News
Rick Santorum to Announce for President Today
He’s been running for months, visiting early primary and caucus states like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, but today former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Rick Santorum makes it official: he is a candidate for President of the United States. Santorum has chosen to make his announcement on the steps of the Somerset County Courthouse. […]
Habitat Improvement Projects Underway
Wildlife habitat improvement projects are underway, this spring, on Pennsylvania’s 1.4-million acres of State Game Lands. “In today’s age it’s not hard to understand there’s an enormous amount of landscape that’s being turned from wildlife habitat due to developments,” says Pennsylvania Game Commission spokesman Jerry Feaser. That’s why he tells us it’s critical to ensure that wildlife […]
Wegmans Pulling out of Wine Kiosk Program
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is losing almost one-third of its existing wine kiosk locations. Wegmans Food Markets has notified the LCB it will be removing the wine kiosks serving 10 of its stores in Pennsylvania, saying they did not fit well with the store environment. In a statement, the company said they hoped its […]
What Should Lawmakers Do With Unanticipated Revenue?
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 […]
Pennsylvania Spellers Finish 1st & 3rd at Scripps National Spelling Bee
14-year old Sukanya Roy of South Abington Township near Scranton is the winner of the 84th Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee. Roy won the title last night by correctly spelling “cymotrichous” in round 20. By contrast, last year’s spelling bee only lasted 9 rounds. Roy won the trophy and the lucrative prizes that […]
Motorcoach Enforcement Effort in Pennsylvania Puts Buses, Drivers Out of Service
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. […]
Auditor General Raises Red Flag on Tobacco Settlement Fund
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 […]
Pennsylvania Sends 4 Spellers to National Spelling Bee Semi-Finals
Years of preparations boil down to one tense day for the kids who have advanced to the semi-finals of the 2011 Scripps National Spelling Bee, which will crown a new champion this evening. After two days of written and oral spelling, the field was whittled down from 275 to 41. Pennsylvania leads all states with […]
Harrisburg Sets Spring Rain Record
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 […]
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency says Get Ready for Storm Season
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, […]