Gov. Corbett Quickly Signs $2-Per-Pack Cigarette Surtax For Philadelphia
The $2 surtax will only be collected in Philadelphia, and the funds will go to the city's struggling school district.
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The $2 surtax will only be collected in Philadelphia, and the funds will go to the city's struggling school district.
Relief. That's the reaction from Philadelphia school officials at word the Senate has passed the long-awaited cigarette tax.
A City Council committee has signed off on a measure to provide $30 million in temprary funding to the cash-starved Philadelphia school district.
His top issue: returning the Philadelphia school district to local governance.
Kids sang and danced and drew pictures as the grownups pushed for funding for quality pre-kindergarten programs.
The family of the little girl who was abducted from her West Philadelphia kindergarten class continues to pursue legal action against the Philadelphia school district.
Seven Philadelphia parents say the Pennsylvania Department of Education has violated its duty to look into allegations of "curriculum deficiencies" in Philadelphia schools.
Laurie Friedman, who lives in West Philadlephia, had tears in her eyes as she read letters written by students begging state lawmakers to increase funding for the city's schools.
An agreement is now in place to preserve Septa transportation for thousands of Philadelphia high school students.
With the governor and the School Reform Commission calling on teachers to make concessions, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers' president Jerry Jordan was hearing directly from members about their working conditions.
Cigarette tax money, if it comes, would fill about half of the budget hole. The district is still pushing its teachers union for concessions. Superintendent William Hite says the district is no longer seeking across the board wage cuts.
Pennsylvania schools will have to make room for almost 400 undocumented children this fall. In Delaware more than 100 and in new Jersey, more than 1,500. In all, that's enough to fill nearly 70 classrooms.
Schools superintendent William Hite, standing next to the governor for the announcement, stressed that this early disbursement does not resolve the $81-million funding gap the school district needs to close to avoid layoffs and other serious cuts.
Governor Corbett on Monday failed to convince leaders in the House to meet this month and to vote on a two-dollar-a-pack tax on cigarettes.
The $2-per-pack tax, if passed by the state legislature, was expected to provide about $45 million in funding for the School District of Philadelphia.
The district is inviting principals and teachers to present their own instructional ideas to overhaul Philadelphia schools.
In all, 342 layoff notices are going out. A school district spokeswoman says this is unrelated to the cigarette tax standoff in Harrisburg.
Philadelphia's schools superintendent says if the state legislature doesn't authorize a cigarette tax by the middle of next month, he'll begin sending out pink slips.
Hillary Linardopoulos, of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, said the ballot question would be an important -- albeit symbolic -- statement.
Council president Darrell Clarke said an additional $30 million would serve as a stopgap in case Harrisburg approves a city tax on cigarettes.
Philadelphia school district officials are warning of dire consequences if the city and state don't quickly come through with millions in new funding.
Drexel paid $25 million for the school building, which the district closed last June.
The money comes from a group called the Children's Scholarship Fund Philadelphia -- from businesses who get Pennsylvania corporate tax credits for contributing.
The report, by the Policy Lab at Children's Hospital, says 17 percent of Philadelphia school students have been involved with DHS or the juvenile justice system, and 20 percent of those in high schools.
The School District of Philadelphia's plan to sell a shuttered high school to Drexel University appears to be a go, and that would mean an infusion of cash for the schools next week as officials struggle to pay the bills by month's end.
Six people were taken to a trauma center after a three-car crash on the Delaware Memorial Bridge Friday night.
A winter storm dumped rain, sleet and rain on the Lehigh Valley Friday, creating icy roads and travel problems.
Dangerous travel conditions continue Saturday morning in the Philadelphia area. Here's the NEXT Weather forecast.
Jalen Smith sparked a game-ending run with a thunderous dunk on Joel Embiid, and the Chicago Bulls matched a season high with their fifth straight win, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 109-102.
Philadelphia police are searching for a hit-and-run suspect who killed a cyclist on Lancaster Avenue, one of the most dangerous streets in the city.
Dangerous travel conditions continue Saturday morning in the Philadelphia area. Here's the NEXT Weather forecast.
Six people were taken to a trauma center after a three-car crash on the Delaware Memorial Bridge Friday night.
A winter storm dumped rain, sleet and rain on the Lehigh Valley Friday, creating icy roads and travel problems.
Jalen Smith sparked a game-ending run with a thunderous dunk on Joel Embiid, and the Chicago Bulls matched a season high with their fifth straight win, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 109-102.
Philadelphia police are searching for a hit-and-run suspect who killed a cyclist on Lancaster Avenue, one of the most dangerous streets in the city.
A winter storm dumped rain, sleet and rain on the Lehigh Valley Friday, creating icy roads and travel problems.
Philadelphia police are searching for a hit-and-run suspect who killed a cyclist on Lancaster Avenue, one of the most dangerous streets in the city.
The post-Christmas return rush was underway at shops and malls across the Philadelphia area.
The snow and wintry weather is causing travel disruptions on one of the busiest travel days at PHL.
Parking and traffic restrictions for the Mummers parade start Friday in Philadelphia.
Smith previously played young Nala in "The Lion King" on Broadway.
Here are mall opening and closing hours for the Christmas and Christmas Eve holidays around the Philly region.
The holiday rush was on Sunday night as shoppers scrambled to get their last-minute holiday gifts inside the Cherry Hill Mall.
Philadelphia and South Jersey residents were left shaken after powerful winds sent massive trees onto homes and vehicles Friday.
A man and his baby are safe after a tree fell onto their home in Washington Township, police said.
Six people were taken to a trauma center after a three-car crash on the Delaware Memorial Bridge Friday night.
Police say 44-year-old Rahman Rose entered a DMV in Wilmington, Delaware and shot and killed a state trooper.
Portnoy said he plans to give Delaware State Police Cpl. Matthew "Ty" Snook's family nearly $500,000.
Tributes are pouring in for Delaware State Police Cpl. Matthew "Ty" Snook, who was shot and killed in Wilmington.
Delaware State Police said Cpl. Matthew "Ty" Snook served since 2015.
Thousands of Pennsylvanians are dropping their health insurance as premiums are set to double on Jan. 1, 2026.
Hearing technology helps deaf and hard-of-hearing students perform at the annual holiday show in Overbrook.
A Pennsylvania man visited Penn to thank the surgeon who saved his life during a stroke.
There are encouraging early signs the angel advocate approach is helping people find organ donors.
Children with critical illnesses and their families can visit the Wishing Place in Bala Cynwyd to start their wish journeys.
The post-Christmas return rush was underway at shops and malls across the Philadelphia area.
With product return fraud on the rise, an emerging company is using AI to help spot issues.
Here are mall opening and closing hours for the Christmas and Christmas Eve holidays around the Philly region.
Through Amazon Now, customers can get household items, cosmetics, electronics, groceries and more delivered in about 30 minutes or less.
San Francisco officials said Tuesday that the city has filed a lawsuit against leading manufacturers of ultra-processed foods, accusing them of producing products linked to serious health issues and alleging that the companies knowingly made the foods addictive.
The snow and wintry weather is causing travel disruptions on one of the busiest travel days at PHL.
Parking and traffic restrictions for the Mummers parade start Friday in Philadelphia.
The holiday travel rush is ramping up on the roads and in the skies around the Philadelphia region.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike's eastbound lanes have reopened following a multi-vehicle crash between Bensalem and Willow Grove.
SEPTA's largest workers' union voted to ratify its new contract with the Philadelphia-based transit agency Wednesday night.
Jalen Smith sparked a game-ending run with a thunderous dunk on Joel Embiid, and the Chicago Bulls matched a season high with their fifth straight win, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 109-102.
The South Philadelphia bar was a haven for Chiefs fans in the Philly area for years.
Travis Konecny scored and added his 300th career assist, leading the Philadelphia Flyers past the Blackhawks 3-1 and handing depleted Chicago its sixth straight loss.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 28 points, as the Brooklyn Nets beat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-106.
Zack Baun, Jalen Carter, Cooper DeJean, Cam Jurgens and Quinyon Mitchell are the five Philadelphia players named to the initial 2026 Pro Bowl roster.
Smith previously played young Nala in "The Lion King" on Broadway.
Feeding America's CEO said the organization is "incredibly grateful" for Taylor Swift's large donation.
The singer said an MRI showed a cancerous spot on one of his lungs after he recovered from a lengthy bout of bronchitis.
Albert Brooks said he's still in shock over the death of his friend Rob Reiner, whom he met at 14 years old.
The Oscars ceremony is moving to YouTube starting in 2029, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday.
Ukee Washington reports.
Natasha Brown reports.
Natasha Brown reports.
Natasha Brown reports.
Ukee Washington reports.
Middle school students in Philadelphia got the opportunity to do hands-on learning during the school district's five-day career and technical camp.
With her Girl Talk mentoring program, one Philadelphia teen turned her camp days into a safe space to discuss social issues young girls face every day.
Recent high school graduate Sylvain Farrell says his temporary position at a local clinic is the pathway to a full-time career.
A Philadelphia student won an award from NFL Films for his documentary on bringing back sports teams at his Kensington school.
A group of East Norriton eighth graders took what started as an Earth Day project and made a whole initiative.
A mix of sleet, snow and freezing rain fell around the Philadelphia area on Friday night, leaving some streets and sidewalks a slippery mess Saturday morning. Wakisha Bailey gets a look at a crash on a slippery highway in Northeast Philly while Madeleine Wright chats with pedestrians in the Roxborough section of the city.
Fire officials in Delaware say six people were hurt in a 3-car collision on the Delaware Memorial Bridge on Friday night. We're working to learn more on their conditions.
The Philadelphia area could continue to have slick roads and sidewalks on Saturday, though the temperature for most of us will get above freezing and turn many roads wet. Overnight, there could be refreezing and black ice concerns. Meteorologist Andrew Kozak has your latest forecast.
Philadelphia is gearing up for the Mummers Parade already, with parking restrictions and road closures in effect ahead of the New Year's Day event. Jan Carabeo has your latest morning headlines with the NEXT Weather forecast from Meteorologist Andrew Kozak.
The NTSB is investigating the deadly explosion at a nursing home in Bristol, Pennsylvania.