Governor Shapiro Announces Opening of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Application for Eligible Older Pennsylvanians and People with Disabilities

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro gestures at a campaign event for Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris in Ambler, Pa., Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Governor Josh Shapiro announced yesterday that eligible Pennsylvanians can now apply for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program.The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue is now accepting applications for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2025 and this began yesterday. Governor Shapiro and Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne are reminding eligible applicants that the PTRR program provides real financial relief to seniors, widows and widowers, as well as people with disabilities, especially after Shapiro championed an expansion of the program that was historic. The expansion increased the maximum standard rebate to $1,000, which was up from the prior maximum of $650, and it raised income eligibility limits for homeowners and renters, as well as tying the income limits to cost-of-living adjustments. The income limit for applicants of rebates is now $48,110, which is an increase of over $1,500 from last year, thanks to this change. The link to apply online for the PTRR Program can be found by clicking here.

According to a release in Harrisburg yesterday from Governor Josh Shapiro’s office, here is some more information about how to file for this program, more information about eligibility and more information about the PTRR program:

Eligibility/How to File

  • The PTRR program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The table below shows the maximum rebate for homeowners and renters who fit this criteria are eligible for, depending on their income in 2025:

 

INCOME MAX STANDARD REBATE
$0 – $8,550 $1,000
$8,551 – $16,040 $770
$16,041 – $19,240 $460
$19,241 – $48,110 $380
  •  Submitting your application online through myPATH by clicking here — in English by clicking here or Spanish by clicking here. It is easy and does not require you to sign up for an account. Filing online gives you instant confirmation that your claim has been successfully filed. Applicants also will have access to automatic calculators and other helpful features that are not available through the paper application.
  • It’s free to apply for a rebate and assistance is available at hundreds of locations across the state: Department of Revenue district officeslocal Area Agencies on Aging, and state legislators’ offices. You must reapply for a rebate every year as they are based on annual income and property taxes or rent paid during the prior year.
  • The easiest way to check the status of your rebate is to use the Where’s My Rebate? tool on myPATH. To check on the status of your claim, you will need your Social Security number, claim year, and date of birth.

 

  • About the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program

    During his first year in office, Governor Josh Shapiro signed into law a historic expansion of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program, which means more Pennsylvanians now qualify — and at the same time — the vast majority who qualified in prior years have seen their rebates increase. This was the first time the program was expanded since 2006. The expansion:

 

  • Increased the maximum standard rebate to $1,000.
  • Increased the income cap for both homeowners and renters.
  • Increased the income cap to grow with inflation each year moving forward.

 

  • Since its inception in 1971, the PTRR program has delivered nearly $9 billion in property tax and rent relief to some of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable residents. The PTRR program is funded with revenue from gaming.

Pennsylvania officials roll out a new online tool they hope will help SNAP recipients

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – SNAP EBT information sign is displayed at a gas station in Riverwoods, Ill., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, file)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Officials in Pennsylvania have now rolled out a new online tool they hope will help food stamp recipients follow federal work requirements and hold on to their benefits. According to state estimates, more than 144,000 Pennsylvanians are at risk of losing their grocery assistance because of the tightened rules instituted in phases in September and November. Pennsylvania is also promoting a website to prevent some of these losses and it will help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients find volunteer opportunities that will help them meet the added requirements. This website can be found by clicking here.

Pitt quarterback Mason Heintschel will return for sophomore season

(Credit for Photo and Caption for Photo: ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 22: Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Heintschel (6) throws a pass during the college football game between the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on November 22nd, 2025 at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) SOURCE: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pitt quarterback Mason Heintschel announced on social media yesterday that he will return to Pitt for his sophomore season of college football. During the 2025 season, Heintschel passed for 2,354 yards and sixteen touchdowns with eight interceptions in ten games. Heintschel became a freshman phenomenon ever since head coach Pat Narduzzi benched quarterback Eli Holstein on October 4th, 2025 in their game that afternoon against Boston College and Heintschel led Pitt to a 48-7 victory. Holstein also announced recently that he will be transferring to the University of Virginia, one of Pitt’s rivals in the Atlantic Coast Conference. However, Pitt will not be playing Virginia in the 2026 college football season.

Aliquippa man accused of assaulting another man in an Aliquippa VFW bar in 2025 takes the stand as his trial continues

(Photo Courtesy of the City of Aliquippa Police Department)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The trial continued yesterday in Beaver County for Brett Ours of Aliquippa, who is accused of attacking Preston Coleman at the Aliquippa VFW 3577 bar on January 5th, 2025. The charges for Ours include aggravated assault and attempted homicide. Ours took the stand to defend himself even though a surveillance video of the incident was shown in the courtroom and he told the jury that Coleman was calling a man with whom he had “bad blood,” from a motorcycle club that Ours was excommunicated from. The attack lasted 30 to 40 minutes. Jurors could see Ours punch, kick and choke Coleman repeatedly in the video of the incident and prosecutors believe Ours was trying to kill Coleman. However, Ours stated that he feared for his own safety and despite never seeing one, he believed Coleman had a gun on him, so he pulled out his knife. Before hitting Coleman, the video of the incident showed Ours stabbing the bar multiple times and throwing the knife to the ground and he is now ex-girlfriend took the knife from the ground before the beating started. Ours was asked during the testimony if he was sorry for what he did and he responded: “Absolutely. I fully take responsibility. I hurt a man. I never intended to kill Preston. I’m not proud of what I did.” Beaver County District Attorney Nate Bible believes the prosecutor of Ours has proved the case to the jury. Bible expects the jury to start deliberations today and if jurors are not close to a verdict by the late afternoon, deliberations will resume on Tuesday because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday. 

Hole-y Smokes, Sheetz is offering customers $2 off any breakfast sandwich for five days to celebrate National Bagel Day!

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Sheetz)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Altoona, PA) According to a recent release in Pennsylvania from Sheetz, yesterday was National Bagel Day, and Sheetz is offering customers $2 off any breakfast sandwich from its Made-to-Order (MTO®) menu from January 15th through January 19th, 2026. However, the Sheetz app is where this promotion can only be redeemed, and customers must add the offer under the OFFERZ tab in the Sheetz app to redeem it at any of the 800+ Sheetz locationsThis applies to their fan-favorite breakfast sandwiches, including Breakfast Meltz, Croissants, Everything ShmagelsShmagelsShmuffinsShmiscuits and more. If you are a My Sheetz Rewardz member, the offer can only be applied once per member. 

Pennsylvania State Police investigating death of a state correctional institutional inmate at UPMC Shadyside Hospital

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Badge)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in Pittsburgh reported via release yesterday that State Police investigated a death of a state correctional institutional inmate that occurred at UPMShadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh. This occurred along Centre Avenue on Tuesday at 11:34 a.m. and the victim was an unidentified sixty-two-year-old man from Mercer, Pennsylvania. Police state that nothing suspicious was found in relation to this incident. 

New Castle man arrested for drug possession in Lawrence County

(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Lawrence County, PA) Pennsylvania State Police in New Castle reported via release today that an unidentified twenty-seven-year-old man from New Castle was arrested for drug possession in Lawrence County on Tuesday evening. At 6:21 p.m., a traffic stop was initiated by PSP New Castle on the 3800 block of Mercer Road in Neshannock Township because the arrestee committed traffic violations. Marijuana was seized through further investigation and charges against the arrestee are pending.  

Former Steelers employee alleges discrimination and unequal pay in lawsuit

(File Photo: Source for Photo: People stand on the field in Acrisure Stadium before an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks in Pittsburgh, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Chelsea Zahn, a former Steelers employee, has filed a lawsuit alleging she faced discrimination and unequal pay compared to her male coworkers during her tenure from 2013 to 2024. According to the lawsuit, Zahn claims she experienced multiple instances of discrimination and a hostile work environment, being passed over for promotions due to her sex and age. Zahn alleges that her salary and commission structure were lower than those of her male colleagues, although she received one promotion. Zahn also claims that she was required to attend events that her male coworkers were not, simply because she had no children, and asserts she was discriminated against for not conforming to gender stereotypes. Zahn was informed that her bonus of $100,625 would be paid in February of 2025. when she stepped down in September of 2024. However, the lawsuit states that Steelers President Art Rooney decided not to pay the full commission because he was “upset she left the company.” Instead, a check for $50,000 was issued, which Zahn did not cash, claiming she was not paid the full amount. The lawsuit also states that Zahn suffered emotional, psychological, and physical distress and alleges gender discrimination, retaliation, and violations of the Equal Pay Act, the Civil Rights Act, and human relations law. The Steelers organization has declined to comment on the lawsuit. 

PPG Board of Directors announce quarterly dividend of 71 cents per share

(File Photo of the PPG Industries Inc. Logo)

(AP) PITTSBURGH–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan 15, 2026– The Board of Directors of PPG (NYSE:PPG) today declared a regular quarterly dividend of 71 cents per share, payable March 12 to shareholders of record Feb. 20.

Through the ongoing dedication and engagement of its workforce, PPG has raised its annual dividend payment for 54 consecutive years and has paid uninterrupted annual dividends since 1899. This marks the company’s 510th consecutive dividend payment.

Pennsylvania Game Commission to discuss potentially moving the start of deer season

(File Photo of Deer Approaching Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners will now discuss potentially moving the start of firearms deer season at their first meeting of 2026. There will be meetings on January 23rd and January 24th and they include two proposals on the start of the season for hunters. The first proposal would move the start of the season to the Saturday before Thanksgiving and the second proposal is to keep it on that date. If that decision holds, firearms bear season would also be moved to a week earlier, as well as early bear muzzleloader, archery and special firearms season would be shortened to a weekend.