Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Governor Tom Wolf has signed an Executive Order reinstating the moratorium on gas drilling in state parks and forests. “I absolutely want to do natural gas,” Wolf said. “I think if we do it right we can create really good jobs and a great industry, and sustain a strong economy in Pennsylvania. But we have to do it right.” “But in the meantime, there are places in Pennsylvania where people really have to be able to feel that they can enjoy the scenic beauty that we have here,” Wolf said. His order supersedes an order signed by former Governor Tom Corbett in May that allowed drilling, and restores the order signed by former Governor Ed Rendell in 2010. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Governor Tom Corbett and First Lady Susan Corbett (top) light the capitol tree on the front steps of the capitol building in Harrisburg on Thursday. Also pictured, a spectator participating in the ceremony; and Central Dauphin high school singers, who provided the musical selections at the capitol tree lighting ceremony. Photos provided by Commonwealth Media Service The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Joe Scarnati and other Senate leaders are suing outgoing Governor Tom Corbett over his vetoes of spending bills as the state budget was enacted this summer. The lawsuit argues that Corbett did not follow rules for providing public notice of vetoes, he used the line-item veto on the wrong type of legislation and he put the money in an unlawful reserve. Scarnati, Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi and Minority Leader Jay Costa want Commonwealth Court to invalidate the vetoes and the use of the reserve. Corbett's spokesman and legal office say the lawsuit is being reviewed. He vetoed $72 million for a variety of purposes. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The biggest news in McKean County’s election results is the voter turnout: 34 percent. In May’s primary election, it was less than 13 percent. As for the governor’s race, McKean County went exactly opposite from the majority of the state with 65 percent voting for Tom Corbett and 35 percent for Tom Wolf. Incumbent Glenn “GT” Thompson defeated challenger Kerith Strano Taylor 74 percent to 26 percent in McKean County. In the rest of the district, so far it’s 64 percent to 36 percent in favor of Thompson. State Rep. Marty Causer, who ran unopposed, received 6,867 of the 8,040 votes cast. One precinct in McKean County has yet to report. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Washington, DC – Following the announcement that Democratic candidate Tom Wolf won the race for Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial seat, DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement: “Tom Wolf’s resounding victory tonight makes him the first challenger to defeat an incumbent Pennsylvania governor since the state’s one-term limit was eliminated in the 1970s. Tom has the experience and leadership to bring manufacturing jobs back to the state and create good paying jobs for middle class families. “The result speaks to how deeply unpopular Tom Corbett’s Republican policies on economics and women’s health have been with Pennsylvania voters and the urgency with which voters sought to return the state to Democratic leadership. Congratulations to Governor-elect Wolf, his campaign team, and the people of Pennsylvania.” The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Democratic businessman Tom Wolf has won the Pennsylvania governor's race, defeating incumbent Republican Gov. Tom Corbett, according to a CNN projection. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Governor Tom Corbett and his Democratic challenger Tom Wolf are putting in a full day of campaigning the day before tomorrow’s election. Corbett will be attending rallies in every media market in the state today, ending in his hometown of Pittsburgh. Wolf will also be in Pittsburgh, and also Lancaster. He spent the weekend in southeastern Pennsylvania, and was joined by President Barack Obama at a rally at Temple University in Philadelphia. Corbett’s running mate is current lieutenant governor Jim Cawley. Wolf’s running mate is current state Senator Mike Stack of Philadelphia. In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo is being challenged by Rob Astorino. In race for the Twin Tiers’ representatives in Washington – the incumbent Republican men in both Pennsylvania and New York are up against Democratic women. In PA, Kerith Strano Taylor is challenging Glenn Thompson. In New York, Martha Robertson is challenging Tom Reed. In Salamanca, Mayor Carmen Vechhiarella is pitted against Ronald ...

Three Pennsylvanians who were on a flight from Cleveland to Dallas with a nurse who tested positive for Ebola are being monitored in Texas. Governor Tom Corbett said today that the three people are not showing symptoms of Ebola and aren't being quarantined. He says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention interviewed them and they are free to return to Pennsylvania. The state's isn't disclosing personal information about them. State health secretary Michael Wolf says state epidemiologists are in contact with the three residents and will know if they return to Pennsylvania. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A member of the state Supreme Court is caught up in the email pornography scandal in the attorney general’s office. Pennsylvania chief justice Ronald Castille issued a news release today saying Justice Seamus McCaffrey was the sender or recipient of 234 emails with sexually explicit material or pornography in them. Castille says McCaffrey sent most of the emails to a now-retired agent with the AG’s office, who then forwarded them to other. The circulation of porn in the attorney general’s office happened from late 2008 until early 2012, and has led to the resignation of several people, including now-former DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo. The emails surfaced during a review of how the Jerry Sandusky case at Penn State was handled by the attorney general's office. Castille says the attorney general’s office told him the 234 emails involving McCaffrey contained 1,502 sexually explicit images and 60 sexually explicit video files, some of which were duplicates. He estimated the number...

Expands Newborn Screening Requirements in PA Harrisburg – Governor Tom Corbett signed House Bill 1654 into law at an event in the Capitol today, expanding newborn screening requirements to assist in early detection measures that will help to improve care for children diagnosed with certain rare disorders. Corbett was joined by prime sponsor of the bill, Rep. Angel Cruz (D-Philadelphia); other members of the General Assembly; Secretary of Health Michael Wolf; and Physician General Dr. Carrie DeLone. “It is an honor to sign this bill, which will help to improve and hopefully save the lives of some of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable population – our children,” Gov. Corbett said. Currently, Pennsylvania’s birthing facilities test for 6 mandated conditions and 23 follow-up conditions – everything from cystic fibrosis to congenital heart disease. The new law will require physicians, hospitals and other institutions to add certain lysosomal storage dis...

HARRISBURG – Legislation to help combat welfare fraud and abuse has been passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature and signed into law by the Governor, according to Senator Joe Scarnati (R-25). Scarnati explained that House Bill 993 received final passage by the House of Representatives last week and that they concurred to an amendment that was inserted into the bill by the Senate. The bill was then signed into law on Wednesday, September 24 as Act 132 of 2014. Originally, HB 993 was introduced only to change the name of the Department of Public Welfare to the Department of Human Services (DHS). Scarnati then introduced an amendment in the Senate Appropriations Committee in July, to expand the bill to also establish a toll-free telephone number and email address for individuals to report suspected fraud and abuse of public assistance programs. “Pennsylvania taxpayers deserve to know that their tax dollars are being invested wisely and that state funds for public assistance...

Harrisburg–Governor Tom Corbett today announced that the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) recently awarded $450,000 in Keystone Communities grants to support public improvements efforts for downtown redevelopment projects and infrastructure reconstruction in the City of Bradford. “We are continuing to invest in our local communities by supporting public improvement initiatives,” Gov. Corbett said. “These projects will bring new life and preserve the historic treasures within the Bradford community, in addition to providing opportunities for renewed economic growth.” The Keystone Communities program will provide funding for two public improvement grants for the City of Bradford. The Keystone Communities grant award for $400,000 will provide funding to undertake the construction of new housing units and make façade and streetscape improvements in the Elm Street neighborhood, a Second Ward Keystone Community Designated area. Specific project activities incl...

Watch here . Provided by Commonwealth Media Services The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Today was the deadline for Governor Tom Corbett to make a decision about signing the state budget, or not. During a news conference in Harrisburg this morning he said he’s decided to use his power of line-item veto to cut out about $65 million in Legislative spending. He said he made the move because of lawmakers’ failure to come up with a public pension reform plan. Corbett addressed Pennsylvania citizens during the news conference, encouraging them to tell their representatives in Harrisburg to stop bowing to unions and get pension reform done. Top GOP senators say they are disappointed that Corbett has not been able to work effectively with the Republican majorities in the Senate and House to address important fiscal issues in the state. Senators Joe Scarnati, Dominic Pileggi, Jake Corman and Pat Browne, in a joint statement, said, “Reforming public pension benefits is an important goal that Senate Republicans have been engaged in for months.” The statement goes on to say tha...

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) has issued the following statement regarding disaster assistance for Elk County flood victims: I am grateful that today, Governor Corbett has sent a letter to the United States Small Business Administration to request a disaster declaration for local areas that were impacted by the severe flooding that took place on May 21 and 22, 2014. This disaster declaration would enable residents and business owners with property damaged by the massive rains to be eligible for low interest loans through the US Small Business Administration. If the request is granted, counties that are contiguous with Elk will also be eligible for the loans, including Cameron, Clearfield, Forest, Jefferson, McKean and Warren counties. As this process moves forward, I will continue to work with Governor Corbett and PEMA to find ways to best help our community and local residents with clean-up and recovery. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Harrisburg – Governor Tom Corbett today issued an executive order prohibiting leasing for natural gas development in Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests that would result in additional long-term surface disturbance. The order supports the governor’s budget proposal to generate $75 million to help meet critical priorities. Limited leasing will allow natural gas to be extracted from deep beneath the surface only when there will be no additional long-term disturbance on state forest and park lands. The order will only allow gas to be extracted horizontally through wells located on adjacent private lands or previously leased areas of the state forest. “With this executive order, I am directing that the commonwealth maintain a moratorium on any additional gas leasing of DCNR lands that involves long-term surface disturbance, such as placing well pads, roads or pipelines in the newly-leased areas,” Corbett said. “This balanced approach will ensure that the special characteristics and ha...

Governor Tom Corbett made a campaign stop in Bradford this morning. Much of his hour-long talk and question-and-answer session focused on education. He said he is being criticized for cutting education funding but explained that school districts getting less money are the ones that didn’t use federal stimulus funds the way they were supposed to. Corbett said they were told not to use the money for the operating budget, and to use it for projects. But, he said, a large number of school districts put it right into the operating budget, and paying salaries. He also talked about high school graduation standards, continuing to weed out fraud and abuse in the welfare system, and pension reform. For more pictures of this morning's event you can go to our Facebook page, Facebook.com/1490wesb . WESB photo The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Same-sex marriage will remain legal in Pennsylvania, with no threat of a higher court reversing the decision made by a US District Court Judge yesterday who said the state’s ban was unconstitutional. Governor Tom Corbett decided today that he will not appeal Tuesday’s decision. Corbett said he still opposes same-sex marriage but believes an appeal would be extremely unlikely to succeed. Pennsylvania is the 19th state to recognize same-sex marriages, and the last in the northeastern U.S. to legalize it. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A federal judge declared Pennsylvania's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional today, making Pennsylvania the last Northeast state to allow same-sex marriage. In his 39-page written opinion Judge John E. Jones III said, "We are a better people than what these laws (banning same-sex marriage) represent. It is time to discard them into the ash heap of history." State Attorney General Kathleen had had declined to defend the ban in court, but the Corbett administration went ahead, arguing that states have the right to determine the definition of marriage. The state could still challenge the decision before the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Governor Tom Corbett has changed his mind about medical marijuana, and is now supporting the responsible use of medical cannabis to help children with severe seizure disorders. Senator Joe Scarnati says he applauds Corbett’s decision to allow access to this drug, which is an oil derivative of cannabis that is taken orally. Scarnati adds that as a medical marijuana bill makes its way through the Legislature, he will continue to work to support the children who need it, while ensuring the public safety. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947