Government & Politics
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Council Rock North Students Push for Hershey Kiss to Become Pennsylvania’s Official Candy
Thanks to a group of Council Rock North High School students, the Hershey Kiss could become the official candy of The Keystone State, writes Jeff Werner for Patch. After being passed by the state’s House, the bill to crown the Kiss is headed to a Senate committee. In 2021, a group of Newtown…
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As the First Black Woman to Serve As Pennsylvania House Speaker, Joanna McClinton Wants to See More Progress
Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton, the first Black woman to hold that position, is fighting for more progress in 2024, writes Sean Kitchen for The Keystone. McClinton, a Southwest Philadelphia native, started her public service career more than a decade ago as a staffer in State Sen. Tony Williams’ office. “I came to this job…
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Equal Treatment for Skill Games and Casino Slot Machines Is Fair Play
As lawmakers consider Gov. Josh Shapiro’s timely proposal to tax and regulate skill games, they would be wise to follow the blueprint of one the nation’s most successful state gaming industries — and they won’t have to travel far to find it. Over the last 20 years, Pennsylvania has emerged as a national leader in…
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Bensalem Fire Companies to Receive $140K in State Grants
Bensalem Township fire companies and emergency response crews will receive around $140,000 in state grants to improve their service for the community, writes Dino Ciliberti for the Patch. The grants come from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and Office of the State Fire Commissioner. “Congratulations to all our area fire and EMS companies that were…
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Gary Wallace is Morrisville’s Fresh Face of Leadership and Local Renewal
Gary Wallace, Morrisville’s new mayor, is making waves with his Elvis Presley-inspired pompadour and a commitment to revitalizing the town, writes Peg Quann for the Bucks County Courier Times. Wallace, who recently took office, is actively involved in community enrichment programs, such as the “Buy a Slice, Send a Slice” initiative with Bella Sicily pizza…
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Bucks County Schools on the Brink of Saving $15.7 Million with Charter Funding Reform
Bucks County schools could see a significant financial reprieve, thanks to a bill that includes proposed changes in charter school funding, writes Bethany Rodgers for USA Today. Pennsylvania’s General Assembly is moving closer to reforming how public-school districts fund charter schools, a move that could save Bucks County districts a whopping $15.7 million annually.…
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Ensuring Election Integrity: KYW Newsradio Explains Pennsylvania’s Voting Machine Testing
Pennsylvania’s voting machines go through several layers of testing – both on federal and state levels – to make sure the results they produce are accurate, writes Carter Walker for KYW Newsradio. All voting machines are tested before every election to ensure they are working properly. Each machine produces paper ballots that can be audited.…
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Democrats Hold Pennsylvania House in Tight Race, Prokopiak Wins Against Cabanas
In Tuesday’s special election, Pennsylvania House Democrats maintained their narrow majority by electing Bucks County resident and former school board member Jim Prokopiak, according to 6 ABC. This victory secures a 102-100 Democratic majority in Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives. Prokopiak’s win over opponent Candace Cabanas follows a Republican lawmaker John Galloway’s resignation, who left to become…
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City Council President Kenyatta Johnson Aims To Turn Philadelphia Around
When Kenyatta Johnson was sworn in as Philadelphia City Council’s new president, he officially began his second act in politics, writes Harrison Cann for City & State Pennsylvania. His rise to the head of City Council was both the culmination of decades of political achievement and a final triumph in a years-long journey that put…
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PA Secretary of State Addresses Election Fears, Remains Optimistic Despite Conspiracy Theories
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt recently addressed potential concerns over the upcoming presidential election in November in hopes of preempting conspiracy theories, writes Sean Kitchen for The Keystone. Schmidt was cautiously optimistic about election officials being able to count mail-in ballots following the election. “While the law hasn’t changed, a couple other things have,”…
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Reporting Platform Launched by Bucks County Coalition to Address LGBTQ and Diversity Policies in Schools
A coalition group is giving Bucks County students, parents, and educators the platform to report incidents or policy changes on LGBTQ issues, diversity initiatives, and book bans, writes Maddie Hanna for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Formed in 2022, Pennsylvanians for Welcoming and Inclusive Schools (PA WInS) is made up of advocacy groups such as the…
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Bala Cynwyd Billionaire Jeff Yass Donates Millions to Texas Governor Re-election Campaign
Jeff Yass, co-founder of Susquehanna International Group based in Bala Cynwyd and one of the richest men in the world according to Forbes, last week donated 6 million dollars to Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s re-election campaign, writes Shelly Hagan for Bloomberg. Both Yass and Abbott are supporters of school choice programs. Abbott’s campaign office said…
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Bucks County Board of Commissioners Set to Tackle Mental Health and Environmental Challenges
The Bucks County Board of Commissioners celebrated a new beginning on Tuesday, marking the start of their second term with optimism and a renewed commitment to the community, writes Jeff Werner for the Patch. Chair Diane Ellis-Marseglia emphasized the importance of sustaining and improving mental health and substance abuse treatments. She also stressed the…
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Valentine’s Day Special: How to be Eligible for a Free Wedding in Bucks County
In the spirit of love, a Bucks County court will be performing a free wedding and vow renewal service for registered couples this Valentine’s Day, writes Damon Williams for the Bucks County Courier Times. For its third annual “Vows and Valentines,” the Bucks County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court will provide the…
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Bristol Borough Seeks Flood Solutions Without Losing Scenic Riverfront
Bristol Borough would need to build a $15 million flood wall to keep flood waters from submerging the Mill Street municipal parking lot, writes Peg Quann for the Bucks County Courier Times. However, while that would solve regular flooding issues at the Mill Street Wharf and the municipal parking lot, it would also cost the…
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New Bipartisan Pennsylvania Legislation Clamps Down on Porch Pirating
New legislation passed by Pennsylvania lawmakers aims to crack down on porch pirating or mail theft with increased penalties based on both offenses and the value of stolen property, writes Sean Kitchen for The Keystone. Senate Bill 527 was introduced by State Sen. Frank Farry and signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro just ahead…
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‘Young, Unhoused and Unseen’ Addresses Homelessness in Montgomery County
A recent episode of “Young, Unhoused and Unseen” examines the biggest hurdles to finding solutions to youth homelessness in the Philadelphia region. The podcast is a production from WHYY News and Temple University’s Logan Center for Urban Investigative Reporting. The episode includes interviews with an unhoused young person in Pottstown and a Montgomery County service…
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Central Bucks School Board President’s Viral Swearing-In on Banned Books Draws Celebrity Attention
An iconic photo of Central Bucks School Board President Karen Smith has gone viral, catching retweets by Doylestown-native Pink and actor George Takei, writes Kara Yorio for the School Library Journal. The photo depicts Karen Smith swearing on a stack of frequently banned books. Smith says that an incoming board member suggested someone do…
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