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FakeNoose
FakeNoose's Journal
FakeNoose's Journal
April 5, 2023
Meanwhile our bridges are collapsing, roadways are crumbling.
Gov. Shapiro's proposed Pa. State Police fund saves road dollars but raises accountability concerns
(link) https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/04/pa-josh-shapiro-budget-state-police-transportation/
HARRISBURG — In his first budget proposal as governor, Democrat Josh Shapiro aims to resolve a longstanding fiscal conundrum: funding the Pennsylvania State Police without taking money away from bridge and road repairs. At the moment, $900 million of the agency’s roughly $1.4 billion budget comes from the state’s General Fund, while the rest comes from the state’s Motor License Fund, which receives money from the state’s gas tax and is primarily meant to be used for infrastructure spending.
Shapiro would end those transfers by creating a new restricted bank account for State Police. Unlike the General Fund — the state’s main account, which can use the billions of dollars it receives from sales and income tax payments each year for any purpose — this new police account wouldn’t be subject to annual budget negotiations between the governor and legislature.
- snip -
Shapiro’s plan has the support of legislative Democrats, who see another possible upside: Creating such an account would mean the legislature and Shapiro would need to pass a law, which could also include provisions like a long-sought requirement for state and local police to collect racial data from traffic stops. As Spotlight PA previously reported, State Police stopped collecting such data for nearly a decade, leaving observers unable to check for racial bias.
- snip -
Pennsylvania has used its gas tax to fund State Police for decades. But a big gas tax hike in 2013 — approved by former Republican Gov. Tom Corbett as a way to increase funding for repairs to the state’s crumbling infrastructure — spotlighted those growing transfers as a barrier to the commonwealth catching up on decades of deferred maintenance.
Shapiro would end those transfers by creating a new restricted bank account for State Police. Unlike the General Fund — the state’s main account, which can use the billions of dollars it receives from sales and income tax payments each year for any purpose — this new police account wouldn’t be subject to annual budget negotiations between the governor and legislature.
- snip -
Shapiro’s plan has the support of legislative Democrats, who see another possible upside: Creating such an account would mean the legislature and Shapiro would need to pass a law, which could also include provisions like a long-sought requirement for state and local police to collect racial data from traffic stops. As Spotlight PA previously reported, State Police stopped collecting such data for nearly a decade, leaving observers unable to check for racial bias.
- snip -
Pennsylvania has used its gas tax to fund State Police for decades. But a big gas tax hike in 2013 — approved by former Republican Gov. Tom Corbett as a way to increase funding for repairs to the state’s crumbling infrastructure — spotlighted those growing transfers as a barrier to the commonwealth catching up on decades of deferred maintenance.
Meanwhile our bridges are collapsing, roadways are crumbling.
April 4, 2023
- more at link -
This is a big issue with the current session in Harrisburg. If the 2022 gubernatorial primary had been open. the chances are very good that Doug Mastriano would not have been chosen as the Repuke candidate. The nomination might have gone to a more promising middle-of-the-road candidate such as Dave McCormick. The initiative seems to have bipartisan support, so maybe this year the bill will pass both Houses.
Should PA primaries become open primaries? At least one big hurdle remains
(link) https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/04/pa-primary-election-2023-indepedents-third-party/
HARRISBURG — Lawmakers and advocates who support opening Pennsylvania’s primary elections to over a million independent voters hope the legislature will take action this year, but at least one key senator stands in their way.
Pennsylvania is one of nine states that has closed primaries, meaning only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote for candidates during partisan spring elections. This means only those voters have a say in which candidates from those parties will face off in the November election, excluding the 1.2 million people in Pennsylvania who are registered to a third party or who are unaffiliated.
(Unaffiliated and third-party voters, however, are still able to participate in special elections that coincide with the spring primary, as well as vote on ballot referendums and other local initiatives.)
Good-government advocates and a small group of lawmakers have been trying to open Pennsylvania’s primary system for more than 20 years. Though the change has bipartisan support and has gained traction in recent legislative sessions, it has never passed both the state House and Senate.
Pennsylvania is one of nine states that has closed primaries, meaning only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote for candidates during partisan spring elections. This means only those voters have a say in which candidates from those parties will face off in the November election, excluding the 1.2 million people in Pennsylvania who are registered to a third party or who are unaffiliated.
(Unaffiliated and third-party voters, however, are still able to participate in special elections that coincide with the spring primary, as well as vote on ballot referendums and other local initiatives.)
Good-government advocates and a small group of lawmakers have been trying to open Pennsylvania’s primary system for more than 20 years. Though the change has bipartisan support and has gained traction in recent legislative sessions, it has never passed both the state House and Senate.
- more at link -
This is a big issue with the current session in Harrisburg. If the 2022 gubernatorial primary had been open. the chances are very good that Doug Mastriano would not have been chosen as the Repuke candidate. The nomination might have gone to a more promising middle-of-the-road candidate such as Dave McCormick. The initiative seems to have bipartisan support, so maybe this year the bill will pass both Houses.
April 4, 2023
- more at link -
(2) Trump’s 'lack of respect' for U.S. security was constantly on display at Mar-a-Lago: reporter
(link) https://www.rawstory.com/trump-documents-national-security-problems/
- more at link -
(3) 'Game over' for Trump amid new obstruction evidence: legal expert
(link) https://www.rawstory.com/donald-trump-obstruction-2659716517/
- short article, no more at link -
If you're like me, then your TV probably stayed off today, so here's what you need to know
(1) DOJ warrant cites fresh evidence Trump may have moved his documents around to hide them after FBI searches
(link) https://www.rawstory.com/trump-documents-obstruction-evidence/
The Washington Post reported Sunday afternoon that more evidence might have become available to prove obstructions of justice for the theft of the government documents taken back to Mar-a-Lago.
Trump refused to turn the documents over for nearly a year when the Justice Department and FBI got involved. The FBI was then given an envelope with additional documents, but that still wasn't everything. Ultimately, the DOJ got a search warrant and went to Mar-a-Lago to get the documents.
According to the fresh evidence, there is more that has been discovered pointing to former President Donald Trump's obstructions of justice, those familiar told the Post.
"The additional evidence comes as investigators have used emails and text messages from a former Trump aide to help understand key moments last year," the report explained, citing the sources. Special counsel Jack Smith is at work on the documents case as well as anything around the Jan. 6 attack.
Trump refused to turn the documents over for nearly a year when the Justice Department and FBI got involved. The FBI was then given an envelope with additional documents, but that still wasn't everything. Ultimately, the DOJ got a search warrant and went to Mar-a-Lago to get the documents.
According to the fresh evidence, there is more that has been discovered pointing to former President Donald Trump's obstructions of justice, those familiar told the Post.
"The additional evidence comes as investigators have used emails and text messages from a former Trump aide to help understand key moments last year," the report explained, citing the sources. Special counsel Jack Smith is at work on the documents case as well as anything around the Jan. 6 attack.
- more at link -
(2) Trump’s 'lack of respect' for U.S. security was constantly on display at Mar-a-Lago: reporter
(link) https://www.rawstory.com/trump-documents-national-security-problems/
Revelations being unearthed about the document scandal involving former President Donald Trump show a cavalier disregard for America's national security, experts said Monday
Speaking to MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace on Monday, former FBI agent Peter Strzok and Washington Post reporter Carol Leonnig voiced concern about who Trump was showing the classified documents that were found inside his Mar-a-Lago home. The Washington Post reported Sunday that he was displaying them to political donors.
Strzok complained that reveals evidence of intent on keeping the documents and obstructing investigations about them. Wallace said the Sunday report gave fresh evidence that Trump knew the documents were at his home, and that he was hiding them from the FBI.
It's an "absolutely harrowing prospect when you think back to all the reporting you and your colleagues have done about what was found there. I mean, the incredibly sensitive nuclear information, other countries' very closely held state secrets," recalled Wallace. "
Speaking to MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace on Monday, former FBI agent Peter Strzok and Washington Post reporter Carol Leonnig voiced concern about who Trump was showing the classified documents that were found inside his Mar-a-Lago home. The Washington Post reported Sunday that he was displaying them to political donors.
Strzok complained that reveals evidence of intent on keeping the documents and obstructing investigations about them. Wallace said the Sunday report gave fresh evidence that Trump knew the documents were at his home, and that he was hiding them from the FBI.
It's an "absolutely harrowing prospect when you think back to all the reporting you and your colleagues have done about what was found there. I mean, the incredibly sensitive nuclear information, other countries' very closely held state secrets," recalled Wallace. "
- more at link -
(3) 'Game over' for Trump amid new obstruction evidence: legal expert
(link) https://www.rawstory.com/donald-trump-obstruction-2659716517/
Donald Trump could be facing "game over" in the Mar-a-Lago documents case, according to one legal expert.
The former president absconded with classified documents to his private resort after leaving the White House, and he then allegedly tried to obstruct authorities from retrieving them, according to MSNBC legal analyst Andrew Weismann.
"There are two ways in which I think there are going to be obstruction charges, as you noted with respect to Mar-a-Lago, it's important that you already have a federal magistrate who found probable cause that there was obstruction," Weismann said. "Remember in the search it included evidence of obstruction, the allegation by the government in the search warrant, and that was approved by the magistrate... which was the actions of the former president after receiving a subpoena from the Department of Justice, so I agree with this could be a rock crusher game over, and the Republicans who are following the former president in the Manhattan case could just go over the cliff when and if we see charges in Florida that are really quite strong based on what we know now and then in Manhattan, there could be obstruction charges if the former president continues doing what he has been doing this last week, including last night, and is inciting violence."
"It will be very interesting to see both the district attorney's reaction and whether that leads to additional charges because those things can be charged as additional crimes, and what many people may view as the least serious of the criminal investigations may be quite serious in Manhattan as well and the judge can impose significant restrictions on what Donald Trump says and does if he continues this behavior," Weismann added.
The former president absconded with classified documents to his private resort after leaving the White House, and he then allegedly tried to obstruct authorities from retrieving them, according to MSNBC legal analyst Andrew Weismann.
"There are two ways in which I think there are going to be obstruction charges, as you noted with respect to Mar-a-Lago, it's important that you already have a federal magistrate who found probable cause that there was obstruction," Weismann said. "Remember in the search it included evidence of obstruction, the allegation by the government in the search warrant, and that was approved by the magistrate... which was the actions of the former president after receiving a subpoena from the Department of Justice, so I agree with this could be a rock crusher game over, and the Republicans who are following the former president in the Manhattan case could just go over the cliff when and if we see charges in Florida that are really quite strong based on what we know now and then in Manhattan, there could be obstruction charges if the former president continues doing what he has been doing this last week, including last night, and is inciting violence."
"It will be very interesting to see both the district attorney's reaction and whether that leads to additional charges because those things can be charged as additional crimes, and what many people may view as the least serious of the criminal investigations may be quite serious in Manhattan as well and the judge can impose significant restrictions on what Donald Trump says and does if he continues this behavior," Weismann added.
- short article, no more at link -
March 30, 2023
AP story - more at link - will be updated
Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on lockdown after armed person reported
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
WASHINGTON — Joint Base Andrews, one of the nation’s most sensitive military bases and home to Air Force One, has been locked down after reports of a man carrying an “assault-style” rifle on Thursday, authorities said.
The Maryland base was locked down after the person was reportedly seen near the base’s housing area, according to the base’s Facebook page.
Staff Sgt. Jared Duhon, a spokesperson for the base, said no shots have been fired. There was no immediate report of any injuries and additional details were not immediately available.
Joint Base Andrews, a few miles outside Washington, is home to the fleet of blue and white presidential aircraft, including Air Force One and the “doomsday” 747 aircraft that can serve as the nation’s airborne nuclear command and control centers if needed.
Read more: https://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2023/03/30/joint-base-andrews-maryland-lockdown-washington/stories/202303300119
AP story - more at link - will be updated
March 30, 2023
- More at link, including bios of each candidate -
Commonwealth Court, Democratic candidates are Bryan Neft, Matthew Wolf
Commonwealth Court, Republican candidates are Megan Martin, Joshua Prince
Superior Court, Democratic candidates are Jill Beck, Timika Lane, Patrick Dugan
Superior Court, Republican candidates are Maria Battista, Harry Smail
Photos and bios of all the candidates are given on the OP link.
Pa. primary election 2023: A complete guide to the candidates for Commonwealth and Superior Courts
Spotlight PA link: https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/03/pa-election-primary-2023-commonwealth-superior-court-candidates/
HARRISBURG — In May, Democrats and Republicans will choose their parties’ candidates for three vacant seats on Commonwealth and Superior Courts. The winners will compete in the November general election.
Pennsylvania’s two intermediate appellate courts have the power to affirm or reverse decisions made in lower courts. Their rulings can be appealed to the state Supreme Court, Pennsylvania’s court of last resort.
The person who wins the open seat on Commonwealth Court could help shape Pennsylvania’s laws on everything from elections to firearms, while the two candidates who win seats on Superior Court could decide the outcomes of high-profile criminal cases. Judges on both courts are often top candidates to fill openings on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
The two intermediate appellate courts serve distinct roles in the commonwealth’s legal system. Commonwealth Court presides over civil actions brought by and against the Pennsylvania state government and hears appeals primarily in cases involving state departments and local governments. Superior Court handles criminal, family, and civil cases that are appealed by county Courts of Common Pleas.
Pennsylvania’s two intermediate appellate courts have the power to affirm or reverse decisions made in lower courts. Their rulings can be appealed to the state Supreme Court, Pennsylvania’s court of last resort.
The person who wins the open seat on Commonwealth Court could help shape Pennsylvania’s laws on everything from elections to firearms, while the two candidates who win seats on Superior Court could decide the outcomes of high-profile criminal cases. Judges on both courts are often top candidates to fill openings on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
The two intermediate appellate courts serve distinct roles in the commonwealth’s legal system. Commonwealth Court presides over civil actions brought by and against the Pennsylvania state government and hears appeals primarily in cases involving state departments and local governments. Superior Court handles criminal, family, and civil cases that are appealed by county Courts of Common Pleas.
- More at link, including bios of each candidate -
Commonwealth Court, Democratic candidates are Bryan Neft, Matthew Wolf
Commonwealth Court, Republican candidates are Megan Martin, Joshua Prince
Superior Court, Democratic candidates are Jill Beck, Timika Lane, Patrick Dugan
Superior Court, Republican candidates are Maria Battista, Harry Smail
Photos and bios of all the candidates are given on the OP link.
March 29, 2023
It was all over the TV news in Pittsburgh today, but suddenly - whew! - we found out it wasn't really happening.
'A major sigh of relief' after false reports of active shooters at Pittsburgh-area schools
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Panic then relief rippled across the Pittsburgh region Wednesday when a series of fake phone calls reporting active school shooters shattered the quiet of the mid-morning.
An Allegheny County spokesperson said the county 911 line had received two separate calls reporting an active shooter at two separate schools, Central Catholic and Oakland Catholic, but that authorities believed “these are false reports.” Similar calls targeted schools in numerous other counties across Western Pennsylvania and beyond.
Shortly before noon, Pittsburgh law enforcement officials said the scenes were clear at both schools. Officers, including heavily armed SWAT team members, went room by room in the schools, checking for anyone who wasn’t supposed to be there, Pittsburgh Acting Police Chief Tom Strangrecki told reporters.
“We treated it as a real incident,” he said. “We were prepared… to confront any active shooters in the building and protect any students.”
Read more: https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2023/03/29/pittsburgh-school-shooting-report-phone-calls-police/stories/202303290083
It was all over the TV news in Pittsburgh today, but suddenly - whew! - we found out it wasn't really happening.
March 29, 2023
(link) https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-water-safe-contamination-chemical-spill-20230328.html
- more at link -
Philly's water is safe to drink, Mayor Jim Kenney declares: 'The threat has passed'
(link) https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-water-safe-contamination-chemical-spill-20230328.html
OK, Philly, you can drink the water without worry now.
“We can all confidently say the threat has passed,” Mayor Jim Kenney said at a news briefing Tuesday evening. “I repeat, all the city’s drinking water is safe to drink.” He even drank a glass himself.
Repeated tests detected no evidence of contamination from the 8,100 gallons of hazardous material that spilled just before midnight Friday from a Bucks County plant and into a Delaware River tributary about 13 miles north of the Philadelphia Water Department’s Baxter water-treatment plant, city officials said.
In fact, Mike Carroll, the city’s deputy managing director, said it would have been impossible for the contaminants to reach the Baxter intake before the gate was closed early Saturday.
“We can all confidently say the threat has passed,” Mayor Jim Kenney said at a news briefing Tuesday evening. “I repeat, all the city’s drinking water is safe to drink.” He even drank a glass himself.
Repeated tests detected no evidence of contamination from the 8,100 gallons of hazardous material that spilled just before midnight Friday from a Bucks County plant and into a Delaware River tributary about 13 miles north of the Philadelphia Water Department’s Baxter water-treatment plant, city officials said.
In fact, Mike Carroll, the city’s deputy managing director, said it would have been impossible for the contaminants to reach the Baxter intake before the gate was closed early Saturday.
- more at link -
March 28, 2023
Lots of information and answered questions on this PA voters' website!
- more at link -
PA Voters' Guide: Voting by mail-in or absentee ballot is safe, secure, and easy.
PA voters' link: https://www.vote.pa.gov/Voting-in-PA/Pages/Mail-and-Absentee-Ballot.aspx#mailin
In Pennsylvania, you have two options for mail ballots.
Mail-in ballot – Any qualified voter may apply for a mail-in ballot. You may simply request this ballot without a reason.
Absentee ballot – If you plan to be out of the municipality on election day or if you have a disability or illness that prevents you from going to your polling place on election day, you can request this ballot type, which still requires you to list a reason for your ballot.
In order to request either ballot type, you must be registered to vote.
Check Your Registration Status to review your registration information.
Mail-in ballot – Any qualified voter may apply for a mail-in ballot. You may simply request this ballot without a reason.
Absentee ballot – If you plan to be out of the municipality on election day or if you have a disability or illness that prevents you from going to your polling place on election day, you can request this ballot type, which still requires you to list a reason for your ballot.
In order to request either ballot type, you must be registered to vote.
Check Your Registration Status to review your registration information.
Lots of information and answered questions on this PA voters' website!
- more at link -
March 27, 2023
(link) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-23/pennsylvania-bill-targets-maternal-care-desert-in-suburban-philadelphia?srnd=citylab-economy
- more at link -
This is a developing story that can also be followed on the "Pennsylvania State Senate Co-sponsorship" website.
Link is here: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20230&cosponId=40280&mc_cid=a2a17effcd&mc_eid=3ab2f24ac3
Bloomberg: Pennsylvania Fights Hospital Closures With Curb on For-Profit Buyers
(link) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-23/pennsylvania-bill-targets-maternal-care-desert-in-suburban-philadelphia?srnd=citylab-economy
Pennsylvania lawmakers plan to introduce legislation that would place a moratorium on private equity and other for-profit firms from buying hospitals in the state, following closures and cutbacks that curtailed care in parts of suburban Philadelphia.
The package of bills would also prohibit owners from taking out dividends within two years of an acquisition and limit a type of financing known as sale-leaseback transactions on hospitals’ real estate. The legislation was floated at the end of the session last year but didn’t progress. A separate bill introduced this year, meanwhile, would make it more difficult to close hospitals.
The legislation, which is similar to efforts to curb corporate ownership and closures in a handful of states like Rhode Island and Illinois, comes after cutbacks at private equity-owned Crozer Health and its closure of two Pennsylvania facilities: Springfield Hospital early last year in a move it called temporary, and Delaware County Memorial in November amidst a court battle over its future.
The private equity industry’s charge into hospital ownership has lawmakers and patient advocates across the country on edge just as labor shortages and inflation have thrown the industry into financial crisis. The backlash is unsurprising since private hospitals have a reputation for putting profits ahead of the needs of the community, especially in poor areas, said Alan Sager, professor of health law, policy and management at Boston University.
The package of bills would also prohibit owners from taking out dividends within two years of an acquisition and limit a type of financing known as sale-leaseback transactions on hospitals’ real estate. The legislation was floated at the end of the session last year but didn’t progress. A separate bill introduced this year, meanwhile, would make it more difficult to close hospitals.
The legislation, which is similar to efforts to curb corporate ownership and closures in a handful of states like Rhode Island and Illinois, comes after cutbacks at private equity-owned Crozer Health and its closure of two Pennsylvania facilities: Springfield Hospital early last year in a move it called temporary, and Delaware County Memorial in November amidst a court battle over its future.
The private equity industry’s charge into hospital ownership has lawmakers and patient advocates across the country on edge just as labor shortages and inflation have thrown the industry into financial crisis. The backlash is unsurprising since private hospitals have a reputation for putting profits ahead of the needs of the community, especially in poor areas, said Alan Sager, professor of health law, policy and management at Boston University.
- more at link -
This is a developing story that can also be followed on the "Pennsylvania State Senate Co-sponsorship" website.
Link is here: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20230&cosponId=40280&mc_cid=a2a17effcd&mc_eid=3ab2f24ac3
March 26, 2023
- short article, no more at link -
At least it's not the result of a train derailment or collision. Why are these chemical plants always built near environmentally important waterways?
More than 8,000 gallons of hazardous material spills in a Bucks County creek near the Delaware River
(link) https://www.inquirer.com/news/toxic-spill-delaware-river-otter-creek-bucks-county-20230325.html
More than 8,000 gallons of a hazardous solution have spilled into Otter Creek near the Delaware River in Bristol Borough, Bucks County, officials said late Saturday, and the total potentially could reach 12,000 gallons.
The Coast Guard said the spill of what it described as a water-soluble “latex finishing material” was reported about 11:40 p.m. Friday. Cleanup operations are underway, and the Coast Guard was urging people to stay away from the area. It said it had received no reports of harm to wildlife.
The Coast Guard did not identify the source of the spill, but other news outlets reported that it was the Trinseo chemical plant. The Coast Guard said the source “has been secured and is under investigation.”
Agencies involved the investigation include the EPA, NOAA, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and the state Fish and Boat Commission, the Coast Guard said.
The Coast Guard said the spill of what it described as a water-soluble “latex finishing material” was reported about 11:40 p.m. Friday. Cleanup operations are underway, and the Coast Guard was urging people to stay away from the area. It said it had received no reports of harm to wildlife.
The Coast Guard did not identify the source of the spill, but other news outlets reported that it was the Trinseo chemical plant. The Coast Guard said the source “has been secured and is under investigation.”
Agencies involved the investigation include the EPA, NOAA, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and the state Fish and Boat Commission, the Coast Guard said.
- short article, no more at link -
At least it's not the result of a train derailment or collision. Why are these chemical plants always built near environmentally important waterways?
Profile Information
Name: Kathy HinsmanGender: Female
Hometown: Pittsburgh PA
Home country: USA
Current location: Pittsburgh
Member since: Sat Feb 18, 2017, 02:16 PM
Number of posts: 32,633
