Media Mentions
Treasury returns $46,000 in unclaimed funds in Philadelphia
(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...
New Legislation Increases Pennsylvania’s Historic Tax Credit to $20 Million
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...
What organizers say they learned from a campaign to create a statewide home repair program in Pa.
In 2022, Pennsylvania created a program to help residents repair and weatherize their homes to make properties safer, accessible to people with disabilities, and energy efficient. The driving force behind the creation of the Whole-Home Repairs Program was a coalition...
Harvard Design Magazine 52: Instruments of Service
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...
“It’s Not Me, It’s About Us” with Sen. Nikil Saval | Teen Connect
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...
South Asians celebrate Diwali, Pennsylvania’s newly proclaimed state holiday
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....
Millions of low-cost homes are deteriorating, making the U.S. housing shortage worse
Pat Haskins' red-brick home in Silver Spring, Md, is about as old as she is: 72. There are family photos everywhere and walls painted her favorite color: "Purple, purple purple," she laughs, just like her toenails and slide-on sandals. But aging together — she and her...
Pennsylvania’s recognition of Diwali as a state holiday is a big deal and long overdue
(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...
Pennsylvania Declares Diwali a State Holiday, Celebrating Cultural Unity!
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...
This week’s biggest Winners & Losers
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...
Governor Shapiro signs bill recognizing Diwali as an official state holiday
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...
13 Million Americans Get a New Official Holiday
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...
Gov. Shapiro signs law bringing new holiday to Pennsylvania
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...
Governor Shapiro Signs Bipartisan Bill into Law Recognizing Diwali as an Official State Holiday in Pennsylvania
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 could be a state holiday in Pennsylvania. What to know
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: UNITE HERE Local 274 strikes Aramark
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...
Historic bank in Old City to transform into a 6-story immersive art experience
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...
Court denies Pa. revenue secretary’s bid to block Senate order to testify about tax records
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...
Are the bulls coming to Pittsburgh? Lobbyists and state preemption may allow the city’s first bull riding show in decades.
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....
Diwali, the Festival of Lights celebrated by billions worldwide, will be recognized as an official state holiday in Pennsylvania
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.
The Keystone State might gain an official holiday: Here’s what to know
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.
Pa. Senate Democrats sue to block GOP pursuit of revitalization program’s tax records
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...
Bill to Designate Diwali as Official PA Holiday Heads to Governor for Signature
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...
Pennsylvania may be getting a new official holiday
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...
Bill to designate Diwali as an official Pa. holiday passes General Assembly
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,...
As legislators dither, SEPTA considers giant fare hike
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...
Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival brings a mix of cultural celebration and ire over Sixers arena
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...
Open Streets Sundays in Philly are great. Now do it for real.
It’s not every day you see a baby chilling on its back in the middle of Walnut Street, and for very good reason — babies are squishy and generally well-liked. But during Open Streets: West Walnut on Sunday, I saw just that, a baby on an area rug in the center of the...
Senate, House Dems hold hearing on Pa.’s housing crisis, homelessness
WILKES-BARRE — State Sen. Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, joined Sen. Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia) and state Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El (D-Lancaster) to host a joint policy hearing on homelessness...
UArts files for bankruptcy after Temple merger talks collapse
The University of the Arts has filed for bankruptcy after a plan to merge the shuttered school with Temple University fell through. UArts abruptly announced its closure in June, shocking students, faculty, city officials, higher education experts and the community....
Shapiro asks administration to develop statewide housing action plan
Gov. Josh Shapiro unveiled a new priority for his administration Thursday when he signed an executive order directing officials under his purview to develop a statewide housing action plan to address housing shortages and homelessness across the commonwealth. Shapiro...
Gov. Shapiro creates Pennsylvania’s first housing action plan to increase affordable housing
PHILADELPHIA - Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has signed an executive order that has created the state’s first housing action plan to increase affordable housing and address homelessness. Governor Shapiro signed Executive Order 2024-03 in Wynnefield Thursday.
Governor Shapiro Signs Executive Order Creating Pennsylvania’s First Housing Action Plan to Increase Affordable Housing, Address Homelessness, and Make Commonwealth More Competitive
Philadelphia, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2024-03(opens in a new tab), directing his Administration to create Pennsylvania’s first comprehensive Housing Action Plan to address the state's housing shortage, address homelessness, and expand...
Shapiro signs executive order to create plan to address Pennsylvania’s housing shortage
PHILADELPHIA— As Pennsylvania risks falling behind other states on addressing affordable housing and homelessness, Gov. Josh Shapiro on Thursday signed an executive order creating the commonwealth’s first comprehensive Housing Action Plan. “What we need is a...
Sixers scout sites in New Jersey for new stadium amid public outcries against Gensler’s 76 Place
The Camden 76ers? Has a nice ring to it, if you’re from New Jersey. In response to massive grassroots protests against plans by Gensler to build 76 Place—a speculative $1.3 billion basketball stadium in Philadelphia’s Chinatown—76 DevCo. is now eying sites in Camden,...
Opponents of proposed new 76ers arena protest in Philadelphia Saturday
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Save Chinatown Coalition held a rally and march in Philadelphia on Saturday against the proposed new 76ers arena, 76 Place. The Sixers, who currently play at Wells Fargo Center in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, have proposed building...
‘We won’t be displaced’: Thousands march through Center City Philadelphia protesting proposed Sixers arena
More than a month before the basketball season even begins, the Philadelphia 76ers – and their underdog adversary – continued to be the talk of the town on Saturday as opponents to the NBA team’s Center City arena proposal marched from City Hall through Chinatown...
Community members, elected officials march through Center City, Chinatown to protest the Sixers’ arena proposal
Scores of demonstrators marched with members of the Save Chinatown Coalition through Center City and Chinatown Saturday to protest the Philadelphia 76ers’ arena proposal with songs, drumming, dancing, and speeches. Drenched by a sudden downpour, protesters shouted “No...
Lawmakers introduce measures to hold colleges like UArts accountable for sudden closures
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — After the University of the Arts suddenly shuttered its doors earlier this year, Pennsylvania Democrats are working to prevent other colleges from doing the same. “It is not normal for me at age 22 to blame myself for the mistakes of...
These lawmakers say they want to prevent another collapse like UArts’. Here’s what they’re requiring.
As president of University of the Arts Student Association, Alex McFadden routinely met with the school’s top officials. They sat on the selection committee that helped pick Kerry Walk as president. So when the school closed with just a week’s notice in June, shocking...