News we’re reading

1. Child abuse awareness alliance plants blue flags at State Capitol (abc27.com) — Blue flags now line State Street and the Capitol grounds in Harrisburg, each representing a substantiated child abuse case in Pennsylvania over the past year. The Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance hopes the display sparks conversation during National Child Abuse Awareness Month and urges residents to call the state child line if they suspect a child is unsafe.

2. Midstate drivers furious as gas tops $4 (abc27.com) — Gas prices in Harrisburg have surged past $4 a gallon, squeezing local drivers and small businesses like a regional food truck that crisscrosses Central Pennsylvania. Experts say station-to-station price differences reflect rent, staffing, and expectations for upcoming fuel deliveries, not just global events. Residents hope the spike eases soon as it strains daily budgets.

3. Octorara Students Claim Four Top Spots and Two Honorable Mentions at Regional STEM Design Challenge (mychesco.com) — Harrisburg’s Farm Show Complex will host Pennsylvania’s STEM Design Challenge state finals on May 8, where two Octorara teams will compete after winning their regional event. The story spotlights how these Chester County students prepared, what they built, and why educators say hands-on STEM contests matter for critical thinking and creativity.

4. Pa lawmakers propose study of Keystone Exams, alternatives for graduation requirements (local21news.com) — Lawmakers in Harrisburg are weighing a bill to study whether SAT or ACT scores could replace Keystone Exams as a graduation requirement, a move that could reshape testing for students statewide. Superintendents from several districts back reviewing alternatives but disagree on whether college-entrance tests are fair for all students. The proposal remains tabled in the state House while debate continues.

5. A capital mistake: Pa. tourism bureau mixes up Harrisburg, Philly in travel guide (pennlive.com) — Harrisburg’s status as Pennsylvania’s capital was accidentally erased in the new 2026 state travel guide, which mislabeled the Capitol as being in Philadelphia. Officials blame a publishing oversight, have fixed the digital version, but thousands of printed guides with the error remain in welcome centers and rest stops statewide.

From Patch, April 2, 2026