WITF News Stories

A mysterious gas station company, backed by president Trump, launched with lower prices this week.  WITF’s Jordan Wilkie reports the political stunt is unlikely to earn Trump more support, or save consumers much money in the long run. 

Gettysburg Bike Week brings motorcyclists together for four days of community, comradery and entertainment. WITF’s Haley O’Brien reports.

More than a week after Pennsylvania’s budget deadline, lawmakers remain at an impasse over a spending plan, extending the state’s streak of late budgets to five consecutive years.

The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs wildlife staff is holding butterfly tours. WITF’s Katie Knol reports the training grounds at Fort Indiantown Gap house the only population of the eastern regal fritillary butterfly in the world.

Big Boy, the largest steam-powered train in the world, is traveling east across the country to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.  WITF’s Katie Knol reports thousands stood along the tracks in Lebanon to see the historic locomotive.

Tens of thousands of Pennsylvania residents lost power for days after severe thunderstorms swept through the region over the holiday weekend, toppling trees, downing power lines and causing widespread outages.  WITF's Haley O'Brien reports on the ongoing effort to restore power. 

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster has won a national manufacturing competition, bringing home a 100,000 dollar grand prize. WITF’s Katie Knol reports the victory showcases the skills students are taking into the workforce. 

As Central Pennsylvania endures another stretch of dangerous heat, social service agencies and local governments are expanding outreach and opening cooling centers to help unhoused residents stay safe.

A cell phone ban in schools could be the most popular policy Pennsylvania legislators pass in years.   WITF’s Jordan Wilkie reports on where politicians are doing what the public wants.  

As America prepares to celebrate 250 years of independence this week, several communities in central Pennsylvania are hosting festivals, parades and more. WITF’s Haley O’Brien has details on where to see fireworks in Central Pennsylvania this Fourth of July.

An ICE detainee says he was put in solitary confinement and transferred out of state in retaliation for speaking out about conditions.  WITF’s Jordan Wilkie reports the alleged retaliation came after a protest at Pennsylvania’s Moshannon Valley Processing Center, ICE’s largest immigrant detention facility in the northeast United States. 

Every election day, with millions of votes cast and thousands of volunteers running polling places across Pennsylvania, some mistakes — usually small — are bound to happen.  WITF’s Jordan Wilkie talks with Carter Walker, Votebeat’s Pennsylvania elections reporter, about what happens when problems do occur. 

Democrats are trying to find a candidate who can beat incumbent Republican Scott Perry in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional race.  WITF’s Jordan Wilkie reports on the race between centrist Janelle Stelson and progressive Justin Douglas.

A federal judge is siding with Pennsylvania over an out-of-state advocacy group in a lawsuit about voter data.  WITF’s Jordan Wilkie reports the judge upheld Pennsylvania’s ban on publishing voter rolls online.

Leaders in the Bhutanese refugee community in Pennsylvania say two fellow refugees are detained and facing deportation. It’s the latest in a series of cases where President Donald Trump’s administration is deporting the refugees back to a country that simply kicks them out again. 

The continued detention of an asylum-seeker arrested in Central Pennsylvania highlights many of the Trump administration’s changes to immigration policy.  WITF’s Jordan Wilkie reports.

Several states — including Pennsylvania — are in federal court over the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s latest executive order to rework elections.  Trump explained the order by repeating his often-discredited claim that non-citizens are voting en masse and in favor of his political opponents.  WITF’s Jordan Wilkie speaks with Carter Walker, reporter for Votebeat, about his story of...

A deep-dive into Pennsylvania’s automatic voter registration program, started under Governor Josh Shapiro in 2023, shows it’s working to get more people to vote from all parties and parts of the state.  WITF’s Jordan Wilkie talks with Votebeat reporter Carter Walker who analyzed the data. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well over a thousand people protesting Donald Trump’s presidency rallied on Harrisburg’s Capitol steps Saturday. WITF's Jordan Wilkie reports protesters used chants, speeches and homemade signs to make it clear they oppose President Trump’s immigration crackdown supported by Republicans like local Congressman Scott Perry. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/list...

Local governments are seeing more challenges to their decisions not to release public records. Some people are turning to ChatGPT, Claude and other artificial intelligence systems for help in making their case. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lancaster and York county law enforcement agencies who partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement say they are not interested in a targeted operation in the area.  WITF’s Jordan Wilkie reports on newly released records showing ICE sought a local surge. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pennsylvania’s education secretary says her office is preparing to help schools adopt a complete cell phone ban for students. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pennsylvania voters are growing increasingly critical of President Donald Trump’s handling of immigration policy, according to the latest Franklin and Marshall College Poll.  Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Handling of the economy has long been considered a strong suit for the Republican Party. A new poll suggests the economy might now be one of the party’s weaknesses heading into this year’s midterms. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It took answering just one question for Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity to secure President Donald Trump’s coveted endorsement in this year’s governor's race. That’s according to an audio recording obtained by W-I-T-F of Garrity recounting the story at a Republican fundraiser. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.