Extreme heat warning remains in effect through Saturday

Residents across south-central Pennsylvania are being urged to take precautions as dangerously hot and humid weather continues, with the National Weather Service extending an Extreme Heat Warning through 8 p.m. Saturday. Forecasters say the combination of high temperatures and oppressive humidity will create hazardous conditions that significantly increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, including heat

Blue and brown take a break, go natural

M&M’s will temporarily remove its blue and brown candies later this summer as its parent company, Mars, continues its transition away from artificial food dyes, according to published reports. The change is expected to coincide with the candy’s 85th anniversary in August, when Mars plans to introduce M&M’s made without artificial colorings. Reports indicate the

Major federal student loan changes take effect for new borrowers

Significant changes to the federal student loan system took effect Wednesday, bringing new borrowing limits, revised repayment options and higher interest rates for millions of current and future college students. The reforms, enacted under President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, are intended to simplify repayment programs and reduce federal lending. Education officials say

Millions of eggs headed to Pennsylvania after price-fixing settlement

More than 3.4 million eggs will be distributed to Pennsylvania food banks and community organizations under a multistate settlement resolving allegations that several of the nation’s largest egg producers illegally manipulated prices. The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office announced the agreement Tuesday following a joint investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and attorneys general from

South Mountain Partnership earns Governor’s Award for environmental excellence

The South Mountain Partnership has received a 2026 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for its *State of the Region: Activating Conservation in the South Mountain Partnership Conservation Landscape* project. The award was presented during a ceremony in Harrisburg on June 25, recognizing 26 projects from across Pennsylvania for

Couple arrested after climbing Empire State Building for apparent proposal

Two people were arrested Wednesday after climbing to the top of the Empire State Building’s antenna in an apparent marriage proposal that prompted an emergency response and raised questions about security at one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks. Police responded around noon after receiving 911 calls reporting two climbers on the building’s 1,454-foot-high antenna.

Fences and security reshape Washington ahead of Fourth of July celebrations

Visitors to the nation’s capital are encountering widespread fencing, construction projects and heightened security as preparations continue for Independence Day events and next year’s 250th anniversary of the United States. Large sections of some of Washington’s best-known landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Lafayette Park and portions of the National Mall, have been closed

Heat dome to send temperatures near or above 100 across south-central Pennsylvania

A powerful heat dome is expected to bring dangerous, potentially record-breaking temperatures across much of the Midwest and eastern United States this week, with south central Pennsylvania forecast to see highs approaching or exceeding 100 degrees through the Independence Day holiday. The National Weather Service says dangerous heat will expand across the eastern two-thirds of

Supreme Court nears end of term with birthright citizenship ruling still pending

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to conclude its current term within days, with several closely watched cases still awaiting decisions, including a challenge involving President Donald Trump’s effort to end automatic birthright citizenship. The birthright citizenship case stems from an executive order signed by Trump early in his second term that would deny automatic

Medicare to begin covering obesity drugs

Millions of older Americans enrolled in Medicare will gain access to prescription obesity medications beginning July 1 under a new federal demonstration program, marking a significant expansion of coverage for weight-loss treatments that have previously been out of reach for many seniors. The new Medicare Bridge demonstration program will allow eligible beneficiaries to obtain obesity

Judge dismisses Department of Justice lawsuit seeking Pennsylvania voters’ private information

This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access. What happened? A federal district judge in Pennsylvania has dismissed a case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice seeking a copy of the state’s voter roll containing voters’ personal identifying information. “Public statements from government officials

Gettysburg will celebrate Fourth of July with a daylong festival

Gettysburg will celebrate Independence Day and the nation’s 250th birthday with a full day of music, family activities and fireworks during “A Gettysburg Fourth” on Saturday, July 4, at Gettysburg Recreation Park. The community celebration begins at 8 a.m. with the Adams County Farmers Market, offering locally grown produce, food and other products while kicking

Gettysburg History plans four days of programs marking battle anniversary and America 250

Gettysburg History is offering a wide variety of opportunities to commemorate both the 163rd anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg and the nation’s 250th birthday during four days of special programs from July 1-4. The schedule features battlefield tours, lectures, live performances, book signings, film screenings and living history experiences designed to immerse visitors in

Pennsylvania will join Great American State Fair for the nation’s 250th celebration

Pennsylvania will be represented at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall after a bipartisan effort by the state’s two U.S. senators and a coalition of business and agricultural organizations secured private funding for the Commonwealth’s participation. U.S. Sens. Dave McCormick and John Fetterman announced the partnership after learning Pennsylvania was not among

Nobody’s sitting in the luxury seats

Airlines are investing heavily in more luxurious premium cabins, but many of their newest business-class seats are sitting empty because they have not yet received required safety certifications from aviation regulators. Carriers including KLM, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines have encountered delays as regulators review new lie-flat seats and enclosed business-class suites featuring privacy doors, large

FCC reviews ABC stations, investigates The View in widening dispute with Disney

Federal regulators have opened multiple investigations involving Disney-owned ABC, including an early review of the broadcast licenses for Philadelphia’s 6abc and seven other company-owned television stations, and an examination of whether the daytime talk show *The View* qualifies for an exemption from federal political broadcasting rules. The Federal Communications Commission began reviewing the stations’ licenses

A deadly heatwave is shattering temperature records in Europe

A powerful “Omega” heatwave continued to grip Western Europe on Wednesday, breaking temperature records, disrupting daily life, and contributing to dozens of deaths as forecasters warned the dangerous conditions could persist through the end of the week. Britain recorded its hottest June day on record, with temperatures reaching 96.98 degrees Fahrenheit (36.1 Celsius) in southern

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are reportedly planning a Madison Square Garden wedding

Reports continue to mount that pop superstar Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce are planning a star-studded wedding celebration at New York City’s Madison Square Garden over the Independence Day weekend, though neither has confirmed the plans. According to multiple published reports, the couple has rented the iconic arena for three

Gov. Shapiro criticized for being ‘incredibly cozy’ with data center industry

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro came under repeated criticism Tuesday during a Capitol rally calling for a statewide moratorium on data center development, with speakers accusing his administration of being too closely aligned with Amazon and the technology industry. Colby Wesner, a member of Concerned Citizens of Montour County, said public records requests related to a

Powerful earthquakes kill dozens, devastate parts of Venezuela

At least 32 people were killed, and about 700 were injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday, causing widespread destruction and prompting a nationwide emergency response. The back-to-back earthquakes, measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, struck within seconds of each other near the Caribbean coastal city of Morón, about 100 miles west of Caracas.

ACOFA golf tournament is set for September

The Adams County Office for Aging (ACOFA) will host its 2026 Golf Tournament on Friday, Sept. 18, at the Gettysburg National Golf Club, with proceeds supporting programs that help county residents age 60 and older remain independent in their homes. The tournament will begin with an 8 a.m. shotgun start at the golf course, located

Special July 4 quarters will mark America’s 250th anniversary

The United States Mint will release 250,000 limited-edition Declaration of Independence quarters featuring a special “July 4” privy mark to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary. The unique coins, announced Tuesday, will carry no mint mark and will be randomly mixed with standard 2026 Declaration of Independence quarters before being distributed to banks and financial institutions

Health department urges measles vaccinations as cases rise

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is urging residents to make sure they are protected against measles after confirming 61 cases statewide between April and June 22, including infections in Berks, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties. Health officials said vaccination remains the best defense against the highly contagious disease and are encouraging early, accelerated and

Sports Wrap

Germany clinched a berth in the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast on Sunday, while the Netherlands continued its remarkable unbeaten run with a 5-1 rout of Sweden. Curaçao earned the first World Cup point in its history with a scoreless draw against Ecuador behind goalkeeper Eloy

Strong thunderstorms possible today

Residents of south central Pennsylvania could see strong to locally severe thunderstorms Monday afternoon and evening. As a low-pressure system moves across the state, warmer, more humid air south of Interstate 80 is expected to create favorable conditions for thunderstorms to develop. Forecast models indicate that a line of storms may form near the Interstate

KFC is planning a major menu overhaul

KFC is preparing one of the biggest changes in its history, rolling out a revamped menu that emphasizes boneless chicken, expanded sauce options and a new line of specialty beverages. The fast-food chain announced a global overhaul centered on what it calls “Dipped, Dunked and Kwenched.” The strategy reflects growing consumer demand for chicken products

Pa.-based Surfside cocktail brand defies industry slowdown

A Philadelphia-area canned cocktail company has emerged as one of the alcohol industry’s biggest success stories, recording rapid growth even as overall alcohol consumption declines across the United States. Stateside Vodka, founded in 2015 by local entrepreneurs Clement Pappas, Matt Quigley, Zach Pappas and Bryan Quigley, has seen extraordinary success with its Surfside line of

Algae returns to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

Just days after reopening following a $14.2 million renovation, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., is once again battling a familiar problem: algae. The restoration project, ordered by President Donald Trump as part of preparations for the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebration, included draining, resurfacing, and repainting the iconic pool in what administration

Apple plans price hikes as chip costs surge

Apple is preparing to raise prices on some of its products as soaring costs and tightening supplies of memory and storage chips put pressure on the company’s manufacturing expenses, according to a report published Wednesday by The Wall Street Journal. The company has not announced how much prices will increase or which products will be

Pa. House advances bill to add security chips to SNAP cards

Pennsylvania lawmakers are moving to strengthen protections for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients after the state House unanimously approved legislation that would replace traditional magnetic-stripe EBT cards with more secure chip-enabled cards. Supporters of House Bill 2540 say the upgrade would help combat a growing problem of benefit theft through card skimming and cloning,

U.S., Iran announce tentative agreement to end war

The United States and Iran have announced a tentative agreement aimed at ending their recent conflict, with a formal memorandum of understanding expected to be signed Friday in Switzerland. President Donald Trump said the agreement includes reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and lifting the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. Iranian officials also indicated

Strong storms leave thousands without power across central Pennsylvania

Strong thunderstorms that swept across central Pennsylvania Sunday evening left thousands of residents without electricity, downed trees and power lines, and brought an end to last week’s stretch of hot and humid weather. Utility crews worked overnight and into Monday morning to restore service to affected communities across the region. According to utility reports, nearly

Judge orders restoration of National Park exhibits altered under Trump directive

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore exhibits, signs and other interpretive materials that were altered or removed from national parks and historic sites under an executive order aimed at eliminating what the administration described as inappropriate portrayals of American history. U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley issued a preliminary injunction Friday requiring

West Nile virus detected in Pennsylvania mosquitoes as summer season begins

Pennsylvania health officials are reminding residents to take routine precautions against mosquito bites after the first West Nile virus-positive mosquito pools of 2026 were detected in nine counties across the state. The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced that mosquito samples collected in Allegheny, Beaver, Bucks, Lycoming, Monroe, Northumberland, Pike, Tioga and York counties tested positive

Pennsylvania invests $8.8 million to preserve 22 farms, 1,775 acres

The Shapiro administration announced that Pennsylvania will invest nearly $8.8 million to purchase development rights for 1,775 acres on 22 farms in 16 counties, ensuring the land remains in agricultural use and is protected from future residential or commercial development. The funding, approved by the State Agricultural Land Preservation Board, supports farms in Berks, Bucks,

Lawmakers urge Pa. Senate to split up public, private high school school playoffs

Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Centre)’s bill would authorize the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association to split up playoffs for public and private high schools. (Photo by Emily Scolnick/Pennsylvania Capital-Star) House lawmakers are calling on the state Senate to pass legislation that would allow Pennsylvania’s high school athletics governing body to split up playoff competition for public and

San Francisco voters reject ‘Overpaid CEO’ tax

San Francisco voters have rejected a union-backed ballot measure that sought to raise taxes on large corporations with highly paid executives, dealing a significant setback to organized labor’s efforts to address the city’s budget challenges. Proposition D, known as the Overpaid CEO Act, was defeated by 53.6% of voters, according to the latest election results.

Scientists are wary of the blob

An unusual patch of cold water in the North Atlantic Ocean is drawing increased attention from climate scientists, who say it could offer clues about the future of one of the world’s most important ocean current systems. The area of cooler-than-normal water, located east of Newfoundland, has persisted for roughly a year despite record warmth

Saturday’s Upper Adams celebration will include a parade shuttle service

Residents and visitors planning to attend the Upper Adams Communities’ America 250 celebration on Saturday are encouraged to take advantage of a free shuttle service designed to ease parking and traffic during the day’s festivities. The June 13 event will commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary and feature a parade through Biglerville Borough, followed by a

Sports Wrap

Basketball fans will turn their attention tonight to Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. The New York Knicks lead the San Antonio Spurs 2-0 after the first two games. It marks the first NBA Finals game in New York since 1999 and will be played under heightened security as President Donald

As Pa. cracks down on AI, multiple chatbots continue to pose as doctors

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. Chatbots on five different websites claimed to be licensed to practice medicine in the commonwealth when prompted by Spotlight PA — the same kind

Reach for Tylenol or Advil?

When a headache, fever, or muscle ache strikes, many Americans turn to over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, sold under the brand name Tylenol, or ibuprofen, found in products like Advil and Motrin. While both medications can reduce pain and fever, health experts say choosing the right one depends on the source of the discomfort.

Tony Awards spread honors across Broadway as ‘Death of a Salesman’ leads winners

A revival of Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” emerged as the biggest winner at Sunday night’s 79th Annual Tony Awards, taking six honors and leading a ceremony that celebrated both Broadway’s classic revivals and new productions. The acclaimed production won best revival of a play, while Laurie Metcalf earned featured actress in a play

McCormick defends Trump lawsuit, restitution fund proposal

Two Pennsylvania Republicans are defending President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service and a controversial $1.8 billion restitution fund that has drawn criticism from Democrats and some members of the GOP. U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick and U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser voiced support for the concept behind the fund during separate television appearances Wednesday,

House approves symbolic rebuke of Trump over Iran war

The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to approve a Democratic-led resolution expressing disapproval of President Donald Trump’s military conflict with Iran, marking a rare bipartisan rebuke of the president’s war policy. The measure passed 215-208, with four Republicans joining Democrats in support. Among those voting in favor was Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, along

On Spotify, oldies are still goodies

The hottest songs on Spotify are increasingly coming from decades gone by, as listeners of all ages turn to older music in what streaming analysts describe as a growing wave of nostalgia. According to new data from music analytics firm Luminate and Spotify, 2026 is shaping up to be the most nostalgia-driven year in the

Efforts grow to restore monuments removed during 2020 protests

Six years after nationwide protests led to the removal of hundreds of public monuments, a growing movement is seeking to return some of those statues to public view, reigniting debates over how communities should remember their history. Across the country, lawsuits, legislative proposals, and local advocacy campaigns are pushing for the restoration of monuments honoring

Scott Pelley fired amid escalating turmoil at CBS News

Veteran journalist Scott Pelley, one of the most recognizable faces in television news, was fired Tuesday from CBS News’ flagship program “60 Minutes,” intensifying a growing internal conflict that has shaken the network in recent months. Pelley’s dismissal came one day after a contentious staff meeting in which he reportedly criticized network leadership and questioned

Sports Wrap

June arrives with four regional Major League Baseball clubs still very much in the playoff conversation, though each enters the summer with a different storyline. The Philadelphia Phillies continue to search for offensive consistency after dropping a 9-1 decision to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. Philadelphia managed just five hits and remains a team

How to negate a $1.8 billion compensation fund

Leaders in several states are exploring an unusual strategy to block payments from a proposed $1.8 billion federal compensation fund created by the Trump administration: taxing the payouts at 100%. The effort comes in response to a fund established this month for people who claim they were wrongly investigated or prosecuted by the federal government.

Nvidia unveils new generation of AI-ready personal computers

Nvidia has introduced a new line of personal computers designed specifically for the next wave of artificial intelligence, announcing laptops and desktops capable of running advanced AI assistants directly on users’ devices. The technology company unveiled the systems during the Computex technology conference in Taipei, Taiwan, describing them as the first PCs built for AI

Mental health training series planned in Gettysburg this summer

A series of free educational programs designed to help community members better understand trauma, conflict resolution and mental health challenges will be offered this summer in Gettysburg through a partnership between WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital and Healthy Adams County. The three trainings, scheduled for June and July, are intended for anyone interested in expanding their knowledge

America 250 celebration faces controversy

What was intended to be a nationwide celebration of America’s 250th birthday has become embroiled in controversy as performers withdraw from a major anniversary event and critics question the role of a nonprofit organization closely tied to President Donald Trump’s administration. At the center of the debate is Freedom 250, a nonprofit established through a

Army will return remains of 12 Carlisle Indian School students to tribes

The U.S. Army will return the remains of 12 Native American children who died while attending the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, continuing a years-long effort to reunite former students with their families and tribal communities. The Office of Army Cemeteries announced that disinterment operations will begin Sept. 1 at the cemetery located on Carlisle Barracks.

Rollins signs disaster declaration to provide relief for Pa. fruit growers following freeze

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins signed a federal disaster declaration for 17 Pennsylvania counties to assist growers affected by last month’s spring freeze that decimated fruit blossoms. The catastrophic late freeze from April 19-21 caused widespread damage to blooming crops including apple, peach and pear orchards. “Our farmers cannot control the weather, but Washington can

Master Farmers coming to Gettysburg

Gettysburg will host the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Master Farmers celebration this summer, bringing agricultural leaders from across the region to Adams County as the nation marks America’s 250th anniversary. The annual banquet honoring this year’s Master Farmers will take place on July 17 at the Beyond the Battle Museum. Organizers say the event will celebrate excellence,

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