A statue at the Gettysburg National Military Park along the Union lines where Pickett’s Charge was turned away on July 3, 1863. (Photo by Tim Lambert/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
With a new year just days away, I want to express my gratitude to you for your continued trust in the work of the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. It’s hard to believe it’s been more than 10 months since I started as the editor-in-chief, but what a ride it’s been so far.
Before I get into our most read stories of the year, I just want to peel back the curtain a bit for you.
Over the course of 2025, the team has worked to bring you deeper reporting on how policy decisions made in Harrisburg and Washington D.C. are impacting you and your fellow Pennsylvanians. From the reductions in federal funding and workers and the annual state budget impasse to how data center growth is driving up electric prices and the longest federal government shutdown in history, the Capital-Star focused on under-the-radar developments to give you a better understanding of how your tax dollars are being used.
The team also worked to keep you informed when breaking news occurred, including the attack on the Governor’s Residence and the tragic shooting deaths of three police officers in York County.
Behind-the-scenes, we expanded where our work is available in an effort to meet you where you are – such as adding an audio reporter whose stories are available free to any radio station and posting a weekly recap of our top stories on YouTube and Instagram every Friday.
Judging by some of our numbers, you and your fellow readers responded positively to our efforts. The Capital-Star saw a 6% increase in page views and nearly 6% jump in number of readers – a year *after* a topsy-turvy presidential campaign and election, which had Pennsylvania again in the national spotlight.
But I am most overwhelmed and grateful when it comes to how many of you chose to support us with your hard-earned dollars. Our fundraising figures just smashed several previous records at the Cap-Star – including highest total (doubling last year’s figure), new donors, number of contributions and most reactivated donors.
Your donations also make it possible for us to continue to provide statewide reporting to your fellow Pennsylvanians who may not be in a financial position to give.
I understand you have a lot of options when it comes to what organizations you support, but your belief in the work we produce – whether you just read our stories each day, subscribe to our morning newsletter, or contribute financially – is never taken for granted. We go into every story trying to ensure you are educated about what is happening in the commonwealth.
Thank you.
Now, let’s get into the 10 stories that attracted the most readers:
Numbers 1-3
The first three stories are on a topic that on the surface doesn’t seem like an “attention grabber:” The Trump administration terminated $13 million in funding for Pennsylvania farmers who provide products to food banks across the commonwealth.
But, a closer look shows how the issue would resonate. The move took away a needed revenue stream for farmers. The program had bipartisan support. Food banks lost much-needed produce and dairy products. It wasn’t, by all accounts, a wasteful government program.
The Trump administration’s decision drew so much attention that our coverage of it landed in the top three slots – by far – on this list.
Number 4
In the fourth slot is a reaction piece in the wake of Congress passing the reconciliation bill. Gov. Josh Shapiro, in a press conference, was highly critical of the members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation who voted in favor of it.
Number 5
Longtime Pennsylvanians remember the 2003 repeal of the law requiring motorcyclists to wear a helmet. So when a state lawmaker proposed reinstating the measure, it got people’s attention. Peter Hall’s story on state Rep. Manuel Guzman’s plan comes in at number five.
Number 6
The debate over whether Pennsylvania should legalize recreational marijuana has been ongoing for years, especially with most of its neighboring states doing so. Ian Karbal’s story comes in at number six, and has been hanging around in our top 10 for several months.
Number 7
A new federal rule boosted the pay of more than 2,100 hourly federal workers in Pennsylvania at the start of the year. The move came a couple of months before the federal workforce was thrown into chaos by Elon Musk’s DOGE effort to cut jobs and departments. This story from late January lands at our seventh slot.
Number 8
Those federal job cuts had an effect on Pennsylvania and Ian Karbal’s deep dive into the impact (along with an interactive map) provided readers with a detailed picture of the job losses. His story comes in at number eight.
Number 9
President Trump’s implementation of massive tariffs hurt Pennsylvania businesses and farmers. When Mack Trucks announced plans to lay off between 250 and 350 workers at its Lehigh Valley Operations center outside Allentown, the company pointed to economic uncertainty caused by U.S. tariffs. I remember Peter Hall and I having a quick conversation about the story: An iconic Pennsylvania company having to trim its workforce due to the administration’s trade policies certainly rose to the level of a statewide story. It wasn’t a long, detailed piece, but people took notice. It lands at number nine.
Number 10
In the 10th and final slot, private equity companies that own hospitals took center stage when a for-profit health care company closed its remaining two hospitals in Pennsylvania’s fifth most populous county. The combination of a community losing key health care facilities and the larger issue of for-profit entities in the industry resonated with readers. Peter Hall’s piece rounds out our top 10 most read stories of 2025.