Latest news with #PennsylvaniaSenate
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Bill to ban TikTok on state devices passes Pennsylvania Senate
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — A bill that would ban the use of the app TikTok on state devices and networks seems to have most Pennsylvania senators in agreement. The bill, sponsored by Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill, notes that the app on state devices presents 'an unacceptable level of cybersecurity risk.' Under Senate Bill 376, all agencies, departments or commissions that are state government entities must do the following: Remove the application from state networks Implement measures to prevent the installation of the app Implement network-based restrictions to prevent workers from using and accessing the app Pennsylvania Representative aims to repeal 'Johnstown Flood Tax' 'The people of Pennsylvania's personal safety and our national security are threatened by cyber vulnerabilities of systems that support our daily lives. It is imperative that Pennsylvania takes bold and decisive actions to prepare for and address cybersecurity threats,' Phillips-Hill noted in her memo about the bill to other lawmakers. Over half of the other states have already banned the app on government devices, along with several other countries. The bill passed the Pennsylvania Senate with 49 votes yes on Wednesday, June 4. This comes after it passed both the Communications and Technology and the Appropriations Committee. It will now head to the House for consideration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania Senate confirms new Consumer Advocate nomination
(WHTM) — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that the Pennsylvania Senate has unanimously confirmed the nomination of Darryl Lawrence as the state's Consumer Advocate. Lawrence has served as interim Consumer Advocate since February 4, after serving as the Senior Assistant Consumer Advocate. He has worked in the department for nearly 20 years and will now represent Commonwealth consumers in public utility service quality and pricing matters. 'I am pleased that the Senate has confirmed my appointment of Darryl Lawrence as Pennsylvania's Consumer Advocate, and am confident that Darryl will serve Pennsylvanians well in that capacity,' Attorney General Sunday said. 'Darryl dedicated his career to advocating on behalf of Pennsylvanians who may not have a voice in the regulatory, judicial, and legislative processes attached to public utilities. He has proven himself as an experienced, tough, fair, and honest advocate.' 'It has been an honor to work for the Office of Consumer Advocate and to serve the public utility customers of Pennsylvania for the past 20 years,' Consumer Advocate Darryl Lawrence said. 'I look forward to continuing this important work as the new Consumer Advocate of Pennsylvania. My heartfelt thanks to Attorney General Dave Sunday, the Pennsylvania Senate, and the incredible staff at the Office of Consumer Advocate who have provided support and encouragement throughout this process. I am deeply honored to take on this new role.' The Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate was established by the General Assembly in 1976 to serve the interests of utility ratepayers in Pennsylvania. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Sen. Baker's legislation to strengthen PFA orders approved by Senate
Jun. 3—WILKES-BARRE — Sen. Lisa Baker on Tuesday said law enforcement officers put themselves on the line every time they serve a PFA. "It's only right that the agencies performing this vital work receive the support and reimbursement they deserve," said Sen. Baker, R-Lehman Township. "This bill ensures that fairness is built into the process." The Pennsylvania Senate has approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Baker to improve the enforcement of Protection from Abuse (PFA) petitions and orders and ensure law enforcement agencies are properly reimbursed. Sen. Baker said Senate Bill 302 corrects a longstanding imbalance in the law that directs a portion of PFA-related court fees exclusively to county sheriffs — even in cases where local police departments or state troopers carry out the service of the paperwork. Sen. Baker said the legislation stems from concerns raised by Dallas Township Police Chief Doug Higgins and an audit conducted by Luzerne County Controller Walter Griffith, which highlighted that municipal departments were absorbing the cost of serving PFA orders without compensation. The bill also clarifies that only sheriffs or trained law enforcement officers — not private individuals — should be authorized to serve PFAs, addressing a critical safety concern and reinforcing professional standards in enforcement. Sen. Baker said the bill outlines the reimbursement process — while the $25 service fee will continue to be collected through the existing surcharge, sheriffs will be required to transfer the fee to the agency completing the service. "We are working to make sure no victim faces unnecessary delays or uncertainty when seeking protection," Sen. Baker said. "This reform is about accountability, safety and making sure the system functions the way it was intended." Senate Bill 302 now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
CBS News
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Philadelphia's 2025 Pride weekend will feature 600-foot Progress Pride flag, largest in U.S., organizers say
The largest Progress Pride flag in the U.S. will return and be even larger in 2025 as Philadelphia's LGBTQ+ community and allies gather for the Philadelphia Pride March and Festival. Organizers with Philly Pride 365 have already announced a ton of plans for the kickoff weekend starting Friday, May 30, but more announcements are coming in the next one to two weeks, including performers, stage locations and food truck and vendor lists. The group says this year's Pride Month is extra special in Philadelphia — it marks 50 years since former Pennsylvania Gov. Milton Shapp signed an executive order making the Keystone State the first to prohibit discrimination toward LGBTQ+ state employees. The order was later expanded to include state contractors as well. Advocates have called for the Pennsylvania Senate to pass the Fairness Act, a bill that ensures equal protections for LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians. Philly Pride 365 When is the 2025 Philadelphia Pride Parade? Pride Weekend in Philadelphia features several events leading up to the June 1 Pride March, not a parade. Things kick off with the Pride Around the City event on Friday, May 30. During this event, the massive Progress Pride flag will make its way to several major landmarks around the city. The flag will be 600 feet long this year, longer than an average Center City block. Last year's 400-foot Pride flag stretched down all the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, so it'll be interesting to see how Pride Around the City handles the extra 200 feet of fabric! The Philadelphia Pride Flag seen on Independence Mall in 2023. Philly Pride 365 The 600-foot flag will be the largest pride flag in Philly history and may set a record for the biggest pride flag in Pennsylvania. It was designed for the 2025 Philly Pride March and made in the state. Saturday, the day after Pride Around the City, features the LUV (Legacy, Unity, Visibility Awards) and the Pride Promenade held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Sunday's Pride March will kick off from 6th and Walnut streets at 10:30 a.m. and end in the Gayborhood. Philly Pride 365 says the exact route is still being finalized and will be revealed closer to the date of the march. The events this year have a new fiscal sponsor, the Urban Affairs Coalition. Philadelphia Pride Festival is larger this year Following the march, the Philadelphia Pride Festival is happening from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. The festival area will extend from Walnut Street down to Pine and from Juniper Street east to Quince Street. The festival will feature entertainment zones with stages, a youth and family zone with drag story time, a "sober vibes zone" that's alcohol-free, a sensory-friendly zone and the Sapphic Way. There's no admission or registration required to attend the festival, and food and drink are pay-as-you-go. Watch out for road closure announcements closer to the event. What is the Progress Pride Flag and how is it different from the traditional rainbow flag? The most common rainbow Pride flag has six stripes: red, orange, yellow, green, royal blue and purple. The late activist Gilbert Baker is widely credited for creating this flag in 1978, originally with eight stripes. The redesign and cut to six stripes happened in part due to a shortage of commercially available pink fabric and a desire to keep the number of stripes even. According to the Human Rights Campaign, the Progress Pride Flag features all the colors of the traditional flag with additional white, pink and light blue stripes to represent the transgender community, and black and brown stripes to represent LGBTQ+ people of color. The black stripe is also a memorial to the thousands of people who died during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, HRC says.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
SEPTA budget cuts: Philly leaders join riders, employees in rally for full funding of transit agency
The Brief SEPTA riders, employees and state lawmakers rallied Friday against proposed cuts to SEPTA service. They say there needs to be full funding for SEPTA in the upcoming state budget. Along Regional Rail, cuts could be devastating. CENTER CITY - SEPTA officials announced their new budget proposal Thursday, which includes a total of 45 percent in service cuts and a 21.5 percent fare increase, if a new, sustainable funding solution cannot be agreed upon. Friday, Philadelphia lawmakers joined SEPTA riders and employees in denouncing the new budget proposal and pressed lawmakers in Harrisburg to step in and support the transit agency, thereby supporting riders and employees. What we know Supporters of SEPTA huddled from the rain under the Philadelphia City Hall arch Friday as they rallied for full funding for the agency now facing self-imposed service cuts in the face of limited state funding. Chants heard at high school football games were put in service of SEPTA as politicians and transit advocates gathered for that rally. City Council President Kenyetta Johnson said, "There's no way, not on my watch, not on my watch are we going to decimate the funding and services SEPTA will provide when the world will be here in the city of Philadelphia." By the numbers More than $200 million in the hole and a Republican majority in the Pennsylvania Senate pressing for cuts in SEPTA's funding, SEPTA has rolled-out an austere 2026 budget slashing services by 45 percent coming in waves. Interim SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer/Interim SEPTA General Manager said Thursday, "By January 1st, we'll begin implementing further cuts: 18 more bus routes for a total of 50 eliminated in the budget year, five regional rail lines including the Paoli-Thorndale which is one of our busiest in the system." 15,000 riders on average use the Paoli-Thorndale line on a weekday. It and four other Regional Rail lines would be scrapped, pulling 31,000 daily riders off the system. Rider Dan Die said, "In the past three years I regularly take the line. It's very convenient and affordable. I think it's a great plus for me, personally." Dig deeper SEPTA says it's targeted the five rail lines due to the $65 million yearly it spends renting the tracks from owner AMTRAK. SEPTA rider Tyler Holland said, "It would be very bad for me because I need the bus. They've got to spend the money on something, if they're not spending on that, they're not helping me." The Republican state senate leader, Joe Pittman, writes of SEPTA's budget woes, "…This burden should not be placed entirely on Pennsylvania taxpayers, most of whom do not live within the service region…" What's next Next stop Harrisburg, for the budget battle under the Capitol Dome.
