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A program that keeps people with addiction out of prison is ‘extremely underused.’ A Senate bill could change that
The bills, which have the support of Gov. Tom Wolf, now go to the full Senate for a vote.
These two party bosses used to oppose open primaries. Now, they’re all in
Alan Novak spent eight years as the chairman of Pennsylvania’s Republican Party, trying to secure votes for GOP candidates across the state. During that time, Novak said, his party “didn’t think much about independent” voters. And as a party boss, he didn’t think that voters should participate in primary elections unless they registered as Democrats […]
Top environmental official’s reconfirmation hearing delayed over pipeline concerns
This story was updated on Tuesday, April 30 to include a statement from a DEP spokesperson. A state Senate committee postponed a planned confirmation hearing for one of Pennsylvania’s top environmental officials, after a bipartisan group of lawmakers raised concerns about his agency’s involvement in controversial gas pipeline project. The Senate Environmental Resources & Energy […]
Fetterman reports high support for cannabis legalization, decriminalization
Lt. Gov. John Fetterman told Democratic lawmakers on Monday that residents in 50 counties have shown strong support for legalizing recreational cannabis for adults. Appearing Monday before a joint hearing of the House and Senate Democratic Policy committees, Fetterman shared the preliminary findings from his statewide recreational marijuana listening tour, which began in January, and will […]
Democrat Pam Iovino takes the oath of office, is one of 13 women serving in the state Senate
Democrat Pam Iovino swore the oath office to the Pennsylvania state Senate Monday afternoon, almost one month after winning a special election to represent a suburban Pittsburgh district. On April 3, Iovino, a Navy veteran and former aide in the George W. Bush White House, defeated Republican candidate D. Raja a tightly contested race for […]
Should the state take control of the Harrisburg School District, or should democracy run its course?
Lawmakers are urging state Education Secretary Pedro Rivera to petition Commonwealth Court to take control of the struggling district.
Small businesses fear ‘huge’ electric bill increases under Pa.’s $500 million nuclear proposal
Sri Kumarasimgam owns Pastorante, an Italian restaurant in Harrisburg’s Midtown neighborhood just blocks from the state Capitol. Right now, the electric bill for his 2,000-square-foot eatery runs him about $500 to $600 a month. It’s a manageable expense. But Kumarasimgam could see his bill jump by more than $1,300 per year — about $110 per […]
Environmental proponents to state Senate panel: Pa. needs better methane regulations
Panelists at a Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing on Tuesday slammed the state’s proposed regulations on methane gas, and called on state lawmakers to let the Department of Environmental Protection exercise more regulatory authority. The hearing at the Teamster Temple in Pittsburgh brought environmental policymakers and advocates together to discuss methane emissions across Pennsylvania, including […]
The controversy over Lt. Gov. Fetterman’s marijuana listening tour, explained
Fetterman's initiative has come under attack this month from Republican lawmakers, who claim the strong show of support for legalization doesn’t reflect what they see in their districts.
Auditor general calls on Harrisburg School District to act with ‘greater degree of transparency’
Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale is the latest state official to wade into the fracas plaguing the capital city’s public school district.
As legal pot efforts take hold across the country, opponents organize in Pennsylvania
Bills that would legalize recreational marijuana for all adults in Pennsylvania are presumed to be dead on arrival in the state House and the Senate, where one Republican leader called the idea “reckless and irresponsible.”
State senator wants to block sale of Pa.-produced natural gas to anti-fracking neighbors
As Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry has boomed, neighboring states including New York, New Jersey, and Maryland have taken steps to curtail gas drilling and infrastructure. Now, a state senator wants to prevent them from purchasing gas produced in Pennsylvania. Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Lycoming, who chairs the Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee, announced at a […]