Allegheny County has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic over the past few years, with the continued rates of drug overdoses causing concern for residents and elected officials alike.

Some people believe a way to stave off the long term consequences of intravenous drug use in particular could be through needle exchange programs like Prevention Point, a 20-year-old program that operates in neighborhoods throughout the city.

After years of working to get Senate Bill 172 passed, Senators David Argall (R-Schuylkill) and Judy Schwank (D-Berks) are a step closer following its final passage in the Senate today, and now need House approval and the governor's signature to see it enacted. 

The bill would establish a five-year pilot program for using speed cameras in active work zones on interstate highways and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. 

After two years of pushing for a bill to restrict domestic abusers access to firearms, Deb Marteslo, Pennsylvania lead for Moms Demand Action, was nervous before the last barrier to the governor’s desk — a final floor vote in the state Senate.

“We’ve been stymied so many times, I wasn’t allowing myself to think it’s a done deal,” Marteslo said.

But by a 43-5 bipartisan vote, the senators approved HB 2060, which mandates convicted domestic abusers give up their guns within 24 hours of a final protection from abuse order and limits who can hold onto them for safe keeping Wednesday.