Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Must Make Environmental Justice a Top Priority

Published

2 years ago

June 5, 2024

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Must Make Environmental Justice a Top Priority

Pennsylvania communities deserve environmental justice.

Imagine living all your life next to a power plant that sends smoke into the atmosphere each day. Imagine your local water system being filled with chemicals that go into your bloodstream every time you hydrate. Imagine your kids getting asthma at a young age because of the harmful particulates in the air they breathe. For too many Pennsylvania residents, these situations are all too real.

This year, voters will consider whom to support in the State House, a critical opportunity to strengthen Pennsylvania’s slim pro-environment majority in Harrisburg. For decades, the legislature has been under the influence of large corporate polluters, doing their bidding and thus endangering the health of thousands of Pennsylvanians one community at a time. Now that the environmental movement has gained a foothold in Harrisburg, Pennsylvanians can set their sights on building support for a more robust environmental agenda. A top priority must be the pursuit of environmental justice policies.

READ: Time to Move on Bold, New Clean Energy Plan for Pennsylvania

Environmental justice is needed to protect the health and well-being of citizens who have suffered from living in close proximity to fossil fuel-burning and polluting infrastructure. Individuals who live near power plants, landfills, factories and highways face health risks that other residents do not. Higher risks of asthma, cancers and fertility issues from chemical exposure, and chronic cough issues are among the challenges that too many residents face.

It is disproportionately low-income communities, Latino and African-American communities that bear the worst burden from these industry-caused illnesses. For decades, these issues and the inequality underlying them went unexplored, unexplained, and ignored.

Finally, Pennsylvanians are calling for environmental justice in a statewide effort to push back on environmental racism.

The truth is that decision makers who decide where to build factories, power plants, incinerators, landfills, and sewage plants have either 1) not considered the impact on local populations or 2) deliberately placed such infrastructure near communities without political clout. As a result, burdened communities with little political influence suffer from worsening air quality and water conditions.

Three bills in Harrisburg will do something about it.

HB 652 would give standing to communities in close proximity to unsafe facilities. It would create a legal definition of “burdened communities” to insist upon consideration for affected neighborhoods and ensure local voices are represented in decision processes on utilities, factories, landfills and powerplants. Under the bill, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) would be allowed to deny permits to project applicants whose plans have a measurably corrosive health impact on surrounding communities.

READ: How Fossil Free Penn Is Advocating For Climate Justice

HB 707 would protect one of the only state organizations in place to advocate for marginalized communities from environmental abuse: the Environmental Justice Advisory Board (EJAB). Composed of historically marginalized groups, environmentalists, academics, and industry experts, EJAB does essential work in scrutinizing and replacing policies that harm human health. The bill safeguards the EJAB from potential partisan dismantlement under any future anti-environment administration.

HB 742 would give marginalized communities a seat at the table and petition the government to change harmful projects and policies. The bill directs the DEP Secretary to form Regional Environmental Justice Committees consisting of historically marginalized groups and environmental experts. Individuals from burdened communities would be able to petition these committees about adverse environmental effects of state policies. This crucial step would give voice to local residents to prevent environmental damage to local people.

Pennsylvania is one of the few states in the nation that provides citizens a constitutional right to a clean environment. As Section 127 of Pennslylvania’s constitution reads: “The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment.” For far too long, this right was not properly afforded to individuals and families in burdened communities.

There are some who are still fighting for frackers, drillers, and oil companies that pursue profits at the expense of human health. We must do everything we can to defeat these forces and ensure our commonwealth lives up to its constitutional promise.

We hope that readers will contact their legislators and encourage them to support HB 652, HB 707, and HB 742 to protect the health and wellbeing of all Pennsylvania residents, no matter their zip code, race, or socio-economic situation.

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Pennsylvania

Could marijuana be legalized in Pennsylvania next year?

Published

9 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Could marijuana be legalized in Pennsylvania next year?

(WHTM)– Recreational marijuana is not legal in Pennsylvania despite urging from a majority of Democrats in the legislature, but that could change in the new year due to an unlikely advocate.

President Trump issued an executive order last week moving marijuana from a Schedule I drug, which means highly addictive, to a Schedule III drug, which is less addictive with some medical benefit.

Many see this as the president legitimizing marijuana and giving political cover for Republicans, who have been resistant to supporting legalization.

The executive order also called for more solid research on the benefits and harms of marijuana.

John Gallagher, a researcher, addiction specialist, and professor at Alvernia University, voiced support for more research. He said more research is needed and won’t wade into the political debate over whether to legalize it.

He also said the marijuana industry’s claim that it is not addictive is not true.

“I go back to the two things that we know. Without a doubt, cannabis is absolutely an addicting drug for some. And cannabis absolutely has withdrawal symptoms for some people become dependent on it,” Gallagher said.

He added that it’s appropriate that it was re-classified from schedule one to schedule three because its addictiveness is not the same as that of some schedule one substances.

Gallagher suspects Pennsylvania will legalize adult-use cannabis, given all surrounding states have. He also said there hasn’t been enough research on its medical benefits.

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Lottery Pick 2 Day, Pick 2 Evening results for Dec. 21, 2025

Published

21 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

The Pennsylvania Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025 results for each game:

Winning Pick 2 numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

Day: 6-9, Wild: 1

Evening: 8-1, Wild: 0

Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

Day: 5-8-0, Wild: 1

Evening: 0-8-5, Wild: 0

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

Day: 0-7-4-5, Wild: 1

Evening: 6-3-0-0, Wild: 0

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

Day: 3-8-7-2-8, Wild: 1

Evening: 1-5-1-3-2, Wild: 0

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash4Life numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

15-25-30-40-55, Cash Ball: 02

Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

11-20-31-36-38

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Treasure Hunt numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

05-11-13-25-27

Check Treasure Hunt payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Match 6 Lotto numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

08-29-32-33-35-45

Check Match 6 Lotto 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.
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.

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Pennsylvania

Nancy Elizabeth (Mast) Yoder, Greenville, PA

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

Nancy Elizabeth (Mast) Yoder, Greenville, PA

GREENVILLE, Pa. (MyValleyTributes) – Nancy Elizabeth (Mast) Yoder, age 58, of Greenville, Pennsylvania, went home to be with the Lord on Friday evening, December 19th, 2025, at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Shadyside Hospital following an extended illness.

Born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Nancy was the daughter of the late Enos D. Mast and Elizabeth J. (Hostetler) Mast. She was a faithful member of Harmony Mennonite Church in Kinsman, Ohio, where her quiet spirit and devotion were well known and deeply appreciated.

Nancy treasured time spent visiting with family and friends and dearly loved her pets. She found joy in crafts and crocheting, often creating items that reflected her care and thoughtfulness for others.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Lavina Yoder and a nephew, Kenneth Michael Yoder.

She is survived by her loving husband of 31 years, Ammon Ray Yoder; six children, Elizabeth Ann Yoder of Garrison, New York, Enos Daniel Yoder of Dover, Ohio, Mollie Sue (Gideon) Hertzler of Salisbury, Pennsylvania and Christopher Andrew, Joseph Eli and David Abraham Yoder, all of Greenville, Pennsylvania. She is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Karla Faye Yoder, Rosann, and Dorothy Hertzler.

Additional survivors include three sisters, Mollie (Floyd) Yoder, Clara (Albert) Yoder and Ada (Mervin) Yoder; two brothers, Joseph (Laura) Mast and Jacob (Erma) Mast, a brother-in-law, David Yoder; along with many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends who will cherish her memory.

Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, December 23rd, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in Harmony Mennonite Church, 6123 Youngstown Conneaut Rd., Kinsman, Ohio 44428, with Speaker Sylvan Yoder officiating.

Calling hours will be held on Monday, December 22nd, 2025, at the church from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Burial will take place in State Line Amish Cemetery in Greenville, Pennsylvania.

Arrangements entrusted to Baumgardner Funeral & Cremation Service.

Nancy will be remembered for her faith, her gentle kindness, and her deep love for family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Nancy, please visit our floral store.

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