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HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission today approved its plan to redraw state House and Senate district boundaries according to population shifts identified in the 2010 U.S. Census, Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) said. Under the plan, Causer’s 67th Legislative District would see the following changes: All of Cameron County would become part of the 75th Legislative District served by Rep. Matt Gabler. In Potter County, the Borough of Galeton along with Pike and West Branch townships would become part of 68th Legislative District served by Rep. Matt Baker. In Warren County, Sheffield Township would become part of the 67th District. The township was represented by Rep. Kathy Rapp. All of McKean County would become part of the 67th District. The following communities are being added: the townships of Hamilton, Hamlin, Lafayette and Wetmore, and the boroughs of Kane and Mt. Jewett. “It is my honor and privilege to represent our area in the state House and ...

Pennsylvania's new legislative boundaries have been drawn, and finalized, using the latest Census information. House Republican Leader Mike Turzai says five House seats were moved to reflect population shifts, not for political purposes. “The map that’s been drawn for the state House is a strong one from a constitutional and statutory perspective. We always were looking for fairness and our number one task is to make sure that the map reflected the population changes in the Commonwealth and it does that," Turzai said in a news release. "And it also is designed to make sure that as close as possible that it's one person one vote, and we’ve adhered to that time honored legal principle." The districts of state representatives Marty Causer, Kathy Rapp, Matt Gabler and Matt Baker, as well as Senator Joe Scarnati, all change with the new boundaries. Causer will now have all of McKean County and parts of Potter and Warren (Mead and Sheffield townships and the borough of...

WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement after the release of U.S. Census Bureau population figures that show Pennsylvania will lose a congressional seat: “The census data released today is unwelcome news that continues the long string of Pennsylvania losing congressional seats. “The loss of a congressional seat increases the importance of the federal delegation working together along with the Governor-elect Corbett to make sure Pennsylvania’s interests are well represented. I look forward to working with Senator-elect Toomey and my colleagues in the House to make Pennsylvania’s voice heard.”

HARRISBURG – The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that as a result of the 2010 U.S. Census statewide population totals, Pennsylvania will lose one Congressional seat. The state currently has 19 members in the U.S. House of Representatives; that number will decrease to 18 for the 2012 elections. "Although it is disappointing, this result was expected," said Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9). "It is one of the consequences of the fact that Pennsylvania's population growth has not kept pace with other states. "I will work with Governor-elect Corbett and my colleagues in the General Assembly to reverse that trend by enacting policies to foster job creation and overall economic growth. We must focus on attracting people to Pennsylvania and allowing the next generation of graduates to find family-sustaining jobs here in the Commonwealth." Following the 1920 U.S. Census, Pennsylvania had 36 members in the U.S. House of Representatives. The number of C...

Pennsylvania will lose one congressional seat in 2012 as a result of new 2010 Census figures released this morning by the U.S. Department of Commerce. That means the state's delegation to the House of Representatives will drop from 19 to 18. That’s the fewest number of seats the state has dropped since 1940, when the number fell by one to 33. In the 1910s and 1920s Pennsylvania had 36 congressmen. In every census since 1950, Pennsylvania has lost either two or three of its representatives in Washington. The state Legislature and governor will have to decide over the coming year how to redraw the lines of the state's congressional districts. Senator Joe Scarnati has been through the redistricting process before – right after he first took office on January 2, 2001. “I was not in office very long and my whole senate district changed because of population changes,” he said. “We get some criticism over how it’s done but certainly it’s a very public process and one that involves bot...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Foster Township Police Chief Jeff Wolbert is hoping to retire next year. Wolbert made the unofficial announcement during Monday’s Foster Township supervisors meeting after a question by Interstate Parkway resident Joe Piganelli. Piganelli said, because they know he attends the township meetings, several people asked if he knew anything about Wolbert retiring. Wolbert said he hopes to retire in January. He’ll be retirement age in November. Piganelli then asked if the supervisors had a plan to name a new police chief. “We’ve had some discussions” supervisor Chris Wolcott said. Piganelli asked if the discussions would be just among the supervisors, or if the public would be involved. “I don’t see that the public needs to be necessarily involved at this stage,” Wolcott said, adding that the supervisors are willing to take comments and suggestions. “We don’t even have a plan right at the moment,” Wolcott said. “We’ve had some discussions but, actuall...

McKean County’s participation rate for returning Census forms is 76 percent. That’s better than the statewide rate of 72 percent. The City of Bradford’s return rate is 71 percent. Bradford Township is 85 percent. Foster Township is 81 percent. Lewis Run is at 71 percent. Other townships in the county range from 44 percent to 87 percent. Other boroughs range from 65 percent to 81 percent. Cattaraugus County has a participation rate of 66 percent. Chautauqua County is 70 percent. In other neighboring counties, Warren County’s rate is 63 percent. Elk County’s is 81 percent. Residents who have not received a Census form by mail may call 1-866-872-6868. The Census calculates population, which is a determining factor in receiving federal grant money, and on representation in Congress. Some McKean County townships and their Census participation rates: Norwich 44 Corydon 58 Lafayette 76 Liberty 76 Otto 76 Eldred Twp. 79 Wetmore 87 Some McKean County boroughs and their Census participation rate...