Pennsylvania Capital-Star’s 10 most read stories of 2025

Monument at Gettysburg National Military Park along the Union Line where Pickett’s Charge was repelled on July 3, 1863. (Photo by Tim Lambert/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

The modern year is just a few days away and I want to express my gratitude for your continued trust in the work of Pennsylvania Capital-Star. It’s firm to believe that it’s been over 10 months since I started as editor-in-chief, but what an adventure it has been.

Before I get to our most read stories of the year, I just want to pull back the curtain for you.

In 2025, the team worked to provide more detailed reporting on how policy decisions in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C., impact you and other Pennsylvanians. From federal funding and employee reductions and the annual state budget impasse, to the impact of rising electricity prices on data center expansion and the longest federal government shutdown in history, Capital-Star focused on unseen events to provide a better understanding of how taxes are being used.

The team also worked to keep you updated on breaking news, including the attack on the Governor’s Mansion and the tragic deaths of three York County police officers.

Behind the scenes, we’ve expanded the scope of our work, striving to meet you where you are – for example, adding an audio reporter whose stories are available free on every radio station, and publishing a weekly summary of our top stories on YouTube and Instagram every Friday.

Judging by some of our numbers, you and your fellow readers have responded positively to our efforts. Capital-Star saw a 6% raise in pageviews and a nearly 6% raise in readership – a year *after* a topsy-turvy presidential campaign and election that put Pennsylvania back in the spotlight.

However, I am so overwhelmed and grateful when I realize how many of you have chosen to support us with your hard-earned dollars. Our fundraising numbers just broke several previous records at Cap-Star – including highest total (doubling last year’s total), modern donors, number of donations and most donors reactivated.

Your donations also enable us to continue providing statewide reporting to other Pennsylvanians who may not be able to donate.

I understand you have many choices when it comes to the organizations you support, but your belief in what we do – whether you read our stories every day, subscribe to our morning newsletter, or make a financial contribution – is never taken for granted. We dig deeper into each story to ensure you’re informed about what’s happening in the Community.

Thank you.

Now let’s move on to the 10 stories that attracted the most readers:

Numbers 1-3

The first three articles cover a topic that doesn’t seem “attention-grabbing” at first glance: The Trump administration has withheld $13 million in funding for Pennsylvania farmers who supply produce to food banks across the commonwealth.

However, a closer look shows how the issue will resonate. This move deprived farmers of a needed source of income. The program had bipartisan support. Food banks have lost much-needed produce and dairy products. This was by no means a wasteful government program.

The Trump administration’s decision aroused so much interest that our coverage of it was – by far – in the top three spots on this list.

Number 4

In fourth place is a fragment of the reaction to the adoption of the reconciliation bill by Congress. Governor Josh Shapiro at a press conference was very critical of members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation who voted for its adoption.

Number 5

Longtime Pennsylvanians remember the 2003 repeal of a law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets. So when the state legislature proposed bringing it back, it caught the public’s attention. Peter Hall’s story on pMP Manuel Guzman’s plan ranks fifth.

Number 6

The debate over whether Pennsylvania should legalize recreational marijuana has been raging for years, especially among most of its neighboring states. Ian Karbal’s Story is ranked sixth and has been in our top ten for several months.

Number 7

The modern federal regulation increased wages, among othersat the beginning of the year, more than 2,100 hourly federal workers in Pennsylvania. The move came months before federal workers were thrown into chaos by Elon Musk’s DOGE efforts to cut jobs and departments. This story from behind schedule January lands in our seventh spot.

Number 8

These federal job layoffs have had an impact on Pennsylvania, and Ian Karbal’s in-depth analysis of these impacts (including an interactive map) provided readers with a detailed picture of job losses. His story ranks eighth.

Number 9

President Trump’s massive tariffs will hurt Pennsylvania businesses and farmers. When Mack Trucks announced plans to lay off 250 to 350 workers at its Lehigh Valley operations center outside Allentown. The company cited economic uncertainty caused by US tariffs. I remember Peter Hall and I having a brief conversation about this story: An iconic Pennsylvania company that had to reduce its workforce due to the administration’s trade policies had certainly made it into a statewide story. It wasn’t a long and detailed article, but people noticed it. It lands at number nine.

Number 10

In the tenth and final spot, private equity companies that own hospitals were in the spotlight as the for-profit health care company closed its remaining two hospitals in Pennsylvania’s fifth most populous county. The combination of the community’s loss of key health care facilities and the broader problem of for-profit industry players resonated with readers. Peter Hall’s article completes our list of the 10 most read stories of 2025.