Pileggi out as GOP leader in Pa. Senate

    • Today, the Nor-Lea apartments (left) and a former camera shop are on West Beaver Avenue at the same location. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

      Today, the Nor-Lea apartments (left) and a former camera shop are on West Beaver Avenue at the same location. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    • A group of workers build the former Bershire House on West Beaver Avenue in State College, Pa. circa 1916. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

      A group of workers build the former Bershire House on West Beaver Avenue in State College, Pa. circa 1916. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    • Brayden King, 4, lies on top of the Nittany Lion Shrine as his grandmother looks on. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

      Brayden King, 4, lies on top of the Nittany Lion Shrine as his grandmother looks on. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    • Sculptor Heinz Warneke at the base of the Nittany Lion Shrine. He created the sculpture out of Indiana limestone in 1942. The shrine was a gift from the class of 1940. (Image courtesy of the Penn State University Archives)

      Sculptor Heinz Warneke at the base of the Nittany Lion Shrine. He created the sculpture out of Indiana limestone in 1942. The shrine was a gift from the class of 1940. (Image courtesy of the Penn State University Archives)

    • Students exit The State Theater after a matinee show. The theater closed for five years and was reopened after renovations in 2006 as a community performance venue. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

      Students exit The State Theater after a matinee show. The theater closed for five years and was reopened after renovations in 2006 as a community performance venue. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    • Patrons wait in line for tickets at The State Theater. Warner Brothers opened the theater in 1938. The company tested four different films each week and charged 30 cents for a matinee, 35 cents for an evening feature. (Image courtesy of the Penn State University Archives)

      Patrons wait in line for tickets at The State Theater. Warner Brothers opened the theater in 1938. The company tested four different films each week and charged 30 cents for a matinee, 35 cents for an evening feature. (Image courtesy of the Penn State University Archives)

    • The local chapter of Sigma Nu on Burrows Street was founded in 1909. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

      The local chapter of Sigma Nu on Burrows Street was founded in 1909. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    • Sigma Nu fraternity house on Penn State Campus (Image courtesy of the Penn State University Archives)

      Sigma Nu fraternity house on Penn State Campus (Image courtesy of the Penn State University Archives)

    • Members of the Penn State Blue Band percussion section rehearse before an upcoming home game. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

      Members of the Penn State Blue Band percussion section rehearse before an upcoming home game. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    • Penn State’s Blue Band performs in 1949. (Image courtesy of the Penn State University Archives)

      Penn State’s Blue Band performs in 1949. (Image courtesy of the Penn State University Archives)

    • State College’s Schlow Centre Region Library on the corner of Beaver Avenue and Allen Street. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

      State College’s Schlow Centre Region Library on the corner of Beaver Avenue and Allen Street. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    • Debris of a building and tree shown on an empty lot at the intersection of Beaver Ave and Allen Street in downtown State College circa 1930. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

      Debris of a building and tree shown on an empty lot at the intersection of Beaver Ave and Allen Street in downtown State College circa 1930. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    • Today, the Berkey Creamery is located on the first floor of the Food Science Building. The Creamery still makes homemade ice cream as well as cheese, sour cream and frozen yogurt. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

      Today, the Berkey Creamery is located on the first floor of the Food Science Building. The Creamery still makes homemade ice cream as well as cheese, sour cream and frozen yogurt. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    • The State College Creamery seen in 1908. The Creamery’s ice cream short course first began in 1892. A quart of milk at the Creamery was sold for 5 cents. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

      The State College Creamery seen in 1908. The Creamery’s ice cream short course first began in 1892. A quart of milk at the Creamery was sold for 5 cents. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    • The Nittany Lion Inn was built in 1931 and is one of two hotels located on campus. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

      The Nittany Lion Inn was built in 1931 and is one of two hotels located on campus. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    • Front entrance to Nittany Lion Inn on Penn State campus. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

      Front entrance to Nittany Lion Inn on Penn State campus. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    • Senior Leah Eder from Lansdale, Pennsylvania poses for a graduation portrait in front of the Hintz Family Alumni Center as sophomore Brianna Basile from Macungie, Pa. takes her photo. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

      Senior Leah Eder from Lansdale, Pennsylvania poses for a graduation portrait in front of the Hintz Family Alumni Center as sophomore Brianna Basile from Macungie, Pa. takes her photo. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    • Miss Billy Cassin (left) and Clarea Tuttle walk near Penn State campus. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

      Miss Billy Cassin (left) and Clarea Tuttle walk near Penn State campus. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    • A sellout crowd wears mostly white, as part of a 'white-out' during a recent football game between Penn State and Ohio State at Beaver Stadium. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

      A sellout crowd wears mostly white, as part of a 'white-out' during a recent football game between Penn State and Ohio State at Beaver Stadium. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

    • Fans watch a pre-game ceremony honoring the 1909 football team before the first game played at Beaver Stadium in 1960. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

      Fans watch a pre-game ceremony honoring the 1909 football team before the first game played at Beaver Stadium in 1960. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    • A group of students play intramural flag football on a fall evening at Penn State University. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

      A group of students play intramural flag football on a fall evening at Penn State University. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    • Penn State football team circa 1900. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

      Penn State football team circa 1900. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    • Natalie DeSisto, a junior from Pittsburgh, studies general science at Saint’s Cafe on Beaver Avenue in downtown State College. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

      Natalie DeSisto, a junior from Pittsburgh, studies general science at Saint’s Cafe on Beaver Avenue in downtown State College. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    • An unidentified woman studies at the Grange Memorial Dormitory for Girls — now known as the Grange Building. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

      An unidentified woman studies at the Grange Memorial Dormitory for Girls — now known as the Grange Building. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    • Pedestrians cross in front of The Corner Room at the intersection of College Avenue and S. Allen Street steps away from Penn State campus. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

      Pedestrians cross in front of The Corner Room at the intersection of College Avenue and S. Allen Street steps away from Penn State campus. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    • A group gathers outside of The Nittany Inn, later known as Hotel State College in downtown State College, on the corner of College Avenue and S. Allen Street, circa 1912. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

      A group gathers outside of The Nittany Inn, later known as Hotel State College in downtown State College, on the corner of College Avenue and S. Allen Street, circa 1912. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    • Emily Flanigan (far left), a Junior studying mechanical engineering at Penn State, waits at a bus stop with other students on College Avenue. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

      Emily Flanigan (far left), a Junior studying mechanical engineering at Penn State, waits at a bus stop with other students on College Avenue. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    • Penn State coeds circa 1911. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

      Penn State coeds circa 1911. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    • Students enter Penn State campus near Old Main Lawn and College Avenue. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

      Students enter Penn State campus near Old Main Lawn and College Avenue. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    • One of the entrances to Penn State campus in the winter of 1912. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

      One of the entrances to Penn State campus in the winter of 1912. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    • In 1929, the original building was razed and replaced by Old Main which stands as an administrative building and campus landmark today. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

      In 1929, the original building was razed and replaced by Old Main which stands as an administrative building and campus landmark today. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    • A view of the original Old Main known as 'Main Building' at Penn State circa 1863-1894. Made of limestone, the building was designed and constructed around the 1850’s. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

      A view of the original Old Main known as 'Main Building' at Penn State circa 1863-1894. Made of limestone, the building was designed and constructed around the 1850’s. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    • Children play near Pugh Street and Beaver Avenue in State College, Pennsylvania with the original Old Main in the distance circa 1885. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

      Children play near Pugh Street and Beaver Avenue in State College, Pennsylvania with the original Old Main in the distance circa 1885. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    • Bird’s eye view of downtown State College, Pa. from near Pugh Street. The bell tower of Old Main (far left) peaks over the trees on Penn State campus. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

      Bird’s eye view of downtown State College, Pa. from near Pugh Street. The bell tower of Old Main (far left) peaks over the trees on Penn State campus. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    State Senate Republicans have a new majority leader for the first time in eight years.

    Sen. Jake Corman, R-Centre, will lead the 30-member caucus for the next two-year legislative session along with Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati of Jefferson County, who was re-elected to his post Wednesday.

    Corman ousted Sen. Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, who had been criticized for not advancing conservative policies, and who many say has clashed with Scarnati.

    “Everyone has an itch every now and then, and after eight years, I guess some people had an itch,” Corman said. “We move forward, but Sen. Pileggi will remain a very important part of this caucus.

    Corman couldn’t say Wednesday how the leadership change will affect the caucus, though he acknowledged that the Senate GOP doesn’t share any of the top priorities of Gov.-elect Tom Wolf.

    “We’re going to get together soon after the New Year and talk about how we want to move forward — what are the issues we want to move forward, how do we want to approach the issues,” Corman said. “How different we look will depend on the members going forward.”

    In the House, Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, will replace the retiring speaker, Rep. Sam Smith, R-Jefferson.

    Rep. Dave Reed, R-Indiana, will take Turzai’s place as majority leader, after besting Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York.

    The top two leaders in the House Democratic minority caucus fended off challenges, and those in the  very top posts in the Senate Democratic minority will remain.

    About Mary Wilson

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