News

Will education again divide Pa legislature this budget cycle?

PA News July 1, 2026

HARRISBURG — Gov. Josh Shapiro wants to include $565 million in this year’s budget to continue closing an “adequacy gap” among public schools as his fellow Democrats push a proposal to overhaul tax credit programs that fund private school scholarships. Republicans who control the state Senate have pushed back, calling for changes to the formula adopted two years ago to rectify the funding disparity and for an expansion of the scholarships. While a dispute over education funding contributed to a months-long budget impasse a few years ago, one key lawmaker thinks the issue ...

Juniata County Dairy Promotion pointers

Agriculture July 1, 2026

Hi, I’m Jayde Sweger, a Juniata County Dairy Miss. The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 was enacted on Jan. 14, 2026. The law allows whole and reduced-fat milk in federally-funded school lunches and exempts milk from federal saturated fat limits. Whole milk is excellent for ...

Data center moratoriums get support in Pennsylvania

PA News July 1, 2026

A key Senate committee on Wednesday gave bipartisan support to the concept of letting a municipality put in place an 18-month moratorium on data center development, but it shunned the notion of one lasting three years. In separate votes, the Senate Local Government Committee passed two different data center moratorium bills. The votes occurred as municipalities across the state are struggling to accommodate data center proposals that are complex, unpopular, and often accompanied by many unanswered questions. One bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Jarrett Coleman of Lehigh County, ...

Field surveys for State College Area Connector begin next week

PA News July 1, 2026

STATE COLLEGE — Field survey work for the proposed State College Area Connector Project is scheduled to begin the week of July 6, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. PennDOT said members of the project’s design team will conduct field reconnaissance and collect data along the project’s preferred alternative route. Crews will use ground-penetrating radar and other noninvasive utility-locating equipment to identify septic tanks, drain fields and existing underground utilities that could be affected by construction of the proposed highway ...

Harrisburg leaders miss budget deadline

PA News July 1, 2026

For the fifth year in a row, state leaders have failed to meet the June 30 deadline for finishing an annual budget - a situation that will have little practical effect in the short term but raises the ugly specter of last year’s 135-day impasse. In 2025, even though political leaders spoke in late June and early July of being “close” to a deal, none was reached until November. Billions of dollars in state payments were withheld, counties lost millions of dollars, programs were cut and employees were furloughed. Chances for making the deadline this year ended before 3 p.m. ...

In the region

Local News July 1, 2026

Celebrate America’s 250th birthday in Beavertown BEAVERTOWN — The Beavertown Revitalization Committee invites the public to celebrate the 250th Birthday of the United States of America at the Beavertown Borough building and playground on Saturday, July 11. The festivities begin with a patriotic parade on West Walnut Street at 4 p.m. starting at Conestoga Wood Specialties. Children of all ages are invited to participate by riding decorated pedal bikes, wagons, motorized ride-on vehicles, kids’ carts and golf carts. Participants are encouraged to show their community spirit by ...