Since its inception more than 50 years ago, the Property Tax and Rent Rebate program has provided more than $8 billion in property-tax and rent relief to Pennsylvanians. (jackfrog/Adobe Stock)
Danielle Smith – Keystone State News Connection

Pennsylvanians are seeing some financial relief with their property taxes and rent. The state expansion of the existing property tax and rent rebate program began distributing rebates this month.

More than 442,000 rebates, totaling $266 million, are in the hands of Pennsylvanians.

Bill Johnston-Walsh, state director of AARP Pennsylvania, said the expansion program helps people age 50+ and 18 years and older living with a disability to stay in their homes and eases the burden of high property taxes and rising costs.

“For this year, it was able to increase the rebate rates, the average rate increase from $650 to $1,000,” Johnston-Walsh outlined. “The income cap for homeowners increased from $35,000 to $45,000. And then also, the income cap increase for renters from $15,000 to $45,000.”

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, income thresholds for rebate eligibility will adjust with the cost-of-living changes, providing a safety net to protect recipients, even as their Social Security benefits rise over time.

Johnston-Walsh noted the deadline to apply for the program has been extended to Dec. 31 and several application options are available, such as online at mypath.pa.gov, in-person, by phone or by mail.

“You also go to the Department of Revenue website and you download the paper application, and then you’d be able to mail it in to the Department of Revenue,” Johnston-Walsh explained. “The third way is in person. The department has revenue offices throughout the Commonwealth.”

Johnston-Walsh added AARP advocated for the program expansion to help more older Pennsylvanians access it. The Keystone State is home to almost 3.5 million people age 60 and older.

Pittsburgh, PA – PennDOT District 11 is announcing survey activities on I-376 (Parkway West) in the City of Pittsburgh and Greentree Borough, Allegheny County, will occur Wednesday through Friday, July 31-August 2 weather permitting.

Survey activities requiring shoulder restrictions on I-376 in each direction between the Parkway Center Drive on-ramp and the Route 19 North/Route 51 North (Exit 69C) exit toward the West End will occur from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.

Crews from Surveying & Mapping, LLC will conduct the survey work. Please use caution in the area.

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Helping Improve Recruitment and Retention Efforts for (HIRRE) Prosecutors Act to better support, hire, train, and retain local prosecutors critical to protecting public safety. This legislation would create a federal competitive grant program to provide district attorneys with the staff and resources they need to prosecute cases and protect the rule of law. U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), Jim Baird (R-IN-4), Don Bacon (R-NE-2) and Joe Neguse (D-CO-2) introduced companion legislation in the House.

“In order to protect public safety and the rule of law, it is critical that we have enough well-trained prosecutors who seek justice when crimes are committed. This bill supports local district attorney offices to ensure they have the resources needed to better attract and retain talented attorneys to prosecute local crime,” said Senator Casey. “I will always fight for Pennsylvania communities, and investing in local prosecutors is vital to keeping our Commonwealth safe.”

“For far too long, our local district attorneys’ offices have had to compete with private, better-paying law firms for talented attorneys, which often leads to limited personnel to effectively prosecute local crime,” said Representative Panetta. “The HIRRE Prosecutors Act would create a first-of-its-kind federal grant program to invest in the legal talent needed to work as prosecutors, better prosecute cases, and hold people accountable. With these types of federal grants, the federal government can play its part to help our local prosecutors properly seek truth and justice and help provide public safety.”

“The National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) strongly supports the HIRRE Prosecutors Act for its immediate, transformative impact on prosecutors’ offices nationwide. This Act addresses critical issues seen in jurisdictions of all sizes like understaffing, heavy caseloads, and high turnover by establishing a federal grant program to fund hiring, training, and retention. Prosecutors are vital to our justice system and public safety, and this legislation will ensure they have the necessary resources to protect our communities effectively,” said Nelson Bunn, Executive Director of the National District Attorneys Association.

“Prosecutors are needed to ensure the safety of their communities and seek justice for crime victims,” said David A. Strouse, Clinton County District Attorney and President of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association (PDAA). “However, district attorneys are finding it more and more difficult to fill job vacancies in their offices. This puts a strain on their dedicated staff who work daily to enhance public safety.” Strouse added: “PDAA supports legislation that will help district attorneys recruit and retain prosecutors. It is vital that we have the experienced prosecutors needed to ensure that crime victims are served, offenders are held accountable, and communities are safe.”

“Prosecutors’ offices across the country, mine included, have experienced significant issues in hiring and retaining lawyers to do the very important work of holding criminals accountable in court.  Research has repeatedly shown that prosecutors leave these jobs that they love for more money at private firms. District Attorneys’ offices simply can’t compete with private-sector wages,” said Montgomery County PA District Attorney Kevin R. Steele. “This HIRRE legislation will be a game-changer by providing much-needed resources in the form of grants to hire and keep talented prosecutors. If we can retain experienced prosecutors, it’s a win for everyone in the system.” 

Senator Casey sponsored the HIRRE Prosecutors Act after hearing repeated concerns from Pennsylvania prosecutors about hiring challenges. The HIRRE Prosecutors Act would create a program that establishes $10 million per year in competitive grants help district attorney offices hire, retain, and train state and local prosecutors. Since the pandemic, there has been a growing hiring crisis for prosecutors across the Nation, with some offices experiencing vacancies as high as 33 percent. In Pennsylvania, while most district attorneys report high job satisfaction they also report that the three most significant factors that would make them leave their jobs are: better pay, lower caseloads, and personal well-being.

Unlike police departments, local prosecutors have little federal assistance with hiring and retaining staff. The grant program established by the HIRRE Prosecutors Act would be modeled after the COPS Hiring Program, a successful initiative to hire and train local law enforcement. This legislation would help district attorney offices ensure they have enough prosecutors on staff and incentivize them to stay.

Fox Chapel, PA – On Saturday, July 27, 2024, Aubrey Bowman of Beaver Falls, PA, was named the Distinguished Young Woman of Pennsylvania for 2025 and awarded $3600 in cash scholarships during a statewide scholarship program for high school senior girls held at The Hillman Center for the Performing Arts at Shadyside Academy.

Bowman was one of 9 high school senior girls from across the commonwealth who competed to represent the state as the Distinguished Young Woman of Pennsylvania for 2025. Participants were evaluated in the categories of Scholastics (25%), Interview (25%), Talent (20%), Fitness (15%), and Self-Expression (15%). In addition to winning the overall title, Bowman also was awarded the category awards for Fitness, Self-Expression, and Talent, as well as the top advertisement sales honor.

Throughout the next year, Bowman will represent the county across the Commonwealth at various public events and serve as a role model to young people by spreading the program’s national outreach message of “Be Your Best Self.” The outreach program is designed to encourage self-esteem and excellence in all young people through its five principles: Be Healthy, Be Involved, Be Studious, Be Ambitious, and Be Responsible.

Bowman is the daughter of Lori and Pedro Bowman and is a senior at Blackhawk Area High School. She is also a student at Paula Scriva Dance Studio, where she trains and teaches various styles of dance.

The 68th National Finals will take place on June 26, 27, and 28, 2025, in Mobile, Ala. The fifty state representatives will travel to Mobile from across the country to participate in personal development activities and community service projects before competing for the opportunity to become the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2025 and for additional cash scholarships. Delaware’s Alicia Chu, entering her first year at Harvard University, was named the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2024.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published July 29, 2024 1:57 P.M.

(Hopewell Township, Pa) Hopewell Township Police Chief Don Sedlacek announced over the weekend that his department is sponsoring a spaghetti dinner to benefit Detective Greg Durkos, who was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The event will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church’s banquet hall from noon to 6pm on Sunday, September 22, 2024. Cost is $15 per person for spaghetti, salad, rolls, and butter. 50/50 raffle and silent auction. Anyone wishing to donate a basket is asked to contact Sgt. Nicollette Lopez at nlopez@hopewelltwp.com. For more information, please call the department at 724-378-0557 between 8:30am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday.

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published July 29, 2024 8:46 A.M.

(Center Township, Pa) A rumor has been spreading in recent days on social media that the Beaver Valley Mall is being sold to Amazon to use as a distribution center. The unverified rumor also states that current businesses will have to move out of the mall within two years. No official sources have confirmed the rumor is legitimate. A Beaver County Radio news source told Beaver County Radio that they are “highly skeptical” of the rumor. However, they did confirm that there have been talks of repurposing the mall interior. Center Township Supervisors say that they have no information on the matter. Beaver County Radio has reached out to the mall but have not yet received a response.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Wampum, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand  jury in Pittsburgh on charges of Production of Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor  and Possession of Material Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. 

The three-count Indictment named Thomas Hyatt-Baney, 21, formerly of Wampum,  Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant. 

According to the Indictment, Hyatt-Baney, on or about May 28, 2023, and June 25, 2023,  produced visual depictions of the sexual exploitation of a minor. The Indictment also charges Hyatt Baney with possessing, on or about September 9, 2023, videos and still images depicting the sexual  exploitation of minors, some of whom were prepubescent and under the age of 12 years.  

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 15 years or more than 30  years in prison, a fine of $750,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual  sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history,  if any, of the defendant.  

Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the  government. 

The Pennsylvania State Police and Homeland Security Investigation conducted the  investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe  Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the  growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices  and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe  Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals  who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project  Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. 

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

Norfolk Southern locomotives are moved through the Conway Terminal in Conway, Pa., Saturday, June 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Norfolk Southern got a boost during the second quarter from insurance payments related to last year’s disastrous East Palestine derailment, but it also made progress in reducing its expenses and getting more efficient.

The Atlanta-based railroad said it earned $737 million, or $3.25 per share, in the quarter, but there were several unusual factors influencing the results. And last year’s $356 million profit, or $1.56 per share, was heavily weighed down by costs related to the derailment near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.

But CEO Alan Shaw is most proud of the $250 million in productivity and safety gains the railroad has made this year. Norfolk Southern also hauled 5% more freight during the quarter thanks to the efficiency and new business it was able to attract.

“I’m really encouraged by our progress and I’m really confident in our future,” Shaw said. “We did everything we said we were going to do.”

The $156 million in insurance payments the railroad received as it recovered some of the more than $1.7 billion it has spent in response to the February 2023 derailment in eastern Ohio more than offset the $91 million in costs this quarter. That resulted in a $65 million net boost to earnings. Much of the derailment costs, including the $600 million class action settlement the railroad agreed to this spring, will likely eventually be covered by the railroad’s insurance.

Further complicating the financial picture is the fact that Norfolk Southern spent $22 million in the quarter to fight back against investor Ancora Holdings’ campaign to take over the board and fire the railroad’s management. Ancora’s nominees ultimately won three board seats, but not enough to take control.

Without any of those unusual factors, Norfolk Southern estimated that it would have earned $694 million, or $3.06 per share, in the quarter. The analysts surveyed by FactSet Research expected the railroad to report earnings per share of $2.86.

Its stock rose almost 7% in after-hours after the earnings report came out.

Norfolk Southern endorsed all of the recommendations the National Transportation Safety Board made in its final East Palestine report, and the railroad said it has largely addressed the safety concerns the Federal Railroad Administration raised in a report last year. But the rail industry has been lobbying against many of the proposed regulations Congress has been considering.

During the proxy fight, Shaw hired a new operations chief and promised to make the railroad more efficient, though he still says he doesn’t want to cut so deep that Norfolk Southern won’t have the resources it needs to handle additional freight when the economy does improve.

The railroad said has already parked more than 320 locomotives and pulled some 7,000 cars off its network as it moved to run fewer but longer trains to handle the same freight without as many engines or crews.

Over the next two years, Norfolk Southern predicts will improve productivity by about $550 million and boost its profit margin.

Already, the railroad reported improvement in every single performance metric in its quarterly report Thursday with everything from the average velocity of its cars to the amount of time trains spend in railyards getting better.

Edward Jones analyst Jeff Windau said Norfolk Southern has been steadily improving its efficiency and “put together a really solid quarter.”

The railroad’s revenue grew 2% to $3.04 billion in the quarter, in line with Wall Street’s forecast.

Norfolk Southern is one of the nation’s largest railroads operating trains across the eastern United States.