoena seeking information on Jewish facult...

A rural Perry County township nestled in the crook of the Susquehanna is joining a national debate over the construction of data centers. Watts Township supervisors moved Wednesday night’s meeting outside as more than 125 people showed up and filled the room past capacity.

Last year in Chester County, just east of Lancaster County, 55 people died from accidental overdoses. That's the lowest number in a decade.

Governor Josh Shapiro and first lady Lori Shapiro hosted an interfaith discussion at the Governor's Residence in Harrisburg Wednesday night. Interfaith leaders gathered in the renovated room burned in a fir...

Top Pennsylvania lawmakers say school districts may need to demonstrate improvements before additional state dollars are guaranteed. This year’s budget proposal includes a third installment of adequacy funds for historically underfunded schools.

A bill in the state House of Representative would allow the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association to establish separate playoff systems and championships for boundary and non-boundary schools.

A federal judge has ordered the University of Pennsylvania to comply with a government subpoena seeking information on Jewish students and faculty.

The Department of Homeland Security is pausing the purchase of new war...