Gov. Tom Wolf spent most of his budget address to lawmakers focused on workforce development and a big part of that he says it education. "We must continue to increase funding for education, starting with pre-K and culminating at the end of a student's journey," Wolf said. The governor is asking for an additional $200 million for basic education and another $7 million for higher education. He also wants to make community college a more attractive option. "My plan creates a grant program for students who graduate from a Pennsylvania community college with an associate's degree or other industry-recognized credentials and then stay in Pennsylvania to start their careers," the governor said. Wolf's spending plan comes in at $34.1 billion, a roughly 2.8 percent increase from this fiscal year.
If initial Republican leadership reaction is any indication, this year's state budget process may not be too contentious. "Gov. Wolf's budget sets forth a series of ideas that I believe House Republicans can find agreement on and advance important issues that our members were elected to tackle," said House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler. Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman agrees. "I think there's a lot there that we can embrace, at least generically. The governor laid out some priorities that we all share," Corman said. This is one word of concern from Senate Appropriations Chair Pat Browne, who's concerned that the governor's budget factors in a rate of growth of 4.3 percent. Browne says the average rate of growth over the past ten years is 1.2 percent. He calls Wolf's number not sustainable.
Pennsylvania's two senators had very different takes on President Trump's State of the Union Address. Republican Pat Toomey says, "The economy is the best it's been in decades. President Trump also made a reasonable case for enhancing security at our southern border and I commend him for his focus on health care." In a series of tweets, Democrat Bob Casey said, "The president used his platform to reinforce the same talking points and to double down on his corporate agenda. He also missed an opportunity to speak to America's middle class families who are struggling to make ends meet."
Jerry Sandusky is getting a new sentencing hearing. The former Penn State assistant football coach is going to be re-sentenced for a 45-count conviction on child sexual abuse charges. The state Superior Court ruled Tuesday the 75-year-old was improperly sentenced using mandatory minimums. Sandusky was sentenced in 2012 for up to 60 years in prison for the sexual abuse of ten boys.
A Northampton County strip club is shut down at least for a little while. Northampton County Judge Samuel Murray has ordered Spanky's East Gentlemen's Club to be closed until at least Friday. Murray's decision came after hearing from prosecutors who say the club is a magnet for criminals. Last month, District Attorney John Morganelli says Spanky's should be closed because it's a nuisance bar that hurts the quality of life for its neighbors. Three men were shot in an incident that happened inside Spanky's last month and Morganelli says police have had to respond to 165 calls at the club since 2006.
After initially calling it suspicious, fire investigators say the cause of a fire that burned two garages in Allentown is undetermined. It broke out late Sunday night in the 1000 block of James Street, the alley behind Tilghman Street. There were no vehicles in either garage and no one was injured in the fire.
Pennsylvania hunters are getting closer to gaining the right to hunt on Sundays. The state game code still bans such activity, but a state Senate committee voted Tuesday by an eight-to-three margin to move the bill forward that would authorize the Game Commission to strike down the restriction. The bill now heads to the Senate floor for debate.
The state's Miss Pennsylvania competition is now calling York home. This year's event will be held June 12th to 15th. The competition had been previously held annually in Pittsburgh.
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker is admitting he's got a girlfriend. Booker said in a Tuesday interview that there's a special lady in his life. Page Six reported last month the 49-year-old Democrat presidential hopeful was dating actress Rosario Dawson. Booker hasn't revealed his girlfriend's name, but says she's really special to him.
The Philadelphia 76ers have acquired forward Tobias Harris from the Los Angeles Clippers. Harris is averaging nearly 21 points and eight rebounds a game. The 76ers are also getting Boban Marjanovic and Mike Scott in return for Landry Shamet, Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala, two first-round picks and a pair of second-round picks.