• Pennsylvania disputes USDA’s termination of food assistance contract: Pennsylvania is fighting the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) cancellation of a $13 million contract that helps local farmers supply food to area food pantries. Across the state The Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program supports 14 food banks and 189 farms, which includes 16 farms or farm collectives in Lancaster County. Pennsylvania. signed a 13$ million contract with USAD in December, that the organization told the state earlier this month it was canceling. Shapiro is pushing back by ordering an administrative challenge to the contract cancellation and is prepared to take legal action. (Source: LNP)
• Lancaster County Commissioners extend consultant contracts: Wednesday, Lancaster County commissioners extended the contracts of the two consulting firms working on the new county prison project. The contracts with CGL Companies and TranSystems Corp have been extended through March 2029 and this is the second time the county has amened the deals. The resolution also calls for CGL to continue to run officer training and establish 2025 pay rates for CGL project leaders: between $240 and $325 per hour. Prison project consulting cost are covered by the county’s capital improvement fund, established in 2022. The fund had $11 million in February. Officials estimate $18 million for consultants and a construction manager in 2025, with a total project cost of $400 million. (Source: LNP)
• Bhutan refugees deported, heading to Bhutan: Four of 12 confirmed cases of Bhutanese refugees arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Pennsylvania have resulted in deportation, reportedly to Bhutan. Thursday morning the four men detained by ICE were no longer in the agency’s Online Detainee Locator System. Around noon, Bhutanese community leader Tilak Niroula spoke with the men, who had just landed in New Delhi, India. The men were informed they would soon be sent to Paro, Bhutan , according to Niroula. Bhutan has historically not recognized Nepali-speaking Lhotshampa refugees as citizens and has denied U.S deportation attempts. (Source: LNP)
• Shapiro administration is evaluating Trump election overhaul:
The Shapiro administration is inspecting President Trump’s extensive executive order that overhauls U.S. elections. Thursday, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt explained Gov. Josh Shapiro will do everything in his power to protect voting rights. The Pennsylvania Department of State and Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Office of General Council are working to identify possible repercussions and what issues could be litigated. Trump signed an order requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, on Tuesday. Parts of the bill will be put in order if the U.S.House Republicans pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE Act. (Source: Capital-Star)
• Nation/world: Adoption of red light camera slow in Pa. (Source: Spotlight PA) Powerful Earthquake hits Thailand (Source: AP News) Federal research funding restricted by Trump (Source: AP News) Trump signed an executive order targeting the Smithsonian (Source: BBC News)
