Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro announced that more than 1,800 Commonwealth employees, including all cabinet members and their deputies, all Governor’s Office executive staff, and senior managers with the Commonwealth – have completed mandatory in-person ethics and integrity training led by government ethics expert Eric Fillman.

 

Governor Shapiro previously announced 100% of employees covered by his executive order have signed the Governor’s integrity pledge, committing themselves to placing the interests of Pennsylvanians above all else and maintaining public trust in their work.

 

“Our ethics package is a promise to the people of Pennsylvania that we will serve their best interests each and every day,” said Governor Shapiro. “As Attorney General, I held my agency and my staff to the highest standards of integrity and accountability, and I’m proud to say that we are bringing those same standards to the Governor’s Office. Together, we will continue to promote trust in government and accountability for public officials while fostering dialogue and allowing our Administration to bring people together to deliver results for all Pennsylvanians.”

 

During his first week in office, Governor Shapiro announced a three-part ethics package to ensure that the highest standards of integrity guide every action taken by the public servants, officials, and employees under the Governor’s jurisdiction. Governor Shapiro’s integrity pledge and the mandatory ethics training are modeled after best practices he established in the Office of Attorney General.

 

The trainings were coordinated by the Office of General Counsel along with the assistance of the Office of Administration.

 

“We are proud to help ensure that the majority of senior executive staff and all Cabinet members have completed ethics training,” said Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver. “We will continue working to make certain current and future Commonwealth employees operate under the highest standards of trust and integrity as they work for the people of Pennsylvania.”

 

“The work Governor Shapiro did in the Office of Attorney General is the gold standard in restoring institutional integrity and I was proud to continue that work by leading ethics training for more than 1,800 Commonwealth employees,” said Eric Fillman, former chief counsel for the House Ethics Committee in Harrisburg and the first-ever Chief Integrity Officer under then-Attorney General Shapiro. “Under Governor Shapiro’s leadership, he will ensure the Commonwealth maintains an atmosphere of integrity and trust as he moves his agenda forward.”

 

The Shapiro Administration conducted ethics training in Harrisburg and regionally in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Additionally, all new Commonwealth employees under the Governor’s jurisdiction will be required to complete online ethics training as part of their onboarding process.

(Butler, PA) Lifesteps is the recipient of a $3,806 donation from Northwest Savings Bank through the  Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and  Economic Development (DCED). The gift will be used to fund its Pre-Kindergarten (Preschool) Scholarship  Program. 

Lifesteps’ Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Program offers full and partial scholarships for it Armstrong, Beaver  and Butler Early Education Centers to qualified children in full- or part-time preschool services, as well as the  Summer Discovery Program. Eligible students must be 3 to 5 years of age, a resident of Pennsylvania, and be a member of a family that meet household income requirements. 

The program offers a child a chance to build early literacy, math, science and social skills prior to starting Kindergarten. This strong educational foundation helps to prepare a child for school success, supporting life long learning.  

Lifesteps is approved to receive donations both as an approved Educational Improvement Organization (EIO)  and a Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organization (PKSO). For eligibility requirements or to apply for a  scholarship, please visit www.lifesteps.net.  

“We want to thank Northwest Savings Bank for their generous gift through the EITC Program,” said Karen  Sue Owens, President and CEO of Lifesteps. “Northwest’s donation will allow Lifesteps to provide tuition  assistance, making early learning more available and affordable for eligible families.” 

Pennsylvania’s EITC Program enables businesses to receive tax credits when making contributions to an  approved educational organization, like Lifesteps, at little or no cost to them. Businesses who participate in  the program receive up to a 100 percent tax credit when making contributions to organizations that provide  Pre-K Scholarships for low- and middle-income children and/or up to a 90 percent tax credit for contributions  supporting educational programs or scholarships for students in grades K-12. 

Lifesteps is a non-profit agency that has served Pennsylvania communities since 1923. Services for children,  families, adults with disabilities and seniors are designed to encourage growth, independence, confidence  and dignity. The programs span the age spectrum, ranging from free developmental screenings for infants  and toddlers to programs that allow adults with intellectual disabilities live an “Everyday Life,” and are  encouraged to be as independent as possible. For more information, visit lifesteps.net. 

Pictured from left to right: T.J. Reisdorf, SVP, Senior Client Advisor First Commonwealth Advisors; Karen Sue Owens, President & CEO Lifesteps, Inc.; Julie Thumma, Specialist,  Resource Development Lifesteps, Inc.

(Butler, PA) Lifesteps is the recipient of a $10,000 donation from First Commonwealth Bank through the  Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and  Economic Development (DCED). The gift will be used to fund Transitions… The Next Step for Young Adults. 

Lifesteps’ Transitions provides vocational and employment skills training for high school students and young  adults with disabilities. The program improves the likelihood these individuals will reach their fullest  potential and live the most productive and independent lives possible.  

“We want to thank First Commonwealth Bank for their generous gift through the EITC program,” said Karen  Sue Owens, President and CEO of Lifesteps. “Their donation will allow Lifesteps to expand the number of  participants in our Transitions Program, as we help them along their life’s journey.” 

Lifesteps is approved to receive donations both as an approved Educational Improvement Organization (EIO)  and a Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organization (PKSO). For eligibility requirements or to apply for a  scholarship, please visit www.lifesteps.net.  

Pennsylvania’s EITC Program enables businesses to receive tax credits when making contributions to an  approved educational organization, like Lifesteps, at little or no cost to them. Businesses who participate in  the program receive up to a 100 percent tax credit when making contributions to organizations that provide  Pre-K Scholarships for low- and middle-income children and/or up to a 90 percent tax credit for contributions  supporting educational programs or scholarships for students in grades K-12. 

Lifesteps is a non-profit agency that has served Pennsylvania communities since 1923. Services for children,  families, adults with disabilities and seniors are designed to encourage growth, independence, confidence  and dignity. The programs span the age spectrum, ranging from free developmental screenings for infants  and toddlers to programs that allow adults with intellectual disabilities live an “Everyday Life,” and are  encouraged to be as independent as possible. For more information, visit lifesteps.net.

(Photo courtesy of Navy Outreach)

Lt. JG Alicia Reilly is a medical readiness provider with the U.S. Naval Health Clinic Lemoore, serving with the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command. Reilly is a 2014 graduate of Pittsburgh-area Moon Area High School.

“I joined the Navy because I wanted to explore my options,” said Reilly. “Also my grandfather was a big influence on me. He was the one who piqued my interest in joining the military.”

Reilly joined the Navy in 2020, and works as part of one of the military’s most-honored branches. She assists maritime combat members in being ready for all possible situations, whether they be to fight the enemy or help their fellow combatants.

“From a medical standpoint, we assist our sailors in staying prepared for the fight,” said Reilly. “National defense encompasses more than just warfighting. The Navy operates two primary hospital ships that actively engage in humanitarian missions. These missions enhance our preparedness in the face of man-made crises or natural disasters.”

More details about Reilly’s story can be found through her ACMO profile.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s Democratic Party primary field for attorney general is filling up as the former head of Philadelphia’s public defense lawyers kicked off her campaign Wednesday for the state’s top law enforcement office.

If elected, Keir Bradford-Grey, 48, would become the first Black attorney general in Pennsylvania. She also would become the first attorney general whose legal experience was primarily as a public defender.

Before Bradford-Grey led the Defender Association of Philadelphia for five years, she was Montgomery County’s chief public defender — recruited in 2012 by Gov. Josh Shapiro, who at the time was about to become chair of the county’s three-member board.

During those years as a chief public defender, Bradford-Grey expanded her offices’ profiles to get involved in criminal justice reform, creating programs to try to help keep defendants out of jail and pushing for policy changes, such as fighting the use of cash bail for per-trial detention.

“People write off what it means to be a public defender,” Bradford-Grey said in an interview. “They don’t know the experience and skill you develop in becoming a problem-solver and a solution-driver and understanding root causes very well.”

While Bradford-Grey headed the defender association, the organization created “participatory defense hubs,” or organized groups of trained volunteers who meet weekly with people facing charges. The goal was to help them understand the criminal justice system, make good decisions and find services available to them.

The defender association went to court to challenge the police practice of detaining people arrested while on probation without a judge’s approval. It researched the Philadelphia police practice of “stop and frisk,” finding that it predominantly targeted Black people and found something illegal in less than one-fifth of 1% of the cases.

In 2019, she helped personally represent a Black bicycle deliveryman in a racially charged case in which he was accused of fatal stabbing a white real estate developer in Philadelphia. The deliveryman, Michael White, was acquitted of voluntary manslaughter in the death of Sean Schellenger.

Two other Democrats — former state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale and former federal prosecutor Joe Kahn — have already announced their candidacy for the Democratic nomination. Meanwhile, Philadelphia state Rep. Jared Solomon has said he is seriously considering running.

No Republican candidate has announced, although York County District Attorney Dave Sunday is considering running, a campaign consultant said.

A Boston native, Bradford-Grey got her law degree at Ohio Northern University before going to work as a public defender in Philadelphia. When she ran the defender association, it almost rivaled the size of the attorney general’s office, with more than 500 employees and a budget of more than $50 million. Bradford-Grey stepped down from the defender association in 2021 to join a private law firm.

The attorney general’s office has a budget of about $120 million annually and plays a critical role in arresting drug traffickers, fighting gun trafficking, defending state laws in court and protecting consumers from predatory practices.

The office helped lead state attorneys general in settlement talks with pharmaceutical distributors and manufacturers over the opioid crisis. It also played a central role in defending the integrity of Pennsylvania’s 2020 presidential election against repeated attempts to overturn it in state and federal courts by former President Donald Trump’s campaign and Republican allies.

Shapiro stepped down as attorney general in January when he was sworn in as governor. He appointed his top deputy, Michelle Henry, to finish the last two years of his term as attorney general.

Henry, a former Bucks County prosecutor, has said she does not plan to run for the office in 2024.

HARRISBURG – In an effort to revitalize the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement (BDLE), Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr.’s (R-47) Dog Law Modernization Bill (Senate Bill 746) advanced from the Senate with bipartisan support by a vote of 43-7.

Senate Bill 746 would provide critical updates to Pennsylvania’s Dog Law including increases to licensing and kennel fees.

“The Bureau has been struggling over the last several years to cover basic operations and fill critical vacancies to ensure they can perform their duties efficiently,” said Vogel. “With their primary operating funds coming from the licensing and kennel fees administered through the Dog Law, my legislation seeks to adjust those fees to create an improved flow of funding to better address the Bureau’s current needs. I appreciate my colleagues’ continued support of this vital legislation.”

For the last several years the BDLE has relied on state appropriations to maintain its operations as they have been working in a deficit which has caused a staff shortage within the BDLE and has made it impossible from hiring a new warden when a position is vacated.

To remedy this issue, among others, and with the support of the Department of Agriculture, Senate Bill 746 would first revise annual and lifetime dog licenses. For individual dog licenses, the annual fees would gradually increase by $2 for an annual license in the first year to $7, and a subsequent increase of $2 the following year to $9, with a final increase of $1 in 2027 taking the maximum fee increase to $10, and $49 for a lifetime license (no additional increases) regardless of spay/neuter status.

Seniors and persons disabled are eligible for a $2 discount on annual licenses and a $16 discount on lifetime licenses.

Additionally, since kennel inspections are a significant portion of the work done by the BDLE, this legislation includes a 25% percent increase for each classification.

It is important to note that these fees have not seen an increase for several decades – 25 years for annual and lifetime dog licenses and 57 years for kennel license fees to be exact.

With only approximately 50% of dogs in Pennsylvania licensed, more also needs to be done to improve licensing compliance, so the bill would require a dog be licensed at three months of age or older (current law) or the point of transfer to a new owner, whichever occurs first.  It will also establish an online licensing website for counties that do not currently offer one, thus increasing convenience for their residents.  A statewide licensing database will also be created to modernize the information and provide accessibility to law enforcement statewide.

The legislation also seeks to clarify “dangerous dog” determinations, require that kennels notify the Department of Agriculture of updates to their type or classification, update rescue network kennel licensing and related documentation of foreign dogs, revoke kennel licenses when the kennel is charged with animal cruelty, require transparency of both the source of a dog and the identifying seller’s license information in advertisements, ensure proof of licensure is provided when requested by the appropriate authorities and increase criminal penalties for law violators.

Senate Bill 746 now moves to the House for consideration.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s Democratic-controlled House of Representatives approved a measure by a close vote Tuesday that would raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2026, fulfilling a long-held party campaign plank that has run up against Republican legislative majorities for years.

The bill passed 103-100 with all but one Democrat voting for it and two Republicans joining them. But it has an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled Senate as lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro increasingly focus on budget legislation ahead of the July 1 start of the new fiscal year.

Pennsylvania’s minimum wage is set at the federal minimum of $7.25, and last increased in 2009.

The measure would gradually increase the minimum wage to $15 by changing from $7.25 to $11 in its first year, then to $13 in 2025 and finally to $15 in 2026. The bill ties future increases to inflation, which sponsors say mirrors action taken by 15 other states.

The legislation would also increase the tipped wage to 60% of the minimum wage from the current $2.83 an hour. The movement comes after Democrats won a House majority for the first time in a dozen years, albeit by one seat.

It’s been a yearslong effort for Democrats, who have campaigned on increasing the minimum wage nationally.

Rep. Justin Fleming, a Dauphin County Democrat, said it was one of his priorities as a candidate. He recalled working for a former Democratic governor when the Legislature last increased the minimum wage.

“If you had told me that it would be 14 years before this body would take another stab to raise the minimum wage, I simply wouldn’t have believed it,” he said. “Passing this bill will keep workers who live close to our borders here in the state and patronizing Pennsylvania businesses.”

Republicans emphasized concerns for small businesses and rising costs associated with raising the wage.

“I cannot support a bill that would put a local family restaurant out of business and, along with it, the many employees who make a living at their three locations,” said Rep. Katie Klunk, a York County Republican.

For some Democrats, the effort didn’t extend far enough.

“An African proverb says, ‘When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers,’” said Dauphin County Democratic Rep. Patty Kim. “Even if we raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, the grass still suffers. I support this bill because this is a piece to a larger puzzle that will help working families.”

Shapiro campaigned last year for a $15 minimum wage and, in his first budget address, he asked for the increase. Republican opposition stymied efforts by former Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf through his eight years in office to raise the minimum wage.

Wolf imposed higher wage requirements on companies getting loans, grants or tax breaks from the state government through an executive order in 2021. He did the same to state contractors in 2016.

All told, 30 other states and Washington, D.C., have raised the minimum wage above the federal minimum, including some Republican-controlled states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Every neighbor of Pennsylvania also has raised the minimum wage, although Ohio’s law exempts lower-earning businesses and employees under 16.

June is budget month in Pennsylvania’s Legislature and often a time for deal-making on pet policy priorities between governors and top lawmakers.

Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, R-Indiana, said last week that his caucus would wait for the House to pass a minimum wage bill to consider it. However, he said, “$15 an hour is not a practical number” for Republicans in that chamber to consider.

In a deal with Wolf in 2019, the Senate agreed to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage in four steps to $9.50 in 2022, but the House’s Republican majority blocked it.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Staff. Published June 20, 2023 1:32 P.M.

Heather Keener has been promoted to Office Manager of the St. Barnabas Dental department in Beaver. Heather started with the company five years ago and will fill a key role following Dr. Henry Windle, DMD, and Terri Windle’s retirement on June 15th.   

FILE – Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, speaks to guests during the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, April 18, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s son Hunter will plead guilty to federal tax offenses and avoid prosecution on a separate gun charge in a deal with the Justice Department that likely spares him time behind bars. Hunter Biden will plead guilty to the misdemeanor tax offenses as part of the agreement made public Tuesday. The agreement will spare him prosecution on a charge of illegally possessing a firearm as a drug user if he adheres to certain conditions. The White House says the president and the first lady “love their son and support him as he continues to rebuild his life.” Ex-President Donald Trump likens the Hunter Biden deal to a “mere traffic ticket.”