Violent crime in the commonwealth has fallen to pre-COVID-19 pandemic rates almost across the board. State Attorney General Dave Sunday says there’s some good news in those numbers but warned about upticks in drug trafficking.

Dauphin County Commissioners have approved another year of free evening parking in Downtown Harrisburg from 5 to 7 pm. But they say they want feedback and data on whether it's helping businesses. Businesses say it is.

Norfolk Southern says federal investigators will look into the cause of Tuesday’s train derailment at the Horseshoe Curve in Altoona. 

A former PennDOT employee is charged with embezzling more than $33,000 by overcharging her department-issued credit card.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is adding a forest in Schuylkill County to the national Old-Growth Forest Network.

Kyle Robinson, a Waterways Conservation Officer covering Mifflin and northern Huntingdon counties, is receiving statewide recognition 

A memorial service this Sunday will honor the life of Dick Knoebel. The former President of Knoebels Amusement Resort passed away on July 16th at the age of 87.

And now it’s time for our weekly segment called The Bright Spot. 

 Every Friday, I’ll share a positive news story that may have gotten lost amid this week's news cycle.  

 Today’s bright spot is this:

 Mini-THONs from across Pennsylvania and neighboring states raised more than $6.4 million during the 2025-26 school year to support Four Diamonds.

It’s been one year since public media's federal funding was revoked. Thanks to our community, we're still here for you and looking toward the future. Join the thousands of members who are building a stronger WITF. Go to  www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

Election day is less than three months away. Both candidates for Pa. Governor are ramping up their campaigns with strong messaging. 

A Cumberland County man named Ashish Patel is the top donor to the super PAC of Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is suing TikTok. The AG accuses the platform of being addictive and exposing children to mature content.

At this time last year, Pennsylvania lawmakers were still embroiled in budget negotiations, which ended up going 135 days. But the state’s 2026-27 spending plan was resolved much sooner. A big factor in how long budget talks last... seems to be whether an election is coming up. 

ICE is apparently considering buying immigration detention facilities in Pennsylvania.

Governor Josh Shapiro recognized the Department of Labor and Industry's PennSERVE team for preserving AmeriCorps funding in the state.

PennDOT is finalizing plans for its Route 30 bypass slated to be rerouted through a nature preserve.

A major Cumberland County roadway will be closed to traffic this weekend.

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.

The Trump Administration is trying to overhaul standards for Head Start, the early childhood education program for low-income families. Central PA experts and parents are concerned the changes will make it less effective.

Measles continues to spread in Lancaster County and surrounding communities in Pennsylvania, causing officials to sound the alarm ahead of back-to-school season. They're asking residents to look out for their neighbors.

A federal Board ruled US Steel’s ineffective safety procedures and siting decisions were factors in last year's fatal August 11th explosion at one of the company’s plants near Pittsburgh. The board found the explosion, which killed two workers, could have been prevented with proper safety protocols.

Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts are sharing 565-million-dollars in supplemental funding, called for in the new state budget.

All Pennsylvania State Police stations now have at least five sensory aid bags. They include things like headphones, fidget items, and a nonverbal communication board to help support people with autism and sensory sensitivities.

The National Football League's preseason is underway. What to expect from Pennsylvania's teams – including a game on the schedule today.

It’s been one year since public media's federal funding was revoked. Thanks to our community, we're still here for you and looking toward the future. Join the thousands of members who are building a stronger WITF. Go to  www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

Pennsylvania's gubernatorial election is heating up, with both campaigns releasing attack ads over the last week. One is a traditional TV commercial and the other is an unconventional miniseries.

New funding in the 2026-27 state budget is creating a program to help local police departments solve cold cases, homicides, and other violent crimes.

Now that there is a new state budget in place, grants are heading to local communities for redevelopment projects. 

Spooky season is coming this fall. Haunted attraction operators now need to submit safety plans before hiring performers under 18 years old.

The state Transportation Commission has adopted a new 12-year plan to spend over $90 billion to improve Pennsylvania's transportation infrastructure.

PennDOT is welcoming public comment on plans to rehab Harrisburg's Market Street Bridge.

The state Department of Health will again provide free potassium iodide tablets to Pennsylvanians who live, learn more work within 10 miles of the state’s active nuclear power plants.

Two utilities which serve much of central PA recently released their latest quarterly earnings. 

It’s been one year since public media's federal funding was revoked. Thanks to our community, we're still here for you and looking toward the future. Join the thousands of members who are building a stronger WITF. Go to www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

After two months with above-average numbers of assaults on staff at the state prison in Camp Hill, the State Corrections Officers Association called for harsher punishments after violence. But the Association misread the data and significantly overstated the problem. Now, there’s new data.

With a new state budget in place, the Pennsylvania Capitol Police are assembling their next class of recruits. 

While some members of Congress seek to delay a ban on intoxicating hemp products, Pennsylvania’s attorney general says it should take effect as soon as possible.

State law requires the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to document underground mining damages to properties and the environment and publish its findings every five years. But an environmental group is claiming the latest publication has major issues.

County governments across Pennsylvania are facing rising emergency costs. But the legislature didn't include an increase to the 911 phone fee in the new state budget.

A rare combination of celestial events is coming to the skies above Central PA this week. This Wednesday, August 12th, astronomy will be putting on a show throughout a 24-hour period.

It’s been one year since public media's federal funding was revoked. Thanks to our community, we're still here for you and looking toward the future. Join the thousands of members who are building a stronger WITF. Go to  www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

Measles cases are surging in Pennsylvania, as part of the biggest Measles outbreak in the US in 35 years, with 176 confirmed cases in the state, 35 in the last week alone. Most of those infected are unvaccinated.

As unknown hackers target municipal water systems in several states, Pennsylvania officials confirm there have been no cyberattacks here -- at least not so far.

The University of Valley Forge in southeastern PA is closing three weeks before the start of its fall semester. Students are now looking to transfer to other schools, including Messiah University in Mechanicsburg.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania is closed until 2029 for an 80 million dollar renovation, the first since the current building opened in 1964. The work aims to improve both the visitor experience - and storage for the museum’s collections and archives.

In Cumberland County Wednesday night, supervisors in Middlesex Township delayed a decision on a massive data center development. That's because a standing-room-only crowd packed the township's meeting room, with additional residents unable to enter.

The Hanover, York County-based snack food company Utz Brands reports a loss of $10.1 million in its second quarter.

And now it’s time for our weekly segment called The Bright Spot. 

Every Friday, I’ll share a positive news story that may have gotten lost amid this week's news cycle.  

Today’s bright spot is this:

Glamping, or "glamorous camping" is now available at three Pennsylvania State Parks.

It’s been one year since public media's federal funding was revoked. Thanks to our community, we're still here for you and looking toward the future. Join the thousands of members who are building a stronger WITF. Go to  www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

A law banning the use of hand-held devices while driving went into effect in June. State troopers are already nabbing hundreds of violators.

Two Pennsylvania lawmakers want to update laws for electric bicycles following several crashes in the region this summer. They say there’s a safety gap in the current law.

Harrisburg International Airport set new records in June. 

While public transit advocates say the new state budget ignores future funding problems, Governor Josh Shapiro says he’s pushing for a long-term solution.

Small towns across Pennsylvania are set to receive the latest wave of federal funding for EV chargers.

State agriculture officials are announcing $460,000 in grants to five projects aimed at increasing competitiveness and market growth for some of Pennsylvania’s specialty crops.

Today we bring you the final installment of Designing Dignity -- a series exploring lessons Pennsylvania might learn from Japan about how best to cope with a rapidly aging population. This episode explores how wrapping community around people who are declining cognitively helps to preserve their quality of life, while perhaps enriching our own.

Did you know that if every one of WITF’s sustaining circle members gives as little as $12 more a month, we'd close the gap caused by federal funding cuts? Increase your gift at https://witf.org/increase or become a new sustaining member at www.witf.org/givenow.

And thanks!

Lancaster activists are supporting an immigrant and hoping to use his case to bring attention to cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE.

Changes to Medicaid in a massive federal tax and spending bill approved last year could top $900 billion in losses over a decade. The Pennsylvania Health Access Network recently gathered advocates and elected officials - virtually - to sound the alarm about those changes and what they mean for the state. 

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education has tried to limit costs for students during the past decade. That has included increasing financial aid as well as freezing tuition from 2018 to 2024. And now, the state system will start paying for what some scholarships don’t cover.

The Michaux State Forest Wildfire Response Team is being honored for their actions to suppress and investigate the large wildfire that occurred in Cumberland County earlier this year. 

Doors to the State Museum of Pennsylvania are now closed. The museum is undergoing a nearly $80 million renovation - its first since the building opened in 1964.

And now today’s deep dive:

Countries like the U.S. and Japan are facing a workforce crisis when it comes to caregiving.

Whether it’s caused by population demographics or insufficient recruitment strategies, countries with aging populations are looking for solutions to mitigate staffing shortages.

In Part 5 of the series Designing Dignity, with the global gold rush of artificial intelligence, both the U.S. and Japan are considering robots as a potential solution. 

It’s been one year since public media's federal funding was revoked. Thanks to our community, we're still here for you and looking toward the future. Join the thousands of members who are building a stronger WITF. Go to  www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

Pennsylvania hasn’t independently raised its minimum wage since 2006, three years prior to a federally mandated increase to $7.25 an hour. State lawmakers and workers plan to keep pushing for an increase in the commonwealth.

Now that it’s August, respiratory virus season is only a couple of months away. Physicians say it’s not too early to start taking precautions. 

One-third of Japan’s population is 65 or older. As we age, older adults need more medical care than their younger counterparts. But Japan has implemented a program to keep medical costs down for the elderly and their families. It’s a taxpayer-funded insurance program specifically for long-term care. Several U.S. states are exploring their own version of universal long-term care insurance. WESA's Kiley Koscinski reports in part four of the series Designing Dignity.

It’s been one year since public media's federal funding was revoked. Thanks to our community, we're still here for you and looking toward the future. Join the thousands of members who are building a stronger WITF. Go to  www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

The Harrisburg nonprofit All You Can Incorporated is collecting school supplies to donate to families in need.

Central Pennsylvania's Community College has a new president. The college saw a 3.1% decrease in enrollment in the last year as a demographic cliff looms. 

State officials are highlighting Penn State’s contributions to military and national security research.

Several Schuylkill County communities are in the midst of water main replacement projects by the water company Aqua Pennsylvania.

Two Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture leaders are being honored with Governor's Awards for Excellence.

Hospital stays are stressful at any age, but they can be dangerous for older adults. Hospitalizations are also expensive. Chronic care in hospital settings is one major driver of healthcare spending. Japan has sought to reduce hospitalizations for the elderly by providing care in the patient’s home. But Kiley Koscinski from our friends at WESA reports in part THREE of the series Designing Dignity, a workforce shortage could threaten the success of home-based care.

It’s been one year since public media's federal funding was revoked. Thanks to our community, we're still here for you and looking toward the future. Join the thousands of members who are building a stronger WITF. Go to  www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.