Yesterday on The Morning Agenda we brought you election results from across the region and the state. Today, we dive into "the why" behind those results, to bring you voters' voices, in their own words. WITF News reporters fanned out across polling stations Tuesday morning as Central Pennsylvanians cast their ballots and captured these thoughts.

A new Pennsylvania law requires health insurance companies to cover the full cost of colon cancer screening starting at age 45 instead of 50. Cancer survivors and advocates say it’s a great first step - but ask if it’s enough for younger age groups which are seeing higher rates of this type of cancer.

And now a deep dive into gambling:

Pennsylvanians as young as eighteen can put money on sports through prediction markets, even though the state’s licensed sportsbooks require bettors to be twenty-one. As the state expands help for gambling problems, researchers are confronting gaps in what they know about younger adults.

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We start with the first piece to fall into place for a democratic trifecta: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro defeated Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity Tuesday night to secure another four-year term.

Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson defeated incumbent Congressman Scott Perry in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District. We have reaction from Stelson as well as Perry, the Republican who has represented the district since 2013.

Now for a fuller picture of Pennsylvania's Congressional races: Democrats have swept all four competitive congressional seats in Pennsylvania.

Those Congressional seats held by Republicans saw closer races than the last midterm election in 2022.

Now refocusing on the state legislature: For the first time in 48 years, Democrats flipped the Pennsylvania state Senate, achieving their elusive “trifecta” of control of the executive and both chambers of the legislature.

Fourty-five thousand poll workers helped 4.9 million Pennsylvanians vote by mail or on Election Day. Counties ran the elections smoothly across the Commonwealth.

In uncertain times, our community counts on facts, not noise. Support the journalism and programming that keep you informed. Donate now at www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

Nearly 250 races are on ballots across Pennsylvania on this Election Day. Outcomes will determine party control of the governor’s office, General Assembly and, potentially, the U.S. House - putting the Keystone State in the national spotlight.

Dauphin County’s district attorney has filed charges against a person for allegedly submitting falsified applications for mail in ballots.

Republicans in Pennsylvania have been trying to find non-citizens on voter rolls, and one tool they are using is lists of people rejected from jury service. Using this data to look for ineligible voters is inaccurate.

Dauphin County tourism generated more than 4.5 billion dollars in economic impact over the past fiscal year ending June 30th. That's according to the organization Visit Hershey and Harrisburg's newly-released annual report.

A new study demonstrates the economic power of Pennsylvania's state parks. The study, by Penn State University, shows Pennsylvania's state parks generate just over 16 dollars for every one dollar invested.

And we take a deep dive into astronomy – as we head into election night:

Amateur astronomers and stargazers often venture into Pennsylvania's state parks to catch a better view of the night sky.

But increasing light pollution and wildfire smoke are making it harder to stargaze.

In uncertain times, our community counts on facts, not noise. Support the journalism and programming that keep you informed. Donate now at www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

Polls and politicians alike say that data center development has been scrambling the political map across Pennsylvania and beyond.

The News Lab at Penn State surveyed candidates across state house and congressional representative races to determine their stance on the technology’s expansion and influence in Pennsylvania.

The FBI reports that Americans lost nearly $21 billion to cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence scams last year, including $538 million in Pennsylvania.

Election Day is November 3rd — that’s tomorrow! Here's what you need to know.

Pennsylvania has 1,426 confirmed measles cases across 44 counties as of Friday.

An election worker found an unidentified substance inside a mail-in ballot envelope in Chester County.

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How are Central PA agricultural businesses faring, after losing crops to a late spring freeze? Now that it's fall, hay rides, pumpkin patches, apple picking, and fall festivals are bringing crowds to farms across Central PA. Farms and orchards are turning those fall events into an economic windfall.

Central PA Congressman Scott Perry recorded a video in what looks to be his official congressional office, then posted it to his campaign page, twice. A liberal group has filed a complaint claiming Perry violated congressional ethics rules.

Pennsylvania's Secretary of Aging is responding to a performance audit released last month by the state Auditor General. The audit found the department is not properly monitoring older adult abuse investigations carried out by Area Agencies on Aging and failing to properly train staff.

Homeowners in Pennsylvania are now required to tell potential buyers more about the home’s flood risk. A new state law is meant to prepare home buyers for costs associated with potential floods.

Utility regulators have rejected a proposal that would save customers of Pennsylvania’s largest electric utility tens of millions of dollars every year on their electricity bills.

And Central Pennsylvania is rich in history - and some of it comes with ghost stories. People like being spooked this time of year.

In Dauphin County Court Wednesday, five Central PA residents took an oath of service to become the latest Dauphin County Court Appointed Special Advocates. That brings the number of volunteer advocates willing to represent the best interests of a child or sibling group in court to 50.

A statewide Crisis Intervention Team's training and technical assistance center is marking one year of operation.

And now it’s time for our weekly segment called The Bright Spot.

Every Friday, I’ll share a positive news story that may have gotten lost amid this week's news cycle.

Today’s bright spot is this:

My colleague Joe Ulrich is back with a new WITF Music feature. It's the story of a chance meeting at an open mic over ten years ago, and how it's turned into a long-time collaboration between local musicians. They combined their sounds to produce spacey, vibey covers of popular songs under the name Le Ghast.

It’s been one year since public media's federal funding was revoked. Thanks to our community, we're still here for you and looking toward the future. Join the thousands of members who are building a stronger WITF. Go to www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.

The midterm elections are less than a week away, and one political ad in Pennsylvania is raising questions about the legality of using AI deepfakes. The Republican challenger for Governor, Stacy Garrity, recently released an AI-generated video of her opponent.

Federal election monitors will be on hand in four Pennsylvania counties for Election Day next week, but state officials say they should watch themselves as well.

The newly-released Chesapeake Bay report card is out, with its highest overall grade ever issued, a C plus. However, the Lower Susquehanna region encompassing Dauphin, York and Lancaster counties received a D plus, the report card's lowest grade. Learn more about the Chesapeake Bay Report Card and the Susquehanna region on WITF's Susquehanna Scout podcast.

As cold weather approaches, home heating oil prices have hit a record high in Pennsylvania. The rise in prices are a result of the Iran war and the disruptions to shipping fuel through the Middle East.

And as we reported in yesterday's Morning Agenda, Pennsylvania is now the first state in the nation to offer an apprenticeship program for doulas. The state Department of Health as well as the Department of Human Services is launching a year-long apprenticeship program this month, designed to increase the maternal health workforce and bring doulas into more communities across the state.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s response to the disastrous 2023 East Palestine train derailment will be investigated, after dozens of residents of the small town on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border and Vice President JD Vance requested the review.

Analysis by our partners at Spotlight PA reveals, several members of the Reading School Board spent more than $93,000 to travel to conferences over the past two academic years.

WITF News is planning comprehensive election coverage, leading up to and on Election Day. Through it all, we'll be bringing you the voices of candidates, along with the voices of voters like you and experts providing analysis for a full picture of these midterm elections.

Here's how you can prepare:

Be sure you're following WITF News on Instagram and Facebook so that reliable news is in your feed.

Subscribe to WITF's daily news podcast The Morning Agenda.

Bookmark https://www.witf.org/news/ and check back regularly for election coverage, which will be constantly updating on election day, election night, and the day after elections.

The latest polls show that one in five Pennsylvania Republicans say Donald Trump’s policies have hurt them personally. Pollster Berwood Yost of Franklin and Marshall College says that attitude could decide several state legislative races.

Democrats say the political climate could add to their House majority by helping flip some traditionally Republican-held seats in parts of western PA where they have not been successful in the past. Discontent with Donald Trump may play a big role.

Some Pennsylvanians are using so-called "over the counter" mail-in voting this election season. Election officials say it can put a strain on their offices.

Governor Josh Shapiro says he is-quote-deeply concerned that Donald Trump may try to meddle with elections, but he says state officials are prepared.

Governor Shapiro also signed into law legislation banning the use of cell phones in schools. The measure requires all public, charter, cyber-charter, and private schools in Pennsylvania to adopt policies by the start of the 2027-2028 school year.

And now a deep dive:

With Election Day less than a week away, data centers have dominated campaigns nationwide. One of those races includes the battle for a tightly contested state senate race in southeastern Pennsylvania.

A conservative social media activist who made dubious claims about voter registration irregularities may have broken some of those same rules.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity has raised more money in the past five weeks than she did during the rest of her campaign - thanks in great part to the skill games industry.

The number of measles cases is climbing higher in Pennsylvania. State health officials say there are now 1,360 confirmed cases in 44 counties. The updated case counts come on the heels of a roundtable health officials held late last week in Mifflin County.

Pennsylvania has launched the nation’s first statewide doula apprenticeship program. Doulas support birthing parents before, during and after childbirth.

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Some central Pennsylvania libraries are offering items for checkout beyond books. These “Libraries of Things” are being designed to meet community needs.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who is up for reelection, held a rally on the Penn State University Park campus Sunday. Shapiro used the event to rally for Democrats running up and down the ballot.

A long list of proposals with bipartisan support and public interest will likely fail at the end of Pennsylvania's legislative session in November. It would send them back to the starting line at the start of the next session.

The open enrollment period on Pennie, the state’s Affordable Care Act Marketplace, starts in less than a week, on November 1st.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has announced a new certified state record for Channel Catfish.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is urging drivers to slow down and watch for deer, which are more active this time of year.

The Shapiro Administration is pouring $2 million into Wine Marketing and Research Grants.

Meantime, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is allocating $290,000 to open new markets, both at home and abroad, for the state's farmers.

In uncertain times, our community counts on facts, not noise. Support the journalism and programming that keep you informed. Donate now at www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.