Author

Stephen Caruso

Stephen Caruso

Stephen Caruso is a former senior reporter with Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Before working with the Capital-Star he covered Pennsylvania state government for The PLS Reporter.

Lancaster city councilors Izzy Smith-Wade-El and Janet Diaz are competing for a newly open district in Lancaster

More diverse candidates are on the ballot for Harrisburg in 2022, but Latinos are largely left out

By: - April 24, 2022

This disconnect is particularly notable in Allentown, a majority-Latino city.

Pennsylvania officially enacts carbon pricing for power plants

By: - April 22, 2022

Regulations forcing Pennsylvania power plant owners to pay for every ton of carbon they release into the atmosphere were finally published Friday. The rule’s publication comes two-and-a-half years after Gov. Tom Wolf set the regulatory gears in motion with an executive order. However, both supporters and opponents expect that further legal action could further delay […]

Five GOP gov. hopefuls, minus the front runners, debate transportation funding, election law

By: - April 19, 2022

By contrast, all five of Tuesday’s attendees have been polling in low single digits, though those same surveys have shown that a significant number of Republicans have yet to make up their mind in the primary. An Eagle Consulting Group poll released last week put the total of undecided voters as high as 44 percent.

Wave of GOP primary challengers seek Harrisburg shakeup over mail-in voting, pandemic response

By: - April 19, 2022

Among those who face opponents  are House Speaker Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, both chambers’ top budget officials — House and Senate Appropriations Committee chairs Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York, and Sen. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh — and a handful of other minor members of leadership, as well as a number of rank-and-file members.

AFL-CIO treasurer Frank Snyder speaks at a 2020 rally in Pittsburgh

Pa. labor leaders respond to workplace allegations at state AFL-CIO

By: - April 15, 2022

Incoming president Frank Snyder has been accused by more than a dozen current and former employees of humiliating, bullying, and using degrading language against federation staffers, according to a published report.

Corman to stay in GOP governor primary, though election logistics meant his fate was sealed

By: - April 13, 2022

The highest-ranking Pennsylvania Senate Republican attempted to end his gubernatorial campaign — but it’s unclear if he could have had his name physically removed from the ballot even if he followed through with it. In a filing on Tuesday afternoon, Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre, said he was ending his campaign and asked […]

House passes bill banning transgender women from competing on women’s sports teams

By: , and - April 12, 2022

The upper chamber has already taken action on a similar proposal. Sens. Judy Ward, R-Blair, and Kristin Phillips-Hill, R-York, introduced a companion bill in the Senate less than a week ago. It then advanced out of the Education Committee on Monday on a party-line vote.

Lease or reimburse? Pa. House lawmakers chose the latter for their state-sponsored travel

By: - April 12, 2022

The leases cost between $419 to $650 a month as of 2021, depending on the vehicle, House Clerk Brooke Wheeler said in an email. At full price, that would cost taxpayers between $5,028 to $7,800 a year, but lawmakers also pay the House back a portion of the cost to cover personal travel. 

Wolf administration commissions study of public sector workplace protections

By: - April 11, 2022

Experts at Indiana University will conduct the study of the working conditions and safety standards for public sector workers.

AFL-CIO treasurer Frank Snyder speaks at a 2020 rally in Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania labor federation requests investigation into workplace harassment allegations

By: - April 11, 2022

The state AFL-CIO's newly elected president was accused on social media of verbally abusing female staff

Pa.’s governor candidates feud over how to reduce pain at the pump

By: - April 10, 2022

There's small distinctions between each candidate's plan; though some activists want to see them be more creative.

Josh Shapiro about to speak a press conference

Capital-Star Q+A: Josh Shapiro on the death penalty, climate and Harrisburg

By: - April 8, 2022

The only Democratic gubernatorial candidate on the ballot in 2022 says he's here to take on 'big fights.'