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Despite their millions, GOP hopefuls Dr. Oz, White using pre-checked boxes for extra campaign cash
By: Stephen Caruso - December 2, 2021
The practice pioneered by former President Donald Trump has been denounced as unethical. The Federal Election Commission wants Congress to ban it.
Wolf vetoes bill to allow permitless concealed carry in Pennsylvania
By: Stephen Caruso - December 2, 2021
In his veto message, the Democratic governor said the bill would "only exacerbate gun violence and jeopardize the safety of all Pennsylvanians."
Advocates want a more diverse General Assembly. But making that a reality is complicated
By: Stephen Caruso - December 2, 2021
If the composition of the General Assembly matched Pennsylvania’s rapidly diversifying population, there would be at least 47 lawmakers who were not white. Instead, there are just 31 elected state legislators who are not white. The space between Harrisburg and reality could be chalked up to a multitude of things, but as legislative leaders hammer […]
Bucks County students push to make the Hershey’s Kiss Pa.’s state candy
By: Stephen Caruso - November 30, 2021
To build civic engagement, eight students and a Bucks County middle school teacher are pushing for Pennsylvania to pick its newest state symbol — the Hershey’s Kiss, as the official state candy. The effort was officially launched last week, when state Rep. Tom Mehaffie, R-Dauphin, circulated a memo on legislation to name the Kiss as […]
Pa. House Majority Leader Benninghoff tests positive for COVID-19
By: Stephen Caruso - November 29, 2021
House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, received a positive COVID-19 result Monday. Benninghoff is fully vaccinated, according to his office, and was tested prior to Thanksgiving after developing mild symptoms. He has been quarantined since his test last week, and has continued to work from home. His district offices remain open, his office said in […]
Municipalities want to limit carbon emissions. Pa. utilities want to preempt them
By: Stephen Caruso - November 26, 2021
Nineteen states have passed legislation banning local governments from regulating utilities within their borders.
Wolf calls for a compact, proportional congressional map; and he wants to see the Legislature’s notes
By: Stephen Caruso - November 24, 2021
Wolf also called for the Pennsylvania General Assembly to “include an explanation of specific decisions, such as the communities of interest and how they were defined and the factors that led to the creation of a majority-minority districts.”
Crompton concedes; GOP takes three of four statewide judicial races
By: Stephen Caruso - November 23, 2021
The Republican candidate in the last contested statewide race conceded on Tuesday, leaving the GOP as winners in three of the four statewide judicial races on the Nov. 2 ballot. In a tweet early Tuesday afternoon, Republican Drew Crompton, a Commonwealth Court judge appointed in 2019 who was running for a full, 10- year term, […]
Activist announces independent run against 20-term western Pa. Democratic lawmaker
By: Stephen Caruso - November 22, 2021
Independent Zarah Livingston says it's time for a change: Incumbent Rep. Anthony DeLuca has held the seat 'longer than I've been alive.'
Pa. teachers pension fund’s top two officials stepping down next month
By: Stephen Caruso - November 18, 2021
Executive Director Glen Grell, and Chief Investment Officer, Jim Grossman will bow out of their formal positions in December, the agency said Thursday.
Wolf says he opposes Pa. House bill tightening rules on nonprofit bail funds
By: Stephen Caruso - November 18, 2021
Gov. Tom Wolf’s office says it opposes a controversial bill that passed the Pennsylvania House this week that would regulate nonprofit bail funds as for-profit bail bondsmen. In an email Wednesday evening, Wolf spokesperson Elizabeth Rementer said that the bill would create barriers to the nonprofit groups, which collect community donations to pay to free […]
Pa. House sends permitless concealed carry bill to Wolf’s desk, who promises veto
By: Stephen Caruso - November 16, 2021
Twenty-one states already have relaxed their gun laws to allow for concealed carry without a permit.