Author

Peter Hall

Peter Hall

Peter Hall has been a journalist in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 20 years, most recently covering criminal justice and legal affairs for The Morning Call in Allentown. His career at local newspapers and legal business publications has taken him from school board meetings to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and many points of interest between. He earned a degree in journalism from Susquehanna University.

Pa. takes a back seat as U.S. Supreme Court takes on the independent state legislature doctrine

By: - July 3, 2022

Former Chester County Congressman Ryan Costello's Supreme Court appeal of Pennsylvania's new congressional map will likely take a back seat to a similar case from North Carolina.

Pennsylvania Capitol Building. May 24, 2022. Harrisburg, Pa. (Photo by Amanda Berg, for the Capital-Star).

House and Senate cancel holiday weekend sessions after missing budget deadline

By: - July 1, 2022

House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, called for patience and said budget negotiations were complex and unique as leaders debate how to spend $2.2 billion in pandemic funding.

Commonwealth Court finds PennDOT’s public-private partnership board bridge tolling plan invalid

By: - June 30, 2022

A panel of Commonwealth Court judges said PennDOT's P3 board didn't follow the process laid out for initiating transportation projects, declaring a plan to toll interstate highway bridges invalid.

House adopts resolution to investigate Philly DA Krasner over objections of city lawmakers

By: - June 29, 2022

Over the fiery objections of Philadelphia lawmakers, the state House adopted a resolution to investigate Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.

Pennsylvania Capitol Building. May 24, 2022. Harrisburg, Pa. (Photo by Amanda Berg, for the Capital-Star).

The clock is ticking for lawmakers, Wolf to agree on 2022-23 budget. What to know so far

By: and - June 28, 2022

Lawmakers have until midnight on Thursday to pass a spending plan that allocates billions of dollars to fund education, economic growth, community development, and human services.

A woman, Jackie Springer of Shippensburg, looks at a picture of her son, Austin Springer, as she talks about his death from overdosing on fentanyl.

Mastriano pitches 25-year mandatory sentences for fentanyl dealers in fatal overdose cases

By: - June 27, 2022

With parents whose children died of fentanyl overdoses, Republican gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano proposed 25-year mandatory minimum sentences for dealers who provide deadly overdoses of the drug

abortion protest capitol

Here’s how Pa. politicians reacted to the U.S. Supreme Court’s abortion decision

By: and - June 24, 2022

Here's how Pennsylvania's elected officials reacted to the U.S. Supreme Court's abortion ruling on Friday.

House Democrats pitch bills to take on price-fixing and price-gouging

By: - June 22, 2022

As the war in Ukraine and other factors drive inflation, companies report record profits and House Democrats have a slate of bills they say would stop corporate price-fixing.

A man shoots AR-15 rifles and other weapons at a shooting range during the “Rod of Iron Freedom Festival” on October 12, 2019 in Greeley, Pa. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images).

Judiciary committee deletes age restrictions for assault weapon ownership

By: - June 21, 2022

House Republicans stripped a bill barring people younger than 21 from obtaining assault weapons and replaced it with concealed-carry language Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed in December.

Josh Shapiro about to speak a press conference

Shapiro emerges from primary season with strong fundraising advantage over Mastriano

By: - June 20, 2022

Democrat Josh Shapiro holds a massive fundraising lead over Republican opponent Doug Mastriano going into the summer campaign season.

Budget mavens Browne and Saylor’s reelection losses not a factor in negotiations, experts say

By: - June 12, 2022

Sen. Pat Browne and Rep. Stanley Saylor, the Legislature's top budget negotiators, lost their reelection bids to primary opponents, but if this election season is unusual, that's unlikely to be the reason.

Senate bill barring third party election funding advances in House

By: - June 8, 2022

A House panel approved legislation barring counties from taking non-government money to fund elections, setting up renewed debate on an appropriation for election aid.