No Kane ouster talk at budget meetingHARRISBURG — Attorney General Kathleen Kane says she’s hoping for a 5 percent budget increase for her office after she appeared before a panel of state senators, including many who had sought unsuccessfully to remove her from office.Questions focused on law enforcement matters during Kane’s hourlong Senate Appropriations Committee hearing Thursday. Neither Kane nor senators mentioned the failed vote two weeks ago to oust her.Kane says the hearing didn’t feel any differently than last year’s Appropriations Committee hearing. Kane urged lawmakers to equip her office with the money to hire more agents and analysts, and to approve more money for drug treatment centers.

Secret donors fund pro-Toomey TV adHARRISBURG — A conservative advocacy organization that keeps its donors secret says it’s spending $1 million on a TV ad touting U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey’s legislation that’s designed to prevent predators from getting jobs in schools.The 10-day election-year ad starts Thursday statewide in Pennsylvania. It comes amid Democrats’ criticism of a Senate Republican stance against considering a nominee by President Barack Obama to fill a Supreme Court vacancy.Toomey, a Republican, is running for a second term in November’s election.The Washington, D.C.-based group, One Nation, isn’t required by federal law to disclose its donors because it’s a “social welfare” group. It has been airing ads in support of Republican lawmakers.It’s the second time in a week that a conservative organization that shields its donors aired a pro-Toomey TV ad.

Baker Knoll quits race for treasurerHARRISBURG — A candidate for the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania state treasurer is dropping out of the race for the office once held by his mother.Albert Baker Knoll announced Wednesday he was withdrawing, one day after two men launched a court challenge to his nomination petition. Baker Knoll says he needs more surgery to repair damage from a 2014 skiing accident.