Author: Amaury Abreu

By Doc Clements Representative Ryan is again dusting off PA House Bill 16, legislation to eliminate school taxes. Lord knows school taxes have been increasing yearly and it makes home ownership for low-income families and the elderly difficult. We have heard that Harrisburg was working on school tax relief for, at least, the past ten years and several flawed bills have been proposed. I agree wholeheartedly that we must do something about the skyrocketing school tax issue but at what cost? No discussion of school taxes can be had without a close look at the cause for their increase. Twenty-five…

Press Release The Pennsylvania Commission for Women, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus (PLBC) hosted a Women in Law Enforcement discussion virtually to showcase women serving in the PSP. The panelists discussed how to recruit and retain women, shared their personal experiences, and highlighted the benefits of this career.Panelists:• Lt. Col. Kristal Turner-Childs, Deputy Commissioner of Staff• Lt. Cara McCree, Advanced Regional Training Section, Bureau of Training and Education• Sgt. Dawn Carpenter, Recruitment Services Section Supervisor• Cpl. Danea Durham, Recruitment Services East Unit Supervisor• Tpr. Kelly Smith, Community Affairs Officer, Office of Community Engagement“The Pennsylvania…

Myerstown, PA- The Pennsylvania State Police reported an identity theft incident in Myerstown, Pennsylvania. The report shares that the state police was able to find that an unknown individual gained access to the victims unemployment compensation account and started receiving the victims unemployment compensation. The victim, a 57 year old female, decided to not keep receiving unemployment compensation and reported the incident to the department of Labor and Industry, says the police report.

The county leaders are advocating for $28 million to fund community crisis services and residential mental health services. Gabriela Martínez, WITF (Harrisburg)-County commissioners in Pennsylvania said their top legislative priorities include addressing the human services workforce shortage and spending money on child and youth welfare services, broadband expansion, 911 operations, election funding and resources. They say it is harder for people to find mental health support. “While all industries are suffering workforce shortages, human services are unique as they rely entirely on people to deliver those services. Those roles cannot be performed by computers or other machines,” said Kevin Boozel,…

PRESS RELEASE, JANUARY 27, 2022 Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced that as of yesterday’s deadline, all 67 counties, including 241 local governments with a population of 10,000 or more, have joined the historic $26 billion opioid agreement with the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors – Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen – and Johnson & Johnson over the companies’ role in creating and fueling the nationwide opioid crisis. “Every community in Pennsylvania has been touched by the opioid crisis — it have ravaged our towns, our families, and our state. This historic agreement has now received the support of all 67 counties and many…

“The City of York is the core of our coverage area. What happens here affects the entire county. And yet for a variety of reasons we have drifted away from the intense focus needed to understand and address the needs of the county seat. “

Rachel McDevitt, Climate Solutions Gov. Tom Wolf is rejecting a measure that would keep the state from joining an effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Before leaving for the winter recess in December, the Republican-controlled legislature passed a disapproval resolution that would have blocked a new regulation allowing the state to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. In his veto message, Wolf said the regulation “is a vital step for Pennsylvania to reduce carbon emissions and achieve our climate goals.” Wolf also said the legislature’s effort failed to comply with the timeline laid out in the Regulatory Review Act. His administration…

“It is a puzzle. Sometimes it’s resolved in 15 or 20 minutes and other mornings, we are still rearranging people because something happens at the last minute.”  Julia Agos, WITF (Carlisle) – Dr. Colleen Friend starts most mornings around 6:15am. As the assistant superintendent for the Carlisle Area School District, it’s her job to look at the teacher absences for the day and figure out who is going to cover for who. “It is a puzzle,” she said. “Sometimes it’s resolved in 15 or 20 minutes and other mornings, we are still rearranging people because something happens at the last…

The repeal passed by a 7-3 vote Gabriela Martínez, WITF News (Chambersburg) — Chambersburg Borough became the first municipality in Pennsylvania to repeal a non-discriminations ordinance that would have protected certain groups of people from discrimination. The repeal passed by a 7-3 vote Monday night with all Republicans voting for repeal and Democrats voting to keep the ordinance. Council president Allen Coffman said he considers the law redundant because the Pennsylvania State Human Relations Commission already handles discrimination claims. “This to me is one place we shouldn’t get involved,” Coffman said. “Let’s not get complicated in the bureaucracy of this. Why wouldn’t…

Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — The slow, multiyear process of amending the Pennsylvania Constitution has become the tool of choice for Republican lawmakers seeking to enact policy and avoid the governor’s veto. Last year, the proposals the legislature sent voters all received approval. Two limited the governor’s power to declare and sustain a state of emergency, and the other enshrined protection against discrimination based on race in Pennsylvania. Lawmakers…