Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania households rely on a federally funded utility assistance program to help them keep their homes warm each winter. But the federal government shutdown means Pennsylvania has not received the funding it needs to run this program

Allies for the LGBTQ+ community say state officials should act to protect same sex marriage in Pennsylvania, in case the U-S Supreme Court takes up a case this month designed to weaken marriage equality.

Penn State Athletic officials are mounting a nationwide search for the next Head Football Coach to replace James Franklin who was fired October 12th, one day after the Nittany Lions lost to Northwestern. You can hear the full segment on The Spark, by logging onto the "Programs" page at witf.org, and tune into The Spark weekdays at 12 noon on WITF-FM

The state ethics commission has directed Harrisburg city Mayor Wanda Williams to pay over 900 hundred dollars to the city

A recent hearing before a state House committee examined the how growth of A.I. data centers will affect the energy grid, and the price consumers pay.  

The PA Public Utility Commission voted this week to suspend and investigate a proposed rate increase by PPL Electric Utilities. 

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The clock is ticking for Congress to extend health care subsidies before open enrollment begins on Nov. first. The head of Pennsylvania’s health insurance marketplace is sounding the alarm.

OB/GYNs and other doctors are expressing their concern over Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity's run for Governor.

Southcentral Pennsylvania's Fall Foliage is at its peak as we head into this final week in October.

State officials helped plant 700 trees along Orson run in southern York County in an effort to help reduce runoff, improve local water quality and provide the Chesapeake Bay. The 2-and-a-half acre streamside buffer is part of the ongoing work of the alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.

An important deadline is approaching for registered voters in Pennsylvania planning on casting a ballot by mail. You have until this Tuesday October 28th to request a mail-in ballot, which must be returned by 8pm on Election Day, November 4th.

PennDOT has announced that the 29th Street bridge has re-opened. The newly constructed span which carries traffic over Interstate 83 and Norfolk Southern train tracks had been closed since July of last year, as part of the long-term project to widen I-83 from 13th Street to the Eisenhower Interchange. An earlier detour has now been lifted.

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Employers and entrepreneurs are reacting to President Trump declaring a change to H1B visas.

In Philadelphia, City Council members are planning to strengthen the city’s plastic bag ban and impose a ten-cent fee on paper bags, but Mayor Cherelle Parker may not be on board.

PennDOT and the Pennsylvania State Police observed school bus safety week with a ceremony Wednesday at the State Museum.

At one Pittsburgh high school, students from all over the world speak a total of around 50 languages. About 40% of Brashear High School's student population are English Language learners.

Some good news of you’re a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles…Brandon Graham has come out of retirement.

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Pennsylvania is approaching four months without having a spending plan. The state Senate is doubling down on its effort to fund the state at last year’s levels.  

A consultant hired by US Steel found high-pressure water used in a maintenance procedure exceeded the valve’s pressure rating prior to a fatal explosion in August. Two workers died in the blast at the company’s Clairton Coke Works near Pittsburgh.

Proposed legislation in the state Senate would ban students from using cell phones during the school day, with support for such a ban on the increase.  Among those in favor is Aaron Chapin, President of the Pennsylvania State Education Association the state’s largest teacher's union.  Chapin expressed his support during a recent Senate hearing.

Mechanicsburg Borough Council on Tuesday addressed a troubling incident from earlier this month. During the Borough's October 14th Halloween parade business cards were discovered in bags of children's candy with the words "Women of the Ku Klux Klan."  It is unclear how many cards were distributed.

 Commonwealth Court has ordered Penn State to release certain internal Board of Trustee documents, ruling the university is not totally exempt from the state's Open Records law

Gov. Josh Shapiro's memoir is coming out in late January. It touches on his political rise and the trauma of his home being set on fire. HarperCollins announced Tuesday that "Where We Keep the Light: Stories From a Life of Service" will be released Jan. 27.

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At a gathering this week in Pittsburgh, university leaders are expressing optimism about the potential of artificial intelligence to improve health care. they caution there is much work ahead to guard against the risks.

If one or more of the three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices seeking retention this fall DON’T get the approval of voters, the 7-member court could be shorthanded for two years.

U-S Senator Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania is among those promoting a new federal income tax credit. The program funnels dollars into scholarships eligible families can use at the school of their choice, including private and religious schools.

James Franklin says he was shocked when Penn State fired him hours after the Lions' October 11th home loss to Northwestern.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is seeking the public's help following the shooting death of a rare type of deer in Lancaster County.

The number of peanut allergies can be cut drastically by feeding a baby  peanut products in its first three years. This according to a new study co-authored by Dr. David Hill, an allergist and researcher at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Cumberland County Commissioners are looking for residents interested in farmland preservation. The county's Agricultural Land Preservation Board is looking for new members.

Pennsylvania continues to be national leader when it comes to farmland preservation. A recent agreement to preserve the Talview dairy farm in Lebanon County brings to 66 hundred, the number of farms in Pennsylvania added to the preservation rolls since the program was launched in 1988.

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Two Pennsylvania-based hydrogen hubs could be on the chopping block. A new list of clean energy projects slated for termination by the Trump administration includes the Philly-area MACH2 hydrogen hub and the Pittsburgh-based ARCH2. The projects could lose 1.7 billion dollars in federal funding.

The Trump administration has reversed course and decided NOT to delay Biden-era rules limiting air pollution from the steel industry. The administration says the rules can now go into effect. The decision will affect U-S Steel’s Clairton Coke Works plant.

The borough of Phoenixville in Chester County near Philadelphia is gearing up to use a new technique to process its sewage. The town plans to produce its own “bio-coal.”

And a deeper dive....

A landfill in western Pennsylvania has been taking drilling waste from fracking for over a decade. This waste has created water pollution problems for the Monongahela River. The landfill has proposed a solution, but many are worried about its downstream impacts.

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The trucking industry is growing nationwide, as well as in Pennsylvania. As a result, PennDOT is adding more parking spaces for trucks, across the state, in the hopes of improving safety on the road.

Are you daydreaming about camping under the stars in a Pennsylvania state park? But not so sure about setting up a tent and sleeping on the ground? Now - you can consider "glamping." Pennsylvania is rolling out the glamping carpet in eight state parks.

And a deeper dive...

Tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians live in manufactured housing, also called mobile homes. It’s a unique arrangement where residents own their homes – but NOT the land underneath – makes the housing more affordable to homeowners. But it also makes them more vulnerable to rising rental costs for the underlying land. There’s a legislative effort by some manufactured housing residents to keep those costs reasonable so they can stay in their homes.

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The filmmaker Ken Burns came to the Philadelphia area late last week for a sneak peek of his new documentary about the American Revolution.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art has changed its name. It is now known as the Philadelphia Art Museum.

And a deeper dive.

Red dirt country” is a rootsy style of country music originating in Oklahoma and Texas, known for its down-to-earth sound and storytelling. Cody Tyler of Reading describes his music as “black dirt country” since it’s derived from Central PA where the soil is darker. WITF Music's Joe Ulrich explains how Tyler also wants to change the way people think about the word “Pennsyltucky."

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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WPSU-TV and radio will become part of Philadelphia-based WHYY, under a plan Penn State trustees unanimously approved Monday.

There is also news affecting this media organization. Ron Hetrick, President and CEO of WITF, on Monday announced his resignation, effective immediately.

Thousands of student teachers statewide are without pay as they wait for Pennsylvania lawmakers to agree on a budget.

State officials are reminding Pennsylvanians we are now in the fall wildfire season. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn encourages people to practice safe habits when burning debris or building a campfire.

Pennsylvania is investing more than $5.7 million in state money for the preservation of 24 farms across the state.

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The man accused of an arson attack on the Pennsylvania governor's residence in April pleaded guilty Tuesday at attempted murder and other charges.

Today’s program is also a deep dive into how one local government is establishing an ordinance for future data centers. Chris Reber of our sister newsroom at LNP | Lancaster Online is in conversation with WITF’s Karen Hendricks to explain how Lancaster City officials are developing the rules – which will be submitted to the Lancaster County Planning Commission today. The entire process could serve as a model for communities across Central Pa.

Public media's federal funding has been revoked. Your support is now more vital than ever. Help power the independent journalism and trusted programming you find on WITF by making a gift of support now at www.witf.org/givenow.

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