Pennsylvania
Why thousands of Philly families are switching to cyber charter school
A growing number of Black, brown, and low-income Philadelphians turning to cyber charters because they see them as a safe and flexible educational option for their families.
Election workers may need to become whistleblowers this fall
Legal groups stand ready to help election workers navigate the legal realities of “see something, say something.”
Little-noticed statehouse races could reshape election policies next year
In several swing states, control of legislative chambers—and agendas—is on the ballot in November.
Suicide rates for young Americans are increasing. Here’s what states are doing about it.
A $68 million federal grant program announced last week during Suicide Prevention Month will help support state programs aimed at solving the youth mental health crisis.
Philly residents with opioid addiction get medication from the ‘bupe bus’—creating a path for treatment
COMMENTARY | As an addiction medicine physician and researcher, I think a lot about how to get effective treatment to the patients who need it most.
‘License plate flippers’ help drivers evade police, tickets and tolls
A few states and cities are cracking down on the devices, which obscure or conceal license plates.
Move over, presidential race. These state governments also are up for grabs.
Thousands of state lawmakers are on the ballot, and control of some statehouses hangs in the balance.
States recognize 'something's got to give' in providing services to older adults
Helping older adults participate in society and stay engaged with the community as they age is a growing priority for state governments.
New bans on panhandling in medians spark debate over free speech rights
The efforts to pass pans have grown amid a nationwide homelessness crisis, with more people visibly soliciting money in the streets, and higher pedestrian deaths compared with before the pandemic.
Extreme heat is making schools hotter—and learning harder
Rising temperatures mean dehydrated, exhausted kids, and teachers who have to focus on heat safety instead of instruction.
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Clean needles save lives. In some states, they might not be legal.
In Pennsylvania, where 5,158 people died from a drug overdose in 2022, the state’s drug paraphernalia law stands in the way of harm reduction programs that distribute sterile syringes.
Shapiro pitches carbon cap-and-invest plan to capitalize on Pennsylvania’s energy exports
The program could make could make the state a national clean energy leader, but critics claim it’s the same tax on electricity as the state’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
The Keystone State partners with OpenAI for first-in-nation AI pilot
Led by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, staff in the Office of Administration will use the AI tools to create and edit copy, update policy language, draft job descriptions and help employees write code.
Pennsylvania’s election audit starts with a roll of the dice
Department of State officials rolled ten-sided dice to generate a seed number needed for risk limiting audits.
Wisconsin’s ‘Star Trek’ veto and other budget stragglers
With the new fiscal year underway, some states are just now wrapping up their budgets—and it hasn’t been without drama. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup
Five Takeaways from Tuesday’s Elections
Women make history, Republicans lose ground and crime concerns take center stage. Here's what you might've missed in the dozens of city and statewide races Tuesday night.
When States Take Over Financially Troubled Local Governments
A recent bankruptcy filing by Chester, Pennsylvania, highlights the limits and difficulties with state programs in dealing with fiscal stress at the municipal level.
How a Bankrupt City’s Pension System Hit a Breaking Point
The case of Chester, Pennsylvania involves hidden debt, missing documentation and lots of blame. Route Fifty takes a closer look in this second installment of a three-part series.
State & Local Roundup: A Historic Week for a New Governor
Plus: Pennsylvania ditches state job degree requirements. Pickleball! News you can use from across the country.
As His First Order of Business, a New Governor Drops College Degree Requirements for State Jobs
The executive order from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro–affecting 65,000 jobs–came on his first full day in office.
