Latest Pennsylvania News
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Beer-buying Pennsylvanians are seeing a growing number of options where they can pick up a six-pack or two in a state that’s home to some of the nation’s most restrictive beer sales laws. Last week, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board licensed nine more convenience stores (including one in Orangeville, Columbia County) that sell gas to carry takeout six-packs. That’s despite a pending state Supreme Court case that could theoretically invalidate those beer licenses because of a prohibition against selling beer and gasoline from the same property. For now, it was another step toward loosening the control over takeout beer sales that, for decades, has been largely the province of bars and larger-quantity beer distributors. In the meantime, several dozen more convenience stores and supermarkets are estimated to be seeking approval to sell beer.
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) — A northeastern Pennsylvania coroner is sounding a warning about a dangerous new type of heroin mixed with a powerful new synthetic substance. The (Wilkes-Barre) Times Leader reports that the Luzerne County coroner said at least 10 county residents have died this year from the new drug containing the material called furanyl fentanyl.
Coroner William Lisman said the designer derivative of the pain medication fentanyl concocted in Chinese laboratories is “significantly more powerful than heroin.” Lisman said analysts suspect that drug dealers are marketing the mixture “as a better high” and they suspect dealers have turned to it because they can’t meet the demand for pure heroin. U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., has asked the Obama administration to pressure Chinese officials to halt export of the synthetic and others.
(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
