News
Beer in the Bleachers: Enjoy Responsibly
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (LCB) calls on sports fans to keep game days safe, and enjoy responsibly. The message comes amid a growing number of reports of alcohol-related incidents at sporting events across the country. Specifically, spokeswoman Stacey Witalec cites the near-fatal beating of a San Francisco Giants fan at the LA Dodgers home […]
Pennsylvania’s Hiking Week Steps Off May 28th
Pennsylvania’s Hiking Week runs from May 28th through June 5th with more than 100 organized hikes statewide. The week is marking its tenth anniversary this year of highlighting Pennsylvania’s many trails and walking paths. It’s a way to introduce newcomers to the sport of hiking according to Curt Ashenfelter, Executive Director of the Keystone […]
Supporters Say Good Samaritan Bill Would Save Lives
Anyone under 21, who calls 911 to help a drunk friend, would have legal immunity from underage drinking charges under SB 448. Senator John Rafferty (R-Montgomery) is the prime sponsor, and he thanked his colleagues on the Senate floor, following this week’s unanimous vote. “This is a bill designed for good Samaritans to save lives, […]
More Tornadoes Confirmed from Storms in the Past Week in Pennsylvania
As devastating tornadoes have hit parts of the country this spring, Pennsylvania has not been immune to the vicious storms. Pennsylvania averages 15 to 20 tornadoes a year. June and July are usually the peak months. With the latest confirmations, the state has already reached the average. The National Weather Service in State College sent […]
U.S. House Subcommittee to look into Identity Theft Involving Tax Refunds
A United States House subcommittee plans to hold a hearing next week on a growing problem- identity thieves who use stolen Social Security numbers to claim other people’s tax refunds. The scam starts with an identity thief obtaining a Social Security number through a variety of methods, such as phishing scams or malicious software. The […]
Human Services Concerns Raised as Budget Bill Advances
The State House has already advanced a $27.3-billion dollar budget bill, despite Democrats’ objections. In fact all House Democrats voted against a budget that Minority Human Services chairman Mark Cohen (D-Philadelphia) calls “cruel and draconian” in many ways. “We believe that as the Republicans in the Senate get to know this budget better… there’s going […]
State Budget Battle Shifts to Senate Side of the Capitol
The budget bill’s next stop is the Senate Appropriations Committee, following this week’s largely party line vote in the State House. Senate Appropriations chair Jake Corman (R-Centre) tells us they’ll spend the next week or so reviewing the legislation, and hope to have an action plan by the first or second week of June. When […]
PSU Leads Multidisciplinary Effort to Save Honeybees
Researchers from seven universities, beekeepers in every state, economists, epidemiologists and others have joined the Bee Informed Partnership. Senior extension associate at Penn State Dennis vanEngelsdorp is leading the project, and tells us honeybees are essential to agriculture. “About one in every three bites of food we eat is either directly or indirectly pollinated by […]
Don’t Pick up a Tick Hitchhiker this Summer
Spring and early summer are times of year when the ticks that transmit Lyme disease tend to be most active. Health officials are reminding people to be vigilant when they’re outdoors. Dr. Stephen Ostroff, acting Pennsylvania Physician General, Pennsylvania Department of Health, says the deer tick is tiny, and people may not notice it […]
Grand Jury Report Will Not Gather Dust
A statewide investigating grand jury released its 102-page report on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Tuesday. Chairman of the State House Gaming Oversight Committee Curt Schroder (R-Chester) calls the report a “stinging indictment” on the operation of the Gaming Control Board since its inception. Schroder says it is lawmakers’ duty to follow-up. “I intend […]