The Morning Agenda

Sometimes, your mornings are just too busy to catch the news beyond a headline or two. Don’t worry. The Morning Agenda has got your back. Each weekday morning, The Morning Agenda will keep you informed, amused, enlightened and up-to-date on what’s happening in central Pennsylvania and the rest of this great commonwealth. And every Friday, The Morning Agenda includes The Bright Spot, a positive news story that may have gotten lost amid the week’s news cycle.

The Morning Agenda is a news podcast hosted by WITF, with 210 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

WITF hosts The Morning Agenda, a news show with 210 episodes published.

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  The Morning Agenda

  PA Headlines | Oct. 7 | Agreement in politics? Perry and Stelson hold similar views on immigration.

  Oct 7, 202616 min

  There’s plenty of disagreement in politics these days, but in the 10th Congressional District, Republican Congressman Perry and Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson share some criticism of the Biden administration’s approach to immigration. Scott Perry, Janelle Stelson on health care in Pa.'s 10th District | WITF See the side-by-side comparison of Perry and Stelson’s answers to our questions, here. Pennsylvania's voter registration deadline is less than two weeks away, on October 19th. In Pennsylvania, those who are registered tend to be age 35 and older, while 18-to-34-year-olds often bypass the process altogether. Out of 38 states, Pennsylvania ranks 34th in the number of 18-year-olds who vote. Hear more from Votebeat's Carter Walker on WITF's The Spark, here. U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent visited Harrisburg Monday to promote new federal savings accounts for children. The Trump administration says the accounts will help families build wealth. Lebanon County Representative Russ Diamond is sponsoring two bills that he says would save skill games. The Republican blames Democratic House leaders for inaction on the issue. October marks the start of a new respiratory virus season, and state health officials are reminding Pennsylvanians to get their COVID-19 and flu shots. Pennsylvania has surpassed 1,000 measles cases this year, state health officials said Monday, making it the largest state outbreak in more than three decades. And a deep dive: If there’s one thing the majority of Americans agree on: it’s that they don’t want a hyperscale AI data center built in their neighborhoods. And despite a call by some AI leaders to slow down development of the technology, a conference held recently in Pittsburgh touted its benefits. Did you know that if every one of WITF’s sustaining circle members gives as little as $12 more a month, we'd close the gap caused by federal funding cuts? Increase your gift at https://witf.org/increase or become a new sustaining member at www.witf.org/givenow. And thanks!

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  The Morning Agenda

  PA Headlines | Oct. 6 | Abortion and gun rights: Where do Perry and Stelson stand?

  Oct 6, 202611 min

  This week, WITF News is publishing stories highlighting Republican Congressman Scott Perry’s and Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson’s responses to questions about the issues facing voters in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District. We asked the candidates the same questions so voters can compare their positions. Today, where they stand on abortion and gun control. Community organizations in York County told state lawmakers how they are helping people in hard times during a recent public policy hearing. Several groups are urging a western Pennsylvania state House member to resign after he allegedly used slurs to refer to a colleague. This is National Fire Prevention Week. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently announced grants to a number of Central Pennsylvania fire departments and first-responders. Dauphin County's Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area is expanding. Pennsylvania is getting as much as three-quarters of a billion dollars from a settlement with social media company Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram. But according to reporting by our partners at Spotlight PA, the money could spark a political fight. The state Department of Labor and Industry says the average call wait time for Pennsylvanians seeking assistance through the unemployment compensation service center has dropped to seven minutes. Lebanon County poultry producer Bell & Evans is embarking on a $152 million expansion - and receiving a $2 million state grant for the project. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has started its fall and winter trout stocking. And WITF alum Scott Detrow, currently NPR's All Things Considered host, is returning to Harrisburg tonight with fellow NPR Journalist Daniel Burke. In uncertain times, our community counts on facts, not noise. Support the journalism and programming that keep you informed. Donate now at www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

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  The Morning Agenda

  PA Headlines | Oct. 5 | Pa. House committee passes “bring-your-own-energy” bill for data centers

  Oct 5, 20269 min

  As electricity rates rise and Pennsylvania’s projected future energy use continues to increase, the House Energy Committee discussed legislative action to keep utility rates under control. That involves regulating data center development. A new study finds widespread microplastic pollution throughout the Delaware River watershed. The public broadcasting station WPSU is officially separated from Penn State and is now part of Philadelphia-based WHYY. This week, WITF News is publishing stories highlighting Republican Congressman Scott Perry’s and Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson’s responses to questions about the issues facing voters in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District. We asked them the same questions about the economy so voters can compare their answers. Gov. Josh Shapiro has raised nearly 27 million dollars more than his Republican challenger, Stacy Garrity. Pennsylvania's statewide archery deer season opened on Saturday. If you already support WITF with an ongoing monthly contribution, thank you. If every member of WITF's Sustaining Circle increased their gift by as little as $12 a month, we could close the budget gap caused by cuts in federal funding and keep this programming going strong. Increase your monthly gift today at https://witf.org/increase or become a new sustaining member at www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

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  The Morning Agenda

  PA Headlines | Oct. 2nd | Will we ever get money out of politics?

  Oct 2, 202615 min

  Want to buy a lawmaker a nice vacation, or a trip to the Super Bowl, or just a few dozen nice dinners around town? You can, under Pennsylvania’s gift laws, among the most lax in the nation. In Harrisburg, the latest push to end what advocates and some lawmakers call corruption. Also this week, the state House passed a bill aiming to expand voting access. Pennsylvania is one of only eight states where only Democrats or Republicans can vote in primary elections, which can sometimes be more consequential than November elections. PA House members are turning to civil liberties advocates and the law enforcement community to answer questions about automatic license plate readers. They recently convened for a hearing in Harrisburg as the legislative session is about to end with multiple bills in play to regulate ALPRs. The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed a fifth measles-associated death on Wednesday. Pennsylvania has the worst outbreak in the country. If Democrats can flip three state Senate seats in the November election, Pennsylvania could see the legalization of recreational marijuana as soon as next year. That’s according to a group of legislators who spoke at a conference called Opportunities in the Cannabis Industry, recently held in Philadelphia. Kratom is an unregulated drug that’s exploded in popularity and over-the-counter availability across Pennsylvania and other states. The state House Health Committee has advanced a bill that would regulate it. The Perry County Coroner's office has released the identity of a a man killed in a house explosion. The director of Pennsylvania's Women, Infants and Children (or WIC) program, under the Department of Health, has resigned. 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: A record-setting gift to Carnegie Mellon University is the largest individual gift in the history of American higher education. It’s been one year since public media's federal funding was revoked. Thanks to our community, we're still here for you and looking toward the future. Join the thousands of members who are building a stronger WITF. Go to www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

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  The Morning Agenda

  PA Headlines | Oct. 1 | A deep dive into data centers: How some residents are pushing back.

  Oct 1, 202615 min

  A community forum in Cumberland County focused on the growing number of data centers proposed for the region and the pushback against them. Residents are learning how to navigate the challenges presented by data center proposals. Pennsylvania's Department of Health is suspending a proposal to give officials more power to track the spread of disease. The proposed new rules sparked outrage among Republicans. Federal Medicaid changes required by a massive 2025 federal tax cut and spending bill go into effect on January first of next year. Pennsylvania is preparing its recipients for the changes to come while also updating its own reporting system for the joint federal and state health insurance program. A Dauphin County man is dead after a train collided with the pickup truck he was driving, Tuesday. The accident happened in the 300 block of South 7th Street in Lemoyne, Cumberland County. The coroner says there are no gates or flashing lights where that roadway crosses the train tracks. The number of measles cases in Pennsylvania has now surpassed 900. State health officials say a total of 903 cases are now confirmed across 39 counties this year. And a deep dive: Data center development is growing in Pennsylvania, in part because of the state’s big supply of natural gas. In the town of Upper Burrell in Westmoreland County, near Pittsburgh, a data center expansion could be fed by fracking rigs already pumping gas out of the ground there. The town is trying to keep pace with two big industries in its backyard. In uncertain times, our community counts on facts, not noise. Support the journalism and programming that keep you informed. Donate now at www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

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