EDITOR’S DESK

One Team

Living in the Harrisburg area, I’ve learned our capital city can be a divided place. Feelings run high here, and people have no problem showing their true colors. Whether it’s the red pinstripes of the Philadelphia Phillies or the black and gold of the Pittsburgh Pirates, team pride is pretty evenly split here in the mid-state. And that goes for football, too.

Harrisburg’s Capitol building is no stranger to division, a reflection of our national two-party system and the politics of the day. But in this arena, rural electric cooperatives have still found a way to play ball. That’s because, when it comes to policy, we play for one team: the co-op team. America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC, a political action committee, represents electric co-ops in that arena.

Working with legislators on both sides of the aisle, the PAC keeps the game plan simple: Keep our eyes on the member at the end of the line. When we do, the conversations stay focused on cooperative issues — reliability, affordability, and the community investments that help rural and small-town Pennsylvania thrive. We support leaders who support co-ops, regardless of party.

One way the PAC spotlights that teamwork is through its “Cooperative Legislator of the Year” award, recognizing elected officials who go above and beyond for co-op members here in the Commonwealth.

Last year, state Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga) was named the inaugural honoree for advancing key priorities, including sponsoring the law that enables cooperatives to provide broadband service to their members.

This year, state Rep. Danilo Burgos (D-Philadelphia) is being recognized for his leadership as chair of the House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee. He has worked closely with cooperatives on energy and utility legislation affecting rural communities. And he has shown up to listen, including convening a committee hearing at New Enterprise Rural Electric Cooperative. You can hear more from Rep. Burgos by tuning into this month’s Inside the Lines podcast at prea.com/podcast.

For America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC, supporting co-ops is about rooting for the home team: the members and communities we serve.

Of course, you can still raise the Jolly Roger or fly like an Eagle. No matter the season or the sport, we all enjoy wearing our team colors. Go Yankees!

PETER A. FITZGERALD
EXECUTIVE EDITOR

GOING UNDERGROUND

Laurel Caverns becomes Pennsylvania's newest state park

Pennsylvania has a new state park — and you just might have to look a little harder to find it.

Located near Farmington in Fayette County, Laurel Caverns State Park opened in April. It’s the state’s 125th state park and the first underground one. With 4 miles of wide passages that extend as deep as 476 feet, Laurel Caverns is Pennsylvania’s largest and deepest limestone cave. It also houses the largest bat shelter in the Northeast.

The property, which adjoins Forbes State Forest and State Game Lands 138, has been operated by the Laurel Caverns Conservancy since 1986 and attracted about 50,000 visitors annually.

Laurel Caverns is Pennsylvania’s first new state park since 2022.

NEW DESIGNATION: Laurel Caverns State Park opened in April as Pennsylvania’s 125th state park — as well as its first underground one. The last time the Commonwealth opened a new state park was in 2022.

BACK TO BASICS

Hershey returning to classic recipes after recent Reese's backlash

The Hershey Company will return to its classic recipes for all Reese’s products in 2027.

Historically, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups have been made with milk or dark chocolate and peanut butter. In recent years, however, some of the products, such as the mini Easter eggs, have been produced with a coating that contains less chocolate. Those products, the company said, will shift back to the classic recipe next year.

The change follows criticism from Brad Reese, whose grandfather, H.B. Reese, formed the candy company in 1919. In a letter to Hershey officials earlier this year, the grandson criticized the company’s decision to use cheaper ingredients for some of its products.

Hershey acknowledged some recipe changes but said it was trying to meet consumer demand for innovation.

H.B. Reese invented Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in 1928, and his six sons sold the company to Hershey in 1963.

SAFETY FIRST

Officials warn public about spring wildfire risks

As spring arrives, the potential for wildfires in Pennsylvania increases dramatically, according to Penn State Extension officials, and many of those wildfires are unintentionally caused when homeowners burn accumulated lawn and garden waste.

The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources reports Pennsylvania had 1,536 wildfires that burned 5,527 acres in 2025. The majority of those occurred in the spring and were caused by humans.

Extension officials note wildfires can be prevented. Composting instead of burning leaves, twigs, and other debris is safe and eventually provides nutrient-rich soil amendments for gardens. Officials also stress the public should always consider the current relative humidity, moisture and wind speed before burning any time of the year.

ON THE HUNT

Deer harvest up over previous season

Pennsylvania hunters have reason to celebrate.

According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, hunters harvested about 6% more deer in the past hunting season than they did the year before. Statewide, the deer harvest is estimated at 505,600 (185,310 antlered and 320,290 antlerless). The statewide 2024-2025 harvest, meanwhile, was estimated at 476,880 deer.

The 2025-2026 antlered deer harvest was about 9% higher than the most recent three-year average, and the antlerless harvest was about 17% higher. That was partly by design, state officials said, because deer are negatively impacting forest health, and the state offered additional antlerless licenses last season.

TIMELINES

A decade ago, Penn Lines took time to tell the stories of cooperative members who lost loved ones in the line of military duty and, in turn, became Gold Star families. One father, whose son died in Baghdad in 2007, remembered seeing soldiers approaching the family’s house and receiving the harrowing news. “You kinda know,” he reflected. “It’s everybody’s nightmare when the military comes to the door.”

May 2016 cover