MIDDLETOWN, Pa. (WHTM) — The ongoing federal government shutdown and state budget stalemate aren’t good for anyone, but one generation says it’s suffering more than most.

That’s on top of ongoing affordability issues for what’s known as “Generation Z.”

“Day of Action” events took place Wednesday at six different Pennsylvania campuses as part of Project 26 Pennsylvania, including two in the Midstate.

Tombstones visualized various facets of life and the economy at Penn State Harrisburg.

“A government that listens to us and works for us,” said Aimee Van Cleave, interim executive director of Project 26 Pennsylvania. “So many things that were attainable for other folks are now essentially dead to Gen Z.”

“Rest in peace to your job security, rest in peace to your homes that you plan to buy, because being a homeowner as a Gen Z-er is not going to be easy in any way, shape or form,” said Danae Martin, a Penn State Harrisburg junior.

It’s a way to get the attention of Penn State Harrisburg students rushing to-and-from class.

Martin’s platypus costume is another way.

“People see this and they’re like, ‘What’s that over there?’ and they come,” Martin said. “Then you get that more serious conversation when they come.”

Conversations about topics like what’s sometimes called the “Pink Tax.”

“The pink tax is the idea that there are goods and services that are just more expensive for women than they are for men,” Van Cleave said.

All part of broader affordability issues.

“About how they’re going to be able to find a job when they graduate, how they are going to able to pay for housing and even just basic necessities like groceries and gas and utility bills,” Van Cleave said.

“There’s a lot of people that are frustrated and this event allows people to vent out those frustrations but in a more conductive and progressive and peaceful way,” said Rashide Barro, a junior, helping students write postcards to elected leaders.

Along with Penn State Harrisburg, similar demonstrations took place at Dickinson College, Temple University, Lehigh University and the University of Pittsburgh.

State efforts in regulating AI and ensuring its safety

As an emergency physician in Allegheny County, Venkat shares in the excitement around AI and its potential, especially to relieve health care workers with time-consuming tasks like patient charting, medical documentation and assessing staffing needs.

But it also requires great scrutiny, he said. Could this evolving technology one day supersede humans’ roles in clinical decision making? Could it deny health insurance coverage for lifesaving treatments without any human intervention? Or leave the door open to new cybersecurity risks for sensitive patient information?

Pennsylvania has existing laws on health care ethics, patient privacy and data collection, transparency and informed consent, as well as consumer protections for health insurance, but they don’t specifically speak to AI.

“Right now, it is the Wild West when it comes to artificial intelligence, as to whether in the deployment of artificial intelligence, those laws are being followed,” he said.

The proposed bill would create a rule book for how health providers and companies could apply AI in clinical settings, the health insurance sector and in data collection, “without creating an onerous burden that would prevent them from continuing to innovate and apply artificial intelligence where it may be appropriate,” Venkat said.

Patients should be told when AI is involved in their care, he said, and a human should be responsible for any final decisions on treatment and health insurance coverage.

The bill also calls for AI tools and software that prevent bias and discrimination in health care settings, not reinforce or add to it.

Without legislation at the federal level to build on, Venkat said it’s up to individual states to address AI sooner rather than later.

“I think we have no choice but to move forward in this regard,” he said.

Independent, nonregulatory groups like the Patient Safety Authority are just beginning to monitor and assess AI in Pennsylvania health care systems and its impact on patients.

The authority looks for new and emerging issues that affect patient safety. Hospitals, nursing homes and health offices are required to report misdiagnoses, fall injuries, medication errors and other kinds of adverse events.

The number of safety reports that specifically mention the involvement of AI is small right now, Jones said, but she expects it will grow — not necessarily because the technology is becoming unsafe, but rather in the hopes that health care workers will become more aware of how and when AI is contributing to care.

But so far, early data show that AI is having more positive effects on patient care rather than negative.

“We don’t want to only focus on the negative. We want to see where it is performing well for patient safety, as well,” Jones said. “In those cases where there was an event that actually did occur, but the AI came along and somehow helped to identify it sooner, we want to know that.”

Get ready, King of Prussia, something new is coming to the community.

Valley Forge Casino Resort announced a partnership with NBA legend and Philadelphia icon Charles Barkley to open a new steakhouse and cigar lounge at the Boyd Gaming-owned resort.

“The Philadelphia area has always felt like home to me, and I’m thrilled to bring something new to a community that’s played such a big part in my life,” Charles Barkley said in a news release. “We’re creating a spot that’s fun, comfortable, and full of personality. I want it to be the kind of place where people can unwind, share a great meal and feel that same energy and connection that make this community so special.”

The steakhouse is set to “fuse contemporary elegance with nods to Barkley’s storied career.” It will have personal memorabilia and design elements that celebrate him and his ties to the Philadelphia region.

Next door to the steakhouse, the cigar lounge will have a club-like vibe with a walk-in humidor, private lockers and a bar.

“Charles Barkley’s personality, charisma and love for Philadelphia make him an incredible partner, and we are incredibly honored to have the opportunity to bring his vision to life at Valley Forge Casino Resort,” said Martha Morales, Vice President and General Manager of Valley Forge Casino Resort.

Officials said that at Valley Forge, Barkey will help shape the restaurant’s menu and overall vision.

Boyd Gaming has even entered a national partnership to feature spirits from Redmont Distilling Co., Barkley’s signature liquor brand, across all of its properties.

In addition, Boyd Gaming will make an annual contribution to Barkley’s charitable foundation, The Charles Barkley Foundation, which supports education and historically Black colleges and universities.

Known as one of the greatest players in NBA history, Barkley first rose to fame as a power forward for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1984 to 1992.

After retiring from the NBA, Barkey became a successful television analyst, working on shows such as “Inside the NBA.”