News
Committee Votes to Re-Bid Foxwoods License
The revoked Foxwoods casino license would be re-bid via a statewide public auction, under legislation penned by House Gaming Oversight Committee chairman Curt Schroder (R-Chester). HB 65 was written to maximize state revenues, and would set the minimum bid for the casino license at $66.5-million dollars. The original category 2 licenses were sold for $50-million […]
Pennsylvania Business Group Supports Bill Aimed At On Line Retailers
Small business owners from Pennsylvania are lending their support to a bill being introduced by an Arkansas Republican and California Democrat in the U. S. House of Representatives to address sales tax collections by on line retailers. The Marketplace Equality Act would empower states to require online companies that do not have a physical presence […]
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Praises Trade Bills Passed By Congress
There was bipartisan support in Congress for legislation to create free trade agreements that could benefit Pennsylvania agriculture. The bills awaiting the President’s signature would create agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama, eliminating tariffs and other barriers to trade. Mark O’Neill, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, says it’s estimated the agreements could increase […]
Study Says First Month of “Solo” Driving Is a Risky Time For Teens
Teens are 50% more likely to crash the first after they get their driver’s license than they are after a full year of driving on their own. That’s according to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Three common mistakes; failure to reduce speed, inattention and failure to yield account for 57% of […]
Gaming Reforms Scheduled for Committee Action
The 21-recommendations contained in May’s gaming grand jury report have been turned into bill form, and the House Gaming Oversight Committee is scheduled to take up three of them on Monday. One of them is HB 2009, which encompasses grand jury recommendation number 12. It would require the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) to post […]
Third Annual Report Shows Progress on Reducing Healthcare Associated Infections
Pennsylvania hospitals are making progress on reducing some healthcare associated infections according to the third annual report from state health officials. There was a decline in the overall number of health care associated infections in 2010. There was significant improvement in reducing infections in two areas; catheter associated urinary tract infections and central line blood […]
New Database Will Track Water Quality in Marcellus Shale Drilling Areas
A new database will help track water quality in areas affected by Marcellus Shale drilling. Development of the database is being led by Penn State researchers. It’s funded with a 750 thousand dollar grant from the National Science Foundation. Penn State Geo sciences professor Susan Brantley says the web site is already being set up […]
Grant Helps Fund Groundbreaking Breast Cancer Research
A naturally-occurring virus has been discovered, which successfully kills breast cancer cells in Dr. Craig Meyers’ laboratory at the Penn State College of Medicine. “It appears that this virus is signaling the cells to turn on themselves and basically commit suicide,” Dr. Meyers says. “And this virus is inducing it only in the cancer cells, […]
New Prostate Screening Recommendations Worry Men’s Health Groups
The U. S. Preventive Services Task Force has released a draft recommendation downgrading routine testing of blood levels for signs of prostate cancer. Advocates for men’s health are worried about the report. The PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, testing would no longer be recommended for men who do not have symptoms that are highly suspicious for […]
PHEAA OFFERS SPECIAL CONSIDERATION TO FLOOD VICTIMS
Students who were hit hard financially by flooding from Hurricane Irene or Tropical Storm Lee might be able to get additional state grant money to help with higher education costs. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency has a process that allows grant award applicants to submit a casualty loss form for reconsideration of state grant […]