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State court rules against certifying crime victims’ amendment Marsy’s Law, appeal pending
By: Stephen Caruso and Elizabeth Hardison - January 7, 2021
A Pennsylvania appeals court on Thursday invalidated more than 2 million votes cast on Marsy’s Law, a ballot measure that aimed to strengthen the rights of crime victims that overwhelmingly passed in 2019, claiming the measure was unconstitutionally presented to the state’s voters. The ruling, agreed to by three judges of the state Commonwealth Court, […]
Pa. Senate Republicans denounce violence but stop short of accepting election results
By: Elizabeth Hardison - January 6, 2021
Republican leaders in Pennsylvania’s state Senate were silent Wednesday night as Congress announced plans to resume counting Electoral College votes, even though days earlier they had urged federal lawmakers to delay the procedure.
Democrats decry ‘farce’ as Senate descends into chaos over swearing-in
By: Elizabeth Hardison - January 5, 2021
The session reached a fever pitch when Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, the Democrat who serves as Senate president, started to recognize Democratic lawmakers over the protests of Republicans.
Senate GOP leaders say they’ll block swearing-in of Democratic lawmaker
By: Elizabeth Hardison - January 5, 2021
The Pennsylvania House and Senate will swear in 228 veteran and newly elected lawmakers on Tuesday, kicking off a fresh legislative session in Harrisburg two months after an historic general election.
After a slow start, Pa. Health Secretary Levine hopeful pace of COVID-19 vaccinations will increase in 2021
By: Elizabeth Hardison - January 4, 2021
The remarks state Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine made Monday followed reports that the United States fell far short of its goal to inoculate 20 million people by the end of December.
Pa. caps off a very strange year in alcohol sales
By: Elizabeth Hardison - January 3, 2021
Retailers raked in a total of $26.5 million in retail sales on March 16, the day Wolf announced the shutdown. That’s more than five times the average day in 2020, and a 249 percent increase from the same day in 2019.
Pa. Gov. Wolf to lift indoor dining ban, even as fears of worsening winter surge loom
By: Elizabeth Hardison - December 30, 2020
Wolf said the state is reporting fewer new cases this week than it was earlier in December. Health officials announced 8,984 new cases Wednesday, compared to as many as 12,884 in a single day earlier this month.
Butter Up: Pa. wants you to craft and share your own 2021 Farm Show butter sculptures
By: Elizabeth Hardison - December 30, 2020
The “Butter Up!” contest offers winners gift cards from select Pennsylvania grocers. It’ll replace the event’s hallmark butter sculpture – a 1,000-pound creation that serves as the pièce de résistance of the week-long convention.
Levine: Nursing home vaccines underway as testing, new cases see holiday slump
By: Elizabeth Hardison - December 28, 2020
Residents and staff at more than 120 Pennsylvania nursing homes are on track to receive on-site COVID-19 vaccinations starting this week, kicking off a federal pharmacy partnership that officials hope will speed vaccine distribution statewide.
2020 in Review: Protests that swept Pennsylvania
By: Elizabeth Hardison - December 27, 2020
Waves of dissent rippled across the Commonwealth this year, as Pennsylvanians assembled to oppose military action in Iran; to call for safe working conditions and rent freezes, and to protest the COVID-19 restrictions ordered by Gov. Tom Wolf.
Wolf announces $145 million COVID-19 grant fund for small businesses
By: Elizabeth Hardison - December 23, 2020
Pennsylvania businesses that have been battered by the pandemic received a holiday surprise on Wednesday, when Gov. Tom Wolf announced he would skim $145 million from a state insurance fund to create a new grant program for struggling firms.
Senate GOP leader proposes special panel to review 2020 election
By: Elizabeth Hardison - December 21, 2020
The special committee that Corman, R-Centre, outlined in a memo to his colleagues would consist of five Republican senators, including Corman, and four Democrats.