Almost everyone expects an on-time budget, for a change. But there’s no consensus on how to handle state revenues that have come in $540-million dollars above estimate through the first 11-months of the fiscal year. Senate Minority leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) says it should be used to mitigate proposed education budget cuts for the new […]
Cleaning out my inbox the other day, I spotted a news release slugged, “Nearly 1 in 5 American Drivers Unfit for the Road,” and it was just too tempting not to follow up. It turns out GMAC Insurance has been conducting a National Drivers Test for seven years now, and 18% of American drivers failed […]
State Police conducted a seven day enforcement blitz on tour buses last month. The enforcement effort from May 15th to 21st concentrated on popular travel destinations. 369 motor coaches were inspected at casinos, amusement parks and other spots across the state. As a result, 26 of the vehicles and 16 drivers were placed out of service. […]
Fresh off of a series of five statewide public hearings, Auditor General Jack Wagner has delivered a special report to state lawmakers. “It’s about time the General Assembly steps to the plate and listens to what the public is talking about in relation to their dollars, these tobacco settlement dollars,” Wagner said at a Thursday […]
The soggy spring was one for the record books in the state capital. It is officially the wettest spring ever for Harrisburg. Matt Steinbugl, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in State College, says they measured 20.79 inches of rain in March, April and May. Steinbugl says that’s more than 9 inches above average, and […]
Hurricane season planning is not just for people who live on the coast line. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is reminding state residents they need to have a plan as well. While the state rarely gets a direct hit from a hurricane, it does see tropical storms and tropical depressions with large amounts of rain, […]
Pennsylvania teenagers would essentially be barred from tanning beds, under legislation that’s being debated in the State House Judiciary Committee. “What the bill would do is prevent any business from allowing persons under the age of 18 from using an indoor tanning bed,” said State Rep. RoseMarie Swanger (R-Lebanon) at a Wednesday news conference. Swanger […]
May’s tax receipts have been tallied, and the Department of Revenue reports that collections exceeded estimates by nearly $34-million, or 1.9%. That means Pennsylvania’s revenues are outpacing estimates by a total of $539-million through 11-months of the fiscal year. “It just points out once again how bad the Republican budget that was passed last month […]
It’s expected to be an above normal Atlantic Hurricane season according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Today (June 1st) marks the start of the season. Lead seasonal forecaster Dr. Gerry Bell says they’re expecting 12 to 18 named storms, 6 to 10 of them hurricanes, with 3 to 6 storms expected to reach […]
A half-dozen State Reps. won primary elections for various local offices, last month, and will appear on the November ballot. For instance, Republican Doug Reichley is on the ballot for a judicial post in Lehigh County. Discussing the large number of lawmakers who may bolt Harrisburg, Reichley says it comes and goes in cycles. “I […]