Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro calls for legalization of recreational marijuana
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is calling for the legalization of recreational marijuana, but not everyone is on board with the idea.
The Commonwealth’s neighboring states, except for West Virginia, have legalized cannabis.
During his budget address, Governor Shapiro shared details of how he wants to blaze a new trail in Pennsylvania.
“It’s time to catch up. I ask you to come together and send a bill to my desk a bill that legalizes marijuana,” Governor Shapiro said.
The governor told KDKA-TV that legalizing cannabis would bring in $250 million in tax revenue each year.
Some groups want to see this idea go up in smoke. The Pennsylvania Family Institute’s director of communications, Dan Bartkowiak, said there’s a lot of talk of projected revenue, but no one’s talking about the variety of costs and expenses that would come with legalizing recreational marijuana or recognizing how it could harm families.
“We have a medical program right now in Pennsylvania so folks can access marijuana in a legal way. Yet when it comes to recreational use, this is commercialization, this is high potency, 99 percent THC being advertised, marketed, increasing its accessibility and that leads to harm,” Bartkowiak said.
The Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition commends the governor for joining others who believe the legalization of adult-use marijuana would create budding opportunities and deliver more than just revenue.
The organization sent a statement to KDKA-TV that said, in part, “Governor Shapiro’s leadership on this issue will deliver more than just revenue to the commonwealth. The establishment of a well-regulated adult-use cannabis market built on the experience and infrastructure of the current medical marijuana program will add thousands of jobs, reap millions of dollars in investments for Pennsylvania, and stop the revenue bleed to neighboring adult-use states.”
Bartkowiak believes the stakes are just too high, especially for young people. He’s worried teen marijuana use would rise.
“It’s an entirely different thing to say we want to force your community to have pot shops selling 99 percent THC and flavored vapes and all these types of products that appeal to children, advertise and market that and have the state encourage more addictive use of that because they are going to make a profit off of it,” Bartkowiak said.
During the budget address, Governor Shapiro also asked for legislative relief for those ever convicted of marijuana use.
“Oftentimes we think of this, we don’t want to throw someone in jail for a small amount of marijuana,” Bartkowiak said.
The Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition also told KDKA-TV, “Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition looks forward to working with the Shapiro administration, key advocates in the Pennsylvania legislature, and stakeholders to craft a regulatory system that legalizes the sale of recreational cannabis through a well-regulated system that assures safe products for adult consumers, reduces the impact of the illicit market, rights the wrongs of cannabis prohibition and allows the commonwealth to quickly experience revenue.”
Senate President Kim Ward told KDKA-TV that the Republican-controlled State Senate is a long way from approving legalization. Ward suggests it took years to pass medical marijuana and the issue of expanding cannabis use is not something you can make happen right away.
Pennsylvania
Demolition set for historic Altoona homes damaged by fire
ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — More than eight months after a fire heavily damaged a row of historic homes along Fifth Avenue’s Knickerbocker Row, Altoona city officials have set a date for demolition work to begin.
According to City Manager Christopher McGuire, the Oct. 2, 2025 fire caused significant damage to the center building and spread to the neighboring homes, raising concerns about the stability of the entire row.
“The amount of fire that damaged the middle building and spread to the adjacent buildings on each side, we’re seriously worried about the structural integrity being compromised,” McGuire said.
To ensure the demolition is completed safely, the city has brought in structural engineers to determine the best method for removing the damaged structure while minimizing the risk to surrounding buildings.
“We want to make sure that this is done in a very controlled manner. The last thing that we want to see is more historic buildings damaged. And then if there is the ability to preserve the end unit that did suffer some fire damage, if that can be saved in the process,” McGuire said.
The demolition process has also been complicated by the ongoing fire investigation. Officials have not yet determined the fire’s point of origin, and the case remains open.
“Evidence has to be preserved, and the fire investigators need to get in, both from the insurance company and the city’s fire investigator,” McGuire said.
Property owners of the buildings adjacent to the center home were given the option to either repair or demolish their structures. At least one owner has elected to move forward with demolition.
Demolition work is scheduled to begin July 1.
Pennsylvania
Lancaster County woman charged after mother’s fatal fall, DA says
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — A central Pennsylvania woman was charged Thursday after allegedly pushing her mother, causing her to fatally fall down a flight of stairs, according to the district attorney’s office.
The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office said an involuntary manslaughter and simple assault charge were filed against 34-year-old Elissa Waltman, of Lancaster.
Waltman and her mother, Eileen Flugrath, were arguing when Waltman allegedly pushed Flugrath into a wall. This caused Flugrath to fall down the stairs outside her home in the 100 block of Pickwick Place in Millersville Borough on April 5, the DA’s office said.
Flugrath was taken to the hospital after police arrived. Officers also found an indentation in the wall at the top of the stairs, which a witness said was not there before, according to the DA’s office.
After four days at the hospital, Flugrath died of head and neck injuries, and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the DA’s office.
Officials said Waltman first claimed Flugrath backed up and fell on her own, denying that she ever pushed her. But, officials say Waltman later allegedly admitted to pushing Flugrath.
The DA’s office noted there was a resident on the bottom floor who reported to police hearing a crash and then seeing Flugrath face down at the bottom of the stairs, while Waltman was at the top, cursing and right away claiming never to have touched Flugrath.
Court records show bail was denied for Waltman after she was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Joshua Keller. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 23.
Pennsylvania
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