Some 36-million people, in 15,000 communities will take part in National Night Out (NNO) festivities on August 2nd. NNO founder Matt Peskin is executive director of the National Association of Town Watch, which is based in Wynnewood, PA. Now in its 28th year, Peskin says National Night Out is still growing. “Each year we pick […]
The state’s largest employees union has approved a new contract calling for some concessions. Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 13 voted to approve the contract with the state by a 4 to 1 margin. David Fillman, executive director, says members did lose a couple of sick days and […]
The final report of the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission is due to the Governor on August 1st. The panel voted Monday on a series of recommendations, including changes in fees and fines for drivers and uncapping a tax on oil companies. The goal is to fill a transportation funding gap, and develop more predictable funding […]
The miserably hot weather that’s been gripping the Midwest is beginning to take hold of Pennsylvania. With every heat wave, Dr. Richard O’Brien treats multiple cases of heat related illness. He says nobody is immune to the temperatures. “Often they are sporting people, and sometimes they are little old ladies going to church,” says O’Brien, […]
Governor Tom Corbett and his wife Susan can hardly wait to hear the pitter-patter of little paws at the Governor’s Residence. “We have two Airedale puppies coming. We’ve had Airedales, three of them so far. Right now I call them four and five,” Governor Tom Corbett tells us. Without names for the pups, the Corbetts […]
A state senator who also chairs the Chesapeake Bay Commission has introduced a bill to set limits on non-farm fertilizers in Pennsylvania. Senator Mike Brubaker’s (R-Lanc) bill would require all professional fertilizer applicators to be certified, setting limits on applications to lawns, golf courses and athletic fields. Brubaker says the science is perfectly clear, that […]
Nationally, the Amish population grew by about 10% over the past two years. But New York’s growth rate was three times that of any other state. “Pennsylvania for example… had a growth rate of 7%, in Wisconsin it was 10%, but New York was 31%,” says Don Kraybill, senior fellow in the Young Center for […]
The deadline is approaching for massage therapists to become licensed under the grandfather provision of state law. The Massage Therapy Law requires anyone practicing the therapy to be licensed. Existing practitioners’ applications must be approved, not just submitted by December 30th, and turnaround will take some time. Anyone applying for licensure after the deadline must […]
Pennsylvanians are being asked to share their ideas on highway planning during a series of public hearings to update the state’s 12-year transportation program. The plan is updated every two years and is a “blueprint” of prioritized transportation projects. PennDOT wants to hear what members of the public, local governments and county governments see as […]
After an examination of 2009 standardized test scores raised questions, the state Education Secretary is expanding his review. The forensic analysis conducted on the 2009 PSSA test results from around Pennsylvania raised questions about scores in nearly 3 dozen districts and some charter schools. Education Secretary Ron Tomalis first ordered a review and follow up […]