Police Send Helicopter to Disperse Drunk College Students
When the ground strategy failed, police turned to the air.
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Cops Arrested for Detaining a Man Without Cause
An investigation concluded that there was no way the officers could have seen a man using drugs as they said they did.
Pennsylvania Lawmakers Want to Lift the Statute of Limitations Amid the Catholic Priest Sex Abuse Report
The bill was passed unanimously by the state Senate, but has remained in the House since February 2017.
Officer Admitted He 'Fucked Up' After Fatally Shooting an Unarmed Man
Jonathan Roselle had only been on the police force for about six months before the fatal shooting.
When a Baby's Accidental Drug Death Leads to a $3 Million Bail Order, It's Time to Ask Questions
Is a mom who passed drugs along to her infant via breastfeeding a real community threat?
A Pennsylvania Town Wants to Force an Amish Widow to Give Up Her Outhouse
A Pennsylvania town is trying to force an Amish widow to ignore her religious beliefs in the name of public utilities.
Police Kill Man with Bulldozer over 10 Marijuana Plants
Drug war absurdity meets police recklessness.
Man Sues Police Department After Video of His Tasing Goes Viral
Sean Williams is suing the Lancaster Police Department after he says a tasing violated the Fourth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments.
Pennsylvania Officer Tases Suspect in the Back Because He Didn't Cross His Ankles Quickly Enough
"Oh come on, bruh. You're really going to tase him? He was sitting down. That's crazy. That's why I record everything."
Pennsylvania's Libertarian Senate Candidate: 'Abolish ICE'
"There's no constitutional authority for [ICE]," says Dale Kerns. "There's really no need for them, either."
Pennsylvania's Governor Calls for Abolishing 13 Occupational Licenses
Does Pennsylvania need to license barbers? How about "campsite membership salespersons"? Gov. Tom Wolf says no.
Penn State's 98-Year-Old Outing Club Is No Longer Allowed to Go Outside
"Student safety in any activity is our primary focus."
If Republicans Are Doomed in 2018, It's Not Because Some Gerrymandered Districts Got Redrawn
If Republicans get crushed in November, it will be because they tied themselves to an unpopular president and abandoned promises to cut spending.
Dentist Threatens to Report Parents for Neglect Unless They Bring in Their Kids (and Wallets)
Mandatory abuse reporting requirements lead to a novel marketing scheme.
Gerrymandering Is Out of Control
Computers could be the key to resolving partisan fights over congressional boundaries.
Libertarian Plays Spoiler in Close Pennsylvania Special Election
Democrat Conor Lamb declared victory this morning, but he leads Republican Rick Saccone by just 500 votes. Libertarian Drew Miller got more than 1,300.
Pittsburgh Still Won't Let Anyone See Its Amazon Bid
City officials' excuses are getting more and more ridiculous.
Pennsylvania's New Congressional Districts Are More Compact. But They're Still Just as Partisan.
The state Supreme Court did away with a Republican gerrymander and tilted the new map toward Democrats. That should be worrying.
Pennsylvania's Redistricting Crisis Deepens as SCOTUS Takes Hard Pass on Getting Involved
The SCOTUS won't get involved in a dispute over Pennsylvania's congressional district lines. Could an algorithm succeed where lawmakers and judges have failed?
ACLU Sues Pennsylvania For Putting Death Row Inmates in Permanent Solitary Confinement
"This is a profoundly damaging practice. It destroys people."
Pittsburgh Tried to Hide Its Amazon Proposal by Claiming It Was a 'Trade Secret'
What trade would that be, exactly?
Pennsylvania's Gerrymandered Districts Were Bad. Will Tossing Them Be Even Worse?
The GOP-drawn districts are some of the worst gerrymandering in the country. But the state Supreme Court waded into ugly partisan politics by killing them.
To Help Opioid Users, Pennsylvania Tries Deregulating
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has announced a slew of regulatory waivers that could expand access to life-saving treatment.
Pennsylvania Couple Sues Drug Warriors Who Thought Hibiscus Was Marijuana
Oblivious to the big, bright flowers, the cops who raided Edward and Audrey Cramer's home insisted they were growing pot.
Pennsylvania Wants to Get Drunk on Debt
Gov. Tom Wolf's plan to borrow $1.2 billion against future state-run liquor store profits is fiscally risky and legally questionable.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Recognizes Sex Offender Registration As Punitive
The court says retroactive application of the requirements violates the constitutional ban on ex post facto laws.
This Poconos Property Manager Helped My Family Keep Our Vacation Home—Until Pennsylvania Shut Her Down
Licensing laws are putting 61-year-old Sally Ladd out of work. Together, we're suing.
Pennsylvania's Top Court Says Police Videos Are Public, But Lawmakers Are Already Removing Access
This win for government transparency appears to have an expiration date.
Pennsylvania Assembly Calls For Annual Audits of Everything Cops Seize
Tepid asset forfeiture reforms don't include conviction before they can take your valuables.
Pennsylvania's Pension Reforms Aren't Perfect, But They're Pretty Good
State still owes over $70 billion to current workers and retirees, but moving future hires to 401(k)-style retirement plans will save taxpayers in the long run.
Court to Grandma: You Shouldn't Lose Your House Just Because Your Dumb Son Sold Some Weed There
A 72-year-old grandma's house was seized by police over $140 of pot. Not so fast, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court says.
In Pennsylvania, Prohibition Is Finally Losing Its Grip
Keystone State alcohol regulations were among the strictest in the nation. Now the commonwealth is on the brink of fully liberalizing its liquor laws.
Pennsylvania House Passes Bill to Hide Cops' Names After Shootings
The legislature passed the same bill last year, but the governor vetoed it. If at first you don't succeed...
How Pennsylvania Taxpayers are Forced to Pay for Hollywood Hits Like Split (And Misses Like The Last Airbender)
M. Night Shyamalan has made millions off his sometimes-good, sometimes-bad movies, and millions more from taxpayers in Pennsylvania.
Pittsburgh Bans Conversion Therapy for Minors. Is It Professional Regulation or Censorship? (Or Both!)
There are consequences for telling professionals what they're legally permitted to talk about.
Bouncy Houses and American Idol: How Local Governments in Pennsylvania Blew Drilling Tax Revenue
The money is supposed to offset environmental consequences of natural gas drilling, but some localities used it as a slush fund for pet projects and parties.
