Biden wants US to produce more of its own pandemic supplies
By WILL WEISSERT Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden is promising to shift production of medical equipment and other key pandemic-fighting products “back to U.S. soil,” creating jobs and bolstering a domestic supply chain he says has been exposed as inadequate and vulnerable by the coronavirus outbreak. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee’s campaign released a plan Tuesday to reinforce stockpiles of a “range of critical products on which the U.S. is dangerously dependent on foreign suppliers.” That includes medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. It also includes energy and grid resilience technologies, semiconductors and key electronics as well as telecommunications infrastructure and raw materials. Biden’s camp hasn’t said how much his plan would cost.

Hiring soared in May as mass layoffs eased
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The job market took a big step toward healing in May, though plenty of damage remains, as a record level of hiring that month followed record layoffs in March and April. The Labor Department also said Tuesday that the number of available jobs rose sharply but remained far below pre-pandemic levels. The figures, from the government’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey, or JOLTS, illustrate the whiplash the economy has experienced since the pandemic intensified in mid-March.

(Beaver County, Pa.) Harbor Freight a National Tool Supply Chain with a store in Beaver County at the Beaver Valley Mall is recalling a Jack stand that was used to replace a previously recalled Jack stands. The Pittsburgh 3-ton steel jack stands (SKU 56373) that replaced the recalled Pittsburgh 3 ton and 6 ton steel jack stands (SKUs 56371, 61196 and 61197) due to a manufacturer’s defect is being added to the list for a manufacturing weld defect in a small number of the Units.

If you own these jack stands or any of the jack stands in our original recall, whether or not you have had an issue with them, please stop using them immediately and bring them back to your local Harbor Freight Store for a full cash refund or store credit

Eric Smidt Owner and Founder  said in a statement that “We have investigated all of our other Pittsburgh 3 ton steel jack stands (SKUs 56371, 56372 and 57308) as well as the Pittsburgh 6 ton steel jack stands (SKUs 56368, 56369 and 56370) and Pittsburgh 12 ton steel jack stands (SKUs 56374 and 56375) and did not find the defect. Although none of these other jack stands are being recalled, if you own any of them and have any concern whatsoever, please bring them back and we’ll give you a full cash refund or store credit for those as well.”

“I want to apologize to all of our customers. While we’ve dramatically grown our team of engineers and inspectors, and intensified our tests and inspections, I assure you that the lessons learned from this will drive further improvement.”

“As the owner and founder of Harbor Freight, I want you to know that we stand behind every product we sell, and that safety will always be our number one priority”

Department of Human Services Extends Eligibility for Aftercare Services for Former Foster Youth to Age 23

Harrisburg, PA – The Department of Human Services (DHS) today announced that older Pennsylvania youth exiting the foster-care system will now be eligible for aftercare services until age 23 – a policy change that will offer myriad supportive services to a particularly vulnerable population of youth as they transition to adulthood. Previously, youth became ineligible for aftercare services on their 21st birthday.

DHS estimates that the extension of aftercare services to age 23 will benefit about 1,500 former foster youth in fiscal year 2020-21.

“Every child deserves a safe and healthy environment to grow up, and every person deserves a stable support system to help them transition from childhood to adulthood,” DHS Secretary Teresa Miller said. “For former foster youth aging out of the system, the traditional family support system may not be there for them. I’m proud that Pennsylvania is stepping up to fill that gap and provide the types of services these young adults need to go on to lead happy, healthy and productive lives.”

DHS convened a workgroup to study the possibility of extending aftercare services to age 23 for former foster youth after the federal Family First Prevention Services Act gave states the option of doing so. After studying the issue in collaboration with stakeholders, DHS has opted into this provision effective July 1, 2020.

In Pennsylvania, child welfare is a county-administered and state-supervised system. Counties provide aftercare services that meet the needs of the youth who exit foster care on or after their 14th birthday – and now until age 23 – that can include: needs assessment/case planning, life skills training, prevention services, education, support services, employment, location of housing, room and board, retreats and camps, indirect services, and program administration. Some services require youth to meet other eligibility criteria.

This policy change to extend aftercare services to age 23 ensures that all former foster youth, including those who remain in foster care to age 21 have access to aftercare services to help them safely and successfully transition to independence and adulthood after they’ve exited the formal foster-care system.

Research shows that youth who age out or leave foster care without a permanent family/connection experience worse outcomes than that of their peers in the general population. Former foster youth are disproportionately represented among young adults entering the mental health and substance use disorder systems, homeless services, employment services and criminal justice systems. This policy change is a critical step forward in serving older youth and preventing the outcomes seen nationally for foster youth who age out of the foster-care system.

In addition, beginning July 1, 2020, DHS has extended eligibility for the Chafee Education and Training Voucher program — known as Education and Training Grants (ETG) in Pennsylvania — to youth up until their 26th birthday. This program provides eligible youth financial support to attend post-secondary education and training classes for up to five years (consecutive or non-consecutive). The previous cutoff age was 23.

ETG eligibility includes youth who are in foster care or discharged from foster care on or after age 16, including those youth have exited foster care to adoption or permanent legal guardianship. The ETG application for the 2020-21 academic year is available online.

Youth applying for ETG will be evaluated to determine if they also qualify for the Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver Program (FosterEd). The FosterEd program requires Pennsylvania post-secondary institutions to waive tuition and mandatory fees for Pennsylvania youth who meet Chafee ETG eligibility requirements and who have applied for all available federal and state grants.

Stocks slink back as virus outbreaks dim recovery hopes
By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are dipping modestly in early trading Tuesday as expanding coronavirus outbreaks dim hopes for a speedy recovery. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average followed benchmarks in France, Germany and Britain lower after the European Union slashed its economic forecasts for 2020 and 2021. Investors worry that recovery from the global recession and the lockdowns on businesses will take longer than expected. Stocks also fell in Tokyo, Seoul and Hong Kong, while the Shanghai Composite index advanced. Precious metals and crude oil prices also fell, as did the 10-year Treasury yield.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Duquesne Light issued a statement yesterday that they understand it’s challenging to be without power , especially during a heatwave. With extremely high temperatures expected to continue this week, the utility is preparing for an influx of power outages. To address these outages as quickly and as safely as possible, we are increasing our staffing and adding extra shifts in all of our Field Operation work groups.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Beaver Falls Police reported a short time ago that the accident in front of the post office  on 11th Street  that knocked out the power for several hours on Monday July 6, 2020 was due to a vehicle’s mechanical failure . Chief Dave Johnson said that a female driver was operating  a  van  and when she came around the corner she struck a pole  shearing it off . She also struck the mailboxes in front of the post office. No injuries were reported, and no charges were filed.