CHLOE JAD , Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; As data center backlash grows, residents in Forward Township beg leaders to ‘please, please hear us’
"In town halls and community centers across the country, residents are banding together to voice their opposition as tech and business leaders make their plans, anticipating the computational demand for artificial intelligence and attempting to sell their data center projects to borough councils and township residents."
Jaxon Abele, YourErie.com; Data center developer holds town hall in Venango County
"In recent months, Keel Infrastructure, a digital and energy infrastructure company, has taken an interest in a small township near Clintonville in Venango County.
Eighteen months ago, the company bought a power plant in Scrubgrass Township along the Allegheny River, which was actively being used as a Bitcoin mine. Now, they aim to transform the site into a data center...
It’s a project that is still very much in its early phases. Brammer told us there is no official design for the center, but they hope to break ground in 2027 if the design is approved.
A permit has yet to be submitted, but the company is working on two other centers in Pennsylvania.
We asked people who live nearby what they think of the new development.
“I am concerned for the environmental impacts that this data center very well could have on the area. Personally, as a mother of two very young children — I’ve got a one-year-old and a three-year-old — and our health and wellbeing is my absolute number one priority,” said Carrie Worsk, Scrubgrass Township resident."
Tyler Friel, Butler Radio; Forward Twp. Meeting Canceled After Large Crowd Opposes Data Center
"Forward Township canceled last night’s planning commission meeting after a large number of people attended in opposition of a proposed data center.
The planning commission had to reschedule their meeting after too many people showed up to safely fit into the meeting room in the building.
State Police, County Sheriff’s, and fire officials were all on location to inform the public the meeting could not happen due to safety concerns.
The data center has been proposed at the former Misty Hollow Farm on Prospect Road in Forward Township."
"Who will win Pennsylvania’s race for governor? How many data centers will be proposed here? Which state laws will be enacted this year?
That’s just a sample of the political questions that prediction market platforms, like Kalshi and Polymarket, allow people to bet on.
These platforms, which allow people to wager on the outcomes of a wide range of real-world events, are exploding in popularity. As the midterms approach and these markets receive more scrutiny, some ethics experts are raising concerns that they are ripe for abuse from government insiders or bad faith actors looking to sway elections."
Nick Keppler , The New York Times; Pennsylvania Gambling Addicts Hope That ‘Skill Games’ Will Go Bust
"These games are based on a skill, like remembering patterns, rather than luck. But they can be tedious, and many players choose not to try to win their points — and money — back.
Because this choice exists, the kiosks are known as “skill games” and were long considered legal in Pennsylvania, allowing them to bypass the state’s regulations on gambling. But a recent ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court reclassified the games as a form of gambling, forcing lawmakers to decide how to regulate them.
Pennsylvania has amassed between 70,000 and 100,000 of the games, according to the state Gaming Control Board. They can be found in convenience stores, bars, beer distributors, grocery stores, vape and tobacco shops and even laundromats. These outlets have deals to keep a portion of the money lost by players, and some say the revenue and foot traffic is essential to their bottom line."
Reuters; Pennsylvania governor signs order imposing new rules to set up AI data centers in state
"Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro on Tuesday signed an executive order that would require companies setting up AI data centers in the state to meet environmental and transparency safeguards and secure local community approval for the projects.
The state has become a sought-after location for data centers due to its abundant natural gas from the Marcellus shale basin, existing power infrastructure and proximity to major population centers on the East Coast."
Data center developers across the United States have increasingly turned to this tactic. They have secured NDAs with elected officials and economic development advisors, limiting what information about planned data centers can be shared with communities."
Some of the proposed data-center sites are also near popular tourist areas: Just outside the historic town of Jim Thorpe, known for weekend getaways, whitewater rafting and a scenic railway tourist train. Behind a big resort and water park. Down the road from a ski resort. Next to a scenic vista that was once a gathering place for Native American tribal leaders.
“They have been targeting some of our most beautiful places,” said Ginny Marcille-Kerslake, an organizer with the Pennsylvania team of Food & Water Watch, an environmental advocacy group.
Developers have been on the hunt for large parcels of land that are near adequate power supplies or in places that would allow them to build their own power source—as well as near water, which is needed to cool the vast computer systems. They are finding all of that in the Poconos.
The data centers will help facilitate the expansion of artificial intelligence. Proponents say the centers will bring construction jobs and increase tax revenue. But there are costs too: the vast quantities of power and water needed and the potential impacts on the environment and nearby residents. That’s especially true in ecologically valuable areas like the Poconos."
Grace Rufalo, WJAC; 'I thought it was a joke': Tarot reader sues borough over Pennsylvania fortune telling law
"A Hanover shop owner who built a business around tarot readings and spiritual guidance is now in a legal fight over an old Pennsylvania law that dates back to the Civil War.
Beck Ravenswood, owner of The Serpent’s Key, said they have been interested in witchcraft since childhood...
“I ended up opening my shop in Hanover in 2023,” Ravenswood added.
That same year, they said, they ran into legal trouble with the Hanover Borough Police Department after an officer came to the shop.
“He came in to cite me to tell me that tarot reading was illegal,” Ravenswood said...
The issue centers on Pennsylvania’s “fortune telling statute,” first established in 1861.
The law says, in part, “A person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree if he pretends for gain or lucre, to tell fortunes or predict future events, by cards, tokens,” and so on...
“In 2025, I was given something called a temporary injunction, which allows me to continue reading tarot cards currently,” Ravenswood said. “And because of this, I am the only person in the state that can legally read tarot cards right now.”"
Ricky Sayer , CBS News; Non-traditional little free libraries popping up across Pittsburgh area
"A woman in Dormont is making it her mission to map all of the little free libraries in her community.
Little free libraries are often placed by neighbors along sidewalks, allowing people to leave books they no longer need as well as encouraging them to take ones that interest them.
Two years ago, Amy Constantine says she and her husband built a little free library for their ever-growing collection of vinyl records, CDs and cassettes. Constantine says they inherited records or were gifted them, and it was a good way for them to get rid of any duplicates.
"Our music that we originally shared is long gone. This is all community music," says Constantine. "The neighborhood's been really generous about turning it over for us, right? We have new inventory all the time."
Constantine says her little free library inspired her to create a map of as many as she could find in her neighborhood. She says she was stunned to learn there were multiple within blocks of her home."
Amanda Silberling , TechCrunch; Librarians are hosting viral ‘Avoiding AI’ workshops for people who are fed up with Big Tech
"“Everybody’s on their phone at my program!” jokes Charlie Bailey, a librarian in South Philadelphia. He’s just asked his audience to pull out their phones so that he can walk them through the steps of disabling Apple Intelligence and Gemini.
Bailey stands at the front of a library classroom that’s outfitted for children — the focal point is the vibrant rug he’s standing on, which reminds us that M is for “moon” and Z is for “zebra.” But the 20-odd adults in the room aren’t here to learn about the alphabet. They’re at a workshop called Avoiding AI, which, in this context does not stand for “apple” and “igloo.”
“I was inspired by the feeling of people’s frustration with AI tools being kind of forced onto them, and feeling like AI tools we didn’t ask for are suddenly everywhere in our lives,” Bailey told TechCrunch.
Bailey starts the hour-long workshop with an overview of how AI chatbots and other consumer AI tools work, explaining why people might want to use these products, and why they might opt to abstain. Then he walks through all of the most popular tech platforms and devices, showing step-by-step instructions on the projector to guide people through turning off specific features."
Brad Rogers , WGME; Overnight campers run up high electricity bill at York Public Library
"The York Public Library is being used as an overnight campsite, and now, it's costing taxpayers money.
People were caught camping Monday morning in the far end of the parking lot at the York Public Library, after a camping app posted online about what a great place it was to camp...
"It's a great place to come," Sampson said. "We've got AC. We've got heat when it's cold. We've got Wi-Fi and all the good things. Laundromat right across the way, too."
The campers might explain the high electric bill the library just got: $300 to $500 more than last summer.
The library now has locks on its outlets, “No camping” signs on order and the town has told the app to take them off it."
"A broadband grant program that the Trump administration abruptly canceled last year can be restored without language that allowed race to be used as a factor in awarding funding, a federal judge has ruled.
In a case challenging the program’s termination, U.S. District Judge John Bates agreed with federal officials that the underlying law is unconstitutional, because it allowed grants to be awarded based on “explicit racial classification.” But he also said the program was “perfectly capable” of functioning without this element.
“Common sense,” Bates wrote, “dictates that Congress would prefer to have a version of the Digital Equity Act without the racial criterion than to have no law at all.”
The decision clears the way for the grant program, which aims to address barriers that keep people from being able to access the internet, to move ahead. Questions remain, however, about how much of the $2.75 billion originally allocated will be restored, and what the latest version of the program will look like.
Pennsylvania was in line to receive more than $35 million before the grants were canceled.
Congress passed the Digital Equity Act in 2021 as part of the sweeping, bipartisan infrastructure package that also included billions of dollars to build out high-speed internet networks.
Even where broadband is available, however, many people cannot afford to pay for it, or they lack the necessary skills or devices to use it, advocates say.
The Digital Equity Act aimed to address these barriers by providing funding for digital skills classes and affordable devices, and helping people access online services. The grants were intended to benefit groups that have historically faced challenges accessing the internet, including racial and ethnic minorities, older adults, low-income households, residents of rural areas, and veterans."
Ashley Adams, The Keystone; ‘You don’t have space for joy:’ How Pennsylvania’s affordability crisis is hurting mental health
From juggling multiple jobs to worrying about losing health coverage, Pennsylvanians say financial stress is fueling anxiety, burnout, and depression—and mental health professionals are seeing the impact firsthand.
"Across Pennsylvania, rising housing costs, grocery bills, utility prices, and healthcare expenses are creating more than financial stress. Mental health professionals say they’re seeing growing numbers of people whose anxiety and depression stem from the relentless pressure of simply trying to afford everyday life."
, Trib Live; Residents pack Monroeville council chambers in response to controversy over Pride Month display at library
"Members of the Monroeville community spoke at Tuesday night’s council meeting with passion on both sides of a decision to remove a Pride Month book display from the children’s section of the Monroeville Public Library.
“Not every collection will appeal to all people, but we remain committed to providing the public with materials that reflect their experiences,” library board President Kelly Meredith said.
Meredith was referring to a special section of LGBTQ-themed books put up during Pride Month in June. Meredith said several members of Monroeville council who objected to the display directed Monroeville Municipal Manager Alex Graziani to have the display removed a few days before the end of the month. Councilmen Bill Krut and Bob Williams also spoke out against the display at the library’s June 22 board meeting."
Kalea Gunderson, WTAE; Monroeville library removes Pride Month display after officials’ request
"The Monroeville Public Library removed its Pride Month children’s book display following a directive from local officials.
Kelly Meredith, president of the Monroeville Public Library Board of Directors, said a decision was made to remove the library's Pride Month display after the municipal manager directed library staff to take it down...
Meredith explained that the decision to remove the display was made to protect library staff from potential negative impacts.
“There was a lot of pressure, and it was a very difficult decision because we don't want to set a precedent that says that the council can come in and dictate what displays are appropriate for the library. But we had to do what the library staff felt would keep them safest in this situation,” Meredith said.
She added that the municipal manager and a council member visited the library to ensure the display had been removed.
Monroeville Municipal Manager Alex Graziani said the request was related to holiday timing.
“I advised that the June Pride Month display in the children’s section of the Monroeville Public Library could be removed and replaced with a patriotic America 250 display in advance of the Independence Day holiday and our community celebration,” Graziani said.
Meredith responded, stating that library staff, not public officials, are responsible for determining displays.
Monroeville Mayor Dennis Biondo Jr. said he is investigating the situation and emphasized that libraries should be welcoming spaces free from intimidation and censorship.
"I affirm our community's values of safety, dignity, and respect for all residents, including the LGBTQIA+ community... Libraries must remain safe, welcoming spaces free from intimidation or censorship, so that all patrons have access to the books and resources they need or wants," they mayor said in a statement posted online."
WJAC; Brookville council approves 180-day moratorium on data centers, water use
"As data centers become a growing point of controversy across the state, officials in Jefferson County are moving to limit potential impacts on local water resources.
Brookville Borough Council approved a 180-day moratorium that pauses potential data center development and blocks the use of borough water resources for those facilities.
Officials said the decision came after they learned about two possible data center projects in Pine Creek and Rose townships.
Council members said each facility could require more than 1.2 million gallons of water per day."
Melissa Pérez-Carrillo, Spotlight PA; ICE detainee punished for speaking to press about poor conditions at Moshannon, lawyer says
"An ICE detainee who was blamed by officials for encouraging others to refuse meals to protest poor conditions at Moshannon Valley Processing Center has been returned to the facility and placed under a higher level of surveillance, his lawyer says.
In addition, Edin Daniel Chinchilla-Roque has been punished for talking to the press, according to Harrisburg-based immigration lawyer Craig Shagin. Chinchilla-Roque is unable to call certain people, including his girlfriend, because the numbers have been blocked, Shagin said.
Chinchilla-Roque spent seven days in solitary confinement following the protest. He was then transported to Port Isabel Service Processing Center in south Texas and later Winn Correctional Center in Louisiana, before eventually being transferred back to Moshannon on June 6."
PETER HALL, Pennsylvania Capital-Star; Skill games are unlawful, Pennsylvania Supreme Court finds
"State Attorney General Dave Sunday issued a statement calling the decision a “significant victory for consumers, taxpayers and the rule of law in Pennsylvania.”
“The Supreme Court recognized what our office has argued from the beginning – these machines operate as gambling devices and cannot legally exist without the same oversight, regulation and accountability as other forms of legalized gaming in the Commonwealth. Pennsylvanians deserve protections that ensure games are fair, transparent and operated within the bounds of the law,” Sunday said."
"The first days at Moshannon were the most difficult, Zavala said.
He had to get used to the frigid temperatures inside his block, the bland rice and beans served at mealtime every day, his narrow bed, and feeling like he had no control over his daily routine. Zavala estimates there were about 80 people in his open block.
He coped by building community. He and other detainees created an informal support network, sharing food, trading supplies, and spending time together during recreational periods. Using a water bottle, Zavala and others created refried beans using butter and seasonings purchased at the commissary. They used the ingredients to make sandwiches and other snacks, which they shared and ate together as a group.
Zavala said he made a point of welcoming newly arrived blockmates and offering food because of how difficult his first days in detention had been.
“I believe that the very experiences we go through make us react in a way that helps us become better people and to get along with everyone in a better way," Zavala said.
Many of the men housed alongside Zavala at Moshannon had been there for months while fighting deportation or seeking immigration relief, he said. Nationwide data show that very few people detained by ICE have criminal records. That includes Zavala."
