Marsy’s Law for Pennsylvania kicked off it’s campaign Tuesday to amend Pennsylvania’s constitution to strengthen crime victims’ rights. 

The national campaign strives to amend state constitutions to include specific provisions to provide protections for victims whose cases are ongoing.

Six “reform-minded” Republican state senators earlier this week declared their intent to introduce legislation that would require state agencies to engage in zero-based budgeting, essentially requiring them to build their budgets from zero dollars as a means to justify expenses.

Sen. Guy Reschethaler (R-Allegheny) joined The PLS Reporter for our latest ongoing series: Newer Perspectives, where we sit down with the legislators who are 35 or younger to see what they bring to the legislature and how their views might be different than their more veteran colleagues.

Dozens of advocates filled the Pittsburgh City Council chambers Wednesday during a public comment period before council members in an effort to spur officials to designate Pittsburgh as an official sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants.

The public comment period was brought to city council by a petition campaign driven by Pittsburgh Sanctuary City Coalition. Public forums in front of city council can be triggered by petitions with 25 collected signatures.

Pittsburgh Sanctuary City Coalition’s petition requests that city council pass legislation that would codify Pittsburgh as a so-called “sanctuary city”, which would make it illegal for any city agencies and the Pittsburgh City Police to collaborate with U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE). There is no drafted legislation to designate Pittsburgh as a sanctuary city currently in city council.