HARRISBURG, Pa.—Gov. Tom Corbett's top aide is leaving his job as the first-term Republican battles criticism from opponents over his cost-cutting agenda and from allies over his ability to forge policy and broadcast a persuasive and strong public message. Corbett made no mention of pressure when he announced Thursday that he is nominating his chief of staff and longtime friend William Ward to fill a vacant seat on the Allegheny County Common Pleas Court after 16 months in Harrisburg with Corbett. The governor held a brief meeting with Ward and other senior staff members Thursday afternoon to announce the change and declined to comment afterward. Spokesman Kevin Harley said Corbett is "a very independent-minded man" who is not bending to pressure to make a change. ... Continue reading →

Harrisburg financial overseer expected to be fired By MARC LEVY HARRISBURG, Pa. The former financial custodian for Pennsylvania's cash-strapped capital on Thursday said he abruptly resigned in part to avoid being fired, and he told a packed courtroom that solving the city's massive debt as a financial problem, and not a political problem, will take the state's most powerful politicians. David Unkovic's testimony was allowed by Commonwealth Court Judge Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter to clear up "speculation, gossip and rumors" that followed his March 30 exit in a handwritten letter to her, she said. The hearing before Leadbetter was designed to take testimony on whether a retired Air Force general nominated by Gov. Tom Corbett will be Unkovic's successor as the leader of an unprecedented state ... Continue reading →

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Grammy-winning folk musician Doc Watson was in critical condition Thursday at a North Carolina hospital after falling at his home in Deep Gap earlier this week. Watson's daughter, Nancy, told The Associated Press that the 89-year-old Watson fell Monday at his home. She said he didn't break any bones but that he was "real sick." A spokeswoman at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem said Arthel Watson - Arthel is his legal first name - was in critical condition Thursday. The blind singer and guitarist has won several Grammys, including a lifetime achievement award. He also received the National Medal of the Arts. Watson also received the North Carolina Award, the state's highest civilian award, in 1986. He and his family received a ... Continue reading →

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HARRISBURG, Pa. - The former financial custodian for Pennsylvania's cash-strapped capital on Thursday said he abruptly resigned in part to avoid being fired, and he told a packed courtroom that solving the city's massive debt as a financial problem, and not a political problem, will take the state's most powerful politicians.David Unkovic's testimony was allowed by Commonwealth Court Judge Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter to clear up "speculation, gossip and rumors" that followed his March 30 exit in a handwritten letter to her, she said.The hearing before Leadbetter was designed to take testimony on whether a retired Air Force general nominated by Gov. Tom Corbett will be Unkovic's successor as the leader of an unprecedented state takeover of one of its cities.But Unkovic's testimony was greatly anticipated, ... Continue reading →

HARRISBURG - He is being picketed almost daily by demonstrators in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh - a tin man without a heart, they call him. His Facebook page teems with complaints from angry Pennsylvanians. And his poll numbers have started to sag. Enough, say top political advisers, supporters, and fund-raisers to Gov. Corbett. Though they have anxiously watched for months as Corbett has fielded political hits on everything from policy to personality, they are now encouraging the governor to shake things up in hopes of shaking off what they think is turning into a growing image problem. Next week, according to four sources speaking on condition of anonymity, a small circle of heavyweights in the Republican Party, known as the governor's "kitchen cabinet," will be quietly ... Continue reading →

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Gov. Tom Corbett's top aide apparently is leaving the job as the first-term Republican battles criticism over his cost-cutting agenda and his ability to wage political battles.Two people told The Associated Press that they each were told by separate senior administration officials that chief of staff Bill Ward is leaving the job.The people spoke on condition of anonymity because they did not want to be named divulging private conversations on a sensitive topic.It was not clear whether Ward wanted to leave the job, or whether he was being forced out.One of the people said Ward will be replaced by Corbett's chief counsel, Stephen Aichele, the former chairman of the Saul Ewing law firm and husband of Corbett's secretary of state.Ward, a former ... Continue reading →

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Thousands of demonstrators statewide took to the streets Wednesday to protest education cuts they say have decimated school districts across Pennsylvania, and they called for lawmakers to reject further reductions Gov. Tom Corbett proposes for next year. A total of 25 people were arrested during massive demonstrations in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh as they blocked traffic downtown in both cities, police said. Hundreds more demonstrated at the Capitol in Harrisburg, and organizers said similar rallies were scheduled in cities including Doylestown, Hollidaysburg, Bethlehem, Hazleton, and Greensburg. "We're demanding that education funding be restored and that they take back this plan to privatize Philadelphia schools, stop threatening to lay off thousands of workers and instead sit down with parents, sit down with workers, sit ... Continue reading →

Wednesday, 23 May 2012 15:53 Written by Tim McNulty More bad news on Pennsylvania's questionable presidential battleground state status -- it was passed over today in the release of two new Obama campaign commercials. The president's reelection team began running two 30-second spots on Medicare and veterans issues in Ohio and other swing states (Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Iowa, Nevada and Virginia) but not Pa. It made another buy for its "Steel" attack ad too that passed over the state, but will air in across-the-border Pittsburgh-ish markets like Wheeling and Youngstown. Comments (0) Write comment You must be logged in to post a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet. Continue reading →