Oct. 15, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
Homeowners and renters impacted by the COVID-19 economic downturn now have until Wednesday, Nov. 4, to apply for mortgage or rental assistance grants. The funding was made available through the federal CARES Act.
Oct. 05, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives gave unanimous, bipartisan approval to a bill this week to help address several education-related issues brought on by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Sep. 28, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) announced this week that due to an alarming spike in suspicious applications for unemployment benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, additional anti-fraud and identity verification measures will be put in place.
Sep. 25, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
Like so many of you, I am frustrated and infuriated with Gov. Tom Wolf’s policies he formed unilaterally and without input of Pennsylvanians or the Legislature. Understandably, I have been asked why I have not signed the Declaration of Suspension, which falsely claims to be a tool to end the governor’s State of Emergency Declaration. Let be clear, it does not have any legal standing. It has a zero chance of doing anything.
Sep. 21, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
Spotted Lanternfly have grown into adults over the summer and are now beginning to swarm. They hunt for tall structures such as trees and houses in preparation to launch themselves into the wind, look for food and find a safe place to lay their eggs. The Spotted Lanternfly poses no harm to humans; however, they disrupt outdoor activity and feed off several types of trees.
Sep. 11, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
Now that the new school year is underway, the Wolf administration is continuing to fail our children.
Sep. 01, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
As vice-chair of the Children and Youth Committee in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, I am reminding everyone it is critical that we help protect children from abuse and neglect during the current COVID-19 public health emergency by being more vigilant.
Aug. 24, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
The Pennsylvania departments of Health and Aging are warning state residents about contact tracing scams.
Aug. 17, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
Student athletes and their families have been experiencing much stress and uncertainty recently regarding the resuming of sports and other activities while we continue to deal with COVID-19.
Aug. 10, 2020 / Newspaper Columns
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) is reminding state residents of the warning signs associated with the widespread identity theft fraud ring targeting COVID-19 unemployment compensation (UC) benefits programs across the nation.
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