Pennsylvania budget

Follow along each day at WVIA.org as we publish '2025 Year in Review,' a week-long series recounting the top stories of the past year through New Year's Day. Today, check out the top news stories from some of the rural communities in our region.

Just one month after Congress moved to strengthen legislation around the hemp industry, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to support research into medical marijuana for chronic pain and other conditions.

Michael Mullins died from ALS in 2022. Motivated by the loss of his father, state Rep. Kyle Mullins helped secure $5 million in the state budget to study diseases like ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

December 1, 2025– Toyota of Scranton will host a blood drive tomorrow in honor of Giving Tuesday, to raise money and fortify blood donations in support of two employees’ family members. The state budget has a new fund for neurodegenerative disease research, and a Lackawanna County lawmaker helped lead the charge. And, a Luzerne County nonprofit brings together the region’s older adults and disadvantaged with soup.

State Rep. Kyle Mullins’ father died from ALS in 2022. That loss motivated him to fight for neurodegenerative disease research through legislative action. He helped secure $5 million in the state budget for research on neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

The record-breaking federal government shutdown ended Wednesday, restoring Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits to more than 42 million Americans who rely on the food assistance program, including more than 2 million people in Pennsylvania.

Lawmakers in Harrisburg finally passed a state budget on Wednesday after an impasse that lasted more than four months.

The overdue state budget provides significant relief for Pennsylvania school districts — some of which feared they’d soon close their doors without state money.

Bear Creek Community Charter School could run out of money for payroll or be forced to temporarily close if the state budget impasse reaches into the new year. While school districts statewide deplete fund reserves, secure loans or cancel activities in month five without a state budget, charter schools such as the one in Luzerne County face another financial obstacle.

October 16, 2025 - The state’s overdue budget is impacting area schools. Property taxes stay the same in a new budget proposal from Lackawanna County’s commissioners. And, schools see results from cell phone bans.