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Pennsylvania lawmakers look to pull public funds from Russia amid war in Ukraine
By: Stephen Caruso - February 28, 2022
The exact impact of each move will vary, from $1.1 million in Russian-made vodka to potentially billions in retirement funds. But each dollar will count.
Pa. court rejects GOP request to use old legislative lines in midterm; more challenges pending
By: Stephen Caruso - February 25, 2022
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has denied a preemptive request from Pennsylvania House Republicans seeking to block new legislative lines this year, and instead use the state’s current map in the upcoming midterm election. The one-page, unsigned order is not the end of the legal debate on new boundaries for the state’s 253 House and Senate […]
New congressional map makes Swiss cheese of Swissvale, complicating Pittsburgh primary
By: Stephen Caruso - February 24, 2022
The architect of the split defended it, saying it was necessary to avoid a court challenge.
Amid Ukraine invasion, 20 Pa. National Guardsmen heading to Lithuania this month for ‘routine training’
By: Stephen Caruso - February 24, 2022
Since 1993, the Pennsylvania National Guard has had a partnership with the Lithuanian military.
Corman asks for investigation of GOP gov rival Mastriano’s campaign finances
By: Stephen Caruso - February 23, 2022
Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre, sent a letter to the Franklin County District Attorney on Wednesday.
Pa. Supreme Court court picks national Dems’ map as new congressional plan
By: Stephen Caruso - February 23, 2022
(*This breaking story was updated at 12 p.m. with additional information on the plaintiffs, federal legal challenge, nd the justices, at 12:25 p.m. with additional information on the map, and 1:12 p.m. with comment from House Republicans and attorney Adam Bonin and 1:25 p.m. with Gov. Tom Wolf.) Pennsylvania’s highest court has picked a map […]
Federal suit asks to block Pa. judges from picking congressional map
By: Stephen Caruso - February 22, 2022
The case is being argued by two lawyers, one of whom is former Texas solicitor general Jonathan Mitchell. A conservative legal scholar, Mitchell helped design Texas’ recent abortion ban that the U.S. Supreme Court declined to overturn.
Former health secretary Beam takes lobbying job with UPMC, raising concern and hope
By: Stephen Caruso - February 21, 2022
Alison Beam, who was a top staffer for Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf before taking over the state Health Department in January 2021, will be hired as the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s next vice president of government affairs, the healthcare giant announced last week.
Can carbon capture fit into Pennsylvania’s climate solutions?
By: Stephen Caruso - February 20, 2022
After more than two years of trying to block a carbon-pricing scheme for Pennsylvania, legislative Republicans have introduced a counter offer. Earlier this month, GOP lawmakers in the House added an extra provision to a bill blocking the commonwealth from entering the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The initiative, also known as RGGI, mandates that power […]
Pa. House Republicans ask court to toss proposed legislative maps, reuse current lines in 2022
By: Stephen Caruso - February 17, 2022
In a Thursday filing,, House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, called for the maps of 203 state House seats and 50 Senate districts to be redrawn 'without race as a predominant factor'
Ballot access on the docket as courts consider what’s next for Pennsylvania’s maps
By: Stephen Caruso - February 16, 2022
'“Our candidates are ready to hit the ground running,' Democratic consultant Marty Santalucia told the Capital-Star. 'We’re waiting for the starting pistol.'
New authority meets to tackle broadband expansion across Pennsylvania
By: Stephen Caruso - February 15, 2022
States are currently flush with broadband funding after Congress passed, and President Joe Biden signed, the $1.1 trillion infrastructure plan last fall.