News

Intelligence spending hits record $109B

PA News November 2, 2026

(The Center Square) – Spending on the two U.S. intelligence budgets hit a record $109 billion in fiscal 2026 but still landed $6.5 billion below what the Trump administration requested, the largest shortfall in 14 years of figures published by ODNI. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said Congress appropriated $78.1 billion to the National Intelligence Program for fiscal 2026. The Department of War put the Military Intelligence Program at $30.9 billion. Both figures, released Oct. 30, are the highest in their agencies' published series, according to a review by The ...

PA News November 2, 2026

(The Center Square) – For more than a decade, Pennsylvania has had divided government as neither party has held the governor's mansion and majorities in both chambers at the same time. However, Gov. Josh Shapiro and State Treasurer Stacy Garrity have their sights set on what they would accomplish if given the trifecta. “With a Democratic trifecta in Harrisburg, I want you to know I will fight to raise wages,” Shapiro said during a rally in the Lehigh Valley on Saturday. “And the first bill that will reach my desk will be to raise the minimum wage to at least $15 an ...

Dark money, billionaire-connected cash flows into critical Pa. legislative races

PA News November 2, 2026

HARRISBURG — Big money is flowing into Pennsylvania’s legislative races as control of both chambers is up for grabs this Tuesday. It’s impossible to paint a complete picture of how much was spent on these races until after the election, when final campaign finance reports are filed. Still, Spotlight PA identified some notable findings from available information that illustrate the high stakes, as Pennsylvania Democrats mount a serious challenge to Republicans' long-running state Senate majority and defend their slim advantage in the House. Yass-connected donations Jeff Yass, a ...

Meta delays new business terms after outcry over potential web scraping

National News November 2, 2026

Meta said it was postponing the rollout of new terms for its business accounts after an outcry from media companies and open-web advocates who said the updated rules would allow the tech giant to scrape vast amounts of data and potentially build competing services. The new rules, originally ...

Millions of dollars from worst US gas leak available to help residents electrify homes

National News November 2, 2026

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Millions of dollars of settlement money from the largest known methane leak in the United States are now available to affected residents to replace gas-powered appliances with electric ones. Organizations involved in distributing the money say it will help create safer and ...

Police reports

Local News November 2, 2026

Two injured in Walker Township crash THOMPSONTOWN — Two people sustained suspected minor injuries in a two-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Industrial Park and Baumgardner roads, according to Pennsylvania State Police at Lewistown. Police said David W. Hockenberry, 71, of Mifflintown, was traveling south on Industrial Park Road in a 2022 Chrysler Pacifica at approximately 2:56 p.m. when he stopped to make a left turn onto Baumgardner Road. Hockenberry failed to see an approaching 2024 Toyota Camry driven by Daniel A. Edmisten, 44, of Newport, and turned into ...