HARRISBURG – Continuing to stand up for the safety and protection of children in the commonwealth, Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr (R-47) and his fellow Senate colleagues approved legislation yesterday to ensure sexually exploited children who are human trafficking victims always have full access to appropriate services and support.

Under current Pennsylvania law, any minor that is exploited for commercial sex must identify their third-party perpetrator to be considered a victim of human trafficking, unless their purchaser is charged as a trafficker.

Senate Bill 44 would ensure that third-party control is never a consideration for access to victim services. Senate Bill 45 would eliminate the third-party control requirement to access victim services under the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline Notification Act.

“Pennsylvania has not been untouched by the horrid human trafficking epidemic that is being seen on a global scale,” said Vogel. “Children who have had to endure the atrocities from being trafficked deserve to have access to every resource possible to aid in their recovery. I am proud to support these critical pieces of legislation.”

The bills will be sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.

To those who are, or know someone who is, a victim of Human Trafficking, or have a tip about potential trafficking in their area, contact any of the following:

• National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline, 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to 23373.

• Beaver County Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition, 724-775-0131.

• Butler County’s Victim Outreach Intervention Center, 724-283-8700.

• For immediate danger, call 9-1-1.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing roadway improvement work on Route 18 (Frankfort Road) in Potter Township, Beaver County resumes Wednesday, July 5 weather permitting.

Long-term single-lane restrictions in both directions on Route 18 between Beaver Valley Mall Boulevard and Old Frankfort Road will occur from 7 a.m. Wednesday continuously through Monday, July 31.  Crews will conduct inlet adjustments, shoulder improvements, and sign installation work.

Harrisburg, PA — Starting today, 283,468 older homeowners, renters, and people with disabilities across Pennsylvania will be issued rebates totaling nearly $132 million. The rebates will be distributed to eligible Pennsylvanians who submitted an application through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program for rebates on rent and property taxes paid in 2022.

“Since this program’s inception in 1971, it has delivered more than $8 billion in property tax and rent relief. This has made a tremendous impact for people in communities throughout Pennsylvania who benefit from this program,” Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne said. “We also want everyone to know that there is still time to apply for rebates on property taxes and rent paid in 2022. If you know of a friend or family member who may be eligible, encourage them to check their eligibility status and file an application prior to the deadline on December 31, 2023.”

As specified by law, rebates cannot be issued prior to July 1. The initial rebate distribution is starting this year on July 3 (the first business day of the month). Applicants who submitted their bank account information on their application forms will receive their rebates through direct deposit. Applicants who requested a paper check to be mailed to them should expect to receive their payment in the mail.

After the initial distribution of rebates in early July, rebates will be distributed as claims are received and processed.

Governor Shapiro Proposes Major Expansion of PTRR program

As rebates on property taxes and rent paid in 2022 start going out today, Governor Josh Shapiro is calling for a major expansion of the PTRR program in his 2023-2024 proposed budget. The Governor’s commonsense proposal would provide a lifeline for Pennsylvania renters and homeowners who need it most, and help more seniors across the Commonwealth stay in their homes.

Under the Governor’s proposal, the maximum standard rebate would increase from $650 to $1,000. Meanwhile, the income limits for renters and homeowners would be made equal and both increase to $45,000. Those income limits would also be tied to the cost of living moving forward, which means people who receive a rebate won’t have to worry about losing their eligibility through no fault of their own in the years to come.

Ultimately, the Governor’s proposal would result in nearly 175,000 additional Pennsylvanians qualifying for a property tax or rent rebate. At the same time, the Department of Revenue estimates that 86 percent of the 430,000 claimants who already qualify will see their rebates increase.

Using myPATH to File Your Rebate Application

Submitting your rebate application online through mypath.pa.gov is easy and does not require you to sign up for an account. Applicants will be asked to provide specific information on their income and rent/property taxes. Applicants should check the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program instruction booklet to learn which information they will need to input/upload to complete the process.

Secretary Browne recently signed an order to extend the deadline to apply for rebates on rent and property taxes paid in 2022 to December 31, 2023.

About the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program

The current maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for certain qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975. The Department of Revenue automatically calculates supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners.

Eligible applicants should check the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program page (www.revenue.pa.gov/ptrr) on the Department of Revenue’s website for more information, including detailed instructions on the program, the paper application form, and contact information for those with questions. It’s free to apply for a rebate, and applicants are reminded that free assistance is available at hundreds of locations across the state, including Department of Revenue district offices, local Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers, and state legislators’ offices.

Applicants must reapply for rebates every year because rebates are based on annual income and property taxes or rent paid in each year. Spouses, personal representatives, or estates may file rebate claims on behalf of claimants who lived at least one day in 2022 and meet all other eligibility criteria.

The easiest way to check the status of your rebate is to use the Where’s My Rebate? tool. To check on the status of your claim, you will need your:

• Social Security number
• Claim year
• Date of birth

In this week’s episode of “Heroes”, host Jim Roddey talks with Susan Soltis about her role as the retail store manager of the Highmark Direct Store in Monroeville, and then he talks with Veterans Breakfast Club executive director Todd DePastino.

“Heroes” is presented by Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield and the Allegheny Health Network, airing Saturdays at 10:00 AM and Sundays at 12:30 PM on Beaver County Radio. Archived editions of “Heroes” can be heard at the Beaver County Radio Podcast Library.

Pastor Dave Grove talks about the parallels between the times of Sodom and Gomorrah and how many of the events in that Biblical tale, and others, are found in today’s society on this week’s “Wake Up Beaver Valley”.

“Wake Up Beaver Valley” airs every Saturday morning from 9 AM to 10 AM on Beaver County Radio and is presented by the Church of The Redeemed of Beaver Valley. Archived editions of “Wake Up Beaver Valley” can be heard at the Beaver County Radio Podcast Library.

On this week’s edition of “Living Well”, hosts Jeff Bost and Dr. Joseph Maroon discuss the effects of magnesium, whether or not it can (or should) be used to help people sleep, and what they can do for headaches.

Dr. Joseph Maroon is a world renown neurosurgeon with extensive experience in neurosurgery. He specializes in minimally invasive surgery to speed recovery for his patients. He is a sports medicine expert and innovator in concussion management, personal fitness and nutrition. Dr. Maroon is also the Pittsburgh Steelers team doctor.

Jeff Bost is a consultant to the St. Barnabas Health System. Bost is also a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Neurosurgery at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a consultant to the WWE, and Clinical Assistant Professor at Chatham University. He has a special interest in minimally invasive spine and brain surgery and have collaborated on scores of scientific medical papers and books in these areas. Over the last 15 years he has researched, lectured and written on the use of alternative treatment for pain control.

Bost, along with Dr. Joseph Maroon have authored two books on the use of omega-3 fish oil, including: Fish Oil: The Natural Anti-Inflammatory, currently in its forth printing with over 75,000 copies sold and recently, Why You Need Fish Oil. He has given over 100 invited lectures, 24 national posters and oral presentations, 29 coordinated research projects, five workshops presentations, 35 scientific articles and 10 book chapters.

You can rune into “Living Well” every Saturday morning at 8:30 on 95.7 and 99.3 FM, 1230 WBVP, 1460 WMBA, and beavercountyradio.com.

You can also listen to all previous episodes of “Living Well” by going to beavercountyradio.com clicking on the Listen Live Button, Then chose Beaver County Radio and click on Podcasts in the upper right hand corner.

You can also download our free apps by clicking on the proper store icon for your platform of a device:

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania’s politically divided Legislature appear on track to start the state’s new fiscal year without a spending plan in place. Closed-door talks through Thursday have yielded optimism from Republicans, but discontent from Democrats. The 2023-24 fiscal year begins Saturday. Budget negotiators have said little publicly about their private discussions. Republicans have spoken positively of their discussions with Shapiro, but talks with Shapiro’s fellow Democrats have been strained. Democrats say they want more money for public schools and that they oppose a new $100 million private school “voucher” program that is backed by Republicans and supported by Shapiro.

FILE – A Star of David hangs from a fence outside the dormant landmark Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood, Apr. 19, 2023. Robert Bowers. Bowers, the gunman who massacred 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018, has a “very serious mental health history” from childhood and a “markedly abnormal” brain, a defense expert testified Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in the penalty phase of the Bowers’ trial. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A psychologist says the man who gunned down 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue thought he deserved medals and a parade for perpetrating the nation’s deadliest antisemitic attack. Dr. Richard Rogers called Robert Bowers “blatantly psychotic.” Rogers evaluated Bowers for nearly 20 hours over four days last year. He testified Thursday in the penalty phase of Bowers’ trial. Jurors are deciding whether Bowers should be sentenced to death or to life in prison. The same jury convicted Bowers in the attack earlier this month.

Haze from Canadian wildfires hangs over downtown Pittsburgh and PNC Park as fans take their seats before a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Diego Padres in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres was delayed 45 minutes Thursday due to poor air conditions caused by lingering smoke from wildfires in Canada. Moments before the scheduled start time at 12:35 p.m., the game was pushed to a 1:20 p.m. start. During the delay, the Pirates issued a statement stating they would continue to consider weather conditions and air quality index. The game began with the lights turned on at hazy PNC Park, and Pirates star Andrew McCutchen put on a face mask after hitting a single in the first inning. Several thousand fans, including many children, were in attendance for the afternoon game.