Aug. 03, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
Pennsylvania drivers are reminded of two voluntary programs aimed at saving the lives of residents in emergency situations. Participation in both programs is free of charge.
Jul. 29, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved a plan to provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to students who are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals at school through the National School Lunch Program. This program, known as Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT), will be temporary and is designed to bridge the gap left by school closings and help families who may have strained resources due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jul. 20, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
With the summer cooling season in full swing, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) is reminding consumers of the opportunity to switch energy suppliers to help save money on their monthly electric bills. A quick visit to www.PAPowerSwitch.com allows consumers in most areas of the state to choose who supplies their electricity, based on price or other factors, such as renewable energy.
Jul. 13, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has launched an online early warning monitoring dashboard that provides information on the prevalence of COVID-19 on a statewide and county basis to track increases in the disease in the community. The dashboard can be accessed through the department’s website, www.health.pa.gov.
Jul. 06, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
Pennsylvania schools will share $157.5 million in funding to address health and safety needs related to the COVID-19 emergency in advance of the upcoming academic year.
Jun. 29, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has released guidance to allow elementary and secondary schools in the state’s yellow and green phases to resume in-person instruction and activities this fall under a phased reopening approach that first requires schools to develop health and safety plans based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the state Department of Health (DOH).
Jun. 16, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) is working closely with state and federal partners to monitor COVID-19 scams across the country that are targeting unemployment benefits programs and their claimants.
Jun. 10, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services reminds residents that public assistance programs remain available to families throughout the COVID-19 public-health emergency.
May. 01, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
Our office is a “catch all” for state government information, which we then disseminate to our constituents. Right now, three out of four calls are from unemployed people trying to figure out where they are in the process of applying for compensation. They don’t contact us to hear “Did you try…” or “I don’t know…” But until Harrisburg starts focusing on these people who are hurting, the level of anger and frustration is only going to escalate.
Mar. 26, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
Mar. 23, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
Pennsylvania voters are reminded that if they have concerns about coronavirus and wish not to vote in their polling place during the April 28 primary election, they can instead request a mail-in ballot, the Commonwealth’s new voting option that allows voters to vote by mail without having to provide a reason.
Mar. 18, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
Mar. 16, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) recently announced an expansion of its PA Forward Student Loan Program, offering borrowers a more streamlined way to manage their debt by combining all their federal and private student loans into a single monthly payment.
Mar. 13, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
Mar. 05, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
With the Commonwealth’s April 28 primary election about two months away, the Department of State has launched 67 new webpages – one for each county – where voters can learn specifics about their county’s voting system and how to use it.
Feb. 24, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
Spring is just around the corner and anglers are starting to make plans for the opening day of trout season statewide on Saturday, April 18.
Feb. 18, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
Since Oct. 31 of last year, the General Fund has been operating with a negative balance. Almost every day since Halloween, the Commonwealth has been forced to borrow from itself to pay its own bills.
Feb. 18, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
Comprehensive reforms designed to encourage greater participation in Pennsylvania’s elections will be in place for the upcoming April 28 Primary Election.
Feb. 10, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
Application forms for the state Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program are now available at my district office for eligible seniors and people with disabilities to begin claiming rebates for property taxes or rent payments they made last year.
Jan. 29, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
Last week in Harrisburg, a group of legislators joined officials with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) in calling for a series of reforms aimed at updating and improving operations within the system. A package of bills was introduced in the House of Representatives that would implement the changes.