The Morning Agenda

Pennsylvania lawmakers are reacting to the guilty verdicts in former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York. A bridge in Cumberland County has been renamed the Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart Memorial Bridge. It pays respect to the Medal of Honor recipient who was killed in 1993 while trying to rescue his comrade in Mogadishu, Somalia. After last summer’s wildfire smoke coated Pennsylvania in a haze, a Penn State study is looking to measure air pollution better -- as way to ensure people have accurate and up-to-date information. Ghost guns will soon be illegal in on Central Pennsylvania city. Yuka Saso is leading the U.S. Women's Open with a 68 on a day of survival at Lancaster Country Club. The course is playing so difficult that only four players broke par. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some school districts in Pennsylvania are getting money from the federal government to clean up their fleet of school buses. The Reading school district will receive the most money. Nearly one million dollars is going to support environmental education programs across the state. The projects range from summer camps to helping people protect their homes from stormwater. A new report shows that Philadelphia is becoming a major hub for companies and experts doing cell and gene therapy. A fired Penn State football team doctor has been awarded $5.25 million in his lawsuit against the university over his firing. Play is set to bein today at the U. .Women's Open in Lancaster County. Nelly Korda is among the favorites at the tournament that's billed as the toughest test in golf. The longest serving school superintendent in Lancaster County has resigned. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Weather Service has confirmed a tornado struck the Mahanoy City in Schuylkill County. A coalition of civil rights organizations is suing the state and two counties in an effort to require mail-in ballots with date errors on the return envelope be counted. The museum and visitor center on the Gettysburg battlefield has been reopened -- after being shuttered for several hours yesterday, due to a suspicious package. The deadline to pass the state’s annual budget is June 30th, but negotiations have yet to fully get underway. Kidney and liver transplants will no longer be performed at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. A teenager has been charged with making terroristic threats after allegedly threatening to carry out a shooting at a Franklin County school. The U.S. Women's Open has returned to Lancaster Country Club for the first time since 2015, as Lexi Thompson announces she is retiring from full-time competition at age 29. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pennsylvania could be affected by more hurricanes than usual this year. Forecasters are predicting an unusually active season. The city of Lancaster will face a significant budget shortfall next year without changes. The mayor is pushing for a home rule charter to address the problem. Lancaster County is preparing the world's greatest women golfers this week. Events around the U.S. Women's Open will be held at the Lancaster Country Club in Manheim Township today through Sunday. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Centre County will try again to certify its primary results, with a commissioner meeting scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. Years after a multimillion-dollar renovation, the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg is undergoing more work. The latest round includes the removal of asbestos. With Pittsburgh slated to host the 2026 NFL draft, city leaders already planning for hundreds of thousands of visitors. The event could have a huge economic impact on Western Pa. Buglers across the nation are planning to play Taps at 3:00 p.m., as part of a growing Memorial Day tradition, known as Taps Across the Nation. Since today is Memorial Day, we’re going to forgo our usual regional round-up and focus on the holiday -- which honors members of the military who died in service to their country. From the WITF archives, we pay tribute to a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard, who was killed in Iraq in 2005. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the arrival of the Memorial Day weekend, drivers should expect more traffic than usual. Pennsylvania is now part of an effort to break Ticketmaster away from its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment. Protesters have packed up and left a pro-Palestinian encampment at Philadelphia’s Drexel University -- after the school announced police would clear it. State lawmakers want the Department of Aging to disclose more about the shortcomings it finds when it evaluates whether county-level agencies are properly investigating complaints about the abuse or neglect of older adults. Authorities say a deadly shooting at a linen company in Delaware County was apparently spurred by an ongoing dispute the gunman had with a female colleague. A Pennsylvania congressman is in a rehabilitation facility recovering from a minor stroke. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A group of 66 people sent to juvenile facilities in Pennsylvania as children have filed lawsuits alleging that they suffered physical and sexual abuse by guards, nurses, supervisors or other staff. Gas company CNX wants the Biden administration to write favorable clean energy tax credit rules so it can build a “sustainable” aviation fuel facility at Pittsburgh International Airport. Harrisburg’s Latino Hispanic American Community Center is welcoming people into its new facility. The 2026 NFL Draft will be coming to Pittsburgh. Organizers say a new cultural center in Altoona will offer live music, after school mentorship, and a meeting place for people of different religious and cultural views. A federal judge has signed off on the $600 million class action settlement over last year's disastrous Norfolk Southern derailment near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border . A street shooting in Harrisburg has left two men dead and three people wounded. The mayor of a southeastern Pennsylvania community is calling on state lawmakers to address the issue of gun violence -- after a disgruntled employee shot and killed two coworkers and injured three others at a linen company. State Senator Ryan Aument’s chief of staff and legal counsel is facing charges for driving under the influence. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An election challenge in Centre County is testing if Pennsylvania can certify its votes on time this fall. Penn State trustees have voted to approve up to $700 million in renovations to Beaver Stadium. The Scandinavian model of incarceration emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment and gives inmates more freedom. Democratic state lawmakers want the program to be made permanent at one prison in Pennsylvania, and expanded. 2026 will be a big year in Philadelphia as part of the nation’s 250th birthday. The parental rights group Moms for Liberty plans to spend more than $3 million on a multi-state advertising blitz to increase its membership and engage voters before November. A judge has sealed court documents related to the investigation of a former Lancaster city police officer charged in a series of sexual assaults -- in the hope that more potential victims will come forward. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A rule change lengthening the time students with disabilities can stay in Pennsylvania public schools is now void, according to a new Commonwealth Court ruling. U.S. Senator Bob Casey is speaking out in favor of a bill addressing issues at the southern border with Mexico. More than $1 million in federal grants could help reduce persistent flooding in Harrisburg. Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration will make tourism a priority for the first time in a decade. It plans to show the world that Pennsylvania is the Great American Getaway. A correction on a story that aired yesterday. Drexel University in Philadelphia is threatening to clear an encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters. An ailing prison inmate serving a life sentence in Pennsylvania for killing a man during a 1975 robbery has won a medical release order, hours after he was put on life support. The 2024 election season is in high gear and young voters are expected to be one of the biggest voting blocs this year. Hear from six students from Millersville University about their most important issues. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Lebanon County man is heading to prison for his role during the Jan. 6th storming of the U.S. Capitol; the Philadelphia School District is looking into year-round classes; what light pollution does to fireflies; and a Lancaster County woman is going to the Olympics. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Commissioners in Snyder County say they plan to close their prison sometime this year; a Somerset County man is one of five Americans jailed in Turks and Caicos on ammunition charges; a big lottery winning goes unclaimed; and a discussion on recent criticism of NPR. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Penn State is making a buyout offer to employees at its Commonwealth Campuses -- including those in Harrisburg, York, Mont Alto, and Reading. Faculty Senators are not holding back in expressing frustration and criticism of the plan. Several communities across the state -- including Philadelphia -- are turning to “tough-on-crime” approaches to address drug use and the opioid crisis. But, some families who’ve lost loved ones to drug overdoses are pushing back on strategies that rely on criminalization. Pennsylvania’s severe rainstorms drop more water than they did decades ago. A new analysis shows how climate change is “supercharging” rain events. If you have ever wanted to spend the night on a historic battlefield, now you have the chance at the Gettysburg National Military Park. A popular amusement park in Northumberland County is open for its 98th season. Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg has added more food options this year. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An American accused of sexually assaulting a Gettysburg College student in 2013 and later sending her a Facebook message that said, “So I raped you,” has been detained in France after a three-year search. Pennsylvania is one of many states that have recently banned the Callery pear tree. The WIC program connects at-risk mothers and caregivers with social services and guidance to provide the best care for their children. The federal program celebrates its 50th anniversary in Pennsylvania this month. Pennsylvania’s fracking wastewater could provide a key ingredient for the energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables. An Adams County school board is in a bit of a tussle over one member using a camera to record meetings. A Lancaster County woman is facing third-degree felony charges as police say she stole funds from a youth athletic find to cover gambling debts. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PPL Electric Utilities could pay one million dollars into its customer hardship fund, under a proposed deal from the state’s utility regulator. Cyril Wecht, a celebrated pathologist and one of Western Pennsylvania's defining political figures, has died at age 93. With more than 600 jobs to fill and many retirements lurking, Gov. Josh Shapiro is asking his administration to change the way the state hires in his newest executive order. An 82-year-old Perry County woman is recovering well after becoming the first person in the world to undergo a new type of heart surgery. Federal authorizes have charged the 100th Pennsylvanian in connection to the January 6th attack on the US Capitol. Punxsutawney Phil’s offspring have names that just might help the famed weather-forecasting groundhog to predict when spring will begin. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today is the deadline for counties to certify primary votes, barring election protests or recounts. The Chester Housing Authority is “troubled,” according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Less than one-percent of the Americans who served during World War II are still alive to tell their stories, according to The National World War II Museum. A memoir coming out tomorrow details the life experiences of a 100-year-old World War II veteran living in State College. Communities across Central Pennsylvania have wrestled with how to spend federal COVID-19 pandemic funding. York Springs borough council in Adams County is considering ways to use it's portion of $70,000. A three-time NCAA champion wrestler from Penn State is headed to the Summer Olympics in Paris. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State House leaders plan to introduce legislation to close funding gaps between the Commonwealth’s poorest and wealthiest school districts. York County is looking to hire its fourth election director in as many years. As temperatures rise, ticks and spotted lanternflies are sure to follow soon. Pennsylvania will join the majority of states that ban motorists from handling a cell phone for almost any purpose while driving. A Lancaster County school board is planning to vote later this month on whether to hire a religious liberties law firm to provide advice on how it responds to new federal rules expanding protections for LGBTQ+ students. Reading is finding new life for a historic bank. WITF's Director of Journalism stops by to discuss our approach to election coverage -- as part of our efforts to be transparent about our work. The story behind the special audible today for Tim's Song of The Day. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania rejected for technicalities saw a significant drop in last month’s primary election. It comes after election leaders tried anew to help voters avoid mistakes Penn State is offering voluntary buyouts to employees at its Commonwealth Campuses -- including those in Harrisburg, York, Mont Alto, and Reading. Appliances sold in the state would need to meet stricter efficiency standards under a measure passed by the House. Schuylkill County is spotlighting how it pooled coronavirus pandemic-era funding to create a regional emergency training center. The Pittsburgh Pirates have promoted Paul Skenes -- Major League Baseball's top pitching prospect -- for his major league debut Saturday. Governor Josh Shapiro will sign legislation to criminalize the misuse of a powerful animal tranquilizer xylazine. The state House is backing legislation aimed at regulating how online social media platforms interact with children. A Lancaster County Republican state lawmaker is pushing for school boards to be allowed to invite chaplains to serve as counselors to students and teachers. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A school voucher proposal is headed to a floor vote in the state Senate. Republican state lawmakers are advancing a $3 billion tax cut, in a counterproposal to Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro's budget plan. Nearly two weeks after an arrest warrant for Democratic state Representative Kevin Boyle of Philadelphia was revoked, House Republicans are calling on the state Attorney General to investigate Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. A Lebanon County man faces 11 years in prison for his role in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. A Cumberland Valley School board member has stepped down -- in the wake of the district's handling of a scheduled appearance by actor and children's book author Maulik Pancholy. The Dauphin County Clerk of Courts is facing a crackdown by the president judge, and must meet specific deadlines to address deficiencies and a backlog of documents waiting to be processed. Authorities are looking for the person who shoved fishing hooks into dog treats and left them along the Appalachian Trail in southeastern Pennsylvania. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two poll workers will no longer work elections at First United Methodist Church in Lancaster -- after two Black voters reported being racially profiled during last month's primary. A rally in Harrisburg has featured advocates backing bipartisan legislation to provide up to 20 weeks of paid family leave to Pennsylvanians. A Pennsylvania school district is celebrating the completion of its “Filter First” drinking fountain project. The University of Pennsylvania’s newest union will have thousands of members, after graduate students voted overwhelmingly in favor of unionizing. A nonprofit is considering laying off more than 100 people and shuttering three offices after losing its state funding. A man who tried to shoot a pastor during a service in western Pennsylvania because “God told him to do it” was thwarted when his gun didn’t fire. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Maryland Air National Guard will no long fly low-level training flights over the PA Wilds. Legislation passed by the state Senate would let energy companies bypass state agencies when securing a permit to build. Governor Josh Shapiro's proposed budget includes a significant increase in funding to reduce gun violence in communities. Ethnic intimidation charges have been filed against a Carlisle man for posting an anti-Semitic note at the door of the Asbell Center for Jewish Life at Dickinson College. Berks County is investigating an allegation of voter fraud that came to light during a choir practice. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.