Gov. Josh Shapiro says he’s ready to work with President Donald Trump. The Democratic leader of Pennsylvania, where support for domestic energy production and a populist enthusiasm for the commander-in-chief resonates loudly, issued a statement Monday congratulating the new administration and pledging a cordial partnership, albeit conditionally. “As governor, I have a responsibility to serve the people of Pennsylvania – and I go to work every single day focused on making life better and delivering results for them,” he said. “Over the last two years, I’ve worked across the aisle – bringing Democrats and Republicans together – to solve problems, cut taxes and reduce costs, create real opportunity in our classrooms, invest in public safety, create jobs, and grow our economy.

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Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_8d936eac-d764-11ef-b5e7-a751c826e123.html

(The Center Square) – Recruiting new police officers and supporting those already on the job in Pennsylvania remains a constant struggle. That’s why the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency backs local agencies as a way to boost hiring and retention. The latest recipient, Lock Haven City, accepted $14,000 in assistance from the commission in a news conference hosted Gov. Josh Shapiro, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris to promote the administration’s law enforcement efforts. The sum awarded to Lock Haven will go toward hiring two new officers. It’s a portion of $3 million in grants awarded by the commission that went toward recruiting and training for 692 municipal law enforcement positions.

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Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_31be7544-d396-11ef-8ddb-5b93e6298553.html

(The Center Square) – Doors have opened on Connections Emergency Behavioral Health Crisis Walk-in Center, a project with an investment of millions from the state in three central Pennsylvania counties. The center is the result of a joint effort between Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties leveraging funds from the state’s opioid settlement trust, a pool of more than $200 million paid largely by the “Big Four” pharmaceutical companies found responsible for contributing to Pennsylvania’s devastating drug crisis. The facility specializes in stabilizing people ages 14 and up who are experiencing mental health and substance abuse emergencies. Its staff provides an opportunity for people to receive help without calling 911.

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Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_15e200ec-d293-11ef-98c2-9ff70ce6894e.html

(The Center Square) – A joint bid for U.S. Steel from two domestic rivals has the potential support of Gov. Josh Shapiro. In a statement to The Center Square on Monday, the governor’s office said Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves has made “meaningful commitments to Pennsylvania” in conversations about a formal offer the Ohio-based company plans to make with Nocur, a steel manufacturer headquartered in North Carolina. “Before the governor would even consider endorsing any potential deal, Cleveland-Cliffs needs to make a formal bid to buy U.S. Steel and present specific details on what it will do to protect Pennsylvania jobs for the long term,” said Manuel Bonder, Shapiro’s spokesman.

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Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_fe266078-d202-11ef-a7f8-078f046b237e.html

(The Center Square) — A new report published by ConsumerAffairs ranks Pennsylvania as the third best state for raising a family. The report ranked each state in affordability, safety, education, pediatric health care and quality of life. The combined metrics were used to determine the states' overall rankings. The score puts Pennsylvania in rarified air, behind only Maine and Vermont, while southwestern states California, Texas and New Mexico bottom out the list. Notably, Pennsylvania is the only state for which the report calls out political leadership or specific legislation, citing last year’s $1.11 billion increase to the state’s education budget.

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Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_9c3d3c42-cdf2-11ef-8c18-27b7ed03c0ef.html

(The Center Square) – Gov. Josh Shapiro faces a new challenge after the White House blocked U.S. Steel’s overseas acquisition. Join the lawsuit the company filed alongside its would-be Japanese-owned buyer, Nippon Steel, and make sure Pennsylvania doesn’t lose more jobs to “friggin’ Ohio.” Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward threw down the gauntlet Monday during the Marty Griffin show on KDKA radio, referencing the governor’s infamous quote during his budget address in February 2024: build an economy that puts the Buckeye State’s to shame. According to Ward, this could happen because the collapse of the deal on Friday leaves the backdoor open for domestic buyers – namely Ohio-based Cleveland-Cliffs, which offered to acquire U.S. Steel in July 2023 for less than half of the $14.9 billion Nippon bid.

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Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_fa13003e-cdd1-11ef-8844-2b5716563c9a.html

(The Center Square) – One member down, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives struck an, at times, somber yet congenial bipartisan tone as they opened the 209th legislative session. Rep. Matt Gergley, D-McKeesport, remains hospitalized in Allegheny County following a medical emergency he suffered over the holiday, leaving the chamber evenly split with 101 members on each side of the aisle. Nevertheless, the election and appointments of leadership roles went off without a hitch. After a tied first round of voting for Speaker of the House, Minority Leader Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Bedford, removed his name from the running, clearing the way for Democrats to re-elect Rep. Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia, the first woman to have served in the role.

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(The Center Square) – Twenty-one states across the US are raising the minimum wage in 2025. Pennsylvania Democrats would like to see the commonwealth soon join their ranks. Sen. Art Haywood, D-Philadelphia, joined legislators and representatives from the business community in Lancaster to draw attention to the state’s flagging $7.25 minimum. “We are here on New Year’s Eve for a reason,” said Sen.-Elect Patty Kim, D-Harrisburg, citing the increases that will take effect tomorrow in other states. “Unfortunately, Pennsylvania has not made the list” Kim was among leaders who saw a bill raising the wage through the House last year. The effort ended when it reached the Republican-controlled Senate.

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Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_bb63f590-c792-11ef-8b30-6f90eaf89094.html

(The Center Square) – Sixty-five million people turn the lights on every day thanks in large part to the oversight of the nation’s largest power grid operator, PJM. Thirteen states, including Pennsylvania, plus Washington D.C., rely on the century-old organization to manage the flow of power across the system minute-by-minute, as well as plan for future electricity needs — like more power to supply data centers, electric vehicle charging stations, and energy storage for solar and wind farms. PJM, however, can only plan within the parameters set by state and federal governments. 

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Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_d20b80c2-c79e-11ef-95c9-1fa72ddab304.html

The Center Square's Pennsylvania 2024 Year in Review including the election, big legislative accomplishments, & the potential buyout of U.S. Steel.

Keep up with all of the national news in 2025 at The Center Square: https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/