Republicans lose a round in Pennsylvania mail voting dispute
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has dealt a blow to Republicans in the legal fight over the deadline for mailed ballots in the presidential battleground state. The court rejected without comment Thursday a request by Republicans to put on hold its decision to extend the deadline for receiving and counting mail-in ballots. Republicans are now likely to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to block the ruling. The divided Pennsylvania high court last week granted the Democratic Party’s request to order an extension of Pennsylvania’s Election Day deadline to count mailed ballots. The court has a 5-2 Democratic majority.

Gov. Wolf Vetoes Bill that Ignores Dangers of Climate Change

Harrisburg, Pa. – Today, Governor Tom Wolf vetoed House Bill 2025, which would have prevented the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from taking any action to abate, control or limit carbon dioxide emissions in the commonwealth without the prior approval of the General Assembly.

Carbon dioxide is a harmful greenhouse gas and a major contributor to climate change, and this bill would have put a halt to DEP efforts to mitigate the impact climate change has on lives and livelihoods in Pennsylvania, including rulemaking currently being developed to allow Pennsylvania to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). RGGI is an economically sound program that has a proven record of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in member states.

Higher temperatures, unseasonal changes in precipitation, and more frequent and more extreme storms – all adverse effects of climate change – have already been experienced in Pennsylvania, and we must take action now to prevent worse changes from further endangering Pennsylvanians. This bill ignores science, and would have hampered the ability of the DEP to protect Pennsylvanians.

Gov. Wolf’s HB 2025 veto message:

“Addressing the global climate crisis is one of the most important and critical challenges we face.  This legislation is extremely harmful to public health and welfare as it prevents the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (Department) from taking any measure or action to abate, control or limit carbon dioxide emissions, a greenhouse gas and major contributor to climate change impacts, without prior approval of the General Assembly.  Like every state in the country, the Commonwealth has already begun to experience adverse impacts from climate change, such as higher temperatures, changes in precipitation, and frequent extreme weather events, including large storms, flooding, heat waves, heavier snowfalls, and periods of drought.  Reductions in carbon dioxide emissions are even more significant now as emerging evidence links chronic exposure to air pollution with higher rates of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19.

“This legislation also prohibits the Commonwealth from participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a regional initiative among Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while generating economic growth, unless additional legislation is enacted.  RGGI participating states have reduced power sector carbon dioxide pollution by 45 percent since 2005, while the region’s per-capita gross domestic product has continued to grow.  By joining RGGI, Pennsylvania has the opportunity to make real progress on limiting climate change-causing carbon pollution while generating thousands of new jobs, providing for worker training, and offering future electric bill savings.

“In addition to the legislation’s failure to address climate change, the immediate effect of this legislation would be to halt a rulemaking package I directed the Department to develop by executive order pursuant to the authority of the Air Pollution Control Act to abate, control, or limit carbon dioxide emissions from fossil-fuel-fired electric power generators.  The Regulatory Review Act and the Air Pollution Control Act afford the opportunity for extensive public participation, including public comment and public hearings, in the rulemaking process.  Members of the General Assembly also have a robust role in the rulemaking process, including through their appointments on advisory committees and the Environmental Quality Board.  This legislation creates burdensome and duplicative processes that will thwart the Department’s ability to take any action to regulate the greenhouse gas most responsible for climate change in the transportation, industrial, and commercial sectors, as well as the electric power sector.

“The citizens of this Commonwealth cannot afford to wait any longer.  Given the urgency of the climate crisis facing Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth must take concrete, economically sound, and immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Allowing this legislation to become law would effectively deny that climate change is an urgent problem that demands prudent solutions.”

Matzie: Nearly $316,000 to fund new Ambridge playground, spray park

AMBRIDGE, Sept. 24 – A $315,528 grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will fund a major Ambridge playground project including installation of a spray park with water features, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced today.

Matzie said the funding – awarded through DCNR’s 2020 Community Conservation Partnerships Program – will allow development to move forward on the Henning Street project.

“This is big for Ambridge and big for our kids,” Matzie said. “Bringing home this kind of money is one of the most important aspects of being a state legislator.

“The plans have been in place for a while, but this funding was needed to go forward. Now the borough can move ahead with the project. It will have a new spray park, a concession stand and new playground equipment with safety surfacing. It’s going to be really exciting.

“Making sure our communities get the funding they need for projects like this is what I work hard at every single day. Families will have the opportunity to spend time and have fun together here, in Ambridge.”

Matzie said the project will also include ADA access, landscaping, and other site improvements.

The grant is part of a package of approximately $23.4 million in funding to 158 projects statewide. C2P2 grants fund planning, acquisition and development of public parks, recreation areas, motorized and non-motorized trails, river conservation and access and conservation of open space.

A complete list of funding awarded is available here and more information on C2P2 grants is available here.

Trump pays respects to late Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg
KEVIN FREKING Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump paid respects to late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, just two days before he announces his nominee to replace her on the high court. The president and first lady Melania Trump — both wearing masks — stood silently at the top of the steps of the court and looked down at Ginsburg’s flag-draped coffin, surrounded by white flowers. The death of the liberal-leaning justice has sparked a controversy over the balance of the court just weeks before the November presidential election. Some spectators were not happy the president was there. Moments after he arrived, booing could be heard from spectators who then chanted “Vote him out.”

Jobless claims at 870,000 as fraud and backlogs cloud data
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER and MARYCLAIRE DALE Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment aid rose slightly last week to 870,000, a historically high figure that shows that the viral pandemic is still squeezing restaurants, airlines, hotels and many other businesses six months after it first erupted. The figure coincides with evidence that some newly laid-off Americans are facing delays in receiving unemployment benefits as state agencies intensify efforts to combat fraudulent applications and clear their pipelines of a backlog of jobless claims.

(Big Beaver, Pa.) The Pa Turnpike is now reporting in a press release that The Beaver Valley interchange (Exit 13) along the Pennsylvania Turnpike will now remain closed every day even on weekends in order for work to be completed by Oct. 10.

Crews are reconstructing the shoulders and resurfacing the ramps to and from the interchange. Initially work was going to only take place during weekdays. As the project began, the scope of the work needed to change. When reconstruction of the shoulders started, crews needed to remove the guide rail. Having no guide rail during construction is a safety issue for motorists, so the interchange will be closed for the entire three-week period

The suggested detour for motorists traveling on the turnpike who want to exit at Beaver Valley will be a detour to the New Castle interchange and then onto Route 351 (Fairlane BLVD) to Route 18 and for motorists who want to enter the turnpike at Beaver Valley are being detoured to New Castle interchange via  routes 18 and 351 (Fairlane BLVD). Detour signs will be posted to assist motorists.

Wolf Administration Reminds Pennsylvanians To Be Counted in 2020
Census
Harrisburg, PA – Today, Second Lady of Pennsylvania Gisele Fetterman joined Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, Executive Director of the Governor’s 2020 Census Complete Count Commission Norman Bristol Colon, the York County Food Bank, and ABC27 Hometown Hero fifth grader Miriam March to discuss the importance of being counted in the 2020 U.S. Census.

“Every Pennsylvanian counts, and we should all be counted in the 2020 Census,” said
Fetterman. “So many critical services, just like those provided by the York County Food Bank, rely on a complete and accurate Census count. Simply put, more services and resources will be available to York County if more York Countians fill out their Census questionnaires.”

As of September 14, 2020, In Pennsylvania, 68.5 percent of residents have already self responded to the 2020 Census, 2.6 percent higher than the national average. In York County, approximately 100,000 residents have not responded.

“Roads, water and sewer systems, healthcare, education, rental assistance, business loans, Cooperative Extension and broadband – the things that draw people to your area and keep them there – depend on information gathered in the U.S. Census,” said Redding, “The Census is your chance to be counted, to be heard, and to be represented fairly in Congress.”

Pennsylvania’s goal is to ensure that all residents respond to the Census, as a low response rate will impact federal funding and representation. Census data is used to decide how $675 billion in federal public funding is spent every year. Pennsylvania receives $26.8 billion annually through its 16 largest federally-funded programs, or about $2,000 per Pennsylvanian each year.

“Despite being in the middle of a global pandemic, Pennsylvania remains committed to encouraging residents to respond to the 2020 Census as it determines our state’s funding for the next 10 years,” said Norman Bristol Colon, Executive Director for the Governor’s 2020 Census Complete Count Commission. “We need everyone’s help to ensure that our communities receive their fair share of federal public funding and influence.

Recently, the deadline to respond to the 2020 Census has changed from October 31, 2020, to September 30, 2020. It is imperative now, more than ever, that all Pennsylvanians are counted in the 2020 Census.
This year marks the 22nd occasion of the United States Census, and commonwealth residents began receiving invitations to respond to the 2020 Census at the beginning of March. Pennsylvanians can respond online, by phone, or by mail, and this year marks the first time in history that responses can be filled out online.
“The York County Food Bank understands that a fair and accurate count is key to addressing hunger in our region,” said Jennifer Brillhart, President & CEO of the York County Food Bank.

“The 2020 Census provides a chance to shape our nation’s future and we encourage everyone to participate.” The Census questionnaire is confidential and straightforward, with questions that include name, address, sex, race, ethnicity, age, and whether you own or rent your home. The Census Bureau
will never ask about your citizenship status or sensitive information like your Social Security number, bank accounts, or payments/donations. The Census Bureau will never reach out to you on behalf of a political party. Your responses to the Census are protected by law and cannot be shared with, or used by, any other government agencies. Answers cannot be used for law enforcement purposes or to determine eligibility for government benefits or immigration enforcement.
The United States Constitution requires a Census count once every 10 years and counts every person living in the United States once and only once. The results of the 2020 Census will help provide fair representation when determining congressional districts, policy, decision-making, and distribution of billions of dollars in federal funding that impacts the daily lives of Pennsylvanians over the next 10 years.
For more information about the U.S. Census, visit the PA Census website, and be sure to stay up-to-date with all of our agency news on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.