Good morning, Harrisburg.

ZooAmerica in Hershey received two orphaned American black bear cubs named Briar and Bramble from Montana, and the 5-month-olds are acclimating behind the scenes — they will join Chief in the Eastern Woodlands exhibit in 2027.

The park also welcomed prairie dogs and a ringtail kit, continuing its legacy of conservation.

Susquehanna Township School District leaders say additional state funding will hire more staff and boost instructional resources, yet overcrowded classes and trailer spaces remain a challenge.

The district is set to receive ($1.8m) for facilities, though its building needs outpace the funds as enrollment grows.

Harrisburg school district will receive $124M in state funds for the 2026-27 school year after passing its $227M budget on June 30; the funding (comprising $89.1M for basic education, $9M for special education and $26.2M for additional programs) came within half a point of projections, officials said.

Penn State will get over $4 million in performance-based funds from the state budget passed on Sunday (July 12).

The extra $10 million, shared with Pitt and Temple, will help lower in-state tuition for students.

Rep. Dan Meuser led a moment of silence at the Capitol on Tuesday for fallen State Trooper Michael Pahira Jr., who was killed in Schuylkill County on July 1.

He also urged passing Delilah's Law to strengthen commercial driver licensing requirements.

Pennsylvania officials launched CAPE, a new oversight tool to review local aging agencies and boost elder protection; the state budget added 1 million dollars to support detailed reviews that replace a pass-fail model.

State Sen. Greg Rothman said House Bill 2559, passed on July 12, will transfer ownership of historic Peace Church in Hampden Township from the state commission to Friends of Peace Church — preserving the county's oldest church in its original condition.

The bill awaits the governor’s signature.

Traffic signal work begins today at Oberlin Road and Spring Garden Drive in Lower Swatara Township — a temporary signal will start by July 29 and become permanent in late August as part of school district upgrades for the new primary school.

Forty-two states reached an $18 million settlement with 23andMe after a 2023 data breach exposed genetic data of 6.9 million people; Pennsylvania received nearly $500K for about 200K residents following the company’s bankruptcy filing in March 2025.

Bill Minsker, a retired educator with nearly 50 years in service including 25 years at Lower Dauphin School District, will see his pension rise 15-24.5% as the state budget now includes cost-of-living adjustments for eligible retirees.

Adjustments will begin with payments after July 1, 2026 (backpay issued if late).

Central PA officials offer a county-by-county guide of cooling centers and air-conditioned public spaces to help residents beat dangerous heat during the current heat wave.

The list provides site hours and addresses in Adams, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, Lancaster, and York (operating from morning till evening).

The Swisher Sweets 10-Year Anniversary

7 p.m. — XL Live — Free show — Celebrate a decade of music with surprise performances by local favorites The Swisher Sweets and guests.

Guns N' Roses Concert

6:25-7:55 p.m. — Hersheypark Stadium — Ticket prices vary — Experience electrifying rock anthems from the legendary Guns N' Roses live.

The String Cheese Incident Live

7:00 – 8:45 PM — Riverfront Park — Tickets available — Experience an evening with pioneers of live music and innovative band culture.