Pennsylvania
Girl Scout cookie sales begin in eastern Pennsylvania
LAFAYETTE HILL, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — Girl Scouts cookie sales are starting again Thursday, and we have good news for those of you looking to get those Thin Mints and Samoas.
The Girl Scouts cookie program is the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world, teaching the girls business and money management skills and so much more.
And while some councils have had to make the tough decision to raise their prices to offset rising costs, one of our local councils, the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, is keeping prices flat at $5 a box, except for the gluten-free cookies, which are $6 a box.
Girl Scout life is nonstop.
“We’ve made toys for people. We’ve made lunches,” said Kyra Thompson, a fifth grader.
“I do activities, I go to camp, I go on trips and I sell cookies,” said Diahna Stubbs.
And sell she does. Last year Stubbs sold 8,070, making her the top seller for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania and helping the council bring in $19 million of gross sales.
“I walked around my neighborhood and I sold cookies. I sold them at school,” said Diahna.
Raising more than funds but also fulfilling the Girl Scouts mission to build character, confidence, and courage.
“I learned how to get out of my comfort zone and talk to more people,” said Amber Thompson a seventh grader.
Amber and Kyra Thompson each sold more than 5,000 boxes last year, making them top sellers, too.
“It’s a really awesome program that we’ve had for 110 years,” explained Kim Fraites-Dow, CEO of Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania.
Fraites-Dow, says the Girl Scouts is a great equalizer.
“Girls from all over our Girl Scout council are selling these cookies no matter what financial background she comes from, and it gives her an opportunity to earn money for herself, and for her troop and to do amazing things,” said Fraites-Dow.
The Thin Mints, Caramel deLites and Peanut Butter Patties are all on the top 10 list of highest-selling cookies in the country. Girls who sell just a few months out of the year can beat out big companies that sell all year long.
“It’s a lot of work but it’s all worth it in the end,” said Kyra.
“I like meeting new people and I like the rewards I get,” said Diahna.
And Diahna happens to be part of our extended Action News family. Her grandmother, Carita Hernandez, was one of our beloved photographers and certainly, the apple did not fall far from the tree.
Cookie sales for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania continues through March 10. You can view the flavors at: https://www.gsep.org/en/cookies/cookie-flavors-abc.html
Sales in Southern New Jersey began January 12.
Digital sales in Northern Delaware are on now, with in-person sales beginning February 9.
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Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 2 Day results for Feb. 27, 2026
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
Pennsylvania
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.
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.
“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.
Pennsylvania
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.
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.
“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.”
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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