HARRISBURG, PA  — Child care in Pennsylvania is in crisis, and parents, educators, and advocates want Governor Shapiro to know it. On Wednesday, December 18, 2024, Start Strong PA delivered a petition with 5,077 signatures, demanding that the Governor include $284 million in his 2025-2026 state budget to directly tackle the child care sector’s mounting workforce challenges. Their message is urgent and clear—fix child care now.

At the heart of the crisis is a workforce stretched to its limits. With low wages and declining program availability, the child care sector is teetering on the edge of collapse. “As Pennsylvania businesses continue to seek qualified, dependable employees, tens of thousands of working parents are struggling to find the child care they need to remain in the workforce,” explained Cara Ciminillo, Executive Director of Trying Together. “This is due to a staffing crisis within the child care sector, resulting in closures of classrooms and even entire facilities. Currently, there are 600 fewer child care programs in the commonwealth than there were at the start of the pandemic.”

A Broken System Hurting Families and Workers

The numbers paint a stark picture. A recent survey of 1,140 child care programs revealed over 3,000 unfilled child care staffing positions. This worker shortage has forced closures and capacity cuts across the state, eliminating more than 25,300 child care slots. The reality for families is bleak—being left without the care they desperately need to stay in the workforce. For child care providers, it’s no better. The financial foundation of the industry simply doesn’t work.

At the core of the problem? Wages that fail to attract and retain staff. The average child care teacher in Pennsylvania earns just $15.15 per hour, a rate that doesn’t even meet the cost of living in any county statewide. Jen DeBell, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children, called it out plainly, saying, “If we don’t allocate funds to directly address our teacher recruitment and retention crisis, child care classroom and program closures will continue to disrupt thousands of families’ ability to work.”

Child care workers—the individuals shaping young minds and caring for the next generation—are being forced to leave the industry because they simply can’t afford to stay in it. It’s a vicious cycle that leaves parents scrambling for solutions and businesses unable to retain employees who need stable care for their children.

The Cost of Legislative Inaction

The petition, buoyed by voices from across the state, isn’t just about sounding the alarm. It’s a call for state leaders, especially Governor Shapiro, to act decisively. Advocates are demanding $284 million to fund a child care teacher recruitment and retention initiative aimed at stabilizing the industry. Neighboring states have shown what’s possible—about 20 others already prioritize funding for child care workforce initiatives. But Diane Barber, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Child Care Association, noted Pennsylvania lawmakers’ slow response. “The difference is Pennsylvania lawmakers have only offered solutions to one side of the issue – the demand side – in the form of tax credits to help families better afford child care,” Barber said. “Solutions to fix the supply side – to make sure families can find care – are desperately needed.”

Without intervention, this crisis won’t just impact parents and teachers; it will reverberate across Pennsylvania’s economy. Parents unable to find care are leaving the workforce, reducing economic productivity, and increasing pressure on businesses already grappling with tight employee pools. Further inaction could deepen the state’s challenges, stalling growth and driving families to untenable situations.

A Movement to #FixChildCare

To amplify their efforts, Start Strong PA has introduced FixChildCarePA.com, a platform highlighting the personal stories of families left without care options and detailing the struggles of child care providers fighting to stay open. The campaign’s goal is not just to draw attention but to push for meaningful change in the state’s child care infrastructure.

This isn’t just a call for funding—it’s a demand for a vision. It’s about what Pennsylvania values. Do we consider child care foundational to the state’s present and future? Or will the workforce crisis continue to snowball unchecked?

Every signature on that petition is a reminder. Parents want to work. Educators want to teach and care. Communities need to thrive. But without a functioning child care system, all of this is at risk. The solution exists—now it’s up to Governor Shapiro and state lawmakers to make it a reality before more programs shut their doors and more families are left stranded.

The message is resounding. Pennsylvania has a choice to make—and time is running out.

For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.

With it being almost a week since the West Virginia bowl game, several former Mountaineers who have entered the portal are starting to find new opportunities elsewhere. Over the weekend, tight end Will Dixon announced his commitment to Rhode Island.

Dixon reclassified to be a part of West Virginia’s 2022 signing class but was buried on the depth chart behind Kole Taylor, Treylan Davis, and others. Last offseason was a critical one for him as the Mountaineer coaching staff was searching for a third tight end. Instead of that guy being Dixon, it was true freshman Jack Sammarco. Dixon appeared in seven games during his time in the Old Gold and Blue, primarily serving on the special teams unit.

Coming out of high school, he chose West Virginia over offers from Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, James Madison, Liberty, Marshall, Temple, and a few others.

He will have one year of eligibility remaining.

MORE STORIES FROM WEST VIRGINIA ON SI

Eastern Michigan WR Oran Singleton Jr. Commits to West Virginia

West Virginia Lands South Alabama CB Transfer Jordan Scruggs

Jacksonville State CB Transfer Fred Davis II Visiting WVU, Reveals Decision Timeline

WVU Offers Purdue CB Transfer Currently Committed to Big 12 School

Making a top 10 list is never easy. When it comes to Vermont’s exploding hip-hop scene, that calculus is harder than ever. In 2024, we’ve been blessed with dozens of worthy album releases, and the bar for quality control is set professionally high. The only problem? The embarrassment of riches makes it difficult for artists to stand out — and for listeners to keep up.

Accurately summing up all this hustle and flow is an impossible task. In preparation for this doomed attempt, I have been picking the brains of local hip-hop artists, promoters, producers and fans for weeks. Beyond the fact that everyone feels there’s too much going on to keep track of, there is very little clear consensus on the best music of the year.

Certain names come up a lot, though. Established rappers Konflik, Charlie Mayne and D.FRENCH get love from every corner of the state. Breakout newbies such as Devon Dutchmaster, HAKIMXOXO, Topia and Flywlkr have made waves beyond their social circles, too. The Funky Diabetic is universally hailed as a hard worker with a great live set, and Real Ricky’s upcoming debut album is a highly anticipated release.

Vermont producers get a lot of respect, as well. In my conversations, Caleb Lodish’s obsessive perfectionism and huge musical range were often cited. Rico James has been an undeniable force, delivering a record label’s worth of output by himself this year. “I’ve given up on trying to get noticed,” he admitted, “and I’m just cranking out beats. It’s made it fun and satisfying again.”

While youthful energy has driven the narrative in 2024, the pillars of the scene remain in place. DJ, producer and promoter David Chief is still one of Burlington’s foremost tastemakers, and nearly everyone gives props to AfterLyfe Music founder and VT Union legend Nastee. Despite formally retiring as a group, the individual members of 99 Neighbors are at the forefront of the new wave. Conswank’s solo debut, Low Point Retreat, was one of 2023’s finest local albums, and maari’s All Is Fair in Love & War, a collaboration this year with Burlington producer Es-K, continues their unbroken winning streak.

Since the glory days of Lynguistic Civilians, veteran rapper and promoter Mister Burns has never stopped working. Last month alone, he brought Talib Kweli and the Pharcyde to Vermont. If he ever retires or jumps ship to another state, it will be a huge loss for 802 music fans.

On the question of who had the best album drop in 2024, however, things get messy fast. Much of this discord stems from the same debates the scene has had my entire life: what qualifies as “real” hip-hop, organic support versus label-money promotional clout, and the eternal complaint of Burlington’s outsize influence over the rest of the state. None of these issues is ever getting resolved, and I have grim news for my fellow old heads: If the kids like it, it’s dope, and that’s it.

There is also the question of what qualifies as “Vermont hip-hop” when so many of the small scene’s champions are currently living out of state — which is itself a marker for the strength of the scene. Windsor’s Jarv, Burlington’s rivan and Washington’s Robscure are all doing incredible work in New York City, as is video artist, concert promoter and cultural force Kelly Butts-Spirito, one of the main architects behind the breakout success of Burlington’s young scene after 2020.

That success has inspired a vital culture since then. The Genesis promotion team got its start doing DIY parties around Vermont State University in Castleton, but this year it’s had triumphant appearances at the Double E in Essex and, most recently, the newly revitalized ArtsRiot in Burlington. Alongside upstart stars such as Pleasant Boys, tyler serrani and Obi the Voicegod, Genesis has earned a reputation for must-see events.

Then there’s “Wave Cave Radio Show,” hosted by Flywlkr and Gingervitus, who recently recorded their 42nd episode on 105.9 FM the Radiator. Wide-open playlists, along with the hosts’ deep love for the scene, have made the show the single most essential outlet in the state right now. The duo has no plans to stop anytime soon. “It’s a lot of fun,” Flywlkr said, “and feels good to give back to the community that gave me a platform.”

It’s worth noting that Flywlkr dropped two projects that got heavy praise from his peers: the tripped-out Flying Car 2, followed by YW8?, a knockout LP that stands among the year’s best. His top pick for 2024? Topia’s self-produced KO RABWA.

That attitude is typical of the new generation of 802 hip-hop artists, and it’s not just modesty; it’s mutual respect. For his part, Topia said, “Honestly, I kinda shut out outside influences and locked in on my own art.” Even so, his top pick would be rivan’s self-titled reinvention of an EP. “It really impressed me because it seemed super authentic,” Topia said.

Another big story was the return of audio engineer and musical savant Zach Crawford, who reopened his SkyLab studio after a long hiatus and immediately set to work mixing and mastering incredible albums for artists around the country.

Two of them are on this list: D.FRENCH’s All Saints Day got a lot of enthusiastic nominations, and boom-bap believers everywhere were still bumping Verona, Mavstar’s monumental tribute to his mother. Expect to see and hear even more of Crawford’s work in 2025.

While this all adds up to an undeniably triumphant year, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Many artists I talked to lamented a lack of serious artist management or mentors to help them with the business side of the music industry. A universal suspicion persists that many Vermont venues are deliberately avoiding the genre. And there’s widespread concern that this big, inclusive scene may be backsliding into cliques and in-groups.

Such growing pains are inevitable. But it’s a safe bet that those same challenges will create new success stories by this time next year. For fans and listeners, we’re in a golden era of Vermont hip-hop, a multigenerational renaissance of diverse sounds and styles. Using the list above as a starting point, take some time over the holidays to get caught up. You won’t regret it.

Justin Boland’s Top 10 802 Hip-Hop Albums of 2024

Caleb Lodish, An Evening Into Sweet Despair

D.FRENCH, All Saints Day

Flywlkr, YW8?

Juicebox, Ollies in the Hallway

maari and Es-K, All Is Fair in Love & War

Mavstar, Verona

rivan, rivan

Robscure, WATER: Whirled Around the Endless Ripple

SINNN, Art N Depression

Topia, KO RABWA