News & Brews September 18, 2025
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‘Devastating day’ for York County and Pa.
Yesterday, three police officers were killed and two more injured by a shooter in York County who was subsequently killed by law enforcement. The incident began as law enforcement officers were following up on a “domestic-related” situation. “This is an absolutely tragic and devastating day for York County and the entire commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Gov. Shapiro said, “We have to do better as a society.” He noted that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi had reached out to him and offered the support of the federal government in the investigation.
State budget status: Still not done
Eighty days into the new fiscal year, the state budget is still not done. While the previous sticking point was SEPTA, that issue has been off the table since earlier this month given the short-term bailout. So, as Spotlight PA asks, “What gives?” Well, the story puts it this way: “State Senate Republicans feel they’re still being asked for too much spending, and need concessions to get their members on board. And state House Democrats, who feel they’ve already conceded a lot by backing off on recurring transit funding, don’t want to walk away empty-handed.” Meanwhile, Freedom Caucus members said “substantive school choice” and an exit from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative must be part of any final budget agreement. As for Shapiro? He’s still been unable to bring all parties together and get stuff done.
New podcast episode! School choice in Pa.
Our president and CEO, Matt Brouillette, joined Dom Giordano on his podcast “Old School, New School, Next School” to talk about school choice in Pennsylvania. Where does it stand? Where’s it going? And what’s Gov. Shapiro doing (or not doing)? This brand new episode just dropped today. Listen here.
Allegheny Co. announces hiring, spending freeze
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports, “Allegheny County is instituting a hiring and spending freeze due to the ongoing state budget impasse.” Per a county spokesperson, “The Allegheny County budget has been carefully managed this year and has strong liquidity, but due to the delay in passing a state budget and the threat of a federal shutdown, we are asking staff to hold off on hiring open, non-critical positions and pause discretionary spending where possible.”
Penn State president gets big pay hike amid campus closures
Earlier this year, Penn State announced it would close seven campuses due in part to “financial pressures.” So the recent news that the Penn State board approved a 47% salary increase for the university president “is turning some heads,” the Post-Gazette reports. With the increase, Penn State’s president will get a $450,000 raise to a new base salary of $1.4 million. “The salary increase makes [her], in terms of base salaries, the second-highest paid public university leader in the country,” just shy of the University of Texas president, whose base pay is $1.45 million.
Pa. rejects CDC, joins Dem state-led health alliance
WESA reports, “As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues his overhaul of federal health agencies, Pennsylvania health officials confirmed the commonwealth has joined other northeastern states to develop their own public health guidelines…. The Northeast Public Health Collaboration … includes all the New England states except New Hampshire plus Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York and New Jersey.” When asked for an interview on the decision, the Pa. Department of Health declined.