Pennsylvania high court appears split over plan to force power plants to pay for carbon emissions
May 24, 2023 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Justices on Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court indicated Wednesday that they are likely to have split opinions on whether a governor has the right to force power plant owners to pay for their planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, or whether he first needs approval from a Legislature that refuses to go along with the plan.
Court tosses Wolf suit against voter ID, abortion amendments
April 17, 2023 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania court on Monday dismissed a challenge to how lawmakers have bundled together five potential state constitutional amendments, including one regarding abortion, on grounds the legal dispute was not ripe for the judges' review.
Pennsylvania governor blocks death penalty, calls for repeal
February 16, 2023 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro said Thursday he will not allow Pennsylvania to execute any inmates while he is in office and called for the state's lawmakers to repeal the death penalty.
Shapiro keeps gift ban for employees stricter than law
January 20, 2023 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Josh Shapiro said Friday that he will keep in place a ban on executive-branch employees receiving gifts of influence that is stricter than state law, but relax some provisions under his predecessor.
Pennsylvania governor tops state record of pardons granted
January 12, 2023 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has issued more than twice the amount of pardons granted by any of his predecessors, with at least a quarter of them targeting non-violent marijuana offenses, his administration announced Thursday.
New Pa. speaker puts sexual abuse lawsuit window atop agenda
January 6, 2023 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's new state House speaker declared Friday that no other legislation will be taken up by his chamber until it approves a constitutional amendment granting child sexual abuse victims the power to file what would otherwise be outdated claims.
Police: 5 guns recovered after police chief killed, 2 hurt
January 3, 2023 GMTBRACKENRIDGE, Pa. (AP) — Authorities say five guns were recovered from a man shot and killed by police after a chase and gunfire that killed a western Pennsylvania police chief and wounded two other officers.
Wolf ends term with strong ratings after tumultuous times
December 29, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf will wrap up eight years in office next month, having steered Pennsylvania through unpredictable times when the Democrat made life-and-death decisions in the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic and managed the battleground state's presidential election amid unprecedented Republican efforts to overturn it.
New bridge opens in place of collapsed Pittsburgh span
December 23, 2022 GMTA new bridge replacing replace one that collapsed earlier this year in Pittsburgh has opened to traffic.
Cars began crossing new Fern Hollow bridge on Thursday — less than a year since a 50-year-old bridge carrying Forbes Avenue over a ravine collapsed on the morning of Jan.
New bridge to open in place of collapsed Pittsburgh span
December 21, 2022 GMTPITTSBURGH (AP) — Pennsylvania officials say a newly built bridge to replace the one that collapsed earlier this year in Pittsburgh will open to traffic by the end of December.
Gov. Tom Wolf and other state and local officials marked the announcement Wednesday by walking across the new Fern Hollow bridge and holding a ribbon-cutting.
Gov-elect Shapiro opens transition, to stay AG until January
November 17, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro gave his first Capitol news conference Wednesday as he begins the transition to his new job, pledging to work constructively with lawmakers and saying he will remain as attorney general until he is sworn in as governor in January.
Wolf signs bills, including to decriminalize fentanyl strips
November 3, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signed new laws Thursday that, among other things, decriminalize fentanyl test strips, legalize possession of switchblades and call for the state to divest holdings in certain Russian companies.
Wolf signs law to yank toll scofflaws’ vehicle registrations
November 3, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A measure to help the Pennsylvania Turnpike recover more unpaid tolls was signed into law Thursday, legislation that could trigger the suspension of thousands of vehicle registrations early next year.
Lawmakers send Wolf large package of energy tax credits
October 27, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — State lawmakers have voted for an array of tax credits, including a massive incentive designed to help Pennsylvania land one of the hydrogen energy hubs being funded with federal subsidies.
State seeks sanctions over access to county voting machines
October 21, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's state elections chief wants legal penalties against two Republican county officials and their lawyer for what she calls in a new court filing their “unprecedented, reckless decision” to give an outside group access to voting machines during pending litigation on that subject.
GOP goes to court again over Pennsylvania mail-in ballots
October 17, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The state and national Republican parties are suing anew in Pennsylvania in an effort to block some mail-in ballots — those lacking the voter’s handwritten date on the return envelope — from being counted in November, when voters will elect a new governor and U.S.
Max Baer, Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s chief justice, dies
October 1, 2022 GMTPITTSBURGH (AP) — Max Baer, the chief justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, has died only months before he was set to retire, the court confirmed Saturday. He was 74.
Baer died overnight at his home near Pittsburgh, the court said in a news release.
Wolf takes lawsuit on constitutional changes to lower court
September 26, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf is taking another shot at a lawsuit that argues Republican lawmakers improperly bundled together five proposed state constitutional amendments to get them approved by the Pennsylvania Legislature.
High court tells Wolf it won’t fast track amendments lawsuit
September 12, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's highest court on Monday rejected a request from Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf that it immediately take up his challenge to Republican legislation that has bundled a constitutional amendment regarding abortion with four unrelated proposed changes.
Wolf move expands voter registration forms at state offices
September 7, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Seven additional Pennsylvania government agencies will provide voter registration forms under a new order being signed Wednesday by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.
The executive order requires the materials and information be available to the public through agencies within the Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, Corrections, Education, Labor and Industry, Military and Veterans Affairs and State departments.
Wolf starts process to pardon lower level pot convictions
September 1, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvanians with minor, nonviolent marijuana criminal convictions could be pardoned beginning Thursday in a period until the end of the month under a joint effort from Democratic Gov.
Shapiro breaks with Dems on COVID policies in Pa. gov race
August 29, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — As attorney general, Josh Shapiro went to court repeatedly to defend Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration against legal challenges to his pandemic-era mandates and shutdowns.
3 Pennsylvania counties ordered to count mail-in votes
August 20, 2022 GMTA Pennsylvania judge has ordered three Republican-controlled counties to add about 800 contested mail-in ballots to the results of the May election, ruling in a legal dispute that stalled statewide certification of the primary results for governor and U.S.
Judge vows to move quickly on dispute over mail-in votes
August 12, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The judge in a case brought by Gov. Tom Wolf's administration against three counties that aren't reporting mail-in ballots lacking handwritten dates on their return envelopes told lawyers Friday she will rule as quickly as possible.
Wolf sues to stop GOP-backed amendments on abortion, voting
July 29, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's Democratic governor sued the state Legislature on Thursday over a package of proposed constitutional amendments that Republican lawmakers are pursuing, including one that would say the state constitution does not guarantee any rights relating to abortion or public funding of abortions.
Pennsylvania certifies primary election in 64 of 67 counties
July 20, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania has certified the results of primary elections from 64 of 67 counties, leaving out three counties in a growing legal dispute over whether to count mail-in ballots on which the voter didn’t handwrite a date, state officials said Wednesday.
Pennsylvania toughens penalties for repeat DUI drivers
July 15, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation Monday to increase penalties for motorists who have multiple DUI convictions to try to end what critics call Pennsylvania’s “revolving door” for the most serious drunken drivers.
Pa. funds 3 new state parks, locations yet to be determined
July 12, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's governor tweeted he had “big news” on Tuesday, announcing the state budget passed in recent days includes funding for three new state parks.
With lots of cash on hand, Pennsylvania wraps up budget deal
July 12, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf and lawmakers wrapped up a budget package this week — nearly two weeks late — approving billions of dollars in new spending, tax breaks for businesses and substantial new sums for public schools to cap the eighth and final budget for the Democratic governor.
Pennsylvania governor says he’ll protect abortion seekers
July 12, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf is following in the footsteps of other Democratic governors following the U.S. Supreme Court's abortion ruling and looking to protect patients who travel to Pennsylvania for the procedure from being prosecuted by their home states.
Gov. Wolf vetoes bid to block all-electric building codes
July 11, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Citing the need to fight climate change, Pennsylvania's Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf on Monday vetoed Republican-penned legislation to stop municipalities from adopting building codes that prohibit natural gas hookups.
Pennsylvania appeals court order blocking climate plan
July 11, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The administration of Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf asked the state's high court Monday to weigh in on a legal battle over Pennsylvania's plan to charge power plants for their emissions of planet-warming carbon dioxide.
Wolf, nursing homes come to agreement to boost staff
July 11, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Nursing home trade associations in Pennsylvania said Monday they have agreed to boost staffing levels as part of a deal with Gov. Tom Wolf to increase aid to an industry struggling with high turnover.
Wolf vetoes bills on poll watchers, transgender athletes
July 9, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday rejected three bills passed by the Republican majority Legislature, vetoing measures regarding transgender athletes in school sports and poll watchers.
Court blocks Pennsylvania’s carbon emissions plan
July 8, 2022 GMTA state court temporarily blocked Pennsylvania from participating in a regional carbon pricing program to combat climate change, ruling Friday in favor of coal-related interests that argue the administration of Gov.
Senate signs off on Pennsylvania’s delayed main budget bill
July 8, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Lawmakers overwhelmingly passed the main Pennsylvania state budget bill Friday, more than a week after it was due — a plan fattened by federal stimulus cash and unusually robust state tax collections.
Budget would leave billions unspent, boost education funding
July 8, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania lawmakers, nearly a week into the state's new fiscal year, began passing budget legislation Thursday to add billions into surplus accounts, significantly boost education spending and fund new environmental programs.
COVID nursing home deaths claim is campaign trail mainstay
July 5, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Doug Mastriano, Pennsylvania’s Republican nominee for governor, has made a campaign staple out of the allegation that Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf's policy of readmitting COVID-19 patients from hospitals to nursing homes caused thousands of deaths — a baseless claim for which no investigator or researcher has provided any evidence.
Pennsylvania heads into fiscal year without budget in place
July 1, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Work on a new state budget for Pennsylvania will plow into next week as the state government started the fiscal year Friday with diminished spending authority, details of a new spending plan still largely a secret and questions about whether negotiators can solve lingering disputes.
Lawmakers pass new limits on fireworks as July Fourth nears
July 1, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — State lawmakers gave their final approval to new restrictions on fireworks Friday but the rules will not be in place as July Fourth weekend fireworks light up Pennsylvania skies.
Pennsylvania to begin fiscal year without a budget
July 1, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's new fiscal year will begin without a state budget in place, as Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration and top Republican lawmakers haltingly worked through Thursday's deadline to hammer out a roughly $42 billion spending plan whose details were still largely being kept secret.
Pennsylvania court blocks governor’s bridge tolling plan
June 30, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A state court on Thursday permanently blocked Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan to toll as many as nine major bridges on interstates in Pennsylvania, siding with three Pittsburgh-area municipalities that argued that his administration had violated procedures in getting to the advanced stage of considering the idea.
Bills limiting LGBTQ instruction, trans athletes pass Senate
June 29, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's GOP-controlled Senate approved legislation Wednesday that Republicans say will restrict sexually explicit content and classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools, mirroring partisan fights playing out in statehouses around the country.
Talks yield no Pennsylvania budget deal, with 3 days left
June 28, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's state House of Representatives and Senate returned to the Capitol on Tuesday, as leaders of the Republican-controlled chambers worked to get an agreement on a roughly $42 billion budget plan with Democratic Gov.
With accounts flush, budget talks come down to schools aid
June 24, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — With a week to go until the state's budget deadline, Gov. Tom Wolf and leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature are working through their remaining differences as they try to produce an agreement on a roughly $42 billion budget plan that they say will marshal substantial new aid for Pennsylvania’s public schools and environmental cleanups while cutting corporate taxes.
Pennsylvania Senate pushes plans to cut corporate taxes
June 15, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's Senate approved two competing plans Wednesday to slash the state's corporate net income tax rate, although Democrats warned the bills are premature because there is no agreement with Gov.
Wolf, lawmakers launch budget season with billions to spend
June 13, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and state lawmakers are launching into their busiest stretch: the horse-trading and budget-making weeks of June that are vastly different this year than any other in memory, with billions of extra dollars to spread around.
Pennsylvania governor tests positive for coronavirus
June 7, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf tweeted that he tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.
The 73-year-old governor said in the tweet he has mild symptoms.
Wolf’s environmental protection secretary to depart agency
May 23, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A cabinet secretary who helped shepherd Pennsylvania's entry into a regional carbon pricing program to combat climate change is leaving the administration of Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.
Pennsylvania judge halts bridge tolling plans, for now
May 18, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A judge has ordered a temporary halt to Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan to toll as many as nine major bridges on interstates in Pennsylvania, siding Wednesday with Cumberland County and a handful of municipalities that are challenging the process as both illegal and unconstitutional.
GOP fears far-right candidate will be PA governor nominee
May 11, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — With six days until Pennsylvania's primary, Republicans are openly worrying that a leading candidate in the crowded GOP field for governor is unelectable in the fall general election and will fumble away an opportunity for the party to take over the battleground state's executive suite.
4 Republicans claw for an edge in live TV governor’s debate
April 28, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Leading candidates for the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania’s open governor's office made big promises in Wednesday night’s debate about how they’ll ramp up the economy and spend state dollars, as they clawed for an edge in a huge nine-person field.
Billions in surplus have lawmakers thinking business tax cut
April 26, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Hundreds of millions of dollars in business profit tax cuts passed the Republican-majority state House on Tuesday, and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf said he was optimistic a final deal can be struck in the coming months.
Coal interests sue to block Pennsylvania’s carbon policy
April 26, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Coal-related interests sued on Monday to block the centerpiece of Gov. Tom Wolf's plan to fight climate change, a carbon-pricing policy that will impose a cost for emitting planet-warming carbon dioxide from fossil fuel-fired power plants.
Big greenhouse gas state taking biggest climate step yet
April 22, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — More than two years after he started work on it, Gov. Tom Wolf is set to enact the centerpiece of his plan to fight climate change, making Pennsylvania the first major fossil fuel state to adopt a carbon pricing policy — but it might be a short-lived victory.
Pennsylvania health department to get new acting secretary
April 18, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's acting health secretary is leaving the job and Gov. Tom Wolf said Monday his physician general will take over leadership of the department.
Senate votes to end drop boxes, outside money for elections
April 13, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Drop boxes for depositing mail-in and absentee ballots would be banned and donations to run elections would no longer be permitted from groups outside government under bills approved Wednesday by the Pennsylvania Senate.
Governor appeals court order blocking carbon emissions plan
April 8, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration has asked the state's highest court to let the centerpiece of his plan to fight climate change take effect and make Pennsylvania the first major fossil fuel state to adopt a carbon pricing policy.
Pennsylvania court blocks governor’s carbon emissions plan
April 6, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania court on Tuesday blocked the centerpiece of Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan to fight climate change, the latest challenge to the Democrat's effort to make Pennsylvania the first major fossil fuel state to adopt a carbon pricing policy.
Lawmakers fail to override key element of gov’s climate plan
April 4, 2022 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's Republican-controlled Legislature failed Monday in a last-ditch effort to block the centerpiece of Gov. Tom Wolf's plan to fight climate change, a regulation requiring fossil fuel-fired power plants to pay a price for every ton of carbon dioxide they emit.