Despite the dwindling number of Christmas Trees sold and growers in Indiana County, the name has stuck. And for a county already steeped in Christmas traditions, it’s been a label they carry with pride. From @iankarbal.bsky.social

Some people have writer’s block. I have another type of block…

Couldn't quite squeeze it in yesterday, but over a dozen bipartisan PA lawmakers signed onto a Nov. letter opposing a federal prohibition on state-level AI regulations, including:

Pa.’s Sunday, lawmakers contend with Trump order blocking state AI regulations penncapital-star.com/technology-i...

Premiums for one McKeesport couple are projected to go from $490 to $1,792 if tax credits expire at the end of the year. Jamie, left, has a rare form of cancer where a single, tumor-suppressing shot (taken every 28 days) costs $36,000 without insurance.

This story required a crash course for this new PA reporter. Grateful for the excellent coverage from other outlets, specifically @angelasink.bsky.social at SpotlightPA!

State budget sent $5 million to a struggling school district represented by the Pa. House speaker penncapital-star.com/education/st...

CALLOUT: I am looking to interview individuals who have sought health care at crisis pregnancy centers, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and want to talk about their experience. The center can be located anywhere. If you or someone you know might be interested, please email or send me a DM.

When we think about what we’re thankful for, the first thing that comes to mind is readers like you. After all, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star wouldn’t exist without your support. Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday. Can we count on you to make a gift that helps us get closer to our EOY goal of $5,000?

Today's PA rabbit hole took me into city classes and the interesting tidbit that Philly, Pittsburgh and Scranton are the only places required to have police departments and I'm just having a really hard time processing all of this

“Our housing stock is old,” said Cliff Clark, director of Cameron County Community and Economic Development. “One of our goals is to try to improve the housing stock … we’re doing, I think, a very good job making houses that aren’t otherwise marketable, desirable.” From @wdownard.bsky.social

Pennsylvania is hoping to secure its own slice of a $50 billion rural health fund in the face of federal Medicaid cuts, with a focus on bolstering a beleaguered workforce and expanding health access for more than two million people. @wdownard.bsky.social breaks down the 67-page application.

I love reading technical reports for nuggets like this:

An aspect of yesterday's story I didn't get to: who's responsible for student cellphones if they're confiscated? www.inquirer.com/education/ph...

In the last two weeks, you might have noticed the new byline “Whitney Downard” on the Pennsylvania Capital-Star site: “I love diving into any intersection between government and the people it serves.” Be sure to give @wdownard.bsky.social a follow and welcome her to our little corner of the world.

My welcome column is out, I'm covering two committees simultaneously and I've got my Red Bull. Must be a session day 💪

“We want to make sure our children are protected from bad actors,” said Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-Montgomery). “Children are now targeted in ways we never thought possible.” From @wdownard.bsky.social

Unclear what exactly this means for the 2 million Pennsylvanians who got rely on SNAP each month. On Friday, PA paid out full benefits for a portion of enrollees. penncapital-star.com/2025/11/09/r...

First week and Pennsylvania's already got me working on breaking Friday news 😮‍💨 Roughly $100M in SNAP benefits restored to Pennsylvanians, per Shapiro penncapital-star.com/food-insecur...

The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry urged Congress to end the shutdown. "The FAA’s decision to limit flights from Philadelphia International Airport is the latest example of how these disruptions directly affect businesses that rely on travel....” @wdownard.bsky.social

On Thursday, the FAA ordered airlines to cut 10% of their flights at 40 of the country’s busiest airports, including the Philadelphia International Airport, the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and the Washington Dulles International Airport. From @wdownard.bsky.social

First story out!! Pennsylvanians grapple with surging premiums, expiring subsidies in Pennie Marketplace penncapital-star.com/health-care/...

It's Election Day, Pennsylvania! Though I moved too recently to vote myself ... don't forget to cast your ballot. We'll be tracking how the judicial retention vote shakes out. For the latest: penncapital-star.com/campaigns-el...

So excited to be here!! Can’t wait to get started 😊

Really thorough rundown of what’s going on with Indiana Medicaid, by @wdownard.bsky.social indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/09/18/m...

There’s no feeling like finishing a story and getting to immediately delete 37 open tabs. I ~physically~ feel lighter.

We've now independently confirmed that both GOP caucus leaders met privately with President Donald Trump yesterday. And added more names of attending lawmakers.

Anecdotally, I can tell you that the statehouse parking lots seem to be a lot fuller this last two days. And filling up earlier. No more hybrid schedules for state workers as remote work slashed indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/07/02/n...

Since Jan. 20, a little over eight people have been arrested each day on average in Indiana — a 74% increase from 2024. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Hoosiers will spend more green for their red, white and blue cookouts indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/06/30/h...

Gov. Mike Braun said he doesn't know who came up with the idea that he's exploring a presidential run in 2028, saying he's focused on his current role. indianacapitalchronicle.com/briefs/braun...

FSSA Chief Mitch Roob gave us a preview of plans and challenges for new Healthy Indiana Plan. indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/06/18/i...

50+ state employees laid off as Indiana budget cuts take effect indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/06/11/5...

Indiana GOP Sen. Mike Bohacek charged with DUI months after incident indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/06/02/i...

Braun also reappointed someone who has already served three terms for another year. It's unclear how this meshes with the state law prohibiting trustees from serving a fourth term. Braun reverses course, removes elected IU trustees for his appointees indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/06/02/b...

Guess I can't say "Will write anything but sports" anymore Play ball! Love for the game fuels sports complex development across Indiana indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/06/02/p...

“When Gov. Daniels was in office, I used to tell people that Indiana residents were buying a Cadillac and getting a Chevrolet,” Roob said. “Unfortunately, today, we’re no longer driving Chevrolet. We are driving a used Kia.” indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/05/30/f...

Came back from vacay with this follow-up yesterday on SUN Bucks, which state officials say wasn't prepared for during the gubernatorial transition. Plus, the $3.7M administrative price tag appears to have sunk the program for hungry schoolchildren. indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/05/29/b...

Strategic legislative revisions aid renewed Indiana drive for tolling

Binx begs to be held whenever I have a meeting while working from home. Once he successfully steals my lap, he makes sure to completely block my screens to make working impossible.

And here ... we ... GO!!! Final day of the 2025 legislative session indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/04/24/f...

An especially cryptic conference committee on SB140 (PBM ownership): "I learned some new things this morning that should have been public before ... we have to go back to the drawing board," per Sen. Charbonneau. "I apologize but things happened that should not happen." ????

We’ve reached the “hurry up and wait” portion of session. Which is especially cruel considering how beautiful it is outside.

U.S.-born man held for ICE under Florida’s new anti-immigration law floridaphoenix.com/2025/04/17/u...

🚨A U.S. born citizen was arrested in Florida for entering the state as an “unauthorized alien.” His mother and a community advocate showed his birth certificate during a hearing in Leon County. The judge said she had no authority to release him.

The smell of fire was still strong on the side lawn of the governor’s residence around 5:00 pm on Sunday, hours after an arson attack on the governor’s residence in Harrisburg.

Excellent report from @kelciemmorris.bsky.social (made even better by the Indiana highlight) Seventeen states want to end an abortion privacy rule. A federal judge is questioning HIPAA itself. indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/04/01/r...

‘You’re not listening to us’: Hoosiers air frustrations as public officials face access scrutiny indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/03/31/y...

We envisioned this as a cleaned-up version of our Slack messages (aka gif free) and I'm so pleased with the final result. Maybe too light-hearted for some, but it was fun to take a different approach to a routine day.

Indiana Attorney General denigrates court order to provide gender-affirming surgery for DOC inmate indianacapitalchronicle.com/briefs/india...