Sure, you love Auntie Anne’s butter-coated soft pretzels, a staple of mall food courts for well over 30 years. But how much do you really know about the Pennsylvania-born pretzel paradise?

For instance, did you know that the business started as a humble pretzel-and-pizza stand at a Chester County farmer’s market? Or that Auntie Anne’s had an angel investor who was a Mennonite chicken farmer? Or that the company dropped a buttery-scented perfume a couple of years back?

Hungry for more tasty facts? You’ve come to the right place.

There’s never a shortage of things to cover in Pennsylvania, and that’s especially true in 2026. Between the midterm elections, affordability issues impacting our communities, America’s 250th birthday celebrations across the state, the World Cup putting Philadelphia on the International sports stage, 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 want to hear from you. We’re rolling out the Keystone Suggestion Box to give you a voice in what we’re covering. We will read all your suggestions and use them to shape our coverage plans.

The edge of a cornfield in Ronks, Pa., located in Lancaster County, on Oct. 14, 2025. (Jessica Kourkounis)

Pennsylvania small businesses are welcoming last week’s US Supreme Court decision striking down President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs—but many say the uncertainty isn’t over.

Lancaster County glass decorator Walt Rowen said the ruling “got it right,” yet businesses are still unsure whether they’ll see refunds or face new tariffs. Americans paid an estimated $126 billion under the policy, including about $4 billion in Pennsylvania.

For businesses like Rowen’s, higher import costs squeezed margins and disrupted orders. Farmers received federal aid to offset losses, but industry leaders say long-term stability—not stopgap payments—is what they need most.

• School districts across Pennsylvania are starting to see the benefits of the state’s shrinking multibillion-dollar education funding gap by hiring teachers and breaking ground on long-overdue school construction projects. Sean Kitchen has the full story here.

• A new Pennsylvania House proposal, “Victoria’s Law,” would bar pet stores from selling animals sourced from large-scale “puppy mills.” Supporters say it would improve animal welfare, but opponents say it doesn’t address unlicensed breeders. Get the full story here.

• The ACLU of Pennsylvania is calling for a “full and transparent” investigation into the police response to a Quakertown student walkout protesting ICE, after videos of physical confrontations between teens and officers drew national attention. Get the full story here.

Welcome to our weekly advice column, courtesy of Grace: She’s the big sister who shares her own mistakes so you can avoid making them, the coworker who builds you up to ask for the raise you deserve, and the friend who is always happy to listen.

We all need someone like Grace in our corner. Submit your own questions here. 

Dear Grace,

My husband and I have a dairy farm. My family has been farmers going back generations, and I’m proud of that. We have always treated our farm workers well, and we get to know their kids and families. Some are from towns around here, and some are immigrants. We rely on the H-2A visa program (don’t get me started on that big, expensive headache), and we’ve been able to squeak by every year.

Recently, my county had a raid from ICE at a bunch of farms. Folks we know were carted off…even people with papers. The farms that got hit are scrambling without workers. My husband has been stressed and can’t sleep. We’re both scared that our workers will be separated from their kids. We’re worried that we’ll end up sh*ts creek without a paddle like those other farms.

I’m worried that all of this mess will really hurt our business, or even shut us down.

What can I do to support my husband and the good guys who work with us?

– Sleepless, Stressed Out, and Scared in PA

Dear Sleepless,

First, take a breath. What you’re carrying is heavy, and anyone in your shoes would feel shaken. You care deeply about your family’s land, your workers, your husband, and the community you all have built together. That alone says a lot about the kind of woman you are. When the world feels like it’s spinning out of control, kindness can feel like the only steady ground—and you’ve already got that part down. You’re not overreacting; this is real fear, and it’s rooted in real love for your people. Here is some advice that I hope will help…

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Patrick Berkery with stories from Kalena Thomhave, Sean Kitchen, USA Today via Reuters Connect, Galvanize Together, and Whitney Downard and Peter Hall of the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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