During the recent legislative session, House and Senate members failed to pass a statewide school cellphone ban in the recently enacted budget, but they are getting students off screens another way. 

Among the items that are included in the budget is a boost in funding for the arts in Pennsylvania. The additional one million dollars is the first increase in arts funding in 16 years.

Dickinson College in Carlisle is offering undergraduate students the opportunity to study the nuances of artificial intelligence.  On a recent edition of WITF's The Spark, John McCormick, founder of Dickinson's New Deep Network Understanding Lab, gave an example of the types of detail students will study via the hands-on experience.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is abandoning its plan to use two rural Pennsylvania warehouses to hold thousands of detainees. 

Applications will soon be accepted for funding to help nonprofit and faith-based organizations in Pennsylvania strengthen security and prevent hate crimes. A total of ten million dollars is available through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. 

Pennsylvanians can now nominate their favorite trail for the 2027 trail of the year, but the deadline is quickly approaching. The commonwealth is home to more than 14-thousand miles of trails. To be considered, a nomination form and supporting documentation must be submitted online by July 31st. 

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State lawmakers are expected to miss today’s deadline to approve new sentencing guidelines for second-degree murder. While state Attorney General Dave Sunday hammered Democrats this week for delaying a vote, the state House returned to Harrisburg to deliberate. Prosecutors and top Republicans estimate more than a thousand convicted killers could seek release from prison if lawmakers fail to pass a new framework. But, the Attorney General says he took issue with the rhetoric that hundreds of them would get out of jail soon as a result.

Pennsylvania ranks last in a new study of 18-year olds' voter registration rates. 

State officials were in Centre County this week to highlight the inclusion of 10-million dollars in the new state budget for freeze disaster assistance for growers impacted by the late April freeze that severely damaged fruit crops across the state.  

A principal in the Warwick School District in Lancaster County could be facing dismissal after she was accused of leaving facility dog Callie in her car last month, resulting in the dog's death. Bonfield Elementary School Principal Amy Balsbaugh has a hearing with the district scheduled for August 5 to decide her employment status.

Pennsylvania’s recently enacted state budget includes a provision aimed at helping vulnerable households avoid the theft of their food benefits. The budget contains $7 million to transition the electronic debit cards for those enrolled in the SNAP Program, into cards with more secure chip technology. 

And this week's Bright Spot:

The Reading Science Center is receiving a 10-thousand dollar grant to boost a hands-on STEM program for girls. Sisters in STEM is a weekly program for girls in grades 4 through 6. The grant funding is being awarded by the Reading branch of the American Association of University Women Sisters in STEM activities include building electrical circuits, exploring chemical reactions, and engineering challenges.

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Demand for electricity in the mid-Atlantic region is growing faster than supply, putting pressure on prices. the results of the most recent procedure used to ensure a reliable grid. 

A system wide fare increase took effect this week for riders of RabbitTransit.  Executive Director Richard Farr says the changes affect Capitol region, Gettysburg, Shippensburg and Rork fixed route service, along with Rabbit Express, capital region commuter routes, stop hopper and shared ride services.

Governor Josh Shapiro this week visited the YWCA for Carlisle and Cumberland County. the Governor highlighted nearly doubled state funding for rape crisis centers included in this year’s approved budget.

Two men have been charged in connection with a $52 million COVID-19 tax credit fraud conspiracy. Christopher Slater, of California, was indicted by a grand jury in Harrisburg.

PennDOT has announced the awarding of 1.1 million dollars to 16 schools and transportation providers in 19 counties. The funds will be used to enhance school bus safety, including the training of 430 new school bus drivers. 

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In the wake of an ongoing measles outbreak in Pennsylvania, the state’s Department of Health has created a new online dashboard. 

Postpartum hemorrhage, or excessive bleeding, is a common childbirth complication, but it can be deadly. Nurses at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a new tool to help identify who is most at risk of this medical emergency. 

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education will soon begin covering part of eligible in-state students’ tuition. Beginning in the fall of 2027, the initiative will pay remaining costs for those getting both a federal Pell Grant and a PA State Grant. 

When the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that a life term without parole for second-degree murder was unconstitutional, it set a July 24th deadline for legislators to revise the law. While lawmakers have voted on sentencing proposals in Harrisburg, no bill has found enough support to pass.

6 million dollars from the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program will go to the 49th Legislative District in Lancaster County. Thaddeus Stevens Foundation is set to receive 4 million dollars.

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A state lawmaker from northeastern PA announced her breast cancer diagnosis in June. Rep. Bridget Kosieroski spoke recently to share her hopeful health outlook, the importance of regular screenings and how she’ll turn her experience into legislative action in Harrisburg.

Governor Josh Shapiro and other Pennsylvania democrats launched the "Rise Up Pennsylvania" initiative over the weekend.  it is expected to be the largest coordinated campaign effort for a midterm election in Pennsylvania's history.

Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding recently wrapped up Urban Agriculture Week with a  stop at Bay Street Garden in Lancaster. A grant of over 45,000 dollars is helping support innovative approaches to producing fresh food on the redeveloped urban site. State Senator James Malone, among those on hand to mark to celebrate Urban Ag Week, says gardening provides benefits beyond growing healthy food.

Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point in June, bringing it to 4.1 percent.

Federal grants for counterterrorism and election security in Pennsylvania could be on hold until new election demands are met 

Penn State is raising tuition rates for all students at University Park and some students at commonwealth campuses in the 2027-28 school year. It's part of the university's 11.1 billion dollar budget. Students who attend classes at the main University Park campus will see increases of 2.5 percent for in-state undergraduate students, 2 percent for in-state graduate students, and 4 percent for all out-of-state students.

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Today we have a deep dive for you: 

Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams are home to thousands of dams, more than any other state.  Pennsylvania also leads the nation in dam removals.  A branch of the Juniata River is changing, after two dams were removed last summer. 

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The movement continues among state lawmakers to ban cell phones in schools. one central Pa. district says they have seen benefits from restrictive phone policies.

Pennsylvania officials say the Trump administration could be holding up millions of dollars of Homeland Security grants until states comply with election demands. 

Lawmakers are calling for tighter commercial driver's license laws in Pennsylvania. Their calls come in the wake of the July 1st crash that killed a state police trooper in Schuylkill County.

A data center being built by Amazon in the greater Philadelphia area is sparking public outcry.

The Public Utility Commission will hold public hearings on allegations related to operational and service-related issues within the Veolia water system. 

The Trump administration replaced an exhibit on slavery at the site of President George Washington’s home in Philadelphia with a version that historians say whitewashes the nation’s history. 

The Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority is partnering with Amtrak to provide passenger rail service from Reading to Philadelphia.

The Harrisburg Fringe Festival began Thursday and stretches through the weekend. The fourth annual festival features more than 200 independent artists at nine venues across the city.

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:

Two orphaned bear cubs are making central PA their new home.

ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park in Hershey took the pair of 5-month-old American black bear cubs in, after they were rescued by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

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U.S. Senator Dave McCormick is announcing $10 billion of investments into defense industries across Pennsylvania. The projects, mostly focused around Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, also include new factories in York and Lancaster. 

President Donald Trump is pushing to increase federal spending across manufacturing, artificial intelligence and robotics, all in support of a stronger military. Trump spoke at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle Wednesday to highlight investments in Pennsylvania’s industries.  

Leaders in the defense industry say there is a critical need for investment to strengthen national security. 

The $50.8 billion state budget now in effect includes more funds for public education and early-learning programs.

While state lawmakers seemed to be moving fast this month to regulate data center construction, few rules made it into the budget deal which is now law.

Philadelphia's Eastern State Penitentiary has a new exhibition about the religious liberties of incarcerated people.

When Pennsylvania lawmakers recessed last Sunday, they did so without addressing unconstitutional murder sentences. This leaves one thousand people serving life sentences, in limbo. 

A Pennsylvania state report calls for new regulations on online casinos to tackle gambling addiction, which experts describe as a public health challenge. 

And MY Work in Perry County connects students with disabilities to meaningful, paid work opportunities in their communities. Some students are working for Marysville Borough this summer.

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Governor Josh Shapiro and President Donald Trump are both scheduled to speak at the Army War College in Carlisle today. They're attending the Pennsylvania defense and infrastructure summit put together by Senator Dave McCormick. Trump is expected to highlight his investments in military spending. McCormick is using his summit to announce billions in investments in Pennsylvania industries. On the American debate over how much to spend on defense, U.S. Representative Scott Perry says he supports a one-time investment to jumpstart military production, but he warns about a ballooning federal budget.

Governor Josh Shapiro is praising advocates from Pittsburgh who he said helped secure the first state budget increase for Pennsylvania’s rape crisis centers in five years. 

Thirty-one percent of Pennsylvanian woman are unaware of the preventive services available at no cost under the Affordable Care Act. The Governor's Advisory Commission on Women is launching a statewide informational tour to tell them about accessible services.

Pennsylvania lawmakers want to make it easier for homeowners to build backyard cottages, garage apartments, and other accessory dwelling units, or ADUs.

Rabbittransit is getting ready to implement a new fare collection system later this month.  Changes are coming to the Capital Region, Gettysburg, Shippensburg and York routes.

U.S. Senator Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania is bringing power brokers to the Keystone State by hosting a two-day summit on national defense industries. It's taking place at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle.

Governor Josh Shapiro has secured a $20.3 million investment from Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials to expand operations and create 42 new jobs in Berks County.

The number of measles cases in Pennsylvania has grown to 105 this year. The latest outbreak, over the past few months, is within a 7-county area surrounding Lancaster County where there have been 55 confirmed cases.

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 Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs wildlife staff is holding butterfly tours. The training grounds at Fort Indiantown Gap house the only population of the eastern regal fritillary butterfly in the world.

A group of Pennsylvania residents is working to revive the colonial practice of growing flax one square yard at a time.

Dual sport motorcycle riders now have 20 miles of new trails to ride on state forest land. 

A report from our partners at Spotlight PA says Republican state senator Greg Rothman made money from the sale of a $30 million property to a developer building a data center in Cumberland County.

Congressman Glenn Thompson is joining the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support Pennsylvania apple growers who suffered catastrophic losses from a late-April freeze that destroyed crops. They're attempting to streamline and add flexibility in the crop insurance process.

Pennsylvania State Police investigated 635 crashes that resulted in 128 injuries and six fatalities over the July 4 weekend.

And

Attorney General Dave Sunday, along with 48 other attorneys, is calling on the FCC to help cut off scammers' access to real phone numbers.

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.