Northeast

Pennsylvania bill would recognize pets as family members in divorce cases

Published

3 weeks ago

December 23, 2025

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Pennsylvania bill would recognize pets as family members in divorce cases

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A Pennsylvania bill would recognize pets as family members, elevating their status in situations such as divorce.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives recently passed House Bill 97, which would elevate the legal status of pets as “living beings that are generally regarded as cherished family members that offer their owners companionship, security and assistance,” if signed into law.

The bill would create an official definition of a companion animal, elevating its status in divorce proceedings.

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A sad little girl is hugging a dog while her parents are arguing in the background. (Getty Images)

“Companion animals occupy a special category of personal property which does not include inanimate personal property. Therefore, it is the policy of the Commonwealth that special consideration be extended to companion animals when the division of personal property is planned or determined,” the legislation continues.

The bill outlines new rules for shared schedules, custody arrangements and the division of costs associated with the pet.

It also directs judges to consider factors similar to child custody cases, such as who provides daily care for the pet, who takes the pet to the vet and who has greater financial ability to care for the pet.

The legislation was sponsored by state Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik, D-Pa., who represents Pennsylvania’s 45th District.

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The bill directs judges to consider factors similar to child custody situations, such as who provides daily care for the pet, who takes the pet to the vet, who has greater financial ability to care for the pet and so forth. (iStock)

In a September Facebook post, Kulik wrote, “For many years, I practiced Family Law. During that time, I realized that one of the main points of contention for divorcing couples was custody of their pets. For many of us, our furry friends are not merely ‘pets’ — they are an important part of our family.”

Kulik added, “I am pleased that my bill, House Bill 97, was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives, and I thank those of my colleagues that voted in favor of this legislation! I also want to thank the advocacy groups that supported this measure, for their efforts.”

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The bill proposes new rules for shared schedules, custody arrangements and the division of costs associated with the pet. (iStock)

The bill is currently under consideration in the Pennsylvania Senate.

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State Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Rachel del Guidice is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to rachel.delguidice@fox.com.

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Pittsburg, PA

Nearly a Century Old, This Sears House Kit Home in Fineview is Still Fine | Pittsburgh Magazine

Published

16 minutes ago

January 11, 2026

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Nearly a Century Old, This Sears House Kit Home in Fineview is Still Fine | Pittsburgh Magazine

Built in 1928, the hillside home is packed with original millwork, charming details and loads of storage.

PHOTOS BY DONNELLY MEDIA, LLC

When Alena Taylor Keefe was in elementary school, her family moved to 2035 Biggs Ave. in Pittsburgh’s Fineview neighborhood.

The year was 1975, and she recalls being delighted with the Craftsman-style home built from a Sears housing kit that her family would call theirs for the next 50 years.

“It’s a place that you can call home,” she says. “Some places you can’t really say that about, but it’s just such a great family home.”

33 Biggs 32

Built in 1928, the house has three bedrooms and one bathroom packed into 1,500 square feet.

“I grump about the fact that there’s only one bathroom and the kitchen is small because I love to cook, but I still made it work for many family suppers,” Keefe says. “We hosted holiday dinners where we extended the dining table into the living room to accommodate everybody. It was just home.”

03 Kitchen

The first floor of the home has that small, yet functional kitchen, a nicely sized dining room and a large living room that spans the front of the home. Keefe warmly recalls coming down the front staircase on Christmas mornings and posing in formal dresses beside the steps before school dances. She says her family also enjoyed the long front porch that runs along the living room.

“My dad would come out and read the newspaper, and I’d be on the swing with my mom while she worked on her crochet,” she says.

On the second floor, three equally sized bedrooms share a hallway bathroom with double sinks. A set of pull-down stairs leads to ample storage under the eaves.

07 Dining

Now in their 80s, Keefe’s parents have moved to a maintenance-free home near Keefe’s current home in Beaver County, so they can continue to enjoy family dinners together, but without the responsibility of home ownership.

While Keefe is wistful about selling the home her parents carefully loved for half a century, she is certain a new buyer will recognize its charm and value.

“So much has never been touched,” she says. “There is original woodwork, an original fireplace that still has a coal chute to the outside and a lovely built-in China cabinet in the dining room.”

18 Bedroom 1

Keefe also touts the home’s plentiful storage; there’s a clean, dry basement, attic storage and a detached two-car garage with a lower level could be space for a workshop, studio or general storage.

Keefe notes the roof was replaced in the last decade; there also were updates to the HVAC, including adding air conditioning, and the family replaced the upstairs flooring in preparation to sell the carefully maintained home.

30 Rear Yard

The house is now listed by Brian Larson of Howard Hanna for $245,000. He says it checks all the right boxes for a first-time homebuyer — or anyone shopping for a clean, well-maintained home.

“This is a home that has clearly been loved and lived in with care,” says Larson. “Over the years, attention has been given to maintaining and improving the property in a way that supports comfortable, everyday living. While no home of this era is ever ‘finished,’ per se, the overall condition reflects consistent stewardship rather than deferred maintenance.”

34 Neighborhood 1 With Pin

Larson says buyers should not have issues with financing for this home, including loans through the Federal Housing Administration or other specialized lending programs. Priced right around the city’s median home price, Larson encourages shoppers to check it out.

“Many first-time buyer programs are available that may offer down payment assistance and competitive interest rates, helping make homeownership more attainable for qualified buyers,” he says.

Larson adds that he loves the sun-soaked room that runs along the front of the home, as well as the wide front porch and the property’s proximity to Fineview Park.

“Fineview is also known as one of the best vantage points in the city for fireworks and skyline views,” he adds. “With convenient bus access and an easy commute to Downtown, the neighborhood offers a unique blend of tranquility, accessibility and city connection.”

25 Front Porch View

Keefe says that while the neighbors have changed over the course of 50 years, her family has always been thankful for the close-knit Fineview community.

“There are some chickens running loose, but everybody up there is so kind,” she says with a laugh. “The mailman lives up on the corner; everybody knows everybody. It’s just so nice.”

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Connecticut

Connecticut’s Murphy: Greenland Is a Distraction

Published

1 hour ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Connecticut’s Murphy: Greenland Is a Distraction

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy said Sunday that if President Trump acts on his desire to “annex Greenland,” that would end the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He also suggested the whole Greenland issue was an unnecessary distraction.

“It would be the end of NATO,” the Democrat told NBC’s Meet the Press. “NATO would have an obligation to defend Greenland.” That, he suggested, would pit the U.S. against its NATO peers.

Murphy said the larger issue is that the president is “spending every single day thinking about invading Greenland, managing the Venezuelan economy, building a ballroom.” That takes time away from addressing healthcare and affordability issues, he said.

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Maine

NYC mayor and Ms. Rachel team up – and share a Maine connection

Published

3 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

NYC mayor and Ms. Rachel team up – and share a Maine connection

In New York City, two notable figures with connections to Maine teamed up Friday for a performance of a time-tested tune: “Wheels on the Bus.”

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and sensational children’s educator Ms. Rachel sung the children’s nursery rhyme with a group of preschoolers at a Lower Manhattan pre-K as part of an announcement of free childcare for 2-year-olds in New York City.

In addition to a commitment to expanding accessible childcare, both Mamdani and Ms. Rachel, whose full name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, hold ties to the state of Maine.

On YouTube, Accurso, 43, shares widely beloved educational videos for toddlers. Her channel has over 18 million subscribers and more than 14 billion views, with some episodes streaming on Netflix as well.
Accurso grew up in the Springvale area of Sanford and graduated from Sanford High School. Her singing career began in the Portland area before she moved to New York City. Accurso also served on Mamdani’s inaugural committee.
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An advocate for children everywhere, her outspoken concern for Palestinian children in Gaza has garnered her both praise and criticism this past year.
Mamdani’s connection to Maine anchors in Brunswick, where he attended Bowdoin College. At the small liberal arts college, from which he graduated in 2014, he majored in Africana studies, was involved in the student newspaper and co-founded the college’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine.

While Accurso is much more experienced in entertaining children than the new mayor, she shared how Mamdani, 34, rose to the occasion on Friday.
She wrote on Instagram how the night before they sang, she sent Mamdani’s team a video of “Wheels on the Bus” in case he wanted to rehearse it, expecting the mayor to be too busy. But his team immediately wrote back saying he wanted to practice the song, she said.
“He showed up and nailed the song and choreo,” Accurso wrote. “You can tell he really cares about the children.”
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Mamdani and Accurso also led a rendition of “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” followed by a discussion with the children about their feelings. Mamdani said he was feeling happy because of universal childcare for all 2-year-olds in the city.
The duo’s appearance at the pre-K followed the announcement on Thursday – Mamdani’s eighth day in office – that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul will partner with Mamdani to deliver free childcare for two-year-olds in New York City starting in September, as well as strengthening the existing 3K program. The state committed to funding the program for two years, according to the city’s website, and the program will impact nearly 100,000 children.