The Morning Agenda

WITF
  • 5.0 (26)
  • Daily News
  • Updated Daily

Sometimes, your mornings are just too busy to catch the news beyond a headline or two. Don’t worry. The Morning Agenda has got your back. Each weekday morning, The Morning Agenda will keep you informed, amused, enlightened and up-to-date on what’s happening in central Pennsylvania and the rest of this great commonwealth. And every Friday, The Morning Agenda includes The Bright Spot, a positive news story that may have gotten lost amid the week’s news cycle.

  1. 7h ago

    PA Headlines | Sept. 11 | Remembering 9/11, 25 years later.

    Today we begin by expanding on a story we first brought you yesterday. The Pennsylvania State Archives has an exhibit exploring Pennsylvania’s experience of the 9/11 terrorist attack, marking its 25th anniversary today. It mainly revolves around Flight 93 which went down in western PA. Observances across Central PA and the nation today (Friday) commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Those attacks focused on three sites: the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, D-C, and a thwarted attack that ended with the crash of Flight 93 in Shanksville. Pennsylvania’s top election official says the federal government is trying to illegally change election rules. What voters need to know in the run-up to the midterms. The Federal Communications Commission has approved the transfer of Penn State’s WPSU to Philadelphia-based WHYY. Democratic Senator John Fetterman addressed the Republican midterm convention Wednesday, escalating tensions with his party. ICE is ramping up its use of Penn State's airport to move detainees between immigration facilities  And now it’s time for our weekly segment called The Bright Spot.  Every Friday, I’ll share a positive news story that may have gotten lost amid this week's news cycle.   Today’s bright spot is this:  The third annual "Recovery in Nature" initiative is underway in State Parks across the Commonwealth in an effort to support Pennsylvanians in recovery.  It's part of National Recovery Month. It’s been one year since public media's federal funding was revoked. Thanks to our community, we're still here for you and looking toward the future. Join the thousands of members who are building a stronger WITF. Go to  www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

  2. 1d ago

    PA Headlines | Sept. 10 | How Pennsylvania’s State Archives is marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11

    The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks with a special exhibit at the Pennsylvania State Archives.  The devastating flooding in Nepal and China left at least one thousand people dead and thousands more still missing. The disaster is hitting close to home for central Pennsylvania’s Bhutanese-Nepali community, which is raising money to help with recovery efforts. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has fined oil giant Shell $15 million for air quality violations at its massive Beaver County plastics plant. And now a deep dive: Roughly half of all people with cancer will need radiation therapy. It’s an effective way to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors, but the treatment can cause long-term health issues. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are now testing a new method of radiation treatment that they hope is safer and more effective.  In uncertain times, our community counts on facts, not noise. Support the journalism and programming that keep you informed. Donate now at www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

  3. 2d ago

    PA Headlines | Sept. 9 | Why special education costs are soaring in Pa.

    Special education costs in Pennsylvania are soaring. Central PA schools say they rely on property tax increases because state funding hasn’t kept up. After the August 25th death of legendary musician Dolly Parton, literacy advocates say Pennsylvania has a chance to honor her legacy. More people are surviving cancer than ever before. But Pennsylvania oncologists say fragmented health systems leave people without the care and resources they need to manage the long-term effects of treatment. Now doctors are trying a different approach. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives will convene an historic legislative session in Philadelphia's historic Congress Hall later today. More than 2-million dollars in state grant funding is headed to the Perry County Fairgrounds. The money will be used for long-planned upgrades to the facility, located near Newport. In uncertain times, our community counts on facts, not noise. Support the journalism and programming that keep you informed. Donate now at www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

  4. 3d ago

    PA Headlines | Sept. 8 | What’s the state of Pa.’s job market and labor movement?

    Unions forced the creation of the 8-hour workday, the 40-hour week, and the weekend, and brought health insurance and pensions into the workplace. But where the labor movement stand today? A Penn State professor who teaches and studies labor movements says most people have forgotten the significance of celebrating labor in the U.S. A new report finds Pennsylvania's labor market remains relatively healthy, but job growth is unevenly distributed, and it’s beginning to slow down. A union-affiliated think tank is urging Pennsylvania officials to compete for next-generation steel plants as a way to create more jobs. According to the Harrisburg-based Keystone Research Center, data centers could also boost employment, but should be required to show that their benefits outweigh their heavy demands on electricity, water and other resources. Beginning in mid-November, Amtrak will begin operating a second train on the Pennsylvanian, which runs between Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia and New York. Electric scooters are illegal to operate on public roadways in Pennsylvania, and some law enforcement officials want it to stay that way. Police in York County continue to investigate an accident they’re calling a “mass casualty incident.” It happened over the Labor Day weekend, as a multi-vehicle accident on Route 15 sent 14 people to five area hospitals. Over the Labor Day holiday weekend, officials with the Pennsylvania Turnpike say an estimated 2.9 million vehicles used the roadway. In uncertain times, our community counts on facts, not noise. Support the journalism and programming that keep you informed. Donate now at www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

  5. Sep 4

    PA Headlines | Sept. 4 | How to celebrate summer’s last hurrah.

    This Labor Day weekend, Harrisburg’s annual multicultural celebration along the Susquehanna River begins Saturday. Gravel cyclists seeking trails now have over 30 routes and 2,000 miles to ride in the Endless Mountains. Cooking up the best, big bowl of chili is a tradition that’s now 30 years strong, in one York County town. The 30th annual Hanover Chili Cook Off is set for this Sunday, September 6th. A new hiking trail is now open in Lancaster County's Safe Harbor Nature Preserve. The Pennsylvania Capitol is one of buildings participating in Lights Out Harrisburg. It's a voluntary initiative to minimize lights inside and outside building at night during spring and fall bird migration seasons. The Schuylkill Conservancy is receiving a $4,500 grant from the Pennsylvania Ornithology Society.  Now that it’s September, Goose Day is around the corner. Celebrated on September 29th mainly in Mifflin and Juniata counties, visitors can check out a festival, costume contest, and drone light show leading up to Goose Day. And now it’s time for our weekly segment called The Bright Spot.   Honestly, many of the stories in today’s podcast could be considered bright spots.  But today’s official bright spot is this:  An artist in Virginia is using her paintings to raise awareness and money to benefit the Red Moshannon Creek in Clearfield and Centre counties.  Her choice of paint itself is raising awareness. It’s been one year since public media's federal funding was revoked. Thanks to our community, we're still here for you and looking toward the future. Join the thousands of members who are building a stronger WITF. Go to  www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

  6. Sep 3

    PA Headlines | Sept. 3 | Cat capacity: Many Central Pa. animal shelters are full.

    Many animal shelters in central Pennsylvania are at capacity. Overpopulation, particularly among cats, is making it harder for shelters to take in animals that need help. We’re in the midst of a two-day heat advisory today, as we head toward Labor Day weekend and the unofficial end of summer. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory in effect through Thursday night. State officials are hailing it as the single largest investment in agriculture in Pennsylvania: Governor Josh Shapiro is touting a $1.2 billion investment by yogurt-maker Chobani. A Pennsylvania police officer is charged with voluntary manslaughter for last week’s fatal shooting of a 22-year-old college student who was looking for his friends late at night and went to the wrong house. Pennsylvania is among 22 states, along with The Federal Trade Commission, suing Amazon. The lawsuit claims the online retail company used artificial bids to inflate costs for advertisers, bringing in tens of billions of dollars. Nearly 50 former state lawmakers are now registered lobbyists, trying to influence policies they once shaped. That’s according to analysis by our partners at Spotlight PA. And a deep dive... literally: A team of archaeologists is looking for evidence of early Native Americans in an unlikely place–at the bottom of Lake Erie. The research could help answer big questions about how humans first entered the Americas, and how they dealt with climate change in the past.  It’s been one year since public media's federal funding was revoked. Thanks to our community, we're still here for you and looking toward the future. Join the thousands of members who are building a stronger WITF. Go to  www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

  7. Sep 2

    PA Headlines | Sept. 2 | The emotional process of returning Native American children’s remains to their tribes.

    The remains of 12 Native American and Alaska Native students buried at Carlisle Barracks are being disinterred and returned to their families. PA State Treasurer and Republican Gubernatorial nominee Stacy Garrity says she’s ready to debate Governor Josh Shapiro. In Northeastern PA, Luzerne County officials say someone stole flags from a patriotic display on the county courthouse lawn. A study that used data from Geisinger’s MyCode genetic database identified a gene mutation that could lead to new treatments for obesity and cardiometabolic diseases. The Pennsylvania Department of Health announces there are now 497 measles cases confirmed across the state this year, in 34 counties. Since last Friday, there are 37 new cases. And now a deep dive:  Pennsylvania lawmakers are still tinkering on a statewide cellphone ban in K-12 schools. Over the years, some schools have purchased lockable pouches and storage caddies to enforce bans. A pair of early adopters of bell-to-bell cellphone bans found success - just by asking students to turn off their phones and keep them out of sight. In uncertain times, our community counts on facts, not noise. Support the journalism and programming that keep you informed. Donate now at www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

  8. Sep 1

    PA Headlines | Sept. 1 | As Pres. Trump attempts to lower beef prices, Pa. farmers speak out against the plan.

    Pennsylvania cattle producers are speaking out against President Trump’s effort to lower beef prices. The LGBT Center of Central PA now has a new executive director. The nonprofit hopes new leadership will help stabilize its finances  Governor Josh Shapiro is suing the Trump administration over what he says is a-quote-politicized approach to funding reproductive health. Baby Boomers are expected to leave at least 30 trillion dollars to family members over the next two decades, as part what's been dubbed the Great Wealth Transfer. Financial advisers say they’re working to help a younger generation of clients get through the inheritance process and plan for the future. A Centre County judge granted a hearing to explore claims that a man wants to recant his  allegations of sexual abuse by former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. Sandusky, now 82 years old, has been serving a decades-long prison sentence. Students at Eastern York High School were cleared to return to in-person classes Monday, after an E-F-2 tornado severely damaged the building on August 20th. The Little League World Series generated an estimated $40 million for Pennsylvania’s economy, according to state officials. The two-week event drew an estimated 70-thousand people to the Williamsport area. Both of Pennsylvania's NFL teams are looking to improve upon the preseason. The Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers went 0-and-3 in their August games. It’s been one year since public media's federal funding was revoked. Thanks to our community, we're still here for you and looking toward the future. Join the thousands of members who are building a stronger WITF. Go to  www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

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About

Sometimes, your mornings are just too busy to catch the news beyond a headline or two. Don’t worry. The Morning Agenda has got your back. Each weekday morning, The Morning Agenda will keep you informed, amused, enlightened and up-to-date on what’s happening in central Pennsylvania and the rest of this great commonwealth. And every Friday, The Morning Agenda includes The Bright Spot, a positive news story that may have gotten lost amid the week’s news cycle.

Information

  • Creator
    WITF
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    195
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 WITF
  • Show Website
    The Morning Agenda