Stepping back from the precipice: When April Fool’s day rolls around, people across central Pennsylvania aren’t in much of a joking mood. The crisis at TMI threatens to turn into a full-scale disaster. But, a visit from President Jimmy Carter and some good fortune appear to turn the tide.

By mid-afternoon on March 28, 1979, people who live near the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant aren’t getting much information as they wonder if they’ve been exposed to too much radiation. Many find themselves facing a difficult decision: Wait out the crisis or evacuate.

At 7:24 a.m., on Wednesday, March 28, 1979, something goes terribly wrong at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Middletown, Dauphin County. What unfolds over the next few hours is chaos and confusion as people are confronted with a partial meltdown in TMI’s Unit 2 reactor.

This week, state lawmakers waded into a fraught, long-anticipated debate over whether to prop up two of the commonwealth’s five nuclear power plants. One is the Beaver Valley plant near Pittsburgh. The other is Dauphin County’s Three Mile Island, which—you may have heard—partially melted down in 1979 and helped instill a lasting wariness toward nuclear … Continue reading "Episode 25: To nuke, or not to nuke"

Harrisburg has been the seat of Pennsylvania’s government since 1812, and the current Capitol building has been in use since 1906. In the first couple decades of the 20th century, the complex and its grounds were being expanded into what we know today. And as that was happening, there was a casualty. An entire city … Continue reading "Episode 24: The neighborhood beneath the Capitol"

State lawmakers are in the middle of a long series of hearings on the budgets for Pennsylvania’s many agencies. It’s a time for them to grill secretaries on what’s working, what’s not, and how money is being spent. And it gives agency heads a chance to lobby for more funding. So this week, we’re recapping … Continue reading "Episode 23: The greatest hits of Budget Hearings 2K19"

The commonwealth’s prison system just settled a federal lawsuit over mail policies in its prisons. It’s a big win for public defenders and nonprofit groups that represent inmates, and it’s a milestone after months of controversy and speculation about a raft of new security measures the Department of Corrections put in place last fall. To … Continue reading "Episode 22: Why PA’s prison system is changing mail policies. Again."

This week, we go deep on the start of Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman’s marijuana legalization listening tour. Fetterman is a week into his trip, and plans to eventually visit all 67 counties to hear how they feel about recreational pot. His first stop was Harrisburg. The crowd of a few hundred was more amenable to … Continue reading "Episode 21: Mary Jane’s first chance"

Governor Tom Wolf gave his annual budget address Tuesday, officially kicking off the next several months of negotiations between himself and the Republican-controlled legislature. This is the governor’s fifth year in office, and his fifth budget. In the past, his initial proposals have gotten reactions ranging from derision to outrage from the House and Senate. … Continue reading "Episode 20: Budget season is back, baby"

The legislative session is finally kicking off in earnest, and lawmakers seem to be taking that as a cue to launch as many initiatives as they can, as fast as they can. This week, we’ll explain three divisive (and perennial) causes Governor Tom Wolf is throwing his weight behind: gun control, a minimum wage hike, … Continue reading "Episode 19: New-session pandemonium"