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USDA offers assistance to producers impacted by freeze

HARRISBURG — Agricultural operations in Pennsylvania have been significantly impacted by the recent freeze. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover from these adverse weather events. “USDA has a suite of programs to support farmers and ranchers as they recover from disasters,” said Farm Production and Conservation Under Secretary Richard Fordyce. “I encourage impacted producers to contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to ...

‘Agriculture Adventures Activity Camp’ June 24-25

SELINSGROVE — Children with an interest in agriculture are invited to “Agriculture Adventures Activity Camp.” Join Penn State Extension for a two-day adventure exploring fiber animals, cattle, poultry, plants, canines, drones and careers. Open to youth ages 8-12, this day camp will ...

State reminds voters of rights, deadlines ahead of primary

From staff reports HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania voters heading to the polls today are being reminded about voting procedures, deadlines and voter rights for the primary election. Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt encouraged voters to review election information available through vote.pa.gov before casting their ballots. “As always, the Department of State wants to ensure that voters can make their voices heard and cast their ballots safely and securely,” Schmidt said in a statement. “We want every voter to be informed about how to exercise their right to vote in ...

Pittsburgh still pays public safety workers big leave cash-outs

By Mark Stricherz | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Eight retired Pittsburgh public-safety workers received more than $60,000 last year in taxpayer-funded payouts for unused leave, according to an investigation by The Center Square. In all, 17 municipal retirees in the Steel City cashed out more than $40,000 from unused leave for sickness, vacation, or personal reasons. All worked in either the police or fire bureaus. Lawrence Mercurio, a police commander, received the most—$84,308. Christopher Ragland, an assistant police chief and acting chief of police, earned ...

The economy is still standing, but the squeeze Is building

By Orphe Divounguy | The Center Square contributor (The Center Square) – This week brings three important reads on the economy: the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index, new home sales and the Personal Consumption Expenditures report. The housing data will matter. But they will mostly confirm what the more timely Zillow data already show. The national housing market is moving sideways. Home price growth has slowed. Sales are roughly flat from a year ago. Newly built homes remain one of the few parts of the market where buyers have more choices. Builders have been more ...

Skill games, sports betting interests are spending millions competing over 3 GOP state Senate primaries

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA HARRISBURG — Gaming and gambling interests whose industries were eyed for new or higher taxes in 2025 have spent $8.1 million and counting in the lead-up to Pennsylvania’s May primary. The spending was done by three groups, and much of it has been concentrated on independent ads that either praise or savage the records of Republican incumbents and their primary challengers in three key state Senate races. The incumbents — Lisa Baker of Luzerne County, Camera Bartolotta of Washington County, and Chris Gebhard of Lebanon County — are either ...