Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Pennsylvania Capital-Star impact Pennsylvanians and their communities.

We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization dedicated to fact-based, smart, nuanced, fair, and transparent coverage of how policies implemented in Harrisburg and Washington D.C.

Pennsylvania’s Democratic congressional delegation is in broad agreement that investigations and accountability are need...
01/16/2026

Pennsylvania’s Democratic congressional delegation is in broad agreement that investigations and accountability are needed following the aggressive tactics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis and around the country.

But at this point, they haven’t landed on a united path forward.

Congressional Republicans have largely rallied around the federal officers.

So far, only two Pennsylvania Democrats have signed on to an effort to remove Noem from office. Rep. Summer Lee, was among the first co-sponsors on the impeachment articles, while Chris Deluzio, who represents the broader Pittsburgh area, committed to adding his name to the co-sponsors, according to...

The Week in Focus is a recap of our top stories, with a new video posting every Friday.1. A state lawmaker proposes a b...
01/16/2026

The Week in Focus is a recap of our top stories, with a new video posting every Friday.

1. A state lawmaker proposes a ban on warrantless immigration arrests near state buildings.

2. A focus on farming and mental health.

3. A longtime state lawmaker won’t seek reelection.

The Week in Focus is a recap of our top stories, with a new video posting every Friday.

Farmer su***de rates are significantly higher than the rates for the overall population, as detailed by the American Far...
01/15/2026

Farmer su***de rates are significantly higher than the rates for the overall population, as detailed by the American Farm Bureau. The profession also has higher rates of depression anxiety and substance use when compared to non-farmers.

“People are more than statistics. It is safe to say that most people involved in agriculture know at least one person who has struggled,” said Lisa Wherry, a Pennsylvania Farm Bureau member.

Farmers have disproportionately high rates of su***de and depression, but funds for mental health needs are strained.

Hundreds of federal employees at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received an email Tue...
01/14/2026

Hundreds of federal employees at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received an email Tuesday notifying them they’re no longer subject to layoffs announced last spring.

That includes roughly 100 employees at the Pittsburgh Mining Research Division (PMRD) in Allegheny County, who are focused on advancements in mine safety. Their work includes research into ventilation, blast shields, and dust reduction.

The short email employees received by NIOSH employees Tuesday offered a sense of security that had been absent for much of the last year. However, PMRD employees have yet to hear details such as when they are expected to return.

Civil immigration arrests would be prohibited within 1,000 feet of state-owned or leased facilities absent a judicial or...
01/14/2026

Civil immigration arrests would be prohibited within 1,000 feet of state-owned or leased facilities absent a judicial order or warrant under a proposal being developed in the Pennsylvania Senate.

The move comes in response to increased “warrantless immigration arrests in places that should be safe” by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, according to a cosponsorship memo from state Sen. Amanda Cappelletti (D-Delaware/Montgomery).

Pa lawmaker moves to restrict immigration arrests near state buildings by ICE and its growing group of local law enforcement partners.

The Week in Focus is a recap of our top stories, with a new video posting every Friday.1. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s ...
01/09/2026

The Week in Focus is a recap of our top stories, with a new video posting every Friday.

1. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s parent company says the paper will stop publishing in May.

2. Where does your Pennsylvania lawmaker stand on strikes in Venezuela?

3. Gov. Josh Shapiro announces reelection bid.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s parent company says the paper will stop publishing in May.

Thousands of Pennsylvanians have left the state’s only Affordable Care Act marketplace, Pennie, following sharp increase...
01/08/2026

Thousands of Pennsylvanians have left the state’s only Affordable Care Act marketplace, Pennie, following sharp increases in monthly premiums due to expiring enhanced federal subsidies.

For those still enrolled, rising costs means cutting expenses elsewhere.

Andrew Gehman, who lives in Franklin County, told the Capital-Star that he’d ended a $12,000 contract with a salesperson after his premium jumped from $70 to $240. Gehman, 40, owns and operates a video production company, 2085 Productions, based in Waynesboro, pitching projects from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia.

Enrollment on the state's marketplace, Pennie, falls as Congress weighs a bill to extend enhanced subsidies for another three years.

Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation is largely falling along partisan stances when it comes to the Trump Administrat...
01/06/2026

Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation is largely falling along partisan stances when it comes to the Trump Administration’s move to take Venezuela’s president into custody – with notable exceptions.

But not every lawmaker followed the party lines.

Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman has emerged as arguably the most vocal Democratic cheerleader of the administration’s actions, and its approach to foreign policy more broadly.

Two swing district Republicans, Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Ryan Mackenzie, have struck a more cautious tone than their GOP colleagues, warning against a prolonged deployment of American forces in the country. Fitzpatrick also joined Democrats in calling for Congress to reassert its war-making powers and for the administration to work more closely with lawmakers.

Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation is largely falling along partisan lines when it comes to the Trump Administration’s move to take Venezuela’s president into custody – with notable exceptions.

In just over 300 days, Pennsylvania voters will decide whether to reelect Gov. Josh Shapiro for a second term. They'll j...
01/05/2026

In just over 300 days, Pennsylvania voters will decide whether to reelect Gov. Josh Shapiro for a second term.

They'll judge him on his record of running the commonwealth.

While Republicans say there’s plenty to criticize, such as three late budgets and lingering questions about a sexual harassment scandal involving a top aide, Democratic and Republican political experts say his appeal to a broad swath of voters is strong.

“Politically, Josh’s victory is very key to what’s going to happen from a policy standpoint in the commonwealth and in the nation,” public affairs executive Larry Ceisler said.

Pennsylvania is likely to play a crucial role in determining the balance of power in Congress in the 2026 midterm electi...
01/02/2026

Pennsylvania is likely to play a crucial role in determining the balance of power in Congress in the 2026 midterm elections, with four U.S. House seats expected to be competitive — more than any other state.

“Each of these districts are within a couple of points,” said pollster Berwood Yost of Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster. “There aren’t a lot of competitive districts across the United States, and so both parties want to retain those districts.”

The 2026 midterm elections will determine control of the House for the rest of President Donald Trump's presidency.

The heavily spiced and honeyed hot drink is thought to have its roots in krupnik, a liqueur from Poland, Belarus and Lit...
01/01/2026

The heavily spiced and honeyed hot drink is thought to have its roots in krupnik, a liqueur from Poland, Belarus and Lithuania. But while the tradition of boilo is concentrated in the anthracite coal mining region of Pennsylvania, some have found recipes in other states, including Kentucky and West Virginia.

The heavily spiced — and strong — honeyed drink is popular in Pennsylvania's coal country, where many drink boilo around the holidays.

Even if someone’s never heard of the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, they’ve probably read our work.Over the course of the ye...
12/31/2025

Even if someone’s never heard of the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, they’ve probably read our work.

Over the course of the year, our stories were reprinted in newspapers and republished on websites across the state. Our audio work can also be heard on radio stations from Philadelphia to State College to Pittsburgh to Harrisburg to Pittston.

We let any publication republish our work for free, because we think our journalism focused on the impact of policy decisions in Harrisburg and Washington D.C. is a public service that everyone should benefit from.

As more and more smaller news organizations find themselves stretched for resources to cover their communities, the Capital-Star makes both its digital and audio stories available to help them fill any gaps in statewide coverage or supplement their work.

If our stories have helped you understand a complex issue or brought you a new perspective, please consider making a tax-deductible donation towards our nonprofit news today.

Can you help us end 2025 on a high note?

Any amount — big or small — helps fuel our mission of producing news from across the commonwealth that everyone can read for free. It can be a one-time gift of $25, $50 or $100, or a sustaining donation anywhere from $10/month to $50/month.

As always in appreciation of your trust and support,

Tim Lambert

Editor-in-chief, Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Pennsylvania Capital Star is a nonprofit news operation that depends on support from people like you to produce high-quality journalism without advertising, subscription fees or paywalls.

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