Media Mentions

The 2024 election delivered resounding losses for the Democratic Party. Critical swing states broke for Donald Trump and the president-elect carried a coalition that included many working-class minority voters. A Pew study in November found that Democrats were more...

PHILADELPHIA — At Whole Foods’ flagship location in the city of brotherly love, management tried to lure workers away from a union rally on Monday by offering up no-cost hoagies and bags of chips. Just outside, however, their colleagues — joined by about a dozen...

PHILADELPHIA— Nearly one month after Philadelphia City Council approved a package of bills giving the green light to the Philadelphia 76ers to build an arena in the Market East section of Center City, Gov. Josh Shapiro told reporters he hopes it will have a positive...

Committees are where legislation gets discussed, amended and approved in the General Assembly, and the legislative bodies are crucial to the policymaking process in Harrisburg. Additionally, they often determine what policies get advanced – and which bills stall –...

A pair of state lawmakers are advocating to again provide universal free lunches to students in the coming school year, though nobody knows for sure how much it would cost. State Sen. Lindsey Williams, D-North Hills, and Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks, will reintroduce...

Pennsylvania Senate Democrats held a virtual press conference on Monday to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the riot on Capitol Hill when supporters of President-elect Donald Trump attempted to overturn the certification of the 2020 presidential election. Though...

Philadelphia commemorated the city’s fourth annual Palestine Day with a series of speeches at City Hall. While several people mentioned the conflict in Gaza, much of the event focused on the local community. “The sole purpose of this day is to recognize the...

If at first you don’t succeed, try try again. That old adage has apparently been adopted by Pennsylvania’s Republican state legislators as they enter the 2025-26 legislative term. Earlier this month, Republicans in the State Senate released a legislative memo...

One of the downstream impacts of Donald Trump’s election last month has been a renewed interest in socialist organizing. That has been reflected in the growing ranks of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which has seen its membership increase by nearly 3,000...

The Welcoming Center will use a $1 million grant from the Pennsylvania Legislature to expand its work throughout the commonwealth. The Philly-based nonprofit promotes economic growth through immigrant integration, offering a number of programs supporting immigrants in...

It’s been 21 years since the Welcoming Center opened in Philadelphia, and the nonprofit that aids local immigrants in all kinds of ways has had some glittering successes. None have been more impressive than Saturday’s announcement of a $1 million legislative grant...

(The Center Square) — State Sen. Nikil Saval and Rep. Regina Young joined forces with Treasurer Stacy Garrity to assist 50 Philadelphians with finding and claiming over $46,000 in unclaimed property. Staff from the Treasury and the Democratic legislators' respective...

Pennsylvania legislature recently passed H.B. 2358 to increase the value of the state’s historic tax credit to $20 million, up from a previous limit of $5 million. First established in 2012, the state’s historic tax credit program supports developers in the renovation...

At a moment when the word “design” has come to refer to everything, and thus nothing, Harvard Design Magazine 52 examines the state of architectural practice today. Once asserted to be the “mother art” (Frank Lloyd Wright) and “the ultimate goal of all creative...

Yashvi Javia talks with State Senator Nikil Saval about his journey into politics, which was guided mostly by his focus on social change. He shares his story of growing up with immigrant parents and how that shapes his policies and morals, and discusses the importance...

Last week, South Asians and Hindus across Pennsylvania celebrated their first Diwali since Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a law making the festival of lights an official state holiday in Pennsylvania. 90.5 WESA’s Morning Edition host Priyanka Tewari sat down with Rep....

(RNS) — A native Pennsylvanian, I remember what it was like for my family to celebrate Diwali (or Deepavali, as it is also known for people of South Indian descent) at a time when Hinduism and other dharmic faiths were considered foreign and exotic religions. In the...

HARRISBURG, PA — On Monday, Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 402 into law, officially designating Diwali as a state holiday in Pennsylvania. This significant legislative act acknowledges the cultural contributions of Pennsylvanians and the over one billion...

A new “portal” art installation in Philadelphia’s LOVE Park will use livestreaming technology to connect the city to three international cities in real time, providing a live look at people in Dublin, Ireland; Vilnius, Lithuania; and Lublin, Poland. The portal could...

Harrisburg, PA — On Oct. 21, Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 402 into law — officially recognizing Diwali as a state holiday in Pennsylvania. The governor signed the bill while attending a Diwali, Tihar, and Bandi Chhor Diwas celebration hosted by the...

Almost 13 million Americans in Pennsylvania will now have an extra holiday, after Governor Josh Shapiro signed a bill into law which recognizes Diwali as an official holiday. Diwali, also referred to as the festival of lights, is an Indian holiday which takes the form...

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — Now that Governor Josh Shapiro signed the bill into law, Pennsylvania has a new holiday on the calendar. Formerly Senate Bill 402, introduced by Sen. Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry) and Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia), called for...

Harrisburg, PA – Yesterday, Governor Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 402(opens in a new tab) into law — officially recognizing Diwali as a state holiday in Pennsylvania while attending a Diwali, Tihar, and Bandi Chhor Diwas celebration hosted by the Governor’s...

Diwali — the religious festival and holiday celebrated by over a billion Buddhists, Hindus, Jains and Sikhs worldwide — is a step closer to becoming an official state holiday in the Keystone State. The Pennsylvania Senate recently passed Senate Bill 402, which grants...

Philadelphia, PA – On September 26, the Philadelphia Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression members joined the UNITE HERE Local 274 picket line as Philadelphia stadium workers struggled for healthcare and a living wage. The strikes were a culmination of...

A historic bank in Old City that has been empty for a decade will soon be the home of an 8,000-square-foot, six-story immersive art experience. On Tuesday, the nonprofit Ministry of Awe, the team behind the redesign, held a ceremonial wall-breaking, letting everyone...

Efforts to block Gov. Josh Shapiro’s revenue secretary from having to appear before the Pennsylvania Senate next week to explain his refusal to produce tax records for an Allentown revitalization program failed. The Commonwealth Court on Tuesday issued rulings in two...

Bull riding may be coming to Pittsburgh for the first time in more than 30 years, unless proposed legislation reinstates the city’s ban on such events. Professional Bull Riders [PBR] has announced Unleash The Beast tour dates at PPG Paints Arena, Jan. 24 and 25....

On Oct. 9, the Pennsylvania House passed a bill that will recognize Diwali, the festival of lights celebrated in Hinduism and other Indian religions, as an official state holiday. The designation will not require closures of governments, schools, or businesses. 

On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a bill that might add an official holiday for the Keystone State: Diwali. Senate Bill 402, headed by Sen. Greg Rothman and co-endorsed by Sen. Nikil Saval, was initially proposed in January 2023.

Four Pennsylvania Senate Democrats filed a lawsuit on Wednesday to block their Republican counterparts’ efforts to force Gov. Josh Shapiro’s revenue secretary to turn over tax records for the Allentown downtown revitalization program. Senate Democratic Leader Jay...

Legislation that would make Diwali an official holiday in Pennsylvania passed the state General Assembly. Senate Bill 402 was introduced by state Sen. Greg Rothman, R-Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry, co-sponsored by Nikil Saval, D-Philadelphia, and would not require...

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Earlier today, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a bill that would create a new official holiday here in the Keystone State. Senate Bill 402, introduced by State Sen. Greg Rothman and co-sponsored by Sen. Nikil Saval, would make Diwali...

HARRISBURG, Oct. 9 – Legislation that would make Diwali an official holiday in Pennsylvania passed the General Assembly with a bipartisan majority today and will soon become law. Senate Bill 402 was introduced by state Sens. Greg Rothman, R-Cumberland/Dauphin/Perry,...

A state funding plan to close SEPTA’s budget deficit is swimming into view — but very, very slowly, legislators and transit advocates say. A complicated, contentious deal involving new gambling taxes is still being negotiated. Some lawmakers may not want to take a...

Homesickness led a group of teenagers to create a festival in a church parking lot. On Saturday, 28 years later, Chinatown celebrated another edition of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and also with complicated feelings: the dismay, disappointment, and anger that greeted...