F.B.I. Said to Have Investigated Times Reporter After Article on Patel’s Girlfriend

This isn’t normal. It’s dangerous. And it should outrage anyone who believes in a free press.
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/22/u...

Consumers saved from another rate hike during affordability crisis PHILADELPHIA, April 22 – Consumers and working families will be saved from forking over another $30 or more each month after PECO withdrew its 12.5% rate increase originally scheduled for next year. W...

PECO tried to slip in a 12.5% hike, then backed off when scrutiny hit. Let’s be clear: energy is a necessity, not a profit center. If rates are rising, the burden of proof should be on utilities, not working people.
@padempolicy.bsky.social
www.pahouse.com/PolicyCommit...

If a president can turn office into a private revenue stream, issue pardons like favors, and monetize foreign influence while governing, then the rule of law isn’t being bent — it’s being replaced.

AI in higher ed isn’t a future debate; it’s already in the classroom. The real question is whether we let it be shaped by Big Tech incentives… or by educators, students, and public accountability.
@repschweyer.com
pahouse.com/files/Docume...

PPL acknowledges expansion is based on proposed data center projects PPL Electric Utilities acknowledged Tuesday that proposed data centers fueled plans for an Archbald-centric infrastructure project.

This means residents are now being asked to accept major transmission buildouts, land use changes, and environmental impacts largely in response to private development decisions that are still behind nondisclosure agreements.
www.thetimes-tribune.com/2026/04/21/p...

Southern Poverty Law Center says it faces DOJ probe over paid informants The Southern Poverty Law Center,a storied organization founded to promote racial justice in the South, said it is facing a Justice Department investigation...

Under Donald Trump’s administration, we’re seeing federal investigations increasingly aimed at organizations and institutions viewed as political opponents. That pattern should concern anyone who cares about the independence of the justice system.
www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-c...

Long-awaited animal diagnostics lab opens in western Pennsylvania - Farm and Dairy The Keystone Animal Diagnostics Center opened at Penn State Beaver, giving Western Pennsylvania farmers faster, local animal health testing

The Keystone Animal Diagnostics Center brings faster, local testing that protects livestock, supports farmers, and strengthens our food supply.
www.farmanddairy.com/news/long-aw...

New poll shows growing number of Pennsylvanians think vaccines cause autism A new health poll from Muhlenberg College also examined healthcare affordability and trust in AI chatbots for medical advice.

Vaccines do NOT cause autism, decades of research have made that clear. But when figures like RFK Jr. push debunked claims, it puts real families and public health at risk.
www.cityandstatepa.com/politics/202...

Dr. Oz and the Trump administration spent months targeting so-called “blue state fraud” without evidence it’s more prevalent there, and now they’re scrambling to expand the effort nationwide. That raises serious questions about whether this was ever about accountability or just political messaging.

Pennsylvania high school history instructor named nation's Teacher of the Year A high school history teacher in Pennsylvania who helps students look inward to find their strengths and outward to find community has been named the 2026 National Teacher of the Year.

At a time when some politicians are trying to restrict what can be taught in classrooms, Smith is doing the opposite: encouraging critical thinking, empathy, and honest conversations about history. That’s not just teaching, that’s preparing young people to be engaged citizens.
shorturl.at/MZM9c

Township supervisors across Pa. urge colleagues to adopt zoning for data centers • Pennsylvania Capital-Star “You want to be able to set the rules,” Tina Garzillo said, urging township leaders to prepare for data center proposals before they arrive.

Local officials are right to act early and set guardrails. When a single facility can use as much power as a small city and strain water systems, residents deserve a voice and strong protections, not rushed approvals.
penncapital-star.com/agriculture-...

Takeaways from Virginia’s vote to boost Democrats in national redistricting war The measure puts Democrats ahead in the battle for the House, but attention now shifts to Florida, where Republicans could regain the gerrymandering advantage.

After years of GOP-led gerrymandering pushed by Donald Trump, Democrats are leveling the playing field to make sure elections actually reflect voters—not manipulated maps.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

PA environmental order stalls ICE sites, battle could last years An environmental agency under the Shapiro admin has taken an unusual approach to challenging ICE, and appeals could delay the project for years.

If DHS wants to operate here, it has to follow environmental laws just like everyone else. When a single facility could overwhelm local water systems and strain infrastructure, that’s not “red tape”, that’s basic public safety.
www.spotlightpa.org/berks/2026/0...

Firefighters PFAS ban bill clears Senate committee Senate committee approves bills banning PFAS in firefighting foam, addressing contamination concerns. Exceptions and disposal provisions included.

Banning these toxic “forever chemicals” in firefighting foam is a huge step forward. It means safer working conditions for first responders and cleaner water for Pennsylvanians.
pro.stateaffairs.com/pa/environme...

Pa. Senate Democrats rally for affordability, say GOP is too focused on 'culture war' issues HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Senate Democrats slammed the Republican majority Tuesday for focusing on “culture war issues” instead of affordability amid state budget talks.

Democrats are focused on real solutions: raising the minimum wage, cutting costs with universal school meals, and expanding childcare support so working people can actually get ahead. That’s what affordability looks like.
lancasteronline.com/news/politic...

Philadelphia Direct Care Worker Highlights Positive Impacts of 2025-26 Budget Investments YouTube video by Pennsylvania Department of Human Services

Direct care workers are the backbone of our care economy, and they’ve been underpaid for far too long. Thousands of PA caregivers are finally seeing raises, PTO, and a path to health coverage. But let’s be clear: $15/hr shouldn’t be a milestone, it should be the floor.
youtu.be/rMtoH2ztTas?...

Every expired bottle in a cabinet is a preventable risk: overdose, misuse, accidental poisoning.

Drug Take-Back Day isn’t symbolic; it saves lives.

#NationalDrugPrescriptionTakeBackDay is Saturday, April 25
www.pa.gov/agencies/dda...

This is what happens when diplomacy is treated like a press release and foreign policy is run by ultimatums instead of strategy.

Brewers, farmers would be helped by tax credit examined by Policy Committee PHILADELPHIA, April 21 – The affordability crisis and economic factors have hit the beer industry particularly hard, with the last several years serving as a craft brew apocalypse. In the last 24 mont...

Pennsylvania breweries aren’t failing because people “don’t care” about craft beer; they’re getting squeezed by rising costs, supply chain pressures, and an affordability crisis that’s real for working people and small businesses alike.
@padempolicy.bsky.social
www.pahouse.com/PolicyCommit...

GOP Policies = Higher Costs for You // MAJORITY POLICY POINT

Live Updates: Fed Chair Nominee Asserts at Hearing He Won’t Do Trump’s Bidding

We’ve seen this movie before.
www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04...

PA crime study reveals rural-urban divide While PA sees a 21% drop in overall crime, rural areas report rising violent crimes and DUIs from 2013-2023. How should we address these trends in our communities?

If we want safer rural Pennsylvania, the answer isn’t panic or punishment theater — it’s investment: addiction treatment, mental health care, domestic violence prevention, and local capacity that actually matches local needs.
www.fox43.com/article/news...

Utility watchdogs slam Pennsylvania power superhighway's rate request The developers of a proposed power transmission line that would cross more than half the length of Pennsylvania want utility customers to start paying...

They want Pennsylvania utility customers to start paying now for a $1.7B power line… even if it never gets built. That’s not “infrastructure planning.” That’s socializing the risk and privatizing the profit.
www.post-gazette.com/business/pow...

ACLU of Pennsylvania sues ICE for information on efforts to ‘unmask’ anonymous online critics The civil rights organization asked a federal judge to order ICE to share records related to subpoenas it issued to tech companies for information about individuals criticizing the agency online.

ICE using subpoenas to unmask anonymous critics isn’t “law enforcement transparency” — it’s a chilling test of how far the government can go to identify and intimidate people exercising First Amendment rights.
www.inquirer.com/news/pennsyl...

Commonwealth Court rules the state constitution includes a fundamental right to abortion • Pennsylvania Capital-Star Susan Frietsche, of the Women’s Law Project, said the Medicaid coverage exclusion was the single largest barrier to abortion access in Pa.

“This will mean that the state will face judicial scrutiny of its attempts to coerce reproductive choice. Those choices are the people’s, not the government’s.” - Commonwealth Court Judge Matthew S. Wolf
penncapital-star.com/abortion-pol...

Pennsylvania court overturns limits on Medicaid coverage for abortions The ruling is a major victory for Planned Parenthood and abortion clinic operators.

"I've long opposed this unconstitutional ban, and as Governor, I did not defend it - because a woman's ability to access reproductive care should never be determined by her income." - PA Gov. Josh Shapiro
6abc.com/post/pennsyl...

‘Just momentous’: Court upholds constitutionality of abortion in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court on Monday upheld the right to abortion as constitutionally protected, while striking down the state’s 1982 ban on...

Historic win in Pennsylvania. The court just affirmed that abortion is a constitutional right and struck down the #Medicaid ban that punished low-income women. Freedom shouldn’t depend on your income. Health care is a right, not a privilege. This is what progress looks like.
shorturl.at/mvYtK

The impact of the Iran war: Gas prices, food costs rise in Pennsylvania Residents are paying more at the pump and grocery store as energy prices spike from conflict in Iran, with gasoline surpassing $4 per gallon for the first time since 2022.

Gas over $4. Grocery bills rising. Shipping fees up. Working families are paying the price, again. When global crises hit, we need policies that protect people, not pass every cost straight to consumers. Lower costs. Hold corporations accountable. Put families first.
shorturl.at/wN6UQ

Chavez-DeRemer stepping down as Labor secretary The scandal-ridden secretary is the latest member of President Donald Trump's Cabinet to exit.

Another Trump Cabinet official out amid misconduct allegations, and only stepping down once the evidence became undeniable. Working people deserve a Labor Department focused on them, not scandal, not favoritism, not chaos.
www.politico.com/news/2026/04...

Pennsylvania’s energy future hinges on affordability and reliability Energy is now a deciding factor in economic growth.

“Kitchen-table issue” is right, but let’s be honest about what that means. If energy policy doesn’t lower bills and protect people, it’s not working. An “all-of-the-above” strategy can’t be code for propping up fossil fuels while families pay the price.
www.pennlive.com/opinion/2026...