A Lehigh Valley lawmaker is pushing legislation that would ban school districts, local governments and municipal authorities from engaging in risky financial ventures called SWAPS.  Howard Ondick has more with Senator Lisa Boscola of Northampton County, who announced her proposal at a State Capitol news conference on Tuesday.

By a vote of 8-6, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday tabled a bill that would have amended the state constitution to prevent same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania.  Sid Michaels has more on that vote with Senator Daylin Leach of Montgomery County, the Democratic Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and sponsor of legislation providing for marriage equality in Pennsylvania.

Many Pennsylvanians suffer from a variety of eating disorders, which in many cases left untreated, can cause death or chronic illness.  Sid Michaels has more with Senator Daylin Leach of Montgomery County, who has introduced Senate Bill 1138, which would improve access to eating disorder treatments.

Citing hit and run crashes as a critical safety issue in Philadelphia and across the state, the state Senate Transportation Committee held a public hearing Thursday in Philadelphia on proposed measures that would toughen penalties on those who leave the scene of an accident.  Howard Ondick has more with Senator Mike Stack of Philadelphia, sponsor of the legislation.

A state Senator is proposing legislation that would set up Financial Education in schools across the state, hopefully creating better and smarter financial consumers. Don Rooney gets details from the bill's sponsor, Senator Larry Farnese of Philadelphia.

Today is the third annual National Women and Girls' HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in Pennsylvania.  Howard Ondick has more with Senator Vincent Hughes of Philadelphia, sponsor of the resolution adopted by the state Senate on Wednesday, and the ranking Democrat on the Senate Public Health & Welfare Committee.

At a time when unemployment is high, Community College is a place many Pennsylvanians are turning to be retrained for the job market and to improve their educational skills.  Sid Michaels has more with Senator Jay Costa of Allegheny County, the Democratic Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a product of the Community College system.

State mini-grants are now available to support children and adults living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. Don Rooney has more with Senator Mike Stack of Philadelphia, a member of the Legislative Autism Caucus.

A state Senator from Allegheny County has reintroduced legislation that didn't make it to the floor of the Senate for a vote last session.  The measure would protect children from abuse by teachers or other school employees. Don Rooney gets details on the bill from sponsor Senator Wayne Fontana.

Senate Democrats have called for a new job creation strategy as part of their budget and policy initiatives.  Sid Michaels talks with Senator Jay Costa of Allegheny County, the Democratic Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, on the importance of supporting job-creating programs.

Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education went before the Senate Appropriations Committee to talk about Governor Rendell's 2009-2010 Department of Education Budget.  Senator Andy Dinniman of Chester County is the Democratic Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, and he says proper funding of education is essential.

Pennsylvania sits atop one of the largest deposits of natural gas in the world, and now one state senator has introduced legislation that would tax Marcellus Shale natural gas and use the revenues for property tax relief.  Sid Michaels has more with Senator Andy Dinniman of Chester County, sponsor of Senate Bill 1254.

Property tax relief and job creation were two of the subjects discussed on Monday as Pennsylvania's Gaming Control Board went before the Senate Appropriations Committee during budget hearings in Harrisburg.  Sid Michaels has details on that hearing with Senator Mike Stack of Philadelphia, the Democratic Vice-Chairman of the Committee.

Beginning March 1st, census takers will either mail or deliver packages containing 2010 Census forms across the nation. State Senator Anthony Williams of Philadelphia says the Census will help Pennsylvania communities receive more than $400 billion in federal funds and determine the number of seats the Commonwealth has in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Senate Appropriations Committee questioned the Chancellor of the State System of Higher Education about the proposed 2010 budget for the State System's 14 universities. Don Rooney gets details from Senator Andy Dinniman of Chester County, Democratic Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, who took part in the hearing.

A Lehigh Valley lawmaker is challenging the Public Utility Commission's claim that electric deregulation is creating competition in Pennsylvania among energy suppliers.  Howard Ondick has more with Senator Lisa Boscola of Northampton County, who says there may be more suppliers but electric rates are still going up.

The Secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development was questioned this week as part of the Senate Budget hearings in Harrisburg.  Sid Michaels has more on that hearing with Senator Jay Costa of Allegheny County, the Democratic Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

A Montgomery County lawmaker says eating disorders should be treated like any other mental illness -- and health insurance companies should be required to cover treatment.  Howard Ondick has more with Senator Daylin Leach who sponsored a panel discussion and seminar on eating disorders this past weekend to raise awareness.

It's a year since President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, in an attempt to help lift the country's sinking economy.  Sid Michaels has more with Senator Mike Stack of Philadelphia on just how Pennsylvania's share of that federal money is helping the state.