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Shapiro: Mail voting unchanged for 2026 after SCOTUS ruling

Pennsylvania voters can still cast mail ballots as usual this November.

News

A U.S. Supreme Court <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ruling favoring President Trump&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/24/supreme-court-mail-in-ballot-rules" data-vars-content-id="951a2366-0689-4996-9d1d-fd450e14c7d9" data-vars-headline="Shapiro: Mail voting unchanged for 2026 after SCOTUS ruling" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/24/supreme-court-mail-in-ballot-rules" target="_self">ruling favoring President Trump&#x27;s</a> push to restrict mail-in voting won&#x27;t impact the upcoming midterm elections, Gov. Josh Shapiro said Tuesday. Why it matters: On Monday, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="SCOTUS cleared" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/24/trump-usps-federal-power-state-elections-mail-voting" data-vars-content-id="951a2366-0689-4996-9d1d-fd450e14c7d9" data-vars-headline="Shapiro: Mail voting unchanged for 2026 after SCOTUS ruling" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/24/trump-usps-federal-power-state-elections-mail-voting" target="_self">SCOTUS cleared</a> one roadblock for Trump&#x27;s push to restrict mail-in ballots via the U.S. Postal Service, sowing uncertainty about how states will carry out their elections.

Cars, gadgets and odd finds at Pittsburgh airport's auction

A curious collection of things left behind at Pittsburgh International Airport is on the auction block.

A curious collection of things left behind at Pittsburgh International Airport is on the auction block, from jewelry and electronics to abandoned cars.The big picture: Each year, thousands of unclaimed lost-and-found items are auctioned off alongside retired airport vehicles and surplus equipment.

Shapiro, RFK Jr. clash over measles deaths

A dispute over two measles-associated deaths has fueled a broader fight over vaccine messaging.

Gov. Josh Shapiro and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are squaring off over vaccines.Why it matters: The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed two measles-associated deaths — including one infant — in Lancaster County earlier this week.

Dolly Parton corn maze opens near Pittsburgh

The fall attraction benefits Parton's Imagination Library.

Culture

A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Dolly Parton-inspired corn maze" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dce_UTbOwP5/?hl=en" data-vars-content-id="034c6c87-e024-487a-bd90-fceee5c8b1ff" data-vars-headline="Dolly Parton corn maze opens near Pittsburgh" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dce_UTbOwP5/?hl=en" target="_blank">Dolly Parton-inspired corn maze</a> an hour from Pittsburgh opens Friday, celebrating the country music legend and 31 years of her<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Imagination Library" data-vars-click-url="https://imaginationlibrary.com/" data-vars-content-id="034c6c87-e024-487a-bd90-fceee5c8b1ff" data-vars-headline="Dolly Parton corn maze opens near Pittsburgh" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://imaginationlibrary.com/" target="_blank"> Imagination Library</a>.The big picture: Irons Mill Farmstead in New Wilmington, near the Lawrence-Mercer County line, joins a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1547704596579471" data-vars-content-id="034c6c87-e024-487a-bd90-fceee5c8b1ff" data-vars-headline="Dolly Parton corn maze opens near Pittsburgh" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1547704596579471" target="_blank">national</a> corn maze initiative celebrating Parton&#x27;s literacy program.

Trump plan would roll back Allegheny National Forest protections

Ending the Roadless Rule could open a new swath of Allegheny National Forest to development.

The Trump administration is pushing to eliminate the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Roadless Rule" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/09/05/trump-roadless-rule-utah-wildfires-logging-national-forests" data-vars-content-id="6d6a9d5e-b0a2-48b9-bb65-e629753bcb4e" data-vars-headline="Trump plan would roll back Allegheny National Forest protections" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/09/05/trump-roadless-rule-utah-wildfires-logging-national-forests" target="_self">Roadless Rule</a> in national forests, potentially opening a new swath of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Allegheny National Forest" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/allegheny" data-vars-content-id="6d6a9d5e-b0a2-48b9-bb65-e629753bcb4e" data-vars-headline="Trump plan would roll back Allegheny National Forest protections" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/allegheny" target="_blank">Allegheny National Forest</a> to development.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2001 federal policy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/planning/roadless" data-vars-content-id="6d6a9d5e-b0a2-48b9-bb65-e629753bcb4e" data-vars-headline="Trump plan would roll back Allegheny National Forest protections" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/planning/roadless" target="_blank">2001 federal policy</a> blocks new roads and timber harvesting across 45 million acres of American wilderness, a priority for conservationists and a point of contention in the timber industry.

How to help Pennsylvania's bats

Environment

August is prime bat season in Southwestern Pennsylvania, when the last pups take flight and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="maternity" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/where-do-bats-live/bat-roosts/maternity-roosts" data-vars-content-id="6cae6166-6b28-47a9-8ad7-332fffb8fc23" data-vars-headline="How to help Pennsylvania&#x27;s bats" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/where-do-bats-live/bat-roosts/maternity-roosts" target="_blank">maternity</a> colonies disperse.Why it matters: Our nighttime <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="neighbors" data-vars-click-url="https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pgc/wildlife/discover-pa-wildlife/bats" data-vars-content-id="6cae6166-6b28-47a9-8ad7-332fffb8fc23" data-vars-headline="How to help Pennsylvania&#x27;s bats" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pgc/wildlife/discover-pa-wildlife/bats" target="_blank">neighbors</a> could use a wingman.

Report: E. coli persists in Pittsburgh-area streams

E. coli continues to limit recreation and elevate health risks in urban streams and tributaries.

E. coli continues to limit recreation and elevate health risks in urban streams that feed into Pittsburgh’s rivers, per a new report.Why it matters: It&#x27;s one of a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="few reasons" data-vars-click-url="https://theconversation.com/should-you-swim-in-pittsburghs-rivers-a-water-researcher-breaks-down-the-answer-283866" data-vars-content-id="3b0caa59-afe0-4ed8-aeb6-2613d6aea0ad" data-vars-headline="Report: E. coli persists in Pittsburgh-area streams" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://theconversation.com/should-you-swim-in-pittsburghs-rivers-a-water-researcher-breaks-down-the-answer-283866" target="_blank">few reasons</a> plenty of Pittsburghers are happy to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="kayak" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/07/21/kayak-guide-pittsburgh-summer" data-vars-content-id="3b0caa59-afe0-4ed8-aeb6-2613d6aea0ad" data-vars-headline="Report: E. coli persists in Pittsburgh-area streams" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/07/21/kayak-guide-pittsburgh-summer" target="_self">kayak</a> on our rivers but often draw the line at taking the plunge.

Report: Clairton Coke Works blast could have been prevented

Federal investigators identified safety issues and issued recommendations to U.S. Steel.

Federal investigators say last year’s deadly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="explosion" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/08/15/clairton-explosion-gas-valve-failure-us-steel" data-vars-content-id="32deef24-cd97-4694-875a-7ff020a75210" data-vars-headline="Report: Clairton Coke Works blast could have been prevented" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/08/15/clairton-explosion-gas-valve-failure-us-steel" target="_self">explosion</a> at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works “could have been prevented or reduced in severity.”Why it matters: A year after the explosion killed two workers, injured 11 and caused more than $52 million in damage, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board recommended U.S. Steel strengthen its safety procedures at the plant in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a final report released this week" data-vars-click-url="https://www.csb.gov/assets/1/6/us_steel_clairton_investigation_report_publication_copy.pdf" data-vars-content-id="32deef24-cd97-4694-875a-7ff020a75210" data-vars-headline="Report: Clairton Coke Works blast could have been prevented" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.csb.gov/assets/1/6/us_steel_clairton_investigation_report_publication_copy.pdf" target="_blank">a final report released this week</a>.

U.S. Steel details Mon Valley upgrades

The company showcased major improvements planned for its Mon Valley facilities.

U.S. Steel is investing $2.5 billion in its Mon Valley Works facilities, and it showcased its planned improvements to the community Thursday.Why it matters: About a year after Japan&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Nippon Steel" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/18/us-steel-trump-nippon-takeover" data-vars-content-id="65dddd81-bec9-4d5e-878d-9099c3d945b4" data-vars-headline="U.S. Steel details Mon Valley upgrades" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/18/us-steel-trump-nippon-takeover" target="_self">Nippon Steel</a> bought U.S. Steel, the region is starting to see portions of the promised $11 billion investment for the Pittsburgh-based icon.

Jerome Bettis helps plug abandoned gas wells

Bettis joined state officials to mark the plugging of 400 abandoned wells.

Steelers Hall of Famer <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jerome &quot;The Bus&quot; Bettis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/04/16/mark-cuban-pittsburgh-ai-showcase-nfl-draft" data-vars-content-id="433bca25-7248-4a92-8c08-c3d7ad73010f" data-vars-headline="Jerome Bettis helps plug abandoned gas wells" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/04/16/mark-cuban-pittsburgh-ai-showcase-nfl-draft" target="_self">Jerome &quot;The Bus&quot; Bettis</a> is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by plugging the region&#x27;s abandoned gas and oil wells.Why it matters: The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) estimates there are hundreds of thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells in the state — with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a large concentration in Western Pennsylvania" data-vars-click-url="https://gis.dep.pa.gov/PaOilAndGasMapping/OilGasWellsStrayGasMap.html?" data-vars-content-id="433bca25-7248-4a92-8c08-c3d7ad73010f" data-vars-headline="Jerome Bettis helps plug abandoned gas wells" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://gis.dep.pa.gov/PaOilAndGasMapping/OilGasWellsStrayGasMap.html?" target="_blank">a large concentration in Western Pennsylvania</a> — leaking greenhouse gases like methane into the atmosphere.

Pittsburgh's allergy season is getting longer

If you're breaking out the Claritin early, you're not alone.

If you&#x27;re breaking out the Claritin early, you&#x27;re not alone. Pittsburgh&#x27;s spring allergy season is getting longer and stronger.Why it matters: About a quarter of U.S. adults swap fresh spring air for runny noses, itchy throats and puffy eyes as pollination season begins.

Pa. data center development powering through rising concerns

Developers keep building data centers in Pa. despite noise, energy and pollution concerns.

A tide is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="forming against data centers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/12/11/ai-economy-data-centers-pennsylvania-poll" data-vars-content-id="a493a517-c4ff-45be-a9fd-db52e23c81be" data-vars-headline="Pa. data center development powering through rising concerns" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/12/11/ai-economy-data-centers-pennsylvania-poll" target="_self">forming against data centers</a>, but Pennsylvania is holding it back — for now.Why it matters: Data centers are attracting more <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pushback from locals" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/11/24/springdale-residents-oppose-ai-data-center-pittsburgh" data-vars-content-id="a493a517-c4ff-45be-a9fd-db52e23c81be" data-vars-headline="Pa. data center development powering through rising concerns" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/11/24/springdale-residents-oppose-ai-data-center-pittsburgh" target="_self">pushback from locals</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="electric grid monitors" data-vars-click-url="https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/12/03/watchdog-for-electric-grid-in-ohio-other-states-wants-a-pause-on-data-centers/" data-vars-content-id="a493a517-c4ff-45be-a9fd-db52e23c81be" data-vars-headline="Pa. data center development powering through rising concerns" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/12/03/watchdog-for-electric-grid-in-ohio-other-states-wants-a-pause-on-data-centers/" target="_blank">electric grid monitors</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="politicians" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/17/democrats-data-centers-ai-fight" data-vars-content-id="a493a517-c4ff-45be-a9fd-db52e23c81be" data-vars-headline="Pa. data center development powering through rising concerns" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/17/democrats-data-centers-ai-fight" target="_self">politicians</a>, but it doesn&#x27;t appear to be slowing them down much in the Keystone State.

How to cut your power bill while keeping your holiday lights

Switching to LEDs and setting a timer can keep your holiday electric bill low.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lighting up the night" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/11/21/light-up-night-guide-trees-fireworks-pittsburgh" data-vars-content-id="b0606357-c9ad-42c1-8b75-7c3cf519fef7" data-vars-headline="How to cut your power bill while keeping your holiday lights" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/11/21/light-up-night-guide-trees-fireworks-pittsburgh" target="_self">Lighting up the night</a> might not be the wisest decision.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rising energy prices" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/09/30/data-centers-grid-electricity-costs-pittsburgh" data-vars-content-id="b0606357-c9ad-42c1-8b75-7c3cf519fef7" data-vars-headline="How to cut your power bill while keeping your holiday lights" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/09/30/data-centers-grid-electricity-costs-pittsburgh" target="_self">Rising energy prices</a> during the holidays have Americans second-guessing if they should scale back on decorations.

Springdale residents oppose AI data center proposal

Locals say the project risks pollution, noise and high water use.

Residents of Springdale Borough are fighting back against a proposed 565,000-square-foot <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data center" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/04/16/ai-natural-gas-data-centers-pennsylvania" data-vars-content-id="f66ba298-776e-4fea-8fb9-7cfef6840f89" data-vars-headline="Springdale residents oppose AI data center proposal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2025/04/16/ai-natural-gas-data-centers-pennsylvania" target="_self">data center</a> that could soon be built near their homes.Why it matters: Springdale&#x27;s ordinances do not include provisions for data centers, leaving room for violations surrounding pollution, noise, electricity and water usage, according to advocates from the environmental group Protect PT.

Environment

Trump plan would roll back Allegheny National Forest protections

How to help Pennsylvania's bats

Report: E. coli persists in Pittsburgh-area streams

Report: Clairton Coke Works blast could have been prevented

Canadian wildfire smoke triggers Code Purple alert in Pittsburgh