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Down ticket: Pennsylvania ballots will offer historic legislative choices | Opinion

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Down ticket: Pennsylvania ballots will offer historic legislative choices | Opinion


The opportunity to make history lies in the hands of Pennsylvania voters this November, as the nation stands on the brink of electing the first female president, the first Asian American president, and the first woman of color president.

But the top of the ticket is not the only place where voters can make a lasting impact. Across the state, hundreds of women are running to make history in their local communities.

Currently, women hold just 32% of the seats in the General Assembly, ranking 26th out of the 50 states for female representation. This number, which is wildly out of step with both the national and state gender ratio, is a disappointing figure for a state with a legacy of challenging and redefining historic norms.

» READ MORE: Pennsylvania does a bad job of electing women. Why? | Opinion

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Pennsylvania boasts a remarkable slate of women currently seeking their first term, however.

Consider Anna Payne, the 37-year-old Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania’s 137th House District. Payne was born with cystic fibrosis and was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer three years ago. Payne uses her experience to advocate for the disability community, and juggles campaigning alongside her work with the Pennsylvania Rare Disease Council and the Bucks County Cystic Fibrosis Alliance.

Or Megan Kocher, a 25-year-old candidate who has lived her entire life in the 119th House District, and is running to be the first woman elected to represent the district.

Or Anna Thomas, a 28-year-old who grew up in the Lehigh Valley in a family of Indian and Malaysian immigrants. Thomas recently received her master’s from the University of Pennsylvania, and instead of taking her degree to a major city, returned to her home community to run for office in the hope of making the district a better place for families like hers.

Or Eleanor Breslin, who made history as the first woman to lead Tinicum Township, and now hopes to bring her experience as a trial lawyer to the 143rd House District.

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Or Angela Girol, who has worked in Pennsylvania public schools for over 20 years, and wants to prioritize schools in the 39th House District after serving as a member of the school board.

Or Hadley Haas, who, after both her sons were born hard of hearing, used her own experience fighting for her children in the 44th House District to advocate for other families with less access and support from the medical system.

These candidates embody the potential and promise of Pennsylvania.

Let’s pair the historic significance of Kamala Harris’ candidacy with historic elections across the state. When you head to the ballot box in a few months, remember that you have the power to shape the future of Pennsylvania and advance gender equity down ballot.

Electing women and increasing the number of female legislators has been shown to have profound positive impacts on communities, legislatures, political parties, and citizens’ lives, and helps democracy deliver. Further research indicates that the gender of a legislator has an important impact on their policy priorities. As more women are elected to office, there is an increase in policymaking that emphasizes quality of life and reflects the priorities of families, women, and people of color.

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» READ MORE: Joanna McClinton on the importance of inclusive representation in Pa. government | Opinion

Leadership is not solely defined by the top of the ticket, and breaking the glass ceiling requires more than electing a female president. The voters in Pennsylvania have a momentous opportunity to drive the country forward this electoral season.

Caroline Welles is the executive director of the First Ask, an organization dedicated to supporting first-time, female candidates for state legislatures across the country.



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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 2 Day results for Feb. 27, 2026

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The Pennsylvania Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

11-18-39-43-67, Mega Ball: 23

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Pick 2 numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

Day: 4-7, Wild: 5

Evening: 8-8, Wild: 0

Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

Day: 6-7-7, Wild: 5

Evening: 0-0-3, Wild: 0

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Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

Day: 7-2-1-4, Wild: 5

Evening: 5-7-3-1, Wild: 0

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

Day: 8-4-5-4-4, Wild: 5

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Evening: 1-1-9-8-7, Wild: 0

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

04-14-16-20-38

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Treasure Hunt numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

02-04-08-13-30

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Check Treasure Hunt payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Match 6 Lotto numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

10-12-23-31-33-46

Check Match 6 Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from Feb. 27 drawing

03-04-13-28-42, Bonus: 02

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

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Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

  • Sign the Ticket: Ensure your ticket has your signature, name, address and phone number on the back.
  • Prizes up to $600: Claim at any PA Lottery retailer or by mail: Pennsylvania Lottery, ATTN: CLAIMS, PO BOX 8671, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
  • Prizes from $600 to $2,500: Use a Claim Form to claim at a retailer or by mail: Pennsylvania Lottery, ATTN: CLAIMS, PO BOX 8671, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
  • Prizes over $2,500: Mail your signed ticket with a Claim Form or in person at a Lottery Area Office (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Lottery Headquarters is currently not open to the public. Visit the PA Lottery website for other office locations near you.

When are the Pennsylvania Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 2, 3, 4, 5: 1:35 p.m. and 6:59 p.m. daily.
  • Cash4Life: 9 p.m. daily.
  • Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily
  • Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. daily.
  • Treasure Hunt: 1:35 p.m. daily.
  • Match 6 Lotto: 6:59 p.m. Monday and Thursday.
  • Powerball Double Play: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Pennsylvania editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania Helps Homeowners Protect Their Investment Across Generations » NCRC

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Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania Helps Homeowners Protect Their Investment Across Generations » NCRC


For the past 17 years, the Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania (AHCOPA) has provided a range of programs designed to build wealth within low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities. AHCOPA provides services to approximately 3,000 people each year via their pre-purchase, post-purchase and mortgage prevention counseling programs.

When Kenneth Bigos joined AHCOPA as their Executive Director in 2013, he set out to expand the organization’s offerings beyond first-time homeownership counseling services. He identified estate planning as an urgent need for the region’s LMI communities as well. 

A 2022 Consumer Reports survey found that 77% of Black and 82% of Hispanic Americans do not have a will in place, which is needed to ensure that their home investment continues to build generational wealth. Consequently, the state court steps in upon the owner’s passing to decide how assets will be distributed, with property not being able to be transferred to an heir until that lengthy process is complete. In Philadelphia alone, there are approximately 10,000 properties with titles that have not been legally settled. 

In response to this, AHCOPA launched the Will Power program in 2022 by leveraging existing relationships with pro-bono lawyers in the creation of wills and trusts for community members. The program has created an opportunity to serve a larger portion of Philadelphia’s population. 

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While the first-time homebuyer program initially attracted people in their mid-30s, Will Power participants are generally in their late 60s, prompting AHCOPA to think about what housing support looks like across an individual’s lifetime.

“Elderly households are more vulnerable,” Bigos said. “To reach these homeowners, we had to develop relationships with trusted agencies, such as senior centers, churches and other institutions that we would not typically work with in our first-time homebuyer program.”

As a result of that  work, AHCOPA marked a major milestone in October 2025: the signing of 1,000 wills. Thanks to the success of Will Power and the first-time homebuyer program, AHCOPA has solidified its reputation as the go-to financial advisor for working-class residents. 

Looking ahead, they are planning to add a new program designed to support people beyond the initial purchase of their home, which will include coaching to help owners develop their financial literacy. This would encompass how to build savings to buy a first home and avoid foreclosure in the event of a crisis.

For Bigos, NCRC membership is key to ensuring the success of these programs, especially in terms of organizing at the federal, state and local levels advocating for continued funding. 

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“Engaging with decision makers is very important and being an NCRC member has helped facilitate those relationships,” Bigos said. “Their support has been very impactful.”

 

Jesse Rhodes is a Contributing Writer.

Photo courtesy of the AHCOPA team.



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How gambling revenue helps Pennsylvania fire departments

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How gambling revenue helps Pennsylvania fire departments


It is hard to imagine that money spent and collected at casinos and in slot machines around the state can wind up being used at local volunteer fire departments throughout the commonwealth, but it’s true.

In Pennsylvania, a portion of the state’s gaming revenue is allocated to support fire departments and emergency management services to the tune of about $30 million each year.

Departments can apply for those funds through a series of state grants, and most departments say that the money from gaming is vital to help them pay for equipment, vehicles and even improvements to their buildings.

“This time we put in for a grant to finish our second floor of our facility here,” said Derry Township Fire Chief Mark Piantine.

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Piantine says that gambling revenue has purchased many things for his department in the past like swift water rescue boats as well as a new equipment washing station. Now he hopes that money can give his company a place to sleep when they are working long shifts in bad weather.

“The last storm we had, the Snowmageddon here a couple of weeks ago, we had people staying overnight,” Piantine said. “They were laying across the seats of the trucks and on the floor sleeping because our second floor is not finished.”

Piantine says every little bit helps both their department and other departments, because when it comes right down to it, running a fire department is expensive.

“When you buy a regular pair of gloves, you may pay $25 for them. We buy a pair of gloves, they’re $75 to $100,” said Piantine. “You can buy a pair of boots for $50, ours cost $600.”

Just a few miles away, in the city of Latrobe, Chief John Brasile says that while the city does a lot for them financially, gaming revenue helps a lot. It even helps them make payments on their rescue unit.

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“We have about a year’s worth of payments left on it,” Brasile said. “And we use our money for debt reductions on that truck.”

“And that’s essentially from gambling revenue?” Chris DeRose asked.

“Yes. It comes from the State Fire Commissioners’ Office,” Brasile said.

“When is that truck paid off?” DeRose asked.

“About this time next year,” Brasile replied. “And then we can use that money for other stuff then. We would like to get new rescue tools for that truck and they’re expensive.”

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The fire departments KDKA has spoken with about using state grant money from gambling revenue say that gambling money is great, but it is not a cure-all. And in fact, on Thursday night, the Latrobe Fire Department was holding yet another fundraising event to help them once again raise money for new fire equipment.



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