Pennsylvania
Gov. Shapiro announces $1B housing plan to spur new developments in Pennsylvania
In addition to new funding, the budget calls for reforms designed to protect renters and homeowners. Among the changes are limits on rental application fees, sealing eviction records for tenants who were never ultimately evicted, authorizing transfer-on-death deeds for primary residences and placing guardrails on annual lot rent increases in manufactured home communities.
Going from executive order to state budget-funded, however, will require an act of the legislature and buy-in from Senate Republicans who have balked at the governor’s proposed overall spending.
“The governor simply wants to spend too much money in this budget, full stop,” Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman,R-Indiana, said earlier this month.
State Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, said he “looked forward” to working with both parties.
“There’ll be stuff you can do by executive order, governor, and we want to make sure that gets done,” he said. “But it’s going to be the Legislature that can make sure that all of the systematic changes get done and the money gets appropriated as well.”
Shapiro said the plan would take the commonwealth “from the bottom of the pack to being a national leader when it comes to housing construction.”
“We will reduce homelessness to the lowest levels in the entire region, and we’ll create new opportunities for millions of Pennsylvanians,” he said.
To coordinate this work, the Department of Community and Economic Development will establish Pennsylvania’s first Deputy Secretary for Housing. Rick Siger, who leads the department, said the position will focus on aligning housing efforts across agencies and driving implementation of the plan.
Val Arkoosh, secretary of the Department of Human Services, emphasized the connection between stable housing and health. Drawing on her experience as a physician in Philadelphia hospitals, she described treating patients who repeatedly cycled through emergency rooms because they lacked stable housing.
“I could prescribe antibiotics. I could prescribe insulin. But the one essential treatment I could not prescribe was a home,” Arkoosh said.
At the governor’s announcement, Philadelphia resident Eunique Carr said she and her daughter nearly became homeless after her parental partner passed away, but received legal help from Community Legal Services.
“Not only were we dealing with the loss of our loved one, but we were also in danger of losing our family home and heading for foreclosure,” Carr said. “I would like to thank Gov. Shapiro for announcing his new housing plan, including reforms to help other families going through the same hardship.”
Pennsylvania
A gap in Pennsylvania law has put fire companies and county treasurers at odds over online raffles
Pennsylvania is another step closer to restricting cellphone usage in schools after the state House passed a bill on a bipartisan vote on Monday, June 1, 2026.
House Bill 1814 would prohibit students in Pennsylvania’s public schools from using or possessing a cellphone during the school day. Under the bill, students would be required to secure their phones in a way that prevents access until the end of the day with exceptions being for certain emergency and medical needs approved by school administrators.
The bill now moves to the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration. The state Senate had previously passed legislation back in 2024 that encouraged school districts in Pennsylvania to start a pilot program that effectively banned cellphone use during the school day in an effort to improve the mental health and academic performance of students.
Governor Josh Shapiro and multiple Pennsylvania educators have also called for restrictions on cellphone usage in schools.
“Our children need this bill,” Rep. Mandy Steele (D-33rd District) said. “It’s taken a lot of hard work to get this bill to this point, but it’s been worth the effort. Research shows that unfettered access to devices is harming our children, and many educators tell me this bill is desperately needed. Governor Shapiro has urged the General Assembly to send him a bill banning cell phones in schools, and I urge the Senate to send this bill to his desk for the benefit of our children.”
Currently, at least 38 states and the District of Columbia restrict cellphone usage in schools, according to Education Week.
“;
01
June
2026
|
09:07 AM
America/New_York
Top Events and Attractions in The Sweetest Place On Earth this month
Happy June! The summer season in Hershey, Pennsylvania, is in full swing with so many things to do all month long. Keep reading for some of our top picks.
1. Spend The Day at Hersheypark
Open Daily; Hours Vary
Hersheypark amusement park is now open daily for its 120th summer season, with special events and activations in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
The largest amusement park in Pennsylvania features three parks in one this summer – all accessible via a single admission. Guests can enjoy more than 70 rides, including the most coasters in the Northeast, a full water park and an 11-acre zoo.
2. Cool Off at The Boardwalk
Open Daily, Weather Permitting; Hours Vary
Make a splash this summer at The Boardwalk at Hersheypark water park! Enjoy thrill rides like the Whitecap Racer and Breaker’s Edge Water Coaster, or relax on the 1,360-foot Intercoastal Waterway lazy river. Plus, experience our two new water play areas, The Inlet and The Island at Bayside Pier, or get drenched by the massive East Coast Waterworks and its 1,000-gallon tipping bucket. Access to The Boardwalk is included with general Hersheypark admission.
3. Visit ZooAmerica
Open Daily; Hours Vary
ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park is open every day in June for guests to explore a variety of habitats filled with North American animals such as river otters, Canada lynx and a black bear. The zoo offers daily summer activities, such as special animal enrichment and training sessions for guests to watch, weather permitting.
Hersheypark tickets include entry to ZooAmerica only by accessing the Zoo through the bridge inside Hersheypark during posted Park hours. Those interested in visiting ZooAmerica in the morning before Hersheypark opens must purchase separate Zoo admission tickets online or at the Zoo Admissions Building.
4. Jazz On The Veranda at The Hotel Hershey
June 5 & 12; 7 to 10 p.m.
Unwind on the veranda at The Hotel Hershey on select Fridays this summer for live music, sweet views, cocktails and light shareables available for walk-up service. Seating is first-come, first-served.
23.The Hotel Hershey.Jazz on The Veranda.Front Facing.Side View
23.The Hotel Hershey.Jazz on The Veranda.Overhead.Flowers
23.The Hotel Hershey.Jazz on The Veranda.Group.Cheers
Team.Member.Perks
v01.07.1641, 1.2.0, v1.0.0, 2021 drone, GC, august 2021 drone, drone, drone photo, exterior, giant center, giant center drone, triscari, BuildingType=N, Mode=M, DE=D-Cinelike
6. Learn About Milton Hershey at the 1893 World’s Fair at The Hershey Story Museum
June 13 & 14; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Step into the excitement and innovation of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair at The Hershey Story Museum! Discover how the historic event shaped Milton Hershey’s future and the future of chocolate during a two-day, immersive event. The family-friendly indoor-outdoor experience features hands-on activities and interactive “innovation stations” inspired by the groundbreaking inventions and technologies showcased at the original 1893 fair.
097- Midway, Looking West – cropped
A Sweet Beginning identity final
091 – Ferris wheel – cropped
7. Father’s Day Celebrations at Hershey Gardens
June 21; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Treat Dad to a stunning display of classic Rolls-Royces and Bentleys at Hershey Gardens while learning the history of these luxury vehicles from the Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club. Afterward, stroll through the grounds to enjoy 3,000 vibrant roses in full bloom just in time for the first day of summer. As a special gift, all dads receive free admission to the Gardens on Father’s Day, and the car display is included with general admission.
Butterfly Atrium at Hershey Gardens
8. Youth Takeover Day at The Hershey Story Museum
June 27; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Experience Hershey history through the eyes of the community’s youth on Youth Takeover day at The Hershey Story Museum. As part of this annual national event, local students will take center stage to highlight young voices, ideas and leadership within the museum. Guests are invited to engage in hands-on activities, explore the Museum Experience and gain fresh perspectives on our region’s past through the unique insights of our local participants. This special programming is included with general Museum Experience admission.
The Hershey Story_Dearden Exhibit-42
The Hershey Story Museum_Experience_7
The Hershey Story Museum_Experience_1
9. Enjoy Outdoor Dining
Daily; Reservations Available at Selection Locations
As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, join us for sweet outdoor dining (weather permitting) at the locations below across the destination:
10. Relax With A Summer Spa Treatment
Daily; Appointments Highly Encouraged
The Spa At The Hotel Hershey and MeltSpa by Hershey mark the return of their summer seasonal treatments this month! Treat yourself to a day of pampering at The Spa At The Hotel Hershey with summer spa packages like the Vacation For A Day Package or indulge in the Summer Strawberry Collection at MeltSpa by Hershey with treatments including the Summer Strawberry Immersion, Scrub, Manicure and Pedicure.
11. National Rose Month at Hershey Gardens
June is National Rose Month, and there’s no better place to celebrate than Hershey Gardens, home to 3,000 blooming roses in 115 stunning varieties. To mark the occasion, any guest named “Rose” (or a variation thereof) will receive free admission all month long.
Plus, in honor of National Red Rose Day, Hershey Gardens is hosting special 30-minute guided tours of the Historic Hershey Rose Garden on Saturday, June 13, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tours are included with general admission.
Roses at Hershey Gardens 2024
Roses at Hershey Gardens 2024
Roses at Hershey Gardens 2024
Roses at Hershey Gardens 2024
12. Book A Getaway at an Official Resort of Hersheypark
Extend your visit to The Sweetest Place On Earth with an overnight getaway to one of The Official Resorts of Hersheypark! Save with popular summer packages, including the guest-favorite Kids Stay, Play & Eat FREE Package – back for a limited time at The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Lodge and Hershey Inn & Suites. Or, celebrate National Camping Month with the Hersheypark Summer Camping Package, including Park tickets and accommodations at Hersheypark Camping Resort.
Resort guests can make a splash at the outdoor pool complexes, open daily through Labor Day. Plus, enjoy daily resort activities, including Hershey Character appearances, s’mores roasts, chocolate bingo and more.
';
Source link
-
World7 minutes agoFireworks reportedly trigger mass horse stampede through Rome streets, injuring several soldiers
-
Politics10 minutes agoSEE IT: LA voters split on Pratt’s mayoral bid as one issue dominates Election Day
-
Health15 minutes agoCould cancer vaccines be next? New treatment cuts melanoma risk by nearly 50%
-
Sports22 minutes agoNaomi Osaka offers uninspiring response about her mindset following French Open loss to Aryna Sabalenka
-
Technology25 minutes agoIdentity theft rarely announces itself: 6 signs you missed
-
Business30 minutes agoMonterey Park takes landmark vote on banning data centers
-
Entertainment37 minutes ago6 drama actors on learning to say no, what shooting in L.A. means to them and more
-
Lifestyle40 minutes agoInside the all-masc lesbian and translesbian revue electrifying L.A. nightlife
