Today in PA | A PennLive daily news briefing with Julia Hatmaker

Thousands of people were left without power during this heat wave. Health insurers have agreed to reduce the need for prior authorization. If you think planes have been flying a bit low lately, you're right. Lastly, a teacher scored $250K after facing off with non other than Tom Brady.

A major insurance company informed the public of a massive cyber attack. A bill would put” reasonable limits” on rent increases. The heat just keeps on coming. And here's something to raise a glass to.

A premade meal has been voluntarily recalled over contamination concerns. Hunting licenses go on sale next week. It's expected to be a busy summer travel season. Finally, a man purportedly crashed his car thanks to a cicada.

That transit funding bill that has advanced. A well-known company has vowed to remove all artificial dyes in its food by the end of 2027. Keep your eyes peeled for this “wicked” bug. And this lady's Friday the 13th turned out to be quite lucky.

Pennsylvania will get hundreds of millions of dollars in an opioid settlement. A school district in the state wasn't the only one to be hit by a data breach. Even more Rite Aids will close. Plus, Pennsylvania's favorite pasta dish.

This lawmaker wants self-driving cars to hit the road. Insurance thresholds will go up next month. This might make you itch. And a rare transplant took place for just the fifth time at this hospital.

This city has officially decriminalized weed. Naturalists are raising concern over a disease that's killing beech trees. It's the end of an era. Plus, don't worry — he's big, but this lake monster is “strictly vegetarian.”

Coroner's offices around the state are seeing an uptick in unclaimed remains. SEPTA is shutting down one of its lines starting Sunday. An earthquake hit the state this week. And this is some “Final Destination” nonsense.

The way the state handles teacher misconduct can be a bit “murky,” according to a recent report. Pennsylvania has a multi-state lawsuit that's looking to bar the sale of 23andMe's personal genetic data. Here's the worst city for grass allergies in the state. Plus, a classic rock band's stolen guitar is found.

A proposal wants to crack down on people who use deepfakes for nefarious purposes. Amazon will spend about $20 billion on two data center complexes in Pennsylvania. The new ice cream trail offers up over 50 sweet spots to drop by. And a boy dialed 911 just to say “hello.”

Pennsylvania's top baby names have been revealed.

There's a story out there that — for a brief moment of time — Pennsylvania was the site of a dual UFO-Bigfoot invasion.

This is the most popular grocery store in Philadelphia.

If you're looking for somewhere to go to during the summer, this place is apparently one of the best for a trip.

A city in Pennsylvania has been listed amongst the best in the country to start a career.

There's a city in Pennsylvania that's one of the top five best for all you basketball fans out there.

A Delaware-based health system will acquired what was once several Crozer Health locations. Electric bills for many people will go up this weekend. Pittsburgh has closed another bridge following an inspection. Plus, if you love hockey, this city's the place for you.

Schools are under federal investigation over their “asbestos management practices.” An invasive tick is spreading within the state. Pennsylvania might enact a ban on single-use plastic bags. Also, if you missed those Blue Angels, don't worry — you'll have another shot.

Poison control centers are seeing a rise in calls related to popular weight-loss drugs. A trail in Philadelphia is still closed over a year after a chemical spill was discovered. One amusement park is now under the same ownership as Dollywood. And check out this “mega den” of snakes.

A hospital lobby is pushing back on a proposal to crackdown on mergers in Pennsylvania. One county has alerted residents to a possible data leak. A new bill wants to bring down harsher penalties on anyone who abandon boats. Lastly, a new Gordon Ramsay series is looking for restaurant owners.

Here's an update on Bucks County's lawsuit against big oil. A school district lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to hackers. Someone just bought a $5 million scratch-off. And you might start seeing Pennsylvania's new license plate on the road soon.

Some state officials are pushing to have people with substance abuse disorders involuntarily committed. Several men have sued DraftKings. The FDA is investigating a salmonella outbreak that's been linked to cucumbers. Plus, these people opened up their new Nintendo Switch games only to find something looking back at them.

A trip to the ER in one city in Pennsylvania is longer than the national average. Top state officials received nearly $120,000 in gifts last year. Things will be cloudy and gray ahead of Memorial Day, but don't let that keep you down. And this catfish was quite the catch-fish.

The officials in one county have filed a lawsuit against drug-selling behemoths for the “illegal price fixing” of insulin. Hundreds of flights were delayed while dozens, cancelled, over the weekend due to a technical issue. This bill would criminalize the harassment of youth sports referees. Lastly, the Philadelphia Zoo has welcomed even more Galapagos tortoise hatchlings into the world.

State police have launched a new rapid DNA analysis program. State officials are denouncing private equity in healthcare following the recent closures of Crozer Health hospitals. A recall has been issued for a popular snack mix. And an extraordinary procedure was conducted for the first-time ever at a hospital in Philadelphia.

State officials have approved a permit that allows for the transportation of hazardous waste along the Monocacy despite locals' vocal concerns. That marijuana bill has passed away in the state Senate. Here's who's buying all those Big Lots. Finally: it's Kisses vs. Peeps.

A bill that's looking to mitigate medical debt has gotten through the state House. Pennsylvania's decreasing population was behind Penn State's proposed campus closures, according to the university itself. Overdose deaths dropped nearly 30 percent nationwide last year. And a “small but important property” will now be permanently preserved.

Penn State has proposed the closures of seven campuses. It's (shockingly) almost halfway through May, so here's what Memorial Day weekend traffic is supposed to be like. A major bank is closing dozens of its locations soon. Lastly, some people got treated to the sight of a historic airplane the other day.

If you ever use “buy now, pay later,” here's something you should be aware of. There's a new law taking effect next month. A charity marathon raised almost $2 million. And Pennsylvania's top dog name is “beautiful.”

A new report has found that Pennsylvania kids in foster care graduate high school at a lower rate than their peers, amongst other things. A new tech facility will facilitate jobs in a Columbia County borough. The state's tallest roller coaster will open up soon. Finally, these women are weightlifting in their 60s and 70s (holy moly).

Rite Aid's second bankruptcy will cause thousands of people in Pennsylvania and Jersey to lose their jobs. Three UPS facilities are closing. It's time to “Get Your Tail on the Trail.” And a raccoon in Ohio was caught in a driver's seat with a meth pipe.

A university is just the latest to settle a COVID learning lawsuit. It's tick season, so please pay mind when you're out and about. Traffic has increased on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Also, these breweries are World Beer Cup champions.

On average, the cost of an ambulance ride in Pennsylvania is over $1,400, but most of the money accumulated doesn't even go to first responders. A well-known Pennsylvania-based business has filed for bankruptcy for a second time. Legislation that would legalize recreational marijuana has advanced. Finally, a stolen cat has been returned to his family.

A state lawmaker is demanding accountability from power companies following those prolonged outages in Western Pennsylvania. Almost 1,000 people will be out of a job after the indefinite idling of several steel plants, two of which are in the state. A bill protecting the owners of manufactured homes has moved forward. And that squiggly road got straightened out.

What begins as one man's search for answers soon reveals a pattern too disturbing to ignore. Tune in for a special episode of “Today in PA” that previews the original podcast from award-winning journalist Joshua Vaughn: “Death County, PA.” Please be sure to check out all episodes of “Death County, PA” early and ad-free on Wondery+. You can start your free trail in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

One college has issued trespassing notices to those in pro-Palestine encampments on campus. During a discussion about Kensington, Philadelphia officials got heated. Last year saw the second-lowest rate of traffic fatalities on record in Pennsylvania. Lastly, a municipality threw out not one, not two, but nearly 50 pieces of art by a Pittsburgh icon.

One college has issued trespassing notices to those in pro-Palestine encampments on campus. During a discussion about Kensington, Philadelphia officials got heated. Last year saw the second-lowest rate of traffic fatalities on record in Pennsylvania. Lastly, a municipality threw out not one, not two, but nearly 50 pieces of art by a Pittsburgh icon.

The Penn State faculty senate has passed a positional report asking the school's administration to pause its decision to close a number of its commonwealth campuses. New data has found that women are having children later in life. Carbon emissions are down in Philadelphia and, indeed, nationwide. Finally, this spot got recognized for giving a great dinner and show.

The rate went down slightly, but Philadelphia still saw its second-highest year for drug overdose deaths in 2023. State lawmakers want the owners of Crozer Health — Prospect Medical Holdings — to give back the millions they received to keep the now-closing hospitals open. SEPTA, meet SWEPTA. Also, the 250th anniversary of the country's founding won't be the only thing Philadelphia's celebrating soon.

UPS is nixing tens of thousands of jobs and will close down dozens of facilities. A bill that would regulate virtual currency has moved forward. A restaurant sold a million-dollar scratch-off. Plus, in just a few years, a proton beam cancer treatment center will open up in Philadelphia.

A popular apple juice sold in Pennsylvania has been recalled. SEPTA is cracking down on fare evaders. The last bear season drew in a pretty big harvest. Lastly, these towns want new residents so bad, they'll pay you to move there.

A bill that would exempt farmers from paying unemployment taxes for migrant workers has advanced. An official has joined an effort to establish Congressional term limits. Energy officials are mulling over the possible effects these data centers will have on the power grid. And this wedding was metal.

Pennsylvanians lost hundreds of millions of dollars in scams last year. The state has joined an online poker market. About $1 million has been invested into local golf courses ahead of the U.S. Open. Lastly, it's hummingbird migration season.

The closure of Crozer health hospitals will result in one of the biggest layoffs seen in Pennsylvania in recent years. As the bus driver shortage continues, one school district has changed its start and dismissal times. Here are some tips on how to deal with spring allergies. Finally, you can now help name the Philadelphia Zoo's newest residents.

Amputations in Pennsylvania — and beyond — are spiking due to tranq. Instagram has started to use AI to crack down on teens lying about their age. The state Game Commission will spray nearly 40,000 acres of land to protect it against a pesky insect. Lastly – calling all extras!

After months of uncertainty, Crozer Health hospitals will close. The state has boosted the transparency of its oversight of county Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). One county is will test delivering medical supplies via drones. And if Pennsylvania was an emoji, it'd be this one.

A major truck company will lay off hundreds of workers at a Pennsylvania-based plant. A Macy's goes up for sale. Penn Sate has delayed the closure announcement for one of its branch campuses. And it's a game of gas stations.

An airport is making some security checkpoint adjustments. If you're driving an EV or hybrid car in Pennsylvania, you'll have to pay a fee. One utilities wants an 11.3 percent rate hike, but one consumer advocate claims this boost could be illegal. Finally, they made their “moo-ve” and escaped from their farm.

A Philadelphia-based chain has been dealt another blow. Two Wawas will close soon. A scam is targeting people with lost pets. Lastly, this is 2025's “Coolest Thing Made in PA” winner.

A man is the first to be charged under a new state child pornography law. Crozer Health's CEO is stepping down at the end of this week. Ah, tax season is over — now here's what to expect with refunds. Finally, cops are looking for the two guys that parachuted off a skyscraper.

Step away from the fork and knife, slowly — this city in Pennsylvania won't tolerate your “pizza crime.”