Pennsylvania
‘Momnibus’ bills would expand access to doulas, provide essentials to new parents
The department says Pennsylvania averaged just under 133,000 births a year from 2018 to 2022. Providing one of each kit per baby at the estimated prices would cost the state just under $36 million annually.
“We will be paying for some of these items twice,” state Rep. Kate Klunk (R., York) argued on the House floor, adding, “This bill does not target the moms who need it the most.”
The state House also took recent action on a priority for Shapiro: putting free period products in public schools. “Girls deserve to have peace of mind so they can focus on learning,” the governor said in his February budget address.
Karla Coffman, a certified school nurse at York Suburban High School, told Spotlight PA that every day she sees students who lack period products or attempt to use something else in their place.
While toilet paper or paper towels may be more accessible, they are unhygienic, Coffman said, and can lead to embarrassment at best or infection at worst.
“You need to calm them down and get them back to learning,” she added.
That’s why she buys a couple of boxes of period products each year to keep on hand. However, the school district considers the expense nonessential, and some community partners — such as a church next door that runs a food pantry for the school’s low-income students — won’t pay for tampons.
The state House voted 117-85 in favor of a bill that would appropriate $3 million for a free period product program.
Periods are “not a dirty thing to talk about. It’s very natural,” state House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D., Philadelphia) told Spotlight PA. “And it’s something that not only we should talk about, but most importantly, we should meet the need because we’re able to do so.”
Most Republican representatives voted against the bill, including state Rep. Stephanie Borowicz (R., Clinton), who said the proposal “is another step by the governor and Democrats to provide everything to you, which leads to communism.”
Immediately after Shapiro’s address, state Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R., Westmoreland) told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the governor’s proposal was “straight-on, full-fledged, spend, spend, spend,” citing his pitch to put “sanitary napkins in schools” as an example.
Pressed a week later in a TV interview, Ward struck a more conciliatory tone, saying that she wasn’t criticizing the pitch and that it was inexpensive.
“If there’s a need, we’ll do it,” she said, “but I have never, ever had a school come to me and say it’s a need.”
The bills are now in the hands of the Republican-controlled state Senate, which must consent to any new spending and has frequently criticized Democrat’s spending proposals.
With higher-than-expected state revenues, though, some new spending could be on the table.
“Divided government invariably requires a degree of give and take,” state Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R., Indiana) told Spotlight PA last week.
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds the powerful to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania.
Mid Valley sixth, seventh and eighth grade students toured the Pennsylvania American Water treatment plant near Lake Scranton. They were given a detailed presentation about the water treatment process that they perform daily.
They also were given the opportunity to design their own water treatment models using various items at the exhibit. Students got a behind-the-scenes look at all the different occupations at Pennsylvania American Water Company that many were unaware of.
WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. (MyValleyTributes) – David Armond Mansel, aged 89, passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
Born and raised in West Middlesex, Pennsylvania, on August 8, 1936, David resided in Transfer, Pennsylvania. He was deeply rooted in his faith in God.
He served in the Army in Germany in the 1960s and worked construction for many years. He was proud of his roots on his family’s farm.
David, who was known to many as Uncle Dave, loved to dance and spend time on his boat cruising the Shenango Reservoir. His friendly, outgoing personality helped him to meet people wherever he went, especially on the dance floor. He loved to teach people how to dance the jitter bug (among other dances) in his favorite zoot suit, hat and black and white dance shoes. He was also often seen on one of his many vehicles, like his Mustang convertible, CanAm, or Segway.
He is survived by his brother, James; his sister and brother-in-law, Denise and Skip Wentz; his sister-in-law, Gloria Mansel; his aunt, Nancy Sabella and his special nieces and nephews who spent a lot of time with him in his later years, Lisa and Jim Blair, Nicole and Brian Serafin, Terry Thompson and Darrell and Jeanie Thompson. He also leaves many more nieces, nephews and cousins and his extended Italian American family.
David was predeceased by his children, Darcy, in 1988 and Wade, 2024. He was also predeceased by his parents, Michael and Clara Mansel; his brother, Leonard and sister, Esther Thompson.
A celebration to remember David will be announced at a later time.
Arrangements handled by John Flynn Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc.
Messages of sympathy, stories and photos can be shared on David’s memorial page, at: www.flynnfuneralhome.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of David A. Mansel, please visit our floral store.
A television tribute will air Thursday, April 23 at the following approximate times: 7:10 a.m. on FOX, 12:22 p.m. on WKBN, 5:08 p.m. on MyYTV and 7:27 p.m. on WYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.
Pennsylvania
Sen. John Fetterman receives no support for re-election from Pennsylvania House Democrats: report
Pennsylvania Democrats are reluctant to support Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., for re-election, according to a new report.
Punchbowl News spoke to several Pennsylvania congressional members on Monday about whether they’d be willing to endorse Fetterman for another term in 2028 despite the backlash he’s been facing for opposing the Democratic Party.
“Want a sense of how tenuous Sen. John Fetterman’s (D-Pa.) position is with Pennsylvania Democrats? Not a single Pennsylvania House Democrat in the delegation will say Fetterman should run for re-election as a Democrat,” the report said.
Though the House members did not explicitly reject the idea of Fetterman running again, they avoided answering whether they believed Fetterman should seek a second term as a Democrat, often focusing instead on the 2026 midterm elections.
“My focus right now is on 2026, but I would just say I’d be very surprised if he ran in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate,” Rep. Brendan Boyle said.
Rep. Chris Deluzio also answered that he would see what happens after 2026, though Punchbowl News acknowledged both he and Boyle are rumored to be launching their own Senate bids in 2028.
Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon added that she was interested in “getting through 2026 first.”
“I’ll hold my tongue so I don’t get in trouble,” Scanlon said.
Rep. Summer Lee told Punchbowl News the decision was “up to him” whether Fetterman should run, though she added that he would do so “at his own peril.”
Others were more vocal about their disagreements with Fetterman, though they stopped short of rejecting the idea of Fetterman running again.
“My concern is entirely about him and his health, and I’ll let 2028 take care of itself,” Rep. Madeleine Dean said.
“I disagree with many of his votes.”
“It’s no secret that I’ve been disappointed with some of his votes and that I’m confused by it,” Rep. Chrissy Houlahan added.
“But I’m not responsible for deciding whether he runs again.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Fetterman’s office and the other Pennsylvania Democrats mentioned in the report for comment.
Fetterman has publicly spoken out against his party on several issues, particularly its growing hostility against Israel.
The Pennsylvania senator has also supported President Donald Trump in his ongoing war against Iran and strict border policies.
Though strategists have suggested Fetterman could switch parties because of his bipartisan stance, he previously ruled out leaving the Democratic Party last year.
“I’m not going to switch. I’m just going to be an independent voice in the Democratic Party. I’m not going to be afraid of people,” Fetterman said.
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