Lawmakers finalize 2026-2027 state budget; local legislators react
I’m Jackie DeFusco at the White House with breaking developments in the death of US Senator Lindsey Graham. *** man dies after being stabbed in the neck. What we’re learning about him and how you can help police in their search for answers. And the heat is building. How it will impact your time outside as we get into the upcoming week. It’s the weekend, so I’m waiting for Monday to see how it really stacks up. The first real test of the Parkway East closure lies ahead. One day down, 24 more to go. Backups already building for drivers on detour routes in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh’s action moves forward this morning starts now. Good morning. It’s 9 a.m. I’m Yasmin Rodriguez. We want to kick things off with meteorologist Ashley Docherty and your certified most accurate forecast. *** pretty good Sunday. Yeah, really nice start. You know, we don’t have the fog like we did yesterday in most spots. *** lot of that has burned off. That was mainly along. Interstate 70 on south. We’re going to see some more sunshine today, but the heat and humidity will return. We’re talking potential second heat waves settling in to the Pittsburgh region. Cooling trend by the end of the week and heading into the upcoming weekend, but it is going to come with some rain and potentially. Some storms, but like I said, the visibility looks good. Our action camps here in Wilkinsburg, even over the city, can see the blue skies and still some high clouds around, and that will be the trend throughout the day today. 72 waking up in Pittsburgh, Washington, even Monroeville. 72 right now Kittanning. Franklin at 70, 74 in Uniontown and Morgantown already 75. We’re peeing into the mid 80s today. Most of us are going to stay dry. High pressure slowly building in, so that means dry conditions for you. Once it reaches our area, it’s just going to kind of hang out over the. Next few days, but unfortunately while it pushes its way in, we can’t rule out *** little boundary. *** little weak wave could bring *** few spotty showers late in the day, especially from Pittsburgh on south. So if you live in the Washington and Westmoreland, you may need those umbrellas this afternoon. Yasmin. Ashley, thank you. Well, breaking news out of Washington this morning, US Senator Lindsey Graham has died. Our Washington correspondent Jackie DeFusco is at the White House with what we know so far, Jackie. Washington is waking up in shock this morning after Senator Lindsey Graham died last night of *** brief and sudden illness, as his office described it, underscoring just how sudden it was. Graham had been scheduled to do an interview on *** Sunday morning talk show today. We are still waiting on additional details, but his impact was undeniable. The 71-year-old served in the US Senate for more than two decades after also serving in the House and in the Air Force. He was one of President. Donald Trump’s closest allies in Congress and reacting to news of his death this morning, the president called Graham one of the greatest people and senators I have ever known. He added, quote, He was always working and was *** true American patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed. Senate Majority Leader John Thune also weighing in this morning, writing, quote, He was *** strong advocate for the United States and *** strong ally to freedom loving countries across the globe. He believed in the might of America to achieve good in the world. And dedicated his life to advancing that cause. Now Graham was *** prominent voice on US foreign policy, on military interventionism, often advising the president on Iran and the Russia-Ukraine war. Underscoring that influence, his death prompted immediate tributes from several Israeli leaders overnight, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In fact, just before his death, the senator was overseas. He was meeting with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky, as you can see in this photo. Now here at home, Graham had been serving as the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee that gave him *** central role during the president’s second term as Republicans pushed for major legislation on party line votes such as last year’s tax law. He had been running for reelection this year. Under South Carolina law, that state’s governor will be charged with appointing *** replacement for Senator Graham, who will serve in that role until January. At the White House, I’m Jackie DeFusco. And Justin, Democratic Senator John Fetterman offering his condolences to Senator Graham’s family, friends, and staff. In *** post online. He writes, quote, The United States Senate lost *** foreign policy giant. On *** personal level, he had always been kind, gracious, and thoughtful. As the story develops, we have the latest on Graham’s sudden death online at WTAE.com, plus more on his political career and what leaders are saying about his passing. Also breaking, we’re learning about the man stabbed to death in Turtle Creek. The medical examiner has identified him as 42 year old Waswan Morgan. He was found stabbed in the neck. According to Allegheny County Police. Morgan was found in Stuart Street last night. He was taken to the hospital where he later died. County homicide detectives continue to look for suspects in this case. Anyone with information is urged to call their tip line. And right now Pittsburgh detectives are continuing to work to find the suspect who shot *** man in the leg in Allentown. Officers found that 37 year old on Knox Avenue last night. He was taken to the hospital and is expected to be OK. We are on day 2 of 25 of the Parkway East closure, and work continues on the Commercial Street Bridge along the Parkway this morning. Large pieces of the bridge deck now gone, and folks now bracing for the real test tomorrow when everyone goes back to work. But the first full day of the. proved to be *** day of adjustment for thousands of drivers. In many areas. The suggested detour routes were packed. That includes the waterfront in Homestead, which is along one of the main detour routes, and Pittsburgh’s Action News for reporter Felicity Taylor was there hearing from shoppers forced to play the waiting game. It’s taken us an hour to go from the bridge to this point. It’s probably going to be another half an hour before we make it up to the lights. Traffic backed up for 2 hours for drivers trying to get out of the waterfront. 5 to 6. We went to Longhorn and waited for my sister at 2 o’clock for *** birthday party. She didn’t arrive till 4 o’clock. So she’s back there somewhere. This is absolutely crazy. Sitting for so long we had to get out to go to the bathroom, so we had to get out of the line and then go. We went to Lowe’s to go to the bathroom, so now we’re back in the line or abandoning driving altogether. Usually I catch *** bus or an Uber, but it’s the traffic is so bad coming in here and getting out of here. It’s just, it’s just long waits too like I’ve, I’ve been down here for about 2 hours after work, so I’m trying to just get. Homestead, just one of the many detours that 100,000 cars are now taking due to the Parkway East closure and construction. The Rankin Bridge backed up too, and in Regent Square, the side streets now busier than residents have ever seen. While we were sitting here eating, *** bus came by and knocked somebody’s *** piece of somebody’s mirror off, not really following the rules of the road so much. I’ve been, I feel. Like I’ve been almost hit like 3 times *** day just today, just on *** 20 minute walk. Saturday, just day 1 of the 25 day closure, and residents are urging drivers to be careful and patient as this goes on. It’s, it’s all right to sit in bumper to bumper traffic. It’s not all right to shoot down the side streets or go down where you can hit *** kid on *** bike or something like that. So just I hope people will be patient and just put up with it. Felicity, thank you. Now, in order to get the project done in just 25 days, Pendo crews are working under *** tight schedule, and much of that will continue around the clock. The deck of the old bridge is coming off 1st. 4 crews will work on 12 hour shifts around the clock for that job, and all the debris will be pushed aside to make way for the eventual slide of the new bridge. Next will come the implosion. Pendot says it’ll take about 2 days to place the explosive chargers into pre-drilled holes. The. The explosion is scheduled to take place sometime this week. The old bridge will be wrapped to avoid damaging the new one. Supports for the new bridge are already in place at the site, and *** path that will be cleared to slide it about 102 ft into place. Crews are also working to construct new approaches to the bridge. Then they’ll have to finish the road surface, and when the parkway reopens, all of the debris needs to be removed. Commercial Street under the bridge will reopen, and 5000 new trees will be planted next spring. And with no traffic on the parkway or in the Squirrel Hill Tunnel, Pendon will also use the time for some other projects. Work will be done on the expansion dams at the Edgewood-Swissville Interchange. The Squirrel Hill Tunnel will be paved, and foundations will be set for new street lights to be installed between the tunnel and the turnpike in Monroeville. On top of all of that, there will be *** train. Exercise in the closed tunnel for safety crews and first responders. Again, that first real test of the closure does come tomorrow. Pend Dot is advising drivers to pre-plan their routes. We are expecting officials to give an update on the project tomorrow. For now, you can see updates and detours on our website WTAE.com. Just click right on the link right there on your home page. So many of you waited to see it. The world’s largest steam locomotive rolling through Western Pennsylvania this weekend, and Big Boy did not disappoint. We even spotted Big Boy moving across *** railroad bridge in the West End. Plenty of fans gathering on boats and in cars. Along the shore to see it. This is actually Big Boy’s return trip from its cross-country journey to Philadelphia for the 4th of July. As the train made its way to Leedsdale yesterday, thousands of people waited for hours to greet him. Anchor Chandy Chapman shows us the warm welcome for Big Boy in Leadsdale. Big whistling sounds of *** steam locomotive. And big cheers from the crowd. As Big Boy arrives in Leedsdale, *** community whose history has always been closely tied to the railroad, I’m pretty excited to come down and see this once in *** lifetime opportunity here, and he wasn’t the only train enthusiast in the Westmoreland County community. Thousands of people surrounded the train tracks for *** glimpse of the history-making trip. This locomotive is the biggest steam locomotive in the world. It was built to haul freight over the Wasatch Mountains in Wyoming and Utah. It was then retired in 1959, but around 2019, the Union Pacific bought it from *** museum in California to restore it to operating condition, and this is its first coast to coast tour. James Bell is from *** railroad family. His grandfather owned *** couple of railroads in Springfield, Ohio, so he was not going to miss Big Boy traveling through Pennsylvania as part of America’s 250th celebration. It is awesome. I still ride *** lot of. I find trains, especially true steam locomotives, but in Cuyga Falls we have the Cuyga Valley Scenic Railroad. I’ve ridden it *** few times, but this is the biggest train in the world, 1,200,000 pounds, and I can’t wait to see it, even if it’s for *** little bit. And James is hoping seeing history up close will inspire more people to become curious about steam locomotives. Chandy Chapman, Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. And before it stop in Leedsdale, Big Boy swung through parts of Westmoreland County. No official stops there, but plenty of opportunities to see it. Several towns hosted watch parties, including Derry, Greensburg, and Jeanette. One woman says she brought her whole family to see Big Boy make the historic trip. And it felt like something that we want to not only see ourselves but bring our whole family here, so we have our kids and then my in-laws are over here, my sister-in-law, and there’s like just tons of people here. I think everybody just wants to make sure they get to see it because like you said, it’s history in the making. Big Boy stopped in Altoona overnight on Friday. Started the day crossing the Horseshoe Curve National Historic Site before *** stop at Crescent.
Lawmakers finalize 2026-2027 state budget; local legislators react
Updated: 5:03 PM EDT Jul 12, 2026
Twelve days after the state’s statutory deadline, the Pennsylvania Senate agreed to a state budget proposal on Sunday.VIDEO: Top stories on Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 Pennsylvania has approved a nearly $51 billion budget for the new fiscal year, which began on July 1. The budget is approximately $1.8 billion more than last year’s and is more than $2 billion less than the proposal Governor Josh Shapiro introduced in February. The plan includes a pension increase for public school retirees, as well as eligible municipal firefighters and police officers. It also preserves the state’s nearly $8 billion rainy day fund, which had been a key priority for Republicans. However, the budget does not legalize recreational marijuana or raise the state’s minimum wage. House Bill 2400 passed in the Senate by a 44-6 count.Following the announcement, local legislators have issued statements, sharing a mixture of support and opposition. “We all hoped this could be completed on time, but working a few extra days resulted in a better product,” Rep. Tim O’Neal (R-Washington) said in a post on social media. “We were able to reduce the amount of spending proposed by the governor, thus allowing us not to tap into the rainy day fund. This will be key in holding off tax increases in future years.”Fellow Rep. Grimm Krupa (R-Fayette), however, expressed opposition, saying, “This is another structurally deficit budget that spends more than Pennsylvania is expected to take in,” Grimm Krupa said. “Instead of making the difficult decisions necessary to live within our means, the majority chose accounting gimmicks designed to make the budget appear more balanced than it truly is.”She continued, saying, “A fiscal year consists of 12 months, yet this budget only accounts for 11 months of certain obligations by pushing the remaining month’s costs into the next fiscal year. The bills don’t disappear simply because they’re moved to a different ledger. That’s not fiscal responsibility; it’s voodoo budgeting.”Tune into the 6:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscast for more on what this means in PennsylvaniaDownload the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
HARRISBURG, Pa. —
Twelve days after the state’s statutory deadline, the Pennsylvania Senate agreed to a state budget proposal on Sunday.
VIDEO: Top stories on Pittsburgh’s Action News 4
Pennsylvania has approved a nearly $51 billion budget for the new fiscal year, which began on July 1.
The budget is approximately $1.8 billion more than last year’s and is more than $2 billion less than the proposal Governor Josh Shapiro introduced in February.
The plan includes a pension increase for public school retirees, as well as eligible municipal firefighters and police officers.
It also preserves the state’s nearly $8 billion rainy day fund, which had been a key priority for Republicans.
However, the budget does not legalize recreational marijuana or raise the state’s minimum wage.
House Bill 2400 passed in the Senate by a 44-6 count.
Following the announcement, local legislators have issued statements, sharing a mixture of support and opposition.
“We all hoped this could be completed on time, but working a few extra days resulted in a better product,” Rep. Tim O’Neal (R-Washington) said in a post on social media. “We were able to reduce the amount of spending proposed by the governor, thus allowing us not to tap into the rainy day fund. This will be key in holding off tax increases in future years.”
Fellow Rep. Grimm Krupa (R-Fayette), however, expressed opposition, saying, “This is another structurally deficit budget that spends more than Pennsylvania is expected to take in,” Grimm Krupa said. “Instead of making the difficult decisions necessary to live within our means, the majority chose accounting gimmicks designed to make the budget appear more balanced than it truly is.”
She continued, saying, “A fiscal year consists of 12 months, yet this budget only accounts for 11 months of certain obligations by pushing the remaining month’s costs into the next fiscal year. The bills don’t disappear simply because they’re moved to a different ledger. That’s not fiscal responsibility; it’s voodoo budgeting.”
Tune into the 6:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscast for more on what this means in Pennsylvania
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.