Lancaster Watchdog

Cleanup ongoing after pollutants from York County salvage yard fire found in Susquehanna River Federal, state and local agencies are working to clean up the aftermath of a massive fire at a York County salvage yard that caused thousands of gallons of oils to

Federal, state and local agencies are working to clean up the aftermath of a massive fire at a York County salvage yard that caused thousands of gallons of oils to seep into the Susquehanna River watershed.
lanc.news/40DzYHA

Mount Joy Borough Council directs police chief to seek changes to ICE agreement Two months after giving their police chief the go-ahead to enter into a cooperation agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Mount Joy Borough Council voted Monday night to

Two months after giving their police chief the go-ahead to enter into a cooperation agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Mount Joy Borough Council voted Monday night to add conditions to that directive.
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Quarryville Fire Company asks Providence officials for 0.3-mill tax to offset rising costs When: Providence Township Board of Supervisors meeting, March 2.

Quarryville Fire Company asks Providence officials for 0.3-mill tax to offset rising costs
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Martic Township redraws property lines to prepare for future municipal complex When: Martic Township Board of Supervisors meeting, March 3.

Martic Township redraws property lines to prepare for future municipal complex
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Grassroots resistance to data centers rises in Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania Capital-Star Plans to build more than 50 data centers in Pennsylvania face opposition from a growing network of community groups, environmental activists and state lawmakers from both major parties.

Plans to build more than 50 data centers in Pennsylvania face opposition from a growing network of community groups, environmental activists and state lawmakers from both major parties.

From @insideclimatenews.org

3 Lancaster County schools issue detentions to students who walked out of class to protest ICE In most Lancaster County school districts, student protests against recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions have resulted in administrators taking disciplinary action against students.

In most Lancaster County school districts, student protests against recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions have resulted in administrators taking disciplinary action against students.
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Lancaster County looks to hire a 'chief financial officer' Lancaster County officials on Monday approved the creation of a “chief financial officer” position in county government, a role that will replace the director of budget services.

Lancaster County officials on Monday approved the creation of a “chief financial officer” position in county government, a role that will replace the director of budget services.
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Paradise Township supervisors allocate spending of last year's surplus When: Paradise Township Board of Supervisors meeting, Feb. 17. Supervisor Adam Bills was absent.

Paradise Township supervisors allocate spending of last year's surplus
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Developers seek Manheim Twp. commissioners' input on multi-story building in Richmond Square When: Manheim Township Board of Commissioners meeting, Feb. 23.

Developers seek Manheim Twp. commissioners' input on multi-story building in Richmond Square
lanc.news/46y7G4S

Warwick schools won’t get a resource officer from Lititz police for 2026-27 When: Lititz Borough Council meeting, Feb. 24.

Warwick schools won’t get a resource officer from Lititz police for 2026-27
lanc.news/4rWuW51

Republican Stacy Garrity should disclose question that led to Trump’s endorsement, Democrats say | WITF Pennsylvania Democrats are raising concerns over an unknown question that President Donald Trump asked state Treasurer Stacy Garrity before he pub […]

Pennsylvania Democrats are raising concerns over an unknown question that President Donald Trump asked state Treasurer Stacy Garrity before he publicly endorsed her campaign for governor this year.

Adamstown Borough Council votes to approve ordinance regulating short-term rentals When: Adamstown Borough Council meeting, Feb. 3.

Adamstown Borough Council votes to approve ordinance regulating short-term rentals
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Trump Officials Attended a Summit of Election Deniers Who Want the President to Take Over the Midterms The meeting’s participants included Kurt Olsen, a White House lawyer charged with reinvestigating the 2020 election, and Heather Honey, the Department of Homeland Security official in charge of electi...

The meeting’s participants included Kurt Olsen, a White House lawyer charged with reinvestigating the 2020 election, and Heather Honey, the Department of Homeland Security official in charge of election integrity.
www.propublica.org/article/elec...

Planning protects Pennsylvania’s future against unforeseen crises [column] A decade ago, I joined my Lancaster County colleagues in fighting for new funding in the state budget to help protect our agriculture community in the event of avian flu

State Rep. Bryan Cutler: "We are now in that crisis with the current outbreak, in which the avian flu in Pennsylvania has affected more than 7.6 million birds, mostly in Lancaster County, since the start of the year." lancasteronline.com/opinion/colu...

‘It’s something we need to be taking seriously’: Suicide rates in Lancaster County rising By the numbers, suicide is a growing problem in Lancaster County.

By the numbers, suicide is a growing problem in Lancaster County.
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Central Pa. religious, political leaders react to US, Israel attack on Iran Central Pennsylvania political leaders and Lancaster County religious leaders had mixed reactions Saturday to the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Central Pennsylvania political leaders and Lancaster County religious leaders had mixed reactions Saturday to the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
lanc.news/4aGYbCL

Townships Cause Concern by Proposing Growth Areas on Lancaster County Farmland Three townships consisting of mostly farmland in eastern Lancaster County are reviewing their plans after facing intense questioning from residents over plans to expand urban growth boundaries into fa...

Three townships consisting of mostly farmland in eastern Lancaster County are reviewing their plans after facing intense questioning from residents over plans to expand urban growth boundaries into farming areas.

Screenshot of Rep. Lloyd Smucker's Facebook post about the Iran operation. The text is: "As the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, Iran can never have access to nuclear weapons. Iran has repeatedly ignored opportunities to resolve the matter through diplomacy. President Trump took decisive action to ensure Iran cannot possess these weapons or missiles capable of delivering nuclear payloads that pose a threat to America and the world. God bless our military men and women who bravely defend our freedom."

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker post on the Iran attack:

Governor Shapiro opposes planned ICE facilities in Berks and Schuylkill Counties, but it’s unclear if Pennsylvania will file a lawsuit against DHS. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/02/ice-pennsylvania-facilities-lawsuit-maryland-shapiro-sunday-nepa-federal-government/

Gov. Shapiro promises to fight proposed ICE detention centers in Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania Capital-Star After meeting with local officials in Berks and Schuylkill counties  on Thursday, Gov. Josh Shapiro promised to use his office to fight proposed federal detention centers that would hold thousands of ...

After meeting with local officials in Berks and Schuylkill counties on Thursday, Gov. Josh Shapiro promised to use his office to fight proposed federal detention centers that would hold thousands of immigrants taken into custody by the Department of Homeland Security.

From @iankarbal.bsky.social

Columbia sells riverfront property for business growth; council approves Hampton Inn signs When: Columbia Borough Council meeting, Feb. 24.

Columbia sells riverfront property for business growth; council approves Hampton Inn signs
lanc.news/4aULKSP

East Hempfield water problems solved, at least temporarily When: East Hempfield Supervisors meeting Feb. 18

East Hempfield water problems solved, at least temporarily
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Rep. Lloyd Smucker says he's pushing for Lancaster County to be the place for a bird flu trial vaccine as infection spreads daily. Lanco is a hotspot for bird flu infections, the largest in the nation

West Earl Twp., PennDOT at odds over who pays for sinkhole repairs [Lancaster Watchdog] After a massive sinkhole destroyed a large portion of Route 772 in West Earl Township earlier this month, the municipality may find itself in a financial hole if it can’t

After a massive sinkhole destroyed a large portion of Route 772 in West Earl Township earlier this month, the municipality may find itself in a financial hole if it can’t secure help from the state.
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SDL superintendent addresses federal lawsuit and student elopement When: School District of Lancaster board meeting, Feb. 24.

SDL superintendent addresses federal lawsuit and student elopement
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Lancaster County Democrats unanimously endorse incumbents, energize party members to flip red seats Spirits were high Wednesday as Lancaster County Democrats unanimously endorsed a nearly full slate of candidates for state House and Senate races this year.

Big news last night in Lanco politics after Huyard dropped out of the 36th Senate race.

In other events from last night: Democrats unanimously endorsed their candidates for the primary. There were no contested races for the endorsements

lancasteronline.com/news/politic...

ICE facilities are planned for Pa. Will the Shapiro admin sue to stop them? https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/02/ice-pennsylvania-facilities-lawsuit-maryland-shapiro-sunday-nepa-federal-government/

Terminal upgrades, new hangars part of Lancaster Airport's future building plans Waiting for a Breeze flight at Lancaster Airport is different than at larger airports. Instead of hovering around the gate waiting to be called, some boarding groups go through security

Waiting for a Breeze flight at Lancaster Airport is different than at larger airports. Instead of hovering around the gate waiting to be called, some boarding groups go through security just before getting on the plane.
lanc.news/4rO9E9u

Jones now can turn his attention to James Malone, the Democrat who won the 36th Senate seat in an upset special election last March.
State Democrats, meanwhile, will have to fight harder to hold the district, where Republicans make up more than 50% of registered voters.

Jones won the county GOP endorsement last week, but Huyard declared she would press on with her campaign, saying her ability to win races in Manheim Twp made her a stronger candidate in the fall.