Changes to liquor, wine sales beginHARRISBURG — State alcohol regulators this week began taking applications for permits under the expanded sales of booze approved by the Legislature and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf earlier this summer.The Liquor Control Board said about 11,000 businesses that currently have what are called restaurant or hotel licenses, which allow them sell beer to go, can apply for permission to also sell takeout wine.Eating place licenses that sell beer to go, typically pizza shops or similar establishments, can apply to upgrade to a restaurant license in all parts of the state except the city of Philadelphia.The bill allows casinos to apply to sell booze during overnight hours and for wineries in other states to ship directly to Pennsylvania customers.The PLCB is getting greater flexibility to set hours and prices at its roughly 600 state-owned liquor stores.Some sales under the expanded permits for wine could begin as early as this month.

Rear-facing seat law for kids takes effectHARRISBURG — Pennsylvania motorists will have to make sure car seats face backward for all children until they’re 2 years old under a new state law that goes into effect this week.The measure that becomes law Friday directs police to issue warnings for the first year, after which violations will cost $125 in fines, costs and fees.Backers of the new child seat rules say facing children toward the back of the car dramatically lowers their risk of death or serious injury during crashes.