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.

The deadline to apply is May 10, even with a battle looming in the state Supreme Court.

The money will be aimed at hardest-hit communities and distributed over the next two decades.

Gov. Tom Wolf has pledged to appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court.

None of the 4 candidates received the two-thirds of the committee's votes required.

The plan uses the sale of credits for solar projects to plug oil and gas wells.

'That perspective of a Black female is so important,' says Wandalyn Enix.

Democrats and Republicans passed House Bill 253, a $225 million relief package.

The House and Senate's top GOP budget negotiators say the state's $7.76 billion in extra relief and tax money can't be stretched too thin.

Unlike past years, the public has been offering comments that have been incorporated in the redistricting process.

The United Food and Commercial Workers union says thousands of state jobs are at risk.

Applications for more than $350 million in aid to those who qualify will open on Tuesday, Feb. 1.

Under the program, health care workers give temporary assistance to hospitals in need of help.