Pennsylvania in Focus

Convictions for driving past school bus stop arms in Pennsylvania increased 47% in 2022, according to state data. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary for Driver and Vehicle Services Kara Templeton said that 511 residents faced penalties for violating the law, up from 348 in 2021. During the agency’s Oct. 18 event to raise awareness for school transportation safety, she said law enforcement and bus drivers witnessed 164 incidents in just one day.

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Commonwealth Court struck down Pennsylvania’s entry into an emissions regulatory program Wednesday, agreeing with critics that it's an unconstitutional tax. The decision delivers a blow to supporters of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative – a multi-state program that charges power generators for the pollution they produce – who had hoped Pennsylvania might join the rest of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast in the agreement.

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Pennsylvania ranks among the worst in the nation when it comes to spending on veterans’ services, according to a recent analysis. The commonwealth fared 42 out of 50, according to data compiled from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Government's National Library of Medicine. Metrics measured were total state expenditure on veterans’ medical care, disability compensation, nursing home availability, employment rates, vocational and rehabilitation training programs, and veteran population density.

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Republican lawmakers welcome the state’s future hydrogen hubs as the next step in energy production that balances environmental conservation with economic growth. But not everyone believes in the promise of hydrogen, and instead worry that the government will waste billions on questionable technology.

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Pennsylvania’s regulatory state is causing headaches, from long wait times to approve major projects to driving up costs that undermine the goals of federal programs. “We aim to strike a balance between the need for safeguards to protect the public and the imperative to create a business-friendly environment that fosters entrepreneurship, job creation, and prosperity,” Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, said during a Senate Republican Policy Committee hearing on red tape in the commonwealth.

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A slight operating change for crematories across Pennsylvania could impact costs and air quality in a big way. That’s why the Senate Environmental and Resources Committee enjoyed a bit of levity on Tuesday before approving House Bill 1246, a proposed amendment to the state’s code for crematories. A memo from the bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. Steven Malagari, D-Lansdale, calls on legislators to “Cool the ℉s Down.”

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Sexually explicit books in school libraries make many parents uncomfortable, but some educators say policies that limit access for students are ineffective, at best. Still, local officials want guidance from the state about how to allay concerns over books available to children, some as young as sixth grade, that depict or describe graphic sexual acts, incest and pedophilia. “What I have found is that if we had a starting point to work from … I couldn’t even tell you how many hours as a board trying to figure out how to move forward,” said Emily Zimmerman, a parent and board member in Warwick School District in Lancaster County.

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The primary election will happen April 23, despite several legislative attempts to move up the date and capitalize on Pennsylvania’s swing state status. Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, R-Indiana, said the upper chamber would not consider an amended bill that would reschedule the election for April 16 – even though it included property tax reform the chamber supported.

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Though state and federal governments have poured vast amounts of money into programs under the banner of environmental justice, Pennsylvanians who want to watch meetings of their own EJ Advisory Board are out of luck compared to other states. The board meets every quarter and invites public participation, but — unlike several other states — does not publish video recordings. The Tuesday meetings, which can run six hours long, can be difficult to watch live because they happen during the workday.

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New enrollment at Pennsylvania’s state-run college system increased again this fall, pointing to stabilization after years of worrying decline, officials said. The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education announced Monday that first-time student enrollment jumped 3.4% for fall 2023, and is up 10% since 2021. Chancellor Dan Greenstein credited the fifth year of tuition freezes and a focus on programs that lead to sought-after jobs as an enrollment driver.

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