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John L. Micek

A three-decade veteran of the news business, John L. Micek is the Pennsylvania Capital-Star's former Editor-in-Chief.

Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro traveled to West Reading, Pa., on Saturday, March 25,2023 to survey the scene of a candy factory explosion and to meet with local leaders (Commonwealth of Pa. photo).

Pa. gets disaster declaration for businesses impacted by Berks Co. chocolate factory explosion

By: - June 30, 2023

The declaration allows the businesses to seek financial assistance, the Shapiro administration said in a statement.

William Penn High School in Harrisburg, Pa. (Capital-Star photo by John L. Micek).

A storied Harrisburg high school faces the wrecking ball | Thursday Morning Coffee

By: - June 29, 2023

News of the planned demolition of William Penn High School comes amidst a broader debate on how Pa. will pay for repairs for schools statewide

‘Long time coming’: Pa. Senate passes probation reform bill | Wednesday Morning Coffee

By: - June 28, 2023

The bipartisan bill now heads to the state House.

Report: Cracker plant hasn’t delivered for Beaver Co. | Tuesday Morning Coffee

By: - June 27, 2023

When it was first announced in 2012, Shell’s ethane cracker plant in Beaver County was sold as an engine that would help revitalize western Pennsylvania’s economy. But a new report indicates that the plant, which launched in November 2022, has yet to deliver on that promised prosperity, and that Beaver County “has lagged the state and nation in […]

Pa. Senate committee approves Shapiro’s pick for elections chief

By: - June 26, 2023

Acting Secretary of State Al Schmidt's nomination now goes to the full Senate for a vote.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro delivers his first budget address to a joint session of the state House and Senate on March 7, 2023 (Photo by Amanda Mustard for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star).

Pa.’s largest teachers union breaks with Shapiro over vouchers | Monday Morning Coffee

By: - June 26, 2023

'Lifeline Scholarships' are a sticking point in this year's budget debate. What are they? Why do they matter?

He got caught up in the probation system. Why a new fix could help | Friday Morning Coffee

By: - June 23, 2023

A long-sought probation reform bill cleared a Senate committee on Thursday.

Can radical pragmatism win the White House? This Dem activist thinks so | Tuesday Morning Coffee

By: - June 20, 2023

Progressives might not want to hear it, but the road to victory in 2024 runs right up the middle, Will Marshall says.

Funding the 500: Pa.’s school funding fix is the challenge of our time | Monday Morning Coffee

By: - June 19, 2023

A Capital-Star series considers a future Pa. with fully funded public schools.

Ahead of Philadelphia visit, labor vows ‘largest ever’ 2024 ground game for Biden, Harris

By: - June 16, 2023

'Pennsylvania is a critical state in presidential politics. And we wanted to be someplace that really speaks to what the labor movement is all about,' an AFL-CIO spokesperson said.

Black borrowers hold a disproportionate share of student loan debt, and many likely were recipients of Pell Grants.

Pa.’s Fitzpatrick, Dems launch bipartisan student loan refinancing bill | Friday Morning Coffee

By: - June 16, 2023

‘Our nation’s student loan crisis … should not be a partisan issue,’ the Bucks County Republican said.

Drazen Zigic/Getty Images

Survey: Less than half of U.S. teachers say they’d tell younger selves to enter profession

By: - June 15, 2023

A third of teachers say they're considering quitting, underlining a nationwide shortage.