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.
Pennsylvania
Mid Valley students tour Pennsylvania American Water treatment plant
Mid Valley sixth, seventh and eighth grade students toured the Pennsylvania American Water treatment plant near Lake Scranton. They were given a detailed presentation about the water treatment process that they perform daily.
They also were given the opportunity to design their own water treatment models using various items at the exhibit. Students got a behind-the-scenes look at all the different occupations at Pennsylvania American Water Company that many were unaware of.
Pennsylvania
David A. Mansel, West Middlesex, PA
WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. (MyValleyTributes) – David Armond Mansel, aged 89, passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
Born and raised in West Middlesex, Pennsylvania, on August 8, 1936, David resided in Transfer, Pennsylvania. He was deeply rooted in his faith in God.
He served in the Army in Germany in the 1960s and worked construction for many years. He was proud of his roots on his family’s farm.
David, who was known to many as Uncle Dave, loved to dance and spend time on his boat cruising the Shenango Reservoir. His friendly, outgoing personality helped him to meet people wherever he went, especially on the dance floor. He loved to teach people how to dance the jitter bug (among other dances) in his favorite zoot suit, hat and black and white dance shoes. He was also often seen on one of his many vehicles, like his Mustang convertible, CanAm, or Segway.
He is survived by his brother, James; his sister and brother-in-law, Denise and Skip Wentz; his sister-in-law, Gloria Mansel; his aunt, Nancy Sabella and his special nieces and nephews who spent a lot of time with him in his later years, Lisa and Jim Blair, Nicole and Brian Serafin, Terry Thompson and Darrell and Jeanie Thompson. He also leaves many more nieces, nephews and cousins and his extended Italian American family.
David was predeceased by his children, Darcy, in 1988 and Wade, 2024. He was also predeceased by his parents, Michael and Clara Mansel; his brother, Leonard and sister, Esther Thompson.
A celebration to remember David will be announced at a later time.
Arrangements handled by John Flynn Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc.
Messages of sympathy, stories and photos can be shared on David’s memorial page, at: www.flynnfuneralhome.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of David A. Mansel, please visit our floral store.
A television tribute will air Thursday, April 23 at the following approximate times: 7:10 a.m. on FOX, 12:22 p.m. on WKBN, 5:08 p.m. on MyYTV and 7:27 p.m. on WYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.
Pennsylvania
Sen. John Fetterman receives no support for re-election from Pennsylvania House Democrats: report
Pennsylvania Democrats are reluctant to support Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., for re-election, according to a new report.
Punchbowl News spoke to several Pennsylvania congressional members on Monday about whether they’d be willing to endorse Fetterman for another term in 2028 despite the backlash he’s been facing for opposing the Democratic Party.
“Want a sense of how tenuous Sen. John Fetterman’s (D-Pa.) position is with Pennsylvania Democrats? Not a single Pennsylvania House Democrat in the delegation will say Fetterman should run for re-election as a Democrat,” the report said.
Though the House members did not explicitly reject the idea of Fetterman running again, they avoided answering whether they believed Fetterman should seek a second term as a Democrat, often focusing instead on the 2026 midterm elections.
“My focus right now is on 2026, but I would just say I’d be very surprised if he ran in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate,” Rep. Brendan Boyle said.
Rep. Chris Deluzio also answered that he would see what happens after 2026, though Punchbowl News acknowledged both he and Boyle are rumored to be launching their own Senate bids in 2028.
Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon added that she was interested in “getting through 2026 first.”
“I’ll hold my tongue so I don’t get in trouble,” Scanlon said.
Rep. Summer Lee told Punchbowl News the decision was “up to him” whether Fetterman should run, though she added that he would do so “at his own peril.”
Others were more vocal about their disagreements with Fetterman, though they stopped short of rejecting the idea of Fetterman running again.
“My concern is entirely about him and his health, and I’ll let 2028 take care of itself,” Rep. Madeleine Dean said.
“I disagree with many of his votes.”
“It’s no secret that I’ve been disappointed with some of his votes and that I’m confused by it,” Rep. Chrissy Houlahan added.
“But I’m not responsible for deciding whether he runs again.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Fetterman’s office and the other Pennsylvania Democrats mentioned in the report for comment.
Fetterman has publicly spoken out against his party on several issues, particularly its growing hostility against Israel.
The Pennsylvania senator has also supported President Donald Trump in his ongoing war against Iran and strict border policies.
Though strategists have suggested Fetterman could switch parties because of his bipartisan stance, he previously ruled out leaving the Democratic Party last year.
“I’m not going to switch. I’m just going to be an independent voice in the Democratic Party. I’m not going to be afraid of people,” Fetterman said.
-
Health1 minute agoYouth Suicides Declined After Creation of National Hotline
-
Lifestyle19 minutes agoYou’re Invited! (No, You’re Not.) It’s the Latest Phishing Scam.
-
Education25 minutes agoOhio State Details Relationship that Led to Former President Walter Carter Jr.’s Resignation
-
Technology31 minutes agoBEWARE SOFTWARE BRAIN
-
World37 minutes agoLandlords allegedly posting ‘Muslim-only’ apartment ads in violation of country’s equality act: report
-
Politics43 minutes agoLeavitt explains why Iran’s seizure of two ships doesn’t violate Trump’s ceasefire
-
Health49 minutes agoHighly contagious stomach bug spreads fast, hitting certain patients hardest
-
Sports55 minutes agoWWE to hold premium live event in Saudi Arabia amid Iran ceasefire
