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The 2026 primaries likely to shape the Pennsylvania House and Senate

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA HARRISBURG — This spring, Pennsylvanians will vote in primary elections that will have huge ramifications for the way the state House and Senate look next year. That’s why Spotlight PA analyzed all 228 legislative primaries — many of which are uncontested — on the May 19 ballot to pinpoint which are the likeliest to be competitive, impactful, or otherwise worth watching. The general election in November is the ultimate decider of which party controls each legislative chamber. But as the number of competitive districts shrinks in ...

‘The Music Man’ to take stage at Eisenhower Auditorium April 7

UNIVERSITY PARK — The national tour of The Music Man will stop at Penn State’s Eisenhower Auditorium on April 7, bringing the classic Broadway musical to Centre County audiences. The performance is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Eisenhower Auditorium. Produced by Big League Productions, the show follows fast-talking salesman Harold Hill as he convinces residents of River City, Iowa, to purchase instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band he has no intention of organizing. At the center of the story is Marian Paroo, the town librarian, who challenges Hill and ultimately reshapes the ...

PUC increases penalties in FirstEnergy case tied to winter shutoff death

From staff reports HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has approved increased penalties against FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company following a 2021 incident in which electric service was improperly shut off at a Westmoreland County home. The commission voted 5-0 to modify a proposed settlement, doubling financial penalties after determining the original agreement did not adequately reflect the seriousness of the case. The incident occurred Dec. 14, 2021, when service was terminated at a residence in Vandergrift during the PUC’s winter moratorium, ...

AG Task Force seizes firearms, makes arrests ahead of NFL Draft

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced several arrests and the seizure of six firearms, along with ammunition and accessories, following three recent search warrant operations carried out by the Allegheny County Gun Violence Task Force. The warrants were executed March 18 and March 19, about a month before the NFL Draft was scheduled to take place in Pittsburgh, an event expected to draw hundreds of thousands of fans to the region. The Office of Attorney General-led task force, working with Allegheny County agencies and police departments in Pittsburgh, ...

Officials warn of text phishing scams targeting drivers

HARRISBURG — State transportation and law enforcement officials are warning Pennsylvanians about a rise in text phishing scams that falsely claim to be from government agencies and threaten penalties over unpaid fines or tolls. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Pennsylvania State Police and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission said the messages often warn recipients their driver’s license or vehicle registration will be suspended unless immediate payment is made. Officials emphasized the messages are fraudulent and urged residents not to click on links or provide ...

State launches initiative aimed at reducing veteran suicide

From staff reports ANNVILLE, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs has launched a statewide initiative aimed at reducing suicide among veterans, service members and their families. The effort is supported by a $143,947 grant through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program. State officials said the funding will expand suicide prevention efforts and increase outreach to service members, veterans and their families across the commonwealth. “This funding allows us not only to continue, but to ...