Pennsylvania

We must do more to protect Pennsylvania’s natural resources | Opinion

Published

2 years ago

January 10, 2024

We must do more to protect Pennsylvania’s natural resources | Opinion

By Imani Jackson

Pennsylvania is losing habitat and natural resources for wildlife in Pennsylvania due to the development of housing, agriculture, energy and infrastructure. On top of that, climate change is doing even more damage.

Pennsylvania hosts a broad diversity of habitats, from deep forests, wetlands, beaches, and natural lakes, to shale and serpentine barrens. What is now the Philadelphia metropolitan area was once home to thousands of acres of freshwater tidal marsh.

You can get information about these issues here: https://waterlandlife.org/wildlife-pnhp/species-at-risk-in-pennsylvania/.

We complain about not having enough natural resources, but are we really doing anything to help preserve them? Expanding cities and development is impacting sea life by contaminating waters, creating unhealthy conditions for fish and sea animals to survive.

The nearly 17 million acres of forest within Pennsylvania provide a wide range including clean air, water, recreational opportunities, wood products, and habitat for thousands of plant and animal species. Forests are homes for animals and different plant species. That is why we need to do everything we can to help keep them clean, safe, and healthy.

Loss of habitat and natural resources is occurring due to development in both cities and rural areas.

Over 3,000 miles of streams and rivers now are polluted with acid mine drainage from coal mining–ruining aquatic ecosystems, impacting drinking water, and leaving many waterways colored orange, according to state authorties.

The public owns 30% of PA’s forest land. But with the development of shale gas, the state government quickly moved to capitalize by leasing out hundreds of thousands of acres of mineral rights beneath our state forest and game lands, further hurting the environment.

There is genuine need to improve infrastructure in many areas. It’s been over 50 years since some of our infrastructure was built. Many communities are dealing with corrosion of pipes and overflowing sewers that can lead to lead, mercury, bacteria and other toxins leaching into our drinking water.

In addition, climate change is impacting Pennsylvania and the world. Climate change is creating a warmer and wetter Pennsylvania with more extreme and variable weather. Like most of the world, Pennsylvania has already seen an increase in average annual temperature. Climate models predict that the temperatures will increase again by between 4-8 degrees Fahrenheit by 2050.

Recreation shifts due to climate change is a major issue. Overall warming and changes in the seasonal characteristics of precipitation are likely to have substantial impacts on recreation in the Northeast, including reduced winter recreation and increased warm season activities.

This likely will worsen ground-level ozone pollution problems in urban areas. Increased summer heat may increase insect populations. Warming fall temperatures may result in muted fall foliage colors. Summer recreational activities involving beaches or freshwater reservoirs will have extended seasons and more demand as havens from increasing summer heat.

The increased intensity and frequency of floods and droughts also may put water-related recreation activities at risk. Climate change is likely to have many consequences for Pennsylvania’s forests, indirectly affecting the recreational opportunities they provide.

According to state authorities, forest types in Pennsylvania already have begun to shift in many areas, from maple-beech-birch to oak-hickory-pine, resulting in major socioeconomic impacts on the hardwood industry and other forest-based industries in Pennsylvania.

Climate change threatens Pennsylvania’s cold water fisheries, many of which will be converted to warm water fisheries. Climate change is also likely to affect forest productivity and the frequency of natural disturbances (fire and drought), and reduce biodiversity.

Warm-weather invasive species are expanding into Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan. This will create even more challenges for native species to survive.

As humans, we need to be more involved in helping make our environment clean for ourselves and wildlife. We need the natural resources just as much as the wildlife does, so we must do everything we can to restore a healthy environment.

Imani Jackson is a student at Dauphin County Technical School.

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Pennsylvania

How gambling revenue helps Pennsylvania fire departments

Published

12 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

How gambling revenue helps Pennsylvania fire departments

It is hard to imagine that money spent and collected at casinos and in slot machines around the state can wind up being used at local volunteer fire departments throughout the commonwealth, but it’s true.

In Pennsylvania, a portion of the state’s gaming revenue is allocated to support fire departments and emergency management services to the tune of about $30 million each year.

Departments can apply for those funds through a series of state grants, and most departments say that the money from gaming is vital to help them pay for equipment, vehicles and even improvements to their buildings.

“This time we put in for a grant to finish our second floor of our facility here,” said Derry Township Fire Chief Mark Piantine.

Piantine says that gambling revenue has purchased many things for his department in the past like swift water rescue boats as well as a new equipment washing station. Now he hopes that money can give his company a place to sleep when they are working long shifts in bad weather.

“The last storm we had, the Snowmageddon here a couple of weeks ago, we had people staying overnight,” Piantine said. “They were laying across the seats of the trucks and on the floor sleeping because our second floor is not finished.”

Piantine says every little bit helps both their department and other departments, because when it comes right down to it, running a fire department is expensive.

“When you buy a regular pair of gloves, you may pay $25 for them. We buy a pair of gloves, they’re $75 to $100,” said Piantine. “You can buy a pair of boots for $50, ours cost $600.”

Just a few miles away, in the city of Latrobe, Chief John Brasile says that while the city does a lot for them financially, gaming revenue helps a lot. It even helps them make payments on their rescue unit.

“We have about a year’s worth of payments left on it,” Brasile said. “And we use our money for debt reductions on that truck.”

“And that’s essentially from gambling revenue?” Chris DeRose asked.

“Yes. It comes from the State Fire Commissioners’ Office,” Brasile said.

“When is that truck paid off?” DeRose asked.

“About this time next year,” Brasile replied. “And then we can use that money for other stuff then. We would like to get new rescue tools for that truck and they’re expensive.”

The fire departments KDKA has spoken with about using state grant money from gambling revenue say that gambling money is great, but it is not a cure-all. And in fact, on Thursday night, the Latrobe Fire Department was holding yet another fundraising event to help them once again raise money for new fire equipment.

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania middle school employee wanted in Texas on child sex assault charges arrested

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

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Pennsylvania middle school employee wanted in Texas on child sex assault charges arrested

February 26, 2026 / 12:38 PM EST
/ CBS Philadelphia

A Pennsylvania school district employee wanted in Texas on child sexual assault charges was arrested by U.S. Marshals on Thursday in Delaware County.

Michael Robinson, 43, was arrested around 7:30 a.m. Thursday in the 200 block of Windermere Avenue in Wayne, the U.S. Marshals Service said in a press release. He’s being held at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility and is awaiting extradition to Texas, according to the federal law enforcement agency.

U.S. Marshals said Robinson traveled to Tyler, Texas, in August 2024 to meet a minor under 15 years old whom he met online and allegedly sexually assaulted them over the course of a weekend.

Robinson was indicted by the Smith County District Attorney’s Office in December 2025, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

Robinson worked as a paraprofessional at Radnor Township Middle School, the federal law enforcement agency said. CBS News Philadelphia reached out to Radnor Township School District for comment and is awaiting a response.

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Lottery Powerball, Pick 2 Day results for Feb. 25, 2026

Published

2 days ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

The Pennsylvania Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026 results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Feb. 25 drawing

50-52-54-56-64, Powerball: 23, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 2 numbers from Feb. 25 drawing

Day: 5-3, Wild: 6

Evening: 2-2, Wild: 1

Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Feb. 25 drawing

Day: 7-0-4, Wild: 6

Evening: 3-9-0, Wild: 1

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Feb. 25 drawing

Day: 4-9-9-3, Wild: 6

Evening: 1-4-0-0, Wild: 1

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from Feb. 25 drawing

Day: 3-4-9-1-9, Wild: 6

Evening: 9-9-4-2-4, Wild: 1

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from Feb. 25 drawing

02-11-13-15-36

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Treasure Hunt numbers from Feb. 25 drawing

14-18-20-24-29

Check Treasure Hunt payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Match 6 Lotto numbers from Feb. 25 drawing

02-07-14-21-22-33

Check Match 6 Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Feb. 25 drawing

11-24-47-59-63, Powerball: 05

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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