Pennsylvania Capital-Star 's Avatar

Pennsylvania Capital-Star

@penncapital-star.com

A Harrisburg-based nonpartisan, nonprofit news site dedicated to fact-based, nuanced, fair, and transparent coverage focusing on how policies implemented in Harrisburg and Washington D.C. impact you and your community. info@penncapital-star.com

9,530
Followers
117
Following
2,000
Posts
27.08.2023
Joined
Posts Following

Latest posts by Pennsylvania Capital-Star @penncapital-star.com

Preview
Former Pa. GOP congressman calls for Rep. Rob Bresnahan to resign • Pennsylvania Capital-Star Bresnahan serves in one of Pennsylvania’s most competitive U.S. House districts, which could be key in deciding which party ultimately controls the chamber after the 2026 elections.

A former six-term Pennsylvania congressman is calling on GOP Rep. Rob Bresnahan to “resign immediately,” as the sitting lawmaker is embroiled in controversy over his stock trading.”

Jim Greenwood served as a Republican in the U.S. House from 1993 to 2005.

From @iankarbal.bsky.social

10.03.2026 22:03 👍 10 🔁 6 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Pa. House panel advances package of bills to codify LGBTQ protections • Pennsylvania Capital-Star Almost all the measures passed on partisan lines, with the bill codifying same sex marriage protections receiving two Republican votes from Reps. Timothy Bonner (R-Mercer) and Brenda Pugh (R-Luzerne).

A state House committee advanced a package of bills intended to enhance and codify protections for LGBTQ Pennsylvanians Tuesday.

From @iankarbal.bsky.social

10.03.2026 20:36 👍 8 🔁 5 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Pentagon reports 140 troops injured in Iran War • Pennsylvania Capital-Star Senate Democrats tasked with overseeing defense left a classified briefing Tuesday incensed about President Donald Trump’s war with Iran.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement that since the beginning of the war in Iran, “approximately 140 U.S. service members have been wounded over 10 days of sustained attacks.”

"Eight service members remain listed as severely injured," he said.

From @statesnewsroom.com

10.03.2026 19:40 👍 14 🔁 11 💬 3 📌 0
Preview
State, local policies on immigration enforcement targeted by US Senate Republicans • Pennsylvania Capital-Star Senate Republicans laid the groundwork for legislation that would prevent state and local governments from making decisions on whether to limit cooperation with the federal government on immigration e...

Federal immigration officials have increased enforcement in the interior of the country, targeting cities with high immigrant populations that are led by Democrats such as Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and the District of Columbia.

From @statesnewsroom.com

10.03.2026 18:27 👍 7 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Emergency responders in Pennsylvania seek more flexibility for off-road vehicles  • Pennsylvania Capital-Star First responders say that off-road vehicles like UTVs and ATVs can be a tool for emergency services — but state law limits their usefulness.

Using an off-road vehicle comes with a catch for Pennsylvania’s first responders: if they must take a public highway, they’re limited to traveling two miles and must run lights and sirens.

Emergency responders would like to see that changed.

From @wdownard.bsky.social

10.03.2026 17:59 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Nearly a third of Pennsylvania gamblers are at risk of problem gambling − but few seek treatment • Pennsylvania Capital-Star Nearly three times as many Pennsylvania adults gamble online today than just a few years ago.

Commentary:

Nearly three times as many Pennsylvania adults gamble online today than just a few years ago.

And as online platforms make gambling easier and more convenient, some Pennsylvanians are gambling more often and may be more prone to developing problems.

From @us.theconversation.com

10.03.2026 16:33 👍 3 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 0
Preview
States are limiting HIV drug assistance programs • Pennsylvania Capital-Star Thousands of low-income people living with HIV could be losing drug coverage as states impose limitations on HIV assistance programs amid constrained budgets.

Many factors are putting budget constraints on state programs, including federal funding — which has remained flat for years and hasn’t been adjusted for inflation — increased drug costs and rising insurance premiums.

From @stateline.org

10.03.2026 13:51 👍 2 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
How will the war in Iran affect your utility bills? • Pennsylvania Capital-Star Conflict in the Middle East could have major repercussions for U.S. electricity and natural gas prices.

Electricity rates increased by 5 percent nationwide in 2025, and in some states, the increase was much higher. In Pennsylvania, for example, rates rose almost 9 percent.

All told, Pennsylvanians were paying 46 percent more last year compared to 2018.

From @insideclimatenews.org

10.03.2026 12:50 👍 7 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 2
Preview
Republicans target public lands protections in a new way • Pennsylvania Capital-Star Republicans in Congress want to allow more mining and oil drilling on federal public lands, and they’ve recently turned to an obscure legislative maneuver to open areas for business.

The rarely used Congressional Review Act gives Congress a few months to revoke new federal regulations.

Only in the past year has it ever been used to overrule land management plans.

From @stateline.org

09.03.2026 20:38 👍 4 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 1
Preview
Gas prices spike across US amid Iran war • Pennsylvania Capital-Star Americans are paying more for gas Monday as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran chokes off a significant route for roughly one-fifth of the world’s petroleum products.

In Pennsylvania, the average price for a gallon of regular gas is $3.58, according to AAA. That’s 11 cents higher than the national average and up 46 cents from a week ago.

Only 17 of 67 counties are below the national number.

From @statesnewsroom.com

09.03.2026 18:25 👍 5 🔁 7 💬 0 📌 1
Preview
Shapiro orders flags flown at half-staff after state trooper killed in Chester County • Pennsylvania Capital-Star State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens, acting agency commissioner, said Corporal Timothy J. O’Connor Jr., 40, was shot while responding to a call about an erratic driver in Chester County.

Gov. Josh Shapiro has ordered flags across the commonwealth to be flown at half-staff after a Pennsylvania State Police trooper was killed Sunday night in West Caln Township, Chester County.

From @iankarbal.bsky.social

09.03.2026 17:58 👍 5 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 1
Preview
Temporarily banning data centers draws more interest from state, local officials • Pennsylvania Capital-Star As communities’ concerns grow over rising electricity prices and the environmental effects of data centers, some local and state officials want to halt development of the facilities.Lawmakers in at le...

Lawmakers in at least 11 states have introduced legislation this session that would temporarily ban data centers.

State lawmakers in Pennsylvania and Minnesota have also announced plans to introduce moratoriums on data center development.

From @stateline.org

09.03.2026 13:55 👍 11 🔁 8 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Maryland state agencies blast 'deeply flawed' ICE detention site, lawmakers want 'immediate halt' to project • Pennsylvania Capital-Star Three Maryland agencies blasted the Trump administration's "deeply flawed" plans to convert a Washington County warehouse into an immigration detention center, which they said poses a threat to the ar...

The heads of three Maryland agencies blasted the Trump administration’s “deeply flawed” plans to convert a warehouse into an immigration detention center,.

Similar issues are being raised over two proposed ICE facilities in Pennsylvania, as well.

From @marylandmatters.org.web.brid.gy

09.03.2026 12:53 👍 13 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
The ACLU of Pennsylvania wants a court to rule on DHS subpoenas of critics once and for all • Pennsylvania Capital-Star The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania has already represented two people who were the subjects of federal subpoenas seeking identifying information about them from tech companies.

"...in the bigger picture, what DHS is doing is withdrawing their subpoenas to kinda moot the legal issue before a court gets a chance to rule. They’re dodging any kind of court opinion that would put on the record a decision confirming what they’re doing is illegal.”

From @iankarbal.bsky.social

09.03.2026 12:04 👍 17 🔁 11 💬 1 📌 0
Preview
Pennsylvania: Proposed ICE detention centers 'will overwhelm' existing infrastructure • Pennsylvania Capital-Star The Shapiro administration steps its opposition to proposed ICE detention centers in Berks and Schuylkill counties, pointing to water concerns

The Shapiro administration stepped up its opposition to two proposed immigrant detention centers in Berks and Schuylkill counties Thursday, issuing administrative orders claiming that housing anyone at either location would violate state water regulations.

From @wdownard.bsky.social

08.03.2026 16:00 👍 15 🔁 8 💬 1 📌 1
Preview
Pa. man who argued immunity under broad Trump pardon found guilty of voter fraud in 2020 election • Pennsylvania Capital-Star A Lehigh Valley man who voted twice for President Donald Trump in the 2020 election is facing prison time.

A Lehigh Valley man who voted twice for President Donald Trump in the 2020 election is facing prison time.

On Wednesday, Matthew Laiss, who lives in Bethlehem, was convicted of felony voter fraud charges by a federal jury.

From @iankarbal.bsky.social

07.03.2026 00:14 👍 98 🔁 41 💬 9 📌 12
Preview
Pennsylvania: Proposed ICE detention centers 'will overwhelm' existing infrastructure • Pennsylvania Capital-Star The Shapiro administration steps its opposition to proposed ICE detention centers in Berks and Schuylkill counties, pointing to water concerns

The Shapiro administration stepped up its opposition to two proposed immigrant detention centers in Berks and Schuylkill counties Thursday, issuing administrative orders claiming that housing anyone at either location would violate state water regulations.

From @wdownard.bsky.social

06.03.2026 20:21 👍 16 🔁 9 💬 0 📌 2
Preview
Stories from the States podcast: Billion Dollar Baby Bump • Pennsylvania Capital-Star Stories From The States is a weekly podcast from States Newsroom.

This week's episode on the Stories from the States podcast takes you into a 50-state investigation examining state and federal budgets, as well as the tax records of hundreds of crisis pregnancy centers around the country.

From @statesnewsroom.com and @stateline.org

06.03.2026 19:52 👍 2 🔁 4 💬 1 📌 0
Preview
Federal funding for people in poverty heading to anti-abortion centers instead • Pennsylvania Capital-Star As many as $3 of every $4 for pregnancy centers in Missouri was from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program in 2024, and in the 2026 fiscal year, it will be $2 out of $3.

The bulk of the money Missouri gives to crisis pregnancy centers comes from federal funds meant to assist families experiencing poverty.

Read part three of @statesnewsroom.com's analysis that found 21 states funneled nearly a half-billion dollars in public money to these organizations.

06.03.2026 16:13 👍 7 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Kalshi and Polymarket are skirting laws on sports betting, states say • Pennsylvania Capital-Star Online prediction markets allow users to put money on the outcome of almost anything — this weekend’s NBA game between the Warriors and the Thunder, the next supreme leader of Iran, whether the govern...

The platforms are raising bipartisan alarms, especially related to sports gambling.

As states have legalized sports betting in recent years, they’ve required legal sportsbooks to jump through multiple hoops.

Online prediction markets circumvent all those rules.

From @stateline.org

06.03.2026 15:43 👍 2 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
Pennsylvania secretary of the commonwealth answers questions on elections at House hearing • Pennsylvania Capital-Star The Pennsylvania Department of State took questions from lawmakers in Pennsylvania’s state House for more than two hours on Thursday, providing insight into the future of elections in the state.

Questions spanned a slew of election administration topics, from when the state’s new voter management system will be ready to how artificial intelligence is changing elections.

From @votebeat.org

06.03.2026 14:35 👍 1 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
The Pennsylvania Capital-Star’s Week in Focus: March 6, 2026 • Pennsylvania Capital-Star The Pennsylvania Capital-Star’s Week in Focus: March 6, 2026

The Week in Focus is a video recap of our top stories:

1. How will the war with Iran impact gas prices in Pennsylvania?

2. Pharmacists are calling on state leaders to have a bigger say in Medicaid payment policies.

3. Pa. House Democrats are pushing to prioritize universal
pre-K.

06.03.2026 13:43 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
What's the cost of Trump’s war in Iran? US House Dem from Pa. asks budget agency to add it up • Pennsylvania Capital-Star The top Democrat on the U.S. House Budget Committee sent a letter to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, asking its experts to determine how much the war in Iran could cost.

Pennsylvania Rep. Brendan Boyle, the top Democrat on the U.S. House Budget Committee, sent a letter to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office on Thursday, asking its experts to determine how much the war in Iran could cost.

From @statesnewsroom.com

05.03.2026 22:43 👍 5 🔁 4 💬 1 📌 0
Preview
Trump's second tariff push faces immediate legal challenge from two dozen states -- including Pa. • Pennsylvania Capital-Star Two dozen states sue to block Trump's new tariffs, calling the 1974 law he's relying on archaic and misapplied

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro joined the lawsuit to block the latest tariffs instituted by President Donald Trump.

From the @azmirror.com

05.03.2026 21:12 👍 25 🔁 6 💬 0 📌 1

The Democratic senior from Pennsylvania isn't waiting for confirmation hearings.

05.03.2026 21:04 👍 6 🔁 4 💬 2 📌 0
Preview
Rep. Rob Bresnahan plan to revive axed farm-to-food bank program advances • Pennsylvania Capital-Star His bill would allow the USDA to send $200 million per year to states that make cooperative agreements with farmers who supply food banks. A quarter of those funds must be used to purchase from small-...

The Local Farmers Feeding Our Community Act effectively seeks to revive a program axed during the early months of the Trump administration.

The previous program saw the U.S. Department of Agriculture provide funds for states to pay farmers who supply food banks.

From @iankarbal.bsky.social

05.03.2026 19:46 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
BREAKING: Kristi Noem out as DHS secretary; Trump to tap Oklahoma Sen. Mullin • Pennsylvania Capital-Star WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump Thursday said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will be leaving the post for a job as a special envoy, following an appearance before a U.S. Senate panel this...

Noem is out as DHS secretary.

From @statesnewsroom.com

05.03.2026 19:06 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 1
Preview
Pennsylvania Army National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade to transition to new role • Pennsylvania Capital-Star The Pennsylvania Army National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade will be transformed as part of a larger national U.S. Army initiative.

The Pennsylvania Army National Guard will be transformed as part of a larger national initiative from the U.S. Army with a focus on agility.

The effort will start with the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, a 4,400-soldier brigade that was deployed to Iraq in 2009.

From @wdownard.bsky.social

05.03.2026 18:54 👍 0 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
State-mandated paid leave programs now cover millions of American workers • Pennsylvania Capital-Star Nearly one-third of the nation’s private sector workers are covered by paid leave programs as more states require employers to provide medical and family leave, according to a new analysis released th...

This year, Delaware, Maine and Minnesota began or planned to start offering benefits through new paid leave programs.

And the report cites growing momentum in six more states, including Pennsylvania.

From @stateline.org

05.03.2026 18:29 👍 6 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0
Preview
FIGHT Act tackles the menace of illegal animal fighting • Pennsylvania Capital-Star For years, animal advocates have warned that organizers of animal fighters are not just committing acts of unspeakable animal cruelty, but are engaged in even broader lawlessness.

Commentary:

For Pennsylvania, the stakes are even higher. In agricultural states, cockfighting presents an additional threat that extends beyond criminal enforcement into animal health, biosecurity and the economic stability of farming communities.

05.03.2026 17:49 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0