By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor

The Legislative Reapportionment Commission settled on a final package of maps Monday afternoon, bringing months of negotiations and hearings to a close.

The caucus leaders and Chairman Stephen McEwen approved the deal by a vote of 4-1, with Pa. Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) the lone dissenting vote. Costa had offered an amendment that would have entirely altered the Senate portion of the deal, but that failed by a vote of 3-2.

The vote started a 30-day period for possible court challenges to the new districts.

The Senate districts are identical to those reported on Wednesday, the main change from the preliminary version being the end of the so-called “Harrisburg horseshoe,” a district that had been carved for Sen. Jeff Piccola who since announced his retirement.

The House map is slightly different – the seat of Rep. Ed Staback (D-Lackawanna) was moved to neighboring Monroe County in light of his retirement. It will remain a Democratic seat.

From Laura Olsen of the Post-Gazette, here’s a link to the newly public House map. And here’s a description of which towns are in each of the districts.