Pennsylvania Capital-Star

06/19/2026

The Week in Focus is a video recap of our top stories:

1. Pennsylvania is one step closer to paid family and medical leave.

2. The future of skill games is up in the air in the commonwealth.

3. A controversial immigration detention center plan puts a Schuylkill County community in the spotlight.

The Week in Focus is a recap of our top stories, with a new video posting every Friday.

06/18/2026

After spending almost $207 million to purchase two vacant warehouses in Pennsylvania, the Department of Homeland Security is reported to be offloading the pair and five other facilities around the country, with The New York Times reporting Thursday that seven warehouses are on the list.

After spending almost $207 million to purchase two vacant warehouses in Pennsylvania, the Department of Homeland Security is reported to be offloading the pair.

06/18/2026

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court rebuked progressive Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner in a closely split ruling on Tuesday, saying his office misled a court tasked with reviewing criminal convictions and sentences when it argued in favor of a new trial.

In a close ruling, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justices added another layer or scrutiny to certain Philadelphia District Attorney cases.

06/18/2026

A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that the Trump administration is within its rights to remove and replace exhibits on slavery at the President’s House site in Philadelphia.

The ruling was issued just over two weeks ahead of planned July 4 celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary.

The ruling was issued just over two weeks ahead of planned July 4 celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary.

06/17/2026

Data center developers would be required to pledge transparency in Pennsylvania communities where they want to build in order to get a sales tax break on computer equipment, under legislation aiming to prevent secrecy around the massive computing hubs.

06/16/2026

State lawmakers have long eyed skill games as both a vice in need of regulation and a potential source of new revenue for the commonwealth.

For years, they’ve struggled to reach a consensus on the details.

The state Supreme Court’s ruling Monday declaring the devices illegal brought both clarity and a sense of urgency for the legislature to act.

The state Supreme Court’s ruling Monday declaring skill games illegal brought both clarity and a sense of urgency for the legislature to act.

06/15/2026

Skill games are unlawful under Pennsylvania’s Gaming Act and Crimes Code, the state Supreme Court ruled Monday.

The decision strikes down what the commonwealth’s highest court called a pair of “deeply flawed” lower court rulings that allowed the slot-machine-like gambling devices to spread across Pennsylvania in a legal gray area beyond the reach of gaming authorities and law enforcement.

The decision strikes down what the commonwealth’s highest court called a pair of “deeply flawed” lower court rulings.

06/15/2026

Community members have criticized elected leaders for their lack of transparency, engagement and responsiveness.

They’ve focused on those issues and infrastructure instead of immigration policy, which they say will be divisive.

ICE has plans to convert a former Big Lots distribution center into an immigration detention center in Tremont Township, Schuylkill County.

06/14/2026

The Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner found Daphy Michel died from hypothermia due to “the actions of another individual.”

From Pittsburgh's PublicSource

Daphy Michel, a Haitian immigrant who died days after her release from ICE custody, was a victim of homicide.