20 minutes
(The Center Square) – Energy is big business in Pennsylvania. Its storied fossil fuel reserves have kept utility bills lower and the regional power grid more stable for the better part of a century. That’s remained key as states opt for lower-emission power sources, which have so far relied on fledgling technologies not yet able to keep the lights on with batteries, solar panels and wind turbines alone. A new report from the Commonwealth Foundation concludes it could have been even bigger business had state regulators not spent the last six years “flirting” with a carbon tax program called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the success of which many critics say relies on the fossil fuels it means to curb. For the program’s most ardent supporters, the transition away from coal and gas must start somewhere. And, to them, a 50% reduction in emissions and $6 billion in revenue over the last 18 years isn’t a bad one. “The Keystone State’s six-year on-again, off-again relationship with RGGI is a cautionary tale for other states, such as Virginia,” said Elizabeth Stelle, vice president of policy for the Commonwealth Foundation. “RGGI is a carbon tax in sheep’s clothing, toppling the energy future of every state it touches.” RGGI, as the program is often referred to, profits from reductions in harmful emissions by charging generators for the air pollution they create, measured in carbon dioxide. Across 12 states in the mid-Atlantic and New England, power plants and industrial sites buy an ever-decreasing number of emissions “credits” at the program’s annual auction to cover that anticipated pollution. Those credit prices have risen sharply since RGGI’s first auction in 2008, and because of the balance needed between fossil fuels and renewable power, the program has put financial pressure on the entire grid, leaving utility companies – and by extension, ratepayers – scrambling to make up the difference. Sometimes relief comes from RGGI-funded bill-reduction programs administered by participating states. Or the proliferation of more efficient renewable sources, supported by government taxpayer-funded subsidies, that require less support from gas and coal. In recent years, it’s been the pooling of smart thermostats, rooftop solar panels, and battery storage to compensate consumers for lower electricity usage. And yes, it’s been rate increases too. But if not for Pennsylvania, where 25% of the regional power grid’s electricity is sourced, conventional wisdom has long held that those hikes could have been far steeper. Which is why former two-term Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2019 executive order adding Pennsylvania to the RGGI program triggered a six-year regulatory war with lawmakers to stop it before it ever happened. The foundation, a conservative policy group based in Harrisburg, was among the loudest critics – behind legislative Republicans, with whom the organization typically aligns – of the proposal, citing quadrupled energy costs and a $5 billion investment shortfall, according to its report. In terms of raw numbers, the chilling effect of potentially joining RGGI is stark. Between 2013 and 2018, 73% of proposed power projects in the commonwealth became operational. After regulators set their sights on RGGI in 2019, that conversion rate collapsed to 9%. By comparison, the rate for Ohio – a non-RGGI state with a wealth of fossil fuel plants – declined much more slowly, from 62% to 48%, in part due to falling gas prices. “Unfortunately, that loss is not shocking,” Stelle said. “While Pennsylvania debated, litigated, and delayed over carbon tax policy, Ohio provided developers with a predictable regulatory environment to commit billions in capital. Projects that might have started in Pennsylvania went to Ohio or never came to fruition.” Losing to “friggin’ Ohio” has jokingly been a thorn in the side of first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro since he took office in 2023, even calling out the Buckeye State’s competitive economic policies during his first budget address to the General Assembly. Shapiro, on the campaign trail, expressed his doubts about RGGI, though he continued the Wolf administration’s legal fight to make Pennsylvania participate for two more years, only dropping it as part of a four-month-late budget deal this past November. RGGI detractors say taxing generators would not just make it less profitable to build new power plants. It would raise energy costs for everyone by accelerating the closure of long-serving facilities, reducing supply, and raising electricity prices. Shapiro, too, worries about affordability and instability, though he’s pointed the finger at PJM, the organization that manages the power grid, and at its lengthy planning process. He even filed complaints with federal regulators to force the organization to lower electricity price caps, temporarily preventing a 30% spike for ratepayers. He’s even threatened, more than once, to decouple the state from the grid and “go it alone” – an unprecedented move that could undo a century of cooperation. It hasn’t come to that yet. Instead, Shapiro has lobbied the General Assembly to act on his state-centric Lightning Plan to quadruple wind and solar power over the decade – and still limit emissions from larger plants. Stelle said doing so would double residential electricity bills. “Affordable, reliable energy is not achieved through Green New Deal-style mandates and burdensome regulation,” she said. “It happens naturally when we pursue policies that welcome the investment its grid desperately needs, letting Pennsylvania’s rich energy sector do what it does best.” In the eyes of some, air pollution is what the energy industry does best. In 2020, federal data ranked Pennsylvania fourth nationwide for carbon emissions, and estimates suggest that 1% of global greenhouse gas pollution comes from the commonwealth alone. Supporters of programs like RGGI often point to the dual impacts of reduced emissions and investment in renewable technology as key to their value for an energy-rich state like Pennsylvania. A 2023 report from the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania concluded that RGGI participation would have reduced the state’s electricity-sector emissions by 84% in 2030, compared to roughly 52% without it. It could have been achieved without raising utility bills or decimating energy exports, according to the report. Researchers said wind and solar generation would have softened the impact of lost natural gas production and retail electricity prices will actually decline 0.6% by the time the RGGI cap zeroes out in 2040. Shapiro’s state-based plans – the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard and the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act, PRESS and PACER for short – similarly broaden the mix of energy providers so that the power grid isn’t sustained primarily by fossil fuels. This time, however, 70% of the money recovered from state-imposed emissions caps would support bill-reduction programs. And, based on modeling from Synapse Energy Economics that was commissioned by the state Department of Environmental Protection last year, it would lower residential bills by $1 per month. What’s not entirely clear is how rapid data center development would collide with such policy, if it were to be implemented. More than 50 proposals are pending across the state, and their economic viability could falter if the state recommits to carbon taxing programs.
(The Center Square) – Energy is big business in Pennsylvania. Its storied fossil fuel reserves have kept utility bills lower and the regional power grid more stable for the better part of a century. That’s remained key as states opt for lower-emission power sources, which have so far relied on fledgling technologies not yet able to keep the lights on with batteries, solar panels and wind turbines alone. A new report from the Commonwealth Foundation concludes it could have been even bigger business had state regulators not spent the last six years “flirting” with a carbon tax program called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the success of which many critics say relies on the fossil fuels it means to curb. For the program’s most ardent supporters, the transition away from coal and gas must start somewhere. And, to them, a 50% reduction in emissions and $6 billion in revenue over the last 18 years isn’t a bad one. “The Keystone State’s six-year on-again, off-again relationship with RGGI is a cautionary tale for other states, such as Virginia,” said Elizabeth Stelle, vice president of policy for the Commonwealth Foundation. “RGGI is a carbon tax in sheep’s clothing, toppling the energy future of every state it touches.” RGGI, as the program is often referred to, profits from reductions in harmful emissions by charging generators for the air pollution they create, measured in carbon dioxide. Across 12 states in the mid-Atlantic and New England, power plants and industrial sites buy an ever-decreasing number of emissions “credits” at the program’s annual auction to cover that anticipated pollution. Those credit prices have risen sharply since RGGI’s first auction in 2008, and because of the balance needed between fossil fuels and renewable power, the program has put financial pressure on the entire grid, leaving utility companies – and by extension, ratepayers – scrambling to make up the difference. Sometimes relief comes from RGGI-funded bill-reduction programs administered by participating states. Or the proliferation of more efficient renewable sources, supported by government taxpayer-funded subsidies, that require less support from gas and coal. In recent years, it’s been the pooling of smart thermostats, rooftop solar panels, and battery storage to compensate consumers for lower electricity usage. And yes, it’s been rate increases too. But if not for Pennsylvania, where 25% of the regional power grid’s electricity is sourced, conventional wisdom has long held that those hikes could have been far steeper. Which is why former two-term Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2019 executive order adding Pennsylvania to the RGGI program triggered a six-year regulatory war with lawmakers to stop it before it ever happened. The foundation, a conservative policy group based in Harrisburg, was among the loudest critics – behind legislative Republicans, with whom the organization typically aligns – of the proposal, citing quadrupled energy costs and a $5 billion investment shortfall, according to its report. In terms of raw numbers, the chilling effect of potentially joining RGGI is stark. Between 2013 and 2018, 73% of proposed power projects in the commonwealth became operational. After regulators set their sights on RGGI in 2019, that conversion rate collapsed to 9%. By comparison, the rate for Ohio – a non-RGGI state with a wealth of fossil fuel plants – declined much more slowly, from 62% to 48%, in part due to falling gas prices. “Unfortunately, that loss is not shocking,” Stelle said. “While Pennsylvania debated, litigated, and delayed over carbon tax policy, Ohio provided developers with a predictable regulatory environment to commit billions in capital. Projects that might have started in Pennsylvania went to Ohio or never came to fruition.” Losing to “friggin’ Ohio” has jokingly been a thorn in the side of first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro since he took office in 2023, even calling out the Buckeye State’s competitive economic policies during his first budget address to the General Assembly. Shapiro, on the campaign trail, expressed his doubts about RGGI, though he continued the Wolf administration’s legal fight to make Pennsylvania participate for two more years, only dropping it as part of a four-month-late budget deal this past November. RGGI detractors say taxing generators would not just make it less profitable to build new power plants. It would raise energy costs for everyone by accelerating the closure of long-serving facilities, reducing supply, and raising electricity prices. Shapiro, too, worries about affordability and instability, though he’s pointed the finger at PJM, the organization that manages the power grid, and at its lengthy planning process. He even filed complaints with federal regulators to force the organization to lower electricity price caps, temporarily preventing a 30% spike for ratepayers. He’s even threatened, more than once, to decouple the state from the grid and “go it alone” – an unprecedented move that could undo a century of cooperation. It hasn’t come to that yet. Instead, Shapiro has lobbied the General Assembly to act on his state-centric Lightning Plan to quadruple wind and solar power over the decade – and still limit emissions from larger plants. Stelle said doing so would double residential electricity bills. “Affordable, reliable energy is not achieved through Green New Deal-style mandates and burdensome regulation,” she said. “It happens naturally when we pursue policies that welcome the investment its grid desperately needs, letting Pennsylvania’s rich energy sector do what it does best.” In the eyes of some, air pollution is what the energy industry does best. In 2020, federal data ranked Pennsylvania fourth nationwide for carbon emissions, and estimates suggest that 1% of global greenhouse gas pollution comes from the commonwealth alone. Supporters of programs like RGGI often point to the dual impacts of reduced emissions and investment in renewable technology as key to their value for an energy-rich state like Pennsylvania. A 2023 report from the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania concluded that RGGI participation would have reduced the state’s electricity-sector emissions by 84% in 2030, compared to roughly 52% without it. It could have been achieved without raising utility bills or decimating energy exports, according to the report. Researchers said wind and solar generation would have softened the impact of lost natural gas production and retail electricity prices will actually decline 0.6% by the time the RGGI cap zeroes out in 2040. Shapiro’s state-based plans – the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard and the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act, PRESS and PACER for short – similarly broaden the mix of energy providers so that the power grid isn’t sustained primarily by fossil fuels. This time, however, 70% of the money recovered from state-imposed emissions caps would support bill-reduction programs. And, based on modeling from Synapse Energy Economics that was commissioned by the state Department of Environmental Protection last year, it would lower residential bills by $1 per month. What’s not entirely clear is how rapid data center development would collide with such policy, if it were to be implemented. More than 50 proposals are pending across the state, and their economic viability could falter if the state recommits to carbon taxing programs.
21 minutes
Reducir carne sin prohibiciones, comer más vegetal sin perder sabor ni placer: la dieta flexitariana redefine la forma de alimentarnos hoy.
Reducir carne sin prohibiciones, comer más vegetal sin perder sabor ni placer: la dieta flexitariana redefine la forma de alimentarnos hoy.
21 minutes
Une augmentation de près de 48% en France, quasiment autant au Royaume-Uni et en Allemagne, voire même de 67% en Italie pour le seul mois de mars : les ventes de véhicules électriques s'envolent en Europe depuis le début de l'année, portées notamment par la flambée des prix des hydrocarbures. Mais ces bons résultats sont à relativiser à la fois au regard du marché automobile global et à des situations très hétérogènes à travers le monde.
Une augmentation de près de 48% en France, quasiment autant au Royaume-Uni et en Allemagne, voire même de 67% en Italie pour le seul mois de mars : les ventes de véhicules électriques s'envolent en Europe depuis le début de l'année, portées notamment par la flambée des prix des hydrocarbures. Mais ces bons résultats sont à relativiser à la fois au regard du marché automobile global et à des situations très hétérogènes à travers le monde.
22 minutes
اعمال تعرفههای جدید آمریکا بر خودروهای اروپایی
اعمال تعرفههای جدید آمریکا بر خودروهای اروپایی
26 minutes
Two Florida Democratic members of Congress who have seen their districts radically altered by the newly approved congressional redistricting map this week said Friday that they intend to run again this fall. Tampa Bay’s Kathy Castor and South Florida’s Debbie Wasserman Schultz are among the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents following legislative passage of Gov. Ron […]
26 minutes
Two Florida Democratic members of Congress who have seen their districts radically altered by the newly approved congressional redistricting map this week said Friday that they intend to run again this fall. Tampa Bay’s Kathy Castor and South Florida’s Debbie Wasserman Schultz are among the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents following legislative passage of Gov. Ron […]
27 minutes
(The Center Square) — New Jersey is violating federal law by allowing "illegal aliens" to pay lower in-state tuition rates at the state's public colleges and universities, the Department of Justice claims in a new lawsuit. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court Thursday, asks a judge to invalidate New Jersey laws that require colleges and universities to provide in-state tuition rates for immigrants who have established residency in the state, regardless of their immigration status. Federal prosecutors say the laws deprive U.S. citizens of opportunities for lower tuition rates, scholarships and other assistance. "Congress made a legislative judgment that illegal aliens in our nation cannot receive resident tuition benefits that are denied to U.S. citizens residing in other states," the DOJ wrote in the 22-page complaint. There are no exceptions. Yet New Jersey has ignored this legislative command for over a decade." The complaint stems from a 2013 law that extended eligibility for in-state tuition benefits at New Jersey post-secondary education institutions to residents of the state, regardless of their immigration status, allowing them to pay substantially lower tuition rates than U.S. citizens from other states. Other New Jersey laws and regulations make immigrants eligible for in-state tuition, grants, scholarships, and financial assistance to "illegal aliens," the DOJ said. "These statutes blatantly discriminate in favor of illegal aliens over U.S. citizens from other states," the DOJ wrote. "Worse, such preferential treatment is squarely prohibited and preempted by Congress." DOJ lawyers pointed to the wide disparities between in-state and out-of-state tuition rates. At the prestigious Rutgers University, New Jersey residents pay $14,933 a year for tuition, while non-New Jersey residents $35,758. Montclair State University charges New Jersey residents $15,678 a year for tuition while charging out-of-state students $26,394, according to the DOJ's lawsuit. "Imagine being denied the opportunity of education in your own country," Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said in a statement. "By granting illegal aliens in-state tuition, the state of New Jersey is doing just that." There was no immediate response from New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, whose office will be defending the state against the legal challenge. In the lawsuit, the DOJ said New Jersey law and other similar laws that offer in-state tuition to immigrants "unconstitutionally discriminate against U.S. citizens who are not afforded the same reduced tuition rates, scholarships, or subsidies, create incentives for illegal immigration, and reward illegal immigrants with benefits that U.S. citizens are not eligible for, all in direct conflict with federal law. "This is a simple matter of federal law: in New Jersey and nationwide, colleges cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens," Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division said in a statement. "This Department of Justice will not tolerate American students being treated like second-class citizens in their own country."
(The Center Square) — New Jersey is violating federal law by allowing "illegal aliens" to pay lower in-state tuition rates at the state's public colleges and universities, the Department of Justice claims in a new lawsuit. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court Thursday, asks a judge to invalidate New Jersey laws that require colleges and universities to provide in-state tuition rates for immigrants who have established residency in the state, regardless of their immigration status. Federal prosecutors say the laws deprive U.S. citizens of opportunities for lower tuition rates, scholarships and other assistance. "Congress made a legislative judgment that illegal aliens in our nation cannot receive resident tuition benefits that are denied to U.S. citizens residing in other states," the DOJ wrote in the 22-page complaint. There are no exceptions. Yet New Jersey has ignored this legislative command for over a decade." The complaint stems from a 2013 law that extended eligibility for in-state tuition benefits at New Jersey post-secondary education institutions to residents of the state, regardless of their immigration status, allowing them to pay substantially lower tuition rates than U.S. citizens from other states. Other New Jersey laws and regulations make immigrants eligible for in-state tuition, grants, scholarships, and financial assistance to "illegal aliens," the DOJ said. "These statutes blatantly discriminate in favor of illegal aliens over U.S. citizens from other states," the DOJ wrote. "Worse, such preferential treatment is squarely prohibited and preempted by Congress." DOJ lawyers pointed to the wide disparities between in-state and out-of-state tuition rates. At the prestigious Rutgers University, New Jersey residents pay $14,933 a year for tuition, while non-New Jersey residents $35,758. Montclair State University charges New Jersey residents $15,678 a year for tuition while charging out-of-state students $26,394, according to the DOJ's lawsuit. "Imagine being denied the opportunity of education in your own country," Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said in a statement. "By granting illegal aliens in-state tuition, the state of New Jersey is doing just that." There was no immediate response from New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, whose office will be defending the state against the legal challenge. In the lawsuit, the DOJ said New Jersey law and other similar laws that offer in-state tuition to immigrants "unconstitutionally discriminate against U.S. citizens who are not afforded the same reduced tuition rates, scholarships, or subsidies, create incentives for illegal immigration, and reward illegal immigrants with benefits that U.S. citizens are not eligible for, all in direct conflict with federal law. "This is a simple matter of federal law: in New Jersey and nationwide, colleges cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens," Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division said in a statement. "This Department of Justice will not tolerate American students being treated like second-class citizens in their own country."
30 minutes
والاستریت ژورنال: راهبرد چند دههای جمهوری اسلامی علیه آمریکا شکست خورد
والاستریت ژورنال: راهبرد چند دههای جمهوری اسلامی علیه آمریکا شکست خورد
31 minutes
Plus: Food Security Day and NAACP Advocacy Day at the Capitol, public alerts for sewage spills and human trafficking notices.
Plus: Food Security Day and NAACP Advocacy Day at the Capitol, public alerts for sewage spills and human trafficking notices.
34 minutes
El líder de la formación de extrema derecha y el candidato andaluz convierten la “prioridad nacional” en el eje de la campaña electoral.
El líder de la formación de extrema derecha y el candidato andaluz convierten la “prioridad nacional” en el eje de la campaña electoral.
36 minutes
(The Center Square) – In a rare show of solidarity, building trade unions and U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., want to streamline the federal permitting process so that projects stay on time and on budget. On Thursday, the freshman senator announced the Unlock American Energy and Jobs Act of 2026, which he says will target “four key chokepoints” that are slowing infrastructure projects, driving up costs, and blocking American energy from reaching global markets. “Pennsylvania has the workers, resources, and infrastructure to power this region and the country for decades,” said McCormick. “What we’re missing is a federal permitting system with clear rules and predictable timelines.” More than $1 trillion in infrastructure projects are currently tied up in federal permitting reform, according to McCormick’s office, which represents an estimated $2.4 trillion in unrealized economic activity and thousands of jobs. The federal Permitting Dashboard currently lists more than 650 projects. Construction costs are 24% to 30% higher when projects are held up, McCormick’s office said. His office cited a joint report conducted by the Foundation for American Innovation and the National Association of Manufacturers that showed “nearly 51 percent of manufacturers say permitting uncertainty discourages them from investing in new or expanded U.S. capacity, while nearly 66 percent say they would invest more if the process were faster and more predictable.” McCormick also referenced rising electricity demands and global competition in his proposal and said the bill establishes “clear timelines, modernizes approval processes, removes unnecessary barriers, and reduces litigation-driven delays that have made it increasingly difficult to build in the United States.” The four “specific chokepoints” the proposal addresses are water permitting reform, LNG export deregulation, nuclear licensing modernization, and NEPA litigation reform, which deals with the National Environmental Policy Act. McCormick’s bill has the support of a wide variety of organizations, ranging from energy companies to organized labor, the latter of whom backed his opponent, former Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, in the 2024 election. Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council President Rob Bair said they support McCormick’s push to lead on permitting at the federal level. “For far too long, this cumbersome process has held up or prevented critical infrastructure and energy projects that Pennsylvania needs to grow our economy,” he said. “We look forward to his legislation passing both chambers and we look forward to working with the senator to build out Pennsylvania.” Jim Snell, Steamfitters Local 420 business manager, said that they are ready to build, but “too many projects are stuck in permitting delays” and applauds McCormick’s proposal, which he thinks will help keep the state competitive and “unlocks potential to build critical energy infrastructure.” Ryan Boyer, president of Laborers’ District Council of Philadelphia, echoed a similar sentiment and described the proposal as “commonsense legislation” which will “help create good-paying union jobs, strengthen our economy, and keep Pennsylvania on the rise.” The announcement of the Unlock American Energy and Jobs Act of 2026 also includes words of support from leaders of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, and Constellation. “For Pennsylvania’s energy workforce and building trades, this bill is long overdue,” McCormick said. “It’s time we reform our current system and get America building again.” Permitting reform has been a focus of McCormick’s since he was sworn into office last year. During a telephone town hall in March, McCormick said that he believes that there was a “path to permitting reform this year.” “I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but I think there’s a decent chance it will happen and that’s a huge deal for the country and Pennsylvania,” he said on March 10. “And it’s necessary to meet the energy demand that’s going up because of data centers and things like that.” McCormick referenced some permitting reform that has recently happened at the state level, but said there is a need for the federal government to address the matter, as well.
(The Center Square) – In a rare show of solidarity, building trade unions and U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., want to streamline the federal permitting process so that projects stay on time and on budget. On Thursday, the freshman senator announced the Unlock American Energy and Jobs Act of 2026, which he says will target “four key chokepoints” that are slowing infrastructure projects, driving up costs, and blocking American energy from reaching global markets. “Pennsylvania has the workers, resources, and infrastructure to power this region and the country for decades,” said McCormick. “What we’re missing is a federal permitting system with clear rules and predictable timelines.” More than $1 trillion in infrastructure projects are currently tied up in federal permitting reform, according to McCormick’s office, which represents an estimated $2.4 trillion in unrealized economic activity and thousands of jobs. The federal Permitting Dashboard currently lists more than 650 projects. Construction costs are 24% to 30% higher when projects are held up, McCormick’s office said. His office cited a joint report conducted by the Foundation for American Innovation and the National Association of Manufacturers that showed “nearly 51 percent of manufacturers say permitting uncertainty discourages them from investing in new or expanded U.S. capacity, while nearly 66 percent say they would invest more if the process were faster and more predictable.” McCormick also referenced rising electricity demands and global competition in his proposal and said the bill establishes “clear timelines, modernizes approval processes, removes unnecessary barriers, and reduces litigation-driven delays that have made it increasingly difficult to build in the United States.” The four “specific chokepoints” the proposal addresses are water permitting reform, LNG export deregulation, nuclear licensing modernization, and NEPA litigation reform, which deals with the National Environmental Policy Act. McCormick’s bill has the support of a wide variety of organizations, ranging from energy companies to organized labor, the latter of whom backed his opponent, former Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, in the 2024 election. Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council President Rob Bair said they support McCormick’s push to lead on permitting at the federal level. “For far too long, this cumbersome process has held up or prevented critical infrastructure and energy projects that Pennsylvania needs to grow our economy,” he said. “We look forward to his legislation passing both chambers and we look forward to working with the senator to build out Pennsylvania.” Jim Snell, Steamfitters Local 420 business manager, said that they are ready to build, but “too many projects are stuck in permitting delays” and applauds McCormick’s proposal, which he thinks will help keep the state competitive and “unlocks potential to build critical energy infrastructure.” Ryan Boyer, president of Laborers’ District Council of Philadelphia, echoed a similar sentiment and described the proposal as “commonsense legislation” which will “help create good-paying union jobs, strengthen our economy, and keep Pennsylvania on the rise.” The announcement of the Unlock American Energy and Jobs Act of 2026 also includes words of support from leaders of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, and Constellation. “For Pennsylvania’s energy workforce and building trades, this bill is long overdue,” McCormick said. “It’s time we reform our current system and get America building again.” Permitting reform has been a focus of McCormick’s since he was sworn into office last year. During a telephone town hall in March, McCormick said that he believes that there was a “path to permitting reform this year.” “I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but I think there’s a decent chance it will happen and that’s a huge deal for the country and Pennsylvania,” he said on March 10. “And it’s necessary to meet the energy demand that’s going up because of data centers and things like that.” McCormick referenced some permitting reform that has recently happened at the state level, but said there is a need for the federal government to address the matter, as well.
36 minutes
Idahoans may attend multiple events this month to honor the life of former Idaho Governor and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne. Kempthorne died on April 24 at the age of 74 after battling colon cancer, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported. Gov. Brad Little’s Office on Friday announced multiple events on May 15 […]
36 minutes
Idahoans may attend multiple events this month to honor the life of former Idaho Governor and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne. Kempthorne died on April 24 at the age of 74 after battling colon cancer, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported. Gov. Brad Little’s Office on Friday announced multiple events on May 15 […]
38 minutes
(The Center Square) – A pair of Democrats running for battleground seats in Congress touted their pro-union bonafides at the annual Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters Convention earlier this week. “I will fight for the right to organize and stop union busting practices,” Janelle Stelson said to applause. “I'm going to be supporting prevailing wages. I'm going to be advocating to expand project labor agreements on the federal level, and I will reinforce good apprenticeship programs as we train, not only for current jobs, but for the jobs of the future as well.” Stelson, a former television anchor in southcentral Pennsylvania, is running for the Democratic Party nomination for the state’s 10th Congressional District. She’s going up against Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas in the primary to determine who will face U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, a seventh-term congressman and former chair of the conservative Freedom Caucus. Farther east, Bob Brooks, a firefighters' union leader, is one of four Democrats running to challenge freshman U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District, for a Lehigh Valley-based congressional seat. “They're tired of people claiming to be union people, claiming to be labor guys and gals,” Brooks said. “There's a difference between being a labor guy and being a laborer.” “You are looking at the opportunity to send a state union leader, a lifetime union member, a laborer, to U.S. Congress, where we can be represented and we can go to work for us,” he said to applause. “That's my plan.” Brooks and Stelson received the endorsement of the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters at their convention in Hershey earlier this week. Approximately 95,000 working Teamsters are represented by the conference across Pennsylvania. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, of which they are affiliated, represents 1.4 million workers, including a wide range of occupations, from truck drivers and newspaper reporters to police officers and warehouse workers. Stelson slammed Perry’s record on labor issues during her speech, criticizing the incumbent congressman for voting against the PRO Act, which would protect collective bargaining rights; voting to roll back Davis-Bacon wage protections, and voting against efforts to raise the $7.25 federal minimum wage. She also criticized Perry for opposing legislation that would mandate breaks for employees. “Scott Perry is not your typical bad politician,” Stelson said. “His record before this year was atrocious, especially on labor issues that involve you.” Brooks also noted his support for the PRO Act and highlighted his background and family history with organized labor, including his grandfather’s career as a Teamster truck driver. He noted that, in his role as leader of the firefighters' union, he advocated for legislation to help his members. If Stelson earns the Democratic Party nomination, it will be her second bid for the seat. In 2024, she lost to Perry by 1.2 points, the closest race he had had since winning a seat in the U.S. House. For Brooks, this is his first run for Congress. He said he wasn't planning on running for the seat, but received a few phone calls of encouragement, including from Gov. Josh Shapiro and U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, a Democrat representing the 17th congressional district in western Pennsylvania. “I decided I was tired of being kicked in the teeth,” Brooks said, about his decision to run for Congress. “I was tired of watching the NLRB get decimated,” he said, referring to the National Labor Relations Board. “I was tired of people showing up at our Labor Day picnics for pictures and not showing up for us when we needed it,” Brooks continued. “So I'm in the game. We're ready to run.” Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters President Bill Hamilton lauded both Brooks and Stelson in his endorsements. “People that are willing to go bat like that and fight, they say the right things, but they mean it,” Hamilton said. “You can tell it manifests itself over their feelings and it's good to have young, hardworking people going at Congress like this and wanting to represent us in Washington, because Washington is a mess, as we know.” When discussing Perry, Hamilton said that the GOP congressman “doesn’t do a thing for us,” to his members. “You’ve heard this for the last 10 years,” he said. “The guy’s a crum.” Brooks and Stelson also have the support of Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is seeking a second term in November. Mackenzie and Perry have President Donald Trump’s endorsement. In 2024, the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters endorsed Stelson in her bid for the 10th District and incumbent U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-7th District, over Mackenzie. While most labor unions formally endorse Democratic candidates for elected office, the Teamsters have a more bipartisan reputation. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters did not endorse a candidate for president in 2024. President Sean O’Brien even delivered an address at the Republican National Convention that same year. However, the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters endorsed the Harris-Walz ticket, despite survey data suggesting that 60% of Pennsylvania members favored Trump. Brooks and Stelson were not the only congressional hopefuls to address the convention. U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Rob Bresnahan, both Republicans, spoke at the conference. Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti, a Democrat running for the 8th Congressional District, also delivered an address. The races for the 7th and 10th Congressional Districts are being closely watched. The Cook Political Report, a national ratings outlet, describes both races as “toss ups.”
(The Center Square) – A pair of Democrats running for battleground seats in Congress touted their pro-union bonafides at the annual Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters Convention earlier this week. “I will fight for the right to organize and stop union busting practices,” Janelle Stelson said to applause. “I'm going to be supporting prevailing wages. I'm going to be advocating to expand project labor agreements on the federal level, and I will reinforce good apprenticeship programs as we train, not only for current jobs, but for the jobs of the future as well.” Stelson, a former television anchor in southcentral Pennsylvania, is running for the Democratic Party nomination for the state’s 10th Congressional District. She’s going up against Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas in the primary to determine who will face U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, a seventh-term congressman and former chair of the conservative Freedom Caucus. Farther east, Bob Brooks, a firefighters' union leader, is one of four Democrats running to challenge freshman U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-7th District, for a Lehigh Valley-based congressional seat. “They're tired of people claiming to be union people, claiming to be labor guys and gals,” Brooks said. “There's a difference between being a labor guy and being a laborer.” “You are looking at the opportunity to send a state union leader, a lifetime union member, a laborer, to U.S. Congress, where we can be represented and we can go to work for us,” he said to applause. “That's my plan.” Brooks and Stelson received the endorsement of the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters at their convention in Hershey earlier this week. Approximately 95,000 working Teamsters are represented by the conference across Pennsylvania. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, of which they are affiliated, represents 1.4 million workers, including a wide range of occupations, from truck drivers and newspaper reporters to police officers and warehouse workers. Stelson slammed Perry’s record on labor issues during her speech, criticizing the incumbent congressman for voting against the PRO Act, which would protect collective bargaining rights; voting to roll back Davis-Bacon wage protections, and voting against efforts to raise the $7.25 federal minimum wage. She also criticized Perry for opposing legislation that would mandate breaks for employees. “Scott Perry is not your typical bad politician,” Stelson said. “His record before this year was atrocious, especially on labor issues that involve you.” Brooks also noted his support for the PRO Act and highlighted his background and family history with organized labor, including his grandfather’s career as a Teamster truck driver. He noted that, in his role as leader of the firefighters' union, he advocated for legislation to help his members. If Stelson earns the Democratic Party nomination, it will be her second bid for the seat. In 2024, she lost to Perry by 1.2 points, the closest race he had had since winning a seat in the U.S. House. For Brooks, this is his first run for Congress. He said he wasn't planning on running for the seat, but received a few phone calls of encouragement, including from Gov. Josh Shapiro and U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, a Democrat representing the 17th congressional district in western Pennsylvania. “I decided I was tired of being kicked in the teeth,” Brooks said, about his decision to run for Congress. “I was tired of watching the NLRB get decimated,” he said, referring to the National Labor Relations Board. “I was tired of people showing up at our Labor Day picnics for pictures and not showing up for us when we needed it,” Brooks continued. “So I'm in the game. We're ready to run.” Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters President Bill Hamilton lauded both Brooks and Stelson in his endorsements. “People that are willing to go bat like that and fight, they say the right things, but they mean it,” Hamilton said. “You can tell it manifests itself over their feelings and it's good to have young, hardworking people going at Congress like this and wanting to represent us in Washington, because Washington is a mess, as we know.” When discussing Perry, Hamilton said that the GOP congressman “doesn’t do a thing for us,” to his members. “You’ve heard this for the last 10 years,” he said. “The guy’s a crum.” Brooks and Stelson also have the support of Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is seeking a second term in November. Mackenzie and Perry have President Donald Trump’s endorsement. In 2024, the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters endorsed Stelson in her bid for the 10th District and incumbent U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-7th District, over Mackenzie. While most labor unions formally endorse Democratic candidates for elected office, the Teamsters have a more bipartisan reputation. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters did not endorse a candidate for president in 2024. President Sean O’Brien even delivered an address at the Republican National Convention that same year. However, the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters endorsed the Harris-Walz ticket, despite survey data suggesting that 60% of Pennsylvania members favored Trump. Brooks and Stelson were not the only congressional hopefuls to address the convention. U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Rob Bresnahan, both Republicans, spoke at the conference. Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti, a Democrat running for the 8th Congressional District, also delivered an address. The races for the 7th and 10th Congressional Districts are being closely watched. The Cook Political Report, a national ratings outlet, describes both races as “toss ups.”
39 minutes
Au Sénégal, le premier vol commercial a atterri vendredi 1er mai au nouvel aéroport de Ziguinchor, capitale de la Casamance au sud du pays. Il a rouvert ses portes ce jeudi après 4 ans de travaux de modernisation … L’ouvrage, d’un coût de 13 milliards de FCFA, doit permettre d’accompagner la « relance » de la région promise par les autorités.
Au Sénégal, le premier vol commercial a atterri vendredi 1er mai au nouvel aéroport de Ziguinchor, capitale de la Casamance au sud du pays. Il a rouvert ses portes ce jeudi après 4 ans de travaux de modernisation … L’ouvrage, d’un coût de 13 milliards de FCFA, doit permettre d’accompagner la « relance » de la région promise par les autorités.
40 minutes
Sen. Taylor Rehmet hosted an education town hall as two of the school districts he represents are taken over.
40 minutes
Sen. Taylor Rehmet hosted an education town hall as two of the school districts he represents are taken over.
40 minutes
Immigrants’ rights advocates filled the capitol rotunda Friday to call on Gov. Josh Shapiro to take executive action to stymie federal immigration enforcement efforts in Pennsylvania.
40 minutes
Immigrants’ rights advocates filled the capitol rotunda Friday to call on Gov. Josh Shapiro to take executive action to stymie federal immigration enforcement efforts in Pennsylvania.
43 minutes
Central College is expanding its online course enrollment beyond full- or part-time students to anyone who wants to learn something new. The Pella private college announced in a news release that community members will now be able to take classes online as guest students, with each credit they earn going on a Central transcript. “We […]
Central College is expanding its online course enrollment beyond full- or part-time students to anyone who wants to learn something new. The Pella private college announced in a news release that community members will now be able to take classes online as guest students, with each credit they earn going on a Central transcript. “We […]
43 minutes
Está em disputa no Congresso Nacional o fim da escala 6×1. O presidente da Câmara, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB) já se comprometeu a colocar a matéria para votação ainda neste mês de maio. Ao BdF Entrevista desta sexta-feira (1º), o sociólogo Clemente Ganz Lúcio, coordenador do Fórum das Centrais Sindicais, destaca que o momento é de […] Fonte
Está em disputa no Congresso Nacional o fim da escala 6×1. O presidente da Câmara, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB) já se comprometeu a colocar a matéria para votação ainda neste mês de maio. Ao BdF Entrevista desta sexta-feira (1º), o sociólogo Clemente Ganz Lúcio, coordenador do Fórum das Centrais Sindicais, destaca que o momento é de […] Fonte
43 minutes
دونالد ترامپ: جمهوری اسلامی ۴۲ هزار نفر از مردم خودش را کشت؛ هر اتفاقی رخ دهد ما پیروز میشویم
43 minutes
دونالد ترامپ: جمهوری اسلامی ۴۲ هزار نفر از مردم خودش را کشت؛ هر اتفاقی رخ دهد ما پیروز میشویم
45 minutes
Two of Kansas top judicial officers pay respects to Law Day, an annual national observance of the rule of law started by President Dwight Eisenhower.
Two of Kansas top judicial officers pay respects to Law Day, an annual national observance of the rule of law started by President Dwight Eisenhower.
45 minutes
在非洲國家肯尼亞警察於本周一（2026年04月27日）全部撤出海地（Haïti）之後，具有實戰經驗的乍得軍人現已入駐這個位於拉美地區及加勒比海水域的島國，成為獲得聯合國支持的國際部隊[鎮壓幫派力量]或[鎮壓黑幫力量]（FRG-Force de répression des gangs）的新主力。學界對派往海地的國際部隊來自大西洋彼岸的非洲有何感想？就此，出生於海地（Haitï）的法國巴黎一大（université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne）地理系主任、作家泰奧達博士（Dr. Jean-Marie Théodat）回答了本台法廣非洲組（RFI Afrique）法語主持人克里斯托夫(Christophe BOISBOUVIER)的提問。請聽尼古拉的介紹。 Dr. Jean-Marie Théodat, Grand Invité Afrique de RFI au micro de Christophe BOISBOUVIER: "Haïti, comme on dit souvent, la fille aînée de l'Afrique."
45 minutes
在非洲國家肯尼亞警察於本周一（2026年04月27日）全部撤出海地（Haïti）之後，具有實戰經驗的乍得軍人現已入駐這個位於拉美地區及加勒比海水域的島國，成為獲得聯合國支持的國際部隊[鎮壓幫派力量]或[鎮壓黑幫力量]（FRG-Force de répression des gangs）的新主力。學界對派往海地的國際部隊來自大西洋彼岸的非洲有何感想？就此，出生於海地（Haitï）的法國巴黎一大（université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne）地理系主任、作家泰奧達博士（Dr. Jean-Marie Théodat）回答了本台法廣非洲組（RFI Afrique）法語主持人克里斯托夫(Christophe BOISBOUVIER)的提問。請聽尼古拉的介紹。 Dr. Jean-Marie Théodat, Grand Invité Afrique de RFI au micro de Christophe BOISBOUVIER: "Haïti, comme on dit souvent, la fille aînée de l'Afrique."