News
Small Group of Reps Renews Push to End COLAs
A small group of state lawmakers is renewing the push to eliminate public officials’ annual cost-of-living adjustments, commonly referred to as COLAs. Every year lawmakers and a variety of other public officials receive a pay raise that’s tied to the consumer price index, but first-term state Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin) says it’s time for the […]
Radio PA Roundtable 03.29.13
On this week’s Radio PA Roundtable, Brad Christman and Matt Paul discuss the opening on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the U.S. Supreme Court consideration of same sex marriage and a property tax elimination bill in Harrisburg. Radio PA Roundtable is a 30-minute program featuring in-depth reporting on the top news stories of the week. Click […]
Will the Supreme Court Redefine Marriage?
Marriage equality advocates are calling this week’s US Supreme Court arguments a watershed moment. Two cases were argued before the high court: one challenges California’s voter-approved same-sex marriage ban, while the other takes to task the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). “In light of everything it really says whether or not fairness and […]
Advocates ‘Demand Action’ to End Gun Violence
The US Senate Judiciary Committee has already advanced four pieces of gun legislation, but it remains to be seen what the chamber will vote upon when it reconvenes next month. Regardless of what happens, Vice President Joe Biden says it’s just the beginning. “The American people are way ahead of their political leaders and we […]
Advocates Want Treatment, Not Just Testing of Susquehanna
The entire Susquehanna River basin will be the subject of extensive testing and sampling for the remainder of 2013. The Department of Environmental Protection’s new 2013 Susquehanna River Sampling Plan calls for tests to be run on water quality, sediments, pesticides and fish. It’s all in hopes of finally putting to rest the mystery surrounding […]
PennDOT Keeping Up with Winter That Won’t Go Away
The calendar might say spring but the weather still says winter. Despite today’s snow, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation road crews have been keeping up with the season that won’t quit. The parade of smaller storms this winter has not depleted PennDOT’s supplies according to spokeswoman Erin Waters-Trasatt. She says it has been relatively mild winter […]
Saving Amtrak Service through Western PA
Amtrak currently runs one train per day in each direction between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, but the so-called “Pennsylvanian” line was at risk of being slashed if the state didn’t pick up part of the tab. Amtrak had been asking for $6.5-million dollars a year in state subsidies, but eventually agreed to a $3.8-million dollar deal […]
Pennsylvania Releases February Unemployment Report
Pennsylvania’s jobless rate ticked down in February. It’s still half a point higher than it was a year ago and four-tenths above the national average, but the unemployment rate dipped one-tenth of a point last month to 8.1 percent. Department of Labor and Industry secretary Julia Hearthway says the state continues to see job growth […]
Radio PA Roundtable 03.22.13
On this week’s Radio PA Roundtable, Brad Christman brings you the vote from the state House of Representatives this week regarding privatization of the state liquor stores. Did lawmakers give the thumbs up? If so, will the bill pass the Senate? Also, legislation to allow online voter registration in PA is making its way through the […]
State System Board Approves Contracts With Faculty, Coaches
The governing board of the 14 state-owned universities has settled contracts with the union representing faculty and athletic coaches. The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors ratified new contracts with the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties at a special meeting. The separate agreements both run through the end of […]