Local Government

After hearing concerns from a local business owner about the proliferation of walking tours that are not following borough guidelines, the Gettysburg Borough Council said it will create an ad hoc committee of council members and business owners to study the problem. “There are tour companies out there that are less than professional,” said tour

As Adams County Commissioner Marty Qually told county domestic relations employees that “you have one of the most important jobs in the county,” the Adams County Commissioners made August Child Support Awareness Month. Adams County Executive Director of Domestic Relations Kelly Carothers noted the difficulties of operating their office during the pandemic. “The past 17

After hearing short presentations from four candidates for the interim borough council member position that will last until January 3, 2022, the Gettysburg Borough Council elected Nicholas Redman to fill the seat vacated by former council president Jake Schindel. Redman said he had been a resident of Gettysburg for 9 years, 4 of them as

On the occasion of his retirement as president of the Gettysburg Borough Council, Jake Schindel received a key to the city from Mayor Ted Streeter. The council members thanked him for his service with a round of applause. Schindel will be replaced at a special council meeting to be held on August 23 at the

After taking what he called a “deep dive” into the legal possibilities of allowing the Gettysburg Library to relocate into the rec park, solicitor Harry Eastman reported on Monday evening that it was not possible. Saying the rec park was specifically dedicated to outdoor recreation and playground use when it was created 63 years ago,

Thanks to Gettysburg Borough and Community Media of South Central PA, here is a video of last week’s National Night Out. The event, a national community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships, included food trucks, vendors, organization displays, tours of the Gettysburg Borough Building, and more.

(By Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Sam Janesch, Mike Wereschagin, and Brad Bumsted of The Caucus) HARRISBURG — Theft charges against a Philadelphia-area Democrat highlight Pennsylvania’s lax rules for reimbursing lawmakers with taxpayer and donor money, two state-run systems with little transparency and even less oversight. Former State Rep. Margo Davidson was charged in

(By Christen Smith | The Center Square) – In an effort to boost the statewide COVID-19 vaccination rate, the Pennsylvania Department of Health said residents who missed their second dose will soon receive text message reminders to complete the immunization series. Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said last week federal data shows that about 65% of

(By Christen Smith | The Center Square) – As the COVID-19 delta variant spikes cases nationwide, one Pennsylvania hospitality trade group signed onto the immunization effort as the state trails its 70% statewide goal. “Remember the shutdowns, the massive layoffs, and business closures? The hospitality industry is starting a slow recovery process and PA Restaurant

(By Christen Smith | The Center Square) – Activists with Americans for Prosperity stood across the street from the Macks Trucks plant in Lehigh County where President Joe Biden stumped his multi-trillion infrastructure proposal on Wednesday to protest the “wasteful” spending it contains. “When most folks think of AFP and our activists, they think of

(By Christen Smith | The Center Square) – Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti said this week Congress should use budget reconciliation to naturalize millions of undocumented immigrants as recognition for their sacrifices during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We already needed to deliver pathways to citizenship as nation, even before the pandemic,” she said during a call with

(By The Center Square) The share of the Pennsylvania workforce employed by local, state or federal governments was 11.7 percent prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the second lowest percentage among the 50 states, according to a new study from the website 24/7 Wall St. The public-sector workers in Pennsylvania numbered 622,046, based on 2019 data compiled

(By Jamie Martines and Sarah Anne Hughes | Spotlight PA) HARRISBURG — The Wolf administration on Wednesday released a long-awaited update to Pennsylvania’s decades-old nursing home regulations, acknowledging it must raise low quality care requirements experts have called dangerous. The state currently requires nursing homes to provide residents with only 2.7 hours of direct care

(By Christen Smith | The Center Square) – Workers with disabilities in Pennsylvania can now earn up to $61,000 annually before losing access to some of their medical assistance benefits. Act 69 became law on July 1 and nearly doubles the $32,000 income cap for the program in an attempt to address widespread unemployment and underemployment

The Adams County Board of Commissioners has proclaimed July 18 through 24 as “Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week.” Thanking them for the honor, Adams County Prison Warden Katy Hileman said it is a “blessing” to work for her employees. The commissioners also accepted the resignation of Victor Frank from the Adams County Planning Commission

(By Jamie Martines | Spotlight PA) HARRISBURG — Lawmakers this week will probe whether state agencies had too much leeway in securing emergency contracts during the pandemic, following controversy over a data breach with a vendor hired to administer Pennsylvania’s contact tracing program. Rep. Jason Ortitay (R., Allegheny) on Tuesday will lead a House hearing

As local business owners expressed enthusiasm but also some concerns, the Gettysburg Borough Council unanimously voted on Monday night to reauthorize the Steinwehr Avenue Heart of Gettysburg Battlefield Business Improvement District (SABID) through 2028. Main Street Gettysburg Executive Officer Jill Sellers said the first seven years of the public-private partnership had involved 70 local businesses

(By Colin Deppen | Spotlight PA) One of Pennsylvania’s two U.S. Senate seats is up for grabs in 2022 as two-term Republican incumbent Pat Toomey prepares to step aside and the state braces for a particularly high-stakes election year. The Senate opening has drawn plenty of interest from Democrats looking to shore up a narrow

(By Christen Smith | The Center Square) – A key panel endorsed Pennsylvania’s entry into a carbon emissions reduction program scheduled for early next year, brushing aside concerns from Republican lawmakers that the move would accomplish little other than hurting the state’s economy. The Environmental Quality Board voted 15-4 on Tuesday to adopt the Department

(By Christen Smith | The Center Square) – Republican lawmakers said Monday they will crowdsource opinions about how best to redraw Pennsylvania’s congressional district map this fall. House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Bellefonte, told reporters at a news conference in Bucks County that redistricting is “one of the most important processes the legislature will undertake”

(By Christen Smith | The Center Square) – A Republican senator in Pennsylvania initiated the first steps this week of a forensic election audit, even as the state’s top law enforcement official promised intervention should the effort continue. Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Gettysburg, said in an editorial Wednesday he’s requested information and materials from three counties needed for

(By Christen Smith | The Center Square) – A WalletHub analysis ranked Pennsylvania’s electricity prices 14th highest in the nation, even as average consumption falls in the bottom half of states. The rankings considered monthly costs for natural gas, home heating oil, motor fuel oil and electricity for all 50 states and the District of Columbia to

(By Lindsay Weber | Spotlight PA) HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s General Assembly is headed into a long summer recess after a flurry of legislative activity. But several key issues remain unresolved and will have to wait until lawmakers reconvene in the fall. Democrats have indicated they want to see more government spending to address economic fallout

After hearing from citizens and municipal office holders from Bendersville, Carroll Valley, and Gettysburg describe the effectiveness of the program, the Gettysburg Borough Council will move forward on a trap neuter and return/release (TNR) program to stabilize its feral cat population. The speakers, all of whom had experience with the program said the program is

(By Natalie Kapustik | The Center Square) – State Sen. Joe Pittman has introduced legislation to support the work and practice of physician assistants in Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 397 amends the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act and Senate Bill 398 amends the Medical Practice Act of 1985. He said modernizing these bills will encourage more physician

(By Lindsay Weber | Spotlight PA) HARRISBURG — Cities and townships hoping to ban plastic bags within their borders may finally have the legal authority to do so in Pennsylvania. When the Republican-controlled legislature passed the state budget last week, it didn’t renew a statewide preemption on single-use plastics, opening the door for cities and

(By Christen Smith | The Center Square) – Pennsylvania lawmakers opted for a budget Friday that saves most of the state’s $10 billion in tax surplus and federal stimulus as they brace for an unprecedented fiscal cliff when the good fortune “dries up” come 2024. The $40.8 billion spending plan socks away $2.5 billion in unexpected sales

(By Christen Smith | The Center Square) – A bill banning vaccine passports cleared the state House of Representatives on Wednesday, even though it faces Gov. Tom Wolf’s promise to veto it once it reaches his desk. Senate Bill 618 prevents public entities from requiring proof of vaccination akin to New York’s Excelsior Pass, a mobile

(By Marie Albiges | Spotlight PA) HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania House passed an election overhaul bill Tuesday that creates stricter voter ID requirements and early voting in 2025, despite opposition from most Democrats and a promised veto from Gov. Tom Wolf. The state Senate is poised to take up the measure in the coming days,

(By Ted O’Neil | The Center Square) – A new study by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy shows right-to-work states have fared better than states that lack employee freedom laws when it comes to job losses and recovery during the coronavirus pandemic. The Allegheny Institute is a nonprofit free-market think tank located in Pittsburgh

(By Christen Smith | The Center Square) – Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate dropped to 6.9% in May, according to the Department of Labor and Industry.  The state released the updated data Friday. It showed Pennsylvania’s jobless numbers still outpace the national unemployment rate of 5.8%.  Total nonfarm jobs increased by 18,500 month over month, while the

(Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA and Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA) HARRISBURG — As people around the country celebrate Pride month, Gov. Tom Wolf again called on the state’s Republican-led legislature to pass non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ Pennsylvanians. Joined by Democratic lawmakers on the steps of the Capitol, Wolf on Tuesday said the legislation,

(By Christen Smith | The Center Square) – A pair of Pennsylvania lawmakers said Friday that state residents themselves should decide the stringency of the state’s voter identification law. The push comes after Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf said he’d never support strengthening existing voter I.D. law – one of the top priorities for Republicans in

(By Natalie Kapustik | The Center Square) – Legislation sponsored by Pennsylvania state Sen. Gene Yaw to create an Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program was unanimously approved recently by the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. Senate Bill 465 would provide additional technical support to expand on-farm conservation practices throughout Pennsylvania. Farmers and landowners would partner