Robert Swift
The Citizens' Voice
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Past articles by Robert:
Hundreds of applicants interested in state’s 39 permits to dispense medicinal marijuana
Avoca native Mary Pat Julias wants to open medical marijuana dispensaries in Mayfield and Wilkes-Barre as part of a larger ambition: to offer a holistic approach to helping people become healthy and lead productive lives. Julias is among hundreds of appli → Read More
Nuclear energy caucus forms in challenging times
HARRISBURG — A group of state lawmakers formed the Nuclear Energy Caucus last week as part of an effort to keep nuclear power part of Pennsylvania’s mix of energy sources. Sen. John Yudichak, D-14, Plymouth Twp., ranking Democrat on the Senate Environment → Read More
NEPA municipalities weigh state police fee
Municipalities across Northeastern Pennsylvania would pay $4.79 million annually for state police coverage if a proposal by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf wins legislative approval. The governor’s proposal to charge a $25 per person, or per capita, fee for muni → Read More
State budget hearing sparks debate on helping cities
HARRISBURG — The Wolf administration wants to target state grants to help struggling cities rather than use two state programs offering tax breaks to spur revival in designated economic zones, a cabinet secretary said Monday. Dennis Davin, secretary of th → Read More
Corrections overtime in limelight
HARRISBURG — The high overtime costs at the state Corrections Department were in the limelight last week due to a combination of events. The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee released a long-awaited report on the link between staff shortages and ov → Read More
Northwest Area officials tell lawmakers about difficulties caused by budget impasse
HARRISBURG — Northwest Area School District faces the hard choice of borrowing money or closing schools at the end of January if lawmakers don’t pass a state budget or stopgap budget soon, officials said during a Harrisburg visit Tuesday. The rural district in Luzerne County will face a decision in mid-January on voting to borrow $1.5 million or close schools at month’s end if a six-month budget… → Read More
Bills address budget standoffs
HARRISBURG — The state budget debacle has produced an assortment of bills designed to prevent future stalemates or mitigate the impact if one occurs again. These bills face the same challenge as legislation introduced periodically to revamp the process for redrawing state legislative districts every decade. The budget woes are fresh in the public mind now as school districts borrow money to stay… → Read More
Senate sets Kane hearing date
HARRISBURG — Embattled state Attorney General Kathleen Kane faces a Jan. 12 public hearing to explain why she shouldn’t be removed from office under a resolution approved Wednesday by the Senate. The chamber voted unanimously to proceed with considering whether to remove Kane from her elected office under an obscure state constitutional provision because her law license has been suspended. The… → Read More
Senate sets Kane hearing date
HARRISBURG — Embattled state Attorney General Kathleen Kane faces a Jan. 12 public hearing to explain why she shouldn’t be removed from office under a resolution approved Wednesday by the Senate. The chamber voted unanimously to proceed with considering whether to remove Kane from her elected office under an obscure state constitutional provision because her law license has been suspended. The… → Read More
State budget stalemate costs yet to be addressed
HARRISBURG — Northeastern Pennsylvania nonprofits face hundreds of thousands of dollars in loan interest payments as the state budget stalemate goes into its six month. “The hole keeps on getting deeper and deeper,” said Gary Drapek, executive director of United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties on Tuesday. Nonprofits providing social services took out loans to keep operating in the absence… → Read More