Study says Pa. highways lose funds to state police

HARRISBURG, PA. >> A new study suggests that more than $200 million a year in highway construction funds are being diverted unconstitutionally to subsidize the Pennsylvania State Police.

A Legislative Budget and Finance Committee report this week calculated the “appropriate and justifiable” level of highway funding for the state police at $532.8 million. That’s based on last fiscal year, when Gov. Tom Wolf and lawmakers approved $755 million in highway funds for the state police.

Under the state constitution, motorist fees and fuel taxes are strictly for highway construction, repair and safety.

Those dollars help underwrite the estimated $600 million a year it costs for free, full-time state police coverage to 2.5 million residents in municipalities that don’t pay for a local police force.

Woman charged with selling food stamps for heroin

WILLIAMSPORT, PA. >> A Pennsylvania woman is facing charges that she sold food stamps for heroin, after she tried to sell the food stamps online for cash.

Lycoming County authorities filed charges this week against 37-year-old Tanya Keenan-Mack. Court records show Keenan-Mack is in jail stemming from an unrelated probation violation in a forgery case.

The state inspector general’s office says Keenan-Mack exchanged $194 in food stamps on an electronic benefits card for heroin, and that the card was used at a Weis Markets and a Walmart last month.

The office says it began investigating after receiving a tip Feb. 6 that KeenanMack had posted an ad on Facebook’s “Williamsport New and Used, Buy and Sell” page, offering $194 in food stamps for $100.

Baby delivered in backseat of car in parking lot of YMCA

HAVERTOWN, PA. >> A newborn delivered in the backseat of a car outside a YMCA near Philadelphia is doing well.

Dana Lu says she woke up on Thursday morning with mild cramping. She and her husband headed for the hospital but became stuck in traffic.

They pulled into the parking lot of the Haverford Area YMCA in Havertown and called 911. Baby Marielle arrived five minutes later.

Police and EMTs arrived several minutes later and transported them to Bryn Mawr Hospital.