The Governor’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission is recommending an impact fee that directs money to local governments to deal with the effects of drilling. Lt. Governor Jim Cawley, who headed the commission, says it does not recommend what the fee should look like or how it would be distributed. He says they believe that’s a […]
A new study by the Pew Health Group finds serious gaps in the oversight of U. S. drug safety. The report says about 40% of finished drugs and 80% of active ingredients and the bulk chemicals in U. S. pharmaceuticals come from overseas. Allan Couckell, director of medical programs for the Pew Health Group, says […]
The House Democratic Policy Committee has been holding a series of hearings on the impact of the new state budget. At a hearing Wednesday, Brinda Carroll Penyak, deputy executive director of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, told the Committee that cuts in funding for mandated programs will mean some tough choices. Penyak says counties […]
Spirits are high as House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) mounts a new campaign to privatize Pennsylvania’s liquor stores. “We should not be in the business of pushing alcohol sales… while at the same time being the agency that is charged with law enforcement,” Turzai says, referring to the current control system. In fact, […]
The new state budget has been in place for about two weeks now, but its impact on public schools is still being sorted out. “We don’t know yet how many teachers wound up being furloughed, and how many program cuts, so we’re trying to gather that information,” says Tom Gentzel, executive director of the Pennsylvania […]
State lawmakers’ last act before the summer break was to send Governor Tom Corbett a bill to limit the Act 1 exceptions that allow school districts to raise property taxes above the rate of inflation, without a voter referendum. Governor Corbett called it an essential bill of the budget season, and managed to cajole lawmakers into a […]
State education officials are taking a closer look at an analysis of the 2009 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment test results. The report raised questions about standardized math and reading test scores in nearly 3 dozen districts and some charter schools. It was prepared under the previous administration, but only recently came to light. Education […]
Cleveland, Detroit, New Orleans… and Chester, PA are among the six cities taking part in a new pilot initiative from the Obama Administration called Strong Cities, Strong Communities. The population in Cleveland, OH is about 430,000. Detroit’s population is around 900,000. Chester, on the other hand, has about 37,000 residents. “Chester, specifically, we wanted to […]
The tree-destroying Emerald Ash Borer has been found in two more Pennsylvania Counties. Huntingdon and Wyoming Counties have been added to the list where the pest has been found, becoming the 20th and 21st in the state. The Pennsylvania Agriculture Department is asking people not to transport firewood more than 50 miles from where it […]
The American Red Cross has put out a national call for blood donations. The blood supply has dropped to critically low levels as we get into the heat of the summer months, with many donors traveling or busy and schools out of session. Mike Baisey, Communications Manager for the Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region, […]