In the wake of Steelton's Cleveland-Cliffs plant temporarily laying off more than 500 employees, a southwestern Pennsylvania state senator says his new bill could encourage new investment in aging steel plants.

The Pennsylvania State Police will no longer carry shotguns in their cruisers.

Early May rainfall, along with expected rainfall this week, may ease Lancaster County's severe drought status.

Berks County officials are reviewing a report analyzing the county inmate population and its finding that jail is too often used as a default tool to address social issues such as poverty, homelessness and substance use.

Pottsville Mayor Mark Atkinson is resigning for health reasons.

The Hershey Bears continue their quest for their third straight Calder Cup, as well as their 14th AHL championship overall.

Last year, a nonprofit group in Pittsburgh, with a partner in Philadelphia, was awarded a large federal grant as part of a $2 billion climate justice program through the Inflation Reduction Act. But now, climate and environmental justice projects are "out" with the Trump administration, and the grant has evaporated. The Allegheny Front’s Julie Grant reports what's at stake.

Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Penn State is behind its peers when it comes to commercializing its research.

Voters will soon head to the polls in the first round of elections for local offices. Primary elections for judges, mayors, school directors and some election workers are on May 20. Secretary of State Al Schmidt says turnout is traditionally low for local elections even though they offer more tangible impact for voters.

Pennsylvania’s neighboring states, New Jersey and Delaware are among 17 states [along with the District of Columbia] that are suing the Trump administration over wind energy.

Firefighters battled two forest fires for two weeks recently in Cumberland County's Michaux State Forest. Providing more details and context is Mike Kern, the state's Forest Fire Protection Chief, within the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Bureau of Forestry.

Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A committee in the Pennsylvania House is advancing two elections bills. Voter ID and a suite of reforms are being sent to the House floor for consideration.

Representative Malcolm Kenyatta, a Democrat from Philadelphia, says the elections reform package will address election security concerns like double voting and improving verification of voter registration, while voter ID is a solution in search of a problem.

Historical societies, libraries and other local education and government organizations can apply for state funding to help improve the care and accessibility of Pennsylvania's historical records.

On May 2nd, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission disclosed, in their online public library, that a fire broke out at Three Mile Island's Unit 2 reactor building back on Febrary 11th. Plant owners TMI-2 Solutions did not put out a public notice... although they did notify the NRC and the state Department of Environmental Protection at the time. That means a community advisory panel did not learn about the fire until the NRC's public posting on May 2nd.

Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman was meeting recently with representatives from a Pennsylvania teachers union when things quickly devolved. Fetterman began repeating himself, shouting and slamming his hands on a desk. The interaction adds to the questions being raised about the Democratic senator's mental health and behavior barely three years after a he survived a stroke and two years after being treated for depression.

The Pittsburgh Pirates fired manager Derek Shelton following a rocky opening month to the Major League Baseball season that saw Pittsburgh quickly slip into last place in the NL Central.

Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pennsylvania’s Republican senators, joined by five Democrats, are trying to ban transgender athletes from participating in school or collegiate sports. The Senate - after 90 minutes of heated debate - voted to pass the bill despite indications it will not be picked up in the House.

Pennsylvania House Democrats are planting the seed for a recreational marijuana program. The adult-use bill passed out of committee by a narrow 14 to 12 vote.

A story on the gunfire which broke out at a Donald Trump rally in western Pennsylvania last summer is the recipient of journalism's top award.

Two hospital systems that serve central Pa. have indicated they will no longer offer gender-affirming care to children and teens after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January. Penn State Health and UPMC said they will comply with the executive order that said any health systems that provide gender-affirming care for children under 19 years old would lose federal funding.

In response to the February shooting at York's UPMC Memorial Hospital, the state House of Representatives has passed a bill intended to curb workplace violence in healthcare facilities.

Two weeks after they began, a pair of wildfires in Michaux State Forest are considered fully extinguished.

Some encouraging news for a 20-year-old who fell from the top of a 21-foot-high wall onto the warning track at PNC Park during a Pittsburgh Pirates game last week: Lavan Markwood has taken his first steps since the accident.

And Mechanicsburg has a new police chief.

Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philadelphia is again facing repercussions after President Trump signed a new executive order targeting sanctuary cities—those that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Pennsylvania's state House Republican leader says transit agencies in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh should consider privatizing some functions to avoid service cuts.

Primary Election Day in Pennsylvania is two weeks from today, on Tuesday, May 20th. Universal voter ID has been a political hot topic in the past few years. Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt explains what voter ID requirements exist in Pennsylvania.

The number of people killed in fatal crashes on Pennsylvania highways was the second lowest since record keeping began nearly a century ago. PennDOT announces that 1,127 people were killed in 2024, 82 fewer than the year before.

Sewer rates are doubling for York residents. The city is coming out of a three-year rate freeze implemented when Pennsylvania American Water acquired the system.

The Trump administration recently announced plans to cut the national Consumer Financial Protection Bureau by 90%. That's why Governor Josh Shapiro is unveiling a new phone number and state website designed to help Pennsylvanians report possible financial scams and issues.

And WITF’s Vice President of Media and Production Fred Vigeant sits down with WITF’s long-time reporter Rachel McDevitt for a special conversation.

Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The investigation into hundreds of potentially fraudulent voter registration forms is ongoing, six months after it was first announced in the week before Election Day last fall.

Thousands of people packed into the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg last Friday evening to hear from U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders.

This is Small Business Week in Pennsylvania.

A PA college football team recently held a drive to add students to the national registry of potential bone marrow donors.

Steelton's Cleveland-Cliffs plant is temporarily laying off more than 500 employees. The company calls the move an "idling" of the plant, which produces rails that carry freight and passengers, along with steel for heavy machinery, power plants and military equipment such as submarines.

100 firefighters from dozens of fire companies battled a fire Saturday at a Snyder County modular home manufacturer. Damage, at Apex Homes of PA located in Middleburg, is estimated at $5 million.

Pennsylvania utility regulators are bracing for a surge in electricity demand driven in large part by the opening of new, power-intensive data centers. WITF's Rachel McDevitt reports on a recent hearing at the Public Utility Commission.

Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pennsylvania's state House Republican leader says transit agencies in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh should consider privatizing some functions to avoid service cuts. House minority leader Jesse Topper says Philadelphia's transit system -- the largest in the state -- could run more efficiently by hiring outside drivers. A spokesperson for Pittsburgh Regional Transit dismissed the idea.

Pennsylvanians have less than a week to obtain a Real ID by the May 7th deadline. PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said PennDOT is ramping up for the last-minute rush.

A new greenhouse gas emissions inventory from Philadelphia shows planet-warming emissions, are decreasing... from sources such as cars, trucks, homes, industrial facilities and leaks from gas pipelines. Sophia Schmidt, from our friends at WHYY's Climate Desk, reports.

Pennsylvania was set to receive $13 million over three years to purchase fresh produce for communities in need. That funding was blocked by the Trump Administration last month. Isabela Weiss from our friends at WVIA reports, some farmers say the Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) program was deeply flawed and didn’t meet local needs... while food bank organizers say the funding is essential.

The West York police officer killed in a York hospital seige in February... was killed by friendly fire.

York County District Attorney Tim Barker says Andrew Duarte was struck by a shotgun blast fired by police that also hit an armed man holding hostages.

Attorneys General from Pennsylvania and 39 other states are calling on Congress not to eliminate funding for a vital federal program. The Legal Services Corporation, or LSC, provides representation for eligible veterans and older individuals in rural areas.

Harrisburg city officials have issued an emergency declaration for the 6th Street corridor. They're calling 6th Street a public safety hazard... between Maclay and Reily Streets... due to drivers consistently traveling above the posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour.

Local musician Darrion Washington stopped by our studio recently to play a couple of his songs and chat. His music takes listeners through a range of emotions, from softer melodies to agonized wails. Darrion was joined by his friend and guitarist Austin VonStetten for a performance and conversation in our studio with WITF Music’s Joe Ulrich.

Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.