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Ashlon Jackson scores career-best 30 points to lead No. 14 Duke past No. 10 Kansas 73-62Dynavax to Present at the 7th Annual Evercore HealthCONx Conference
HARRISBURG — Spending on public education, reforming aspects of health care, loosening regulations on business and strengthening the commonwealth’s workforce were among the legislative wins achieved in 2024 in Pennsylvania’s General Assembly. Lawmakers adopted Pennsylvania’s biggest budget, to date, a $47.6 billion spending plan with a deficit balanced by $3 billion transferred from the commonwealth’s reserves. Gov. Josh Shapiro and his supporters welcomed the move, spending down on what had been a combined $14 billion in savings they viewed as a reinvestment in taxpayers whose money sat dormant. Fiscal conservatives point to a five-year outlook in the budget that forecasts all of that money being spent by 2029, warning that the structural deficit risks fiscal insolvency. The budget included a $1.2 billion increase for public education as the commonwealth grapples with a late-2023 court decision that found its funding system unconstitutional. Schools collectively saw multi-million hikes in spending on special education, K-12 classroom subsidies plus additional funds for the poorest districts to backfill an “adequacy gap” identified by the court, plus more funding for mental health initiatives and security. Expect more record requests for spending on education in the immediate budget years to come as the commonwealth upturns its system on how public schools are funded. At the same time, a fight to establish a school voucher system will continue, too. Lifeline Scholarships were shunned two years in a row, however, Republicans remain committed to creating vouchers in the name of school choice. They’re emboldened by shifts in political party registrations and substantial victories in the 2024 election cycle. Budget battles might lead some in Harrisburg and beyond to seek libations for a brief escape and this year in Pennsylvania, those of legal age have a new option. Legislators advanced a bill into law creating a new permit for licensed bars, restaurants, grocery stores and more to sell canned cocktails to-go. The pre-packaged, pre-mixed drinks were only available in state liquor stores prior to the change. Estimates reached $145 million in new tax revenue, however, the gains will be offset to some degree by lost revenue within the state-owned system. Pennsylvania’s bars and restaurants also benefitted from other regulatory changes that expanded aggregate time allowed for happy hours from 14 hours to 24 hours a week and also permitted drink-and-meal combination discounts that were once illegal. Lawmakers approved reforms in health care with a new law that changes how pharmacy benefit managers operate in the commonwealth. The “middle men” are blamed for practices causing smaller pharmacies to close and consumer prices to rise. Pennsylvania’s legislation bars PBMs from lowering reimbursements for unaffiliated pharmacies, prevents them from spiking prices on medications above what customers might pay when using cash out of pocket, ends certain “steering practices” that lead to increased business for affiliated pharmacies and requires certain reporting requirements that will reveal which companies fail to pass on manufacturer rebates to customers. Aside from public education, state lawmakers made big changes in the realm of higher education. They created Pennsylvania’s first State Board of Higher Education directed to coordinate higher-ed across all levels and also develop recommendations to create a performance-based funding system for state-related universities including Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh. Funding for smaller schools, that is, community colleges and state-owned schools, was increased as was funding for student scholarships and grants along with a new program that for the first time will provide stipends to student teachers. A new telemedicine law assures patients that any medically necessary service they’d receive in person that’s covered by their insurance plan would also be covered if administered remotely through telemedicine. Disputes preventing Pennsylvania’s full participation in an interstate healthcare licensure compact were resolved through legislation concerning fingerprinting and background checks. With a resolution in place, nurses and doctors and others from Pennsylvania can now work in cooperating states without obtaining another license. Xylazine is now formally listed as a Schedule III narcotic in the commonwealth. Protections are included for veterinary use of the sedative developed for large animals. Illicit production of the drug led to it being cut into fentanyl and other opioids sold on the streets, greatly enhancing potency and the risk of death by overdose. Distracted driving was addressed with the passage of Paul Miller’s Law, named after a 21-year-old Scranton man killed by a distracted driver in 2010. The measure, building on an existing statute that bans texting while driving, authorizes traffic stops for similar actions on handheld mobile devices including sending an email, posting to social media, snapping a photo and recording a video. The use of hands-free functions, however, remains permissible. New state law also created a Solar for Schools program incentivizing K-12 public schools, career and technical centers and community colleges to pursue state grant funding that can fund half the construction cost of an approved solar energy project. Another law established the framework for carbon dioxide capture, utilization and sequestration toward storing the pollutant below ground, an initiative tied to the multi-billion dollar proposal to open a pair of hydrogen hubs in the Philadelphia region. The 2023-24 Legislative Session is now closed and the 2025-26 session began Dec. 1 with lawmakers already signaling the introduction of new bills and the reintroduction of old bills that haven’t yet cleared the House and Senate. When voting picks up again in January, expect continued debate and formal proposals for legislative initiatives that weren’t successful including legalizing marijuana for recreational use, enacting gun control measures, approving ballot measures for constitutional amendments on universal voter ID and opening a temporary legal window to sue alleged perpetrators or enablers of long-ago sexual abuse, creating Lifeline Scholarships for school choice, regulating skill games, expanding Sunday hunting opportunities and boosting Pennsylvania’s housing stock.NextNav Co-Founder and CTO Arun Raghupathy Receives Distinguished Alumni Award from University of Maryland’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
In brief: As investors search for ways to stabilize Ubisoft following years of poor financial performance, buyout talks with major shareholder Tencent are progressing. Although multiple options are on the table, the founding Guillemot family struggles to retain control of the company. Anonymous sources have told Reuters that multiple investors, including Tencent, are discussing options for funding a buyout of Ubisoft. The Guillemot family wishes to retain control over the company, but Tencent wants more decision-making power. People familiar with the matter say the Chinese media giant wants further control over Ubisoft's financing if it backs the deal. However, the Guillemot brothers, who founded the company and retain the controlling share – 20.5 percent – haven't agreed to the terms. Tencent is patiently waiting for the family to come around. Click to enlarge Although the company wants to avoid a hostile takeover of Ubisoft, it still hasn't decided whether to increase its 9.2 percent stake in the game publisher or its 49.9 percent ownership of Guillemot Brothers Ltd – the Guillemots' holding company. Ubisoft's stock closed 13 percent up following news of continuing buyout discussions. Prior reports of negotiations caused a record-breaking one-day spike of over 30 percent. Although Ubisoft attempted to downplay excitement by saying it examines buyout proposals regularly, the developments could be sorely needed given the publishers' recent steep decline. Unfortunately, the years following the pandemic have wiped out a decade of Ubisoft's stock gains. The company has struggled to develop and ship ever-larger games, and its recent releases haven't met market expectations. After announcing plans to shut down the free-to-play online shooter XDefiant next year, Ubisoft closed its San Francisco and Osaka studios and laid off almost 300 employees. The game's failure adds to the publisher's troublesome year after Star Wars Outlaws suffered a lukewarm reception and Assassin's Creed Shadows got pushed into next year. Additionally, Ubisoft stoked controversy and attracted a lawsuit after shutting down servers for The Crew and pulling the game from users' libraries. Charging $70 on top of microtransactions for Skull and Bones, which spent around seven years in development, also drew ire. Despite the setbacks, Ubisoft remains committed to releasing more live-service games. A buyout isn't the only solution the Guillemots are discussing to stabilize the company. Shareholders, including AJ Investments, have proposed privatization or acquisition by a strategic investor.Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys , Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday. SAG Awards Commentary (Updated Nov. 26, 2024): The Screen Actors Guild Awards have cemented their role as a critical milestone on the road to Oscar success for films and as either a crowning achievement or an early launchpad for television shows heading into Emmy season. The SAG cast ensemble award for film, in particular, recognizes the collaborative magic of a movie’s cast — a quality that often signals industry-wide respect. With actors representing the largest voting branch in the Academy, a SAG nom or win frequently builds crucial momentum in the best picture race, making the awards an indispensable part of the awards circuit. Several major films are poised to leave their mark in the ensemble race. Universal Pictures’ “Wicked” leads the pack, boasting a star-studded cast headlined by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, alongside notable names like Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum and Jonathan Bailey. The blockbuster musical not only highlights standout individual performances but thrives on the chemistry and cohesion of its ensemble. Another strong player is Focus Features’ “Conclave,” a gripping papal thriller that brings together acting powerhouses Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini. The film’s intricate character dynamics and emotionally charged performances are tailor-made for an ensemble mention, appealing to voters who appreciate meaty dramatic roles. Similarly, A24’s “Sing Sing,” a prison drama about inmates staging a theater production, celebrates the discovery of new talent while featuring veterans like Colman Domingo. The mix of established and first-time actors, including breakout performer Clarence Maclin, underscores the film’s spirit of ensemble recognition. Netflix’s “Emilia Pérez” offers a genre-bending and visually vibrant story about identity, led by Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez. The film’s exploration of transformation and its diverse cast could resonate deeply with voters, particularly in a politically charged year. Meanwhile, Sony Pictures’ comedy “Saturday Night” could break records as the largest nominated ensemble in history, featuring 26 actors and surpassing “Gosford Park” (2001). The sprawling cast of A-listers and newcomers delivers a kaleidoscopic portrait of interconnected lives throughout one wild night, with 80 speaking parts, that feels tailor-made for SAG Ensemble recognition. In the individual acting races, SAG can often shine a light on a dark horse performer in the race. It wouldn’t be surprising to see someone like Sebastian Stan pop up for either of his two strong turns in “The Apprentice” and “A Different Man,” or a beloved veteran like Kate Winslet garner recognition for her turn in the war drama “Lee.” SAG Awards also play a pivotal role in boosting the profiles of television series and their casts, often serving as a preview for Emmy season or a feather cap of the previous one. FX’s historical dramatic epic “Shōgun,” led by Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai, is already riding high after setting the all-time winning record for a drama series. It would be foolish to think it couldn’t repeat the same trajectory at SAG. However, it will compete against heavyweights like Netflix’s “Squid Game” and Paramount Network’s “Yellowstone,” playing as voters consider their ballots. ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” is a heavy favorite and critical darling in the comedy races. The sharp, witty writing and the effortless chemistry of its cast, including creator and star Quinta Brunson, have turned the series into an awards-season staple. Other major contenders include Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building, “featuring Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez, and FX’s “The Bear,” whose ensemble has helped elevate the show to one of the year’s most critically acclaimed series. We’ll see if the huge upset of the show losing to HBO/Max’s “Hacks” was a fluke or an indicator for the next Emmy season. More notable, the SAG Awards are overdue for some significant updates to its ceremony that better reflect the evolution of television. A category for limited series ensembles would fill a glaring gap, allowing the recognition of projects like Netflix’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” and big Emmy winner “Baby Reindeer.” Similarly, the lack of individual supporting categories for television remains a significant oversight. Supporting performances often form the emotional core of a series. Yet, they are lumped into ensemble categories and forced to compete against leading performances, leaving standout turns like Janelle James in “Abbott Elementary” or Kali Reis in HBO’s “True Detective: Night Country” at a disadvantage. The Golden Globes already recognize supporting roles, albeit in combined categories, and it’s time for the SAG Awards to follow suit. The 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards will air live on Netflix on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, and the 97th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 2.NEW YORK, Dec. 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Y-mAbs Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company” or “Y-mAbs”) (Nasdaq: YMAB), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel radioimmunotherapy and antibody-based therapeutic products for the treatment of cancer, today announced the presentation of CD38-SADA in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) preclinical data and trial in progress posters at the 66 th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition being held on December 7 –10, 2024, in San Diego, California. A poster titled “ CD38-SADA, a S elf- A ssembling and D is- A ssembling Bispecific Fusion Protein for Two-Step Pretargeted Radioimmunotherapy of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma ” characterizes the selective binding of CD38-SADA to DOTA-chelated lanthanide metals and high-avidity binding to CD38, a tumor specific antigen overexpressed across a range of lymphoma cells. Data from this poster demonstrate anti-tumor efficacy of CD38-SADA when used with Lutetium 177 (Lu 177 )-DOTA in a two-step approach to pre-targeted radioimmunotherapy (“PRIT”). Tumor responses in a xenograft mouse model were rapid and dose-dependent, further supporting the clinical development of CD38-SADA PRIT in patients with CD38-positive lymphoid malignancies. “This preclinical analysis provides important insights into the unique pharmacology of CD38-SADA and its therapeutic potential for NHL,” said Brian H. Santich, Ph.D., the lead author and co-inventor of the SADA PRIT technology platform. “The anti-tumor efficacy positively correlated with increasing doses of Lu 177 -DOTA and CD38-SADA, which informed the study design and initial dosing regimen of our Trial 1201 in patients with NHL.” In addition, Y-mAbs presents a trial-in-progress poster from its ongoing Phase 1 (Trial 1201) clinical study evaluating the safety and tolerability of CD38-SADA PRIT with Lu 177 -DOTA in adults with relapsed or refractory NHL. Trial 1201 is a first-in-human, dose-escalation, open-label, multicenter study composed of two parts. Part A includes dose escalation of the CD38-SADA bispecific fusion protein to define the optimal safe dose of the CD38-SADA protein, the administration interval between CD38-SADA and Lu 177 -DOTA, and the Lu 177 -DOTA dose for tumor imaging. In Part B, dose escalation of Lu 177 -DOTA will establish the optimal therapeutic dose of the radioactive payload. For each part, the escalation is based on a 3+3 trial design of 4 planned dose levels. “We are pleased to share the details of this Phase 1 clinical trial, which is investigating a potentially transformative approach to pre-targeted radioimmunotherapy for patients with relapsed and refractory NHL,” said Vignesh Rajah, MBBS, DCH, MRCP (UK), Chief Medical Officer. “This is our second clinical program evaluating the SADA PRIT technology platform and our first in hematological malignancies.” The abstract details are below: Abstract Title: “ CD38-SADA, a Self-Assembling and Dis-Assembling Bispecific Fusion Protein for Two-Step Pretargeted Radioimmunotherapy of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma” Format : Poster Presentation, ID: 1599 Date and Time: Saturday, December 7, 2024, 5:30 PM-7:30 PM Abstract Title: “ CD38-SADA Pretargeted Radioimmunotherapy (PRIT) with Lutetium 177 (Lu177)-DOTA in Adult Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: A First-in-Human Phase 1 Trial” Format : Poster Presentation, ID: 4434.1 Date and Time: Monday, December 9, 2024, 6:00 PM-8:00 PM Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), including Dr. Nai-Kong Cheung, developed the SADA technology for radioimmunotherapy, which is exclusively licensed by MSK to Y-mAbs. Dr. Cheung has intellectual property rights and interests in the technology, and as a result of this licensing arrangement, MSK has institutional financial interests in the technology. About Y-mAbs Y-mAbs is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel, radioimmunotherapy and antibody-based therapeutic cancer products. The Company’s technologies include its investigational Self-Assembly DisAssembly (“SADA”) Pretargeted Radioimmunotherapy Platform (“PRIT”) and bispecific antibodies generated using the Y-BiClone platform. The Company’s broad and advanced product pipeline includes the anti-GD2 therapy DANYELZA® (naxitamab-gqgk), the first FDA-approved treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory high-risk neuroblastoma in the bone or bone marrow after a partial response, minor response, or stable disease to prior therapy. About CD38-SADA PRIT CD38-SADA is a bispecific fusion protein that tightly binds to the CD38 antigen and to select radionuclides chelated to tetraxetan (or “DOTA”). CD38-SADA contains a p53-derived domain that drives the self-assembly of CD38-SADA tetramers, which possess four distinct binding sites for CD38. In the first step of pre-targeted radiotherapy, non-radiolabeled-CD38-SADA tetramers are infused and bind with high avidity to CD38-positive tumors, while unbound CD38-SADA disassembles into low molecular weight monomers that are removed by the kidney. The second infusion delivers the “radioactive payload,” which binds to the CD38-SADA on tumor cells for localized irradiation. CD38-SADA PRIT with Lutetium 177 (Lu 177)-DOTA is now under clinical investigation in Trial 1201 (NCT05994157). Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our business model, including financial outlook for 2024 and beyond, including estimated operating expenses, use of cash and cash equivalents and DANYELZA product revenue and sufficiency of cash resources and related assumptions; expectations with respect to the Company’s future financial performance; implied and express statements regarding the future of the Company’s business, including with respect to expansion and its goals; expectations with respect to the Company’s plans and strategies, development, regulatory, commercialization and product distribution plans, including the timing thereof; expectations with respect to the Company’s products and product candidates, including potential territory and label expansion of DANYELZA and the potential market opportunity related thereto and potential benefits thereof, and the potential of the SADA PRIT technology and potential benefits and applications thereof; expectations relating to key anticipated development milestones, including potential expansion and advancement of commercialization and development efforts, including potential indications, applications and geographies, and the timing thereof; expectations with respect to current and future clinical and pre-clinical studies and the Company’s research and development programs, including with respect to timing and results; expectations regarding collaborations or strategic partnerships and the potential benefits thereof; and other statements that are not historical facts. Words such as ‘‘anticipate,’’ ‘‘believe,’’ “contemplate,” ‘‘continue,’’ ‘‘could,’’ ‘‘estimate,’’ ‘‘expect,’’ “hope,” ‘‘intend,’’ ‘‘may,’’ ‘‘might,’’ ‘‘plan,’’ ‘‘potential,’’ ‘‘predict,’’ ‘‘project,’’ ‘‘should,’’ ‘‘target,’’ “will,” ‘‘would’,’ “guidance,” “goal,” “objective,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Our product candidates and related technologies are novel approaches to cancer treatment that present significant challenges. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including but not limited to: risks associated with the Company’s financial condition and need for additional capital; the risks that actual results of the Company’s restructuring plan and revised business plan will not be as expected; risks associated with the Company’s development work; cost and success of the Company’s product development activities and clinical trials; the risks of delay in the timing of the Company’s or its partners’ regulatory submissions or failure to receive approval of its drug candidates; the risks related to commercializing any approved pharmaceutical product including the rate and degree of market acceptance of product candidates; development of sales and marketing capabilities and risks associated with failure to obtain sufficient reimbursement for products; risks related to the Company’s dependence on third parties including for conduct of clinical testing and product manufacture as well as regulatory submissions; the Company’s ability to enter into new partnerships or to recognize the anticipated benefits from its existing partnerships; risks related to government regulation; risks related to market approval, risks associated with protection of the Company’s intellectual property rights; risks related to employee matters and managing growth; risks related to the Company’s common stock, risks associated with macroeconomic conditions, including the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and sanctions related thereto, the state of war between Israel and Hamas and the related risk of a larger regional conflict, inflation, increased interest rates, uncertain global credit and capital markets and disruptions in banking systems; and other risks and uncertainties affecting the Company including those described in the “Risk Factors” section included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2024, and September 30, 2024, and future filings and reports by the Company. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SADA®, SADA PRIT®, DANYELZA® and Y-mAbs® are registered trademarks of Y-mAbs Therapeutics, Inc. Investor Contact: Courtney Dugan VP, Head of Investor Relations cdu@ymabs.comSouth Korean president narrowly survives impeachment attempt
Arsenal defender Gabriel kept Viktor Gyokeres quiet — then had the audacity to steal the in-demand Sporting Lisbon striker's trademark goal celebration. After heading in Arsenal's third first-half goal in the Champions League on Tuesday, Gabriel linked the fingers of his hands and placed them over his eyes, before laughing with his teammates. It was most likely a dig at Gyokeres, the Sweden striker who has quickly become one of European soccer's hottest properties . Because that is how Gyokeres celebrates his goals. “It's fun that he likes my celebration,” Gyokeres told Viaplay after the match. “He can steal it if he cannot come up with his own.” Gyokeres has scored 24 goals for Sporting in all competitions and was coming off netting four for Sweden in a Nations League match against Azerbaijan. Story continues below video Earlier in the first half, Gabriel had enjoyed tackling and dispossessing Gyokeres near the Arsenal area — waving both his arms in a gesture to the crowd. Gabriel's goal made it 3-0 to Arsenal at halftime and the English team went on to win 5-1, with Gyokeres failing to score. He did hit the post with a shot late in the game, however — after Gabriel had gone off with an injury. “Today he wasn't that dangerous,” Arsenal striker Kai Havertz said of Gyokeres, “but I think it's because we defended very well.” AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerDAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Nate Santos had 24 points in Dayton's 86-62 victory against Lehigh on Saturday. Santos shot 8 for 11 (6 for 6 from 3-point range) and 2 of 3 from the free-throw line for the Flyers (8-2). Malachi Smith added 17 points while shooting 5 for 8 (3 for 4 from 3-point range) and 4 of 7 from the free-throw line while they also had nine assists. Enoch Cheeks shot 5 for 7, including 4 for 6 from beyond the arc to finish with 14 points. Keith Higgins Jr. led the Mountain Hawks (3-6) in scoring, finishing with 24 points and nine rebounds. Joshua Ingram added nine points for Lehigh. Nasir Whitlock finished with nine points. Dayton took the lead with 18:32 remaining in the first half and did not relinquish it. The score was 41-25 at halftime, with Smith racking up 10 points. Santos scored 15 points in the second half to help lead the way as Dayton went on to secure a victory, outscoring Lehigh by eight points in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Shoppers say they want eco-friendly products, so why aren't they buying them?
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Giles had five rebounds for the Spartans (5-4). Donovan Atwell scored 15 points and added five rebounds. Jalen Breath shot 1 of 6 from the field and 8 for 8 from the line to finish with 10 points, while adding 10 rebounds. The Aggies (3-6) were led by Ryan Forrest, who posted 18 points and eight rebounds. Camian Shell added 15 points for N.C. A&T. Jahnathan Lamothe finished with 13 points and two steals. Atwell scored 11 points in the first half and UNC Greensboro went into the break trailing 36-35. Giles scored 15 points in the second half to help lead UNC Greensboro to a 12-point victory. NEXT UP UNC Greensboro's next game is Saturday against North Florida on the road, and N.C. A&T visits Virginia Tech on Thursday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Carrefour's cold shoulder for South American beef sparks a backlash from Brazil
HARRISBURG — Spending on public education, reforming aspects of health care, loosening regulations on business and strengthening the commonwealth’s workforce were among the legislative wins achieved in 2024 in Pennsylvania’s General Assembly. Lawmakers adopted Pennsylvania’s biggest budget, to date, a $47.6 billion spending plan with a deficit balanced by $3 billion transferred from the commonwealth’s reserves. Gov. Josh Shapiro and his supporters welcomed the move, spending down on what had been a combined $14 billion in savings they viewed as a reinvestment in taxpayers whose money sat dormant. Fiscal conservatives point to a five-year outlook in the budget that forecasts all of that money being spent by 2029, warning that the structural deficit risks fiscal insolvency. The budget included a $1.2 billion increase for public education as the commonwealth grapples with a late-2023 court decision that found its funding system unconstitutional. Schools collectively saw multi-million increases in spending on special education, K-12 classroom subsidies plus additional funds for the poorest districts to backfill an “adequacy gap” identified by the court, plus more funding for mental health initiatives and security. Expect more record requests for spending on education in the immediate budget years to come as the commonwealth upturns its system on how public schools are funded. At the same time, a fight to establish a school voucher system will continue, too. Lifeline Scholarships were shunned two years in a row, however, Republicans remain committed to creating vouchers in the name of school choice. They’re emboldened by shifts in political party registrations and substantial victories in the 2024 election cycle. Budget battles might lead some in Harrisburg and beyond to seek libations for a brief escape and this year in Pennsylvania, those of legal age have a new option. Legislators advanced a bill into law creating a new permit for licensed bars, restaurants, grocery stores and more to sell canned cocktails to-go. The pre-packaged, pre-mixed drinks were only available in state liquor stores prior to the change. Estimates reached $145 million in new tax revenue, however, the gains will be offset to some degree by lost revenue within the state-owned system. Pennsylvania’s bars and restaurants also benefitted from other regulatory changes that expanded aggregate time allowed for happy hours from 14 hours to 24 hours a week and also permitted drink-and-meal combination discounts that were once illegal. Lawmakers approved reforms in health care with a new law that changes how pharmacy benefit managers operate in the commonwealth. The “middle men” are blamed for practices causing smaller pharmacies to close and consumer prices to rise. Pennsylvania’s legislation bars PBMs from lowering reimbursements for unaffiliated pharmacies, prevents them from spiking prices on medications above what customers might pay when using cash out of pocket, ends certain “steering practices” that lead to increased business for affiliated pharmacies and requires certain reporting requirements that will reveal which companies fail to pass on manufacturer rebates to customers. Aside from public education, state lawmakers made big changes in the realm of higher education. They created Pennsylvania’s first State Board of Higher Education directed to coordinate higher-ed across all levels and also develop recommendations to create a performance-based funding system for state-related universities including Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh. Funding for smaller schools, that is, community colleges and state-owned schools, was increased as was funding for student scholarships and grants along with a new program that for the first time will provide stipends to student teachers. A new telemedicine law assures patients that any medically necessary service they’d receive in person that’s covered by their insurance plan would also be covered if administered remotely through telemedicine. Disputes preventing Pennsylvania’s full participation in an interstate healthcare licensure compact were resolved through legislation concerning fingerprinting and background checks. With a resolution in place, nurses and doctors and others from Pennsylvania can now work in cooperating states without obtaining another license. Xylazine is now formally listed as a Schedule III narcotic in the commonwealth. Protections are included for veterinary use of the sedative developed for large animals. Illicit production of the drug led to it being cut into fentanyl and other opioids sold on the streets, greatly enhancing potency and the risk of death by overdose. Distracted driving was addressed with the passage of Paul Miller’s Law, named after a 21-year-old Scranton man killed by a distracted driver in 2010. The measure, building on an existing statute that bans texting while driving, authorizes traffic stops for similar actions on handheld mobile devices including sending an email, posting to social media, snapping a photo and recording a video. The use of hands-free functions, however, remains permissible. New state law also created a Solar for Schools program incentivizing K-12 public schools, career and technical centers and community colleges to pursue state grant funding that can fund half the construction cost of an approved solar energy project. Another law established the framework for carbon dioxide capture, utilization and sequestration toward storing the pollutant below ground, an initiative tied to the multi-billion dollar proposal to open a pair of hydrogen hubs in the Philadelphia region. The 2023-24 Legislative Session is now closed and the 2025-26 session began Dec. 1 with lawmakers already signaling the introduction of new bills and the reintroduction of old bills that haven’t yet cleared the House and Senate. When voting picks up again in January, expect continued debate and formal proposals for legislative initiatives that weren’t successful including legalizing marijuana for recreational use, enacting gun control measures, approving ballot measures for constitutional amendments on universal voter ID and opening a temporary legal window to sue alleged perpetrators or enablers of long-ago sexual abuse, creating Lifeline Scholarships for school choice, regulating skill games, expanding Sunday hunting opportunities and boosting Pennsylvania’s housing stock.Judge hears closing arguments on whether Google's advertising tech constitutes a monopoly
