Category: Community Watch

By: Andrea Sears HARRISBURG, Pa. – Chesapeake Bay is getting cleaner, but a new analysis says much more needs to be done to clean up pollution coming from Pennsylvania rivers and streams. The midpoint assessment of compliance with the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint shows the water in the bay is clearer and aquatic vegetation and marine … Continue reading “Bay’s Water Getting Cleaner but Hard Work Ahead”

By: Andrea Sears CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – Citing sinkholes, contaminated water wells and alleged poor managerial judgement, an administrative law judge has suspended operations and construction of the Mariner East pipelines. In her ruling, Public Utility Commission Judge Elizabeth Barnes said Sunoco had put profit over best engineering practices. The emergency order suspended the flow of highly volatile … Continue reading “Mariner East Pipelines Shut Down, Again”

​Collegeville, PA – Several hundred people, including lawmakers, stakeholders and state officials gathered today to dedicate State Correctional Institution (SCI) at Phoenix. Built on the grounds of SCI Graterford, SCI Phoenix will begin operation by June 30, 2018. “A facility that maximizes staff safety and wellness, this prison replaces a nearly century-old facility,” Corrections Secretary John Wetzel … Continue reading “Officials Dedicate Pennsylvania’s Newest State Prison”

Andrea Sears PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Plastics have serious negative impacts throughout the supply chain – that’s the message brought to Pittsburgh this week by activists from India and the Philippines. The representatives of Break Free From Plastic, a global movement seeking solutions to what they call the plastic pollution crisis, visited concerned residents of Beaver and … Continue reading “International Activists Link Plastic Pollution to PA”

Andrea Sears HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Government Accountability Office says Congress can take back money that already has been appropriated for the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The Trump administration has proposed cutting federal spending by $15 billion, with almost half coming from CHIP. Since the cuts would come from mandatory spending, the GAO first had … Continue reading “GAO Gives Green Light for CHIP Cuts”