Pennsylvania
Regional unemployment data remained mostly steady in December
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry this week released regional unemployment data for December.
Greater Philadelphia
Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties are included in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Statistical Area, or MSA, which includes the city of Philadelphia and surrounding counties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington MSA held steady from November at 3.7% in December, Labor & Industry reported Tuesday. The MSA’s unemployment rate for December 2022 was 4%.
Broken down to the county level, the region experienced slight decreases in the unemployment rates in December from November.
Chester County’s unemployment rate was 2.7% in December, down one-tenth of a percentage point from November, and down three-tenths of a percentage point from December 2022.
Montgomery County’s rate for December was 2.8%, down one-tenth of a percentage point from November, and down two-tenths of a percentage point from December 2022.
Delaware County’s rate was 3.2% in December, down one-tenth of a percentage point from November, and down six-tenths of a percentage point from December 2022.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs in the Philadelphia MSA increased 4,000 from November to 3,135,300 in December — its 19th consecutive record high.
Berks County
Berks, which is included in the Reading MSA, saw a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December of 3.7%, unchanged from November. December’s figure represented a decline of six-tenths of a percentage point from the same period in 2022, when the rate was 4.3%.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs in the Reading MSA were unchanged from November at 180,200 in December.
Pennsylvania numbers
Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate was up one-tenth of a percentage point from November to 3.5% in December, according to Labor & Industry. The unemployment rate for Pennsylvania was eight-tenths of a percentage point below its December 2022 level of 4.3%.
Pennsylvania’s total nonfarm jobs were up 6,200 over the month to a record high of 6,182,700. This was the 11th month in 2023 to set a record high, Labor & Industry said.
Around the state
Among Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, Chester County had the second lowest December unemployment rate, tied with Adams and Centre counties.
Montgomery County had the fifth lowest unemployment rate for December, tied with Cumberland and Lancaster counties.
Delaware County was tied with Allegheny, Dauphin and Fulton counties for 14th lowest unemployment rate in December.
Berks County had the 36th lowest December unemployment rate, tied with Greene, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Warren and Wyoming counties.
Pennsylvania’s unemployment data for January will be released by the Department of Labor & Industry on March 8, while specific county and municipal data will be released on March 14.
A Pennsylvania court ruling is reshaping abortion access in the state, striking down a decades-old ban on using Medicaid to pay for abortions and declaring that the Pennsylvania Constitution guarantees a right to abortion.
The decision came Monday from the state’s Commonwealth Court. In a 4-3 vote, judges ruled in favor of abortion rights in Pennsylvania and invalidated the state’s restriction on Medicaid-funded abortions.
Local abortion-rights advocates praised the ruling as a major step toward protecting access for low-income residents. Adrienne Daily, co-founder of Johnstown for Choice, said, “Everybody should have the right to that. If you restrict the coverage, you’re obviously discriminating against those that have lower income.”
Opponents of abortion rights called the decision a dramatic expansion of the court’s power and warned it will force taxpayers to pay for procedures they oppose. Michael Geer, president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute, said, “Taxpayers now in Pennsylvania will have no choice under this court ruling to fund abortions. And there are many, many millions of Pennsylvanians who think abortion is wrong. It’s the taking of an innocent human life and to force taxpayers who conscientiously object to abortion to then fund it is just plain wrong.”
Abortion-rights advocates pushed back, arguing abortion access is healthcare and a personal decision. Daily said, “This is a family issue. This is a personal issue. This is a bodily autonomy issue.”
Pro-life leaders also warned the ruling could have broader implications for other abortion-related laws. Geer said, “It is sweeping and there’s no question it’s judicial overreach.” He added, “If this ruling stands, it will invite attacks on every remaining pro-life safeguard that has been put into law by lawmakers at the behest to the people of Pennsylvania over decades.”
The case could still be appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. That decision lies with Republican Attorney General Dave Sunday. His office has not provided a response, but the Associated Press reported a spokesperson said the office is reviewing the decision and did not say whether it will appeal.
Johnstown, Pa. (WJAC) — The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame just released this year’s list of inductees, and a new clothing store just opened in the Johnstown Galleria.
What do these two things have in common?
If you grew up listening to 90’s hip-hop, then you’re probably familiar with the Wu-Tang Clan.
Wu-Tang Clan member opens clothing store in Pennsylvania (WJAC)
They said, “We’re in the building right now, we’re out in Johnstown making it happen, fashion and rapping, and Wu-Tang, you already know Wu-Tang is the witty, unpredictable talent and natural game. So, it’s all grassroots with us, man. We do everything from scratch.”
They’re being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, and Darryl Hill, aka Cappadonna, and manager Al “Heck” Felder are opening the Pillage, a clothing store in the Johnstown Galleria, selling apparel with a purpose.
Cappadonna said, “‘Cappadonna,’ that stands for ‘Consider All Poor People Acceptable, Don’t Oppress Nor Neglect Anyone,’ and we stand on that.”
They were introduced to mall owner Leo Karruli through Mustafa Curry, a childhood friend from New York, who owns a store on Main Street in Johnstown.
Heck said, “BK Styles, I’ve got to give a shout out to my boy, Mustafa. They’ve got some apparel down there, too. We’re all over. We’re spreading the word and we’re spreading the love.”
Wu-Tang Clan member opens clothing store in Pennsylvania (WJAC)
Their other clothing line, Angry Elephant, promotes being good stewards of the Earth, with a portion of the proceeds protecting the animals from poachers.
They said they believe in always putting God and family first.
Cappadonna said, “When you recognize the God in us, then you can see the God in you.”
They said they want kids to know that violence is not the answer, and it doesn’t cost anything to be kind.
Cappadonna said, “We just want to say that it’s nice to be important, but it’s even more important to be nice.”
A mother and her six children died when their Central Pennsylvania home exploded and caught on fire Sunday morning, state police said.
The explosion and fire happened at around 8:30 a.m. at a home on Long Run Road in Lamar Township, Clinton County, which is roughly 35 miles from State College. Crews arrived on the scene and found the home fully engulfed in flames, with the mother and her six children trapped.
State police identified the 34-year-old woman who died in the fire as Sarah B. Stolzfus. Her 11-year-old son, 10-year-old son, 8-year-old daughter, 6-year-old daughter, 5-year-old son and 3-year-old son also died in the blaze, according to state police.
A propane leak inside the house might’ve caused the explosion and fire, state police said. Propane tanks outside the home did not explode or contribute to the fire, according to state police.
The explosion and fire are under investigation by state police.
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