Government

Republicans said squirreling away $5 billion in federal money was smart planning for the future, while Democrats lamented the investments that might have been.

Critics say it’s a technique that Republicans appear increasingly willing to use as they clash with Gov. Tom Wolf over highly politicized issues, like voting and the pandemic.

Biden names former Delaware Gov. Jack Markell to be ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development headquartered in France.

The decision diminished anti-gerrymandering advocates’ hopes of preventing Pennsylvania’s most powerful lawmakers from drawing maps that unfairly benefit one political party.

Legislators, with all seats up for grabs in November, tacked on hundreds of millions of dollars in additional spending to the major budget increase already requested.

The Census Bureau must protect people's privacy when releasing demographic data. Plans to change how it does that have sparked concern over how it may affect redistricting.

City Council and Mayor Jim Kenney’s final $5 billion budget deal includes more spending on public services and smaller tax cuts than originally proposed.

“That’s a comprehensive approach that we’re taking to address this issue,” said Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson.

Green’s bill would earmark 0.5% of the total general fund dollars, which is estimated to start at $26 million in the first year, for the Housing Trust Fund.

The bill — dubbed the Voting Rights Protection Act — includes stricter voter ID, signature verification requirements, and limits on drop boxes.

Similar legislation has failed to move out of Republican-controlled committees, and it's unclear if this year will be any different.

The lesson, it seems, was in last month's primary, when voters approved two GOP-penned proposals to expand the power of lawmakers over a governor's disaster declarations.

Leaders of the G-7 have agreed to work together in combating the coronavirus pandemic, confronting climate change and countering the rising influence of China.

The Israeli Knesset has voted to unseat Benjamin Netanyahu after 12 years in power. Israel's longest-serving prime minister will be succeeded by Naftali Bennett.

Garland noted that at least 14 states have passed new laws this year to make it harder to vote. Those states include Georgia, Florida and Arizona.