Erie County

Erie County in western New York is working to change how mental health emergencies are handled, moving toward new approaches to crisis response. The effort, reported by local outlet WKBW, comes as communities nationwide rethink whether police should be the default responders to mental health calls and push for specialized crisis teams and services.

Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection has issued Chapter 105 permits for Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission's Piney-Seward and Erie South Piney transmission line project, a roughly 150-mile route crossing eight counties. The permits clear a key regulatory hurdle for the high-voltage line. Details on conditions, opposition, and the project's timeline have not yet been widely reported.

Pennsylvania lawmakers are pushing for greater transparency from the state's wildlife agency, citing two videos of agency meetings. They argue the recordings raise questions about how the agency conducts its business and want the footage released to the public. The issue has drawn coverage from regional outlets in Beaver County and Erie, though details of the lawmakers' specific demands and the agency's response remain limited.

Erie County is set to receive more than $3 million in federal emergency funds to help cover costs from the 2022 winter storm. The money from FEMA will aid recovery efforts tied to the severe blizzard that hit western New York. Local officials say the funding will reimburse expenses from the storm response.