State & Regional News

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s gift ban says he can’t take tickets from groups with “financial relations with the Commonwealth.” Team Pennsylvania was awarded $1.8 million in state contracts this year.

The most popular names have been a constant the past few years, according to the major health networks. But one trend that emerged in 2023 in the Lehigh Valley seems to be tied to sports — specifically, the success and popularity of the Philadelphia Phillies. Taylor Swift also may be having an impact.

The Pennsylvania Department of State is starting a new office to help train county election workers, Pa. Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said. It also plans to update its guidance for logic and accuracy testing that could have caught issues with the Northampton County voting machines.

Lafayette College will host the 2024 vice presidential debate this coming September, drawing the world's eyes to its Easton campus. Nicole Hurd, the college's president, hopes it will be an opportunity to highlight the liberal arts school and the greater Easton community.

Lawmakers in Harrisburg passed nearly three dozen laws last week in a final burst of action as they held their last voting session of the year.

Nippon Steel is set to pay more than $14 billion to acquire Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel in a deal that Rep. Susan Wild said is “really kind of heartbreaking."

Pennsylvania's gas tax– the highest in the nation in 2023 – will drop from $0.611/gallon to $0.576/gallon and will remain in place through 2024.

It might seem counterintuitive, but harvesting holiday trees year after year is better for the environment than using an artificial one, experts said, especially amid the proliferation of plastic piling up in landfills.

Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott said these types of incentives will help to attract “the best and brightest” candidates to serve the city.

More than three dozen projects in the Valley were awarded grants, receiving about 7% of the total funding awarded. Statewide, $335 million in grants were announced Wednesday.

Under the new rules, fines will stiffen and police will have more authority to confiscate vehicles.

Some say the app is still useful and could be adapted to other uses.

A program that provides universal free meals for kids started early in the pandemic.

As proposed, more than $750 million in new funding would go to schools throughout the state.

Text and chat capacity will be available after July 16.

It will carry the name of Christine Lambert, who died on Christmas Day in 2005.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano might not administer Pennsylvania law fairly, Dent says.

Both DUI arrests and speeding citations were up over last year.

An environmental law expert says the EPA retains substantial authority to regulate emissions.

If passenger train expansion can happen in western Pennsylvania, can it also happen here?

Muhlenberg College has been polling on the topic of climate change since 2007.

The Supreme Court’s ruling is likely to galvanize abortion rights voters in Pennsylvania, an expert says.