HARRISBURG — Dog licenses for next year are now available from county treasurers' offices.

The Department of Agriculture said Monday the tags are required as of Jan. 1 for dogs that are at least three months old.

Annual licenses cost $8.45, with a $2 discount for dogs that are spayed or neutered.

Lifetime licenses are also available for dogs that carry identifying microchips or tattoos.

License applications require owner contact details and information about the dogs' name, age, breed and color.

Visit www.licenseyourdogPA.com.

HARRISBURG — A Pennsylvania state lawmaker thinks taxpayers should be explicitly credited for the cost of publishing state-sponsored material and operating public websites.Pennlive.com reported Monday that Republican state Rep. Fred Keller of Union County has introduced a bill that would mark those materials and websites with the phrase, “prepared or compiled using taxpayer resources.”Keller's own website and state-paid brochures already carry the taxpayer attribution.He says a mandate is needed because officials use state resources to “add to the power of incumbency at taxpayer expense.”

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania's tax collections are slightly above projections, according to the latest figures from the Revenue Department.Officials announced Monday that the state took in $9.9 billion in the first five months of its budget year, or less than 1 percent more than expected.The state income tax is running about $5.4 million below projections for the year, while sales, corporation and inheritance taxes are currently greater than anticipated.State revenue figures are closely watched within state government. Greater than expected income can ease the state budgeting process, while lagging tax collections can trigger precautionary moves ahead of the spring and summer budget season.

SCRANTON — A black bear spotted wandering around Scranton has been captured.Pennsylvania Game Commission officials said Monday the young adult male bear was spotted around town over the past month, rooting through garbage cans for food.It was also seen on the University of Scranton campus, a park and the East Scranton Little League Field.Lackawanna County District Wildlife Conservation Officer Kevin Moran said officials received dozens of calls from Scranton residents who saw the bear in highly populated areas.Moran said the wandering bear was captured on Nov. 27, after being lured into a trap baited with doughnuts and anise oil.Wildlife officials released the bear in a remote section of state game lands in Wyoming County, about 50 miles west of Scranton.