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Senate bill aims to address unconstitutional life sentences

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation creating a pathway for inmates to seek release from prison in the wake of a state Supreme Court ruling that found the state’s use of life sentences without possibility of parole for second-degree murder convictions was unconstitutional. Under Senate Bill 1400, inmates convicted of second-degree murder would be eligible for release after serving at least 35 years in prison. Those over age 70 who have served at least 20 years behind bars would be eligible for parole, as well. Individuals convicted of second-degree murder are typically ...

Residents call for Pa. data center moratorium

A large throng of residents from across the state who are fed up with the data center frenzy filled the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday with cheers and speeches of support for a proposed three-year moratorium on data center development. None of the speakers had kind words for Democratic Gov. Josh ...

Lawmakers seek to regulate chatbots

A House committee has set a vote next week for legislation requiring safety protocols for artificial intelligence companionship chatbots. Companionship apps create virtual environments where human users interact with virtual avatars that respond in a human manner. Rep. Melissa Shusterman, D-Montgomery, said that some companionship apps boast of having 20 million users a month, a reflection of the loneliness epidemic impacting as many as half of American adults. “Some users of the AI companion have described close friendships that have led to romantic interactions with their AI ...

Williamsburg house fire kills one

One person was killed in a house fire early Monday morning in Williamsburg. According to the Blair County Coroner’s Office, Tyler Gearhart, 38, Williamsburg, was pronounced dead at the scene. Gearhart was found in a second story bedroom by firefighters, said Williamsburg Volunteer Fire ...

Spring Cove School Board raises taxes

The Spring Cove school board voted to raise taxes to help offset a budget deficit and approved the district’s business manager to act as superintendent while the district searches to replace soon-to-retire Superintendent Betsy Baker. During Monday’s meeting, the board voted 6-3 to adopt a ...

Motorists cautioned ahead of Big Boy visit

The presence of the Union Pacific’s Big Boy steam locomotive in the region between July 8-11 is generating a carload of warnings from authorities — like a mother admonishing a little boy whom she knows is about to be tempted to misbehave. The latest such warnings came in a news release ...