As with data centers, the debate over Flock cameras—the nationwide network of cameras that record the license plate numbers and other characteristics of passing vehicles—is playing out across the country.

Flock Safety, the surveillance technology company behind the cameras, is under scrutiny from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, civil liberties advocates, and citizens. Thousands of police agencies can use Flock data to support investigations. Advocates call it an important crime-fighting tool. Critics call it unnecessary mass surveillance. (Have I Been Flocked allows you to check to see if your license plate has been scanned, though its dataset is incomplete.)

More than 50 agencies or jurisdictions have canceled, suspended, or rejected a contract or deactivated their cameras since the beginning of the year, according to a tracker maintained by DeFlock, a grassroots group formed to track the use of the license plate reader technology and push back against it. Cameras around the country have also been vandalized.

In south-central Pennsylvania, Franklin County is a microcosm of the nationwide debate over Flock cameras.

After weeks of commentary by citizens against the camera network at government meetings and online, and vandalism of the devices on public and private property, Franklin County’s top law enforcement officers tried to lower the temperature by speaking to residents at a county commissioners’ meeting last week. Predictably, emotions ran high on both sides of the argument.

Then on Wednesday, county commissioners voted unanimously to not renew their $4,500 contract with Flock Safety.

Chairman Dean Horst said that the contract, approved last October, would be up for renewal in about 30 days, but he was concerned about waiting even a month given the controversy that has grown locally.

“I think we’re at the point now where the lack of public trust in the system really concerns me for us to even stay in this conversation much longer,” Horst said.

Find out more in this story.

Patrick Berkery

Senior Newsletter Editor, The Keystone

With the midterms approaching, we want to know: What’s driving your vote this year?

Here’s what you’re saying:

“Reduction of government debt. Deportation of illegal entrants. Reduction in legal immigration. Ending sanctuary jurisdictions. Respect for law enforcement. A Supreme Court that interprets law by adhering to the Constitution. The right of citizens to join or not join a labor union.” — Robert Martin, Dauphin County

“The decline of morals. I’m not pushing religious values, but common decency. We have a convicted criminal in our highest office. He needs to be controlled and ousted. I would like serious criminal illegal aliens ousted, but not those escaping terror in their own countries. I am ashamed of our current government, federal and state.” — Barbara, Columbia County

“Getting rid of (President Trump’s) Big Beautiful Bill would be a good starting point!” — Jackie Deeken, Warrington

“The return of our democracy. The present administration is focused on vanity projects; making Washington, DC look like Mar-a-Lago. People can’t afford groceries, housing, gas, or healthcare. (Trump) has alienated our allies. I fear it will take years to undo all the damage he has done.” — Sandy L., Lester

“Taking back control of the Congress and Senate in order to control the out of control president and his administration!” — Sally, Lebanon

“I would like to see someone pull our country together again. This idea of ‘us and them’ is tearing this great nation apart. If we could go back to the art of compromise then we would have a much better place to raise our children. If we could do that, then many of our problems would be solved. May not solve all problems, but it’s a great place to start.” — Tom Poynton, Wilson

What issues are driving your vote this year? Reply below with your answer.

TELL US: What’s driving your vote this year?

The return of the Great Allentown Fair

The midway at the long-running Great Allentown Fair, which opens Sept. 2, will be filled with classic carnival rides. (DnDavis/Shutterstock)

The Great Allentown Fair, one of the oldest fairs in the US, is set to return. More than 170 years since its debut in 1852, the fair remains a purely Pennsylvania event. It’s part-agricultural show, part-classic fair, and part-comfort food extravaganza.

This year, the Great Allentown Fair takes over the Allentown Fairgrounds Wednesday, Sept. 2 to Monday, Sept. 7, with farm animals, rides, grandstand entertainment, amusing contests (hay bale throwing contest, anyone?), plenty of scheduled fun, and lots of classic fair eats (read: delicious fried food).

Whether you want to ride the Ferris wheel, sink your teeth into a deep-fried Oreo, or check out prize-winning pies, our Kalena Thomhave has you covered with a guide to making the most of your trip to the Great Allentown Fair.

READ: Your guide to the Great Allentown Fair

• Pennsylvania will receive part of a nearly $17 billion settlement that a multistate coalition reached with Facebook’s parent company, Meta, as the social media giant implements stricter rules for its youngest users. Find out how much the state will receive in this story.

• State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, the Republican challenger in Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race, is attacking Gov. Josh Shapiro for accepting contributions from data center developers after she accepted donations from a data center developer. Get the details here.

• Safeguarding yourself, and your pets, from ticks requires protection before, during, and after spending time outdoors in the fall, which is increasingly becoming a busy time for adult ticks in Pennsylvania. Here are some tips to stay safe.

Finally…

An Amtrak train departs 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

A quick roundup of stories you may have missed this week.

🚅 Amtrak will operate a second daily passenger train between Pittsburgh and New York via Harrisburg and Philadelphia starting in mid-November. We have the details here.

🍌 Overlapping economic issues and federal policy changes have left food banks across Pennsylvania struggling to keep up with demand in the face of SNAP cuts. Get the story here.

🏞 Sean Nam and two park rangers were recognized for their life‑saving actions after Nam’s friend and former college roommate Bill Blandford suffered a cardiac arrest while cycling in Lebanon County’s Swatara State Park. Get the details here.

🎤 Long before she was a global country music superstar, Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday, played the York Inter-State Fair in 1971. Ticket price? $2.50. Learn more about the gig here.

Have a great weekend, Pennsylvania!