Data Centers Pit Jobs against Power Strain

Pennsylvania’s building-trades unions are championing the data center boom as a jobs windfall, with leaders projecting roughly 10,000 tradespeople could work on the state’s initial projects.

Union officials backed Gov. Josh Shapiro’s new GRID guardrails, which require developers to pay prevailing wage, submit workforce-training plans, and create construction jobs.

But the projects come with an enormous appetite for electricity, and analysts warn the demand could reshape the grid, with a single large data center drawing 100 megawatts or more, comparable to a small city.

PJM, the regional grid operator, now projects large users could need up to 32,000 megawatts by 2030, a surge already pushing up electric bills statewide.

A Welcome Dry Spell Arrives across PA

After a soggy, storm-battered stretch, much of Pennsylvania is finally drying out, as a calm weather pattern settles in from the west.

For Western Pennsylvania, the timing is a relief, giving crews clearer conditions to finish cleaning up downed trees and restoring power after last week’s damaging storms and flooding.

In Central Pennsylvania, forecasters say the much-needed dry spell should hold for several days under building high pressure, with rain chances dropping toward zero.

The break also offers welcome conditions for late-summer festivals, fall harvest work, and outdoor plans, though forecasters note the calm is likely temporary before the next system arrives.

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➤ Pittsburgh: Western Pennsylvania is still digging out from Thursday’s severe storms, clearing downed trees and restoring power, with most Duquesne Light customers having power back by yesterday afternoon. (More)

➤ Also Pittsburgh: Students at Propel Montour Elementary made a certificate honoring a police officer for keeping them safe getting on and off the bus. He says he’ll display it at his desk. (See Photos)

➤ Philadelphia: For the first time since 1987, the Pennsylvania House will convene outside Harrisburg, meeting Wednesday at historic Congress Hall to mark the 250th anniversaries of the Declaration of Independence and the Pennsylvania Constitution. (More)

➤ Gettysburg: State House Republicans are weighing a bill to require reporting of babesiosis and mandate tick-disease training for doctors, as Pennsylvania’s Lyme cases near 19,000 a year. (More)

➤ Stroudsburg: StroudFest, the Poconos’ biggest free community festival, took over downtown on Saturday for its milestone year, with four stages of live music and more than 170 vendors along Main Street. (More)

➤ Bucks County: The county’s priciest home listing has shrunk after Elk Creek Farm, once a 188-acre, $10.5 million estate tied to a William Penn land grant, was relisted as a 120-acre parcel at $6.5 million. (More)

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Genius Gadgets: The 37 That Actually Earn Their Keep

Smart shoppers know the secret: the best gadgets earn their keep. These 37 picks prove it. They aren’t gimmicks or dust collectors, they’re practical innovations that deliver real value every single day.

Whether you’re organizing your space, upgrading your routine, or getting a head start on gifts, this list highlights what’s genuinely worth buying right now. The catch? These popular items are selling faster than anticipated, so availability won’t last.

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Where are you spending Labor Day?

1. On the lake
2. By the pool
3. In the mountains
4. In my backyard
5. Other (reply to tell us!)

Yesterday’s Results:

Are you planning a leaf-peeping trip this fall?

1. No, I’ll be raking them: 40%
2. Maybe: 30%
3. Probably: 19%
4. Yes, definitely: 11%

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. 

➤ A famous TV crime-show host in Egypt has been sentenced to death by hanging. Prosecutors say her off-camera business was a criminal enterprise. (Hear Charges)

➤ Federal agents demanded a list of everyone near Minneapolis who bought one specific green beanie in the last two years. (Hear Why)

➤ Why do you still remember the most popular kid from high school? Psychologists say those teenage rankings quietly shape our lives for decades. (Hear More)

➤ The No. 1 “Heart Strong” Nutrient You May Be Missing. A Duke University doctor says low levels of one overlooked nutrient could affect your heart health—even with normal cholesterol and blood pressure. And it’s not Omega-3s. Dr. Rick Cohen reveals a nutrient, backed by hundreds of studies, plus a simple pre-shower technique to support a stronger heart. Watch Here

What nickname does Erie carry thanks to its role as home port of a famous War of 1812 warship?

Show me the answer