Senator leaves for chamber post

MOUNT LEBANON — A first-term Democratic state senator from Allegheny County is resigning his seat and becoming president of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce.

Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa said Wednesday that Sen. Matt Smith’s resignation will be effective within days.

Smith was elected to a four-year Senate term in 2012 after serving six years in the state House of Representatives. Once Smith’s resignation is official, it will be up to Lt. Gov. Mike Stack to schedule a special election to pick someone to fill the remainder of Smith’s term.

Smith’s district includes parts of Allegheny and Washington counties.

Hearing planned on police nominee

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Senate is planning a long-awaited hearing on Gov. Tom Wolf’s nominee to lead the state police.

The Law and Justice Committee will hold the hearing on acting Commissioner Marcus Brown’s nomination on June 3.

Some retired troopers have criticized Brown, a former Maryland state police superintendent, because he wears a Pennsylvania trooper’s uniform but didn’t attend the State Police Academy or come up through the department’s ranks.

Other critics question Brown’s views on law enforcement.

By The Associated Press