Pennsylvania’s first veterans court was founded in Lackawanna County in 2009.  Now, twenty-four other counties enjoy the benefits of this specialized court.  The courts allow veterans living with addiction or mental illness to get treatment and support from the Veterans Administration if they’re charged or convicted of crimes.  Legislation sponsored by Senator Doug Mastriano, himself […]

George Brown has been the new mayor of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania for about a month.  But that short time span belies his experience with the city.  Born and raised in Wilkes-Barre,  the retired businessman and former city councilman has reached a stage in life when a lot of people would be content to take it easy.  […]

For Pennsylvanians on Medicaid, PA Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller says, “a work requirement is a blunt instrument.  It doesn’t address the social and environmental barriers that put people in a cycle of poverty to begin with.”  Medicaid recipients told the department that expensive childcare and transportation are among the obstacles that prevented women from […]

Approximately 1,300 municipalities in Pennsylvania don’t have their own local police force.  Some say they don’t need it, others say their tax base can’t cover the cost.   State police are able to step in and fill the gap,  but Governor Tom Wolf says that service should come with a cost.  As part of his new […]

The cost of prescription drugs can take a serious toll on a household budget.  Some Pennsylvanians have to make difficult choices between getting enough to eat, and getting their medication.  Rep. Steve McCarter is sponsoring a bill that could be a significant step toward reducing prices for consumers.  He wants to have state government do […]

Governor Tom Wolf will explain to lawmakers how he wants to spend Pennsylvania citizens’ money on February 4th.  The occasion will be the governor’s annual budget proposal at the capitol in Harrisburg.  Fletcher McClellan, Political Science Professor at Elizabethtown College, explains what the governor wants to do and how he might go about getting the […]

Most drivers at one time or another have noticed another driver paying attention to their cell phone instead of the road.  We all know this form of distracted driving leads to accidents.  Rep. Rosemary Brown is sponsoring a bill that bans the use of a hand-held cell phone while driving.  She’s happy that nearly half […]

The annual Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg wrapped up in early January.  Most of us know it as a show for livestock, but it’s also a platform for politics.  Senator Judy Ward attended the show with other lawmakers for a meeting with representatives of the farming community.  Their goal was to implement legislation that can […]

A person convicted of a crime can avoid time behind bars by being put on probation.  That means if an offender doesn’t follow rules ordered by the court, they can end up in jail anyway.  But some lawmakers say the terms of probation in Pennsylvania are often too severe.    Under current law, a judge […]

Human trafficking is a crime that often exploits young victims as slaves for sex or prostitution.  The Pennsylvania House passed a package of bills that increases the penalties for the offense.  One of the bills doubles the maximum jail time for trafficking, or patronizing the victim of trafficking.  Donna Greco, Policy Director at the PA […]