AP FACT CHECK: Dems on minimum wage and poverty
By CHRISTOPER RUGABER and AMANDA SEITZ Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans tuned into the Democratic National Convention were told Thursday that the higher minimum wage favored by presidential candidate Joe Biden would lift all full-time workers out of poverty. That’s not what $15 an hour is likely to do.
SEN. CORY BOOKER: “Together, with Joe and Kamala in the White House, we’ll raise the minimum wage so no one who works a full-time job lives in poverty.”
THE FACTS: That’s an improbable outcome for the $15 minimum wage supported by Biden.
A 2019 report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour would lift 1.3 million Americans out of poverty, a small fraction of the roughly 38 million people living in poverty in 2018.
Moreover, the report estimated a $15 minimum wage would cost 1.3 million people their jobs because they would be priced out of the market.
Altogether, some 17 million people might see higher pay, the office said, but not enough to raise most who are below the poverty line above it.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics report on the working poor in 2018, 3.7 million people who usually worked full-time were below the poverty level. That finding suggests that a $15 federal minimum would not take all full-time workers out of poverty. And, of course, it would still leave millions of part-time workers and the unemployed in poverty.
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Seitz reported from Chicago.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — A look at the veracity of claims by political figures.
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Dozens of WWII veterans to gather in Hawaii amid pandemic
By CALEB JONES Associated Press
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — Several dozen aging U.S. veterans will gather on a ship in Pearl Harbor next month to mark the 75th anniversary of Japan’s surrender, even if it means the vulnerable group may be risking their lives again amid the coronavirus pandemic. It comes as Oahu — Hawaii’s most populated island and the home of Pearl Harbor — has seen an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks. This has forced many restrictions to be reinstated, including a ban on gatherings of more than five people. Officials plan to keep the veterans socially distanced while they are honored in front of livestreaming cameras instead of live crowds of thousands, as was first planned.

Mariner East fined again as another spill fouls state park
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Texas pipeline company that has been heavily penalized in Pennsylvania has been fined another $355,000 for polluting waterways in eight counties during construction of a pipeline to carry natural gas liquids. The Department of Environmental Protection said Thursday that a subsidiary of Energy Transfer LP discharged drilling wastewater into creeks, wetlands and tributaries in Berks, Blair, Cambria, Cumberland, Delaware, Lebanon, Washington and Westmoreland counties between August 2018 and April 2019. The announcement of the civil settlement came as Energy Transfer deals with yet another spill along its troubled Mariner East pipeline network, this time impacting a state park in Chester County.

Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis files racial discrimination suit
By The Associated Press undefined
Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis has filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against a Pittsburgh company he had promoted for its commitment to diversity. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Pennsylvania. It cites breach of contract and seeks $66 million in damages. The former Steelers star and Super Bowl winner contends the energy corporation EQT Production owes Bettis’ trucking company money and dropped its commitment to use minority-owned businesses. EQT has denied any wrongdoing.

Postmaster to testify in Senate on mail, Mnuchin denies role
By LISA MASCARO and ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing public backlash, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is set to testify Friday about disruptions in mail delivery. A Senate committee is expected to dig into changes made ahead of the November election, just as millions of Americans are expected to vote by mail. Democrats warn DeJoy’s cost-cutting initiatives are causing an upheaval that threatens voting. President Donald Trump raised the stakes by saying he wants to block funds. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin says he had no role in DeJoy’s selection. Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security committee, is expected to dismiss the “false political narrative” that DeJoy is trying to “sabotage” the election, according to prepared remarks.

CORAOPOLIS – As parents of students with special needs look to their schools for help with the unprecedented school year that lays ahead, state Rep. Anita Kulik, D-Allegheny, today announced that $102,053 in COVID-19 relief funding has been awarded to local schools to assist students with special needs.

“Our special needs students are especially vulnerable to the COVID-19-prompted changes our school leaders had to put into effect this year,” Kulik said. “This money will help to make sure they continue to have access to the services and support that is critical for them to have a successful year. I am confident that our educators, with the help of this money, can give their students and their families the instruction they need during the challenges ahead.”

Grants awarded to school districts with schools in the 45th Legislative District are:

• Carlynton School District: $16,576.
• Chartiers Valley School District: $23,850.
• Cornell School District: $10,852.
• Montour School District: $19,217.
• Sto-Rox School District: $21,122.
• Avonworth School District: $$5,434.
• Propel Charter Schools – Montour: $5,000.

The Special Education COVID-19 Impact Mitigation Grant will provide $15 million statewide in financial support to local education agencies to:

• Provide enhanced real-time instruction to bolster remote services and supports for students with complex needs.
• Provide services and supports to students with disabilities who experienced a loss in skills and behavior and/or a lack of progress due to the mandatory school closures.

Funding from the program comes from federal coronavirus relief money, which states can allocate to meet local needs.

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Hopewell  Twp.,  Pa.)Hopewell Township  Police and  the Hopewell Township Volunteer Fire Department and several  other departments responded to a house fire at 1500 Wimpole St. at approximately 2:48 a.m. this morning.

Entries for the Congressional App Challenge must be submitted online by Monday, October 19–

 (PITTSBURGH, PA) – Today, Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) launched the annual Congressional App Challenge for middle and high school students living or attending school in Pennsylvania’s 17^th Congressional District.  Sponsored by the Internet Education Foundation, this nationwide competition recognizes and encourages the programming and app design skills of young constituents and is a great opportunity to showcase programming skills.

 “We have strong STEM programs in schools across the 17^th District that are helping students become creative problem solvers,” said Lamb.  “The Congressional App Challenge is a great opportunity for students to bring their ideas to life, and I encourage students of all coding levels to participate.”

Students can register individually or in teams of up to four individuals, but please note that students may only register in one congressional district.  Students can visit the House of Representatives website to confirm a congressional district address.

One winning individual or team selected from PA-17 will be announced in December.  The winning app is eligible to be displayed in the United States Capitol Building and featured on House.gov, the official website for the United States House of Representatives.

All entries are accepted by registering and submitting the app online by 12:00 p.m. EST on Monday, October 19, 2020.  Students should visit the Congressional App Challenge website to submit a registration form.

Click here for more information about the 2020 Congressional App Challenge

AMBRIDGE, Aug. 20 – Grant funding of $124,872 to eight area school districts and schools will help ensure Beaver County students with special needs do not fall behind because of the pandemic, announced state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny.

“Suspended classroom learning during the pandemic has been difficult for all students, but students with special needs – who benefit greatly from in-person learning – are particularly vulnerable to losing skills,” Matzie said. “This funding is going to help level the playing field by giving teachers resources to provide real-time learning and other supports to keep these students learning and thriving.”

Matzie said the districts will receive the following funding:

• Aliquippa School District – $14,211
• Ambridge Area School District – $36,011
• Baden Academy Charter School – $5,000
• Central Valley School District – $14,139
• Freedom Area School District – $14,146
• Hopewell Area School District – $17,087
• Quaker Valley School District – $19,278
• Rochester Area School District – $5,000

The funding is part of a package of $20 million to 678 local school districts and other local education agencies. The sources include $15 million in Governor’s Emergency Education Relief funding and $5 million from the Department of Education’s federal funding through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.