The Morning Agenda

Blue crab populations in the Chesapeake Bay are rebounding from a near-record low.  Environmental protection efforts in Pennsylvania are helping keep the water clean downstream. Western PA Congresspersons Summer Lee and Chris Deluzio say mine operators must do more to help communities dig out of problems left behind when mines close. A federal judge is denying bail for a York County man, citing a history of online threats and alleged illegal gun possession. The criminal case gives insight into how the federal government monitors and prosecutes people connected to certain neo-Nazi groups. The developer of an ICE warehouse in Berks County is paying more than $82,000 dollars to resolve deficiencies. Five fatal crashes happened over the Memorial Day holiday weekend - and two involved intoxicated driving. Pennsylvania State Police report there were a total of 843 crashes over the four-day weekend. And now it’s time for our weekly segment called The Bright Spot. Every Friday, I’ll share a positive news story that may have gotten lost amid this week's news cycle.   Today’s bright spot is an update on our WITF Central PA Spelling Bee Champion.  Among the 247 spelling bee champions from across the country, competing this week at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, our WITF Central PA Spelling Bee Champion 11-year-old Vedika Burman of Central Dauphin Middle School, has finished in 79th place. (Click here for Vedika’s recent interview on The Morning Agenda.)

The campaign to plant ten million trees across the state of Pennsylvania reached its goal Tuesday, with the ten millionth tree planted near Hershey. But environmental advocates say the benefits of the milestone will continue for years to come. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has signed a disaster declaration for Pennsylvania farmers. Its goal is to help those who lost crops during freezing weather in April. And now back to the subject of trees for a deeper dive.  The Trump administration is planning a drastic reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service, moving its headquarters and research facilities to western states. Here in Pennsylvania, four research stations are on the chopping block. 

Pennsylvania's unemployment rate held steady during the month of April. The jobs numbers show record highs in some industries. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering adding a new ingredient to sunscreen products for the first time since 1999. Dermatologists are hopeful the new ingredient could expand options for sun protection.  A new report released by the state Insurance Department could offer lawmakers a path forward to help struggling pharmacies.  Twenty-six Pennsylvania high schools are receiving state grants to strengthen the pipeline of special education teachers.  Pennsylvania will have a new state librarian later this week, beginning May 30th.  And a deeper dive: Grocery stores typically have shopping carts that can fit a toddler, or even shopping carts that look like race cars where small kids can ride along. There are also motorized scooters for people with mobility issues. But there's also another type of shopping cart, one that advocates for people with disabilities say should be more widely available. 

Hurricane season begins next week, on June 1st. National Weather Service forecasters predict the Mid-Atlantic region will see ‘lower than average’ tropical storm activity this year.  Despite rainy conditions over the holiday weekend – and much of the past week – much of Pennsylvania continues to be under drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.    Last week, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it would give Pennsylvania nearly $40 million to address PFAS contamination in drinking water, the agency also said it would roll back PFAS regulations.   A recent study by the National Council on Aging and the Urban Institute finds many seniors are overlooking benefits that they might be eligible for.   A Lancaster County charity that distributes tens of thousands of meals to food banks is facing more than $14 million of debt - yet is continuing with plans to expand nationally. Pennsylvania's zoning and permitting processes are named as barriers to homebuilding in the state, according to a recent survey.

On this Memorial Day, we have a special episode for you – a conversation with Dale and Jan Hanby, hosts of WITF’s newest podcast “Cloth of the Nation.”