Pennsylvania

Wisconsin’s ‘Star Trek’ veto and other budget stragglers

With the new fiscal year underway, some states are just now wrapping up their budgets—and it hasn’t been without drama. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup

  • By Daniel C. Vock

Five Takeaways from Tuesday’s Elections

Women make history, Republicans lose ground and crime concerns take center stage. Here's what you might've missed in the dozens of city and statewide races Tuesday night.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

When States Take Over Financially Troubled Local Governments

A recent bankruptcy filing by Chester, Pennsylvania, highlights the limits and difficulties with state programs in dealing with fiscal stress at the municipal level.

  • By Liz Farmer

How a Bankrupt City’s Pension System Hit a Breaking Point

The case of Chester, Pennsylvania involves hidden debt, missing documentation and lots of blame. Route Fifty takes a closer look in this second installment of a three-part series.

  • By Liz Farmer

State & Local Roundup: A Historic Week for a New Governor

Plus: Pennsylvania ditches state job degree requirements. Pickleball! News you can use from across the country.

  • By Elizabeth Daigneau

As His First Order of Business, a New Governor Drops College Degree Requirements for State Jobs

The executive order from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro–affecting 65,000 jobs–came on his first full day in office.

  • By Justin Sweitzer

A Small City's Descent Into Bankruptcy

"By far the worst that we have encountered," is how one person involved in resolving the fiscal mess described it. This first article in a three-part series, looks at how the troubled city's situation resembles another municipal bankruptcy about a decade ago.

  • By Liz Farmer

This Pennsylvania County Ran Out of Ballot Paper on Election Day. Now the District Attorney is Investigating

One week later, angry voters demand to know why Luzerne County polling places had ballot shortages.

  • By Carter Walker, Votebeat

Shapiro Claims Victory Over Mastriano in Pennsylvania Governor's Race

“We have to keep coming together to make progress," he said after clinching the win.

  • By Justin Sweitzer & Harrison Cann

Pennsylvania’s Highest Court Directs Counties Not to Count Undated Ballots

Legal experts predict more lawsuits could surface in the weeks to come.

  • By Justin Sweitzer

Can a State Erase Property Taxes Without Wiping out Education?

The long, difficult and ongoing quest to reduce property taxes in Pennsylvania.

  • By Justin Sweitzer

Lawmakers in One State Weigh Payouts for Those Wrongly Convicted

A bipartisan Pennsylvania bill would award damages to individuals based on the number of years they spent incarcerated.

  • By Harrison Cann
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Community Colleges Emerge as Key Players in $1B Build Back Better Regional Challenge

Each of the 21 regional partnerships features at least one community college or technical training school.

  • By Daniela Altimari

State Lawmaker Discusses New $125M Program That Will Help Pay for Home Repairs

Pennsylvania State Sen. Nikil Saval's Whole-Home Repairs Program was included in this year’s state budget.

  • By Justin Sweitzer

States Seek to Clarify If Forgiven Student Loans Will be Taxed

President Biden's loan forgiveness plan could result in additional tax liability in at least six states, according to a think tank. But officials in some places are taking steps to ensure the canceled debt doesn't count as income.

  • By Daniela Altimari

A State Turns to Its National Guard to Provide Cybersecurity Training to Local Governments

"We don’t know how many times we’ve been intruded in the cyber space," says one of the lawmakers who backed the move.

  • By Harrison Cann

Trump Wades Into One State's Budget Discussions

The former president says Pennsylvania's spending plan should be "tied" to controversial elections legislation.

  • By Justin Sweitzer

In Pennsylvania, GOP State Lawmakers Look to Impeach Philadelphia District Attorney

Republicans in Harrisburg say crime goes “unchecked” under Larry Krasner, the city’s progressive top prosecutor

  • By Harrison Cann

The Lawmaker Pushing for a State Fund to Help Pay for Home Repairs

Pennsylvania state Sen. Nikil Saval's bill would provide grants up to $50,000 to assist homeowners with the cost of certain fixes and upgrades and would extend loans to some landlords as well.

  • By Jared Brey

States Expand Efforts to Squash Spread of Dangerous Insect

The invasive spotted lanternfly kills many crops and trees and can cause a state hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Several states are sounding the alarm and quarantining more counties.

  • By Andre Claudio

Cities That Pose the Most and Least Challenges for Allergy Sufferers

A Pennsylvania city tops the list of the most challenging places for those with seasonal allergies and a Washington city offers the least symptoms, according to a recent report.

  • By Andre Claudio