Maryann Pugh

Farm Aid on the Brink: Inside USDA’s High-Stakes Push to Rescue America’s Producers WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a sweeping display of urgency barely three days after the federal government reopened, the U.S. Department of Agriculture l […]

A New Era for U.S. Education? Washington Shake-Up Sparks High-Stakes Overhaul WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a sweeping set of moves that could redefine the federal role in American education, the U.S. Department of Education unveiled a s […]

SSA’s Stunning Year-End Shakeup: What’s Behind the Agency’s Rapid Turnaround? BALTIMORE, MD — The Social Security Administration is touting what it describes as one of the most dramatic operational turnarounds in years, r […]

Inside Medicare’s Massive 2026 Overhaul: Who Wins, Who Pays, Who Hurts? WASHINGTON, D.C. — The federal government is rolling out one of the most sweeping Medicare overhauls in years, reshaping how the program pays for k […]

HHS Launches AI Caregiver Prize as New Medical Review Sparks Fierce National Debate WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services this past week unveiled a wave of sweeping health policy actions — from a new art […]

VA Unveils Sweeping Shake-Up: Benefits Restored, Backlogs Slashed, and Billions Reallocated WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a rapid series of moves touching nearly every corner of the federal government’s veterans’ services, the Department of Veter […]

FDA Tests Rapid-Response System: Will Faster Answers Speed New Drug Development? WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has launched a pilot program aimed at dramatically speeding up the back-and-forth c […]

FTC Shake-Up and Major Fuel Chain Merger Review Raise Big Questions in Washington WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Trade Commission saw a major leadership change this week as Commissioner Melissa Holyoak stepped down to become I […]

Record SBA Investment Surge Sparks Questions: What’s Fueling the FY25 Capital Boom? WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Investment Company program delivered a historic wave of capital in Fis […]

IRS Unveils New Tax Breaks for Rural Lenders, Tipped Workers, and Overtime Earners WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of the Treasury and the IRS this past week released two sets of sweeping tax guidance that could reshape financial p […]

Trump Grants Two-Year Reprieve From EPA Rule in Bid to Protect U.S. Steel Supply WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald J. Trump has temporarily rolled back key federal emissions requirements on coke oven facilities, issuing a t […]

Bipartisan Senate Bill Aims to Cool America’s Soaring AI Energy Crisis WASHINGTON, D.C. — With U.S. data centers on track to triple their electricity consumption within three years, a bipartisan coalition of senators has i […]

Chester County Taps Former EPA Leader as New Communications Chief WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County officials have appointed a veteran federal communications strategist to lead the county’s public information eff […]

Fetterman Presses Trump Administration Over Decade-Long Delays in Toxic PFAS Cleanups WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. John Fetterman and 27 Senate Democratic colleagues are demanding that the Trump administration reverse its decision to p […]

Chesco Inspections Expose Startling Safety Lapses at Grocery, Restaurants CHESTER COUNTY, PA — A new round of food safety inspections across Chester County revealed troubling violations this week at a major grocery store a […]

PA Health Department Faulted Again as New Audit Reveals Alarming EMS Fund Gaps HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania’s top fiscal watchdog sharply criticized the state Department of Health on Thursday after a fifth consecutive audit fou […]

Budget Breakthrough: Shapiro Rolls Out Surprise Bonuses for Child Care Workers BRISTOL, PA — Governor Josh Shapiro used a Wednesday visit to a Bucks County child care center to spotlight a major workforce initiative included in P […]

New Push to Protect Seniors’ Prescription Benefits Sparks Big Policy Shift HARRISBURG, PA — A bill designed to prevent thousands of older Pennsylvanians from losing access to affordable prescription medications is on its way t […]

Surprising Safety Setbacks Emerge in Wave of Chester County Food Inspections WEST CHESTER, PA — A series of routine food safety inspections conducted on November 19 revealed a wide range of compliance issues at several Chester C […]

New Bipartisan Push Aims to Secure U.S. Lead in Biotech Manufacturing WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bipartisan coalition in Congress is moving to strengthen America’s biotechnology and biopharmaceutical manufacturing base with the […]