(New Castle, PA) PA State Police in New Castle report that they initiated a traffic stop on a blue 2007 Dodge Caliber traveling west on Woodside Avenue and Argonne Boulevard, because it crossed the double-solid yellow line momentarily. Upon further investigation, they realized that the front-right passenger had a warrant for drug paraphernalia out of the Lawrence County Sheriffs Office. The rear-right passenger was also wanted for a warrant for unpaid child support out of Domestic Relations in Lawrence County. Both men were safely and successfully taken into custody and subsequently transported to the Lawrence County Jail.

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

“We still have a labor issue in the county.”

Those were the words of Commissioner Jack Manning, who spoke at Wednesday’s work session about the numbers he learned in regards to the amount of Beaver County citizens looking for jobs as opposed to the job openings that are still available. These numbers were presented by PA CareerLink in a meeting attended by Manning.

The numbers:
433 Job Openings
152 Job Seekers

“There’s a multitude of reasons for that,” said Manning on the nearly 3-to-1 ratio. “People are concerned about if it’s safe to go back to work, they have child care issues, they have transportation issues, and it’s clearly been exacerbated by the extra money that they’re getting from the federal government.”

A change to that might draw those numbers back to even, as it was announced earlier in the week that the qualifications for unemployment benefits will stop being waived by the Wolf administration starting in July. That, however, doesn’t ease the concerns displayed at the May 26 work session.

“I don’t think there’s anything we can do about it,” said Manning. “I think we’re going to have a tough time this summer with our small businesses, particularly with finding the employees they need to expand horizons and really open back up post-pandemic.”

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 205 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN OHIO THIS WATCH INCLUDES 11 COUNTIES IN EAST CENTRAL OHIO BELMONT CARROLL COLUMBIANA COSHOCTON GUERNSEY HARRISON JEFFERSON OH MONROE MUSKINGUM NOBLE TUSCARAWAS IN PENNSYLVANIA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 15 COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA FOREST MERCER VENANGO IN SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA ALLEGHENY FAYETTE GREENE WASHINGTON WESTMORELAND IN WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA ARMSTRONG BUTLER CLARION INDIANA JEFFERSON PA IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA BEAVER LAWRENCE IN WEST VIRGINIA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 9 COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST WEST VIRGINIA PRESTON TUCKER IN NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA MARION MONONGALIA WETZEL IN THE NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA BROOKE HANCOCK MARSHALL OHIO THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALIQUIPPA, AMBRIDGE, BEAVER FALLS, BROOKVILLE, BUTLER, CADIZ, CALDWELL, CAMBRIDGE, CANONSBURG, CARROLLTON, CLARION, COLUMBIANA, CONNELLSVILLE, COSHOCTON, DAVIS, DOVER, EAST LIVERPOOL, ELLWOOD CITY, FAIRMONT, FOLLANSBEE, FORD CITY, FRANKLIN, GREENSBURG, GROVE CITY, HERMITAGE, INDIANA, KINGWOOD, KITTANNING, LATROBE, MARTINS FERRY, MASONTOWN, MONACA, MORGANTOWN, MOUNDSVILLE, MURRYSVILLE, NEW CASTLE, NEW KENSINGTON, NEW MARTINSVILLE, NEW PHILADELPHIA, OIL CITY, PARSONS, PITTSBURGH METRO AREA, PUNXSUTAWNEY, SALEM, SHARON, ST. CLAIRSVILLE, STEUBENVILLE, TERRA ALTA, THOMAS, TIONESTA, UNIONTOWN, WASHINGTON, WAYNESBURG, WEIRTON, WELLSBURG, WHEELING, WOODSFIELD, AND ZANESVILLE.

Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania hospitals began receiving shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine the week of Dec. 14 and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine the week of Dec. 21. The Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine was first allocated to Pennsylvania the week of March 1. On Friday, April 23, the CDC and FDA notified all COVID-19 vaccine providers that the pause in administering doses of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine has been lifted. Following the announcement, Pennsylvania resumed Janssen vaccinations. Vaccination numbers for Pennsylvania do not include Philadelphia, which is its own jurisdiction, or federal facilities, which are working directly with the federal government.

• According to the CDC, as of Wednesday morning, May 26, Pennsylvania has administered first doses of vaccine to 57% of its entire population, and the state ranks 9th among all 50 states for first doses administered by percentage of population.
• According to the CDC, as of Wednesday morning, May 25, 52.3% of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated.
• According to the CDC, as of Wednesday morning, May 25, Pennsylvania ranks 5^th among all 50 states for total doses administered.

Fully vaccinated people may choose not to wear a mask indoors or outdoors unless the business or organization requires it, following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

• Get vaccinated with one of the three safe and effective vaccines available to provide the best layer of protection.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.
• Clean surfaces frequently.
• Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.
• Download the COVID Alert PA app and make your phone part of the fight. The free app can be found in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store by searching for “covid alert pa”.

Harrisburg, PA – The Office of Advocacy and Reform (OAR), established by Governor Tom Wolf’s 2019 executive order to protect Pennsylvania’s vulnerable populations, today announced the creation of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office and job openings within the office to lead efforts with state agencies and employers across the commonwealth.

“As public servants, commonwealth employees should represent the individuals that we serve,” said Gov. Wolf. “My administration is committed to ensuring employers, including the commonwealth, are equipped with the necessary tools to change workplace cultures and understand the advantages to employing individuals with diverse perspectives and voices. It is my hope that all Pennsylvanians feel valued and know that they belong in the commonwealth.”

Under OAR, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office has immediate openings for individuals interested in making an impact on workplace culture and effectiveness of state government. Job postings will be available until June 6, 2021.

“The OAR team is excited to undertake this important work on behalf of all commonwealth agencies and offices,” said Dr. Dan Jurman, the Executive Director of OAR. “We recognize that building diverse teams with multiple points of view and backgrounds leads to better problem-solving, decision-making, and improved outcomes for all Pennsylvanians. These added team members will play a crucial role in helping us achieve new levels of excellence on behalf of everyone we serve in the commonwealth.”

Currently, OAR consists of an executive director, an executive policy specialist, a child advocate, and the long-term care ombudsman. The team works on behalf of vulnerable Pennsylvanians both internally across state agencies and externally in Pennsylvania communities.

“In order for all Pennsylvanians to feel like they belong, they need to be represented,” said Gov. Wolf. “This team of individuals will be critical in moving the commonwealth forward and creating a stronger, more accepting Pennsylvania for all.”

Lancaster, PA – Governor Tom Wolf was joined by legislators, business owners and advocates today to call on the General Assembly to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $12 an hour with a path to $15. More than 1 million workers would get a boost in their paychecks, which creates new customers for businesses and strengthens the economy for everyone.

“This isn’t about pitting workers against business owners, because businesses also stand to benefit from a higher minimum wage,” said Gov. Wolf. “Increasing the minimum wage puts more money into the pockets of workers, which gives local businesses more customers. Boosting wages also increases productivity and decreases turnover.”

The governor’s plan increases the state’s embarrassingly low minimum wage to $12 per hour on July 1, with annual increases of $0.50 until reaching $15 per hour on July 1, 2027. Nearly 1.1 million workers would get a raise, which would add $4.4 billion to the state’s economy.

The governor was joined for a press conference in Lancaster by Rep. Patty Kim, prime sponsor of HB 345 to raise the minimum wage, and local business owners Peter Barber, President, CEO and Co-owner of Two Dudes Painting Company and Jennie Groff, CEO and Co-owner of Stroopies, Inc.

Strong Public Support
Raising the wage has strong public support. A Franklin & Marshall College poll released in March found 67 percent of registered Pennsylvania voters support raising the minimum wage to $12 as the governor is proposing.

Eight other states are on path to $15, including red states. In the November 2020 election, voters in Florida – which has a Republican governor and legislature and voted for President Trump – passed a constitutional amendment to raise its minimum wage to $15 by 2026. President Biden also recently took executive action to increase the minimum wage for federal contractors and tipped employees to $15. Overall, 29 other states, including every state that borders Pennsylvania, have raised the minimum wage above $7.25 an hour.

“We’ve been in business for almost 35 years, and fair pay has been central to our success,” said Peter Barber, CEO of Two Dudes Painting Company in Lancaster, a full service painting company with more than 65 employees. “Our turnover is low, which saves us money and time. More experienced employees do better quality work, are more reliable, and provide better customer service. Raising Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $15 by 2027 will strengthen businesses and our economy.”

“Our experience as a small company demonstrates that paying livable wages is not only doable, it is good for business,” said Jennie Groff, CEO of Stroopies, Inc. a Lancaster food manufacturer in retail, wholesale and online distribution with 18 employees. “When your workers are cared for, they’ll be your biggest assets. $7.25 an hour is too low to live on. By raising the minimum wage, we will invest in our workers, support the growth of our businesses, and build a stronger Pennsylvania.”

Barber and Groff are members of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, a network of business owners and executives and business organizations that believe a fair minimum wage makes good business sense.

Closing the pay gap
Raising the minimum wage to $15 will create stronger financial stability for women and persons of color across the commonwealth. Six in ten workers getting a pay boost are women, which represents nearly 24 percent of all women in the state. Additionally, a $15 wage floor would directly benefit 35 percent of Hispanic workers, 29 percent of Black workers and 18 percent of Asian workers. Seventy-five percent of the workers are age 20 or older and nearly 40 percent work full-time, which refutes harmful stereotypes by making clear that hundreds of thousands of adults are stuck making poverty wages

Rural workers gain the most from raising the minimum wage. The highest percentage of workers getting a raise with a $15 minimum wage are in 29 rural counties, according to findings from the Keystone Research Center. We must not allow any Pennsylvania worker to be left behind as other states raise wages for their working families.

Workers keep their jobs as states raise the minimum wage
A study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that as New York state gradually raising its minimum wage to $15, wages are increasing without jobs losses. Low-wage workers living in New York along the Pennsylvania border saw their pay increase by more than 25 percent, while the wages of Pennsylvania workers in the northern tier rose only 15 percent.

NEW YORK (AP) — New York prosecutors have convened a special grand jury to consider evidence in a criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump’s business dealings. That’s according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday. The person wasn’t authorized to speak publicly and did so on condition of anonymity. The development signals that the Manhattan district attorney’s office was moving toward seeking charges as a result of its two-year investigation, which included a lengthy legal battle to obtain Trump’s tax records. In a statement, Trump called the investigation a “witch hunt,” saying it’s “purely political” and “driven by highly partisan Democrat prosecutors.” The district attorney’s office declined to comment.