Pennsylvania
Cancer survivors and health advocates rally in Philly to protest Medicaid cuts
Medicaid work requirements and eligibility
Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program, also called Medical Assistance, provides insurance coverage for approximately 3 million people, including one in four adults and 39% of children, according to state data.
Work requirements proposed in the federal budget bill would apply to adults ages 19 to 64. They would have to work at least 80 hours a month and provide documented proof to state agencies in order to stay in the program.
States may have exemptions for people with children and those with disabilities, as well as adults who are sole caregivers, in school or pregnant.
Joanna Rosenhein, of the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, said that people will get cut from the program and lose coverage, even when they are meeting the work and income requirements, because of issues with missing or incomplete documentation and paperwork.
“Most people on Medicaid are already working,” Rosenheim said. “The rest are either caregivers, students, people with disabilities or severe health conditions, and those people will be at risk of losing their coverage because of paperwork requirements.”
Processing additional paperwork and carrying out more eligibility checks and renewals would fall to the states.
“The state is already overwhelmed,” she said, “and this will only add to their burden.”
Alisha Gillespie, of Chester, Pennsylvania, called the proposed cuts and requirements “inhumane” and said it would have been “impossible” to comply when she had Medicaid last year while battling breast cancer and raising three children.
“[There were] days that I couldn’t even get out of bed to make dinner, to even go to the bathroom,” she said. “So, I can’t imagine having even a part-time job to even try to make ends meet for surgeries or any type of treatment.”
A fire ripped through a recycling center in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Thursday evening, emergency officials said.
The fire erupted around 6 p.m. at a Doylestown Waste Recycling building on 1510 Swamp Road. The facility mainly recycles construction debris, according to the company’s website.
Chopper 3 was over the scene as firefighters battled flames at the heavily damaged building. Large plumes of smoke could be seen from miles away.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
No injuries have been reported.
Here’s why flags are flown at half-staff or half-mast
Flags in the U.S. are typically flown at half-mast or half-staff after certain events or holidays.
Flags are flying at half-staff across Pennsylvania today after Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered them lowered statewide to honor Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael Pahira, who died in the line of duty in Schuylkill County.
Shapiro ordered flags fly half-staff at Pennsylvania facilities, public buildings and grounds — the United States flag and Pennsylvania flag — to honor Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael Pahira, who died in the line of duty in Schuylkill County.
Pahira died after being struck by a tractor-trailer while conducting a commercial vehicle inspection along Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County, authorities said. A Massachusetts truck driver has since been charged in the crash, and flags will remain at half-staff until the date of Pahira’s interment, which has not yet been announced.
Why are flags at half-staff today in Pennsylvania?
Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered flags across Pennsylvania to fly at half-staff in honor of Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael Pahira, who died in the line of duty July 1. The order applies to Commonwealth facilities, public buildings and grounds statewide and remains in effect until his interment.
What’s the difference between half-staff and half-mast?
The difference between a flag flying at half-staff and half-mast depends on where the flag is flown. In the United States, flags on land are lowered on staffs, while half-mast traditionally refers to flags flown from ships and at naval stations ashore.
Who was Trooper Michael Pahira?
Pahira was a Schuylkill County native and nearly 20-year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police, authorities said. He enlisted in January 2007 and was assigned to Troop L in Frackville as a Motor Carrier Inspector. He was 44 years old and became the 106th member of the Pennsylvania State Police to die in the line of duty.
What happened to Trooper Michael Pahira?
State police said Pahira was conducting a commercial vehicle inspection along Interstate 81 southbound in Schuylkill County when a second tractor-trailer left the roadway and struck his marked patrol vehicle and the truck he was inspecting before hitting him. Both commercial vehicles caught fire after the crash. Pahira was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities said a Massachusetts truck driver has since been charged with homicide by vehicle in connection with the crash.
How long will flags be lowered?
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered US and Pennsylvania flags fly half-staff today and through the date of interment, or the burial or entombment of Pahira following his funeral.
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based reporter covering trending news with USA TODAY Network’s Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. She covers news in the Northeast, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Reach her at LComstock@usatodayco.com.
Thursday, July 2, 2026 3:58AM
CASS TWP., Pa. (WPVI) — A Pennsylvania State Police trooper was killed after being hit by a vehicle on Wednesday morning in Schuylkill County.
Tpr. Michael Pahira Jr. was struck while conducting a commercial vehicle safety inspection around 7 a.m. along Interstate 81 in Cass Township.
According to state police, a passing commercial vehicle hit Pahira while he was conducting the inspection with his emergency lights activated.
That vehicle then collided with the vehicle that was being inspected and caught fire.
The driver of the striking vehicle was being treated at an area hospital. There was no immediate word on whether the driver would be charged.
Pahira, 44, was assigned to Troop L, Frackville and had been with the state police for 20 years.
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