Lawmakers, pet advocates push bill spurred by pet cremation scandal
State Sen. Nick Pisciottano said the state’s framework for pet cremation oversight is “a little like the Wild West.” The legislator, whose district includes Plum, Monroeville and parts of the Mon Valley, proposed Senate Bill 950 to strengthen consumer protection and...Harrison hospital opens $6.2M rehab center for stroke, surgery recovery
A $6.2 million tech-forward rehab facility opened Thursday at AHN Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison, making it the only stroke and surgery recovery center of its kind in the region, according to Allegheny Health Network officials. “This is equipment that few...State Senate Democrats Introduce Bill to Protect and Improve Access to Contraceptives in Pennsylvania
Democratic state senators are introducing legislation in Harrisburg to require insurance companies to provide coverage for contraceptives. The legislation aims to ensure access to contraceptives after the Dobbs v. Jackson ruling hurt reproductive health care access in...Northland Public Library celebrates results of $4.1M renovation at ribbon-cutting ceremony
Northland Public Library celebrated its newly renovated and more functional space with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Jan. 8. A large crowd gathered in the library’s front spacious lobby, via the new lower-level main entrance, to tour the robust additions to the $4.1...Post-Gazette parent company says the paper will end publication in May
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pulitzer Prize winning newspaper serving the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, is set to shut down on May 3, according to its owners. The move will impact the paper’s print and digital content. The paper’s parent company, Block...Poll: Pennsylvania voters want to see universal free lunches in all public schools
All Pennsylvania public school students are entitled to a free breakfast, but not lunch. An overwhelming majority of voters in the state think that should change. According to a new poll from Susquehanna Polling and Research, nearly eight in 10 Pennsylvania voters...Retired teacher keeps feeding Deer Lakes students
Retired Deer Lakes teacher Carol McCaskey was tired of seeing students come to school with a stomachache. “Us teachers knew the truth. We knew it was because they didn’t have food at home,” said McCaskey, who spent nearly three decades at East Union Intermediate...Your View: Pa. should cancel student lunch debt across the state
The Pennsylvania Cancel Lunch Debt Coalition is on a mission to abolish lunch debt in Pennsylvania. Our campaign started a couple of years ago when we were able to work with Bristol Borough School District in Bucks County to cancel over $20,000 of lunch debt. We are...Universal Lunch initiative would mean free meals for all students, regardless of family income
Hungry kids can quickly turn into hangry students. Rumbling stomachs can lead to classroom distraction and discipline issues, research shows, along with feelings of isolation for children whose families struggle to afford school lunches. “Not only do we see the...LGBTQ+ advocacy group Fairness Pennsylvania launches
Fairness Pennsylvania, a lobbying group, launched Monday during the first week of Pride Month.
It will work with members of the General Assembly on the wording of bills geared toward protecting LGBTQ+ rights. It’s the state’s first full-time lobbying group focused on LGBTQ+ issues.
“The launch of Fairness PA will give every person the opportunity to learn about the realities facing our LGBTQ+ friends, family, and colleagues while working towards fostering nondiscrimination principles across the Commonwealth,” said Fairness PA state director Sarah Hammond in a statement.
Advocates who won Pa. education lawsuit call for a $2 billion ‘down payment’ on fair funding
Advocates who fought for and won a historic court ruling declaring Pennsylvania’s education funding system unconstitutional said Thursday that they’re ready to go back to court if state lawmakers and Gov. Josh Shapiro fail to make a significant down payment on a...State arts council distributes $2.3 million to arts groups
Gov. Tom Wolf announced Monday that 309 nonprofit arts organizations will receive grants totaling $2.3 million to help with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds from the federal CARES Act support staff salaries, facilities costs and fees for artists or...Pa. just eliminated general assistance. The need for it hasn’t gone away
By Katie Muth, Maria Collett and Lindsey Williams
This week marks the end of General Assistance (GA) as we know it. The life-saving program that has helped thousands of Pennsylvanians get back on their feet and bridge the gap to self-sustainability ended on Aug. 1.
After a difficult battle through the legislative process and an underhanded maneuver to tie the elimination of GA to millions of dollars of hospitals, we accept that the program will cease to exist. However, that does not mean that the need has vanished.