Category: Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Governor Calls for Evacuation Due to Toxic Chemical Release as Train Derails at Ohio Border

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro issued an evacuation order for residents near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border due to the release of a toxic chemical after a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The governor indicated residents who didn’t evacuate the area could risk serious injury or death if exposed to the thick smoke and flames. “If you…


Pennsylvania Electric Company Investigated for Unusually High Customer Bills

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) announced this week that it is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding unusually high bills recently received by customers of PPL Electric Utilities (PPL). The PUC will also examine the accuracy and integrity of PPL’s billing practices. “The matter has been referred to the PUC’s independent Bureau of…


Phil’s Groundhog Day Prediction: 6 More Weeks of Winter

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa.—A furry critter in a western Pennsylvania town has predicted six more weeks of winter during an annual Groundhog Day celebration. People gathered Thursday at Gobbler’s Knob as members of Punxsutawney Phil’s “inner circle” summoned the groundhog from his tree stump at dawn to learn if he has seen his shadow—and they say he…


Pennsylvania Report Recommends 5 Changes to Election Code

Pennsylvania’s Election Law Advisory Board has released an interim report making five recommendations for how the legislature can address grey areas in the state election code as it relates to mail-in voting. In 2019, the Pennsylvania legislature passed Act 77, changing some of the rules in the state’s Election Code. Then in 2020, shortly before…


US Sen. John Fetterman Gets Committee Assignments, Including Agriculture

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman has received his committee assignments, which will help set the tone for his freshman year. Fetterman, a Democrat, will serve on the Committee of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee; and Environment and Public Works Committee. Fetterman will also have a seat on the bipartisan and…


Study of Pittsburgh Bridge Collapse Looking at Leg Fractures

PITTSBURGH—Investigators looking into the collapse of a Pittsburgh bridge nearly one year ago are looking closely at damage to the legs of the structure, the National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday. An agency update on the Jan, 28, 2022, failure of the Fern Hollow Bridge said its engineers are examining “multiple fractures” found on the…


Shapiro Talks Abortion Access in Pennsylvania With Planned Parenthood

In his first week as Pennsylvania’s governor, Josh Shapiro has put abortion on the front burner. He highlighted abortion in his inauguration speech, and on the third day of his administration, he hosted Planned Parenthood leadership for a conversation on expanding abortion access. “Planned Parenthood PA’s executive director and the CEOs of all three Planned…


Josh Shapiro Inaugurated as Governor of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania gets four more years of Democrat leadership with the inauguration of Gov. Josh Shapiro, the state’s former attorney general, on Tuesday. At 49 years old, he is Pennsylvania’s youngest governor. Also sworn in was Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, 32. Davis won both this office and his reelection bid in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives….


Pay per Mile: States Move Toward User-Based Road Tax

With each gallon of gas pumped in the United States since 1932, drivers have been paying taxes. The revenue is used for road repairs and public transportation such as train and bus systems. Currently, the Fed takes 18.4 cents per gallon for gas or 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel. State gas taxes range from…


Pennsylvania County Completes Hand Recount of 2020 Presidential Election

A hand recount of 2020 election ballots in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania this week yielded only slight variations in the final numbers. In Lycoming, former President Donald Trump still beats President Joe Biden, with the new totals: Trump at 41,455 with seven voters fewer than the 2020 count, and Biden at 16,956 with 15 voters fewer…