Kennels can’t nurse dogs on wire floorsHARRISBURG — A Pennsylvania court has sided with animal-rights activists and struck down state regulations that permitted nursing dogs to be kept in cages with wire floors and limited their access to exercise.Commonwealth Court said Friday that the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture regulations conflicted with state dog law. The law prohibits the use of metal strand flooring for dogs in commercial breeding kennels and requires unfettered access to an exercise area.The state regulations allowed the nursing mothers to be kept in cages with 50 percent wire flooring and only required breeders to provide them with daily access to exercise.The court sided with three Pennsylvania dog owners who filed suit against the agriculture department. The plaintiffs are members of the Animal Legal Defense Fund.The department declined comment on the ruling.Pennsylvania announces rules for 2017 tax amnesty program

Rules announced for tax amnestyHARRISBURG — The rules are out for a Pennsylvania tax amnesty program scheduled for two months next year that could bring the state treasury more than $100 million.The Revenue Department on Friday posted the rules for the program, which will run from April 21 to June 19.Participants must pay all the taxes they owe, along with half the interest, and file any missing returns.The state will waive all penalties and fines and cancel any liens or other enforcement actions.Eligibility is limited to those who had delinquent state taxes as of the end of 2015.