Pennsylvania Perspective for Monday, August 24, 2026

Pennsylvania

PA Invests in Fruit Farms, Long-Term Farmland Preservation

Governor Josh Shapiro and state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced that Pennsylvania will begin accepting applications for a new $10 million grant program to assist fruit growers affected by the severe April freeze that devastated crops across the Commonwealth. Eligible growers who lost at least 30% of their crops can apply for grants between August 24 and September 21, while the Shapiro administration continues to seek additional federal assistance, including a statewide USDA disaster declaration and expanded crop insurance options. The administration also approved more than $9.1 million to preserve 34 farms and 2,565 acres across 16 counties by purchasing development rights and permanently protecting the land from future residential and commercial development.

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PA Reports Nation’s Third-Largest Measles Outbreak

Pennsylvania health officials confirmed 89 new measles cases over the last week, bringing the statewide total to 379 cases across two outbreaks in 2026. Lancaster County remains the center of the outbreak with 181 cases, while Chester County has reported 41 cases and several central Pennsylvania counties have also seen increasing transmission. State officials report that 70 individuals, including 22 children, have been hospitalized this year, and none of the confirmed measles patients had been fully vaccinated. In response, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has expanded vaccination efforts, administering more than 4,000 vaccines statewide and operating dozens of clinics in affected communities as schools prepare to reopen.

Philadelphia

Judge Permits Temporary Relocation of Kensington High, $7M Lease

A Philadelphia Common Pleas Court judge denied a request to block the temporary relocation of Kensington High School students to the former Austin Meehan Middle School, allowing classes to begin there while asbestos issues are addressed at Kensington’s building. The district said the move is expected to last until at least January and will include additional safety measures, transportation services, and staffing support. Separately, the Philadelphia School Board approved a four-year lease worth up to $7 million to keep Constitution High School at its current Center City location as officials continue implementing the district’s long-term facilities plan.

Pittsburgh

Allegheny County, Pittsburgh Face Fiscal Challenges

Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato said her administration is working to address the county’s $1.4 billion pension fund shortfall, which will require roughly $100 million annually over the next two decades to stabilize. County officials are evaluating options that could include new or increased taxes, while also seeking assistance from the Shapiro administration and state lawmakers. Allegheny County’s district attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr also said an ongoing investigation into contracts awarded during former Ed Gainey’s mayoral administration has uncovered evidence that “millions of dollars” in public funds may be unaccounted for. Investigators are reviewing thousands of financial documents and examining whether taxpayer funds designated for community programs were diverted without producing the services or work outlined in the contracts. 

Federal

President Trump, Senator Fetterman Express Support for AI, Data Center

President Donald Trump and U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) have both voiced strong support for expanding artificial intelligence (AI) development and data center infrastructure, arguing that American leadership in AI and energy is critical to maintaining an advantage over global competitors like China. President Trump maintained that local opposition to data centers is misguided, emphasizing that the facilities generate significant tax revenue and employment opportunities despite growing concerns regarding power grid strain, water use, and local environmental impacts that have led some state leaders to enact restrictions. Aligning with the push to accelerate AI expansion, Senator Fetterman similarly rejected calls for federal moratoriums on new data centers, cautioning that domestic delays and excessive regulatory pushback ultimately benefit foreign adversaries. Their positions contrast with recent action by Governor Josh Shapiro, who signed an executive order requiring data center developers to secure local approval, adhere to strict environmental and transparency standards, and provide their own electricity generation to receive state permits.

Complaint Filed Over Representative Bresnahan Ad

A constituent has filed a complaint with the independent Office of Congressional Conduct alleging that U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan (R-PA-08) improperly used an official taxpayer-funded communication as campaign advertising. The complaint centers on a video promoting Representative Bresnahan’s Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act that appeared in political advertising databases under a campaign account. Representative Bresnahan’s campaign, along with advertising vendors involved in the placement, said the issue resulted from clerical and account verification errors that incorrectly categorized the official communication as a campaign advertisement and stated the records were later corrected.

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