By Tim Lambert | Editor
“Having been a county election commissioner for 10 years, I know first hand how much preparation goes into every election, no matter what cycle or what’s going on in the political world outside of election administration. I’m confident that eligible voters in Pa. can and should approach this election like they always do, which means voting by whichever method works best for them.” — Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, on preparations underway for the November election.
A good Saturday morning to you. With a nor’easter expected to hit the central and eastern parts of the state this weekend, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that things will calm down by tomorrow night. I’d like to make use of my tickets for the Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit show along the Susquehanna in Harrisburg.
I’ve seen this movie before, actually. Four years ago, a buddy and I were at the Pittsburgh Maple House Festival (not sure if that is even a thing anymore) and a major thunderstorm hit before Isbell took the stage. After the all clear, we emerged from our shelter and ended up right on the rail up front. As always, the band tore it up for those of us who stuck around.
Whatever you are up to this weekend, have fun and be safe.
Thanks for starting your day with us. As always, we deeply appreciate you reading, sharing and supporting our work. -- Tim
The Moshannon Valley Processing Center, with beds for about 1,800 people, is the largest ICE detention center on the east coast. Clearfield County serves as a pass-through for about $5 million a month in federal money that ICE pays private prison operator The GEO Group to run the center. The county receives $200,000 a year. (Photo by Ian Karbal/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
By Natalie Bencivenga
The Week in Focus is a recap of our top stories.
Pa. Supreme Court decisions on felony murder and skill games will force the two issues to the top of lawmakers' agendas when they return next week. (Photo by Peter Hall/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
By Whitney Downard
For the first time since late July, Pennsylvania’s General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene next week in Harrisburg.
At the top of the agenda are the results of two state Supreme Court decisions: one determining that mandatory life sentences for felony murder are unconstitutional and another putting tens of thousands of slot machine-like gaming terminals at risk of seizure.
Lawmakers failed to come to a consensus on the former before a court-imposed deadline passed, leaving prosecutors and judges with no guidance for sentencing those convicted of the crime.
They also did not address the court’s determination in June that the “unlawful” skill games devices should be regulated just like other gambling machines. By betting on games of chance, players can win jackpots. Completing a complex puzzle gives them a chance to win back any losses.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer’s badge is seen as federal agents patrol the halls of immigration court in New York City on June 10, 2025. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
By Ian Karbal
Earlier this month, immigrants’ rights advocacy groups, the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition and the Centre County Rapid Response Network, brought attention to what they were calling the “largest ICE workplace raid in Pennsylvania to date.”
They said more than 40 construction workers — nationals from Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and other countries — were detained in a major Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation while leaving work building an addition on the Geisinger Medical Center campus in Danville, Montour County, on Sept. 2. Several more, they said, were arrested under similar circumstances the following week on Sept. 8.
The Capital-Star has not been able to independently verify many of the details, and has received conflicting information from police departments in the county that assisted ICE, advocates and witnesses, including a Geisinger employee and a construction worker who was there the day of the raid.
Altogether, the incident paints a picture of how difficult it can be to get timely and accurate information on ICE activity at this phase of the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign.
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Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor speaks during a news conference at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, announcing the findings of a performance audit of the commonwealth's Department of Aging. (Commonwealth Media Services)
By Peter Hall
A new system for evaluating the performance of county offices that investigate claims of elder abuse fails to protect the commonwealth’s senior citizens, an audit found.
It was conducted by state Auditor General Timothy DeFoor, who released the results Wednesday.
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging, which was the subject of the audit, offered a 30-page response to the findings, saying that the auditor general’s office conducted its probe as the agency was rolling out the new system.
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