Filadelfia. — Un hombre irrumpió en una iglesia de Filadelfia y robó una corona de 125 años de antigüedad con joyas incrustadas, la cual se encontraba sobre una estatua de mármol de la Virgen María, informó la policía de la ciudad el lunes.
El robo en la iglesia católica de San Juan Evangelista ocurrió alrededor de la 1:10 de la mañana del sábado, cuando el ladrón ingresó al lugar después de romper una ventana de vidrio emplomado, dijeron las autoridades. El incidente quedó fue captado por una cámara de vigilancia y la policía difundió las imágenes el lunes.
El hombre subió posteriormente a la nave superior de la iglesia y se dirigió directamente a la estatua, narró la archivista de la iglesia, Anne Kirkwood, en declaraciones al periódico The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Mientras el personal de la iglesia se preparaba para un bautismo el domingo, vieron los vidrios rotos y no tardaron en notar que faltaba la corona, la cual según Kirkwood, fue creada por James E. Caldwell & Co. alrededor de 1900. Fue hecha con joyas y gemas donadas por los feligreses para celebrar la reapertura de la iglesia después de un incendio en 1899.
La ventana de vidrio emplomado también data de la reapertura de la iglesia en 1902 y fue fabricada en Múnich, Alemania.
Shown is the Wells Fargo center in Philadelphia, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, ahead of announcement that the Philadelphia 76ers will partner with Comcast, their current landlord, to build a new arena in South Philadelphia and abandon a deal with the city to build the arena downtown,. (Photo: AP/Matt Rourke)
PHILADELPHIA.— The Philadelphia 76ers will partner with Comcast Spectacor, their current landlord, to build a new arena in South Philadelphia and abandon a deal with the city to move downtown.
The stunning reversal comes as a relief to critics of the plan to put a $1.3 billion arena near City Hall at the edge of Chinatown. Mayor Cherelle Parker on Monday called the proposal “a win, win, win, win for Philadelphia.»
“Philly, this is a lot. This is a curveball that none of us saw coming, but nevertheless, we are here,” Parker said at a midday news conference.
However, some critics and city council members felt betrayed after two years of fraught negotiations over the downtown plan. City council member Jim Harrity told a news station he felt “completely bamboozled.”
Parker was joined Monday by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who appeared remotely, and team and Comcast leaders who promised the new plan would bring vibrancy and a new vision to both locations. The parties also pledged to work with the city to try to bring a WNBA team to Philadelphia.
Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris, right, speaks during a news conference in Philadelphia, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, announcing that the 76ers will partner with Comcast, their current landlord, to build a new arena in South Philadelphia and abandon a deal with the city to build the arena downtown,. (Photo: AP/Matt Rourke)
“Though plans have changed, the one thing that has not changed is our commitment to do something good for the Sixers, our fans and most importantly, our city,” said David Adelman, a partner in the 76ers ownership group, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment.
The city council had voted only weeks ago to approve the team’s plan to open its proposed 76 Place downtown by 2031, despite opposition from residents of the city’s nearby Chinatown and others. The team, which shares space with the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL in an arena owned by Comcast, had said it wanted to own its own facility when its lease expired.
But the rival sides started talking two weeks ago before looping in city leaders in the high-stakes talks over the past three days.
The team, whose ownership group is led by investor Josh Harris, said it had formed a 50-50 joint venture with Comcast to replace its arena in the South Philadelphia stadium district by 2031. Comcast will also take a minority stake in the team and work together on the WNBA bid, the parties said in a joint statement Monday.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker speaks during a news conference in Philadelphia, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, announcing that the Philadelphia 76ers will partner with Comcast, their current landlord, to build a new arena in South Philadelphia and abandon a deal with the city to build the arena downtown,. (Photo: AP/Matt Rourke)
And they pledged to invest in the abandoned site, Market East, a once-bustling downtown retail corridor that has struggled for many years despite repeated attempts to revive it.
The partners, who also own the NHL’s New Jersey Devils and have a controlling interest in the NFL’s Washington Commanders, had vowed not to seek any city subsidies for the downtown project, which they said would reap $2 billion in economic growth for Center City. They did not immediately disclose financial terms of the new project.
Chinatown activist Vivian Chang said the community was cautiously optimistic, but troubled that “our city was held captive by the developers” and lost time it could have spent on other pressing issues.
Philadelphia 76ers mascot Franklin waves the flag during pre-game introductions prior to the NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, April 14, 2024, in Philadelphia. (Photo: AP/Chris Szagola/File)
“We have been saying all along that they were playing people,” Chang told The Associated Press. “These billionaire developers didn’t have anyone’s interests in mind, in terms of the community. They just had their profits in mind.”
Economist Victor Matheson, a College of the Holy Cross professor who studies stadium financing issues, said it’s not unusual for team owners to change course as they hunt for the best deal. Last year, in Washington, the NBA’s Wizards and the NHL’s Capitals decided to stay in the city after a deal to move to the northern Virginia suburbs, with $515 million in public financing, imploded.
“This happens all the time,” Matheson said, noting that the 76ers “played New Jersey against Philadelphia” in the hunt for public subsidies.
He believes the team planned to “pick up some subsidies along the way, and then when that didn’t happen, they ended up of course back where they started.”
Supporters of the downtown plan had hoped a glitzy, 18,500-seat arena would be the catalyst to revive Market East, which runs for eight blocks from City Hall to the Liberty Bell. “The way they reached this decision reflects a profound lack of respect for city leaders, stakeholders, and residents,” council members Jamie Gauthier and Rue Landau said in a statement. “It was shameful for 76DevCo to pit working-class Philadelphians against one another and pressure city council to consider a half-baked proposal on an artificially rushed timeline.”
Fotografía cedida por Emilio Madrid donde aparece Lin-Manuel Miranda durante un ensayo de la puesta teatral 'All-In: Comedy About Love'. (Foto: EFE/Emilio Madrid)
El artista hispano Lin-Manuel Miranda está listo para regresar mañana a las tablas de Broadway, tras su gran éxito de taquilla «Hamilton» sobre uno de los padres fundadores de EE. UU., pero en esta ocasión será con una pieza en torno a historias cotidianas sobre lo que implica vivir en Nueva York.
«Hamilton», escrita por el propio Miranda, fue su última presentación en Broadway. Se trata de una obra que cumple este 2025 diez años desde su debut, y que de inmediato se convirtió en una de las producciones más exitosas de crítica.
«All-In: Comedy About Love» es la pieza que le llevará al Teatro Hudson desde mañana, cuando estrena la obra, hasta la última función el 16 de febrero, junto con los actores Aidy Bryant, Andrew Rannells y Nick Kroll, como parte del elenco rotatorio que actuará por temporada limitada en ese escenario, según indica un comunicado.
La pieza fue escrita por Simon Rich, exguionista del programa televisivo «Saturday Night Live», inspirado en una serie de cuentos publicados por la revista The New Yorker acerca de experiencias de vida en la ciudad de Nueva York.
Los actores interpretan múltiples personajes en las historias que tratan temas como noviazgos, matrimonios, separación y las complicaciones que implican vivir en esta ciudad.
Otros artistas que serán parte del electo del espectáculo, dirigido por Alex Timbers, incluyen a Jimmy Fallon, -conductor de The Tonight Show-, John Mulaney, Hank Azaria, Renée Elise Goldsberry y Richard Kind.
Nueva York.- Bad Bunny dio una sorpresa este lunes en el metro de Nueva York con un concierto en una concurrida estación, al que se presentó disfrazado con una peluca y una barba falsa junto al presentador de televisión Jimmy Fallon, causando furor entre los transeúntes.
El cantante puertorriqueño, acompañado de varios músicos y de Fallon tocando la pandereta, interpretó temas de su nuevo álbum ‘Debí tirar más fotos’, un homenaje a Puerto Rico, incluyendo un himno dedicado a la Gran Manzana, ‘Nuevayol’, según vídeos de fans publicados en las redes sociales.
«¡Bienvenidos a la ciudad de Nueva York, yo soy Jimmy Fallon, este es Bad Bunny y tiene un nuevo disco!», grita el presentador de ‘The Tonight Show’ mientras ambos descubren sus rostros ante una multitud emocionada que enseguida se pone a corear las canciones y bailar.
Fallon, que ha realizado más conciertos sorpresa en el metro con otros grandes artistas, recibirá esta noche como invitado a Bad Bunny en su programa, según medios locales.
La actuación se produce después de que la estrella del reguetón diera otro concierto sorpresa con una orquesta en la noche del domingo en Caribbean Social Club, un conocido club latino de Brooklyn conocido como Toñita’s por el nombre de su dueña, Maria Antonia Cay.
Bad Bunny hace una mención a Toñita’s en la pegadiza ‘Nuevayol’, que usa en su estribillo el clásico salsero ‘Un verano en Nueva York’ (1975), de Andy Montañez y el Gran Combo de Puerto Rico.
«Estuvo divertido, la energía estaba a full (al máximo)», contó a EFE Camilo Hernández, un fan que se encontraba anoche en el club y que disfrutó del concierto, que se alargó una hora y media.
Además de los asiduos del club, había dos figuras políticas puertorriqueñas, las congresistas demócratas Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) y Nydia Velazquez, y un fan hizo un guiño al apodado ‘Conejo malo’ llevándole un conejo, que este sostuvo en brazos sorprendido.
By making this investment, the Shapiro Administration continues its critical investments in programs focused on addressing Pennsylvania’s teacher shortage and supporting workforce development across the Commonwealth.
Harrisburg, PA – The Shapiro Administration, in line with its focus on investing in workforce development and addressing pressing issues facing the Commonwealth, today announced the availability of a $4.2 million grant opportunity to expand the Certified Teacher Registered Apprenticeship (CTRA) program, a groundbreaking initiative designed to address Pennsylvania’s critical teacher shortage. The program offers a transformative pathway for aspiring educators, paraprofessionals, and emergency-certified teachers to gain full certification, creating an education workforce that better reflects the diverse communities it serves by addressing staffing shortages in Pennsylvania schools and offering earn-as-you-learn opportunities for individuals pursuing careers as certified elementary and secondary teachers.
The Department of Labor & Industry (L&I), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), is seeking applications from organizations to support CTRA programs. Individual grants of up to $400,000 will support single school district initiatives, while grants of up to $600,000 will fund efforts serving multiple districts or regions.
“This program is an innovative Pennsylvania solution to the teacher shortages affecting schools and students nationwide. By combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction, we’re creating pathways to family-sustaining careers while helping our schools and students thrive,” said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker. “Fewer people have pursued teacher certification in Pennsylvania in recent years, and that’s created staffing challenges in schools throughout the Commonwealth. The Shapiro Administration is committed to reversing this trend through targeted investments in our workforce. The Certified Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program moves us closer to big-picture solutions while providing real career opportunities for individuals dedicated to the education of our children.”
Pennsylvania’s educator workforce faces significant challenges, including a 67% decrease in certified teachers over the past decade and a reliance on emergency permits to fill critical roles. These shortages disproportionately affect schools serving high-poverty areas and students of color.
“Pennsylvania needs more high-quality teachers in our classrooms, and this program creates a new pathway for aspiring educators to achieve their dreams and career goals. Apprenticeships are an especially accessible option for paraprofessionals and emergency-certified teachers to earn the credentials they need to become a certified teacher. These individuals are already committed to the education of Pennsylvania’s next generation of learners, and this program offers an opportunity to take their leadership to the next level,” said PDE Interim Acting Secretary Angela Fitterer.
This new program builds on the Shapiro Administration’s efforts to recruit and retain teachers in Pennsylvania, working collaboratively with leaders in the education field to ensure there is a robust pipeline of educators in place to provide a high-quality education to students of all ages across the Commonwealth. Other efforts include: reducing teacher certification processing times by more than ten weeks, making intern certificates free to aspiring educators, creating a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) program in Education for high school students, awarding $1.5 million in grant funding to colleges and universities to bolster the Commonwealth’s next generation of special educators, eliminating the Basic Skills Assessment to become an educator, and creating and expanding the Student Teacher Support Program to provide a stipend to student teachers.
Key objectives of the CTRA program include:
Recruitment of underrepresented populations: Prioritizing candidates from low- and moderate-income communities to ensure equitable access.
High-need subject focus: Addressing shortages in areas such as special education, STEM, and English Language Learner instruction.
Sustainability and scalability: Creating frameworks that can be replicated statewide, ensuring long-term impact.
This grant opportunity is one of the many ways Governor Josh Shapiro is getting stuff done in when it comes to workforce development and education. Since taking office, the Shapiro Administration has increased annual funding for workforce development initiatives statewide – including apprenticeships, career and technical education (CTE), and vocational-technical programs – by nearly $65 million over its first two budgets, a more than 50 percent increase in funding over the 2022-23 budget.
Established in 2016, L&I’s Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO) is responsible for guiding and promoting the expansion and compliance of all registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs across the Commonwealth. The ATO currently supports 886 unduplicated program sponsors and 1,556 occupation-specific registered apprenticeship programs across the Commonwealth, with 16,003 registered apprentices currently active.
El legendario pianista de origen puertorriqueño Eddie Palmieri, en concierto. (Foto: EFE/Alonso Cupul/Archivo
San Juan.- El veterano músico Eddie Palmieri anunció este lunes que no podrá asistir al concierto en homenaje a su legado en Puerto Rico, previsto para el próximo 7 de febrero, por motivos de salud pero que este lo llevará a cabo su orquesta a modo de «última voluntad».
«Mi corazón está con ustedes, aunque mi cuerpo no pueda estar allí como tanto lo deseaba. Mi médico me ha pedido que evite viajar en este momento para cuidar mi salud, pero eso no detiene mi amor ni mi gratitud por la isla que siempre ha sido mi grandiosa patria Puerto Rico», dijo Palmieri, de 88 años, en declaraciones escritas.
El pianista y compositor de origen puertorriqueño pidió a sus seguidores que «no dejen de asistir al concierto»: «Mi orquesta, liderada magistralmente por mi querido amigo Humberto Ramírez, estará allí para hacerlos vibrar como siempre mi música lo ha hecho».
Palmieri explicó que el concierto contará también con la participación del cantante Hermán Olivera, conocido como ‘El Sonero del Siglo XXI’, Nelsón González, Little Johnny Rivero y, como invitados especiales, David Sánchez y Richie Flores.
«Se encargarán de llevarles la misma pasión, energía y alegría que siempre he querido compartir con ustedes con todo mi repertorio musical y los demás grandiosos músicos que componen mi orquesta», subrayó.
«Este concierto es mi última voluntad, mi forma de estar con ustedes, de celebrar juntos la música que tanto nos une. Imaginen que estoy allí, en espíritu, tocando cada nota con ustedes, bailando en cada clave, abrazándolos con cada melodía», agregó.
El concierto ‘Eddie Palmieri: Tribute To The Messiah’ se llevará a cabo el 7 de febrero en el Coca Cola Music Hall de San Juan y será un homenaje al maestro, que cuenta entre sus apodos con el del ‘Sol de la Música Latina’.
«Puerto Rico, ustedes son mi inspiración, mi fuerza, y mi razón de ser como músico. Siempre he estado por Puerto Rico y ahora yo les pido que llenen el Coca Cola Music Hall con su amor, su alegría y su apoyo a los maravillosos músicos que estarán sobre el escenario y que son la extensión de mi alma y mi legado», dijo.
Por su parte, el maestro Humberto Ramírez expresó que será «una noche mágica y de mucha nostalgia para todos los amantes de la salsa y el jazz».
«Vamos a celebrar el legado del maestro Palmieri de la forma en que él lo merece», concluyó.
Today’s project awards are possible because Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2024-25 bipartisan budget doubled the Neighborhood Assistance Program’s funding to $72 million.
Since day one, the Shapiro Administration has focused on building vibrant and resilient regions to help our communities flourish, boost the economy, and create real opportunity for Pennsylvanians.
Erie, PA – Today, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger announced the approval of $34.3 million through the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) to help low-income individuals and improve distressed areas in Pennsylvania communities. The NAP, which provides tax credits to businesses that contribute to nonprofit organizations’ efforts to revitalize communities, will support 218 projects across the Commonwealth.
Governor Shapiro’s bipartisan 2024-25 budget doubled the funding for the NAP from $36 million to $72 million, allowing for two rounds of awards. The first round was announced by Secretary Siger in September 2024.
Since taking office two years ago, Governor Josh Shapiro and his Administration have focused on investing in our communities to help make Pennsylvania a global leader in innovation, job creation, and economic development.
“The Shapiro Administration knows that when local communities are healthy and vibrant, Pennsylvania thrives.” said Secretary Siger. “Doubling the Neighborhood Assistance Program, which allowed a second round of awards to terrific organizations like the Mercy Center for Women in Erie County, will have a positive impact on individuals and neighborhoods all across our Commonwealth.”
Secretary Siger announced the second round of NAP funding today during a visit to the Mercy Center for Women in Erie, which is receiving a $50,000 contribution from PSN Labs. PSN is receiving a $45,000 tax credit.
“I was so pleased to hear that the Mercy Center received this funding from our Commonwealth. Jennie Hagerty heads a tremendous team serving the homeless and their children 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Senator Dan Laughlin. “Their commitment to enhancing the dignity of the people they serve and their collaborative work with other organizations and their volunteers is the principal reason I was happy to support this funding request. I know this award will allow them to continue to be successful and meet their goals as they continue their commitment and passion for giving to the community.”
“Offering supportive housing for women reentering society after incarceration is a powerful tool for transformation,” said Representative Robert Merski. “It provides not just a place to stay, but a robust foundation for these women to rebuild their lives and thrive as valuable contributors to our community. These programs not only help individuals to succeed but also strengthen our society as a whole by fostering inclusion and reducing recidivism.»
“The Mercy Center for Women through the Shapiro Administration and NAP program will renovate a building to house 12 to 15 women seeking a warm home and new beginnings,” said Jennie Hagerty, Executive Director, Mercy Center for Women. “The NAP program has afforded the Mercy Center for Women over 1.6 million dollars since 2018 to revitalize the Erie community through their campus expansion to house 80 women, men, and children.”
The new funding approvals will support a variety of important community projects across Pennsylvania, including:
35 community investments in the central region. A Gift of Smiles, which serves Cumberland County as well as Harrisburg, provides free dental care to residents to low-income individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
21 community investments in the Lehigh Valleyregion. Camp Camino, in Berks County, will create an overnight camp facility providing accessible, engaging programs for children with special needs and marginalized youth. The camp’s fully accessible facilities will include modern cabins, a gymnatorium, zipline, adventure course, pool, splash pad, and therapy barn, providing a supportive, inclusive environment where participants can thrive.
33 community investments in the northeast region. The Greater Wyoming Valley YMCA in Luzerne County will rehabilitate a vacant building in downtown Hazleton and offer affordable early childhood education, as well as before and after school childcare for at-risk and vulnerable children and their low-income families in a severely underserved community.
14 community investments in the northwest region. The Mercy Center for Women in Erie County, the host of today’s announcement, will renovate a rectory to provide safe, supportive housing, education, and food stability, behavioral health, and job readiness services for women reentering society after incarceration.
61 community investments in the southeast region. The Share Food Program will distribute fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, frozen proteins, and shelf-stable food to up to 1,000,000 vulnerable, low-income minorities, children, seniors, and families in Philadelphia County through its network of more than 400 pantry partners. It will also initiate a “Choice Pantry” program to provide food varieties that will promote empowerment and dignity among residents seeking food assistance.
54 community investments in the southwest region. Pittsburgh Scholar House, Inc., in Allegheny County will expand its efforts to break the cycle of poverty for single-parent students by launching a workforce readiness program designed to motivate students to complete their degrees and secure stable employment, along with a program to remove barriers to educational success such as a lack of housing, transportation, or childcare, and the cost of textbooks and laptops.
The NAP has five main components: The Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP), Special Program Priorities (SPP), the Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP), Charitable Food Program (CFP), and the Enterprise Zone Program (EZP). More information is available on the NAP impact brochure.
For more information about the Neighborhood Assistance Program or the Department of Community and Economic Development, visit DCED’s website, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.
Governor Shapiro’s Record of Delivering for Economic Development
Governor Shapiro has had many major economic development successes at the midway point of his first term including:
Creating the first statewide economic development strategy in nearly two decades with a focus on five key industry sectors: agriculture, energy, life sciences, manufacturing, and robotics and technology.
Securing $500 million in state funds to significantly expand the PA SITES program to develop shovel-ready sites and bring more commercial and industrial sites to Pennsylvania, building on the success of the pilot program that awarded $10.6 million to seven projects.
Creating the new Main Street Matters program and securing $20 million to fund it and support downtowns, main streets, and surrounding neighborhoods.
Expanding opportunities for small, minority-owned businesses by securing a $20 million investment for the Historically Disadvantaged Business Program in his first and second budgets.
Governor Shapiro:Two Years of G-S-D
As Governor Shapiro marks two years in office, his Administration is continuing to focus on innovation, economic development, and our economy. The Shapiro Administration’s commitment to investing in our businesses, communities, and workforce is positioning Pennsylvania to be a global economic development leader while opening the doors of opportunity.
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Department of Public Health and Birth Justice Philly has released a new report, “Severe Maternal Morbidity in Philadelphia, 2016-2022,” that provides new insights into maternal health outcomes in the City, focusing on critical complications related to birth. Severe Maternal Morbidity (SMM) refers to unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that result in significant short- and long-term health consequences. This newly released report presents trends in delivery hospitalizations involving SMM in Philadelphia from 2016-2022 based on data from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) and is an update to a previous report, “Severe Maternal Morbidity in Philadelphia, 2011-2014.”
Birth Justice Philly recently launched the nation’s first active severe maternal morbidity surveillance program, which began collecting real-time data from Philadelphia Labor & Delivery hospitals. This program will play a critical role in identifying and understanding SMM trends within Philadelphia’s hospitals, using hospital-level clinical data for in-depth analysis. It’s a proactive system for identifying SMM cases, offering valuable insights for public health improvements, and pinpointing opportunities for targeted interventions.
“Investigating severe maternal morbidity events in Philadelphia significantly enhances our understanding of maternal health challenges,” said Aasta D. Mehta, MD, MPP, Director of the Division of Maternal, Child, and Family Health at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. “And it provides critical insights into preventing these complications in the future.”
Key findings from the report include:
Between 2016 and 2022, there were 1,247 cases of severe maternal morbidity identified among Philadelphia birthing people, which is an average of 178 cases per year.
People under the age of 20 or over the age of 35 had higher rates of severe maternal morbidity compared to those in their 20s and early 30s.
Non-Hispanic Black birthing people had a higher rate of severe maternal morbidity compared to other racial and ethnic groups.
Since 2018, Philadelphia has experienced an upward trend in cases of severe maternal morbidity, which is consistent with national data. The reasons for these rising rates are not fully understood, but it is likely that increases in preexisting conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, as well as higher average maternal age, all play a role.
The Health Department’s Division of Maternal, Child, and Family Health has several initiatives that address the upstream causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. The Philly Joy Bank pilot provides 250 pregnant Philadelphians with $1,000 per month from the second trimester of pregnancy through one year after birth. Families will also be offered voluntary assistance including financial counseling, home visits, doula help, and lactation support. Additionally, the Health Department recently launched a public health campaign on early warning signs of post-birth complications.
Dual credit programs open doors to opportunity for high school students by helping them earn college credit while still in high school.
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Education today announced that the application window is open for $14 million in grant funding for dual credit programs. Grants will help public institutions of higher education to expand access to dual credit programs and improve delivery of college credit coursework at high schools serving significant populations of underserved students. Dual credit programs give students a head start on a higher education by allowing high school students to take college courses and earn both college and high school credit at the same time. Dual credit programs cut costs for students while giving them more freedom to chart their own course.
“Dual credit programs help high school students get a jumpstart on their postsecondary education—saving them time and money, exposing them to the expectations and realities of higher education, and preparing them for their chosen careers,” said Interim Acting Secretary of Education Angela Fitterer. “This grant program will open up these critical educational opportunities to more students across the Commonwealth, especially those that are traditionally underserved, ultimately benefiting all of Pennsylvania’s schools and communities, as well as our workforce and economy.”
Established by a state law enacted in 2024, the Dual Credit Innovation Grant Program provides funding for public colleges and universities to increase capacity to provide dual credit courses to students statewide. Dual credit courses have been found to increase college readiness, college attendance, and college attainment, especially among traditionally underserved students—yet these students are underrepresented in dual credit courses.
More than 55,000 high school students enrolled in at least one dual credit course during the 2023-24 school year. From 394 school districts, 47 charter schools and 19 career and technical centers, the students enrolled in more than 8,000 dual credit courses altogether.
The program is open to Pennsylvania community colleges, universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Northern Pennsylvania Regional College and Pennsylvania College of Technology. Those eligible institutions can apply for up to $1 million in grant funding. Applications will be accepted until 2:00 PM onMonday, February 10, 2025. All application materials must be submitted through the Department’s eGrants system.
Priority will be given to public institutions of higher education that create or expand current offerings, including individual student scholarships, with a particular emphasis on providing courses aligned with high-priority occupations and/or serving students experiencing education instability, students enrolled in career and technical education programs, low-income students, historically underserved student groups, those who face financial, academic, or systemic barriers, and students in rural areas. Priority also will be given to institutions that propose to use funding to cover the entirety of course-related expenses so there is no cost to the student or high school.
Grant funding may be used to:
Operate dual credit courses that are tuition free to high school students;
Provide student academic supports to aid students enrolled in dual credit courses to be successful in the courses and to successfully transition to postsecondary education upon graduation from high school;
Increase the use of no-cost or low-cost textbooks or course materials used in dual credit courses;
Provide professional development activities for high school teachers to enable them to teach dual credit courses; and
Support public institutions of higher education in seeking external accreditation for their dual credit courses, such as through the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP).
Funding may only be used to offer college coursework to high school students enrolled in eligible school districts, area career and technical schools, charter schools, cyber charter schools or regional charter schools.
Harrisburg, PA –Today, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) participated in a community response to hate rally at the Allentown City Hall. The rally was a response to an incident that occurred Friday, January 10. According to police, a small item resembling a noose was discovered on an employee’s desk.
“The PHRC is glad to see police are investigating this incident. We strongly condemn any type of hateful messages or acts of intimidation,” said PHRC Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter, MSW. “No one should feel intimidated to enter their place of employment. Hate should never be tolerated. I urge anyone who feels they have experienced discrimination to contact the PHRC and file a complaint. It is only through bringing attention to acts of discrimination can we make a change in our communities and the Commonwealth.»
Today at noon, a representative from the PHRC joined clergy members, mental health professionals, local leaders, and community members at the Allentown City Hall for a rally.
“Today, one of the PHRC Civil Rights Division Outreach Coordinators attended this rally to show our support to all those who experience discrimination,” said PHRC Civil Rights Outreach Director Sheryl Meck. “The PHRC is committed to serving the people of the Commonwealth and making them aware of their rights and protections. While we follow the police investigation of this incident, the PHRC wants all Pennsylvanians to know if you experience discrimination, you can file a complaint with the PHRC. The PHRC also offers training and education for employees, organizations, and schools.”
In 2024, the PHRC established a Civil Rights Outreach Division to address civil tensions, conflict, and incidents in communities and promote anti-racism through education and outreach. Through this division, the PHRC:
Provides complex facilitation and conflict resolution services for communities facing conflicts and tensions related to race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, LGBTQ+ status, national origin, familial status, or disability status pursuant to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
Provides training and consultation services to public officials and community representatives and provide them with the skills and mechanisms necessary to prevent and resolve future tensions.
Leads local projects or initiatives in conjunction with communities to prevent conflict.
Engages in proactive outreach to educate the public about the dangers of bias and hate and the importance of anti-racism.
The PHRC does not have the authority to charge or investigate hate crimes or criminal offenses; however, the PHRC Civil Tension Reduction Task Force tracks incidents reported to us. The PHRC can also help determine if the incident violates the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
The PHRC enforces state laws that prohibit illegal discrimination. To file a complaint, call 717-787-4410. Information and resources are also available on the PHRC website. Follow the PHRC on X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
