News
Attorneys say state prison policy on legal mail has stymied communication with clients
A lengthy back-and-forth on copiers and paper jams isn’t the most compelling courtroom drama, but it gets to the heart of a lawsuit against the state Corrections Department and its new legal mail policy. After a statewide prison lockdown last fall, the Department of Corrections instituted sweeping changes designed to keep drugs out of its […]
Unregulated gambling games cost Pa. Lottery $95 million in revenue, director says
A new type of quick-thrill game is popping up in bars and gas stations across the state, and it’s causing big problems for the Pennsylvania Lottery. “Games of skill” — arcade-style betting games operated by private companies — have cost the state lottery an estimated $95 million in annual revenue, Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko said […]
Wolf creates workforce development command center
Surrounded by business, union, and legislative leaders, Gov. Tom Wolf signed an executive creating a state workforce development command center. The panel will include three members of Wolf’s cabinet and three representatives of the private sector, including state AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale and Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President Gene Barr. These six members […]
Suburban Philly Democrat suggests statewide paid family leave
just three states — California, Rhode Island and New Jersey — offer employees fully paid leave according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. New York offers family leave at half pay.
In its quest for safer streets, Harrisburg budgets $60K for Capitol lobbying muscle
An effort to reduce pedestrian fatalities in Pennsylvania’s capital city may soon have a new, high-powered ally. Harrisburg City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a 12-month, $60,000 contract with Maverick Strategies, a prominent lobbying shop and GOP campaign consultant. Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse told councilors last month that he wants Maverick to guide […]
As 15 states sue Trump over border wall, Pa. AG Josh Shapiro ‘won’t hesitate to take action’ if state loses money
Attorneys general in 15 states, led by California, have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block President Donald Trump’s effort to build a wall at America’s southern border with Mexico, even though Congress had not authorized the money for it. But not, surprisingly, Pennsylvania, where Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro hasn’t been shy about picking […]
‘Fake Emergency’: In Harrisburg, protesters push back against Trump’s grab for wall funds
From PennLive: “A group of protesters carried signs and gathered on the steps of the federal building in Harrisburg on President’s Day to voice their opinions against President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency to secure funding for the border wall. “We were about 100 people out here today speaking out about President Trump’s declaration of […]
New report claims $250M savings from cyber-charter funding reform
A progressive advocacy group says fixing the way Pennsylvania funds cyber-charter schools would save the taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars a year, cut down on waste at the schools, and improve student outcomes. The group, Education Voters of Pa., says it wants lawmakers to set a statewide tuition rate for the online schools at […]
The ACLU is taking Pennsylvania’s corrections department to court over copy-and-save legal mail policy
According to the ACLU, "Pennsylvania is the first and still only state prison system in the country to copy and store legal mail."
What’s stopping municipal gun control laws across Pennsylvania? Costly lawsuits, for starters
As the state Legislature stalls on gun control, there seems to be no shortage of local officials who want to pass gun control laws at the municipal level.
Trump averts a shutdown – but Pa.’s Congressional delegation splits on the White House’s end run on border funding
Trump’s declaration comes as he failed to secure congressional support for more than $5 billion he wanted for border security in a broader spending bill that funds a variety of federal agencies.
Here’s how Pa’s Congressional delegation reacted to President Trump’s emergency declaration
On Friday, hours after Congress sent him an emergency funding package aimed at averting another government shutdown, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency, enabling him to do a Congressional end-around so he could build additional barriers at America’s southern border with Mexico. Trump signed the funding package into law on Friday afternoon. Here’s how […]