NEPA Organizations Struggle with Rising Rates of Homelessness

Keystone Mission’s 365 Overnight Shelter in Wilkes-Barre is one of several organizations struggling with rising regional homelessness rates.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has reported an 18% increase in national homelessness in 2024, with a 12% increase in Pennsylvania.

Shelters in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties are offering several shelter and food resources to support the growing at-risk population.



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Chesco Landfill to Lower Emissions with Renewable Natural Gas

The SECCRA landfill in Chester County will partner with French company Waga Energy to produce renewable natural gas from waste with the goal of reducing emissions and heating up to 4,000 local homes.

Landfills are responsible for over 14% of manmade emissions, with innovations to convert waste to renewable energy a priority for many organizations.

Capturing landfill gases and converting them to energy prevents gases from being rereleased into the environment and allows for opportunities to sell the resulting energy.  

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PHRC Discusses 2024 ‘No Hate in Our State’ Report

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) has released its 2024 'No Hate in Our State' Report.

The annual report explores discrimination statistics across the state, and programs and initiatives offered to address them.

This year is the 70th anniversary of the creation of the PHRC, which was created from the Pennsylvania Fair Employment Act of 1955 and the Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act of 1961.                 

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AI and Machine Learning Are Shaping the Future of Public Transit

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are becoming increasingly prevalent in the public transit environment due to their vast quantities of data and potential for technological innovation.

The financial challenges many nationwide transportations systems face may also influence the decision to introduce streamlining AI technology.

The Urban Institute discusses current uses of AI and ML in United States Transportation, potential concerns, and new opportunities. 



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What to Know About the Latest NAEP Scores

New data from The Nation’s Report Card, sourced by the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), showcases the differences from pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

While some subjects show improvement and new learning opportunities due to federal pandemic aid funding, other areas may be a cause for concern.

NPR discusses findings from this year’s Nation’s Report Card, as well as correlations between poverty and performance in the classroom.



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Homelessness at a Record High: Key Takeaways from the 2024 PIT Count

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has released its latest Point-in-Time (PIT) count, which confirms that homelessness rates reached an all-time high in 2024, with the largest one-year jump in the PIT count’s history.

Several factors such as housing costs, pandemic aid expirations, and differing migration trends have influenced the nationwide increase in housing insecurity.

The Bipartisan Policy Center discusses key data points within the PIT count, and what policymakers may do to address them. 



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