HARRISBURG, Pa. — The resignation of a Republican lawmaker in the previously deadlocked Pennsylvania House of Representatives has put the balance of power back to Democrats, ahead of a special election next week for another vacant position.
Pennsylvania
Republican's resignation shifts power back to Democrats in Pennsylvania House ahead of election
“It has been an honor to serve you, the citizens of Pike and Wayne counties, in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives,” he said in a prepared statement. “Taking care of my family, understandably, must now be my priority. I will continue to work locally to help our community, its organizations, businesses and people.”
The freshman lawmaker’s resignation leaves the state House at a 101-100 Democratic majority. A Democrat’s resignation last year had the House deadlocked at 101-101, and a special election next week will fill that vacancy. Republicans control the state Senate, while Gov. Josh Shapiro is a Democrat.
Adams’ seat represents Pike and Wayne counties, in the northeastern part of the state. He won election in 2022 with about 63% of the vote over his Democratic challenger. Republicans have edged out their Democratic opponents in recent elections, with former President Donald Trump winning the area in 2020.
The resignation queues up another special election for the chamber, which will be scheduled as early as two months from now. Three special elections in the past year have determined party control of the chamber.
Next week’s special election in Bucks County, for a seat that has historically favored Democrats, will now either strengthen Democrats’ hold, or return the chamber to a deadlock until the election for Adams’ seat.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Speaker of the House said information about the election would be forthcoming.
Pennsylvania
Restaurant inspections from Pike County, May 4-17
Food safety tips and tools for cooking at home
Time and temperature are the most important factors to keep in mind when it comes to food safety.
Problem Solved
These establishments in Pike County were inspected between May 4 and 17, according to Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture records.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture provides this disclosure: “Please remember that any inspection is a ‘snapshot’ of the day and time of the inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term cleanliness of an establishment. Also, at the time of the inspection, violations are recorded but are often corrected on site prior to the inspector leaving the establishment.”
Out of compliance
Dutch’s Market: 1564 Route 507, Greentown
Inspected May 4. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 3
Inspector determined the person in charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of food safety.
Inspector observed papers and debris on the ground in front of the dumpster and odor was noted.
Inspector also observed numerous rodent droppings on the warehouse shelves and on boxes, a gnawed bag of cat food on a shelf, gnawed bags of bird seed and rabbit food on retail shelves, product spills covering shelves, rodent droppings on shelves and odor noted, two mouse carcasses on glue boards at the back of the shelves, and gnawed food packages of food (owner discarding packaged food items that have been gnawed and on shelves with rodent droppings, and called the pest control service, which arrived during inspection).
The location was in compliance with one violation at a follow-up inspection on May 13. Inspector observed several rodent droppings on a retail shelf (cleaned).
Bubba Jay’s Smashburgers: 1831 Route Route 739, Dingmans Ferry
Inspected May 12. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 7
Inspector determined the person in charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of food safety.
Inspector observed refrigerated time/temperature control for safety food held for more than 24 hours was not being marked with the date it was opened; ice buildup on the wall and floor below the condenser in the walk-in freezer and ice blocking the walk-in freezer door, preventing the door from sealing closed; eggs are served raw or undercooked to the customer’s request, but a written consumer advisory was not provided to the consumer; no available QAC sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration; two drain stoppers were missing for the equipment sinks; and owner had removed the low-temperature dishwasher from the facility.
Turkey Hill Minit Market: 912 Pennsylvania Ave., Matamoras
Inspected May 13. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 2
Inspector determined the person in charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of food safety.
Inspector observed numerous burrows in the ground behind the facility and openings chewed in the concrete of the building along the perimeter, large rodent droppings in the dumpster area and several bait boxes placed outside the facility along the fence.
In compliance
Village Diner: 268 Route 6/209, Milford
Inspected May 5. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 1
Inspector observed facility had an employee who has taken a food safety training program, but the program was not an ANSI/CFP accredited certified food manager program.
Peking Garden: 111 Hulst Drive, Suite 711, Matamoras
Inspected May 5. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 1
Inspector observed signs in the restroom stating not to place used toilet paper in the toilet but to place it in the waste receptacle, even though the toilet was operational (owner removed the signs).
Jersey Mike’s: 102 Milford Landing Drive, Suite 7, Milford
Inspected May 5. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 2
Inspector observed old food residue and liquid on the runners of the deli case at the counter and old food residue on the shelf below the rack in the deli case (runners and deli case were cleaned); and no reminder posted at the handwash sink in the side restroom for food employees to wash their hands (sign was posted).
Panda Garden: 123 Village Center Drive, Suite 4, Lords Valley
Inspected May 6. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 3
Inspector observed old food residue on the doors and door handles on the freezers and handles were sticky (cleaned) and old food residue on the interior surface of the lid on the rice cooker and handle was sticky (cleaned); trays on rack and chopper in the back prep area had food residue (cleaned and sanitized); and old food residue on the floor in the walk-in cooler under and between the mats and under the shelves.
Maskenozha Rod and Gun Club: 5345 RR5 Minks Pond Road, Bushkill
Inspected May 8. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 1
Inspector observed facility had an employee who has taken a food safety training program, but the program was not an ANSI/CFP accredited certified food manager program.
ShopRite: 111 Hulst Drive, Suite 724, Matamoras
Inspected May 11. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 3
Inspector observed rotisserie chicken held at 127 degrees, rather than 135 or above as required (discarded); thermometer for ensuring proper temperature of equipment was not available in a refrigerator behind the deli counter (corrected); and old food residue accumulating in the front vent on a case in the produce area.
Silver Lake Tavern: 228 Silver Lake Road, Dingmans Ferry
Inspected May 12. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 2
Inspector observed raw eggs stored on top of cheese, deli meat, sauce, etc. in a plastic container in the walk-in cooler (eggs were moved to bottom shelf); and drain stopper missing for equipment sink bay.
Pickerel Inn: 1524 Route 402, Dingmans Ferry
Inspected May 12. Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Violations: 3
Inspector observed toilet room did not have a self-closing door; the handwash sink at the self-service counter did not have single-use towels, continuous towels, or an air-drying device (paper towels were placed at the sink); and no reminder posted at the handwash sink at the self-service counter for food employees to wash their hands (sign was provided).
Zero violations
Ringside Bar & Grill: 344 Route 507, Tafton; May 5; Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Follow-up inspection after being out of compliance with seven violations on April 27.
Brother Bruno’s Pizza: 123 Village Center Drive, Hawley; May 5; Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Follow-up inspection after being out of compliance with five violations on April 27.
Tony’s Restaurant & Pizzeria: 1549 Route 507, Greentown; May 6; Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Follow-up inspection after being out of compliance with 11 violations on April 24.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania man cuts pickleball nets at parks after injury
A man in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, is accused of vandalizing several pickleball courts after suffering an injury that “ruined” his summer, police said.
Saif Kaleem of Tannersville is facing charges of criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and trespassing after the vandalism at TLC and Mountain View parks, the Pocono Township Police Department said in a news release over the weekend.
Authorities said Kaleem was captured on video cutting a net at TLC Park on May 12 before leaving the scene in a white Hyundai Tucson. On May 14, police said the same vehicle was spotted on video entering Mountain View Park after it closed. He got out of the vehicle and went to the pickleball court, police said in the news release. A snapshot of the video obtained by police showed Kaleem using crutches to get around.
“Pocono Township Community members informed the PTPD that the pictured male had been seen at TLC Park on multiple occasion prior to the incident,” police’s news release said.
Kaleem, according to police, matched the description of the person in the video footage, and investigators went to his home to interview him. Police said he admitted to suffering “a recent pickleball injury” at Mountain View Park. The exact injury was not released by law enforcement.
The 31-year-old man then allegedly confessed to cutting the pickleball net at TLC Park and three pickleball nets at Mountain View Park, as well as the tennis court net at Mountain View Park, due to his “summer being ruined.”
Pennsylvania
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