Harrisburg, PA – Gov. Tom Wolf today announced that it had awarded $602,306 in grants to help Pennsylvania’s rural communities increase protection from wildfires.

The grants were awarded to qualifying local firefighting forces in rural areas and communities with fewer than 10,000 people. The funding may be used for training and equipment purchases directly related to fighting brush and forest fires.

​”Our first responders take their responsibility to protect communities and our natural resources very seriously and an important way to show our appreciation is to ensure they have the necessary tools and resources,” Gov. Wolf said. “These grants will allow our first responders to prepare for and, if needed, douse dangerous wildfires so that our communities remain safe.”

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Fire Commissioner Bruce Trego thanked volunteer fire companies for their service to communities close to home, as well as those members who often join DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry crews battling wildfires far beyond Pennsylvania’s borders. Several crews have been sent West to fight wildfires caused by hot, dry summer conditions, while also responding regularly to local woodland and brush fires. They noted the wildfire grants help enable smaller companies to concentrate more on public safety and training while easing their fiscal constraints.

“We are grateful to the men and women who help fight brush and forest fires across the commonwealth and are hopeful that these grants help ensure public safety,” Dunn said. “Having well-equipped and highly trained wildfire fighters is critical to protecting our forests and wilds, especially as we see rising temperatures globally.”

“Obviously wildfires continue to grab our attention, especially while other states are dealing with their crippling impacts.” Trego said. “As Pennsylvania heads into its wildfire season, there’s no better time to focus on getting our first responders the resources they need. Grant programs like these are vital lifelines for our departments to procure the needed equipment and training for professional, coordinated and safe response efforts.”

Grants are awarded on a cost-share basis. The maximum grant awarded in 2021 is $10,000 and cannot exceed 50% of the actual expenditures of local, public, and private nonprofit organizations in the agreement. ​The full list of recipients is available online.

Priority was placed on projects that include the purchase of wildfire suppression equipment and protective clothing. Grants may also be used for purchasing mobile or portable radios, installing dry hydrants, wildfire prevention and mitigation work, training wildfire fighters, or converting and maintaining federal excess vehicles. The vehicles are presented to the local departments exhibiting the greatest needs and those that commit to outfitting them for fire suppression.

In 2020, more than $591,000 was awarded to 109 volunteer fire companies. The grant program, offered through DCNR and paid through federal grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, has awarded more than $14.5 million since it began in 1982.

The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh has issued a Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisory for… Allegheny County in southwestern Pennsylvania… Central Washington County in southwestern Pennsylvania… Northwestern Westmoreland County in southwestern Pennsylvania… Southeastern Beaver County in western Pennsylvania… Until 130 PM EDT. At 925 AM EDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain. This will cause urban and small stream flooding. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain have fallen. Some locations that will experience flooding include… Pittsburgh, Penn Hills, Mount Lebanon, Bethel Park, Ross Township, McCandless Township, Monroeville, Moon Township, McMurray, Greensburg, McKeesport, Franklin Park, Jeannette, Aliquippa, Gastonville, Shaler Township, Plum, West Mifflin, North Side Pittsburgh and Baldwin. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 1.5 inches are expected over the area. This additional rain will result in minor flooding. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads. In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded roads. Find an alternate route.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan says the Taliban have agreed to allow safe passage for civilians trying to leave Afghanistan. Sullivan says a timetable for completing the evacuation of Americans, Afghan allies and others has yet to be worked out with the country’s new rulers. Pentagon officials say that after interruptions Monday, the airlift is back on track and being accelerated amid regular communication with Taliban leaders. Additional U.S. troops have arrived and more are on the way. The White House says 13 flights Tuesday airlifted 1,100 U.S. citizens, permanent residents and their families from the Kabul airport.

NEW YORK (AP) — T-Mobile says about 7.8 million of its current postpaid customer accounts’ information and just over 40 million records of former or prospective customers who had previously applied for credit with the company were involved in a recent data breach. T-Mobile said Wednesday that customers’ first and last names, date of birth, Social Security numbers, and driver’s license/ID information were exposed. No phone numbers, account numbers, PINs, passwords, or financial information were compromised for those records or accounts.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban have violently broken up a protest in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least one person as they quashed a rare public show of dissent. That comes as they met Wednesday with Afghan officials from the Western-backed government they toppled. As officials work to shape a future government, the United Arab Emirates acknowledged that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was in that country. The Taliban’s every action in their sudden sweep to power is being watched closely. They insist they have changed and won’t impose the same draconian restrictions they did when they last ruled Afghanistan. But many Afghans remain deeply skeptical, and the violent response to Wednesday’s protest could only fuel their fears.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — An appeals court says a Pennsylvania federal judge shouldn’t have thrown out a legal challenge to township zoning rules that restricted operations at a gun range near Pittsburgh and limited “sportsman’s clubs” to nonprofit entities. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday reinstated the case and directed the district judge to gather evidence. The three-judge panel says Second Amendment rights require a closer examination of the facts than had occurred in the case. The decision concerns William Drummond’s plans to revive the dormant gun range and operate the Greater Pittsburgh Gun Club on a 265-acre property in suburban Robinson Township.

GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) — A former relief pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates has been sentenced to two to four years behind bars for statutory sexual assault and other charges in a case involving a girl who was 13 when the encounters began. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Tuesday that 30-year-old Felipe Vazquez has already served almost two years in jail. He will be eligible for a parole hearing one month after arriving in prison. Prosecutors say the former All-Star closer was in touch with the girl from 2017 to 2019 and once met her outside a home southeast of Pittsburgh. He faces related charges in Florida and Missouri.

WESTMORELAND, N.H. (AP) — Authorities have identified a body found along a river shoreline in New Hampshire as a Pennsylvania woman who had been missing since July 20. Marine patrol found the body of 41-year-old Toni Baker of Pittsburgh on Sunday in a brook off the Connecticut River in Westmoreland. An autopsy found that her death was accidental, and authorities believe she likely was swept into Partridge Brook by floodwaters last month. Baker had last been seen Aug. 4 in Brattleboro, Vermont. Police said she was not familiar with the area and might have been experiencing a mental health crisis.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities is partnering with the Penn State Extension to launch a free, online program to help farmers with retirement planning. Farmers can learn about investment strategies, fraud awareness, planning, budgeting, and saving for the future.

“Future financial planning is important for all Pennsylvanians,” said Katrina Boyer, Investor Education Coordinator, Department of Banking and Securities. “Regardless of your livelihood, ensuring you have adequately saved to support you and your family can help ensure stress-free days throughout your retirement.”

The two sessions are:

• Farmers Can Retire Too: Budgeting, Planning, and Saving      
  August 19 – 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
  Learn the best practices on the beginning stages of retirement so that you can set yourself up for success. Register: https://extension.psu.edu/farmers-can-retire-too-budgeting-planning-and-saving
• Farmers Can Retire Too: Retirement Planning
  September 16 – 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
  What does it take to retire? How much do I need? How will medical cost figure into my plans? We will answer all these questions, and more. Register: https://extension.psu.edu/farmers-can-retire-too-retirement-planning

“If Pennsylvania’s farmers don’t have a retirement or transition plan, Pennsylvania doesn’t have a reliable food system,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “This is an invaluable opportunity that will help to ensure the continued success of Pennsylvania’s farms, and therefore success for all of Pennsylvania.”

The program is free and open to the public. Registration is required. A third presentation will be offered by an estate planning professional.

“As Extension Educators, Sam Gehrett and I saw the need for farmers to plan their retirement as early as possible,” Annie Miller of the Penn State Extension said. “Farmers can take advantage of all the resources available to them, and we are delighted to work with the Commonwealth of PA to bring all available resources to their attention.”

Penn State Extension is a modern educational organization dedicated to delivering science-based information to people, businesses, and communities. They make a difference locally through focused engagement, and more widely to customers connecting in the digital landscape.

To further support the business, transition, and succession planning needs of Pennsylvania agriculture, the Department of Agriculture encourages farmers to take advantage of the $1 million Farm Vitality Grant Program through the Pennsylvania Farm Bill. The program funds professional services aimed at enhancing the long-term health and vitality of Pennsylvania’s farms through sound business planning, efficient transitions of farm ownership, strategic farm expansion, diversification, and financial and technical expertise. Grants are available up to $7,500, which can cover up to 75% of a project.

DoBS Investor Education and Consumer Outreach staff work with state and local government agencies, service providers, community and trade organizations, the General Assembly, the military community, schools, and other partners to help Pennsylvanians across the commonwealth become well-informed about the financial marketplace.

Learn more about the free programs and presentations available or contact us to request a program tailored to your specific needs.

Visit the department’s calendar of events to find an event near you. Consumers and community groups can call 1-800-PA-BANKS or email informed@pa.gov for more information.

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf is reminding Pennsylvanians to be aware that widespread rain and potential flooding Wednesday could have impacts across much of Pennsylvania.

Rainfall totals of 2 to 3 inches with locally higher amounts are possible between now and Thursday morning from the remnants of Tropical Depression Fred. While rounds of rain will be widespread, some areas may see heavy downpours, which could lead to rapid onset of locally flooded roadways along with small creeks and streams.

“We know that heavy rain events can quickly become hazardous, especially in areas that are prone to flooding,” Gov. Wolf said. “I urge Pennsylvanians to keep an eye on the forecast and local conditions before traveling or recreating.”

Anyone with properties along rivers and other waterways should keep an eye out for rising water levels from Friday morning into the weekend. Major flooding is not expected at this time, but conditions can change quickly.

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) will be in contact with county emergency management personnel to monitor any unmet local needs.

Motorists should watch for ponding on roadways and flooding in poor drainage areas while traveling.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) warns motorists not to drive across roads covered with water because even shallow, swiftly flowing water can wash a car from a roadway. Also, the roadbed may not be intact under the water. Never drive around barricades or signs on closed roads – Turn Around, Don’t Drown.

Anyone planning to travel should closely monitor weather conditions along travel routes. Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) encourages boaters to use added caution on and around the water this week and throughout the hurricane season and wear a life jacket. Because of the potential for several inches of heavy rainfall in a short period of time, water levels are expected to rise rapidly on streams, resulting in dangerous conditions for boating.

In addition to areas experiencing severe weather, boaters should be aware that storm impacts can also carry downstream to waterways that did not experience any precipitation. Boaters, especially paddlers in canoes and kayaks, should refrain from entering high, fast-moving, and muddy water that offers low visibility and can prevent operators from seeing submerged obstacles like large rocks, downed tree limbs, and other debris.

Boaters who are considering heading out onto the water should familiarize themselves with the waterway in advance. Map out the trip and create a float plan that includes several places to stop along the way for a break, check the local forecast, and if needed, ride out a passing storm. Heavy winds can make paddling more difficult when trying to get off the water.

For more information on hurricane and tropical storm preparedness, visit www.ready.pa.gov.