President Donald Trump hammered on grocery bills throughout his campaign against then-Vice President Kamala Harris, bemoaning the expense of everyday staples like eggs and milk.

“We’ll get them down,” President Trump said of food prices during a campaign stop at Sprankle’s Neighborhood Market near Pittsburgh last September.

But as Trump marks one year in office, economic indexes show the cost of groceries remains high. There has been a dip in the price of certain products, most notably eggs, as the worst ripple effects of the avian flu subside. However, beef and coffee costs have soared, and the overall food prices were 3.1% higher in December than a year earlier, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

I can tell you anecdotally that at the two markets where I shop most frequently—Trader Joe’s and Sprouts stores just outside of Philadelphia—the prices of staple items such as canned beans, soup stock, bread, coffee, and yogurt have risen approximately anywhere from 10% to 15% in the last year.

In Chester County, Mollie Jasudowich said inflation has thrown her budget “way out of whack,” even though she’s shopping only for one. Affordability has been a persistent problem, she said, and she doesn’t think it’s gotten better under Trump.

“I don’t know how people would be doing it with a family and children,” she said while exiting a Walmart with groceries in tow. “It’s so terribly expensive.”

For a deeper analysis on whether Trump has delivered on his promise to rein in grocery costs, we gathered several perspectives from different points along Pennsylvania’s food supply chain, from farmers to grocery store owners to consumers.

In honor of Martin Luther King Day on Monday, we asked: Which historical figure do you most admire and why?

Here are some of your responses:

“Belva Lockwood, the first woman to argue in front of the US Supreme Court and run for president, prior to women’s suffrage. We are not related but she was my inspiration when I attended law school at 45-years-old after cleaning pools for 16 years.” 

— Marcia Lockwood, Shippensburg

“Frederick Douglass. He rose from enslavement to become a great political philosopher, presidential confidant, and powerful orator. As a popular public speaker, he forced Americans to look in the mirror and answer for the scourge of slavery. His 1852 speech, ‘What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?’ should be required reading for all Americans.”

— John Raymond, Marshfield

“I admire Thomas Edison for his genius and creative mind as inventor and industrialist. He was almost the da Vinci of America’s Industrial Age!”

— Keith, Allentown

“Anne Sullivan, hands down. Famously Helen Keller’s teacher, Anne Sullivan did not see Helen as unteachable or less than when many others would have, especially at the time. As an aspiring teacher of students with exceptionalities, I see Anne as a shining example of cultivating the potential in every human. She inspires me not to see limits, but to always think in terms of possibilities.”

— Meredith, South Sterling

Let us know which historical figure you admire most and why, and please let us know where you live.

Indoor booths at the Green Dragon Market in Lancaster County. (Creative Commons)

As a long-time collector of records and sports memorabilia, I’m no stranger to Pennsylvania’s flea markets. Especially Rennigers in Adamstown, where I spent many a Sunday with my parents growing up.

Pennsylvania is home to a thriving antique mall and flea market scene. In fact, Adamstown is known as “Antiques Capital USA” because its thousands of antique dealers attract “pickers” (skilled antique shoppers) and collectors from across the country.

But you can find more than just antiques at Pennsylvania’s flea markets, which tend to be less expensive—and less discerning—than antique malls. At flea markets, there are treasures galore, like antiques, but also salvaged goods, crafts, and even food. While most flea markets operate in the open air, and therefore are only open in the warmer months, some markets in Pa. set up shop indoors year-round. Our Kalena Thomhave is highlighting indoor flea markets across the state that are worth a visit this time of year.

• Two Pa. Democratic US Reps. have signed on to an effort to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who has defended the confrontational actions of ICE and Border Patrol agents. Find out more here.

• Lehigh Valley Public Media, which includes PBS39, NPR affiliate WLVR, and LehighValleyNews.com, has laid off nearly half of its staff. Get the story from Lehigh Valley News.

• In Erie, the Second Harvest Food Bank has opened a free grocery store inside a UPMC neighborhood health center where individuals can receive mental health care, workforce development, and assistance to escape domestic violence situations. Get the details in this story.

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti smiles after their win against Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game, Monday, Jan. 19, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Associated Press)

Congratulations to Pittsburgh native Curt Cignetti, who became the first college football head coach to win a national title in his first or second season with a team in 15 years, after guiding unbeaten Indiana to a 27-21 win over Miami in the College Football Playoff final for the first national championship in school history.

Cignetti began his head coaching career at Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2011, following in the footsteps of his father, College Football Hall of Fame coach Frank Cignetti Sr.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Patrick Berkery with stories from Kalena Thomhave, The Associated Press, USA Today via Reuters Connect, and the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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