Scranton, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro signed an Executive Order directing the Pennsylvania Department of Aging to develop its Master Plan for Older Adults – a 10-year roadmap to meet the needs of Pennsylvania’s senior population and improve Commonwealth services for older Pennsylvanians.

Older Pennsylvanians are vital contributors to our communities – and Governor Shapiro knows they deserve to have a voice in shaping their futures and how they will best be able to live and thrive in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania is home to 3.4 million seniors, with an older adult population that ranks fifth highest in the country. That’s why Governor Shapiro is taking action to bring state agencies and community organizations together to deliver a roadmap that will help support older Pennsylvanians.

“I’ve heard firsthand from seniors who told me we need to do more to help them stay in their homes, tackle rising costs, and have a high quality of life – and they deserve our full support,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “My Administration is making a long-term commitment to our seniors with this master plan and my commonsense proposal to expand the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, which will put more money back in more Pennsylvanians’ pockets. Together, we’re going to continue delivering results and help our seniors receive the support they need in order to age with dignity.”

Governor Shapiro was joined at today’s Executive Order signing by Department of Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich, who will soon embark on a regional listening tour to highlight the Master Plan for Older Adults and actively engage seniors across the Commonwealth in the plan’s development.

“We are grateful to Governor Shapiro for signing this Executive Order authorizing the Master Plan for Older Adults. This Executive Order is a clear demonstration that the health, well-being, and quality of life for older adults is a priority for our Administration and for the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich. “This master plan for aging will be crafted by Pennsylvanians, for Pennsylvanians – because we are committed to ensuring the voices of older adults are heard in every component of this plan. Our next priority is visiting the communities we serve to make sure those Pennsylvanians who want to be heard know their opinions, thoughts, and priorities are reflected in this strategic initiative.”

In addition to creating the Master Plan, today’s Executive Order further directs the Department to, among other things:

• Identify relevant services to older Pennsylvanians provided by other agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction.
• Partner with traditionally disadvantaged or underserved communities to understand their specific needs as older Pennsylvanians and where gaps in services may exist.

• Establish at the Secretary’s discretion a working group to assist in gathering, reviewing, and studying data necessary for the Master Plan.

The Area Agencies on Aging and the Centers for Independent Living will host listening sessions where the public can learn more about the plan and how to submit their input. The stakeholder engagement process will involve outreach and requests for feedback from anyone or any group with an interest or with some interaction toward aging-related services, programs, and infrastructure.

This executive order is the latest in Governor Shapiro’s commitment to support seniors and making sure their voices are heard. In the Governor’s first budget, he has proposed expanding the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program – a critical lifeline for seniors. The PTRR provides a rebate to low-income renters and homeowners every year, putting money back in their pockets so they can stay in their homes.

The Governor’s proposed budget also invests in more grant funding for the Department’s 485 Senior Community Centers, which are essential public meeting spaces that help seniors stay connected, supported, and make ends meet.

After today’s announcement, Pennsylvania joins 11 other states that are in the process of developing a master plan for older adults. There are five states currently implementing a master plan: California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Texas.

FILE – U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Anne Milgram speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, Friday, April 14, 2023. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration stripped one of the nation’s largest drug distributors of its license to sell highly addictive painkillers Friday, May 26, after determining it failed to flag thousands of suspicious orders at the height of the opioid crisis. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has stripped one of the nation’s largest pharmaceutical distributors of its license to sell highly addictive painkillers after determining it failed to flag thousands of suspicious, high-volume orders at the height of the opioid crisis. The revocation order against Morris & Dickson Co. that threatens to put the Louisiana-based company out of business came two days after an Associated Press investigation found the DEA allowed the company to keep shipping drugs for nearly four years after a judge recommended the harshest punishment for its “cavalier disregard” of rules aimed at preventing opioid abuse.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jury selection has concluded in the trial of a man charged with killing 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. Prosecutors and the defense agreed Thursday on a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates who will hear the evidence against 50-year-old Robert Bowers in the 2018 massacre at Tree of Life synagogue. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Testimony is expected to begin Tuesday. Prosecutors have said Bowers made antisemitic comments at the scene of the attack and online.

The Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Light stands in Keweenaw Bay, June 2, 2022, in Chassell, Mich. The federal government’s annual effort to give away or sell lighthouses that are no longer needed for navigation purposes includes 10 lighthouses this year. (Luke Barrett/General Services Administration via AP)

BOSTON (AP) — Ten lighthouses that for generations have stood like sentinels along America’s shorelines protecting mariners from peril and guiding them to safety are being given away at no cost or sold at auction by the federal government. The aim of the program run by the General Services Administration is to preserve the properties, most of which are more than a century old. The development of modern technology, including GPS, means lighthouses are no longer essential for navigation and not critical to the Coast Guard’s mission. Since the passage of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act in 2000, the GSA the ownership of about 150 lighthouses have been transferred. One light up for grabs is the Erie North Land Light, located on Presque Isle.

FILE – Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano speaks to supporters during an election night campaign event at the Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill, Pa., Nov. 8, 2022. Election deniers who backed Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election failed in some of their highest-profile races. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A hard-right Pennsylvania state lawmaker says he will not challenge Democratic Sen. Bob Casey. The decision leaves the GOP primary field wide open. State Sen. Doug Mastriano made the announcement Thursday night as top party officials try to recruit a strong candidate in the moderate battleground state in 2024. Former hedge fund CEO David McCormick is the favorite of party leaders and has drawn pledges of financial support from top Republican officials — should he decide to run. Mastriano was endorsed by former President Donald Trump in last year’s race for governor but lost badly. Pennsylvania is a top GOP target in their quest to recapture the Senate majority.

Tenaris released the following statement:

(Houston, TX) May 26, 2023. Tenaris has launched its Merit Awards, the company’s longest running education-based program, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, awarding a total of $25,000 in scholarships.
Five seniors from Ambridge Area High School and five from Beaver Falls High School each received Merit Awards of $2,500, in recognition of their academic performance. Merit Award recipients include Norah Best, Grace Buchanan, Naomi Pedigo, Amara Platz and Ivan You from Ambridge Area School District and Emma Durr, Caitlyn Glitsch, Marley Graham, Chloe Lilly, and Kylie Napolitan from Big Beaver Falls Area School District.
“Beaver County is among our newest communities to our US industrial footprint, and as active neighbors, we are pleased to introduce one of our flagship scholarships programs to support students’ pursuit for higher learning. Congratulations to our inaugural Merit Award scholarship recipients,” said Tenaris Regional Vice President of Northern Operations Jose Torres.
Tenaris’s Merit Awards, a global scholarship program established in 1976, are presented to students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM-related fields.
“It’s exciting to see the launch of the scholarship program in Beaver County, where I’ve worked for over twelve years,” said Tenaris Community & Regulatory Affairs Manager, Joshua Konecheck.
“Tenaris truly values the power of education, and the engagement from our students proves their desire to grow and build on all that they’ve already accomplished. They are the leaders in our neighborhoods, and I look forward to seeing the positive impacts of these students in the years to
come.”
Education and training drive the company’s community programs. Since 2010, Tenaris has invested $7.8 million across the United States on education-based initiatives.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published May 26, 2023 1:13 P.M.

(Beaver County, PA) Sobriety checkpoints will be conducted and/or roving patrols and mobile awareness checkpoints throughout the county this weekend due to the Memorial Day holiday. This is being done in support of the state’s Impaired Driving Enforcement Initiative.

PITTSBURGH, May 25, 2023 — The Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross will host the 2023 Power of Red, its annual signature event, on June 1, 2023, at the Heinz History Center (1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222).

Board member Sally Wiggin will emcee the ticketed event which will raise funds for Red Cross disaster response in Southwestern Pennsylvania, celebrate the impact of the organization and honor UPMC and UPMC Health Plan with the Distinguished Leadership Award in recognition of their partnership and financial support of the Red Cross. An online auction during the event includes the opportunity to bid on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Pittsburgh Zoo, tickets to a Pittsburgh Steelers game and much more.

“The lifesaving work of the American Red Cross never stops, and we need your support now more than ever,” Jorge Martinez, CEO, American Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania Region, said. “The Power of Red event helps the Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter respond to disasters and provide care and comfort to local people in need.”

The public is invited to the Power of Red to eat, drink and be charitable by purchasing a ticket at powerofred.givesmart.com. Media is invited to cover the event. The event schedule is as follows:
6:00 to 7:00 p.m.                     Reception Drinks | Hors d’Oeuvres
7:00 to 7:30 p.m.                     Main Event | Award Presentation
7:30 to 9:30 p.m.                     Dinner | Mission Moment | Online Auction

The 2023 Power of Red is brought to you by our title sponsors, UPMC and UPMC Health Plan, as well as PNC, Deloitte LLP, Duquesne University and Seneca Resources.

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross serves the residents of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington Counties.

Allentown, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro met with Parkland High School students in Lehigh County to hear about their mental health challenges and share his budget’s proposed investments to ensure that all Pennsylvania students have access to mental health resources in schools.

The Governor’s commonsense proposal includes $500 million over the next five years so that schools can fund mental health counselors and services on site, prioritizing students’ mental health in addition to their physical health, and $20 million in 2023-24 – growing to $60 million annually by 2027-28 – to restore mental health funding to Pennsylvania counties, who provide critical community-based mental health services for residents.

“This generation is leading the way in changing how we talk about and address mental health care support for our youth. The students I met today are speaking up, breaking down the stigma, and asking for our help – and I’ve heard them and am ready to work with them to find solutions,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Keeping our children safe is my top priority – and my budget offers comprehensive solutions to put more money into our schools and our communities to better serve students and their mental health. These investments in Pennsylvania students are critical – let’s work together to get this done and deliver for the students and families across our Commonwealth who need this help.”

Governor Shapiro hosted a roundtable with Parkland students, counselors, teachers, and administrators to hear about their experiences and challenges firsthand and to discuss the mental health resources needed in Pennsylvania classrooms.

“I’ve made reducing mental illness the cornerstone of my career. That’s why I am so, so honored to be standing with a Governor who has made reducing mental illness a top priority,” said State Representative Michael Schlossberg. “Governor Shapiro has called for a half-billion-dollar investment in mental health in our schools over the next five years. This money will be used to give students better access to mental health supports and train more mental health professionals.”

“We thank Governor Shapiro for visiting us today to listen to our students. Parkland High School has a great staff who work tirelessly to address mental health needs. Our school counselors and psychologists support students’ social-emotional difficulties, but the need is constant.  We constantly are being told there are not enough therapists and psychiatrists, that the waiting lists are long, or that health insurance does not cover therapy,” said Parkland High School Principal Nathan Davidson. “These are issues that an increased investment by our state government may be able to help address and we appreciate the Governor’s intent to increase funding in this area. We need to be vigilant as a community to monitor youth mental health.  We, as a community, need to ask questions and show care and concern for each other.”

“As a student and a young person in our community, I know I am personally grateful for the proposed investment of half a billion dollars in resources in schools over the next 5 years,” said Parkland High School Student Reva Gandhi. “With students doing so much and facing potential stressors of their own, it is imperative that the Commonwealth supports them. It is heartening to see the potential that this proposed plan holds for our students.”

Students in the Allentown area have reported an increase in mental health challenges over recent years. In 2021, 18 percent of students surveyed in Lehigh County reported engaging in self-harm and 40 percent of students surveyed felt depressed or sad most days. Lehigh County currently has three schools without a mental health counselor, leaving 1,441 students without those services.

Governor Shapiro knows that the mental health crisis cannot continue to be an afterthought in Pennsylvania. In addition to his budget’s proposed investments to address this crisis, Governor Shapiro directed Insurance Commissioner Mike Humphries to make mental health parity a reality in Pennsylvania by continuing to hold insurers accountable so that mental health benefits are covered fairly.

As Attorney General, Governor Shapiro started Safe2Say Something – an anonymous tip reporting system for students that has seen over 100,000 tips – and his budget proposal will help ensure every Pennsylvanian student can receive the support they need.