Park store pulling Confederate items

GETTYSBURG — The bookstore at Gettysburg National Military Park has stopped selling items with the Confederate flag in the wake of last week’s massacre at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina.

Gettysburg, the site of the Civil War’s pivotal battle, said Thursday it will no longer sell 11 items that use the battle flag as a stand-alone feature.

The bookstore says it will continue to offer items that feature both the U.S. and Confederate flags, as well as books, DVDs, and other educational materials “where the image of the Confederate flag is depicted in its historical context.”

The National Park Service had asked concessionaires to pull Confederate-flag clothing, stickers and other items.

National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis says “stand-alone depictions of Confederate flags have no place in park stores.”

Lawmakers send Wolf 911 funding bill

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania lawmakers on Thursday sent a bill to raise millions to fund 911 emergency call centers to Gov. Tom Wolf, who is expected to sign it.

The Senate gave final approval to a proposal that would increase the fees paid by phone customers, typically $1 a month, to $1.65 a month.

Wolf press secretary Jeff Sheridan said the governor supports the legislation.

The centers require about $292 million a year to operate, but the phone bill fee has not been enough to pay the full cost and counties have had to subsidize them.

Doug Hill with the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania said the legislation will increase efficiency, cut overhead, aid in planning and encourage regional responses.