Pennsylvania
DOJ's silence on background checks source of ongoing frustration for Pennsylvania nurses – Pennsylvania Capital-Star
“An acute frustration” is how Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt described his staff’s effort to work with federal officials to allow Pennsylvania nurses to use their licenses in other states.
Since September, nurses licensed in each of Pennsylvania’s neighboring states except New York have been able to work in Pennsylvania if they have obtained a multistate license in their home state.
And although Pennsylvania passed legislation in 2021 that would allow Pennsylvania licensed nurses to work in other states, a communication breakdown between the Department of State and the FBI remains a barrier to full reciprocity, Schmidt said during a House Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday.
Likewise, Pennsylvania’s participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which would allow Pennsylvania-licensed physicians to work in other states, has been in limbo since legislation authorizing Pennsylvania to join became law in 2016.
State Rep. Kristin Marcell (R-Bucks) said the partial implementation of the compact, combined with other licensing challenges, has hurt Pennsylvania nurses and nursing school graduates.
“The only thing worse than your department’s inability to get these licensure compacts implemented is partially implementing the compact to give all of the benefits to out-of-state nurses while leaving our Pennsylvania nurses at a disadvantage,” Marcell said.
Rep. Kyle Mullins (D-Lackawanna) said he wants to pass legislation that would provide recognition of dental and dental hygienist licenses across state lines, but that, like the other licensure compacts, would be held up by the impasse with the FBI.
The Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact is an agreement between 41 states and U.S. territories to recognize the licenses of nurses from other states.
In September, Pennsylvania partially implemented the compact to allow out-of-state nurses to work here in an effort to address a workforce shortage. But Schmidt said Tuesday that the FBI has not granted the Department of State access to its background check fingerprint database, which is necessary for Pennsylvania to fully implement the compact.
Schmidt said the partial implementation of the nursing compact was something that the National Council of State Boards of Nursing allowed Pennsylvania to do, but is not an alternative to fully implementing the compact.
When that could happen is up to the U.S. Department of Justice , Schmidt said
“Our ability to contact the people who are making the ultimate decision of whether we can implement the nursing compact or not is limited,” Schmidt said, adding that the department is required to go through the state police to contact the FBI regarding background checks.
Schmidt said the Department of State last heard from the FBI in November and has also asked members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation to contact the DOJ to hurry the process.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey’s office has been in touch with the FBI and the agency has not provided a timeline for approval, a spokesperson said. Casey’s office is looking into other solutions, the spokesperson added, without elaborating.
Noting that Schmidt had given a similarly uncertain assessment on implementing the interstate compacts during his first appearance before the Appropriations Committee in 2023, Marcell asked Schmidt whether she would be asking the same questions next year.
“I hope for your sake, ours, Pennsylvania’s, and its nurses that that will not be the case,” Schmidt said. “But I want to assure you the Department of State has done everything it can to possibly move that along. It has been, again, an acute frustration.”
Crews battle blaze on salvage barge in Delaware bay
Crews battled a blaze on a salvage barge in the Delaware Bay Tuesday morning. No injuries were reported. 3/10/26
Delaware, Pennsylvania, and federal agencies have been responding to a barge fire in the Delaware Bay.
The barge, which is carrying salvage metal, is being moved to shallow water so it can be secured, allowing on-scene responders to extinguish the fire and complete salvage operations, according to a March 10 statement from the Delaware Emergency Management Agency.
No injuries have been reported as of 1:15 p.m.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is on scene to perform air monitoring, the statement said.
Responding agencies include the Wilmington Fire Department, Good Will, Leipsic Volunteer, Bowers and South Bowers fire companies. Also there are Delaware State Police, DNREC, New Castle County Office of Emergency Management, Kent County Department of Public Safety, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay.
The Philadelphia Fire Department was enroute.
This is a developing story. Check back with delawareonline.com for more information.
Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania High School Girls Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (PIAA) – March 10, 2026
The 2026 Pennsylvania high school girls basketball state playoffs begin on Tuesday, March 10, with second-round games for all divisions.
High School On SI has brackets for every division in the PIAA high school girls basketball playoffs. The state championships begin on March 19th.
Pennsylvania High School Girls Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (PIAA) – March 10-11, 2026
CLASS 1A BRACKET (select to view bracket)
Second Round
New Covenant Christian vs. Delaware County Christian – 03/11
Philadelphia Montgomery Christian Academy vs. Benton – 03/11
Our Lady of Lourdes Regional vs. Motivation – 03/11
Linville Hill vs. Southern Fulton – 03/11
Williamsburg vs. Elk County Catholic – 03/11
Farrell vs. Bishop Carroll – 03/11
Clarion-Limestone vs. Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy – 03/11
Bishop Guilfoyle vs. Aquinas Academy – 03/11
CLASS 2A BRACKET (select to view bracket)
Second Round
Shalom Christian Academy vs. Southern Columbia Area – 03/10
Faith Christian vs. Mountain View – 03/10
Wyoming Seminary College Prep vs. Marian Catholic – 03/10
York Catholic vs. Berlin Brothersvalley – 03/10
Neshannock vs. Penns Manor – 03/10
Kennedy Catholic vs. Keystone – 03/10
Bishop McCort vs. Chartiers-Houston – 03/10
Winchester Thurston vs. Wilmington Area – 03/10
CLASS 3A BRACKET (select to view bracket)
Second Round
Imhotep Charter vs. Holy Redeemer – 03/10
Pequea Valley vs. Schuylkill Haven – 03/10
Hughesville vs. Notre Dame-Green Pond – 03/10
Dunmore vs. Executive Education Academy – 03/10
Trinity vs. Troy – 03/10
Northwestern vs. Greensburg Central Catholic – 03/10
Shady Side Academy vs. Beaver Falls – 03/10
Central Cambria vs. Karns City – 03/10
CLASS 4A BRACKET (select to view bracket)
Second Round
Susquehanna Township vs. Universal Audenried Charter School – 03/11
Scranton Prep vs. Allentown Central Catholic – 03/11
Central Columbia vs. Villa Joseph Marie – 03/11
Valley View vs. Neumann-Goretti – 03/11
Delone Catholic vs. Penn Cambria – 03/11
Slippery Rock vs. Oakland Catholic – 03/11
Belle Vernon vs. Blackhawk – 03/11
North Catholic vs. Harbor Creek – 03/11
CLASS 5A BRACKET (select to view bracket)
Second Round
Lampeter-Strasburg vs. Mt. St. Joseph Academy – 03/11
Marple Newtown vs. Crestwood – 03/11
Bethlehem Catholic vs. Villa Maria Academy – 03/11
North Pocono vs. Archbishop Wood – 03/11
York Suburban vs. TBD – 03/11
Peters Township vs. Manheim Central – 03/11
South Fayette vs. Penn-Trafford – 03/11
Baldwin vs. Indiana – 03/11
CLASS 6A BRACKET (select to view bracket)
Second Round
Upper Dublin vs. Perkiomen Valley – 03/10
Hazleton vs. Parkland – 03/10
Easton vs. Red Lion – 03/10
Downingtown West vs. Archbishop Carroll – 03/10
Wilson vs. Cardinal O’Hara – 03/10
Pennsbury vs. Altoona – 03/10
Dallastown vs. Emmaus – 03/10
Canon-McMillan vs. Taylor Allderdice – 03/10
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