Today in PA | A PennLive daily news briefing with Claudia Dimuro

A substitute teacher is being criticized for saying a racial slur in front of students while reading a passage of “Of Mice and Men” aloud. State Police have seized about $16 million in illegal drugs so far this year. Black fly suppression spraying has begun. And Pennsylvania’s favorite smell, found.

Central Bucks School District is receiving backlash for its plans to monitor students’ online activity. A new lawsuit claims Excela Health secretly gave Facebook and Google personal patient information. Pennsylvania’s public schools got poor marks in a recent poll. Finally, this kid got a job everyone would want.

A study has found that Pennsylvania actually gets more money from the federal government than it pays in taxes. A city is in such dire financial straits that it may have to stop being one. PPL will give you $10 for that old air conditioner. Lastly, this former police horse gets a new job.

According to a newly filed lawsuit, a chocolate factory ignored reports of a gas leak before an explosion that killed seven. This dry, breezy, warmer weather puts the state at a higher risk of wildfires. Philadelphia is getting public toilets that will prevent “vandalism, illegal drug use, or prostitution.” Finally, a rare hawk was rescued after being found stranded by a creek.

100 students have been shot in Philadelphia this year. Pennsylvania (still) has some of the highest gas prices in the country. Giant Eagle has been dethroned as Pittsburgh’s most dominant grocery store. And this woman got a sign that her boyfriend wanted to marry her.

Several counties plan on joining a national database that’ll help to identify guns used in crimes. Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey have seen a 600 percent increase in tornadoes over the past five years. A local grocery store has released a new ice cream line. And was that a black panther roaming around Jersey the other day?

A Native American tribe in South Dakota is pushing to get the remains of a child in a Pennsylvania cemetery transferred to them faster. An advocacy group plans on rolling out a new civic education campaign in Pennsylvania that’ll hopefully combat disinformation ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Fans heading to PNC Park for the home opener today can expect some nifty new park enhancements. L...

The continuing chip shortage is seeing new cars missing certain perks — like heated steering wheels and parking assistance technology — sold at dealerships all over the country. The Pittsburgh City Council has reached a tentative agreement with cops. Protein bars sold at Costcos are being recalled. Lastly, this brewery has been named Pennsylvania’s best — again.

A man received a five-year sentence for setting a Philadelphia police car on fire during the 2020 George Floyd protests. Pennsylvania’s largest coal plant announced its plans to fully close by June. April’s full moon will rise later week, and it’ll be pink. Finally, this is “The Coolest Thing Made in Pa.”

Xylazine — also known as “zombie drug” — is becoming increasingly present in illegal opioids. Get this — one gas company actually wants to decrease rates and save customers some money. Over four million trout were added in nurseries throughout the state for the fishing season. Also, this exhibit is a Peep into how creative people can get.

St. Luke’s University Health Network has been accused in a new class action lawsuit of charging employees who received religious exemption from the vaccine more for health insurance. A man who stole the thumb of an ancient terra cotta warrior statue during an ugly sweater party at the Franklin Institute has accepted a plea deal. Short-term rental owners in Philadelphia were informed about subpoena...

A woman has been banned by every casino in the state for leaving her baby in the car while she gambled. Three schools in one county have been using a new method to catch drivers who illegally pass buses. Strong winds are a-coming this weekend. Lastly, Pennsylvania’s a state full of jokers.

Pennsylvania officials want to start testing the tissues of animals that may have been affected by the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, last month. The state PUC has determined that PECO natural gas pipelines were not the cause behind an explosion in Pottstown nearly a year ago. A farm had to pull its goat-snuggling offering out of a few events after some people called it “exploitive.” Al...

A school has enforced stricter rules to its bathroom policies in order to mitigate reports of fights and vandalism, and students aren’t too thrilled about it. The state Attorney General has stated a ticket retailer must now give people full refunds for cancelled shows. A couple has to relocate their nonprofit for a PennDOT highway project and was only offered $100 for their troubles. Lastly, this...

A man who was cleared of a murder in Philadelphia in 2017 has just been arrested for another homicide. Pennsylvania — as did the rest of the U.S. — saw a surge in antisemitic incidents last year. Officials in one county dream of a day where civilians share footage from their own private security cameras to help mitigate crime. Finally, Pennsylvania lawmakers want Hershey’s Kiss as the official sta...

English is grand, isn’t it, and not a little in part due to the slang which evolves from it. In the spirit of that, here are the top five most popular slang words in Pennsylvania. 

Tune in for a special “Today in Pa.” episode featuring John Luciew as he discusses the subject of his new series: Musa Harris, a.k.a, the Luzerne County Predator Catcher. 

It’s National Cocktail Day, and in honor of this glorious occasion, a new study has found the favorite cocktail of each state.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro believes tax credits are the answer to alleviating the state’s current teacher shortage. Farmers are worried about the effects this warmer winter will have on their fruit crops. Kennywood plans on celebrating its 125th birthday with a new ride. Also did you know the supposed best steakhouse in the whole state is in Dauphin County?

The CEO of Norfolk Southern was questioned by state lawmakers on what led to the burning of toxic chemicals after the East Palestine train derailment. A recent Commonwealth Court ruling has stated that medical marijuana should be covered by workers’ compensation. Pennsylvania is among the states that are the least prepared for power outages. Plus, this “museum” actually used to be a train.

Williamsport plans to either fix or replace a bunch of wells on the city’s floodwall. If you spot some low-flying planes, don’t worry — they’re just helping with a little growing season preparation. A very lucky someone bought a $3 million scratch-off at a Sheetz. Lastly, this spot is one of the “Best Northeastern Small Towns,” according to USA Today.

Stop-and-frisk is back on the table ahead of Philadelphia’s mayoral election. A new proposal would give Pennsylvania drivers a 50 percent refund of Turnpike tolls. Speaking of getting your money back, the state Treasury could soon give you your unclaimed cash and property back in a speedier fashion. Also, Sheetz cut prices on some of its gas.

A township doesn’t want — or need — yet another Wawa. In Lebanon County, locals in one area have had their mail suspended. Parx Casino has some big plans in Bensalem. And the luck of the Irish persists, as there are two spots in Pennsylvania that are among the best for St. Patrick’s Day.

A mayor put up a sign — then took it down — which called a homeless man a “bum.” Bucks County has filed a lawsuit against the developers of popular apps such as TikTok. Allegheny County residents now have the ability to track that “rotten egg” smell. Plus, Pennsylvania is home to some of the U.S.’s “most Irish” cities.

According to a recent survey, the majority of Philadelphia residents don’t really think the city is going in the right direction. The University of Pittsburgh is receiving a bit of criticism for hosting events featuring “provocative” speakers. A bridge’s proposed reopening has been rejected. Also, Pennsylvania’s top phobia, found.