We’re two weeks into the baseball season, so allow me to start today’s newsletter with two bold predictions about Pennsylvania’s two MLB franchises:

The Phillies will score again this season. 

The Phillies were shut out in the last two games of their series with the Giants in San Francisco, and haven’t had a runner cross home plate since the 7th inning of Monday’s game. I assure you that will change tonight, when they begin a homestand against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

If you’re thinking of heading out to Citizens Bank Park to catch the Phillies soon and wondering what kind of giveaways and theme nights they’ve got cooking this year, we’ve got you covered with this complete guide to all the promotions and special events happening at CBP during the 2026 season.

The Pirates will finish above .500. 

I said what I said. And why do I believe that the Pirates will win more than they lose for the first time since 2018? For one thing, they’ve got a strong starting rotation fronted by perhaps the best starter in the bigs, Paul Skenes. For another, they’ve got one of the most promising rookies in baseball in shortstop Konnor Griffin, who doesn’t turn 20 for another two weeks. The Pirates are so high on this kid, they just locked him up for nine years and a whole lot of money. 

Just imagine if they could lock up Skenes long term.

Monday was National Beer Day, so we’ve been asking: What’s your favorite Pennsylvania beer?

Here’s one more round of your answers:

“Joose Juicy, a hazy IPA from Ever Grain Brewing.”

— Jim, Lewisberry

“Joose Juicy from Ever Grain.”

— Cathie J., Camp Hill

“Victory Cloud Walker.”

— Catherine Alexander Roumpz, Pottstown

“Straub Beer from St. Mary’s.”  

— Larry, Norristown 

“Hidden River Lava Channel rocks! I drop the wife at Boscov’s and off I go.”  

— Al, Schwenksville

“Tröegs Troegenator Double Bock. Great malty flavor, creamy, slightly sweet. A nice kick also.”

— Terry Tuerk, West Chester

“Sunny Side Up and all of its iterations from Pizza Boy Brewing/AlLS of Hampden.”

—Ray, Mechanicsburg

We’ll be back with another QOTW on Monday. And if you’ve got an idea for a future QOTW, please let us know!

Pennsylvania Bureau of Environmental Management staff and volunteers plant native shrubs and flowers during a 2016 Earth Day project at Fort Indiantown Gap in Annville. (Creative Commons)

On April 22, millions of people around the world will celebrate Earth Day.

On the first Earth Day in 1970, 20 million Americans took to the streets to protest dirty air, polluted rivers, and unchecked industrial waste. Since then, the annual event has raised awareness about conservation and sustainability, encouraging more people to recycle, plant trees, and demand government action to protect the Earth.

Still, even more than 50 years later, these efforts have not kept pace with the scale of the environmental crisis as the planet continues to warm. In fact, the continental US has warmed roughly 2.8 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970—and Pennsylvania has warmed even faster, by 3.2 degrees.

While things may look dire—and everyday Pennsylvanians aren’t the key drivers of the climate crisis—there are still meaningful actions you can take. Whether you’re drawing attention to local issues through advocacy, beautifying your community by picking up litter, or improving the air we breathe by planting trees, every effort counts.

Our Kalena Thomhave is highlighting Earth Day volunteer opportunities across Pennsylvania that you can join, along with ways to advocate for the environment year-round.

• Five Pennsylvania cities are hosting free America250PA concerts this summer, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Thursday. Find out who’s playing where and when in this story.

• Thousands of people have been working behind the scenes at NASA to keep Artemis II’s lunar mission in motion, including central Pa. native Madison Schmaltz. Learn about her journey from Dover Area High School to Kennedy Space Center in this story.

• A bill that would establish a statewide paid family and medical leave program just passed the state House, but its chances in the Senate aren’t as promising. Ashley Adams has the details here.

• Lawmakers in Harrisburg are weighing options for consumer protections after more than 31,000 Pennsylvanians lost $538 million in cryptocurrency and AI scams last year. Get the story here.

Fox kits are seen at the Raven Ridge Wildlife Center after they were rescued from a tiny drain pipe on Monday, April 7, 2026, in Windsor Township. (Photo: USA Today Network via Reuters Connect/Raven Ridge Wildlife Center)

We’ll leave you today with the story of baby foxes who were rescued after they were found trapped in a tiny drain pipe in southern York County on Monday.

A man called the Raven Ridge Wildlife Center and reported finding two fox kits stuck in a small drainage field pipe. It took four hours, but with the help of area first responders, the foxes were able to be recused.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Patrick Berkery with stories from Ashley Adams, Kalena Thomhave,  The Associated Press, USA Today via Reuters Connect, and Whitney Downard of the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. It was edited by Brook Bolen.

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