As I’m sure you’re well aware, a trip to the grocery store is more expensive now than it has been in years.

Prices have risen about 2% since March 2025, according to the Department of Agriculture, up more than 31% since 2019. Nearly half of Americans find it challenging to afford food, yet with ongoing geopolitical tension and supply chain pressures, grocery prices are only expected to keep climbing in 2026.

That makes where you buy your groceries more important than ever—but the real cost of your shopping cart depends not just on the store, but on what you’re buying and when. Stores like Aldi and Walmart keep prices low all the time, but sales, coupons, and rewards programs at seemingly more expensive supermarkets like Giant Eagle or Giant Food Stores can sometimes beat those everyday prices.

To help you stretch your dollar at the grocery store, our Kalena Thomhave has put together a guide that breaks down store pricing strategies, what they mean for your grocery bill, and where you can get the most bang for your buck at grocery stores throughout Pennsylvania, like ACME, Giant Food Stores, Giant Eagle, Price Rite, Weis, and more.

A hummingbird at a home garden in Bethlehem. (Creative Commons)

It’s that time of year when you may spot the tiny and elusive hummingbird flitting about your yard. 

Rapid urbanization is restricting hummingbirds’ habitats and food sources. But you can help the tiny birds by making your outdoor space a bird-friendly habitat with a proper hummingbird feeder strategically hung in a shaded area, and the right kind of flowers that will keep them coming back for more nectar.

We’ve got much more in this story on what to know about setting up a hummingbird-friendly environment in your yard, and hummingbird havens you can visit, like the Hummingbird Trail at Montour Preserve in Danville and the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum on the southwest edge of Philadelphia.

• In the battle for data centers, tech giants have gained a blue-collar ally in Pa. unions, who are employed on a huge number of data center projects and scrambling to recruit new apprentices to feed the explosive demand. Find out more here.

• More on data center expansion in Pa.: 6 properties in Pocono Township are being considered for data centers. Get the details here.

• And in Bucks County, data centers have become a political issue this election season as some residents express concerns over pending projects in multiple towns. We have the story here.

• A newly introduced bill in the state House and Senate would decriminalize homelessness across Pennsylvania in response to a recent US Supreme Court ruling allowing local governments to crack down on encampments. We have the story here.

(Shutterstock)

Think your cat or dog has what it takes to be the cutest in Pennsylvania? Get them ready for their close-up, for a good cause!

USA Today’s Pet Lovers’ Choice Awards, the first awards show celebrating America’s pets, just announced the launch of its ‘Best in State’ Awards. Pet owners can enter cats or dogs in their state’s competition. Fan votes will determine a winner in all 50 states, then crown one state winner ‘Best Pet in the Nation.’

Get the details on how to enter your pet here.

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

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