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Pennsylvania
Work underway to expand broadband access to rural Pennsylvania regions – LVB
Access to the internet is something that most people take for granted. In some cases, it’s necessary to access services from banking to buying movie tickets.
But in some parts of the country, including right here in Pennsylvania, high-speed internet isn’t available.
The Biden administration estimates 30 million Americans live in areas that don’t have access to the infrastructure needed for high-speed internet, including about 5% of Pennsylvania residents.
There’s an effort underway both on the federal and state level to change that.
The state has been working with service providers to bring broadband to unserved and underserved regions such as Berks County.
One of them is Wyomissing-based Fastbridge Fiber.
The company recently began work on bringing its network to Muhlenberg Township, with service set to begin this spring.
“FastBridge Fiber will provide many of our residents with a choice for internet service and we are excited to welcome them into our community. This not only expands choice and quality of service, but it is another example of the Township welcoming new business and technology that will benefit residents and local businesses alike,” Joe Mench, assistant township manager and director of Information Technology & Communications, said in a statement.
Fastbridge was working to bring its network to the Greater Williamsport region as well as Bloomsburg and Danville.
Comcast is also working to expand its presence in Berks County.
The company recently announced that it is expanding service to Birdsboro.
The internet provider said on its website that it will deliver Xfinity and Comcast Business services to more than 2,000 residents and businesses in the southern Berks County borough and is planning to extend service in other parts of the county through 2024.
The company noted that service is already available in the Amity, Exeter and St. Lawrence areas of Berks County.
Last year Pennsylvania received $1,161,778,272 from the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to help expand high-speed internet access across Pennsylvania.
“Nowadays, reliable, broadband internet access is almost as fundamental as electricity or running water. We can’t let our rural and other underserved communities get left behind due to lack of broadband access,” U.S. Senator John Fetterman said. “This funding is a big deal and will help deliver more broadband for all people, in rural and urban areas, so that everyone has equitable access to stable high-speed internet at home.”
Bringing broadband to the state is being organized by the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA.)
It defines broadband as at least 1.544 megabits per second download speed and 128 kilobits per second upload speed.
The authority was created in December 2021 as an independent agency of the PA Department of Community and Economic Development to focus on closing the digital divide in the state. Part of its mission is to offer financial assistance to service providers to expand into unserved or underserved areas.
The authority said it’s not just about internet access for individuals and families. Accessing high-speed broadband is imperative for businesses looking to remain regionally and globally competitive.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Lottery Pick 2 Day, Pick 2 Evening results for Dec. 18, 2025
The Pennsylvania Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 results for each game:
Winning Pick 2 numbers from Dec. 18 drawing
Day: 6-1, Wild: 7
Evening: 0-7, Wild: 1
Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 18 drawing
Day: 9-1-4, Wild: 7
Evening: 9-4-8, Wild: 1
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 18 drawing
Day: 6-6-9-7, Wild: 7
Evening: 6-1-7-4, Wild: 1
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from Dec. 18 drawing
Day: 0-1-5-9-1, Wild: 7
Evening: 8-1-7-5-3, Wild: 1
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash4Life numbers from Dec. 18 drawing
20-26-46-57-60, Cash Ball: 02
Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 5 numbers from Dec. 18 drawing
01-02-26-31-38
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Treasure Hunt numbers from Dec. 18 drawing
02-11-19-20-22
Check Treasure Hunt payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Match 6 Lotto numbers from Dec. 18 drawing
20-24-29-31-39-40
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.
Pennsylvania
GIANT Company closing five Pennsylvania fulfilment centers
(WHTM) — The GIANT Company recently confirmed that it will be closing five of its Pennsylvania-based fulfillment centers.
According to The GIANT Company, these Pennsylvania fulfillment centers that will be closing down include locations in Lancaster, Philadelphia, Willow Grove, Coopersburg, and North Coventry.
The company will also be closing its centralized e-commerce fulfillment operations in Manassas, Virginia, per a press release.
A spokesperson with GIANT says these upcoming closures are the result of a company decision to transition fully to store-based fulfilment, as opposed to centralized fulfilment.
“We’ve learned over the past few years that there isn’t a one size fits all approach to our e-commerce business, particularly our fulfillment model” The GIANT Company said in an email. “With customers expecting faster delivery, we need to ensure we are operating as efficiently as possible to meet their ever-changing needs. ”
The GIANT Company adds that orders will now be “shopped” by GIANT Direct team members in store, and delivered orders will now be completed by a third-party instead of a GIANT Direct driver.
Some benefits of this change include faster delivery times, expanded assortment, delivery windows are now only one hour, and customers will be able to make changes to an order 2-3 hours before the delivery window, instead of the previous 4-6 hours window.
According to The GIANT Company, these fulfillment centers will continue to operate into early next year, with most closures occurring by the end of Q1 in 2026.
The fulfillment center in Lancaster County is expected to wind down operations by the end of April 2026, affecting 81 team members.
According to a WARN Notice filed with the Department of Labor & Industry, the GIANT fulfillment center located in Philadelphia will close down on February 13, a move that will affect 128 employees.
The GIANT Company notes that its focus now is to support team members affected by this transition.
“E-commerce remains an important segment of our business strategy and key to our future omnichannel growth,” The GIANT Company added. “We remain committed to providing an outstanding experience to our customers by offering speedy delivery, more delivery windows, broad product assortment and value.”
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania GOP Reps buck party on health care subsidies
Although he voted for the first iteration of the bill, which cut funding for Medicaid and Medicare, Fitzpatrick ultimately voted against it a few months later. Mackenzie and Bresnahan, however, did vote for its ultimate passage, which their opponents have been quick to jump on.
“Rob Bresnahan unleashed a health care crisis on Northeastern Pennsylvania by voting for the largest cuts to Medicaid in history, stripping funding from our rural hospitals, and failing to take meaningful action in time to prevent health care costs from skyrocketing for Northeastern Pennsylvanians next month,” Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti said in a statement.
“Ryan Mackenzie’s eleventh hour attempt to paper over his own record of gutting health care and jacking up costs is like an arsonist calling the fire department after he already lit the match,” said firefighter Bob Brooks, who is running to replace Mackenzie. “Hardworking people all across the Lehigh Valley are struggling with rising prices and a health care crisis that Mackenzie unleashed when he voted for Trump’s so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’”
Neither Fitzpatrick nor Bresnahan responded to WHYY News’ requests for comment, but Mackenzie replied with a statement in which he called the health care crisis “a serious issue with real-world consequences” and said “we must find commonsense, bipartisan solutions to protect access to health insurance for families in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos.”
Mackenzie’s office pushed back on the characterization that the congressman waited until “the 11th hour,” arguing he has spent several months working with members on both sides of the aisle to find a bipartisan compromise. They also pointed out that Mackenzie participated in a televised town hall in September, during which he discussed the impending health care crisis.
Sans bipartisan compromise, Mackenzie called the three-year extension “the only remaining option.” He further blamed Democrats for failing to sign onto his efforts for compromise that would include “longer-term reforms that reduce costs.”
“The Affordable Care Act remains broken, and our health care system is in urgent need of reforms that improve transparency, expand choice, and reduce costs,” he said. “Supporting this discharge petition is currently the only way to keep discussions about bipartisan reforms alive.”
Harvie disputes that contention and that the “so-called problem solvers” among the Republican Party have their constituents’ best interests at heart.
“The Republican party’s been trying to kill the Affordable Care Act since it was originally passed, and I think this is just another step of what they’re trying to do and they’re trying to make it look like they’re not doing it,” he said. “Democrats have been fighting for people to have access to health care access that really is meaningful to expand health care opportunities for people.”
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