Latest news with #Boscola
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hershey Kiss one step closer to becoming Pennsylvania state candy as Senate votes on bill
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — The Hershey Kiss is one step closer to becoming the official state candy of the Commonwealth after a previously introduced bill moves to the Senate. A bill originally introduced by Representative Thomas Mehaffie (R-Dauphin) has moved into the Senate after passing through the Pennsylvania House. Mehaffie argued in his bill that the Hershey Kiss is 'an iconic product' that was first produced in the Commonwealth in 1907. The Representative highlighted that the Hershey Kiss is recognizable worldwide and brings significant importance to Pennsylvania. The Hershey Co. employs almost 19,000 people, and the founder, Milton Hershey, used the Kiss as the foundation for a product line and manufacturing process that strengthened the region's economy. Peeps vs. Hershey Kiss: What should be the next Pennsylvania candy 'We believe that denoting Hershey's Kisses as the state candy will not only bring more attention to our state, but also commemorate a company and candy that has forever impacted our state's economy and values,' The bill reads. In April, Senator Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh, Northampton) argued that Peeps, which are also produced in Pennsylvania, should also be in the running for the next state candy. Boscola noted that the impact of the marshmallow candy goes beyond the aisle, with Peeps representing a longstanding commitment to community and economic development. Boscola's legislation was never officially introduced in the Pennsylvania Senate; only a memo was circulated to her peers. Mehaffie's legislation will now be voted on by committees in the Senate before being sent for an official floor vote. If passed, the bill would then be sent to Governor Josh Shapiro's desk for consideration and signing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania lawmaker wants to make Peeps the official state candy
A Pennsylvania lawmaker wants to make a classic Easter-time treat the official state candy. Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton) says she will soon introduce legislation to designate Peeps as the official state candy. Peeps — the iconic, colorful marshmallow treat often shaped as chicks or bunnies — have been manufactured in Bethlehem, Pa., since 1953. Boscola argues that Peeps have become a culturally important American icon and, locally, manufacturing the treat creates hundreds of jobs and supports charitable initiatives. 'Given Pennsylvania's rich confectionery history, it is fitting that we finally honor one of our own with this unique designation,' Boscola said. 'Peeps are not only a symbol of Pennsylvania's well-earned reputation for satisfying candy cravings, but of our imagination and enduring spirit.' But, there is competition for state candy designation. A bill passed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives last March would make Hershey's Kisses the official state candy. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New law would help truckers remove deadly rooftop snow and ice
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — A proposed law could close one of the remaining gaps in existing laws that — although some of the only of their kind in America — haven't stopped sheets of ice from falling from truck rooftops. Brandon Hennel, 24, of York County, nearly died in early January when a sheet of ice slipped off a tractor-trailer's roof, crossed into oncoming lanes and went through his windshield. He was on a ventilator for four days, underwent an eight-hour facial reconstruction surgery and — just this week — had wires removed from his jaw. PREVIOUS COVERAGE > Pennsylvania law requires drivers to remove snow, ice from cars His father, Paul Hennel, called an existing Pennsylvania law — sponsored by Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh Valley) and known as Christine's Law, in memory of a woman from Boscola's district when a sheet of ice went through the windshield of a car her husband was driving — a 'good first step,' and one of dozen of its kind in America, while also observing the obvious: that it wasn't enough to prevent what has continued to happen to people like his son. Initially, the law fined drivers only if ice from their vehicles killed or maimed someone. Then the fines increased, and police got the ability to pull over vehicles with snow or ice on their rooftops that appeared to be a threat; the fine is $50. The law applies to car and SUV drivers alike, but the reality, everyone acknowledges, is that the task is more difficult for drivers of tall trucks. Boscola said she wanted to do more, 'but the commercial trucking industry was very opposed to my legislation,' even though she noted some companies — she named Coca-Cola and Walgreens — were proactive about installing their own equipment at their facilities to remove tractor-trailer rooftop snow and ice after Christine Lambert died. Ultimately, though, she came to a perhaps less aspirational but more pragmatic conclusion. 'The trucking industry alone isn't going to be able to do it. They just won't. And they haven't up to this point,' Boscola said. 'So what do we do? You know, we have to help them.' As it turns out, she began working in late 2024 on legislation that would provide something remarkably similar to what Paul Hennel called for earlier this week: funding to make rooftop snow- and ice-removal equipment available at Pennsylvania truck stops and weigh stations for even truck drivers whose companies might have their own equipment, but who are far from it when the problem arises. 'However, I'm challenging the trucking industry as well,' Boscola said. With the equipment more widely available, she would want to do more to insist truckers use it, for example by increasing the fines for not doing so from the current $50 level. Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York County), whose district includes the Hennels' home, credited Boscola with the existing law, which passed unanimously in both chambers. Asked whether she would support further changes, she said 'every time we enact a law, there may need to be tweaks to that law' and she 'would imagine that every member wants to make sure that the law is effective.' Boscola said she appreciated Phillips-Hill's kind words and would contact her about possibly working together on the new legislation. She recognizes bipartisan legislation requires compromise — 'Maybe when she looks at the legislation, she would want to tweak it a little bit,' Boscola said of Phillips-Hill — but she also knows it has a better chance of becoming law. 'So then nobody gets the credit,' Boscola said. 'It's just both of us. Kind of nice, right?' Nice indeed, said Paul Hennel. 'I'm very excited to hear this and will continue my mission to make the roads safer so what happened to Brandon doesn't happen to anyone else,' Hennel said. 'And I think the commercial trucking industry would be really happy too,' Boscola said. 'you know. 'I really do, because I think they want to help. And I don't think they want to cause this kind of carnage on the roads, but they're kind of like, 'What do we do about it? It's out of our control once the truck leaves our facility.'' The industry's lobby — the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association, or PMTA — didn't respond Friday to messages from abc27 News. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania Sen. looks to enact ‘back-to-school sales tax holiday'
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — A senator announced plans to introduce legislation that would establish a back-to-school sales tax holiday. The bill, authored by Sen. Lisa Boscola (D – Lehigh, Northampton), would create an annual sales tax holiday that would run from the first Saturday in August through the third Saturday in August. Boscola argued that during a time when high inflation 'plagues families across Pennsylvania,' there is no need to complicate the already difficult balance of providing a healthy upbringing. 'While everyone is hurting from the effects of inflation, the impact on families with children and college students is amplified when it's time to purchase essential school supplies,' Boscola wrote. 'Like most items, prices of school supplies have risen sharply with inflation. I believe we can do something to help these Pennsylvanians.' During the time aforementioned, school supplies, art supplies and instructional materials with a sales price of not more than $50 would be exempt from state sales tax. Personal computers and tablets with a sale price of not more than $1,500 would also be exempt. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
