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Governor Shapiro joins The Philly Specials & Philadelphia Eagles to bring holiday joy to students during operation snowball at Eliza B. Kirkbride school

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Shapiro

«In Pennsylvania, we are making historic investments in our schools to ensure that every child — no matter their ZIP code — has the opportunity to succeed,» said Governor Shapiro. «Today, Operation Snowball embodies the spirit of community and generosity that we want to instill in every student. By combining this kind of community-driven support with substantial educational investments, we are creating a brighter future for Pennsylvania’s children.» 

The Governor greeted students and school officials and met with The Philly Specials — a group of current and former Philadelphia Eagles offensive linemen who release holiday albums and raise money for local children’s charities — as well as Speaker Joanna McClinton, Eagles Insider Dave Spadaro, School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington, Philadelphia Chief Education Officer Dr. Deb Carrera, and President/CEO for The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia Kathryn Roberson. Following a series of remarks in the school gym, Mailata led students in a singalong, culminating in an Eagles chant. 

The School District of Philadelphia benefits directly from the new adequacy formula, receiving more than $136 million through that formula designed to ensure schools with the greatest need receive the most support

Governor Shapiro’s visit to the school provided an opportunity to highlight his Administration’s commitment to investing in K-12 education. In the 2024-25 bipartisan budget, Pennsylvania invested a historic $1.1 billion increase in K-12 education funding, marking the largest single-year investment in the Commonwealth’s history. This funding supports critical programs such as special education, school safety, mental health resources, and universal free breakfast for students. 

Thanks to the 2024-25 bipartisan budget, the School District of Philadelphia received nearly $200 million more in state funding – including an additional $51.6 million in Basic Education Funding, $136.6 million in adequacy supplements, and $11.9 million in special education funding, helping to ensure schools like Kirkbride have the resources they need to support student populations. 

Governor Josh Shapiro joined current and former Eagles offensive linemen Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, and Jordan Mailata to celebrate a holiday giving initiative that is delivering gifts to over 200,000 children in Philadelphia

Operation Snowball: A Philadelphia Tradition 

Operation Snowball is powered by proceeds from The Philly Specials’ holiday records, including their latest album, A Philly Special Christmas Party, released last month. Through partnerships with toy companies, nonprofits, and corporations, the initiative has raised millions of dollars to provide holiday gifts to children in need. Since its inception, the initiative has donated over $4.5 million to local charities, including the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. 

Historic Investments in Education Under the Shapiro Administration 

Since taking office, the Shapiro Administration has made a total of $275 million available for school infrastructure improvements across Pennsylvania, addressing key environmental hazards and ensuring safer learning spaces. Governor Shapiro is committed to continuing these vital investments, ensuring every student in Pennsylvania has the opportunity to thrive in safe and healthy learning environments. 

This school year, students across the Commonwealth are benefitting from substantial new investments secured by Governor Shapiro that will give every student the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed. 

This school year, students across Pennsylvania are benefitting from historic investments secured by Governor Shapiro in the 2024-25 bipartisan budget, which includes a record $1.1 billion increase in K-12 education funding — the largest single-year investment in the Commonwealth’s history

To ensure that all districts get more of the support they need to serve our students, the 2024-25 budget includes funding for:  

·        Historic Basic Education Funding: A $1.1 billion increase in K-12 funding, with $526 million allocated through a new adequacy formula to prioritize schools with the greatest needs. 

·        Special Education Funding: A $100 million increase to ensure high-quality services for students with disabilities and special needs. 

·        Cyber Charter Reimbursement: $100 million to reimburse schools for payments made to cyber charter schools. 

·        Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Dual Enrollment: A $30 million increase for CTE and continued $7 million support for dual enrollment programs, expanding opportunities for high school students to gain career training and college credit. 

·        School Safety, Security, and Mental Health Services: $20 million for school safety improvements, $100 million for environmental and facility repairs (including $25 million for solar projects), and $100 million for mental health and safety resources. 

·        Period Products for Students: A $3 million investment to provide menstrual hygiene products at no cost to students. 

·        Early Childhood Learning: $2.7 million in additional funding for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program and $15 million more for the Pre-K Counts program. 

·        Universal Free Breakfast: Ensuring 1.7 million students statewide receive free breakfast, regardless of income. 

·        Student Teacher Stipends: Doubling funding to $20 million to support aspiring educators and address the teacher workforce shortage. 

For more information on the 2024-25 budget, visit shapirobudget.pa.gov. 

Nineteen Electors Cast Their Ballots for President-Elect Trump and Vice President-Elect Vance during 60th Pennsylvania Electoral College

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Electors
(Photo: AP/Mike Catalini)

Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt presided over the 60th Pennsylvania Electoral College meeting at noon today, during which the 19 electors unanimously voted for Donald J. Trump for president and JD Vance for vice president of the United States, in accordance with Pennsylvania’s popular vote results in the Nov. 5 election.

“Today, this group of 19 electors joins the 1,635 electors from our Commonwealth who came before them – stretching all the way back to the very first presidential election in 1789,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “For nearly two and half centuries, the people of Pennsylvania have gone to the ballot box and made their voices heard – voices that the electors reflect as they cast they ballots today. This is the 60th occasion of the electoral college – a process outlined in Article II, Section 1 of our nation’s Constitution. A process that has been carried out without fail, every four years, dating back to Ben Franklin and Thomas Mifflin. This tradition has stayed the same and our democracy has endured, thanks to those who have come before us and done their part to preserve it.”

“This year, more than 7 million registered Pennsylvania voters participated in the process to elect the president, and their voices have been heard,” Schmidt said. “Voting is the cornerstone of our representative democracy, and I want to thank the 19 men and women in this year’s Electoral College who performed their Constitutional duty and reflected the wishes of the Commonwealth’s voters.”

Pennsylvania is the birthplace of the U.S. Constitution and the Electoral College, which the framers created as a compromise between those who advocated for direct election of the president by the people and those who advocated for Congress to appoint the president. As a result, the people of the United States vote for “electors” who, in turn, vote for the president and vice president. Under the Pennsylvania Election Code, each set of candidates for president and vice president nominates a group of individuals who serve as the members of the Electoral College should they receive the most votes in Pennsylvania for president and vice-president.

The 19 electors who participated today were:

  • William Bachenberg
  • Vallerie Biancaniello
  • Curt Coccodrilli
  • Bernadette S. Comfort
  • Robert A. Gleason Jr.
  • Joyce Haas
  • Fred Keller
  • Ash Khare
  • Jondavid Longo
  • Robin Lee Hoyt Medeiros
  • Rochelle Marie Pasquariello
  • Patricia K. Poprik
  • Andrew J. Reilly
  • Carol Lynne Ryan
  • Carla Sands
  • Lawrence Tabas
  • James “Jim” Vasilko
  • T. Lynette Villano
  • Christine A. Wilkins

Pennsylvania’s electoral votes will be delivered to the president of the U.S. Senate, where the Electoral College votes from all 50 states and the District of Columbia will be counted on Jan. 6, 2025, in a joint session of Congress to determine the national electoral vote for president and vice president of the United States. The president-elect and vice president-elect will be sworn into office on Jan. 20, 2025.

Copies of Pennsylvania’s electoral votes will also be delivered to the archivist of the United States in Washington, D.C., and to Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann of the District Court of the United States for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

To ensure the 2024 general election was free, fair, safe, and secure, counties conducted two separate audits of the results – a statutorily required 2% statistical audit and a statewide risk-limiting audit. Both audits, which are done after each election, confirmed the outcome of the election results, which Schmidt certified earlier this month.

Shapiro administration awards $19.6 million to address largest inventory of Abandoned Mines in the nation, keep Pennsylvanians safe while supporting local jobs

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PR/CP
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Abandoned

Millions in Funding to Reclaim Abandoned Mine Lands: Cleaning Waterways, Creating Jobs, and Enhancing Community Safety by Removing Hazards Beneath Homes and Businesses

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded $19,640,380 for the environmental restoration of eight abandoned mine lands (AML) projects as part of the Abandoned Mine Lands and Acid Mine Drainage Grant Program.

Pennsylvania has the largest inventory of abandoned coal mines in the nation, with a roughly $5 billion need for reclamation and stream restoration. To date, Pennsylvania has rehabilitated more than 151,000 acres of the roughly 288,000 acres of abandoned coal mines across the Commonwealth, and with this federal funding, will be able to continue this vital work that protects the health and safety of our communities.

“Reclaiming abandoned mine land is a crucial endeavor, restoring both the environment and communities in the Commonwealth, while simultaneously creating jobs and bolstering the economy in both the short- and long-term,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “These grant recipients are taking on projects to pave the way for meaningful efforts in improving water quality, fostering ecosystem recovery, and revitalizing communities for a greater quality of life for Pennsylvanians.”

The funding was awarded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act, which has invested more than $700 million into reclaiming Pennsylvania’s abandoned mine lands since 2022. In addition to planned projects, this funding also pays for emergency situations like subsidence and sinkholes that can endanger people and damage or destroy homes and property. 

DEP prioritizes grant funding to address serious human health and safety problems resulting from abandoned coal mines, as well as treating AMD to continue watershed restoration efforts under the AMD Set-Aside Program and prevent the loss of restored streams.

Grant recipients will be reimbursed on project costs up to the limit specified below.

The following projects will be awarded:

Clearfield County:

BCI Municipal Authority – $1,831,220.00

  • Beccaria South – Waterline Extension – Construction of a water main extension in the Cross Roads Boulevard corridor in Beccaria Township to alleviate water quality and quantity issues of on lot well systems as a result of abandoned mine land degradation.

Greene County:

Natural Streams Foundation – $8,396,313.50

  • Crucible North – Remove approximately 212,500 cubic yards of coal refuse from an abandoned mine lands site and restore over six acres of land in Cumberland Township. 

Indiana County:

Stream Restoration Inc. – $241,989.00

  • Laurel Run #2 (Passive Treatment Redesign) – Complete project development and design work required to rehabilitate the Laurel Run #2 abandoned mine drainage passive treatment system in Brush Valley Township.

Lackawanna County:

Lackawanna County Commissioners – $6,716,080.00

  • Dickson City Pile Reclamation – Remove abandoned mine land spoil areas to reclaim land for future development in Dickson City and Blakely Boroughs.

Schuylkill County:

Schuylkill Conservation District – $442,191.20

  • Gordon East Design – Project development and design to reclaim abandoned mine lands on State Game Land 326 in Butler Township.

Schuylkill Conservation District – $379,085.00

  • Oak Hill, Pine Knot and Repplier Treatment Study – Project work includes the analysis of the Pine Knot and Oak Hill boreholes and the Repplier mine discharges to develop a conceptual design of a future abandoned mine drainage treatment facility in Cass Township.

Woodlands for Wildlife – $658,890.00

  • Llewellyn South Design – Project development and design to reclaim 27 abandoned mine land features in Branch Township.

Tioga County:

Trout Unlimited, Inc. – $974,612.00

  • Landrus – Maintenance of the Bear Run abandoned mine drainage passive treatment system in Bloss Township.

City opens grant application period for Kensington Community resilience fund

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PR/CP
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City

The fifth round of grants totaling $360,000 will be awarded to community-based organizations addressing the effects of the opioid crisis

PHILADELPHIA — Today, the City of Philadelphia opened the 2025 grant application for the Kensington Community Resilience Fund (KCR Fund), a public-private-community partnership between community members, City government, and the Scattergood Foundation. The KCR Fund is entering its fifth year of community-led grantmaking to address the harms caused by the opioid crisis in Kensington, Harrowgate, and Fairhill. It engages community members to set funding strategies and decide which organizations receive grants.

The KCR Fund is funded by the City of Philadelphia’s national opioid settlement dollars along with private foundation support, including the Scattergood Foundation, Patricia Kind Family Foundation, and the Nelson Foundation.

“I am excited to announce the opening of the KCR Fund’s fifth year of grantmaking,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “I am committed to meeting Philadelphians where they are, and particularly in our most vulnerable communities, where the opioid and overdose crises have hit the hardest. The KCR Fund meets our residents where they are, listens to them, and takes action based on what we hear from our communities. I can’t think of a better model to help begin healing Philadelphia.”

Since 2021 the KCR Fund has awarded $1.12 million in general operating support and will award an additional $360,000 in 2025 through $10,000 general operating grants. Returning grantees will also have an opportunity to receive a $5,000 supplemental grant for a total of up to $15,000. Grant recipients must be a 501(c)3 or have a fiscal sponsor and either be located inside the KCR Fund’s geographic boundaries or bring a consistent track record of service in the community. Work must address at least one of six focus areas prioritized by community members as critical to healing from the harms caused by the opioid crisis and preventing future opioid use and damage to the community.

  • Beautification and Blight Removal
  • Building Resilience, Promoting Wellness, and Addressing Community Trauma
  • Connecting Residents to Resources
  • Public Safety
  • Workforce Development and Training
  • Youth Development

Klean Kensington is a three time grantee that pays local teens to beautify the neighborhood. The teens gain positive experiences engaging with and improving the community while transforming blighted sites linked to drug use, trash, and violence into safe and thriving garden spaces for neighbors to gather. Their first grant in 2022 helped launch the program, while subsequent grants helped the group to more than double the number of teens served, expand to multiple sites, leverage new funding, and forge new community partnerships. Founder Jeremy Chen noted, “Without KCRF’s vote of confidence in our neighborhood projects, we would not have had the capacity to begin paying teens or connecting the dots in the community that we have. We may not have a huge budget, but to the teens working hard to reshape what is possible in the neighborhood, the funding we have received is a big deal.¨

Both grant recipients and residents serving on the KCR Fund’s Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and Community Granting Group (CGG) receive numerous opportunities for professional development and relationship building through the KCR Fund’s learning community, including workshops, retreats, technical assistance, and community networking events.

The KCR Fund’s participatory model is critical to its success. By giving community members power to decide what is funded, it supports the programs they view as most valuable and impactful. “The experience of working on the CAC and CGG has enlightened me on all the groups in the community that are doing great work and has established a network of resources,” said Mayme Robinson, a resident and grantee who leads Kensington Neighbors United Civic Association. “The residents have a voice and are empowered to make changes in the neighborhood. That brings hope and power to the community.”

Entering its fifth year, the KCR Fund serves as a model for investing in community solutions to challenges like the opioid crisis with an equitable and inclusive process. “We continue to be thankful for KCRF and to believe that it is the way that more grantmaking should be done in the city and beyond,” expressed Jess Shoffner, a Kensington resident and grantee who leads Hart Lane Neighborhood Farm. “Thank you for a fund that actually connects with the direct needs of our vulnerable community.”

Additional information about the KCR Fund can be found at www.kcrfund.org and in the following videos highlighting their work their work in the community:

How to Apply:

Eligible organizations may apply for a grant on the KCR Fund’s website until Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. All materials and the application are available in Spanish and English. A printable copy of the 2025 Request for Proposals can be downloaded here:

Interested organizations should attend one of two upcoming information sessions (Spanish interpretation will be available at the January 9th session).

  • Friday, December 20, 2024, 10:00-11:00 AM – Register
  • Thursday, January 9, 2025, 5:00-6:00 PM – Register

City launches Philly Stat 360, a new website tracking government operations and services

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PR/CP
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City

PHILADELPHIA. – The City of Philadelphia launched Philly Stat 360, a new website designed to increase the City’s transparency and accountability by tracking and sharing how well the City is performing. The Philly Stat 360 website delivers on Mayor Parker’s promise to use data and evidence to improve City government in a way Philadelphians can see, touch, and feel. The website can be accessed at phila.gov/PS360.
 
“Mayor Parker has always emphasized that a government should not only be responsive to the needs of its people, but it should also actively involve them in understanding how the government works,” said Kristin Bray, Chief Counsel to Mayor Parker and the Director of Philly Stat 360. “Mayor Parker’s innovative vision is reshaping Philadelphia’s future and actively driving lasting, positive change for all Philadelphians. Philly Stat 360 is a manifestation of that vision—an accessible and interactive tool that empowers residents, enhances transparency, and makes government operations easier to understand.”
 
“Philly Stat 360 is not only a tool for measuring progress but also for identifying areas where we need to invest more resources,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “I believe in a city government that our citizens can see, touch and feel with visible actions that help people at the neighborhood level, and this is a key link in creating that.”
 
From the total number of trees planted to the current homicide rate, Philly Stat 360 tracks important City operations across over 30 key metrics. This user-friendly dashboard is a vital resource for residents, businesses, and stakeholders who want to understand how the city is working to improve the quality of life for all Philadelphians.
 
Philly Stat 360 breaks down City operations into five categories: Safer, Cleaner, Greener, Economic Opportunity, and Core Services. Each category offers regularly updated insights into the City’s progress, challenges, and strategic initiatives. The categories are:

  • Safer: Tracks efforts to related to improving public safety, protecting our people, and ensuring justice for all.
  • Cleaner: Monitors how well we are improving the quality of life in neighborhoods all across the city so businesses and communities can thrive.
  • Greener: Focuses on how we are reducing the City’s carbon footprint and increasing green space for all.
  • Economic Opportunity: Provides data on growing jobs and helping Philadelphians achieve their financial goals.
  • Core Administrative Services: Advancing a government you can see, touch, and feel.

 
Clicking on any one metric reveals a more detailed view, showing how the data is captured and calculated, as well as why it’s important to measure. Some metrics also include historical data to show the progress we’ve made over time. Over the coming weeks and months, the Philly Stat 360 website will continue to be expanded with new metrics and more features added, so be sure to check back frequently.
 
The website was built by the Mayor’s Office of Philly Stat 360, in collaboration with the Office of Innovation & Technology under Chief Information Officer Melissa Scott, and the Office of Integrated Data for Evidence and Action (IDEA).
 
About the Office of Philly Stat 360
 
The Mayor’s Office of Philly Stat 360 is a new office that brings data-driven performance management to all aspects of City operation to improve services and outcomes. The office works with all City departments to leverage data and technology to improve services and outcomes for its residents.

Shapiro administration announces agreement with InnovateUS to train Commonwealth employees on responsible use of generative artificial intelligence

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PR/CP
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Shapiro

Under Governor Shapiro’s leadership, Pennsylvania is pioneering the responsible use of generative AI technology in state government through its first-in-the-nation phased pilot of ChatGPT Enterprise with OpenAI

The Shapiro Administration committed to empowering Commonwealth workers and furthering education and training in the generative AI field

Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver announced today that the Shapiro Administration has entered into an agreement with InnovateUS, a leading provider of no-cost training for public sector employees on the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence, to train Commonwealth employees on artificial intelligence and responsible use.

The introduction of this training represents a promise delivered by Governor Shapiro, who directed the Office of Administration to provide training for every employee and in-depth certification opportunities for those interested when he signed Executive Order 2023-19 alongside national leaders in artificial intelligence at Carnegie Mellon University. This training is another tool for Commonwealth employees, including employees who are engaged in the Commonwealth’s generative AI pilot with OpenAI. Employees who participated in the first phase of the pilot reported an average time savings of 105 minutes during the last day they used generative AI.

“Generative AI is a powerful tool that can enhance the productivity of our workforce and the services that they deliver for Pennsylvanians,” said Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver. “This agreement gives us the capacity to provide high-quality training at-scale to equip employees with the relevant knowledge to use generative AI in their daily work.”

“As generative AI systems become more prevalent and are integrated into commonly used technology tools, these trainings will serve as a foundation for employees as the Commonwealth continues to provide resources to navigate this new technology responsibly.”

The InnovateUS training courses are designed specifically for public sector employees. The training being deployed includes self-paced learning on topics such as responsible and efficient use of generative AI, how to write prompts for AI tools, and mitigating generative AI risk. The courses use practical examples and exercises to help employees understand where, when, and how generative AI may be useful in their daily work or to help address a specific challenge. The courses will be available to Commonwealth employees through the Office of Administration’s learning management system.

In addition to training provided by InnovateUS, the Office of Administration has also updated the annual security awareness and acceptable use training for all Commonwealth employees to include generative AI, ensuring a basic level of AI literacy and understanding.

Making Pennsylvania a Leader on Generative AI

Pennsylvania became a leading state in the exploration of generative AI in September 2023, when Governor Shapiro signed an executive order that established core values to be followed in the design, development, procurement and deployment of generative AI by Commonwealth agencies and established a Generative AI Governing Board to guide Commonwealth policy, use, and deployment.

The Administration has also partnered with leading academic and research institutions in Pennsylvania – the Carnegie Mellon University Block Center for Technology and Society and Pennsylvania State University (PSU) Center for Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to Industry (AIMI) – to leverage their faculty expertise and receive advisory support for the Generative AI Governance Board, as well as foster additional research support and collaboration on generative AI usage.

Four months later, in January 2024, the Shapiro Administration announced a first-of-its-kind pilot of ChatGPT Enterprise with Commonwealth employees to understand where and how generative AI tools can be safely and securely leveraged in their daily operations. The pilot has collected valuable employee feedback from biweekly feedback entries, user interviews, and live feedback sessions.

During the first phase of the pilot, which included approximately 50 human resources and information technology employees in the Office of Administration, participants self-reported saving an average of 105 minutes per day using generative AI. Employees in the pilot received the greatest benefits from incorporating generative AI into their existing work in a way that leverages their subject matter expertise, such as brainstorming, code creation, and initial drafting of content. Subsequent phases of the pilot have included up to 125 participants from the Department of General Services, Department of Health, Pennsylvania Insurance Department, and Department of Labor & Industry. The pilot program will continue through 2024, and a report will be available at the beginning of 2025.

About InnovateUS

InnovateUS delivers free online learning for public service professionals by public service professionals on data, digital, innovation, and AI skills with an emphasis on evidence-based, participatory, and collaborative approaches. Governed by a coalition of public sector learning and innovation leaders in California, Colorado, Maine, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, InnovateUS is presented by a team at the Burnes Center for Social Change at Northeastern University.

Inmigrantes inician huelga de hambre para pedirle protección a Biden

Por
EFE
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Biden
Miembros de la organización Alianza Nacional TPS (National TPS Alliance, en inglés) posan al inicio de una huelga de hambre en la sede de la Junta General de la Iglesia y la Sociedad (GBCS), una agencia de justicia social de La Iglesia Metodista Unida (IMU), en Washington (Estados Unidos). 16 de diciembre 2024. (Foto: EFE/Esteban Capdepon)

Una decena de personas migrantes beneficiarias del Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS) en Estados Unidos iniciaron el lunes una huelga de hambre en Washington para pedir al presidente, Joe Biden, que les proteja antes de la llegada el próximo enero del republicano Donald Trump, quien ha prometido deportaciones masivas.

Miembros de la organización Alianza Nacional TPS (National TPS Alliance, en inglés) dieron comienzo a esta acción con la que quieren que Biden les conceda una extensión de su TPS que les permitiría residir en el país legalmente durante 18 meses más y complicaría que Trump les pudiese deportar.

El TPS, un permiso que se otorga a personas provenientes de países en crisis y con el que millones de migrantes han podido permanecer en el país durante años, se encuentra amenazado por la llegada a la Casa Blanca de Trump, porque, aunque no ha especificado cómo va aplicar su plan, ha prometido mano dura en materia migratoria.

Donis Hernández, originario de El Salvador, es una de las personas que se unió a la huelga para exigir esta renovación. Su permiso caduca el 9 de marzo y teme que si no consigue renovarlo durante el mandato de Biden tampoco pueda hacerlo después.

«El miedo más grande que tenemos es que va a haber familias separadas. Llevo más de 20 años aquí y en mi familia hay personas que se podrían quedar y otras que no», explicó a EFE.

Como él, Neida Mejía, nacida en Honduras y beneficiaria del TPS desde hace más de dos décadas, tiene permiso hasta el próximo julio y teme que si la deportan no pueda ver más a sus nietos.

«Tengo miedo de que nos separen, ellos han nacido aquí y tienen permiso para quedarse», aseguró muy emocionada.

Esta huelga, organizada por la National TPS Alliance está dentro de la semana de acción contra las deportaciones que ha convocado el Movimiento por una Reforma Migratoria Justa (FIRM, por sus siglas en inglés) coincidiendo con el día internacional del migrante, que se celebra el miércoles 18.

«Conocemos las amenazas que se avecinan con la Administración de Trump», dijo en una llamada con periodistas Jose Palma, coordinador de la Alianza. «La huelga de hambre es para meter presión y exigir a Biden a que tome medidas antes de Navidad».

Los huelguistas recuerdan que gracias a la lucha y a acciones como estas ya consiguieron permanecer en el país durante el primer mandato de Trump (2017-2021).

«Su anterior llegada al poder fue un desastre para nosotros porque el TPS fue cancelado. Tuvimos que lucharlo en las cortes y al final conseguimos quedarnos gracias a ganar extensión a extensión», contó Soledad Miranda, una salvadoreña que lleva más de 30 años en el país.

Además de pedir una nueva extensión, la mujer reprocha a Biden que «prometiese que iba a trabajar durante sus primeros cien días sobre la inmigración» y que casi al final de su mandato su situación, como la de tantos otros, siga sin regularizarse.

«Pagamos impuestos aquí, creo que es justo que después de todos estos años tengamos ya una residencia, pero ahora no tenemos ni residencia ni extensión», lamentó.

Pese a que la huelga ha iniciado con 11 personas, esperan que puedan llegar a ser hasta 25 llegados de todas partes del país. Los migrantes en huelga permanecen en una iglesia metodista cercana al Tribunal Supremo del país, tienen provisiones de agua e isotónico y se someterán regularmente a pruebas de tensión para comprobar que se encuentran bien.

El juez niega inmunidad a Trump en el caso de falsificación de registros comerciales

Por
EFE
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El presidente electo Donald Trump eligió como consejera de su proxima presidencia a una de sus abogadas defensoras en el caso en Nueva York por pagos para ocultar información comprometedora, en el caso del pago a una actriz porno. Alina Habba, de 40 años, defendió a Trump a principios de este año, también actuando como su portavoz legal. Habba ha pasado tiempo con el presidente electo desde las elecciones en su club de Florida, Mar-a-Lago. Aquí habla en un acto de campaña del entonces candidato republicano a la presidencia, Donald Trump, en Allentown, Pensilvania, el martes 29 de octubre de 2024. (AP Foto/Matt Rourke, archivo)

El juez Juan Merchan negó este lunes la inmunidad judicial al presidente electo de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, por el caso de Nueva York en el que fue declarado culpable de falsificar registros comerciales para comprar el silencio de la actriz porno Stormy Daniels.

Merchan desestimó en un escrito que Trump pueda acogerse a la inmunidad judicial que el Tribunal Supremo otorgó a los presidentes y expresidentes del país en un fallo del pasado verano.

El juez detalló que el fallo del Supremo solo otorga inmunidad a los expresidentes por «actos oficiales» llevados a cabo cuando estaban en el cargo, de manera que no puede aplicarse en el caso por el que fue juzgado en Nueva York.

Sin embargo, Merchan no se pronunció sobre otra moción presentada por la defensa de Trump que pide desestimar su condena por el hecho de haber sido elegido presidente en las elecciones del pasado 5 de noviembre.

Tras la victoria electoral del republicano, Merchan pospuso indefinidamente la sentencia, que está pendiente desde que un jurado lo condenó en mayo por la falsificación de registros comerciales para silenciar, durante la campaña electoral de 2016, una supuesta aventura pasada con la actriz porno Stormy Daniels.

Este es el único caso penal por el que Trump ha sido condenado. Gracias a su victoria electoral, el republicano se ha librado de dos causas federales en su contra, la del asalto al Capitolio y la de los documentos clasificados que se llevó de la Casa Blanca, puesto que el fiscal especial Jack Smith decidió cerrar las acusaciones.

Tiroteo en escuela de Wisconsin deja 3 muertos, incluida la atacante, y varios heridos

Por
Associated Press
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Vehículos de la policía llegan a la Escuela Cristiana Vida Abundante, en Madison, Wisconsin, ante el aviso de un tiroteo donde hubo varios muertos, el 16 de diciembre de 2024. (AP Foto/Scott Bauer)

Actualización

MADISON, Wisconsin, EE.UU. (AP) — Una estudiante de 15 años mató a tiros con una pistola a un docente y a otro adolescente el lunes en una escuela cristiana de Wisconsin, aterrorizando a compañeros de clase, incluyendo un alumno de segundo grado que realizó la llamada al 911 que movilizó a decenas de policías al pequeño centro justo una semana antes del receso por Navidad.

La agresora, que fue identificada en una conferencia de prensa el lunes por la noche, también hirió a otras seis personas en la sala de estudios de la Escuela Cristiana Abundant Life, entre ellos dos alumnos que fueron hospitalizados en condición crítica, dijo el jefe de policía de Madison, Shon Barnes. Un docente y tres alumnos fueron trasladados al hospital con heridas menos graves, y dos de ellos recibieron el alta el lunes por la noche.

“Cada niño, cada persona en ese edificio es una víctima y será una víctima por siempre… Necesitamos averiguar e intentar reconstruir qué fue exactamente lo que sucedió”, subrayó Barnes.

Barbara Wiers, directora de primaria y relaciones escolares en la Escuela Cristiana Abundant Life, dijo que los estudiantes “se comportaron de forma magnífica”.

Aseguró que cuando la escuela pone en práctica protocolos de seguridad, lo cual había hecho poco antes del inicio del ciclo escolar, la dirección siempre anuncia que se trata de un simulacro. Eso no ocurrió el lunes.

“Cuando escucharon, ‘Cierre de emergencia, cierre de emergencia’, sabían que era una situación real”, puntualizó.

La policía informó que la agresora, identificada como Natalie Rupnow, fue encontrada con una herida de bala autoinfligida cuando llegaron los agentes y murió camino al hospital. Barnes se negó a dar detalles sobre la tiradora, en parte por respeto a la familia.

Abundant Life es una escuela cristiana sin denominación en Madison, la capital del estado, con aproximadamente 420 alumnos que van desde prekínder hasta la secundaria.

Wiers dijo que la escuela no tiene detectores de metal, pero utiliza otras medidas de seguridad, incluidas cámaras.

Los niños se pudieron reunir con sus familiares en un edificio médico ubicado a 1,6 kilómetros (una milla) de la escuela. Los padres abrazaban a sus hijos o los sujetaban con fuerza por las manos o los hombros mientras caminaban. Una niña fue arropada con un abrigo de adulto sobre sus hombros mientras se dirigía a un estacionamiento lleno de vehículos policiales.

De momento se desconoce el motivo del tiroteo ni si las víctimas eran objetivos específicos, apuntó Barnes.

“No sé por qué, y siento que si supiéramos por qué, podríamos evitar este tipo de cosas”, dijo a los reporteros.

Barnes indicó que la policía estaba hablando con el padre de la agresora y otros miembros de la familia, quienes estaban cooperando, y se estaba registrando su casa.

“Él también perdió a alguien”, dijo Barnes acerca del padre de la menor. “Y por eso no vamos a precipitarnos con la información. Nos tomaremos nuestro tiempo y nos aseguraremos de hacer nuestro trabajo con diligencia”.

La primera llamada al 911 para informar sobre un tirador activo se recibió poco antes de las 11 de la mañana. Los primeros en responder, que estaban en entrenamiento a solo 5 kilómetros (3 millas) de la escuela, se apresuraron para llegar al centro, indicó Barnes. Llegaron en tres minutos e ingresaron de inmediato a las instalaciones.

En el interior se llevaban a cabo las clases cuando inició el tiroteo, explicó Barnes.

Los investigadores creen que la agresora usó una pistola de calibre 9 mm, dijo a The Associated Press un funcionario policial. El funcionario habló bajo condición de anonimato porque no estaba autorizado para discutir la investigación en curso.

La policía bloqueó las calles aledañas a la escuela. Al lugar se presentaron agentes federales para colaborar con la policía local. La policía no realizó ningún disparo.

La escuela pidió oraciones en una breve publicación en Facebook.

Wiers dijo que la escuela tiene el objetivo de reunir al personal a principios de la semana y brindarle a la comunidad una oportunidad para que los estudiantes se reconecten antes de las vacaciones navideñas, pero aún no se toma la decisión sobre si reanudarán las clases esta semana.

Bethany Highman, madre de un estudiante, acudió a la escuela después de enterarse del tiroteo y supo por FaceTime que su hija estaba bien.

“Tan pronto como sucedió, tu mundo se detiene por un minuto. Nada más importa”, dijo Highman. “No hay nadie a tu alrededor. Simplemente corres hacia la puerta y tratas de hacer todo lo que puedes como padre para estar con tus hijos”.

El presidente Joe Biden emitió un comunicado en el que hizo mención del incidente para pedir al Congreso que apruebe la verificación universal de antecedentes, una ley nacional de bandera roja y otras restricciones a las armas de fuego.

“No podemos aceptar nunca la violencia sin sentido que traumatiza a los niños, a sus familias y desgarra a comunidades enteras”, declaró Biden. El presidente se comunicó con el gobernador de Wisconsin, Tony Evers, y la alcaldesa de Madison, Satya Rhodes-Conway, y les ofreció su apoyo.

Evers señaló que es «impensable» que un alumno o profesor vaya a la escuela y no vuelva a casa.

En los últimos años se han registrado decenas de tiroteos en escuelas de Estados Unidos, incluidos algunos especialmente mortales en Newtown, Connecticut; Parkland, Florida; y Uvalde, Texas.

Los tiroteos han desencadenado debates fervientes sobre el control de armas y han crispado los nervios de los padres cuyos hijos están acostumbrados a realizar simulacros de ataques armados en sus aulas. Pero los tiroteos escolares han hecho poco para cambiar las leyes nacionales sobre armas.

Las armas de fuego fueron la principal causa de muerte entre los niños en 2020 y 2021, según KFF, una organización sin fines de lucro que investiga temas de atención médica.

Rhodes-Conway, dijo que el país necesita hacer más para prevenir la violencia por armas de fuego.

“Tenía la esperanza de que este día nunca llegara a Madison”, dijo.

Shapiro-Davis Administration opens historically disadvantaged business assistance program to support and empower small businesses across Pennsylvania

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PR/CP
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program

Eligible educational institutions, community-based nonprofits, and economic development organizations can apply for funding through January 22, 2025, to develop Business Assistance Service Centers that will provide technical assistance and support services to help businesses grow and thrive.

Governor Josh Shapiro’s bipartisan 2024-25 budget includes funding for small, diverse businesses that have historically been denied access to social or economic opportunity, including minority-owned businesses, through the Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program.

Pittsburgh, PA – Today, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger announced the Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program is open and accepting funding applications from established nonprofits, economic development organizations, and educational institutions to create Business Assistance Service Centers across Pennsylvania to support and empower our small, diverse businesses. Applications will be accepted through January 22, 2025.

Since day one, Governor Josh Shapiro and his Administration have advocated to open new doors of opportunity for minority-owned businesses across the Commonwealth. The Governor’s bipartisan 2024-25 budget includes funding for the Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program to support a variety of historically disadvantaged businesses, including minority-owned businesses, all across the Commonwealth.

“I’ve advocated for this funding because when small businesses succeed, they create opportunity for Pennsylvanians all across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “My Administration and I are committed to breaking down barriers to progress and helping historically disadvantaged business owners and entrepreneurs build generational wealth. Pennsylvania is open for business and we’re making sure small, diverse businesses have the support they need to achieve their dreams and grow our economy.”

The Business Assistance Service Centers that will be created through the Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program will provide technical assistance and business support services to increase access to capital, promote economic empowerment, and boost the number of diverse small businesses.

“When we invest in minority communities and help historically disadvantaged businesses in those neighborhoods, we’re not just supporting job creation — we’re building ladders of opportunity,” said Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. “The Shapiro-Davis Administration will never leave any community behind.”

The Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program will use a competitive application process to determine funding awards to at least one eligible organization in each region of the Commonwealth. Educational institutions, community-based nonprofit organizations, and nonprofit economic development organizations with established experience and expertise in business and economic development are eligible to apply for funding.

“The Shapiro-Davis Administration is committed to making sure that every entrepreneur and small business across our Commonwealth has the same opportunities for success,” said Secretary Rick Siger. “The Commonwealth must support our small, minority-owned businesses because when they succeed, our communities thrive and Pennsylvania’s economy grows.”

“When we created the Historically Disadvantaged Business Program four years ago, we believed that our investments should be a reflection of our priorities,” said Senator Vincent Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair. “When we give someone the support or tools needed to open a barber shop or take over a vacant store front in the neighborhood, it matters to everyone that small business is serving. Since its inception the Historically Disadvantaged Business Program has gotten real resources to businesses who are often neglected by more traditional programs. I’m glad this support for these businesses will continue.”

Eligible organizations will be able to apply for additional Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program funding in Spring 2025 to create local micro grant programs to assist historically disadvantaged businesses further with start-up and other costs, or to grow or expand their businesses.

Application guidelines are available here.

The 2024-25 bipartisan budget delivers on the Shapiro-Davis Administration’s key priorities to make Pennsylvania more competitive economically. In addition to the $20 million for the Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program, it also includes:

  • $500 million for site development, including $400 million for the PA SITES (Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites) program
     
  • $20 million for the Main Street Matters program to support small businesses and commercial corridors that are the backbone of communities across our Commonwealth
  • $15 million for tourism marketing to boost our economy, attract more visitors, and support good-paying jobs — building on the Governor’s launch of The Great American Getaway brand to encourage tens of millions within a few hours’ drive to visit Pennsylvania

Read more about Pennsylvania’s first Economic Development Strategy in two decades and how Governor Shapiro’s budget will create economic opportunity for all Pennsylvanians.

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