http://www.post-gazette.com/ 2013-05-23T00:19:44-04:00 The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/transportation/route-219-widening-project-in-somerset-gets-final-ok-688736/ 2013-05-23T00:19:39-04:00 2013-05-23T00:00:00-04:00

With a final permit in hand, the project will begin five years of construction this summer.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/pennsylvania-governor-defends-latino-comments-688702/ 2013-05-23T00:12:18-04:00 2013-05-23T00:00:00-04:00

After a video clip of an interview surfaces on the Internet, the governor's office issued a lengthy news release defending his comments.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/in-superior-court-race-mcvay-holding-the-lead-688613/ 2013-05-22T13:16:49-04:00 2013-05-22T00:43:00-04:00

Jack McVay now will face Republican judicial candidate Vic Stabile, of Cumberland County, in the general election.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/democrat-miller-cruises-to-victory-688616/ 2013-05-22T00:57:33-04:00 Ed Blazina eblazina@post-gazette.com 2013-05-22T00:56:00-04:00

Democrat Dan Miller of Mt. Lebanon will take over the seat vacated by Matt Smith, who was elected to the state Senate.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/pennsylvania-auditor-general-gives-67-layoff-notices-688601/ 2013-05-22T00:20:49-04:00 2013-05-22T00:11:00-04:00

The spokesman for Auditor General Eugene DePasquale says layoffs were needed because of budget cuts.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/pa-welfare-department-disputes-medicaid-analysis-688451/ 2013-05-21T00:08:30-04:00 2013-05-21T00:00:00-04:00

The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare questions a report on Medicaid expansion from the state's Independent Fiscal Office.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/corbett-asks-for-modifications-to-pas-proposed-regulations-on-school-standards-688433/ 2013-05-21T00:04:37-04:00 2013-05-21T00:00:00-04:00

Gov. Tom Corbett is recommending changes to a set of education regulations that have been criticized by both parties.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/former-justice-orie-melvin-files-appeal-to-her-conviction-688393/ 2013-05-20T17:54:16-04:00 2013-05-20T17:53:00-04:00

Former state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin was found guilty on public corruption charges and sentenced earlier this month.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/transportation/proposal-to-lower-dui-limit-is-facing-a-long-road-688365/ 2013-05-20T00:19:10-04:00 2013-05-20T00:18:00-04:00

If history is the judge, it will be quite a while, if ever, before the standard for drunk driving drops from .08 to .05 in blood alcohol.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/state-bridges-better-but-still-need-work-688363/ 2013-05-20T00:18:05-04:00 Jon Schmitz jschmitz@post-gazette.com 2013-05-20T00:17:00-04:00

Across the state and in the region, a bad bridge situation has gotten better in recent years.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/politics-state/harrisburg-woes-play-big-role-in-citys-mayoral-race-688244/ 2013-05-19T00:20:08-04:00 Tom Barnes tbarnes@post-gazette.com 2013-05-19T00:00:00-04:00

Mayor Linda Thompson's biggest enemies in a battle against three Democratic challengers may just be her sharp tongue and quick temper.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/pennsylvania-education-standards-running-into-resistance-688206/ 2013-05-19T00:10:00-04:00 2013-05-19T00:00:00-04:00

A new set of educational standards based on Common Core has run into late-in-the-game opposition along unusual political lines.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/marcellusshale/pennsylvania-landowners-can-get-cash-on-spot-for-mineral-rights-688190/ 2013-05-19T00:05:52-04:00 2013-05-19T00:00:00-04:00

The companies represent varied investors and bring a level of speculation typically found on Wall Street to the farmlands.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/pennsylvania-unemployment-rate-drops-to-76-percent-688014/ 2013-05-17T11:23:19-04:00 2013-05-17T11:21:00-04:00

The jobless rate in Pennsylvania is the lowest since March 2012 but remains slightly higher than the national rate of 7.5 percent.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/corbett-expected-to-name-new-education-secretary-687689/ 2013-05-15T23:50:06-04:00 2013-05-15T11:37:00-04:00

Gov. Tom Corbett announced that he will nominate William Harner, superintendent of the Cumberland Valley School District.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/full-pennsylvania-fair-care-funds-sought-687629/ 2013-05-15T09:37:41-04:00 Bill Toland btoland@post-gazette.com 2013-05-15T00:00:00-04:00

Pennsylvania wants to keep its PA Fair Care program in place, but the federal government wants to see changes.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/jordan-miles-case-reassigned-to-new-judge-687679/ 2013-05-15T09:28:27-04:00 2013-05-15T09:27:00-04:00

The Jordan Miles case had been assigned to Chief Judge Gary L. Lancaster, who died last month.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/pennsylvania-universities-face-pressure-to-end-bans-on-firearms-687648/ 2013-05-15T00:10:48-04:00 Bill Schackner bschackner@post-gazette.com 2013-05-15T00:00:00-04:00

Some of the 14 state-owned universities are under pressure to end campus-wide firearms bans.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/pittsburgh-runner-immortalized-in-penn-state-mural-687634/ 2013-05-15T00:06:48-04:00 2013-05-15T00:00:00-04:00

Artist Michael Pilato has added the likeness of Kyle Chase Johnson, who died in the Pittsburgh Half Marathon, to his mural in State College.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/hearing-on-pennsylvania-liquor-privatizations-plan-focuses-on-retail-sales-687578/ 2013-05-14T16:20:59-04:00 2013-05-14T16:20:00-04:00

A Senate panel heard testimony Tuesday from representatives of the various retailers selling alcohol in Pennsylvania.