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Budget ‘super stressful’ on those waiting for state money

It’s been a week since the deadline for a state budget passed, and public libraries, schools, and rape crisis centers are bracing for the possibility of tighter times even while the memory of last year’s 135-day budget debacle remains fresh. A repeat is a real fear for many whose funding may be interrupted if it takes too long for Democrats and Republicans in Harrisburg to make a compromise. “I don’t want to have to go through that again. I don’t want our team to have to go through that again,” said the CEO of Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, Christine ...

New income guidelines announced for free, reduced-price school meals

From staff reports HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Department of Education has announced updated federal income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price school meals for the 2026-27 school year. The guidelines, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, took effect July 1 and will be used by schools to determine eligibility for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe encouraged eligible families to apply, saying access to nutritious school meals helps students stay healthy and focused on ...

Funeral arrangements announced for a fallen state trooper

From staff reports ASHLAND — The Pennsylvania State Police have announced funeral arrangements for Trooper Michael E. Pahira Jr., who was killed in the line of duty July 1 while conducting a commercial vehicle inspection in Schuylkill County. Visitation will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, at North Schuylkill Junior/Senior High School, 15 Academy Lane, Ashland. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Both the visitation and funeral are open to the public. Burial services will be private. The funeral service will be livestreamed by Commonwealth Media Services and ...

Penn State nursing leader retires after 37-year career

STATE COLLEGE — After nearly four decades of educating future nurses and expanding nursing education across Pennsylvania, Dr. Raymonde “Rae” A. Brown retired from Penn State on July 1, concluding a 37-year career in nursing education and academic leadership. Brown began her nursing ...

Amid $41B shortfall, Pa teachers’ pension cites private equity

Pennsylvania’s public-school employees’ pension fund is $41 billion short of what it needs to pay promised benefits. Last year, it missed the investment benchmark that officials set, a result they said was “primarily due to performance within private equity.” As of Dec. 31, Pennsylvania’s Public School Employees’ Retirement System held $85.3 billion in assets, making it one of the nation’s largest public pension funds. PSERS invested $10.1 billion in private equity with a goal of earning a 10.06% return. It returned just 2.59%. According to PSERS, private equity reduced ...

State lawmakers want to lower electric bills

HARRISBURG — Responding to public anger over soaring energy costs, Pennsylvania lawmakers in both parties have voted in support of a massive tax cut that would lower electric bills for customers across the state — although they have said little publicly about how to pay for the $1.7 billion hole the measure would create in the budget. Legislators in both parties are touting it as the largest tax cut in Pennsylvania history, although it’s not clear whether it will actually become law. The proposed change would eliminate a 5.9% state tax on the sale of electricity. It would take ...