Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Pennsylvania Capital-Star impact Pennsylvanians and their communities.

We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization dedicated to fact-based, smart, nuanced, fair, and transparent coverage of how policies implemented in Harrisburg and Washington D.C.

The Week in Focus is a recap of our top stories, with a new video posting every Friday.1. After more than 130-day delay...
11/14/2025

The Week in Focus is a recap of our top stories, with a new video posting every Friday.

1. After more than 130-day delay, Pennsylvania finally has a state budget and we’ve got the details.

2. The budget boosts funding for Pennsylvania’s most underfunded schools and reins in costs for cyber charter programs.

3. Pennsylvania’s energy assistance program is in high demand, but the federal government shutdown led to frozen funds.

The Week in Focus is a recap of our top stories, with a new video posting every Friday.

The last state in the nation without some form of a budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year finally has a spending plan in pl...
11/13/2025

The last state in the nation without some form of a budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year finally has a spending plan in place.

Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a $50.1 billion state budget Wednesday after intensive meetings between Republican and Democratic lawmakers in recent weeks. They had been deadlocked for nearly five months since the June 30 deadline.

The budget, Shapiro’s third, increases overall spending by 4.7% compared to the previous year but represents a $1.4 billion reduction from his proposal in February.

More than four months after state lawmakers’ deadline to pass a 2025-2026 budget, a deal may be taking shape at the Capi...
11/12/2025

More than four months after state lawmakers’ deadline to pass a 2025-2026 budget, a deal may be taking shape at the Capitol in Harrisburg.

Following hours-long meetings of both the House Democratic and Senate Republican caucuses Tuesday evening, reports emerged from multiple sources of a tentative agreement to a $50.1 billion budget, with some details still to be ironed out.

Reports emerged from multiple sources of a tentative agreement to a $50.1 billion budget, with some details still to be ironed out.

A state program designed to alleviate utility costs for low-income Pennsylvanians hasn’t kept up with the need, advocate...
11/10/2025

A state program designed to alleviate utility costs for low-income Pennsylvanians hasn’t kept up with the need, advocates say, and the ongoing federal shutdown means payments haven’t yet hit the commonwealth’s coffers.

During the winter months, LIHEAP can help Pennsylvanians keep the lights and heat on. But the ongoing shutdown delayed those funds.

Seven U.S. Senate Democrats -- including Pennsylvania's John Fetterman -- and one independent joined Republicans on Sund...
11/10/2025

Seven U.S. Senate Democrats -- including Pennsylvania's John Fetterman -- and one independent joined Republicans on Sunday night in advancing legislation to reopen the government and temporarily keep it afloat until the end of January, after a record-breaking shutdown that began Oct. 1.

Seven U.S. Senate Democrats and one independent joined Republicans on Sunday night in advancing legislation to reopen the government and temporarily keep it afloat until the end of January, after a record-breaking shutdown that began Oct. 1.

More than 18,000 people use the program in Northumberland County – that’s 20 percent of the county, among the highest ra...
11/07/2025

More than 18,000 people use the program in Northumberland County – that’s 20 percent of the county, among the highest rates in the commonwealth.

Among those helping the community is God’s Chuckwagon, run out of a retrofitted school bus since 2005.

The uncertainty over SNAP and other components of the social safety net is straining families in Pennsylvania's Coal Region.

The Week in Focus is a recap of our top stories, with a new video posting every Friday.1. In a high-stakes judicial rete...
11/07/2025

The Week in Focus is a recap of our top stories, with a new video posting every Friday.

1. In a high-stakes judicial retention vote, Pennsylvania voters made their voices heard.

2. Pennie Marketplace premiums are soaring with two Central PA counties seeing premiums skyrocket by more than 400%.

3. State Attorney General Dave Sunday joined 38 attorneys general pushing Congress to shut a h**p loophole that’s flooding stores with unregulated, synthetic ma*****na.

In a high-stakes judicial retention vote, Pennsylvania voters made their voices heard.

Airlines serving three major airports frequented by Pennsylvanians will be limiting their flights Friday following an or...
11/06/2025

Airlines serving three major airports frequented by Pennsylvanians will be limiting their flights Friday following an order from the Federal Aviation Administration.

On Thursday, the FAA ordered airlines to cut 10% of their flights at 40 of the country’s busiest airports, including the Philadelphia International Airport, the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and the Washington Dulles International Airport.

Airlines at Pennsylvania's largest airport will trim flights by 10% following a federal order in response to air traffic controller shortages.

At the heart of the longest-ever federal shutdown — now in its sixth week — is whether or not to extend enhanced tax cre...
11/05/2025

At the heart of the longest-ever federal shutdown — now in its sixth week — is whether or not to extend enhanced tax credits for millions of Americans purchasing their plans on Affordable Care Act marketplaces.

Pennie’s open enrollment period for almost 500,000 Pennsylvanians began on Nov. 1, with premiums expected to nearly double or even triple in some cases if those tax credits expire.

“Folks are really panicked,” said Antoinette Kraus, the executive director of Pennsylvania Health Access Network. “They’re trying to figure out ,‘Can I find something that fits within my budget? Do I have to go uninsured?

Growing health care costs for Pennie consumers are at the center of the federal government shutdown, but negotiations are at an impasse.

Three state Supreme Court justices were elected to second terms Tuesday, despite efforts by conservative groups to persu...
11/05/2025

Three state Supreme Court justices were elected to second terms Tuesday, despite efforts by conservative groups to persuade voters to oust them, according to unofficial election results.

Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht, first elected as Democrats in 2015, will continue serving on the commonwealth’s highest court, which hears appeals in cases ranging from capital murder cases to congressional redistricting.

Their retention to 10-year terms maintains the court’s 5-2 Democratic majority, although Donohue, 72, will be able to serve only three years before reaching the mandatory retirement age for state judges.

Democratic leaders called the results a victory for judicial independence and a further repudiation of efforts by billionaire political donors to buy court seats.

As two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to release food assistance money, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Fri...
10/31/2025

As two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to release food assistance money, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Friday the state will make $5 million available to a network of food banks across the commonwealth.

Shapiro also signed a disaster declaration to ensure the state money is available immediately, as 2 million Pennsylvanians who rely on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) miss their November allocations. They would normally be paid Saturday.

Lori Jones-Brown, CEO of Philabundance, said food pantries across the region are already using reserves to meet increased demand.

The Week in Focus is a recap of our top stories, with a new video posting every Friday.1. State Senate Democrats propose...
10/31/2025

The Week in Focus is a recap of our top stories, with a new video posting every Friday.

1. State Senate Democrats propose a $62 million grant program to ease potential SNAP cuts.

2. One community in Beaver County is gearing up to feed the hungry if SNAP benefits end.

3. Gov. Josh Shapiro is joining a lawsuit against the Trump administration over halted SNAP benefits.

State Senate Democrats propose a $62 million grant program to ease potential SNAP cuts.

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