Legislators meet, don’t do anythingHARRISBURG — Pennsylvania legislators convened briefly Tuesday for the first time since state budget negotiations collapsed just before Christmas, but partisan differences over spending and taxation blocked any clear path to ending a stalemate now in its seventh month.Legislative leaders fulfilled a constitutional requirement for the Legislature to meet on the first Tuesday in January, but neither chamber transacted any business during the ceremonial sessions and no formal talks are scheduled. The full House is to convene next week and the Senate in the following week.Still, with Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf slated to deliver his 2016-17 budget address Feb. 9, the budget mess was the main topic of discussion among party leaders.

Airlines raise round-trip faresSeveral U.S. airlines are raising base round-trip fares on domestic flights by $6, the first large-scale increase since June.JPMorgan Chase analyst Jamie Baker said Delta began boosting prices on Monday and was quickly matched by Southwest Airlines. Both airlines confirm the report. American, United, JetBlue and Virgin America also said that they matched the increase.Baker said the hike covers corporate, leisure and deeply discounted fares.The increase could be rolled back, but that’s unlikely with support from so many airlines. However, airlines constantly run sales and tinker with prices, reducing the effect of broad fare hikes.