With Commencement season upon us, the State System of Higher Education is sending thousands of graduates out into the workforce.  Nearly 20,000 students are graduating from state system universities. Nearly 90% of the students are from Pennsylvania and most graduates stay in the state.  Four-day school schedules are gaining in popularity across the country. Starting this fall, students at a Catholic secondary school in Williamsport, Lycoming County are joining the trend. The State Department of Health is working closely with health care providers in Lebanon County after three individuals were hospitalized with measles.  The Office of State Inspector General has new office space in Forum Place in Harrisburg.  State Inspector General Michelle Henry says the move allows her entire department to be located on one floor, as opposed to three. A state House committee is advancing a suite of six bills to combat child sex trafficking  Wellspan Health has officially opened Wellspan Carlisle Hospital.  It's the third new hospital Wellspan has opened this year following locations in Newberry and Shrewsbury, York County.  York is being awarded $1.5 million to help city officials convert the vacant Dentsply Sirona property into affordable housing including 81 apartments, plus retail and office space. York's funding is part of a total of $10 million Governor Shapiro is awarding for affordable housing programs across the state. Who owns blighted homes in the city of Reading? The answer is often unclear. And it's hampering city officials from tracking down those owners and ultimately increasing the city's housing stock and tax base. You can learn more about this story on our website, <a href="https://www.witf.org/2026/05/06/who-owns-readings-blighted-homes-the-answer-is-often-unclear/">here.</a>  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 this: There’s a new free online quiz to predict and plan for longevity. It’s good timing, as the oldest millennials turn 45 this year - and the oldest Gen Xers are 60. What’s your longevity score? Take the quiz and find out, in a story from NPR, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/05/04/nx-s1-5787940/tool-survey-helps-plan-aging-longevity-retirement">linked here.</a>  

The Morning Agenda

WITF

PA Headlines | May 8 | Stats and analysis, as nearly 20,000 students graduate from Pa. state universities this spring.

MAY 8, 202610 MIN
The Morning Agenda

PA Headlines | May 8 | Stats and analysis, as nearly 20,000 students graduate from Pa. state universities this spring.

MAY 8, 202610 MIN

Description

With Commencement season upon us, the State System of Higher Education is sending thousands of graduates out into the workforce. Nearly 20,000 students are graduating from state system universities. Nearly 90% of the students are from Pennsylvania and most graduates stay in the state. Four-day school schedules are gaining in popularity across the country. Starting this fall, students at a Catholic secondary school in Williamsport, Lycoming County are joining the trend.The State Department of Health is working closely with health care providers in Lebanon County after three individuals were hospitalized with measles. The Office of State Inspector General has new office space in Forum Place in Harrisburg.  State Inspector General Michelle Henry says the move allows her entire department to be located on one floor, as opposed to three.A state House committee is advancing a suite of six bills to combat child sex trafficking Wellspan Health has officially opened Wellspan Carlisle Hospital.  It's the third new hospital Wellspan has opened this year following locations in Newberry and Shrewsbury, York County. York is being awarded $1.5 million to help city officials convert the vacant Dentsply Sirona property into affordable housing including 81 apartments, plus retail and office space. York's funding is part of a total of $10 million Governor Shapiro is awarding for affordable housing programs across the state.Who owns blighted homes in the city of Reading? The answer is often unclear. And it's hampering city officials from tracking down those owners and ultimately increasing the city's housing stock and tax base. You can learn more about this story on our website, here. 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 this: There’s a new free online quiz to predict and plan for longevity. It’s good timing, as the oldest millennials turn 45 this year - and the oldest Gen Xers are 60. What’s your longevity score? Take the quiz and find out, in a story from NPR, linked here.