Stateside

ABOVE PHOTO: Gov. Tom Wolf ASSOCIATED PRESS  HARRISBURG, Pa.  — Gov. Tom Wolf’s office announced last Friday he has commuted the life sentences of 13 Pennsylvania inmates, clearing the way for their release to halfway houses. Wolf said they had all been unanimously recommended by the Board of Pardons. All 13 had been convicted of…

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ABOVE PHOTO: Pa. Senate Pres. Pro Tempore Jake Corman  (Photo: PA Senate) ASSOCIATED PRESS  HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania may need to postpone its primary election next year because of late-arriving data from the U.S. Census Bureau that is necessary to redraw legislative and congressional districts, the state Senate’s ranking member said last Friday. Senate President Pro…

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ABOVE PHOTO: Kristen Rotz (Photo/United Way of Pennsylvania) ASSOCIATED PRESS  HARRISBURG, Pa. — The number of people seeking help from their local clearinghouse for human and social services jumped by about 50% last year in Pennsylvania as people struggled to pay rent, stay current on utility bills and afford food as a result of the pandemic,…

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By STEVE PEOPLES and JAKE BLEIBERG DALLAS (AP) — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said his family vacation to Mexico was “obviously a mistake” as he returned stateside Thursday following an uproar over his disappearance during a deadly winter storm. The Republican senator said he began second-guessing the trip since the moment he first got on…

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By STEVE PEOPLES and JAKE BLEIBERG DALLAS (AP) — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz traveled to Mexico on Wednesday for a family vacation as his home state struggled with a powerful winter storm that left many residents without power or safe drinking water. The high-profile Republican lawmaker went for a long-planned trip to Cancun and was…

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By LOLITA C. BALDOR WASHINGTON (AP) — By the thousands, U.S. service members are refusing or putting off the COVID-19 vaccine as frustrated commanders scramble to knock down internet rumors and find the right pitch that will persuade troops to get the shot. Some Army units are seeing as few as one-third agree to the…

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By CHRISTINE FERNANDO CHICAGO (AP) — Several historically Black colleges and universities will receive more than $650,000 in grants to preserve their campuses as part of a new initiative announced Tuesday. The funding for the HBCUs comes as leaders of the colleges and universities continue to advocate for additional funding nearly a year into the…

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ABOVE PHOTO: PA State Capitol Building By Marc Levy ASSOCIATED PRESS  HARRISBURG, Pa. — Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation approved last Friday by lawmakers that carries over $900 million in pandemic-driven aid for hard-hit hospitality businesses, private schools and people struggling to pay rent or utility bills in Pennsylvania. This time around, landlords and advocates…

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ABOVE PHOTO: Pa. State Rep.Darisha Parker and Pa. State Rep.Stephen Kinsey (Photos: Pa.House) HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus recently commended the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services on its first Equity Report, according to PLBC chairwoman, State Rep. Donna Bullock (D-195th Dist.). “The report hits many points that we on the PLBC fight…

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By Nana Ama Addo In 2017, the Pew Charitable Trusts reported that almost 400,000 Philadelphians, who make up about 26% of the city’s population, lived below the poverty line. In 2019, Pew Trusts revisited Philly’s poverty issue and found that unfortunately, not much had changed. As communities in Philadelphia and around the world struggle for…

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