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Leaders in Pa., NJ, Del. honor former President Jimmy Carter after his death

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Leaders in Pa., NJ, Del. honor former President Jimmy Carter after his death


Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100.

Carter, who was also a distinguished Naval officer, author and humanitarian, passed away Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia.

Tributes for the longest-lived American president in U.S. history have poured in from leaders across the nation, including politicians in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Take a look at the local reactions below:

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro

Gov. Shapiro ordered U.S. and Commonwealth flags on all Commonwealth facilities, public buildings and grounds across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to fly at half-staff immediately in honor of former President Carter.

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The flags will remain lowered to half-staff until sunset on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2024. Gov. Shapiro invited all Pennsylvanians to participate in the tribute.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker

Mayor Parker ordered all city of Philadelphia flags to be lowered to half-mast. She also posted the following statement on Carter’s death on Facebook.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy

Gov. Murphy released the following statement on Carter’s death:

“President Jimmy Carter was a man whose tremendous faith was equaled by his sense of moral courage and purpose. He saw a nation scarred by Watergate and sought to heal its wounds and restore its faith. He saw the promise for peace in the Middle East and took the first steps toward that elusive goal, including personally brokering a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. He saw a world imperiled by the threat of nuclear war and endeavored to protect it. 

“In addition to his accomplishments in public office, it is what President Carter did when he did not have an official title that has solidified his place among our nation’s greatest citizens. He served in the United States Navy with distinction. And he committed his life after the White House to charitable endeavors large and small to better our world – to promote peace, to fight disease, and to house the homeless, among so much else. 

“We pray that, in rest, President Carter will be reunited with his beloved wife Rosalynn. And we are sending our prayers, as well, to their children Jack, James II, Donnel, and Amy, along with their families, and all who had the pleasure of knowing President Carter through the years.

“In his youth, few probably ever fathomed the lasting imprint this son of Plains, Georgia would leave on the world. He proved that good people, wanting nothing more than to do good, can excel in politics and life. And, as he leaves us, we are forever grateful.”

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Delaware Governor John Carney

“Today, Tracey and I learned the sad news of the passing of former President Jimmy Carter. President Carter was a man of great faith and that faith inspired his service as Governor of Georgia and later as President of the United States. He was perhaps best known for the work he did after leaving office. He was a champion for peace and human rights at home and around the globe and was recognized for his efforts with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. And he inspired many with the work he did for Habitat for Humanity well into his 90s. President Carter truly embodied what it means to be a public servant and we are grateful for the legacy he leaves behind.”

Pennsylvania House Democrats

Pennsylvania House Democratic leaders issued the following statement on Carter’s death:

“President Carter dedicated his life to serving the American people, from his time as a submariner in the nuclear navy to fighting for equality and civil rights as a Georgia state senator and then as governor. 

“As president, he guided the nation past the dark memory of Watergate. Here in Pennsylvania, he was a steady, calming voice during the Three Mile Island crisis. Always an engineer, he was among the first to identify and advance renewable energy policies that, had they been maintained, could have changed the world we live in today. 

“After his presidency, he became a world leader once again in the arena of human rights and democracy, for which he was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, and for decades, he was the face—and the man swinging the hammer—for Habitat for Humanity.  

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“Please join us in keeping former President Carter’s loved ones in your prayers as our nation mourns together.”

U.S. Senator Tom Carper 

Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement on Carter’s death:

“President Carter was a man of unquestionable honor and integrity. From his time as a Navy midshipman to his years providing leadership from the White House, his life was defined by service. I know his legacy will live on with the good and necessary work of The Carter Center. President Carter lived an exceptional life, and our nation is better off because of his exemplary service. Martha and I are keeping his family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. May he rest in peace.“

Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia CEO Corinne O’Connell

Carter worked extensively with Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit organization that works to build affordable housing.

Carter first volunteered with the group in Americus, Georgia, in March 1984. Since then, Carter and his late-wife Rosalynn Carter worked with nearly 104,000 volunteers in 14 countries to build, renovate and repair 4,390 Habitat for Humanity homes.

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After his death, Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia CEO Corinne O’Connell released the following statement.

Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia mourns the passing of President Jimmy Carter. During his life, President Carter rose to the most powerful office in the world and yet, remained grounded in his faith and rooted in his humble beginnings. 

President Carter spent much of his time post-presidency dedicated to Habitat for Humanity and helped to build 4,390 homes alongside more than 104,000 volunteers in 14 countries. For decades, he and his wife, Rosalynn, hosted the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project. The project attracts thousands of volunteers and continues to inspire millions around the world each year.

Locally, President Carter and Rosalynn worked alongside Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia staff, volunteers and homeowners to renovate five vacant houses on the 1900 block of Wilt Street in North Philadelphia in 1988 that were sold to first-time homebuyers. 

The world is a better place because of President Carter, and not just for the homes he had a hand in building. His emphasis on our shared humanity is an inspiration to all. Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia lifts the entire Carter family in our prayers.

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Could a gas tax holiday be imposed in Pennsylvania as prices at the pump continue to rise?

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Could a gas tax holiday be imposed in Pennsylvania as prices at the pump continue to rise?


Discussion continues about potentially suspending the Pennsylvania gas tax, one of the highest state gas taxes in the country, as prices at the pump continue to jump.

Lawmakers in both chambers are considering a gas tax holiday that would remove Pennsylvania’s gas tax for a limited period. The Senate proposal would last 60 days, while the House version would run for six months. Supporters say the move would provide needed help for people across the state, while opponents argue it is not sustainable.

The proposals would save drivers about 57 cents per gallon on gasoline and about 75 cents per gallon on diesel from the state gas tax.

Representatives of the Democratic senator Lisa Boscola, who proposed the Senate bill and is from the Lehigh area, said they will continue pushing the measure they believe is needed by families around the state and are optimistic it will pass.

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In the House, the effort is mostly being pushed by Republicans, though local Republican Rep. Jim Rigby said he does not support it because it is “not a real solution.”

Democratic Rep. Paul Takac agrees, saying state police and PennDOT road work are funded through the gas tax, and that suspending it would essentially defund both, and they would have to find money to fill those voids. Takac added that he has not heard any serious intention to move the bill forward.

Democratic Rep. Frank Burns said he believes that if the proposal came to a vote, a gas tax holiday would pass with bipartisan support and would provide at least a small break to struggling families.

The debate continues as gas prices continue rising, with another jump in the last week.

Chief economist Gbenga Ajilore of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says prices are unlikely to fall soon.

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“It seems like gas prices are going to go up, and even if there’s some sort of resolution in say the next couple weeks, it’s going to be difficult to see prices go down anytime soon,” Ajilore said.

The Senate is back in session on Monday and for the next few days after that, but not again until June. If the gas tax holiday is going to move forward anytime soon, that is when it would likely happen.

In the House, the proposal would need to clear the Democratic-led Transportation Committee before it could go to a vote.



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Pennsylvania unemployment rate remains at 4.2% for March: Report

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Pennsylvania unemployment rate remains at 4.2% for March: Report


PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2% for March, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announced in its preliminary report Friday.

According to L&I, the rate in Pennsylvania was one-tenth of a percentage point below the country’s unemployment rate, which fell to 4.3% compared to February.

The civilian labor force, consisting of residents working or looking for work, increased by 6,000 to 6,593,000, and employment increased by 9,000 while unemployment decreased by 3,000 from February.

Nonfarm jobs also rose in March, to 6,189,600, while jobs in six industry supersectors increased. Trade, transportation, and utilities were up 5,100 during March.

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For more information about L&I, visit its website here.



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New FDA analysis says US infant formula supply is safe after testing for potential contaminants

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New FDA analysis says US infant formula  supply is safe after testing for potential contaminants


HARRISBURG — The number of fatal crashes reported in the Commonwealth have seen a decline according to numbers reported in 2025 by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). PennDOT released the information this week, noting the number of individuals killed in traffic crashes dropped to 1,047, the lowest since record keeping began in 1928. This […]



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