• Proposed bill to ensure livable wages for Pa. public school employees: New legislation had been introduced to would require Pennsylvania public schools to pay their staff higher wages. The bill, spread by Sen. Lindsey Williams (D-38), would require public schools to pay a living wage of at least $20/hour to help gather and attain qualified education support professionals (ESPs) in Pennsylvania. The bill’s memo explains that schools are struggling to fill positions and there are staffing shortages in professionals who serve lunches, transport students to and from school, keep buildings clean and provide care to students with disabilities. More than half of ESP’s in Pa. are earning below livable wage, which causes them to acquire another job or quit. The bill would mandate that in the 2025-26 school year, public schools would be required to pay ESPs a “living wage” or $20/hour. (Source: ABC 27)
• Lancaster County institutions lose funding due to DOGE cuts: The Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has cut funding to the National Endowment for the Humanities. (NEH) These cuts have directly affected two organizations in Lancaster County; LancasterHistory and PA Humanities. LancasterHistory has already received most of its funding, though PA Humanities lost 66% of their funding and may not be able to continue funding museums and libraries. Elizabethtown College and Franklin & Marshall College also received NEH funding. (Source: LNP)
• Elizabethtown area school board considers major cuts due to funding issues: Elizabethtown Area School District’s board is considering making major cuts to its programs, including closing the library at the middle and high schools, despite also heading for raising the school tax in the district. The cuts also target the school district’s full-day kindergarten pilot program. Even by increasing property taxes by 2.5%, the district would still have a deficit of $933,506 in the next fiscal year. Budget negotiations also focus on expected increases in teacher salaries. Elizabethtown Area School District has average teacher salaries of $82,804.54, the fifth highest in Lancaster County. (Source: LNP)
• Apartment complex for veterans breaks ground in Harrisburg: Tunnels to Towers, a nationwide non-profit, broke ground Thursday on a new apartment building for veterans in Harrisburg. The complex will have 64 apartments and 20 “comfort homes.” The complex will also feature support services like job training, addiction treatment, and mental health support. Tunnels to Towers was formed after the September 11th attacks which killed the founder’s brother, a first responder. Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams said the new complex will provide veterans with both housing and “dignity.” (Source: ABC 27)
• Three Center Square in Maytown to be renovated: Three Center Square, a historic building in the middle of Maytown which was converted into affordable housing 20 years ago, will receive $3 million in renovations. The complex is made up of 23 affordable townhomes and apartments within historic buildings built between 1780 and 1881. Tenants have to make under 60% of the area’s median income and some have lower income requirements. The renovation work will repair the roof, bricks, and HVAC, and update flooring, cabinets and paint in the units. The work is not expected to displace any residents. (Source: LNP)
• Nation/world: Beijing puts 125% tariffs on U.S goods (Source: NPR) Democrats question whether Trump administration engaged in insider trading (Source: NBC News) Trump administration must return wrongly deported Maryland man, Supreme Court rules (Source: NBC News) Victims in New York City helicopter crash were Spanish executive and family (Source: BBC News) Europe pledges billions in funding for Ukraine as U.S. meets with Putin (Source: AP News)
