Concrete production makes up about 8 percent of global carbon emissions each year. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are trying to develop more sustainable options.

Residential solar tax credits expired at the end of 2025, but solar installers say there’s still an affordable way to do rooftop arrays.

Women are now producing nearly half of the world’s food. That’s why – when the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show opens on Saturday, January 10th - one of the new components includes displays and opportunities to talk with Pennsylvania women involved in agriculture. It also ties into 2026’s “International Year of the Woman Farmer.”

And for our final story today we’re going to explore a fun, even inspirational deep dive: The average American throws out almost 5 pounds of solid waste every day. But what if we could give our junk new life? One Philadelphia-area artist is doing just that.

If you're already a member of WITF's Sustaining Circle, you know how convenient it is to support programs like this. By increasing your monthly gift in this new year, you can help WITF close the budget gap left by the loss of federal funding. Visit us online at witf.org/increase or become a new sustaining circle member at www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you!

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Just one month after Congress moved to strengthen legislation around the hemp industry, a recent White House executive order supports marijuana research. The Trump administration says the drug may be an underlooked treatment for chronic pain. 

Healthcare experts say 2025’s Affordable Care Act open enrollment period was more confusing and stressful than usual. 

An estimated 400,000 Pennsylvania seniors are expected to save money on common drugs for diabetes, heart disease and cancer this year. Lower prices for 10 medications covered by Medicare Part D plans are going into effect in 2026.

Pennsylvania lawmakers approved a number of new laws in 2025. Some of those new laws are taking effect in January. 

And a deeper dive: Political candidates are leaning on artificial intelligence to take increasingly pointed — and sometimes misleading — shots at their rivals. WITF’s Jaxon White reports as the technology gets more realistic, experts say voters will have to work harder than ever before to figure out what’s real. 

Lancaster County Commissioners passed a 2026 budget, on Christmas Eve, that includes a 10% property tax increase. 

York County Commissioners are disbursing more than $3 million to local organizations. The money is from the latest round of opioid settlement grants. 

Throughout the holiday season, there have been several stories of goodwill here in central PA. 

And the first federally funded electric vehicle charging station is now open along the Pennsylvania Turnpike. 

In uncertain times, our community counts on facts, not noise. Support the journalism and programming that keep you informed. Donate now at www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you! 

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A central Pennsylvania bio-lab is planning its largest expansion yet. Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories will build a new three-hundred-thousand-square-foot facility at its New Holland campus in Lancaster County. 

Pennsylvania communities lost millions in expected federal funding this year after Congress passed a short-term spending bill that wiped out Community Project Funding grants for fiscal year 2025. The Lehigh Valley lost money planned for infrastructure and public safety initiatives, including an opioid task force. 

A former speaker of the state House of Representatives will not seek reelection for his Lancaster County district in 20-26. Representative Bryan Cutler’s exit comes after a turbulent few years. 

This holiday season, the Philadelphia Ballet, like many ballet companies across the country, is performing “The Nutcracker." One of the company’s principal dancers, Nicholas Patterson, made his solo debut earlier in December. It's a remarkable turnaround for a dancer who could barely walk a year ago, due to stage four cancer. 

And this programming note: The Morning Agenda will be taking a holiday break for a week, from Christmas Day to New Year’s Day, returning with a new episode on Friday, January 2nd. 

If you're already a member of WITF's Sustaining Circle, you know how convenient it is to support programs like the Morning Agenda. By increasing your monthly gift, you can help WITF close the budget gap left by the loss of federal funding. Visit us online at witf.org/increase or become a new Sustaining Circle member at www.witf.org/givenow. 

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Aerial photographs, weather observation and even food delivery are a few of the uses for drones. What about getting emergency medical equipment to rural areas where it’s needed, quickly? There’s now a public-private partnership aiming to use drones to do just that in central Pennsylvania.

The U-S Department of Justice says it won’t require names of minors who received gender-affirming care at hospitals operated by UPMC. Patients' identities are embedded into their medical files.

The holiday travel season is expected to set records. AAA estimates more than 122 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home between December 20th and January 1st.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is now serving in a leadership role among Eastern U-S attorneys general.

More than 14-million dollars in grant funding is being awarded to community projects across Pennsylvania, by the state's Department of Community and Economic Development. The projects support communities in four areas: flood mitigation, recreational trails, improvements to sewage facilities and watersheds. More than 4.4 million dollars is being awarded to about 30 community projects in Dauphin County.

If you're already a member of WITF's Sustaining Circle, you know how convenient it is to support programs like the Morning Agenda. By increasing your monthly gift, you can help WITF close the budget gap left by the loss of federal funding. Visit us online at witf.org/increase or become a new Sustaining Circle member at www.witf.org/givenow.

Thank you.

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The US Environmental Protection Agency heard testimony in Pittsburgh last week regarding proposed changes to the Clean Water Act. The Trump administration has proposed limiting which waterways can receive federal protection.

Pennsylvania is joining a lawsuit against Uber, accusing the rideshare app of deceptive and unfair practices related to its subscription service.

A former Lancaster County police officer was sentenced to up to 57 years in prison for raping and sexually assaulting three girls in the 1990s. Andrew Scott Selby received the sentencing from a Chester County judge after Lancaster County judges recused themselves to avoid a potential conflict since Selby is a former officer.

Hundreds of rapes in the State College area went unreported in public police data for nearly a decade.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is co-leading a bipartisan coalition of 35 Attorneys General who want Meta to stop promoting misleading weight-loss advertising.

Cumberland County officials have revealed and installed its America 250 bell, part of the statewide "Bells Across PA" initiative.

A 14-year-old Schuylkill County girl will sing the national anthem to kick off the 2026 Pennsylvania Farm Show.

And a deeper dive:

The Trump Administration plans to weaken the Endangered Species Act, and that could impact the fate of an ancient creature that lives in Pennsylvania-the eastern hellbender salamander.

In uncertain times, our community counts on facts, not noise. Support the journalism and programming that keep you informed. Donate now at www.witf.org/givenow.

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The Trump administration is pushing new nuclear energy projects to power the ongoing race to advance artificial intelligence. Dauphin County’s Three Mile Island is at the center of that goal.

The Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police is leaving Harrisburg for the national stage.

Avian Influenza may be making a comeback among poultry flocks in Pennsylvania. About 400 snow geese likely died of the virus in Northampton County.   

In Washington, four centrist Republicans have broken with their party's leadership over health care. Three of the four are from Pennsylvania. They signed onto a Democratic-led petition, forcing a House vote on extending for three years an enhanced pandemic-era subsidy that lowers health insurance costs for millions of Americans.

Dauphin County Commissioners approved a 2026 budget plan Wednesday. It includes a 9.75% property tax increase - the second major tax raise in two years.

Pennsylvania is one of 35 states reaching a settlement with automakers Kia and Hyundai over faulty anti-theft systems.

The Pennsylvania company that makes the marshmallow treats known as Peeps announces it's planning a Peeps Chick Drop on New Year's Eve.

If you already support WITF with an ongoing monthly contribution, thank you. If every member of WITF's Sustaining Circle increased their gift by as little as $12 a month, we could close the budget gap caused by cuts in federal funding and keep programming like the Morning Agenda. Increase your monthly gift today at witf.org/increase or

become a new Sustaining Circle member at www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

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The White House is touting the strength of the nation’s economy; despite data showing Americans remain concerned about inflation and job security. Vice President JD Vance is the latest Trump administration official to tout a rosy economic outlook, during a rally in Pennsylvania.

Harrisburg lawmakers are expected to send a bill to Governor Josh Shapiro’s desk that changes the way workers access unemployment benefits.       

As Philadelphia prepares for the nation’s 250th birthday next year, a dozen artists are painting bell-shaped sculptures that represent Philly neighborhoods.

Caregivers in Pennsylvania are celebrating a rare pay boost, but long-term funding issues linger.

Dickinson College is the latest area college to announce a more affordable option for middle-class families.

Littlestown, Adams County native Aubrey Nicole placed fourth in NBC's "The Voice."

WITF, along with hundreds of Public Media organizations across the country, is facing a significant annual budget gap with the loss of federal funding. That means that WITF is now dependent on individual member support more than ever. Visit www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

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Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday says he’ll defend the state’s artificial intelligence laws in court — even if that means challenging Donald Trump’s administration. Sunday’s threat is a rare push back against Trump from the first-term Republican.

Across Pennsylvania, our roadways, parking lots and driveways are already seeing tons of salt being spread to alleviate icy, snowy conditions. But there are environmental impacts.

A brick wall collapsed Monday at Harrisburg's Broad Street Market. The wall was part of the brick market house damaged by a July 2023 fire.

A dozen Starbucks employees were arrested while they were striking outside the company's largest distribution center located in York County, Monday.

York County Commissioners are expected to vote Wednesday morning on a revised budget plan.

If you're already a member of WITF's Sustaining Circle, you know how convenient it is to support programs like the Morning Agenda. By increasing your monthly gift, you can help WITF close the budget gap left by the loss of federal funding. Visit us online at witf.org/increase or become a new Sustaining Circle member at

 www.witf.org/givenow.

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The recently passed Pennsylvania state budget includes more money for tuberculosis prevention efforts in the Commonwealth. Federal data show cases of TB steadily rising nationally after nearly three decades of decline.

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is establishing a rural residency program in an effort to bolster the rural doctor workforce. Here’s how it works: Residents start at UPMC Williamsport before transferring to either UPMC Wellsboro or UPMC Cole in Coudersport. Both locations are in Pennsylvania’s northern tier known as the Pennsylvania Wilds region.

In Cumberland County, an 80-year-old woman was found dead after a house fire early Sunday morning, according to the Cumberland County Coroner's Office.

State officials discovered a month's worth of mail wasn't sent by a government-contracted mail house over the past month. The backlog of mail totals 3.4 million letters, including notices of SNAP eligibility and health benefit information, as well as driver’s license and vehicle registration renewal invitations from PennDOT.

Pennsylvania lawmakers could end the year with the lowest number of new laws in at least a decade. That's due to split government, heightened partisanship, and the concentration of power in the hands of legislative leaders, according to reporting by our partners at Spotlight PA.

Sunday marked the beginning of Hanukkah. The city of Lancaster and the Jewish Community Alliance of Lancaster hosted a menorah lighting in Penn Square.

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New recommendations from a CDC advisory committee to give the first dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine to infants no earlier than 2 months old is upending standard medical practices. Pediatricians here in Pennsylvania say this could undo decades of progress in preventing the disease in young kids.

Many healthcare providers are now using generative AI tools to take notes during visits. Health systems say it is saving doctors a lot of time and allowing them to focus more on their patients.

A former Lebanon doctor was sentenced to a minimum of 8 months in prison for sexually assaulting pediatric patients between 1999 and 2001.

Ryan Crosswell, a former federal prosecutor, is running for one of Pennsylvania's seats in Congress.

A judge in Philadelphia’s federal appeals court is facing an ethics complaint after attending the president’s rally in the Poconos last week.

A Lancaster County teacher is named the 2026 National Language Teacher of the Year.

If you're already a member of WITF's Sustaining Circle, you know how convenient it is to support programs like The Morning Agenda. By increasing your monthly gift, you can help WITF close the budget gap left by the loss of federal funding. Visit us online at witf.org/increase or become a new sustaining member at www.witf.org/givenow.

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