Tom Lehman

PennDOT has received a $500 million federal grant toward the $1.3 billion replacement of the I-83 South Bridge over the Susquehanna River. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2027 and is expected to take about 10 years. The project will build a new bridge beside the existing one before replacing the old structure, while PennDOT plans to maintain two lanes in each direction for most of the work. The grant will help preserve funding for other Pennsylvania transportation projects, although traffic disruptions and existing restrictions on superloads will continue.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s executive order requires data center developers to meet proposed GRID standards or obtain local approvals before the Department of Environmental Protection considers their permits, and the DEP has removed data centers from its fast-track permitting program. Opponents of the PAX-1 project in Cumberland County welcomed the move but wished it had come sooner. Environmental advocates called it a good start and urged lawmakers to add stronger protections for communities and the environment. State lawmakers are weighing options such as expanding local authority, while a statewide moratorium does not appear to be under active consideration.

A Pennsylvania Auditor General audit found that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission failed to collect about $229 million in tolls between June 2024 and May 2025, including roughly $171 million from motorists who received bills but did not pay. Auditor General Tim DeFoor called for stronger collection methods, potentially including credit reporting, and warned that continued rate increases could shift more of the burden onto paying drivers. The report also urged lawmakers to consider reducing the commission's required payments to PennDOT and recommended a task force to address the Turnpike Commission's $14.4 billion debt.

School-choice advocates are urging Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to enroll the state in a federal scholarship tax credit beginning in 2027. The program would allow individuals to receive up to $1,700 in tax credits for donations to eligible scholarship organizations supporting students attending private, religious, charter and other schools. Supporters, including state Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward and families connected to Harrisburg’s Silver Academy, say opting in would expand educational opportunities and services. The Pennsylvania State Education Association has not taken a position on the federal program but reiterated its opposition to using public funds for private and religious schools. Shapiro’s office is reviewing Treasury guidance, and Pennsylvania must decide by the end of 2026; otherwise, residents may be unable to direct qualifying contributions to organizations in the state.

Pennsylvania lawmakers from both parties are proposing restrictions on the collection, access and sharing of automatic license plate reader data. Rep. Brenda Pugh’s bill would bar vendors from selling or transferring law-enforcement data without authorization from the contracting agency, while preserving sharing between law-enforcement agencies for legitimate public-safety investigations. House Democrats are proposing additional safeguards, including documented search justifications, audit trails and penalties for misuse. The measures respond to concerns that vendors are creating commercial markets for plate data used by lenders, insurers, debt collectors and vehicle-repossession companies.

A former industrial brownfield in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, is being redeveloped into a mixed-use area with homes, apartments, retail space, and businesses. Pompeii Italian Grill, owned by Alfredo Iannuzzi, is preparing to open after nearly a decade of work. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection supported the project through technical review funded by the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act, while local economic development officials emphasized the importance of adding housing. State leaders highlighted a new $20 million budget allocation for brownfield study and remediation.

Video shows a tractor-trailer and SUV colliding on Route 72 near Thompson Avenue in Swatara Township, Lebanon County. The tractor-trailer then struck two garages, while several parked vehicles were also damaged. Both drivers were hospitalized, and a structural collapse team was sent to assess the building damage. Pennsylvania State Police said the SUV failed to stop at a posted stop sign, and Route 72 was closed in both directions.}

Pennsylvania’s active voter registration gap has narrowed to 25,811, with Democrats holding about 3.4 million active registrations and Republicans close behind. Republican Party Executive Director James Markley attributed the change to years of outreach and said independent and unaffiliated voters will be a major focus before the 2026 midterms. Analyst Berwood Yost cautioned that registration totals do not capture the full political picture, noting that roughly 37,000 voters have switched to the Democratic Party in 2026, compared with more than 24,000 switching to the Republican Party.

Business owners in downtown Harrisburg say the removal of newly installed 15‑minute parking spaces is harming customer access and straining operations. Café owner Elle Daniels says the city initially approved the signs before reversing course after Metropolis, the private parking manager, objected. The city says contractual agreements tied to its long‑term parking lease prevent authorization of new short‑term parking spaces, with existing ones grandfathered from older loading zones. Other business owners echo concerns that limited short-term parking hurts commerce, while Daniels warns the city’s parking contract could threaten downtown business viability.

Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said documented cases of non‑citizens voting in the state are rare, disputing claims raised in President Trump’s recent speech and a Homeland Security letter alleging thousands of potentially ineligible voters. Schmidt emphasized that the state cannot legally share certain voter data requested by federal authorities and questioned the methodology behind the federal estimates. A recent audit found only one non‑citizen registration caused by clerical error. Homeland Security maintained that election integrity is a nonpartisan responsibility but did not clarify whether it had provided states with the detailed data referenced in its letter.

Donald Trump said his administration plans to enact measures targeting commercial driver’s licenses held by people living in the U.S. illegally, citing the recent death of Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael Pahira. He highlighted plans to enforce English‑language proficiency requirements and promote CDL access for military veterans but offered no specific policy details. Pennsylvania officials said the state already verifies CDL applicants’ legal status through a federal database and has suspended issuing licenses to noncitizens while coordinating with federal regulators. The investigation into the crash that killed Pahira continues.

Pennsylvania lawmakers approved a state budget but left unresolved whether to legalize and regulate skill game machines after a state Supreme Court ruling classified them as slot machines. Organizations relying on revenue from the machines fear financial strain if enforcement begins on October 13 without legislative action. Key disputes include taxation levels and which agency should regulate the devices. State officials say police are prepared to enforce the law, while lawmakers will not revisit the issue until September, leaving little time before the deadline.

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania advanced several bills including the capital budget and university funding as negotiations continued on a final state budget. A $500 million school funding proposal backed by Gov. Josh Shapiro and Democratic lawmakers appears likely to be included, while decisions on regulating skill gaming machines remain unresolved following a state Supreme Court ruling. Legislative leaders indicated that a final budget deal could come soon as both chambers remain in session through the weekend.

The U.S. Department of Justice, under the Trump administration, warned Pennsylvania election officials that they could face criminal charges if non-citizens vote in upcoming elections. A letter to Secretary of State Al Schmidt outlined federal compliance requirements and requested details within five days on how the state would prevent non-citizen voting. Pennsylvania’s Department of State responded that it complies with all election laws and remains committed to maintaining secure and fair elections.

Harrisburg will celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks displays, food trucks, live music, and family activities centered around Riverfront Park and City Island. The Harrisburg Senators will host games with post-game fireworks, while the city revives its main fireworks show after a hiatus. Mayor Wanda Williams emphasized enhanced security measures, including at least 70 police officers, and warned against disruptive behavior. The festival will feature more than 40 food trucks, entertainment, and one of central Pennsylvania’s largest fireworks displays.

A heat wave is straining Pennsylvania’s aging power grid, prompting PJM Interconnection to issue a hot weather alert and boost power generation. As electricity demand and costs rise, state lawmakers are considering repealing the 5.9% sales tax on electricity to provide financial relief, though doing so could create a $1.7 billion budget shortfall. Democrats highlight the benefits for struggling residents, while Republicans acknowledge the fiscal challenges but see potential for budget adjustments. Debate continues over whether the repeal should apply only to residential customers as budget negotiations remain unresolved.

Pennsylvania lawmakers will miss the June 30 budget deadline as Senate Republican leaders announced they will resume work after the July 4 holiday while negotiations with Gov. Josh Shapiro and House Democrats continue. Senate leaders cited disagreements over spending levels and proposals to raise the state’s minimum wage as key issues slowing progress. The delay leaves local entities such as school districts uncertain about state funding, potentially complicating budget decisions. Lawmakers say they expect a final agreement in the days following July 4.

Pennsylvania lawmakers remained without a budget agreement one day before the June 30 deadline as negotiations continued over education funding, overall spending levels, and potential revenue sources. Democrats emphasized priorities such as increased school funding and protecting healthcare, while Republicans warned that the proposed $53.3 billion budget could drain reserves and lead to future tax increases. Both parties supported eliminating the gross receipts tax on electricity, though the change would reduce state revenue. Lawmakers also weighed legalizing and taxing skill game machines and debated new regulations for data centers amid rising concerns about electricity demand. With no clear timeline for a deal, leaders warned that prolonged delays could affect payments to schools, counties, and other state-funded entities.