Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf is ordering the United States and commonwealth flags on all commonwealth facilities, public buildings and grounds to fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Monday, December 7, 2020, in honor of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

“It is with heavy hearts that we remember the tragic events that occurred at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, but we are also reminded of and inspired by the resilience, bravery and the indomitable fighting spirit of the Americans who gave their lives on that day,” Governor Wolf said.

The United States flag shall be lowered to half-staff until sunset on Monday, December 7, 2020. The commonwealth flag has flown at half-staff since Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in honor of the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic and should continue to fly at half-staff until further notice.

All Pennsylvanians are invited to participate in this tribute.

Keystone State News Connection

December 7, 2020

Report: PA “Shortchanges” Students with Disabilities

Andrea Sears

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A new report shows state spending on special education has remained almost unchanged for a decade, leaving school districts to pick up the rising costs.

The report, called “A Decade of Shortchanging Students with Disabilities“, demonstrated from 2009 to 2019, Pennsylvania school districts increased spending on special education by $2 billion.

But in that same period, state spending on special education increased by only $110 million.

Deborah Gordon Klehr, executive director of the Education Law Center, said lack of state support is harming the most underserved students, especially in the state’s lowest-wealth school districts.

“Lack of state aid forces school districts to make painful decisions between cuts in needed services or tax increases,” Klehr observed.

The Education Law Center called for annual increases of $100 million dollars or more in state spending on special education over several years to meet the growing costs.

Klehr added the declining state share of special-ed funding, down from 32% to 22% over ten years, has a disproportionate impact on students of color.

“Hard hit by the underfunding are Pennsylvania’s Black and Latinx students who are historically underserved and are concentrated in the lowest-wealth districts in the state,” Klehr asserted.

She explained the rising cost of special ed reflects the response of school districts fulfilling their legal requirement to meet the needs of a growing population of students.

Klehr noted more than 300,000 Pennsylvania students receive special-education services, and the state’s shrinking share of funding for those services is only part of the story.

“The problem is compounded by the fact that increases to state basic education funding have also been very limited, which also impacts students with disabilities,” Klehr maintained.

The state chips in only 38% of the cost of public education in Pennsylvania, one of the lowest funding rates in the entire country.

Keystone State News Connection

December 7, 2020

DEP Holds Hearings on Joining Climate Program

Andrea Sears

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The public has a chance to weigh in on Pennsylvania’s participation in a program that could reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and air pollution, and grow clean-energy jobs.

Starting Tuesday, the Department of Environmental Protection will hold virtual public hearings on a draft rule to have Pennsylvania join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

Since 2008, the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states in RGGI have cut carbon emissions from power plants by more than 40%.

Patrice Tomcik, project manager of state campaigns for the group Moms Clean Air Force, said it also cuts emissions of other pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide, soot and heavy metals.

“There would be a reduction in premature deaths from respiratory illnesses, fewer hospital visits, preterm births, childhood autism and asthma attacks,” Tomcik predicted.

RGGI establishes a regional cap on carbon emissions that diminishes over time and sells emission allowances to the power industry through quarterly auctions.

There will be ten online hearings between Dec. 8 and 14.

Barbara Jarmoska, treasurer for the Responsible Drilling Alliance, said joining RGGI would be an important step toward slowing climate change that is already affecting Pennsylvania. She lives near a creek on 20 acres of land her family has owned since 1933.

“That creek never flooded the home once until 2011, and we had what was then called a thousand-year flood,” Jarmoska recalled. “And in 2016, just five years later, we had a second one.”

She added cutting methane emissions from oil and gas drilling and infrastructure will also be vital to reducing the floods, fires and extreme weather brought on by climate change.

Tomcik pointed out Pennsylvania is the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the nation.

“We have a responsibility, an obligation to step up and do our part in regard to curbing or cutting our carbon dioxide pollution,” Tomcik contended.

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Throughout Beaver County signs have been popping up that say More Love, Less Hate dot Org. What are these signs about? Tune into Teleforum with Eddy Crow at 10:35 a.m. Monday December 7, 2020 on 1230 WBVP, 1460 WMBA, 99.3 FM, and beaver county radio.com to find out more. Steve Peterson the organizer behind this will join Eddy to explain what his mission is. Steve will also be available to answer any questions by calling 724-843-188 or 724-774-1888 during the show.

The interview will also be streamed live on our Facebook Page @WBVP-WMBA. You will also be able to ask questions in the feed.

Pittsburgh – Attorney Jill Beck today announced that she is running to serve on the Pennsylvania Superior Court to continue her tireless fight for fairness in our judicial system. Raised in Pittsburgh, Jill has dedicated her career to ensuring that all Pennsylvanians, particularly the most disadvantaged among us, have equal access to justice. She now hopes to take that dedication, experience and integrity to one of Pennsylvania’s top appellate courts.

“For as long as I can remember, I wanted to help people who don’t have a voice and be an advocate for the underserved. This is what drew me to pursue a legal career nearly 20 years ago,” said Jill. “I know firsthand that justice is served only when every person – regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or income – has fair and equal access to the courts. I am running for Pennsylvania Superior Court to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have a voice in our legal system.”

No stranger to Pennsylvania’s appellate court system, Jill spent ten years as a law clerk for the Honorable Christine Donohue – first on the Superior Court and then the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. In that position, Jill drafted decisions for criminal, civil, family, juvenile, and orphans’ court cases that were grounded in the law and achieved substantial justice for individuals, families, and businesses across the Commonwealth.

Prior to her work with Justice Donohue, Jill fought for hundreds of abused and neglected children as an attorney for the nonprofit organization KidsVoice. Jill’s service at KidsVoice did not stop with ensuring that the legal rights of her young clients were protected. She worked diligently to ensure they were cared for and that their basic human needs were met. KidsVoice honored her for her advocacy in 2008, and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Allegheny County gave her their Children’s Voice Award in 2010.

“We were going through an intense adoption process with our now twin boys. Jill went above and beyond to help support our case,” said Melinda Suzensky, a parent of children Jill represented while at KidsVoice. “She showed us a level of compassion and dedication to making sure our children would get the best possible care by becoming a part of our family. Jill is a remarkable lawyer and person. If it wasn’t for her determination and loyalty to our twin boys we wouldn’t have them today.”

Jill spent the last year in private practice as a civil litigator at Blank Rome in Pittsburgh, a law firm she selected because of its commitment to providing free legal services to those who cannot afford them. In that role, she continued to help the underserved in Pennsylvania’s legal system, representing victims of domestic violence, assisting those experiencing housing insecurity, aiding in voter protection efforts and helping criminal defendants unable to afford legal representation. Jill has been a member of Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Coordinating Committee and has been involved in the firm’s work to address systemic criminal justice reforms, civil rights, and voter protection issues.

Kevin Eddy, a fellow attorney at Blank Rome said, “Jill shows excellent judgment, an enthusiasm for work, and steadfast self-discipline – and she has always performed her work with joy and a sense of humor. Equally important is her commitment to the community. Jill has been involved in numerous pro bono initiatives and community engagement activities. She does so, not for the accolades, but for the mission of making life better for others.”

The Allegheny County Bar Association Judiciary Committee is highly recommending Jill in her candidacy for Superior Court. A Bar Association “highly recommended” rating means a candidate, among other qualities, “possesses the highest reputation for integrity and temperament; exhibits outstanding citizenship by way of community and professional contributions; and is an exceptional individual who will enhance or has enhanced the competency, dignity and public perception of the bench.”

Jill Beck is running for the Pennsylvania Superior Court to ensure that justice in Pennsylvania truly is for ALL. Learn more about Jill at www.jillbeck.com.

House and Senate Republicans Issue Letters Calling on Congress to Dispute Pennsylvania’s Electors, Law Enforcement to Review 2020 Election

HARRISBURG – Members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Pennsylvania Senate on Friday sent a series of letters that would help stand up for Pennsylvania’s election integrity and ensure the voice of Pennsylvanians concerned with how the 2020 election was conducted is heard.

Those letters include:

• A letter to Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation outlining the reasons why they should dispute the slate of electors certified by Gov. Tom Wolf.
• A letter to Pennsylvania’s attorney general requesting he appoint an independent prosecutor to review any election irregularities, to ensure the statutes governing the state’s election laws were not violated, and to make recommendations to the General Assembly concerning further internal control policies.
• A letter to the Pennsylvania inspector general requesting a review of the Department of State’s internal policies and procedures during the 2020 General Election; a review of any IT issues, specifically server issues and election website glitch errors; a review of internal control policies of the SURE System; recommendations for the Department of State to improve internal controls; and recommendations to improve coordination between the Department of State and counties.

Regarding the letters, the following members made statements:

 

Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster):

“The unconstitutional actions of an activist court created confusion and delays for every voter in Pennsylvania. These letters are a continuation of actions the Legislature has taken for months to restore our election law, and the public’s trust in our election process.”

 

Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin):

“I am alarmed and incredibly concerned about the numerous process failures, mistakes and reports of misdeeds in the 2020 election. Regardless of their political affiliation, we want people to feel confident in the election process. While we constitutionally cannot act as a Legislature to fix these problems at this time, there is action that can be taken to ensure the integrity of our election is upheld and the voice of Pennsylvanians is heard. I hope that the law enforcement entities and our members of Congress take these letters with the seriousness and concern they deserve to ensure the rule of law is followed and the people of Pennsylvania truly have access to free, fair and secure elections.”

 

State Rep. Seth Grove (R-York):

“As the General Assembly is constitutionally barred from interfering with election results, we are developing every possible option and tool at our disposal to bring transparency and accountability to the 2020 General Election.”

 

(File Photo)

(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Beaver County Coroner David J. Gabauer reported Friday morning  that William Odell, 30 of Rochester  has been identified as the victim struck and killed  by a Norfolk Southern  train on Wednesday evening in Beaver Falls.

On Thursday Jeff DeGraff from  Norfolk Southern’s media relations department reported that   at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday an eastbound train struck an individual who was on the tracks near the 7th Avenue Bridge in Beaver Falls. DeGraff said unfortunately  the individual suffered fatal injuries.