July 1 PA Environment Digest Now Available

The July 1 PA Environment Digest is now available.  Click Here to read this week's issue.

Sunday PA Capitol NewsClips

PA Budget Divides Democrats: Nobody Is Going To Go To Heaven
Editorial: Budget Behavior, Childish Tantrums

Editorial: New State Budget Excludes Major Issues

Editorial: As Fiscal Year Dawns, Let’s Wait And See

Erickson Appointed To PA Commission For Community Colleges
Editorial: Philadelphia Is Strong Enough to Overcome Closures Of Hahnemann Hospital, Refinery

Blair County Fireworks Sales Expected To Go Sky High

Are Fireworks Legal In Philadelphia? This Could Be The Year

State Fire Commissioner Urges Safety When Using Fireworks

AP: Lessons Linger From Harrisburg’s 1969 Racial Turmoil

Sunday PA Environmental NewsClips - Click Here

National/International
Routine State Police Stop For Latino Family Turned Into 2-Hour Interrogation Over Immigration Status

Thompson: DePasquale Running For Congress, Here’s Why

Cong. Kelly Seeks Neighborhood Tax Credit To Help Erie

Saturday PA Capitol NewsClips

Wolf Touts Big Gains For Schools In Budget, Vows To Fight For Minimum Wage Hike

AP-Levy, Scolforo: House Wraps Up State Budget Votes; Wolf Plans Bill Signings

Caruso: State Budget Full Of Bipartisan Wins, But Missing Progressive Priorities

Meyer: After A Week Of Passions, Pennsylvania Budget Is Finished

Murphy/Thompson: 10 Items Not In PA Budget Package

Murphy: Counties Left Waiting To See If State Money To Buy New Voting Machines Comes Through

Op-Ed: Republican Lawmakers Deserve Credit For No-Tax-Hike Budget

AP-Scolforo: PA Starts Automatic Sealing Of Some Criminal Files

Clean Slate Act Seals Some Criminal Records Effective Friday

AP-Levy: PA Poised To Take Over Online Health Insurance Exchange

Measles Reported In Central PA

Lock Haven Prof Fired After Background Check Gets Job Back, But Denied Damages

Editorial: Colleges Must Make Course Corrections

Uptick In Lehigh Valley Bombings Part Of Bigger Increase Across PA

Compromise In Planned Taproom Sales Tax Lessens Burden On Breweries

Esports Group Aims To Put Erie On Gaming Map

Charter Schools Reluctant To Cut Tuition For Allentown School District Students

Wood-Mode Has A Buyer Who Wants To Reopen The Plant In Snyder County

These Fireworks Sold In PA Are Way Too Powerful, Being Recalled

Fireworks Allowed In Williamsport City Limits As Of This Weekend

Saturday PA Environmental NewsClips - Click Here

National/International

Thompson: George Scott Removes Himself From Congressional Race Against Perry

Friday PA Capitol NewsClips

Both the House and Senate have now adjourned for the summer to return on September 17 and 23 respectively.
PA Group To Keep Pushing For Independent Redistricting Commission

Micek: U.S. Supreme Court Decision On Gerrymandering Won’t Stifle Reform Efforts

U.S. Supreme Court Decision Doesn’t Impact PA’s Redistricted Congressional Map

Editorial: U.S. Supreme Court Rules For Unfair Elections

AP-Levy, Scolforo: Budget Brinksmanship Leaves Last-Minutes Bills In Doubt

AP: Key School Bill Blocked As Budget Deadline Looms
Caruso: With Deadline Looming, Budget Stalls In The House Over Education

AP: Main $34 Billion Budget Bill Heads To Gov. Wolf

AP: Highlights Of PA’s 2019-20 Budget Package

Meyer/Mahon: Winners, Losers In PA’s $34 Billion State Budget Package

Senate Votes To Send $34 Billion Budget To Gov. Wolf

Murphy: Senate Sends $34 Billion Budget Bill To Gov. Wolf, Last Minute Glitch Delays Signing

AP: $90 Million For Voting Machines Sent To Governor’s Desk

Thompson: House OKs $90 Million For New Voting Machines, With Voting Reforms

Lawmakers OK Money For New Voting Machines, Eliminate Straight Party Voting

Editorial: State Budget Deal A Mixed Bag

Lt. Gov. Fetterman Expects To Move Forward After Senate Dispute

Bumsted: As Legislative Fights Go, Senate Spat Was Tame By Comparison

Fmr Rep. Stetler Pleads No Contest To Campaign Reporting Charge

Rivers Casino Receives Approval For Online Sports Betting

Editorial: Smoke-Free Sportsbook At Mohegan Right Move

Luzerne District Judge Said Prosecuctors Acted Unprofessionally In Murder Case

PA Ranks 11th Highest In Nursing Home Care Costs

State Orders Hahnemann U. Hospital To Stop Closure Until Plan In Place

AP: Drexel Music Dept Resurrects Long-Lost Philadelphia Funk Music

Editorial: Penn College Budget Reflects Mixed Bag Of Trends

Groups On Both Sides Of Gun Debate Say Senate Bill Would Allow Armed Teachers In Schools

Allentown Schools Pass Tax Hike, Plea To Charter Schools To Take Tuition Reduction

Harrisburg School District Receiver Cleans House

Harrisburg School Board President Criticizes Mass Firings

Harrisburg City Schools Budget Approved, Including Tax Hike

Mailing Of School Tax Bills Pushed Back Due To Luzerne County Cyber Attack

Luzerne County Council Member Presses For Answers On Cyber Attack

Editorial: Philly Court System Virus Was A Warning

Editorial: Rural Internet Progress Too Slow

Philadelphia Delays Ban On Cashless Stores Until October

Chester County Unemployment So Low Industries Face Labor Shortage

Friday PA Environmental NewsClips - Click Here

National/International

George Scott To Announce Congressional Race Plans Against Perry

ACLU Lawsuit: State Troopers Detained Latinos Over Immigrant Suspicions
Micek: 19 PA Counties Collaborating With ICE To Deport Immigrants In Local Custody

Muschick: Why Aren’t All Counties Cooperating With ICE To Deport People?

Olson: U.S. Supreme Court Leaves Census Citizenship Question In Doubt, Along With Federal Money In Lehigh Valley

Thursday PA Capitol NewsClips

Meetings TODAY:

Off The Floor: House Appropriations Committee: Senate Bill 712 (Argall-R-Schuylkill) expected to be Fiscal Code vehicle and is scheduled to be amended in Committee today with agreed-to language

Off The Floor: Senate Rules Committee:  Senate Bill 712 (Argall-R-Schuylkill) Fiscal Code vehicle [in anticipation of House action]

Admin Code: Administration Code vehicle expected to be House Bill 1461 (Fee-R-Lancaster), now on the Senate Calendar for a final vote.

Tax Code: Tax Code vehicle expected to be House Bill 262 (Metzgar-R-Somerset), now on the Senate Calendar for a final vote.

General Fund: General Fund budget bill--  House Bill 790 (Saylor-R-York)-- is now on the Senate Calendar in position for a final vote.

AP-Levy, Scolforo: Budget Brinksmanship Leaves Last-Minute Bills In Doubt

AP-Levy: Chaos Erupts In Senate Over Cash Assistance Bill

Thompson/Murphy: Senate Embroiled In Chaos Over Bill To End Cash Assistance

Senate Democrats Storm Off Floor Over Handling Of Bill Eliminating Cash Assistance Program

Rare Fight Erupts In Senate Amid Debate Over Cash Assistance Bill

Watch Chaos Erupt On Senate Floor Amid Debate Over Program For Poor

Sen. Scarnati: Today We Saw What Happens When Rules Aren’t Followed

PA Post: PA Budget Deal Explained In 5 Maps And Charts

AP: Republicans Tie Voting Machine Cash To Election Law Changes

Murphy: House Considers $90 Million For Voting Machines Tied To Election Reforms

Republicans Tell Wolf Funding For Census Outreach Is Unnecessary

Editorial: Legislators Should Have Raised The Minimum Wage to Help People Survive

AP: House OKs Constitutional Change To Remove No-Show Municipal Officials

Q/A: Advice, Insight About PA’s New Online Sports Betting

Op-Ed: Probation Keeps People Trapped In Cycle Of Incarceration

Editorial: Lancaster President Judge Should Share Self-Report To Conduct Board

Penn State Suspends Frat Until 2023 After Hazing Investigation

Editorial: Erie County College Deal Needs Full Public Vetting

Private Schools Benefitting For EITC Tax Credit Report Zero Low-Income Students

Philadelphia Mayor Challenge Planned Closing Of Hahnemann U. Hospital

Editorial: Don’t Cut Off Key Opioid Treatment

Real Estate Industry Resumes Business After Luzerne County Cyber Attack

Why Fireworks Tents Won’t Sell The Good Stuff

Thursday PA Environmental NewsClips - Click Here

National/International

Editorial: Is Sestak More Primary Background Noise?

Study: Lehigh, Northampton Counties, Among Others In PA Help ICE Deport People

Olson: Cong. Wild Gives Emotional Plea For Suicide Prevention On Annivesary Of Her Partner’s Death

Wednesday PA Capitol NewsClips

House is likely to be in session through Saturday.

AP-Levy: House OKs State Budget Bill After Stiff Criticism By Democrats

Some House Democrats Blast House-Passed Budget

Meyer: Republican House Speaker Tells Democrats They Can’t Discuss Minimum Wage During Budget Debate

Caruso: House Passes $34 Billion Budget Without Widespread Democratic Support

Micek: Failure To Pass Minimum Wage Hike Will Make Housing Affordability Worse
Why A $250 Million Deposit In The Rainy Day Fund Is Getting So Much Attention
What Public Education Advocates Think Of This Year’s Budget Plan
PA Post: PA Budget Deal Explained In 5 Maps And Charts

Olson: Sexually Explicit Texts Lead To Resignation Of PA Republican Party Chair

PA Republican Chair Traded Sexually Charged Messages With Philly Council Candidate

AP: PA Republican Chair Resigns After Complaint By Female Candidate

Inquirer Asked Dozens Of PA Officials For Texts, Emails: Wolf Deletes His Texts

AP-Scolforo: General Assembly Eyes Open Primaries, End To Straight Ticket Voting

Thompson: Gambling Within Gambling: Legislature Sends Sports Event Raffle Bill To Wolf

Online Sports Betting Ramps Up Risks For Problem Gamblers

Lancaster Twp OKs Rutter’s Convenience Store Video Gambling

30 Million Criminal Cases Will Be Sealed In PA Starting Friday

Senate Votes To Allow Local Police To Use Radar

What UPMC-Highmark Truce Doesn, Doesn’t Mean For Patients

For 300,000 Highmark Members, No UPMC Access Is Part Of Their Plan

Op-Ed: Opportunity To Do The Right Thing For Vulnerable Pennsylvanians

Allegheny County Overdose Deaths Dropped Significantly Last Year

Editorial: Treat Record-High Drug Addiction In Jail

Snow Days Could Be School Days If Wolf Signs Flexible Instruction Bill

AG: 2 Companies Pay $110,000 After Robocalling Pennsylvanians

Should Philly Repay $63 Million In Commercial Assessment Trial?

Wednesday PA Environmental NewsClips - Click Here

National/International

AP-Levy: Auditor General To Run Against Perry For Congress, Democrats Say

Micek: DePasquale Will Launch Bid Against Republic Scott Perry For Congress

Op-Ed: Creative Thinking Needed On Infrastructure - Cong. Kelly

Tuesday PA Capitol NewsClips

Thompson: Wolf Says Proposed State Budget Meets His Objectives

Click Here for available budget documents-- Spreadsheet, Financial Statement, more.

Caruso: House Advances Budget Without Minimum Wage Increase, Cash Assistance Program

AP-Levy: PA Budget Cram Week Starts With Eye On Saving Cash

$34 Billion Budget Deal, More Money For Public Education, No Minimum Wage Increase

Thompson: No Increase In Minimum Wage, What Happened?

Murphy: Cash Assistance Program For PA’s Poorest On Brink Of Elimination

Caruso: $34 Billion Budget Falls Flat With Some House Democrats

Pennsylvania Says No To Funding To Aid Census Effort

AP: PA To OK $60 Million In School Security Funding For 2nd Year

Micek: Budget Fast One - Catholic Church Gets Exemption On Same-Sex Couple Adoption

Lawmakers Finally Putting Voting Right, Election Reform Into Bills

Rivers Casino Ready To Kick Off Its Online Sports Betting

Caesars Gets Swallowed By An Upstart Firm

Parx Becomes 2nd PA Casino To Launch Internet Sports Betting

UPMC, Highmark Reach 10-Year Deal For Patient Coverage

Editorial: UPMC, Highmark Still Need Permanent Solution

Editorial: UPMC Corrects Course

Editorial: End Consumer Abuse By Nonprofit Health Care Companies
30 Million Criminal Cases Will Be Sealed In PA Starting Friday

Allegheny County Public Defender To Challenge DA Zappala In Election

Long-Time Public Defender Announces Bid For Allegheny County DA

Frat Involved In Student Death Now Suing Penn State Over $500,000

Colleges Crack Down On Romantic Relationships Between Profs, Students

Penn Hills School District: Massive Debt, Long Road To Recovery

Tuesday PA Environmental NewsClips - Click Here
National/International
Micek: DePasquale Will Launch Bid Against Republican Scott Perry For Congress