Gov. Shapiro Fights USDA Funding Cuts for PA Farmers, Food Banks -Governor Josh Shapiro is challenging the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to cancel $13 million in funding for Pennsylvania farmers who supply...more
During her speech outlining details of her proposed $2 billion Housing Opportunities Made Easy (HOME) Initiative on Monday, Mayor Cherelle Parker urged the City Council to streamline redevelopment processes and consider...more
Governor Josh Shapiro announced that Pennsylvania’s Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Pilot Program—in partnership with OpenAI and Carnegie Mellon—saved employees an average of 95 minutes per day and improved efficiency...more
3/26/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Energy Sector ,
Healthcare ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Machine Learning ,
Pennsylvania ,
State and Local Government ,
Technology Sector ,
Transportation Industry ,
Trump Administration
Hundreds of Former Federal Workers Apply for PA State Jobs
Pennsylvania has received around 1,100 applications from former federal employees for state jobs following an executive order by Governor Josh Shapiro (D) giving...more
City Council Begins Repeal of Center City Sixers Arena Legislation -
During Thursday’s meeting, the City Council initiated the repeal of legislation for the since-abandoned Center City Sixers arena project. The Council also...more
CHICAGO—City Incentives Aim to Attract Data Centers -
Chicago is positioning itself to capitalize on the data center boom, with the City Council adopting an ordinance offering incentives for developers to store municipal...more
3/20/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Data Centers ,
Employment Policies ,
Gig Economy ,
Labor Reform ,
Minimum Wage ,
Property Tax ,
Public Health ,
Real Estate Development ,
State Taxes ,
Tax Incentives ,
Technology
Gov. Shapiro Criticizes Dems’ Strategy in Government Shutdown Fight -During an appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher, Governor Josh Shapiro criticized U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for not leveraging more...more
3/18/2025
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employment Policies ,
Environmental Policies ,
Federal Budget ,
Government Agencies ,
Infrastructure ,
Pennsylvania ,
Public Health ,
Public Transit ,
State and Local Government ,
Tariffs ,
Trade Relations
On Thursday, March 13, Mayor Cherelle Parker delivered her second annual Budget Address to the Philadelphia City Council, unveiling her $6.77 billion FY26 Budget proposal—an approximately $400 million increase over the FY25...more
3/18/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Business Taxes ,
Environmental Policies ,
Infrastructure ,
Public Safety ,
Real Estate Development ,
Renewable Energy ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
Tax Reform ,
Urban Planning & Development
Extra Funding for Hundreds of PA School Districts in Question-
Top Republican lawmakers are skeptical about Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposal to allocate an additional $494 million to underfunded Pennsylvania school...more
Mayor Parker Delivers FY26 Budget Address-
Mayor Cherelle Parker presented her $6.7 billion FY26 budget proposal to the Philadelphia City Council today, highlighting an $800 million housing plan, significant business tax...more
Gov. Shapiro Announces $5M Investment to Address Nursing Shortage -During a visit to Temple University Hospital last week, Governor Josh Shapiro announced a $5 million investment to strengthen Pennsylvania’s nursing pipeline...more
3/11/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Environmental Justice ,
Grants ,
Healthcare ,
LGBTQ ,
Nurses ,
Pennsylvania ,
Political Candidates ,
State and Local Government ,
Voting Rights ,
Water Quality
Gov. Shapiro Signs Executive Order to Hire Fired Federal Workers -
Governor Josh Shapiro signed an executive order giving hiring preference to federal employees laid off by the Trump administration, aiming to fill 5,600...more
3/7/2025
/ Cybersecurity ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Employees ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Medicaid ,
Pennsylvania ,
Political Campaigns ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Elections ,
Trump Administration
City Council Green Lights Bike Lane Expansion-
During Thursday’s meeting, the City Council approved legislation introduced last week by Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr. (District 5) to add bike lanes to high-traffic streets...more
BALTIMORE—City Moves Closer to Creating Consumer Protection Agency -The Baltimore City Council advanced a bill to establish its own consumer protection agency, modeled after similar agencies in nearby Howard and Montgomery...more
3/6/2025
/ Consumer Protection Laws ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Housing Market ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Public Safety ,
Real Estate Development ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Reform ,
State and Local Government ,
Tax Reform
Gov. Shapiro Criticizes President Trump, VP Vance Over Zelenskyy Dispute -Governor Josh Shapiro condemned President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance for their treatment of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, asserting it...more
PA House Committee Considers EITC to Aid Working Families -Pennsylvania’s House Finance committee is exploring the introduction of an Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to support financially constrained working families, though...more
3/3/2025
/ Department of Education ,
Earned Income Credit ,
Pennsylvania ,
Public Health ,
Public Schools ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Credits ,
Tax Reform ,
Unemployment
Tax Reform Commission Recommends Eliminating BIRT, Reducing Wage Tax -
The Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission released its interim report this week, proposing that the City eliminate the Business Income & Receipts Tax...more
PA Crisis Management Agencies Face Funding, Recruitment Challenges -Pennsylvania’s emergency management and fire response agencies are grappling with potential federal funding cuts and recruitment issues, which could impact...more
Pennsylvania officials are awaiting further guidance on federal funding cuts — impacting infrastructure, energy, transit, and more — with Governor Josh Shapiro’s office suing five federal agencies over $1.2 billion in...more
2/21/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Agricultural Sector ,
Data Privacy ,
Economic Development ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Federal Funding ,
Infrastructure ,
Marijuana ,
Nuclear Power ,
Pennsylvania ,
State and Local Government
Mayor Parker Appoints New Housing Initiative Leader -
Mayor Cherelle Parker appointed Angela Brooks, who currently serves as director of the Corporation for Supportive Housing in Illinois, to oversee the Housing...more
2/21/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Community Development ,
Education Reform ,
Housing Developers ,
Local Elections ,
Mayors ,
Political Candidates ,
Public Policy ,
Public Schools ,
Real Estate Development ,
State and Local Government ,
Urban Planning & Development
CHICAGO — Restaurant Workers Prepare as ICE Arrests Cast Uncertainty -Chicago restaurant workers are bracing for possible U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests, despite no confirmed raids. Fears have led...more
2/20/2025
/ Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employee Rights ,
Employment Policies ,
Eviction ,
Foreign Workers ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Immigration Reform ,
Labor Reform ,
Real Estate Development ,
School Districts ,
State Funding ,
Trump Administration ,
Undocumented Immigrants ,
Worker Protection Standard ,
Workplace Safety
Mayor Parker Unveils “Mission 30,000” Housing Plan -
Mayor Cherelle Parker outlined her “Mission 30,000” plan to build, preserve, and repair 30,000 housing units in Philadelphia during the Chamber of Commerce for Greater...more
2/14/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
City Councils ,
Housing Market ,
Low Income Housing ,
Municipalities ,
Property Tax ,
Real Estate Development ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
Tax Reform ,
Urban Planning & Development ,
Zoning Laws
Gov. Shapiro Sues Trump Admin. Over $2B Federal Funding Freeze -Governor Josh Shapiro has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for allegedly withholding over $2 billion in federal funds from Pennsylvania, despite...more
2/14/2025
/ Clean Energy ,
Energy Policy ,
Federal Funding ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Pennsylvania ,
Renewable Energy ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Reform ,
Trump Administration
Gov. Shapiro’s Prison Closure Plan Sparks Debate Over Savings, Community Impact -
Governor Josh Shapiro's proposal to close two Pennsylvania prisons and two community corrections centers aims to save $110 million annually,...more
2/12/2025
/ Affordable Housing ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Economic Development ,
Employee Benefits ,
Federal Funding ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Paid Leave ,
Pennsylvania ,
Prison ,
Sports ,
State and Local Government ,
Tax Reform ,
Trump Administration ,
Unions
Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Balances Bipartisan Priorities -
Governor Josh Shapiro's third budget proposal aims to balance bipartisan priorities, incorporating both Republican and Democratic interests while navigating the...more
2/10/2025
/ American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Education Reform ,
Healthcare ,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ,
Marijuana ,
Medicaid ,
Pennsylvania ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Policy ,
Renewable Energy ,
State and Local Government ,
State Attorneys General ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Credits ,
Tax Reform