Pennsylvania House Republicans rolled out an 11-bill package that would replace the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards with a reliability-based standard, eliminate the gross receipts tax on electric service (a projected ~6% bill cut), and overhaul DEP permitting.

DOE proposes major changes to federal appliance efficiency program

Utility Dive reported the U.S. Department of Energy wants to 'permanently end' key appliance efficiency requirements, a significant rollback of the long-standing federal energy-standards program.

Police remove ex-Rep. Eachus from Amazon data center hearing

Police removed former state Rep. Todd Eachus from a public hearing on a proposed Amazon data center Tuesday evening at a McAdoo-area school, underscoring rising local friction over data-center siting and load growth in PJM's territory.

Pennsylvania budget slips past deadline for fifth straight year

Pennsylvania's budget is late again — a fifth consecutive year — after Senate Republicans sent members home without a deal, citing 'necessary clarity' on outstanding issues and projecting an agreement in the days following July 4.

Shapiro takes center stage as Congress marks America 250 at Independence Hall

Gov. Josh Shapiro addressed a ceremonial meeting of Congress at Philadelphia's Independence Hall on Thursday, telling members they carry a 'responsibility to constantly perfect our union' and to check the executive branch, 250 years after the Declaration was signed there.

PA House votes to close Sunshine Act loophole amid data-center scrutiny

The Pennsylvania House passed a bill closing a Sunshine Act loophole — spotlighted by data-center approval fights — that had let local officials act with limited public notice, following a recent state court ruling.

House · Bill On Concurrence (keywords: data center, data centers)

Senate · Third Consideration (watchlist)

June jobs report lands soft as hiring slows to 57,000

U.S. employers added a weaker-than-expected 57,000 jobs in June, down from 129,000 in May, and 3.5% wage growth trailed inflation, though unemployment ticked down to 4.2% — fueling midterm economic anxiety for Republicans.

AOC endorsement jolts Michigan's Senate Democratic primary

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed progressive Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan's Aug. 4 Democratic Senate primary as more than $30M in outside ads boosts rival Rep. Haley Stevens, sharpening a three-way fight Republicans hope to exploit.

Luna blockade stalls House floor over voter-ID demands

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna vowed to keep blocking House floor action unless the SAVE Act's citizenship-check and mail-ballot restrictions are inserted into must-pass bills like the NDAA, a fresh headache for Speaker Mike Johnson.

Law-enforcement groups line up behind Blanche for attorney general

Major police chiefs' and sheriffs' associations sent letters to congressional leaders backing Todd Blanche's confirmation as attorney general as the Senate weighs elevating the acting AG.

The Pirates topped the Phillies 6-1 in Philadelphia on Thursday, powered by a multi-hit night from Esmerlyn Valdez, who tripled and singled, and solo home runs from Endy Rodriguez and Nick Gonzales.

Pittsburgh opened NHL free agency July 1 by signing forward Andrei Kuzmenko to a one-year deal and adding defensemen Trevor van Riemsdyk and Declan Carlile, after acquiring forward Nick Robertson from Toronto for a 2028 fourth-round pick.