New look, who dis?

Welcome to the refreshed, redesigned Keystone newsletter. We hope you like it.

The new look is just one of the ways we’re trying to serve you better in 2026. 

Between the midterm elections, affordability issues impacting Pennsylvanians, the battles over AI data centers and ICE detention centers sprouting up across the state, and more, we’ll have plenty on our plates this year.

But we want to make sure we’re not missing anything, which is why we always want to hear from you.

Let us know about the issues impacting your community that you think we should be covering. We will read all your suggestions and use them to shape our coverage plans.

Items and artifacts are being curated for America’s Time Capsule, a national record chronicling our nation’s history for the country’s 250th birthday, which will be ceremonially buried at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia on July 4.

For our QOTW, we’d like to know: If you could pick one item to represent Pennsylvania in America’s Time Capsule, what would it be and why?

Here’s more of what you said you’d like to see in the time capsule:

“A piece of broken asphalt to commemorate our infamous potholes.”

—Steve, Erie (Ed. note: I think we have a winner)

“A Penn State banner, after all, ‘We are Penn State.’”

— Viki, West Chester

“A Pennsylvania Railroad spike representing the great railroad lines that kept the east coast factories working while hauling the peoples’ necessities.”

— Charles, Renovo

“A Mister Rogers mug from The Heinz History Center because …well, because he’s Pennsylvania’s homegrown famous neighbor.”

— Regina Frey, Pittsburgh

“A Slinky. Invented and made in Pa., loved by children everywhere.”

— Pat Devlin, Edgemont 

Let us know the item you’d select, and please let us know where you live.

(Shutterstock)

Your earlier (or later) than expected watery eyes, runny nose, and scratchy throat aren’t playing tricks on you: in some parts of the state, allergy season is longer than it used to be. 

According to a new report from the climate research group Climate Central, the freeze-free growing season for plants—that’s the time between the last and first freeze, which represents the length of allergy season—has extended by an average of 21 days in 87% (173) of the 198 US cities analyzed from 1970 to 2025.

In Philadelphia, the allergy season has extended by five weeks in that time frame. However in Allentown, the allergy season has shortened by 8 days. 

So, what’s behind these warming trends that lead to earlier, longer, and worse allergy seasons for those who suffer from seasonal allergies to pollen?

• The war in Iran isn’t the only reason Pennsylvania’s gas prices are currently higher than the national average. Our gas tax ranks among the highest in the country. Find out why it’s so high and what it pays for in this story.

• One of the suspects from Bucks County accused of participating in an ‘ISIS-inspired’ NYC terrorism plot involving improvised explosives bought a fireworks fuse at a local store. Get the latest on the story here.

• Former WGAL anchor Janelle Stelson is looking forward to her general election rematch against US House Rep. Scott Perry (R-York) in this year’s midterm election. Find out why Stelson is calling the seven-term congressman a “coward” in this report from our Sean Kitchen.

• Up to 6.4% of Pennsylvania adults could be problem gamblers, according to a new study from Penn State. Find out more here.

• The head priest and dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Pittsburgh is facing charges after being accused of stealing more than $1,000 in baseball cards from a Walmart. Get the details here.

The potato pizza at Ferri’s in Moscow is available only during the 40-day Lenten season, when pizzerias throughout NEPA offer similar pizzas based on pagach (or pagash), a traditional, meatless Eastern European dish featuring dough topped with mashed potatoes, cheese, onions, and fried cabbage. (Ferri’s Pizza)

Pizza is a convenient and family-friendly meal option for those who abstain from eating meat on Fridays during the 40-day Lenten season leading up to Easter.

For some in northeastern Pennsylvania, Lenten “pizza Fridays” feature a culinary twist rooted in the region’s rich heritage of Eastern European immigrants. 

During Lent, pizzerias throughout NEPA make pizzas based on pagach (or pagash), a traditional, meatless Eastern European dish featuring dough topped with mashed potatoes, cheese, onions, and fried cabbage. Though commonly associated with the Lenten season, the filling dish was a year-round staple for families who lived and worked in Pennsylvania’s anthracite coal region, and remains so today. 

Want to learn more about pagach pizzas, and who serves the best ones in NEPA? You’ve come to the right place.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Patrick Berkery with stories from Sean Kitchen, and USA Today via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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