Coverage for today’s Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
HARRISBURG — Kennel owners told a House committee Thursday that a proposed overhaul of commercial dog laws in Pennsylvania would go too far.
“We don’t support a bill that makes it easy to criminalize largely law-abiding people,” said Rob Sexton, vice president of government affairs for the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, which includes [...]

Rally coverage from yesterday for today’s Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
HARRISBURG — As the Pennsylvania General Assembly plunges into its annual budget negotiations, state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe is focusing on what is becoming his signature concern: immigration reform.
“The illegal alien issue in Pennsylvania is costing taxpayers millions of dollars,” the Butler County Republican said. “So I think the [...]

This written yesterday for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
HARRISBURG — Nearly all state employees termed “essential” would be paid even if there is no budget in place after the June 30 deadline, a treasury department official said today.
The testimony from Leo Pandeladis, chief counsel of the Pennsylvania Department of Treasury, came in response to questions about Senate-passed [...]

Written for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
HARRISBURG — The cost of the planned North Shore casino continues to rise and owner Don Barden still does not have enough money in place to finish construction, his spokesman said this morning.
Barden said he’s “not worried” about getting the money when he spoke to members of the state Gaming Control [...]

A double byline today with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review…
HARRISBURG — The state Department of Environmental Protection would need to approve excavation in geologically sensitive areas, under legislation recommended Monday by a legislative panel in response to the September 2006 Kilbuck landslide.
A developer was working on the site of the former Dixmont State Hospital when the slide [...]

Filed for the Pittsburgh Tribune Review.
HARRISBURG — Tolling Pennsylvania’s portion of Interstate 80 would create an “economic Chernobyl” in areas along the interstate, a Bloomsburg businessman said.

Paul Eyerly, president of Press Enterprises, was one of the two dozen people who rallied at the state Capitol Monday to oppose tolling I-80.
“We’re going to drive people away [...]

A double byline for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
HARRISBURG — A showdown over Gov. Ed Rendell’s threat to furlough more than 24,000 state workers on July 1 is set for Tuesday.
A Republican state senator will grill administration officials about the threatened furloughs of “noncritical” employees if a state budget is not in place by June 30.
During a budget [...]

Take a break from state property taxes, the state smoking ban proposal and Philadelphia exemption for a moment and enjoy some good old vandalism.
HARRISBURG — The phone and power lines were cut in the district office of state Rep. Jim Marshall, R-Beaver, just before 4 a.m. today.
“Somebody had to know what they were doing,” said [...]

I covered a Pennsylvania House-Senate conference committee hearing on a statewide smoking ban this morning for the Pittsburgh Tribune Review.
HARRISBURG — A House-Senate conference committee today approved a statewide smoking ban, but a member of the panel blasted the agreement, saying it amounted to telling Allegheny County to “go to hell.”
The agreement must be approved [...]

MY FIRST CLIP appears in this morning’s Pittsburgh Tribune Review.
HARRISBURG — One Republican lawmaker wants to eliminate school property taxes by broadening sales taxes across Pennsylvania, but at least one Democratic leader says the bill doesn’t have a chance.
“I don’t want to see someone lose their life defending their home against a government official,” said [...]