Biden launches wide battleground push with ads, surrogates
By BILL BARROW Associated Press
Joe Biden’s presidential campaign is ramping up its advertising and deploying some of its high-profile surrogates as it tries to solidify a broad battleground map that his advisers see as giving the former vice president multiple paths to an Electoral College majority. Biden’s campaign announced Tuesday a $15 million weeklong advertising campaign including television, digital, radio and print in six states: Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. President Donald Trump won all six states four years ago. While the Biden moves underscore his wide-ranging approach, they also highlight lingering questions about possibly spreading the campaign too thin.

NEW CASTLE, July 21 – Pa State Rep Chris Sainato yesterday announced an $8,000 grant to the Hickory Township Volunteer Fire Co. will help firefighters guard against the threat of wildfires and brushfires.

Sainato said the grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will fund key resources at a time when they are most needed.

“Hot, dry weather leaves our rural communities and forestland especially vulnerable to the risk of brush and wildfires, which under the right conditions can pose a grave danger to life and property,” Sainato said. “Our volunteer firefighters stand ready – as always – to protect us from the threat, even with limited resources.

“This funding is welcome news because it should help the company pay for training, equipment such as mobile radios and water supply apparatus, and other resources that can keep our volunteers better equipped and better protected.”

The grant is part of package of nearly $592,000 to 109 volunteer firefighting companies statewide. Recipients are selected based on vulnerability and adequacy of existing fire protection, and assistance is granted on a cost-share basis, with recipients supplying matching funds.

Transgender official takes abuse while leading virus efforts
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press
One of Pennsylvania’s most popular fairs is apologizing after a dunk-tank promotion led to accusations of transphobia. The dunk tank featured a man in a dress. The Bloomsburg Fair likened him in a Facebook post to Dr. Rachel Levine, a transgender woman who is Pennsylvania’s health secretary. A U.S. senator and other politicians issued statements of condemnation, and some people said they planned to skip this year’s fair in September. Fair officials apologized Tuesday and said they meant no disrespect. Levine is leading the state’s pandemic response and has been subjected to a stream of mockery and abuse.

Turnpike: Toll hike, 45% non-EZ pass surcharge coming
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Turnpike officials have announced yet another toll increase — 6% beginning early next year — as well as a new 45% surcharge for non-EZ-Pass users whose tolls are assessed by mail based on their license plates. Officials said the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission on Tuesday approved a 6% increase for EZ-Pass users as well those without passes in the “Toll by Plate” program. But they also approved an average 45% increase over the 2020 cash rate “to reflect the costs of collections for this tolling method.” The new rates are to take effect Jan. 3.

Police: Female body found in trunk of car at auto body shop
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Police say a female body was found in the trunk of a car at an auto body shop in west Philadelphia. Police said the female, whose age and race wasn’t immediately available, was found in the trunk of a silver Dodge Charger at Superior Automotives. She was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. There was no immediate word on a possible cause of death. Last week, a woman’s body was found in a large plastic container on a street in south Philadelphia.

Ohio House speaker, 4 others arrested in $60M bribery case
By JULIE CARR SMYTH and JOHN SEEWER Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The powerful Republican speaker of the Ohio House and four associates have been arrested in a $60 million federal bribery case connected to a taxpayer-funded bailout of Ohio’s two nuclear power plants. FBI agents also raided Speaker Larry Householder’s farm. U.S. Attorney David DeVillers says the ploy was probably the largest bribery scheme ever perpetrated against the state of Ohio. Householder was one of the driving forces behind the nuclear plants’ financial rescue, which added a new fee to every electricity bill in the state. The bailout also directed over $150 million a year through 2026 to the plants near Cleveland and Toledo.

Michael Folmer Sentenced to 1-2 Years for Possessing Child Pornography

HARRISBURG―Attorney General Josh Shapiro today said former Lebanon County state Sen. Michael Folmer was sentenced this morning to a total of one day less than one year to two days less than two years in prison, eight years probation, and 15 years as a registered sex offender for possessing child pornography and criminal use of a communication facility.

“This was a public official whose constituents trusted to do what’s right, but he failed. He engaged in the sexual exploitation of children,” Attorney General Shapiro said. “No one is above the law, including those who make the laws. I will continue to work to protect children and hold those who abuse them accountable.”

Folmer, who was sentenced by Judge Joseph Madenspacher in the Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas, was charged in September 2019 as a result of a CyberTip reporting that an electronic service provider, Tumblr, discovered that a user had uploaded an image of child pornography using their application.

The investigation led to Folmer’s home in Lebanon. The Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section, Lebanon City Police Department, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security executed a search warrant and found images of child pornography on the defendant’s phone.

Governor Wolf Appoints Lucas M. Miller as State Inspector General

Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf announced today the appointment of Lucas M. Miller, the current Acting State Inspector General, to serve as the State Inspector General of Pennsylvania.

“Lucas Miller brings over 20 years of public service experience to the role of State Inspector General,” said Gov. Wolf. “In his acting capacity, he has already proven to be a capable leader, and I know that he will continue to ensure that state government is responsible to Pennsylvanians through ethics, integrity and accountability.”

Governor Wolf recently created the Pennsylvania State Law Enforcement Citizen Advisory Commission within the Office of State Inspector General, and Miller will help lead this initiative to ensure accountability within commonwealth law enforcement.

Miller has held nearly every position within the Office of State Inspector General, beginning as a Claims Investigation Agent in 1999. With an attention to ethics and integrity, Miller was repeatedly promoted within the agency, first as a Welfare Fraud Investigator Supervisor, then as Operations Manager, as three separate bureau directors and as the Deputy State Inspector General. Throughout his career, Miller has focused on improving government efficiency, eliminating waste and ensuring accountability. A graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, Miller lives with his family in Hampden Township.

“Governor Wolf has tasked the Office of State Inspector General with ensuring the accountability of Pennsylvania state government,” said Miller. “I am humbled and honored that the governor has entrusted me to help lead this effort, and I look forward to this latest chapter in Pennsylvania’s integrity agency.”

Miller is replacing former State Inspector General Bruce R. Beemer, who became a judge at the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Miller assumed the role of Acting State Inspector General on January 2, 2020.