AGP Executive Report

Severe Weather & Public Safety: A fast-moving storm system brought tornado warnings and damaging winds across Pennsylvania, with reports of downed trees and power impacts; in Western Pa., a severe thunderstorm warning cited possible 60 mph gusts and small hail, while local reports described trees falling onto homes and roads blocked by debris. Local Infrastructure: PennDOT work is set to cause short delays and lane restrictions on Bedford County’s William Penn Road resurfacing (June 22–July 3) and bridge rehab impacts on Reynoldsdale Road and Ott Road, with an Oppenheimer Run bridge signal and detour in place. Outdoor Recreation: Hersheypark postponed an outdoor concert due to dangerous weather, moving the Forrest Frank show to June 15. Wildlife & Health: Health officials are urging prevention as Pennsylvania residents face a tick-bite spike, with tick season ramping up. Workforce & Education: Lycoming Career and Technology Center received $1 million for expansion funding to add programs and meet growing demand. Youth Outdoors: Venango County’s Youth Field Day drew about 180 kids for hands-on hunting, fishing, and wildlife conservation stations. Water Quality: A Great Lakes plastics investigation highlights microplastic pollution and calls out gaps in regulation affecting lake water and fish. Immigration Accountability: A Haitian asylum seeker’s death in Pittsburgh was ruled a homicide after release from ICE custody, renewing calls for legal action.

Severe Weather: Tornado warnings hit western Pennsylvania Sunday, including parts of Butler/Clarion and later Beaver/Lawrence, while a broader severe thunderstorm watch covered the Pittsburgh region through 9 p.m., with damaging winds, hail, and a possible tornado risk as storms roll in. Storm Prep: Another round of strong storms is expected across South-Central PA later Sunday, with damaging winds the main threat and isolated flash flooding possible. Invasive Species: A study-style field test found pet dogs can outperform professional specialists at sniffing out spotted lanternfly egg masses, offering a practical tool to slow the pest’s spread in Pennsylvania and beyond. PFAS/Water Quality: New reporting flags rising PFAS levels in Delaware River fish, suggesting contamination is moving faster than the water can dilute it. Energy & Grid: NextEra officials defended the MidAtlantic Resiliency Link transmission project in West Virginia hearings, arguing it will ease grid congestion and boost reliability. Local Environment Politics: A Pennsylvania candidate and lawmakers continue pushing back on AI data center growth, as community opposition collides with tech-backed lobbying. Wildlife Health: “Bug Guy” warns tick season is sending more people to emergency rooms, urging simple prevention steps like inspecting and removing ticks quickly.

Severe Weather Watch: The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center flags a Sunday risk for tornadoes across parts of Pennsylvania and the Northeast, with damaging winds also possible—plan for watches and warnings as storms roll in. PFAS in Local Waters: A new Delaware River Basin Commission report finds PFAS rising faster than the river can dilute it, with contamination detected in fish from the Delaware and tributaries, including elevated levels tied to areas from Chester, Pa. Data Center Pressure: A Salem Township proposal from the 4-3 Glen Brook Group would seek zoning changes for a massive, multi-building data center campus—raising questions about power demand, water use, and local impacts as the state’s data-center boom collides with politics. River Protection Win: Pennsylvania DCNR named the Conestoga River its 2026 River of the Year, praising clean-water stewardship and outdoor recreation benefits. Public Safety Ops: PennDOT plans overnight line painting next week in Clearfield and State College, using recycled-glass beads to keep markings visible at night. Human Rights & Accountability: A Haitian asylum seeker’s death after release from ICE custody has been ruled a homicide, with her family’s attorney saying they expect to sue ICE.

Severe Weather Watch: Another round of damaging storms is expected Sunday across the Northeast, with damaging winds, hail, and tornado risk threatening tens of millions after recent heat-fueled outbreaks that already knocked out power in Western Pennsylvania. Heat & Public Health: Savannah issued an extreme heat advisory with heat indices around 105–110 and opened cooling centers and splash pads—an early reminder for Pennsylvania communities to plan for heat stress. Data Centers & Politics: A new look at the data center boom finds hundreds of facilities planned or under construction in competitive House districts, fueling backlash over electric bills, water use, farmland impacts, and local transparency fights. PFAS & Cleanup Delays: Reporting highlights the Pentagon’s delayed PFAS cleanup across nearly 200 Pennsylvania military sites, keeping pressure on federal accountability for toxic contamination. Wildlife & Declines: A whip-poor-will study tracks migration and aims to slow declines, tying Pennsylvania field research to broader biodiversity concerns. Outdoor Access & Wildlife Management: Pennsylvania hunters get details on the 2026–27 deer season and antlerless license sales, plus a proposed short-term nonresident hunting license option. Local Conservation Legacy: A Clearfield County Youth Field Day celebrates hands-on wildlife learning for kids, continuing Pennsylvania’s tradition of outdoor education. Air Quality Rankings: A national survey flags the dirtiest U.S. cities using pollution and waste metrics—useful context for Pennsylvania readers watching environmental health trends.

Water Crisis Watch: Documents obtained through Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law reveal the long-running Tidioute water crisis, including repeated extensions of a boil-water advisory tied to low pressure, leaks, and persistent turbidity problems. Public Health & Access: Pennsylvania American Water is expanding service to the Snyder Hill/Gobbler’s Knob area in Young Township with a $2.8 million project, aiming to improve reliability for residents and support the Groundhog Day destination. Environmental Justice: A new report says federal rollbacks are shrinking environmental justice enforcement and decision-making power, even as communities continue pushing back locally. Outdoor Inclusion: DCNR announced expanded accessibility tools across Pennsylvania state parks and forests, including communication boards and assistive planning resources. Wildlife Protection: A Killdeer nesting discovery highlights how ground-nesting birds use camouflaged eggs on gravel and dirt—and why disturbing nests can violate federal protections. River Health: The Conestoga River was named Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year, spotlighting community stewardship and outdoor recreation gains. Policy & Industry Pressure: Lawmakers weigh taxes on Big Tech and data-center impacts, while local fights over data centers continue to raise concerns about energy, water, noise, and pollution.

Severe Weather Watch: A heat advisory is in effect across Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna Valley with feels-like temps near 100 and a chance for damaging storms, including strong winds, heavy rain, and small hail. PFAS Policy: The EPA is moving to roll back PFAS drinking-water rules, with comments due July 20, after court action and renewed debate over health impacts. Local Forest Stewardship: Salisbury Township is weighing a forest management plan that could bring $1.3 million to $1.8 million in timber revenue while aiming for long-term stewardship on township-owned land. Dog Bite Prevention: USPS is urging residents to secure dogs during delivery hours after Pennsylvania ranked fifth for dog bites involving postal workers in 2025. Data Center Pressure: Pennsylvania lawmakers are again floating taxes on Big Tech/data centers to help close budget gaps, as communities push back on new proposals. Public Health Debate: A new poll finds Americans sharply divided over adding fluoride to public drinking water, as federal review and legal/regulatory changes continue.

Severe Weather & Power Disruptions: Storm warnings and heat advisories are lining up across Pennsylvania’s region, with strong winds, hail risk, and thousands of outages reported in Western Pa. as thunderstorms roll through. Flood/Storm Preparedness: Blair County commissioners adopted a new hazardous mitigation plan to keep disaster-relief eligibility on track. Water & Infrastructure: Franklin’s A-108 sewer project is still progressing on schedule, with paving next and a related waterline replacement added after poor conditions were found. Energy & Environment Policy: Pennsylvania lawmakers are floating new taxes tied to data centers and digital ads as the state tries to close budget gaps, while communities push back on data center proposals. Climate/Health: A new study finds childhood lead levels are down overall, but disparities persist for children of color and low-wealth families. Oil & Land Stewardship: The Shapiro administration marked plugging its 400th abandoned gas well in Allegheny County, urging residents to report orphaned wells. Local Outdoor Safety: A 24-year-old man died after being knocked off a paddleboard during severe storms at Codorus State Park. Wildlife/Outdoor Education: Penn State Extension is offering “Venison 101” to teach safe processing and cooking, including chronic wasting disease and field dressing.

Severe Weather: Western Pennsylvania is under a Thunderstorm Watch as heat and humidity fuel storms that can bring heavy rain, lightning, and damaging winds—reports already show trees down and wires affected. Heat Risk: South-Central Pennsylvania faces a heat advisory with “feels like” conditions over 100 degrees, urging residents to slow down, hydrate, and stay in cool spots. Pollinator Conservation: Mill Cove’s butterfly program is back, using butterflies and moths as environmental health indicators while teaching how habitat and host plants support local ecosystems. Wildlife & Roads: A national push for wildlife crossings highlights how safer road designs can reduce animal-vehicle crashes and reconnect fragmented habitat. Cross-Border Energy: Ontario and Pennsylvania signed an MOU aimed at boosting cooperation, including expanded energy trade and infrastructure tied to critical minerals and life sciences. Local Nature Spotlight: Penn State’s H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens is hosting “Penn’s Woods Outdoor Art,” featuring a mayfly sculpture that points to the role of aquatic insects in healthy streams.

Food Safety Watch: A Chester County restaurant inspection found multiple problems at Cedar Creek Catering & Events, including uncovered foods, missing catch-bucket controls, and hot-holding temperatures below required levels. River & Wildlife: DCNR and partners celebrated the Conestoga River as Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year, while the Northwest Pennsylvania Woodland Association is set to host an educational ruffed grouse habitat program in the Allegheny National Forest. Energy & Data Centers: A major national debate is heating up over data centers and grid strain, with new warnings about power shortages and state-level pushback—plus Pennsylvania lawmakers are weighing how to rein in pharmacy benefit managers, another cost-pressure issue tied to health care. Weather & Public Safety: A heat advisory hits parts of the Susquehanna Valley, and South-Central PA braces for another stormy, hot stretch with impact-day conditions. Outdoor Tragedy: A paddleboarder who disappeared during Lake Marburg storms has been found dead.

PFAS Push in Harrisburg: State Rep. Valerie Gaydos backed House Bill 2145 to ban PFAS in high-contact consumer products like cosmetics, dental floss, menstrual products, and some infant/children items, aiming to cut health risks from “forever chemicals.” Toxic Pesticide Warning: A new report renews calls to restrict paraquat, arguing the herbicide’s extreme toxicity drives deaths and links to Parkinson’s and cancer, even as it remains widely used in the U.S. Health & Environment Science: Researchers report fog can host bacteria that may break down air pollutants, suggesting tiny airborne microbes can actively change local air chemistry. Wildlife Recovery: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed northeastern bulrush from the endangered list, citing a major rebound in known populations, including in Pennsylvania. Energy & Grid Costs: A study highlights how transmission congestion is driving major costs for PJM, underscoring pressure on Pennsylvania’s power system as demand grows. Local Weather Watch: Western Pennsylvania is heading into warm, steamy conditions with Impact Days Thursday and Friday, plus scattered thunderstorms and gusty downpours. Manufacturing & Jobs: Harley-Davidson plans to bring Revolution Max engine production back to U.S. facilities in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, targeting 100,000+ motorcycles at its York plant in 2027.

Severe Weather Watch: Forecasters warn Lancaster County could see damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph and large hail, with an isolated tornado risk as a cold front drives the worst storm coverage Thursday into Friday. Climate & Food Impacts: New Jersey growers are still recovering from an April heat wave and freeze that wiped out peaches, cherries and apples, prompting a statewide emergency declaration and calls for federal help. PFAS & Waste: Reworld rolled out ReAssure™ PFAS Destruction, pitching large-scale destruction capacity for PFAS-containing materials and wastewater treatment support. Waterways & Recreation: The Schuylkill River was designated Pennsylvania’s first National Water Trail, adding a 120-mile paddling route across five counties. Energy & Infrastructure: Pennsylvania’s new GRID Standards tie data center incentives to requirements on energy procurement, community engagement, workforce development and environmental protection—though implementation details remain uncertain. Local Environment/Community: Belmar’s new permanent boardwalk bathroom building is drawing mixed reactions over ocean-view impacts, even as it meets DEP standards. Wildlife/Outdoors: A Pennsylvania quirk with a conservation angle—firefly guidance for summer viewing—highlights growing interest in local biodiversity.

Wildlife & Invasives: A new explainer breaks down how “Frankenfish” northern snakeheads—an air-breathing, land-walking invasive—have spread into the Mid-Atlantic, including Pennsylvania, and why they threaten native ecosystems and fishing. Nuclear Power: Three Mile Island’s Unit 1 restart cleared another major step as the NRC said the restart would have no significant environmental impacts, moving Constellation closer to returning 835 MW to the grid. Local Storm Impacts: After weekend severe weather, the National Weather Service confirmed six tornadoes across southwestern Pennsylvania, with thousands still dealing with outages and cleanup. Data Centers & Power Costs: Lancaster Rep. Nikki Rivera is pushing to protect ratepayers as AI data centers raise electricity demand concerns, while Hazle Township paused new data center applications for six months amid ongoing local opposition. Water Safety: A paddleboarder went missing in York County’s Lake Marburg; the coroner responded and the lake later reopened after an extended search. Conservation Win: A Pennsylvania wetland plant, the northeastern bulrush, has been removed from the federal endangered list after recovery. Public Health & Youth: Pittsburgh City Council approved new zoning limits on vape shops, including distance-from-schools and late-night operating restrictions. Energy & Industry: U.S. Steel outlined up to $2.5B in Mon Valley upgrades, including a new hot strip mill, aiming to improve output and energy use.

Transmission & Data Centers: Residents in Allenwood are pressing PPL Electric Utility on proposed high-voltage lines tied to a controversial Allenwood data center, warning about noise, land impacts, and the loss of habitat and asking for real transparency before routes are locked in. Public Lands Protection: Another letter argues that proposed transmission corridors could cut through Pennsylvania State Game Lands in Lycoming County, calling for careful scrutiny of habitat disruption and alternatives. School Safety Funding: Pennsylvania awarded nearly $450,000 in targeted school safety grants to nonpublic schools across Lycoming, Tioga, and Bradford counties, supporting security tools, personnel, and mental-health-focused improvements. Extreme Weather Aftermath: Western Pennsylvania is still tallying storm damage after NWS confirmed multiple tornadoes, including a fourth tornado southeast of Ellsworth in Washington County, with downed trees and power lines reported. Heat & Grid Readiness: New reporting highlights how extreme heat is becoming a “design baseline” for the power grid, as drought, demand growth, and reliability risks converge. PFAS Policy: A separate update notes growing momentum to ban “forever chemicals” in consumer products.

Data Center Power Crunch: Federal officials are weighing reforms—and even a breakup—of PJM, the grid operator, as AI-driven data centers strain supply and push up bills across 13 states. Local Governance: In Lancaster County, Commissioner Ray D’Agostino told Republican nominee Stacy Garrity that municipalities should lead data center decisions, but need stronger state guidance—especially on zoning and impacts like water and electricity. Air Quality Policy: Pennsylvania lawmakers advanced a bill to end annual vehicle emissions testing in counties that already improved air quality, arguing the requirement is outdated and costly for residents. Severe Weather: The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado in Washington County after Saturday storms, with crews surveying damage and thousands still dealing with outages. Heat Risk: South-Central Pennsylvania is bracing for a late-week return of intense heat and humidity, with heat index values climbing into the mid-to-upper 90s. Public Safety: Police warned people to stay out of Pennsylvania quarries after repeated calls, citing deep cold water, submerged hazards, and machinery risks. Water Search: A paddleboarder went missing on Lake Marburg at Codorus State Park; the coroner responded as search efforts continued. Energy Transition Backdrop: A new report says utilities and national labs are finally building tools to harden the grid against more violent weather—but the pace may not match the threat.

Landfill Solar Fight: Caernarvon Township’s zoning board blocked a 3-megawatt solar field planned for the Lanchester Landfill, ruling electrical lines must be underground; the Chester County Solid Waste Authority and developer Coral Reef Partners are appealing, arguing underground transmission isn’t feasible for the project that would also power methane processing. School Policy: The Pennsylvania House approved a statewide school cellphone ban (HB 1814), requiring districts to adopt policies while leaving local leaders to set penalties. Energy & Grid Politics: A new wave of public backlash is hitting data centers in Pennsylvania as residents worry about water and displacement, while state leaders increasingly look to natural gas as the fastest way to meet rising electricity demand. Invasive Species Watch: Bucks County agencies are tracking the Asian longhorned tick in lawns and parks, warning the human risk is unclear but the danger to dogs is “real.” Storm Impacts: Severe weather across the Susquehanna Valley damaged property and disrupted travel, with multiple injuries reported and cleanup underway. Outdoor Access: Get Outdoors Day returns June 13 at Whipple Dam State Park with free fishing, kayaking, geocaching, and guided nature activities for families. Local Infrastructure: PennDOT announced multiple Clearfield County road and bridge closures and resurfacing work starting June 8, including Scotch Hollow Road detours.

Severe Storm Aftermath: Straight-line winds and thunderstorms battered parts of Western Pennsylvania, with tens of thousands still without power and crews surveying damage after gusts up to 70–80 mph; communities like Scottdale urged residents to avoid downed lines and share storm reports. Water Safety: In the Clairton area, Pa. American Water issued a boil water advisory amid storm impacts, reminding customers to follow safety guidance until lifted. Heat Protections for Workers: Pennsylvania lawmakers are weighing bills that would require heat protections for outdoor and high-temperature jobs, including access to water, rest, and shade as temperatures climb. Tree and Shrub Threats: A local gardening report flags rising risks to beech trees and boxwoods, pointing to Beech Leaf Disease and the Box Tree Moth as new pressures on Pennsylvania landscapes. Wildlife Rescue Update: An otter rescue center shared a hopeful update on orphaned otter pups bonding in rehab, while other young animals still need companions. Hydrogen Balloon Milestone: The Atlantic Explorer hydrogen balloon team, including a Pennsylvania pilot, completed the first trans-Atlantic crossing in an open-basket hydrogen balloon, landing safely in Luxembourg.