State & Regional News

West Reading's police chief announced two additional fatalities on Sunday evening, ending the search for two missing individuals. The search and rescue operation followed a chocolate factory explosion Friday night.

Reporter Julian Abraham spent the weekend covering the explosion that occurred Friday at a chocolate factory in West Reading.

As part of a yearlong investigation, The Associated Press obtained the data points underpinning several algorithms deployed by child welfare agencies to understand how they predict which children could be at risk of harm.

A chemical spill of a latex product late Friday in Bristol Township released contaminants into a Delaware River tributary, according to OEM officials.

Three people died and four remain missing in the explosion at the R.M. Palmer Co. chocolate-making plant in West Reading. The grim announcement Saturday night came after a day of hope spurred by a victim found alive in the wreckage early in the day.

Pennsylvania will again operate a water assistance program for low-income households behind in their water or wastewater bills, state officials announced last week.

While the report indicates positive trends, community advocates and leaders raised concerns about high rates of gun violence and educational outcomes. They called for more hyper-localized data to identify trends and correlations between issues impacting Black communities.

Thursday's March For Our Lives rally marks its fifth anniversary since its inception after a 2018 mass shooting at a Florida high school. Hundreds are expected at Thursday's rally in Harrisburg, which coincides with rallies this week in Florida, Michigan, California and Texas.

Gov. Josh Shapiro said he's long admired the Lehigh Valley's unique ability to build partnerships. It's a skillset he said he hopes to bring to other communities across the state to promote economic growth. Shapiro was keynote speaker at the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. annual meeting in Bethlehem.

A six-month investigation found the state’s “competency” review system is so broken it often extends incarceration, which can exacerbate mental health issues.

Pennsylvania is losing a seat in the U.S. House because of population losses in the 2020 Census.

The price of defending Ukraine means some investors may lose money.

The company declared construction complete; folks along a section in Delaware County say otherwise.

Democrats running for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania will debate April 3.

The change involves Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield universities.

Sanctions need to make Vladimir Putin, 'pay a price he cannot afford,' Sen. Pat Toomey said.

COVID-19 has caused health care to adapt to changing conditions.

Says U.S. Sen. Bob Casey: 'Both parties are united in pushing back against Mr. Putin.'

Inflation that leads to a jump in interest rates could be lurking, as well.

Russia is responsible for about 40 percent of Europe's natural gas supply.

The invasion was a surprise, says a local expert, because, "it goes against Putin's playbook of incrementally destabilizing and playing within acceptable norms."

Trout season opens across Pennsylvania on Saturday, April 2.