Briefs

Protesters gather at the Temple University bell tower during rally on Thursday 2/2/23 (Capital-Star photo by Michala Butler).

Striking Temple grad students, administration struggle to reach final agreement

BY: - February 23, 2023

Members of the  Temple University Graduate Student Association voted 352-50 on Tuesday night to reject the pact.

STEM education

Pa.’s Shapiro, Lee help launch $150M partnership to improve access to STEM education

BY: - February 23, 2023

'Pittsburgh’s future as [an] innovation hub depends on ... closing the representation gap and making quality STEM education,' U.S. Rep. Summer Lee said.

GOP lawmaker plans to introduce bill to ‘eliminate’ RGGI regulation

BY: - February 22, 2023

In November, Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court heard oral arguments in two “separate but related” cases regarding RGGI and its constitutionality. The appellate court has yet to issue a ruling in those cases. 

Looking to raise awareness, Fetterman asks supporters to donate to mental health organizations

BY: - February 20, 2023

On Friday, Fetterman’s campaign sent an email to his supporters, encouraging people to donate to mental health organizations. 

Pa. lawmaker to introduce bill to incentivize farmers to adopt agroforestry practices

BY: - February 17, 2023

State Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Philadelphia, said he plans to reintroduce a bill that would offer incentives to farmers who incorporate agroforestry, a land use management system that incorporates trees and shrubs growing on or near crops to lessen the environmental impact of mass agriculture. into their farming practices. 

U.S. Senate panel spars over elevated food assistance spending in upcoming farm bill

BY: - February 17, 2023

The bulk of the food assistance programs included in the farm bill nutrition title consists of SNAP benefits.

Pa. Sen. Fetterman hospitalized, seeking treatment for depression

BY: - February 16, 2023

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa. has checked himself in to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, D.C. to receive treatment for clinical depression.

Pa.’s Casey, Fetterman join Ohio counterparts to call for more federal action on Ohio train derailment

BY: - February 15, 2023

Pennsylvania’s two Democratic U.S. senators  joined their Ohio counterparts Wednesday on a pair of letters calling on federal agencies to take more action following a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3. 

U.S. likely to default on debt between July and September unless Congress acts, CBO says

BY: - February 15, 2023

Congress has until at least July to broker a bipartisan debt agreement if lawmakers want to avoid a first-ever default.

Bill to end medical co-pays for incarcerated Pennsylvanians to be reintroduced

BY: - February 15, 2023

Brown sponsored the same bill in the 2021-22 legislative session. It died in the House Judiciary Committee without coming to a vote.

Shapiro says Norfolk Southern’s response to East Palestine derailment and fire put first responders and residents at ‘significant risk’

BY: - February 14, 2023

Gov. Josh Shapiro released a strongly worded letter to the president of Norfolk Southern on Tuesday, criticizing the railroad’s unilateral decision-making in the aftermath of the Feb. 3 derailment of a train loaded with hazardous chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio. Shapiro’s letter to Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw followed a meeting with elected […]