HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has approved a toll hike for next year.

The commission says the increase means rates will be going up 10 percent for cash-paying customers and 2-percent for those who pay with E-ZPass. The agency says the hike will result in a toll-revenue growth of 3 percent.

Chief Executive Officer Roger E. Nutt said in a statement that the increase will generate revenue needed to satisfy a $450 million funding obligation to the state.

Officials say that the increase means E-ZPass customers will now be saving 25 percent, which is up from the 17 percent savings they see now.

The commission says the last time tolls were increased was in January 2011. The new go rates into effect on Jan. 6.

Pa. creating special ID for certain votersHARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s Department of State said Friday it will offer a special photo ID card for voters who are unable to obtain birth certificates or other documents for a non-driver ID issued by the Department of Transportation.Secretary of State Carole Aichele said the new card is designed to provide “a safety net” for voters who are unable to get the documents they need for a PennDOT ID.The new card, free and available through PennDOT starting the last week of August, will be free, will be added to the long list of government and other IDs that have been deemed acceptable under the tough new law that takes effect on Nov. 6, Election Day.“The creation of these voter cards is an important step in the implementation of the voter ID law,” Aichele said. “Everyone who needs ID to vote will be able to get it months before the election.”Plans for the special card came to light this week in a legal brief filed by civil rights groups that are challenging the constitutionality of the new law on behalf of 10 registered voters and seeking to block enforcement of the law.A hearing on the case is scheduled to begin Wednesday in Commonwealth Court.The plaintiffs’ lawyers estimate that at least 1 million voters — 12 percent of the 8.3 million who are registered — lack PennDOT-issued IDs. State officials say 759,000 voters, or 9 percent, fall into that category.