As Pennsylvania’s budget impasse nears seven weeks, state lawmakers remain deadlocked over a $47.6 billion budget proposal, raising concerns about broader impacts on public transit systems, education funding, and statewide...more
8/18/2025
/ Climate Change ,
Education Reform ,
Election Laws ,
Federal Funding ,
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Local Ordinance ,
Paid Leave ,
Pennsylvania ,
Public Transportation ,
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Redistricting ,
Senate Confirmation Hearings ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
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Urban Planning & Development
City’s High Overtime Costs Raise Burnout, Staffing Concerns-
The City of Philadelphia spent more than $370 million on overtime in 2024, with hundreds of municipal employees—especially those in public safety—doubling or...more
8/15/2025
/ Homeless Issues ,
Infrastructure ,
Labor Shortage ,
Over-Time ,
Public Health ,
Public Safety ,
Public Transit ,
Recruitment Policies ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
Transportation Industry ,
Work-Induced Stress ,
Workplace Safety
PA House Advances Transit Funding Amid Budget Stalemate -
The Pennsylvania House advanced a transit funding proposal as agencies across the state face potential service reductions. Although the bill reflects both Democratic...more
8/13/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Clean Energy ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Infrastructure ,
New Legislation ,
Pennsylvania ,
Political Campaigns ,
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Public Transit ,
Renewable Energy ,
Rental Property ,
Solar Energy ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Credits ,
Trump Administration
Sen. Ward Floats Temporary Budget Amid Ongoing Stalemate -
Senate President Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) has proposed a six-month budget to keep Pennsylvania operating as the legislative stalemate over school choice and mass...more
8/8/2025
/ Health Insurance ,
Home Health Agencies ,
Home Health Care ,
Human Trafficking ,
Medicaid ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Mental Health ,
Private Equity ,
Public Transit ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Teachers
City Offers Support for Small Businesses as Tax Exemption is Phased Out -Philadelphia is supporting small businesses through flexible payment plans, free tax assistance, and access to grants as it phases out a longstanding...more
8/8/2025
/ Arenas and Stadiums ,
Community Development ,
Economic Development ,
Infrastructure ,
Opioid ,
Public Transportation ,
Real Estate Development ,
Small Business ,
State and Local Government ,
Strike ,
Tax Exemptions ,
Teachers ,
Unions
Gov. Shapiro Urges Compromise as Budget Talks Stall -
Governor Josh Shapiro (D) says progress is slow but ongoing in Pennsylvania’s overdue budget negotiations, with mass transit funding and school choice among key sticking...more
8/5/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Alcohol Beverage Control ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Budget Cuts ,
Medicaid ,
Minimum Wage ,
New Legislation ,
Public Schools ,
Public Transit ,
Reproductive Healthcare Issues ,
SNAP Program ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Labor Laws ,
State Legislatures
PA State Budget a Month Past-due, SEPTA Service Cuts Weeks Away -Democratic state legislators expressed frustration that a budget bill with funding for mass transit has yet to pass. With SEPTA anticipated to start...more
8/1/2025
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Election Results ,
Environmental Violations ,
Flooding ,
Infrastructure ,
Mail-In Ballots ,
Mayors ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Transit ,
Public Utility ,
State and Local Government ,
State Attorneys General ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Trump Administration
Parker Admin’s Long-term Budget Plans Fully Approved-
The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority greenlit Mayor Cherelle Parker’s five-year financial plan, despite the body having aired concerns about...more
PA NIOSH Employees Uncertain About Their Future-
The United States Supreme Court handed the Trump Administration a victory, allowing the President to conduct mass firings at federal agencies. Now, Pittsburgh-area employees...more
7/30/2025
/ Crime Statistics ,
Employees ,
Employment Policies ,
Federal Employees ,
Federal Funding ,
Government Agencies ,
Judicial Authority ,
Labor Reform ,
Law Enforcement ,
NIOSH ,
OSHA ,
Pennsylvania ,
Political Campaigns ,
Public Health ,
Public Transportation ,
Trump Administration ,
Workplace Safety
Budget Impasse Stretched Into Third Week Past Deadline -
With Pennsylvania’s budget negotiations stalled past the June 30 deadline, public transit agencies are facing imminent service cuts and schools risk starting the year...more
7/25/2025
/ Budget Cuts ,
E-Scooters ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medical Marijuana ,
New Legislation ,
Pennsylvania ,
Pharmacies ,
Public Schools ,
Public Transit ,
State Budgets ,
State Funding ,
Steel Industry ,
Voter Registration
City May Revive Fairmount Park Police Unit for World Cup -
As Philadelphia prepares for a landmark summer of sports in 2026—including the FIFA World Cup, MLB All-Star Game, NCAA men’s basketball tournament, and PGA...more
7/25/2025
/ City Councils ,
Events ,
Government Agencies ,
Labor Regulations ,
Labor Relations ,
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Municipalities ,
Public Projects ,
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Public Transportation ,
Sports ,
State and Local Government ,
Transportation Industry ,
Unions ,
Urban Planning & Development
PA Budget Stalemate Deepens, Raising Alarm for Schools, Transit-
Three weeks past the deadline, Pennsylvania lawmakers remain deadlocked over the state budget, delaying critical funding decisions and raising alarms for...more
7/22/2025
/ Climate Change ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Energy Projects ,
Federal Budget ,
Federal Funding ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
Pennsylvania ,
Political Candidates ,
Public Broadcasting ,
Public Housing Authorities ,
Public Policy ,
Public Schools ,
Public Transit ,
State Budgets ,
State Elections ,
State Legislatures ,
Unemployment
PA Budget Bill Passes in House, Stalls in Senate -
On Monday, the Democratic-led state House voted to forward their state budget bill to the Senate, where GOP leadership is skeptical of full passage. While the House’s...more
7/18/2025
/ Energy Sector ,
Federal Budget ,
Federal Funding ,
Healthcare ,
Investment ,
Medicaid ,
Pennsylvania ,
Political Campaigns ,
Presidential Elections ,
Proposed Legislation ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Cuts ,
Trump Administration
PA Outlaws Creation of Deepfakes with Malicious Intent -
Governor Josh Shapiro (D) signed a bill that will code deepfakes as forgeries, making misleading or malicious digital impersonations illegal. The first offense will be...more
7/15/2025
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Privacy ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Deep Fake ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
False Statements ,
Felonies ,
Misdemeanors ,
New Legislation ,
Pennsylvania ,
Privacy Laws ,
Rural Health Care Providers ,
State Legislatures
Mayor Parker Strikes Deal with DC 33 -
Trash collectors and other frontline City workers will return to work after the Parker administration reached a deal with AFSCME District Council 33 early Wednesday morning. The...more
7/11/2025
/ Commercial Property Owners ,
Compensation & Benefits ,
Economic Development ,
Employee Rights ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Employment Policies ,
Infrastructure ,
Labor Relations ,
Public Transit ,
Real Estate Development ,
Real Estate Transactions ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Labor Laws ,
Unions ,
Wage and Hour
Gov. Shapiro Warns About Medicaid Cuts, Rural Hospital Closures -
During a press conference in York on Monday, Governor Josh Shapiro (D) sharply criticized Pennsylvania Republicans for supporting a federal reconciliation...more
7/11/2025
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Disclosure ,
Federal Funding ,
Government Agencies ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Hospitals ,
Medicaid ,
New Legislation ,
Pennsylvania ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Rural Health Care Providers ,
State and Local Government ,
Voter Registration
PA’s Lottery Allowed to Allocate More Money to Player Payouts-
Lawmakers passed legislation last week aimed at raising millions of more dollars for senior citizens by allowing the Pennsylvania Lottery to funnel more funds...more
7/8/2025
/ Federal Budget ,
Federal Funding ,
Hospitals ,
Lottery ,
Mass Shootings ,
Medicaid ,
Opioid ,
Pennsylvania ,
Political Candidates ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Proposed Legislation ,
State Budgets ,
State Elections ,
Unions
Gov. Shapiro Remains Optimistic About Ongoing Budget Negotiations-
Governor Josh Shapiro (D) says a budget deal is expected “very soon” despite Pennsylvania missing its July 1 deadline, as lawmakers continue closed-door...more
7/7/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Biden Administration ,
Eviction ,
Fracking ,
Marijuana ,
Medicaid ,
Pennsylvania ,
PFAS ,
Political Candidates ,
Proposed Legislation ,
State Budgets ,
Trump Administration
Philly to Invest in 15 More “Year-Round” Schools -
Mayor Charelle Parker announced that Philadelphia will invest in 15 new extended-day, extended-year schools. The list comprises ten conventional Philadelphia public schools...more
7/3/2025
/ Education Reform ,
Educational Institutions ,
Government Agencies ,
Labor Relations ,
Pennsylvania ,
Political Campaigns ,
Public Schools ,
Real Estate Development ,
School Districts ,
Sports ,
State and Local Government ,
Strike ,
Unions ,
WNBA
Legislators to Miss Budget Deadline Again Amid $5.5B Gap, Policy Disputes -For the fourth consecutive year, Pennsylvania lawmakers have missed the June 30 budget deadline as negotiations stall over how to close a projected...more
7/1/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Clean Energy ,
Corporate Taxes ,
Federal Budget ,
Healthcare ,
Pennsylvania ,
Political Campaigns ,
Political Candidates ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Housing Authorities ,
Public Schools ,
Public Transit ,
Public Transportation ,
SCOTUS ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures
Medicaid Costs Dominate Budget Talks as Deadline Looms-
Pennsylvania lawmakers are locked in tense budget negotiations as Governor Josh Shapiro’s (D) proposed $2.5 billion increase in Medicaid funding faces pushback from...more
6/27/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Child Care ,
Clean Energy ,
Employment Tax ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Labor Shortage ,
Media ,
Medicaid ,
Over-Time ,
Pennsylvania ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Safety ,
Public Schools ,
Renewable Energy ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
Tax Reform ,
Teachers
City Invests in Certifying CTE Teachers-
Philadelphia City Council allocated $500,000 to help Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers cover certification costs, addressing a teacher shortage and supporting growing...more
6/26/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
City Councils ,
Community Development ,
Economic Development ,
Housing Market ,
Mayors ,
Pennsylvania ,
Political Campaigns ,
Real Estate Development ,
State and Local Government ,
Teachers ,
Urban Planning & Development
Budget Talks Intensify as Lawmakers Debate Tax Reform, Transit Funding, Marijuana Legalization -
As Pennsylvania’s June 30 budget deadline approaches, the future of several of Governor Josh Shapiro’s (D) proposals—including...more
6/24/2025
/ Economic Development ,
Federal Budget ,
Healthcare ,
Iran ,
Marijuana ,
Pennsylvania ,
Political Candidates ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Transit ,
State Budgets ,
State Elections ,
Tax Reform ,
Trump Administration
Mayor Parker, Council President Johnson Reviving 90s-Era Collaboration -Over the first year in their respective positions, Mayor Cherelle Parker and City Council President Kenyatta Johnson have intentionally worked to build a...more
6/19/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Charter Schools ,
City Councils ,
Federal Funding ,
Government Efficiency ,
Housing Market ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Mayors ,
Pennsylvania ,
Political Campaigns ,
Real Estate Development ,
State and Local Government ,
Teachers ,
Unions
Gov. Shapiro Urges Moral Clarity After Minnesota Lawmaker’s
Assassination -
Following the politically motivated killing of Minnesota House Leader Melissa Hortman and the shooting of state Senator John Hoffman, Pennsylvania...more
6/17/2025
/ Charter Schools ,
Energy Policy ,
Federal Employees ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Immigration Enforcement ,
Pennsylvania ,
Political Campaigns ,
Proposed Legislation ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures