Pennsylvania category, Page 216
Reading mayor calls off ceremony to raise LGBTQ flag at City HallVideo
READING — The mayor of the eastern Pennsylvania city of Reading called off a scheduled ceremony to raise the LGBTQ rainbow flag over City Hall for the first time, calling it a political symbol. Acting Managing Director Osmer Deming said Mayor Wally Scott believes the “pride flag” represents a political...
Turnpike commission hikes tolls for 12th straight year — and will until 2044
Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls are set to go up, again. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission on Tuesday approved a 6% hike for all customers, which will take effect Jan. 5. The most common toll for passenger vehicles will rise from $1.40 to $1.50 for E-ZPass users and from $2.30 to $2.50 for...
Pittsburgh draws the most bottles of rare spirits in liquor lottery
The lucky Pennsylvania liquor lottery winners have been chosen. Winners, who will be granted the opportunity to purchase highly sought-after bourbons and whiskeys, were notified last week. The drawing was held Wednesday. For the first time, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has released the cities in which the winners live....
‘Likely innocent’ Philadelphia man ordered freed from prison after 28 years
PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia man sentenced to life in prison a quarter-century ago was ordered freed from prison Monday after the Philadelphia prosecutor’s office told the court last month that he was “likely innocent” of the murder for which he was convicted. Chester Hollman III, 48, was freed from state...
Proper diagnosis of tick-borne disease can cost in pain as well as payment
Greg Shogan of Monroeville estimated he underwent 20 brain scans to try and diagnose a series of strange ailments, which ultimately resulted in a diagnosis of Lyme disease. While early detection can generally result in positive treatment, Shogan had gone years without meaningful medical intervention. Shogan isn’t sure how much...
Pennsylvania casinos rolling out online gambling
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania is joining the short list of states where online casino-style gambling is available. Parx Casino in suburban Philadelphia and Penn National’s Hollywood Casino near Hershey launched online gambling portals to patrons statewide as part of a three-day test watched by state regulators. Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware...
Pa. schools ahead of laws governing sex assault reporting
Pennsylvania colleges and universities looking to update their policies on reporting sexual assault might want to look to the University of Pittsburgh. Pitt made significant revisions to its policies on reporting sexual assault and harassment more than three years ago. It is among several colleges and universities that had similar...
Man charged after 21-hour standoff atop old blast furnace
BETHLEHEM — A man who climbed atop the rusting blast furnace at a former eastern Pennsylvania steel mill, prompting evacuation of an arts and entertainment venue now at the site, is now facing a felony charge of risking a catastrophe. Jonathan David Wallace, 25, of Mertztown was also charged Sunday...
Man climbs atop Bethlehem blast furnace, prompting concert evacuation
Authorities say a man climbed to the top of a blast furnace in Bethlehem, Pa. and refused to come down, prompting evacuation of a nearby arts and entertainment venue. Venue operator ArtsQuest tweeted Saturday that the “emergency situation” that began Friday night at the SteelStacks campus was still going on,...
Pennsylvania GOP settles fight over contested race for chair
Pennsylvania’s Republican Party is trying to amicably settle a contested race for chairman between a candidate who had backing from top Trump campaign officials and a rival who previously had support from many Trump-aligned party activists. Bernadette Comfort instead will serve as the Trump campaign’s chairwoman in the presidential battleground...
Device leads to shutdown of Philadelphia airport’s baggage room
PHILADELPHIA — The Transportation Security Administration says officers closed the checked baggage room at Philadelphia International Airport after finding a device that resembled a pipe bomb. The room was evacuated and closed for about 40 minutes on Wednesday after officers spotted the device in a checked bag. The TSA says...
Man fatally beaten after stealing car with kids inside, Philadelphia cops say
PHILADELPHIA — Authorities say a man who stole a car with three young children inside was fatally beaten by their father and other men. Philadelphia police say the car was parked at a pizza restaurant with its engine running when the man drove off around 9:15 p.m. Thursday. The children’s...
Western Pa. pipeline battle over fuel delivery continues with regulators
The Texas-based owner of a petroleum pipeline that serves Western Pennsylvania is not taking “no” for an answer. Houston-based Buckeye Partners LP and its subsidiary, Laurel Pipe Line Co., which operates an east-to-west pipeline through Pennsylvania, want the option to deliver fuel from west-to-east, but can’t get the necessary regulatory...
Pa. adds anxiety to qualifying conditions for medical pot
The Pennsylvania Health Department is adding anxiety disorders and Tourette’s syndrome to the list of conditions that can qualify people to obtain legal medical marijuana. The heath secretary, Dr. Rachel Levine, announced Thursday she’ll be adding them as of July 20. Levine says her decision was based on the recommendation...
Former Pa. Congress members tackle civics education
It might be time to hit the civics books. Citing recent surveys that found only 26% of Americans could name all three branches of government and 37% could not name any of the rights guaranteed by First Amendment, a coalition of former Pennsylvania members of Congress is joining with eight...
Pennsylvania must get tough on crime guns, prosecutor says
The Pennsylvania attorney general’s office says it wants to improve the management and use of firearms-sales databases so that law enforcement can better clamp down on gun violence. Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Thursday that he wants police departments to enter serial numbers from every crime gun into a law-enforcement...
Court: Risks justify redacting Pa. abortion clinic worker names
HARRISBURG — A Pennsylvania court says security risks for people who work in abortion clinics justify a decision to redact their names and license numbers before making government records available to the public. A three-judge Commonwealth Court panel said Thursday the state Health Department acted properly when it removed professional...
AG report: Unnecessary standardized tests cost Pa. taxpayers $18 million
Pennsylvania taxpayers are paying nearly $18 million a year for unnecessary standardized tests administered to high school seniors across the state, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale charged in a report issued Wednesday. The 18-page report “Where did your money go?” examines the costs associated with the Keystone Exams. DePasquale said his...
Pennsylvania State System universities freeze tuition, Pitt hikes rate
For the first time in 20 years, and the second time ever, tuition will not rise this year at the 14 state-owned universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Basic tuition for in-state undergraduate students will remain at $7,716 for the 2019-20 school year. That comes after a...
Pa. state police report 9 killed in crashes over 5-day Fourth of July holiday
The Pennsylvania State Police reported that nine people died in eight crashes over the Fourth of July holiday, the second deadliest Independence Day stretch in the last five years. Four of those roadway deaths happened in Western Pennsylvania, data for the state police’s five-day enforcement period shows. Three people died...
Casey, Toomey react to plea-deal controversy surrounding Labor Secretary Acosta
Pennsylvania’s U.S. senators disagree whether Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta should resign amid growing criticism over a 2008 plea deal he negotiated with an accused sex offender who now faces new sex-trafficking charges. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, joined a growing chorus that includes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and...
Pennsylvania approves revamped effort to auction mini-casino licenses
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania will try again to award licenses for five more mini-casinos, part of an aggressive gambling expansion authorized in 2017 by a cash-hungry state government. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Wednesday approved a motion to restart auctions Sept. 4, under orders by a provision slipped into a...
Report: Pennsylvania had record year for natural gas production
Pennsylvania had a record year for natural gas production in 2018, the state Department of Environmental Protection said on Wednesday. Unconventional well operators produced 6.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in 2018 — an increase of .8 trillion cubic feet over 2017 and the largest volume of natural gas...
Pennsylvania State System universities freeze tuition, Pitt hikes rate
For the first time in 20 years, and the second time ever, tuition will not rise this year at the 14 state-owned universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Basic tuition for in-state undergraduate students will remain $7,716 for the 2019-20 school year. That comes after a unanimous...
Pennsylvania ranks No. 2 in U.S. student debt
This is a list that Pennsylvania won’t be proud to be high on. The Commonwealth ranked No. 2 in the country in student debt, according to WalletHub research. The report looked at average student debt, unemployment rates for people ages 25 to 34, students with past-due loans and student work...
