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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Department of Health Secretary Karen Murphy announced work has begun on temporary regulations to implement the medical marijuana program in Pennsylvania, and she will receive input from the public, stakeholders and partners throughout the process.</p><p>The first temporary regulation will be for growers/processors so those entities can go online and begin to produce products. A survey is available on the department&#8217;s website to allow for input on the development of this particular regulation.</p><p>The department intends to issue the remainder of the temporary regulations sequentially for dispensaries, physicians, patients and caregivers and laboratories and anticipates this being completed by the end of the calendar year. The temporary regulations will explain the medical marijuana program&#8217;s operation, including how applications will be submitted and will be in place for two years from the date they are published. The department will seek input via surveys on its website throughout the temporary regulations process.</p><p>In addition to writing temporary regulations, the Department of Health is also reviewing the 123 applications it received for the newly created Medical Marijuana Program Director position. The department anticipates having the new director on board by mid-July.</p><p>The medical marijuana program was signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf April 17 and became effective May 17. The implementation of the program is expected to take between 18 and 24 months and, when completed, will offer medical marijuana to patients who are residents of Pennsylvania and under a physician&#8217;s care for the treatment of a serious medical condition as defined by Act 16.</p><p>Questions about the medical marijuana program can be emailed to RA-DHMedMarijuana@pa.gov. Information is also available on the Department of Health website at www.health.pa.gov.</p><p><strong>PennDOT secretary visits South Valley</strong></p><p><strong>Parkway project in Hanover Township</strong></p><p>Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Leslie Richards joined state Sen. John T. Yudichak Thursday to view ongoing work at the South Valley Parkway Project in Hanover Township.</p><p>The new project is creating a two-lane road between Hanover Township and Nanticoke, bypassing the residential Askam section of Hanover. The roadway will run from Middle Road and Kosciuszko Street in Nanticoke to South Main Road, east of State Route 29.</p><p>The $83.4 million project, being built by Kriger Construction Inc. of Dickson City, started in January with construction expected to run through 2019.</p><p><strong>Governor signs fair funding formula</strong></p><p><strong>bill; renews call to restore funding</strong></p><p>Gov. Tom Wolf has signed House Bill 1552 into law, which establishes a fair funding formula and provides emergency funds for two of the commonwealth&#8217;s financially distressed school districts. Wolf also called for new funding to help restore equity to Pennsylvania public school districts.</p><p>Wolf looks forward to continuing to work with leaders to further address the challenges and to reach agreement on a budget that is balanced, fixes the deficit and further invests in education at all levels.</p><p>House Bill 1552, now Act 35, establishes a fair, equitable formula for allocating new state funds to Pennsylvania schools.</p><p>The Basic Education Funding (BEF) Formula accounts for district based factors including the wealth of the district, the district&#8217;s current tax effort and the ability of the district to raise revenue. It also includes student-&#173;based factors like:</p><p>&#8226; Number of children in the district who live in poverty,</p><p>&#8226; Number of children enrolled in charter schools, and</p><p>&#8226; Number of children who are English language learners.</p><p>The BEF Formula was created and unanimously adopted by the bipartisan Basic Education Funding Commission in June 2015. Having a formula in place will assure school districts new funding will be distributed equitably and investments in education will no longer be determined by the influence of one legislator over another.</p><p>Wolf is seeking additional education funding in the 2016-17 budget, which would be distributed using the new BEF Formula. The 2015-16 budget included a $200 million increase in Basic Education Funding that will be distributed using the Fair Funding Formula.</p><p><strong>West Nile virus-carrying</strong></p><p><strong>mosquito sample detected</strong></p><p>The Pennsylvania Departments of Environmental Protection and Health are reporting the confirmation of the first 2016 detections of West Nile Virus from a Turkey Vulture found in Orrstown Borough, Franklin County, May 17 and a Red-tailed Hawk found in Worth Township, Centre County, May 2.</p><p>In 2004, Pennsylvania began its integrated pest management program and has since improved identification and control of mosquito populations. The program routinely surveys counties based on historical West Nile Virus presence. DEP treats impacted areas using effective and safe control substances when necessary.</p><p>Certain mosquito species carry the virus, which may cause humans to contract West Nile fever or West Nile encephalitis, an infection that can result in inflammation of the brain. Last year, West Nile Virus was detected in 56 counties and resulted in 14 human cases, including one fatality.</p><p>Although most people do not become ill when infected with West Nile Virus, all are at risk. Older adults and those with compromised immune systems are at the highest risk of becoming ill and developing severe complications.</p><p>The best defense against West Nile Virus is to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. Mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water around homes, weeds, tall grass, shrubbery and discarded tires.</p><p>For more information about West Nile Virus and the state&#8217;s surveillance and control program, visit www.westnile.state.pa.us.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_Leslie-Richards-PennDOT.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Richards </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_Leslie-Richards-PennDOT.jpg</photo0><caption0>Richards </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_Secretary-Karen-Murphy.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Murphy </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_Secretary-Karen-Murphy.jpg</photo1><caption1>Murphy </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_Wolf-3-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wolf </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_Wolf-3-.jpg</photo2><caption2>Wolf </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_PatrickMcDonnell-DEP-Acting-Secretary.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">McDonnell </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_PatrickMcDonnell-DEP-Acting-Secretary.jpg</photo3><caption3>McDonnell </caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Work on temporary medical marijuana regulations for Pennsylvania begins