Deadline to register to vote is two weeks away

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08/10/2024

Deadline-to-register-to-vote-is-two-weeks-away — (Photo: File)

Oct. 21 is the deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 5 election

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt reminded eligible Pennsylvanians that the Oct. 21 deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 5 general election is only two weeks away. Ensuring that our elections are conducted freely, fairly, and securely – and that every eligible voter can make their voice heard – are top priorities of the Shapiro Administration.

“Eligible Pennsylvanians who are not registered to vote risk missing out on the opportunity to have their voices heard in this important election,” Schmidt said. “Visit vote.pa.gov to get registered now.”

To be eligible to vote, an individual must be:

a U.S. citizen for at least 30 days before the election,
a resident of Pennsylvania for at least 30 days before the election, and
at least 18 years old on the day of the election.

Schmidt encouraged Pennsylvanians to use the Online Voter Registration (OVR) system, which is a fast and convenient way to register to vote. In addition to registering through the OVR system, eligible voters can register to vote by mail or apply in person at:  

a county voter registration office,  
county assistance offices,  
Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program offices, 
Armed Forces recruitment centers, 
county clerk of orphans’ courts or marriage license offices, 
area agencies on aging, 
county mental health and intellectual disabilities offices, 
student disability services offices of the State System of Higher Education, 
offices of special education in high schools,
Americans with Disabilities Act-mandated complementary paratransit providers, and
Department of Transportation (PennDOT) driver and photo license centers.

In 2023, all PennDOT driver and photo license centers began offering automatic voter registration (AVR), which provides eligible Pennsylvanians with a convenient way to apply to register to vote when they obtain a new driver’s license or ID card or renew their existing identification. The Shapiro Administration launched the automatic registration initiative as part of its continued commitment to ensuring free, fair, and secure elections.

Regardless of which method eligible Pennsylvanians use to register, county election offices must receive their voter registration application by 5 p.m. Oct. 21 for them to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 election.

“You also can request a mail-in or, if applicable, an absentee ballot and vote from the convenience of your home,” Schmidt added. “Your vote is valuable, regardless of how you choose to cast it, and I encourage you to exercise your constitutional right to be heard by voting in this election.”

Voters who wish to vote by mail-in or absentee ballot must apply by 5 p.m. Oct. 29. The deadline for county election offices to receive mail-in and absentee ballots is 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5. Completed mail ballots received after that time do not count, even if they are postmarked before the deadline.

Pennsylvanians who prefer to vote in person on Election Day can find their polling place on vote.pa.gov. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and as long as a voter is in line by 8 p.m. they can vote.

Eligible voters will have the opportunity to choose candidates in the following races: 

President of the United States, 
United States Senator 
Representative in Congress, 
Pennsylvania Attorney General,
Pennsylvania Auditor General,
Pennsylvania State Treasurer,
Senator in the General Assembly (odd-numbered districts), and
Representative in the General Assembly.

The Department’s candidate database lists federal and state candidates.

The Department’s voter information website, vote.pa.gov, is available in English, Spanish, and Chinese, and it offers county election offices contact information as well as tips for first-time voters and members of the military. Voters also can familiarize themselves with the voting system they will use if they vote in person on Election Day.

Moody’s upgrades Pennsylvania’s credit rating to Aa2, citing Shapiro administration’s “Sound Fiscal Management” and “Steady” economic growth

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PR/CP

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08/10/2024

The upgrade from Moody’s is the second credit rating upgrade in two years — after Fitch Ratings upgraded the Commonwealth’s credit rating last November — giving the Commonwealth its highest credit rating in more than a decade.

Ratings upgrade raises the possibility of additional taxpayer savings after last year’s upgrade resulted in a successful bond sale that yielded millions in savings.

Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro announced that Moody’s Ratings has upgraded Pennsylvania’s credit rating to Aa2 from Aa3, citing the Commonwealth’s “sound fiscal management,” balanced budgets, and «steady” economic growth. This follows a similar upgrade from Fitch Ratings last year which raised Pennsylvania’s credit rating to ‘AA’ from ‘AA-,’ and a rating outlook upgrade from S&P Global Ratings, which improved Commonwealth’s outlook to ‘positive’ from ‘stable’ while affirming its A+ long-term rating.

This rating upgrade is in anticipation of the Commonwealth’s plans to sell $1.4 billion issuance of new money, and $238 million refunding, planned for mid-October. Pennsylvania is now at its highest rating since 2013.

This fiscal progress reflects Governor Shapiro’s commitment to responsible financial stewardship, supported by a growing economy and the bipartisan 2024-25 budget. As a result of those upgrades last year, the Commonwealth conducted a successful bond sale in December which saved Commonwealth taxpayers millions of dollars – including $99.7 million in gross debt service savings and $80.7 million of net present value debt service savings.

«Under my Administration, Pennsylvania has received two ratings upgrades in our first two years – a testament to our responsible fiscal stewardship that sets the Commonwealth up for success in the future while making critical investments in our economy and our workforce today,” said Governor Shapiro. «Pennsylvania has the only divided legislature in the country, but we’ve shown two years in a row that we can come together to pass balanced budgets that invest in Pennsylvanians, grow our economy, and create real opportunity for people all across the Commonwealth.»

«Pennsylvania is clearly on a strong path toward continued economic and financial success,” said Secretary of the Budget Uri Monson. «Our responsible investments and sound management are keeping the Commonwealth on solid fiscal footing while providing critical support to Pennsylvanians.»

Financial Overview and Ratings Rationale

Moody’s upgrade acknowledges Pennsylvania’s large, diverse economy and strong fiscal management as key strengths for the state’s creditworthiness. The Commonwealth’s expanded economic base and job creation efforts have made its financial outlook more stable, despite increasing spending pressures.

Additionally, Moody’s upgraded approximately $10.8 billion in outstanding general obligation bonds to Aa2 and raised ratings for several state-backed financial obligations, including:

Appropriation-backed debt upgraded to Aa3 and A1
Pennsylvania School District Intercept Program rating upgraded to Aa3
Pennsylvania General Municipal Pension System State Aid Program rating upgraded to A1
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s (PTC) $983 million Motor License Fund-enhanced bonds upgraded to Aa3

This latest announcement reinforces that Pennsylvania’s economy is strong under Governor Shapiro’s leadership and that his Administration’s sound fiscal management is positioning the Commonwealth for long-term success.

The press release issued by Moody’s Investors Services can be found here and a chart of Pennsylvania’s ratings’ history can be found here.

Biden logra hablar con gobernador de Florida sobre plan de emergencia por huracán Milton

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EFE

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08/10/2024

El presidente de Estados Unidos, Joe Biden, logró hablar este lunes con el gobernador de Florida, el republicano Ron DeSantis, sobre las medidas de emergencia para enfrentar la llegada del huracán Milton esta semana, después de que se reportara que el jefe del Ejecutivo floridano se había negado a contestarle al mandatario demócrata.

La Casa Blanca informó en un comunicado que Biden habló con DeSantis «para obtener un informe de primera mano» sobre los esfuerzos de recuperación tras el paso del huracán Helene, que ha dejado 230 muertos en el sureste de EE. UU., y para analizar los preparativos para el huracán Milton.

Según explicó este lunes la portavoz de la Casa Blanca, Karine Jean-Pierre, DeSantis habló el domingo solo con la administradora de la Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencias (FEMA, en inglés), Deanne Criswell.

En la mañana de este lunes la cadena NBC informó que en las últimas horas, citando a fuentes cercanas a DeSantis, el gobernador se había negado a contestar a Biden y a la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris.

Es habitual que el presidente de EE. UU. llame por teléfono a los gobernadores de estados afectados por desastres naturales para coordinar la prestación de ayuda.

En la rueda de prensa de la Casa Blanca, Jean-Pierre defendió que el Ejecutivo está cumpliendo con su obligación de ayudar a los estadounidenses que se han visto damnificados por el huracán Helene y que ahora se preparan para el Milton.

«Si tienes al presidente y a la vicepresidenta intentando ofrecer asistencia a tus constituyentes, a la gente que vive en tu estado, para asegurarnos de que estamos haciendo todo lo que debemos hacer y estamos tendiendo la mano, ofreciendo nuestro apoyo, corresponde al gobernador decidir si responde o no», dijo.

Biden viajó a Florida el jueves para supervisar el daño causado por Helene y no se reunió con DeSantis porque este tenía previsto viajar a otras partes del estado para ver el daño provocado por el huracán, según indicó entonces la Casa Blanca.

En una rueda de prensa en Florida, DeSantis confirmó a mediodía del lunes que no había hablado por teléfono ni con Biden ni Harris.

Explicó que Biden intentó contactarlo hace un par de días, pero que no pudo atender la llamada porque se encontraba en un helicóptero. Respecto a Harris, aseguró desconocer cualquier intento de comunicación por parte de la vicepresidenta.

«No sabía que ella había llamado, así que no estoy seguro a quién llamaron, pero a mí no me contactaron», declaró DeSantis, quien sin embargo subrayó que ha recibido toda la ayuda solicitada del Gobierno federal.

DeSantis es una de las figuras más destacadas del Partido Republicano. Fue durante años un fiel aliado del expresidente Donald Trump (2017-2021), que se enfrentará a Harris en las elecciones del 5 de noviembre próximo, aunque la relación se agrió cuando el gobernador compitió en las primarias del partido que el expresidente acabó ganando.

El propio Trump ha difundido desinformación sobre la respuesta del Gobierno federal a los huracanes. La semana pasada llegó a afirmar que el Ejecutivo no estaba respondiendo a la destrucción y que el gobernador de Georgia, Brian Kemp, estaba intentando llamar a Biden por teléfono y no conseguía hablar con él.

El propio Kemp, del Partido Republicano, negó inmediatamente que eso fuera verdad y, de hecho, elogió la oferta de ayuda del Gobierno federal

Por su parte, Harris se mostró este lunes contundente al referirse al incidente con el gobernador de Florida.

En declaraciones a los medios en la Base Aérea Andrews, en Maryland, cerca de Washington, consideró que en momentos de crisis como el actual es «cuando los que se llaman líderes deben dejar la política a un lado y poner a la gente primero».

«La gente necesita apoyo desesperadamente en estos momentos, y jugar a juegos políticos durante situaciones de crisis, en el punto álgido de las emergencias, es totalmente irresponsable y egoísta. Solo se trata de ventajas políticas», señaló la vicepresidenta.

Además de hablar con DeSantis el presidente estadounidense habló por separado con la alcaldesa de Tampa, Jane Castor, sobre las medidas tomadas por la ciudad, que se espera sea una de las zonas más impactadas por el huracán Milton.

Biden pidió al gobernador y a la alcaldesa que «lo llamaran directamente si hay algo que se pueda hacer» para seguir apoyando las tareas de respuesta y recuperación.

Florida, que aún intenta recuperarse de los daños de Helene, está preparándose para la mayor evacuación desde 2017 ante la amenaza del huracán Milton, de categoría 5 y con vientos de 280 kilómetros por hora (175 millas), que atravesará casi todo el estado de oeste a este a partir del miércoles.

New analysis suggests national debt could increase under Harris, but it would surge under Trump

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Associated Press

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07/10/2024

No one is likely to be happy with the projected higher deficits laid out in a new analysis of Kamala Harris’ and Donald Trump’s economic plans.

The analysis released Monday by the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget suggests a Harris presidency could increase the national debt over 10 years by $3.5 trillion. That’s even though the vice president’s campaign insists her proposed investments in the middle class and housing would be fully offset by higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy. Her campaign policy guide states that Harris is “committed to fiscal responsibility — making investments that will support our economy, while paying for them and reducing the deficit at the same time.”

The same analysis says former President Trump’s ideas could heap another $7.5 trillion onto the debt and possibly as much as $15.2 trillion. That’s even though he suggests growth would be so strong under his watch that no one would need to worry about deficits.

The 34-page report released by the fiscal watchdog group puts a spotlight on the issue of government borrowing that will confront the winner of November’s election. Total federal debt held by the public now tops $28 trillion and is expected to keep climbing as revenues can’t keep up with the growing costs of Social Security, Medicare and other programs. The analysis noted that the expense of servicing that debt in dollar terms has “eclipsed the cost of defending our nation or providing health care to elderly Americans.”

Drawing on the candidates’ speeches, campaign documents and social media posts, the analysis warns bluntly: “Debt would continue to grow faster than the economy under either candidates’ plans and in most scenarios would grow faster and higher than under current law.”

Neither candidate has meaningfully stressed budget deficit reduction in their pitch to voters. But multiple analyses show a clear difference of Harris being much more fiscally responsible than Trump.

Harvard University professor Jason Furman, who was the top economist in the Obama White House, estimated in an opinion article for The Wall Street Journal that Harris’ plans could cut deficits by $1.5 trillion or raise them by $1.5 trillion. Meanwhile, his estimates show that Trump’s plans would increase deficits by $5 trillion, though that figure does not include his plans to charge no taxes on overtime pay and scrap the limit on deductions of state and local taxes.

There are other estimates by The Budget Lab at Yale and the Penn Wharton Budget Model that also show Harris would be better at keeping the deficit in check.

The Harris campaign said it sharply disagreed with the analysis of Harris’ policies by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, saying she would reduce the deficit if she became president.

The Trump campaign also criticized the analysis, with Brian Hughes, a senior adviser, saying, «Trump’s plan will rein in wasteful spending, defeat inflation, reduce the burden of interest costs, and ignite economic growth that fuels federal revenue, so we can make our economy great again.”

The committee analysis estimates that Harris’ policy ideas could add $3.5 trillion to the national debt through 2035. That conclusion depends on its treatment of how much various programs could cost.

It forecasts that Harris would implement $4.6 trillion in tax reductions, including extensions of some of the expiring 2017 tax cuts that Trump signed into law and tax breaks for parents and no taxes on tipped income for hospitality workers. Roughly $4 trillion in higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy would be insufficient to cover the total cost of her agenda and the additional interest on the debt that it could generate.

Still, the analysis notes that its numbers depend on various interpretations of what Harris has said. It’s possible that Harris’ agenda would add nothing to baseline deficits, but the report also said it might plausibly add as much as $8.1 trillion in debt in what appears to be a worse-case scenario.

By contrast, Trump’s ideas would likely add another $7.5 trillion to the debt. His $2.7 trillion in tariff revenues would be unable to cover $9.2 trillion in tax cuts and additional expenditures such as $350 billion to secure the border and deport unauthorized immigrants.

But the analysis includes other possibilities that show far higher deficits under Trump. If his tariffs raised less money and there were higher costs for his mass deportations and tax breaks, the national debt could jump by $15.2 trillion.

On the other hand, if the tariffs raised $4.3 trillion and there were no costs tied to deportations, Trump’s plans could only increase the debt by $1.5 trillion over 10 years.

U.S. Attorney Announces an additional vivil settlement as part of national effort to combat electronic

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07/10/2024

PHILADELPHIA. – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Gregory Thomas White Jr, DC and Healing Place Medical, P.C. (collectively, “Healing Place”) agreed to pay $170,000 to resolve liability under the False Claims Act for the alleged improper billing of “Sanexas” devices. This settlement is the latest action in the national investigation into the improper billing involving the RST Sanexas neoGEN-Series device (“Sanexas”).

Healing Place is a chiropractic clinic that principally used Sanexas treatment for patients diagnosed with edema and other forms of acute and chronic pain. Sanexas is an electric stimulation device marketed by RST Sanexas, Inc. (“RST”) to treat various forms of pain and other medical conditions. It consists of a large central unit and electrical leads that are temporarily affixed to the area being treated.

Patients typically received treatment on an outpatient basis and received two treatments per week for 12 weeks, for a total of approximately 24 treatments. Treatment times generally lasted approximately 30 to 40 minutes. In conjunction with Sanexas treatment, the clinics injected patients with a vitamin blend.

White is a chiropractor and owner of the Healing Place, which operated at 1600 Horizon Drive #123, Chalfont, Pa. The United States contends that Healing Place submitted approximately 27,121 claims to Medicare for payment under various codes for Sanexas treatment and vitamin injections, TM Flow testing, and ENFD testing, during the relevant time period, all of which were non-reimbursable.

The United States contends that Medicare did not permit reimbursement of Sanexas or vitamin injections used in conjunction with Sanexas in the way in which Healing Place administered them. In particular, National Coverage Determination 160.7.1 states: “Electrical nerve stimulation treatments furnished by a physician in his/her office, by a physical therapist or outpatient clinic are excluded from coverage by § 1862(a)(1) of the Act.”

Similarly, Local Coverage Determination (“LCD”) 35222 reinforces that “[t]he use of electrostimulation alone for the treatment of multiple neuropathies or peripheral neuropathies caused by underlying systemic diseases is not medically reasonable and necessary.” Other LCDs contain the same or similar statements, such as L35456, L35457, L37642, and L36850.

The United States Food and Drug Administration cleared Sanexas as substantially equivalent to a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (“TENS”) on or around January 24, 2003. Sanexas treatment was not FDA-cleared for use in combination with vitamin injections, the vitamin blend was not FDA-approved, and the vitamin blend was produced in bulk, rather than prescribed for individual patients.

The United States contends that vitamin injections used in conjunction with Sanexas treatment as Healing Place administered them do not fall under the limited coverage available for prescription drugs under Medicare Part B. The LCDs noted above reinforce that vitamin injections that act as nerve blocks are not medically reasonable and necessary.

Healing Place also submitted Medicare claims for testing used in conjunction with electric stimulation treatment – ENFD testing and/or TM Flow testing. ENFD testing involves performing a punch biopsy on patients to purportedly evaluate nerve damage that could be treated with the Sanexas device. ENFD testing was also conducted after Sanexas treatment, purportedly to evaluate whether there has been an improvement to nerve health. The Sanexas device, however, is not FDA-cleared for healing or regrowing nerves. In addition, the United States alleges that it was not medically reasonable or necessary to conduct additional testing related to electrical stimulation treatment, which was not covered by Medicare in the way in which Healing Place administered it.

Healing Place also offered “TM Flow” testing to screen new patients for various diseases, which, if identified, could purportedly support the need for electric stimulation treatment using the Sanexas device. The TM Flow device conducts various autonomic nervous system (“ANS”) and vascular function assessments. The applicable LCD includes 10 limitations, which the United States contends render ANS testing not medically reasonable and necessary and not covered, including “patient screenings without signs or symptoms of autonomic dysfunction,” testing where “results are not used in clinical decision-making and patient management,” and testing without the competence in the Autonomic Disorders medical subspecialty. See L35395. LCDs L23236, L33609, and L35124 contain similar limitations. Contrary to these limitations, however, Healing Place used it to screen patients during an initial visit, offered treatment with the Sanexas device regardless of the results of TM flow testing, and lacked the necessary training to perform and interpret ANS testing.

“Our office continues to lead the national charge to hold alleged fraudsters accountable for improper Sanexas billing,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “We will continue working closely with our partners at CMS’s Center for Program Integrity, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, and sister U.S. Attorney’s Offices around the country to hold accountable any other providers who inappropriately billed for these devices and caused false claims to be submitted.”

“Accurately billing for services provided to Medicare enrollees is required of all health care providers participating in the program,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG, CMS’s Center for Program Integrity, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to evaluate and pursue allegedly inaccurate billings of Sanexas and similar devices.”

Prior DOJ press releases related to the Sanexas national initiative include:

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. The investigation and settlement were handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric S. Wolfish, Civil Division Chief Gregory B. David, and Auditors Dawn Wiggins and Andrew Schobert.

The settled civil claims are allegations only. There has been no determination of civil liability.

Department of Human Services Highlights Trauma-informed research and Resources for individuals with autism

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07/10/2024

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) today released the latest issue of the Positive Approaches Journal, which aims to provide the most recent research for people with mental and behavioral health challenges, intellectual disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilities to help them live an everyday life. This edition focuses on the importance of trauma-informed research and the best practices that can be implemented to support people with autism.

“DHS works to ensure that Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities and autism have the services and supports they need,” said DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. “We know that there is a higher prevalence of trauma among individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism, and it is our hope that the research in this edition of the Positive Approaches Journal can help individuals and families find the resources they need to improve their everyday lives.”

The Shapiro Administration believes that every Pennsylvanian with intellectual disabilities and autism deserves to receive the supports they need to achieve an everyday life with dignity and opportunity to pursue their goals and live, work, and recreate among their families and peers. Life-changing investments in Governor Josh Shapiro’s bipartisan 2024-25 budget secured historic increases in funding for home- and community-based services for Pennsylvanians with intellectual disability and autism (ID/A) as well as increases in rates for the providers responsible for essential care and support of these individuals every day.

This edition of the Positive Approaches Journal features research and articles on the following:

Data Discoveries outlines an increased prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among individuals with autism and identifies trends that indicate an urgent need for further research, clinician training, and increased awareness.

Creating a Trauma-Informed Human Services Workforce in Pennsylvania: A Successful Cross-Sector Collaboration details the delivery of Trauma-Informed Care in Pennsylvania and demonstrates how collaboration between state government and other stakeholders helps to create safe, supportive environments that promote healing and resilience for children and youth.
Trauma and Social Adversity in Autism: Considerations and Directions for Clinicians and Researchers highlights recent research on the influence of the environment on mental health outcomes among people with autism.
Utilization of Art Therapy in Processing Overwhelming Emotions for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder details research that found that there was a trend in reduced depression and PTSD symptoms for these individuals after art therapy sessions.

The journal is a collaboration of DHS’ Office of Developmental Programs and Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. It collects resources, observations, and advancements in mental and behavioral health in order to better serve people in their communities.

Shapiro administration releases New Spanish-Language Recreation Guide, expanding access to State Parks and Pennsylvania’s Outdoors

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PR/CP

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07/10/2024

Downingtown, PA. – Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith and Pennsylvania Director of Outdoor Recreation Nathan Reigner today visited Marsh Creek State Park to highlight the agency’s commitment in expanding outdoor recreation access and unveiled a new Spanish-Language Recreation Guide for the Commonwealth’s 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of state forestlands.

DCNR released the new guide during Hispanic Heritage Month to highlight the agency’s initiative to create a more inclusive environment in outdoors spaces, called Mosaic. An English-language version of the Recreation Guide preceded the Spanish guide.

“This Spanish-language recreation guide and efforts here at Marsh Creek to make the park more accessible to all visitors are examples of DCNR embodying Mosaic principles,” Marshall-Hockensmith said. «We want every Pennsylvanian to enjoy – and feel welcome at – our incredible state parks and this new guide will allow Spanish-speaking visitors to take advantage of everything Pennsylvania’s great outdoors have to offer.”

The recreation guide shares important information about Pennsylvania’s public lands, including lodging and activities. The guide also includes a highway map of the Commonwealth with special icons for state parks and forestlands.

“Outdoor recreation is an important part of Pennsylvania’s economy, and expanding access to opportunities for all people is critical to growing this important sector,” Reigner said. “As Pennsylvania competes with other states as an outdoor recreation destination, it is important to understand the only way we are going to win is to get everyone in the game.”

Outdoor recreation contributes $17 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy annually, supporting 164,000 jobs, and accounting for 2 percent of the Commonwealth’s gross domestic product, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Reigner noted that many state parks, public libraries, and nonprofits have loaner equipment, gear libraries, and offer programming around enhancing outdoor experiences for prospective visitors. Additionally, businesses like outfitters offer rental equipment for people who would like to try outdoor activities but do not have the necessary gear.

“Pennsylvania is unique among states in that we offer free admission and free parking, making Pennsylvania’s parks and forests accessible to all,” said Marci Mowery, President of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF), the non-profit partner to state parks and forests. “By focusing on the needs of all users, we create inclusive spaces.”

Currently, Marsh Creek offers programming throughout the year to engage new and diverse audiences. The park’s pool and boating area are ADA accessible and there is an ADA accessible boat launch on the west side of Marsh Creek Lake.

Marsh Creek is slated for a Spanish-language individual park guide and map in 2025. The park was awarded a $20,000 grant to make the Park Road Trail ADA accessible from the Hearts of STIHL program. The park also plans to install bilingual signage for its visitors.

DCNR works to conserve and maintain Pennsylvania’s public natural resources for the benefit of all people, including generations yet to come. The department is taking intentional action to ensure the lands it manages are accessible to all, to provide inclusive and equitable programs and services, and to recruit and retain a diverse workforce.

Through grants, the agency supports hundreds of outdoor-related projects in communities annually, having invested $1.2 billion in 8,800 projects across the Commonwealth since 1995.

For more information on state parks, forests, and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, and the Good Natured DCNR Blog or follow DCNR on social media. For upcoming programs check the DCNR Calendar of Events.

Governor Shapiro visits Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History to tour Nova exhibition honoring victims of october 7th massacre in Israel

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PR/CP

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07/10/2024

Governor Shapiro worked with the Weitzman Museum to bring the exhibition to Philadelphia; led group of business leaders, elected officials, and leaders from various faith communities through the exhibit

Philadelphia, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro visited the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History for a tour of The Moment the Music Stood Still: The Nova Music Festival Exhibition alongside business leaders, elected officials, and leaders from various faith communities in recognition of the first anniversary of the October 7, 2023, massacre in Israel.

The exhibition includes both interior and exterior installations aimed at memorializing the victims of the Hamas-led massacre, including personal belongings of festivalgoers, such as burned cars, bullet-riddled structures, and objects left behind by survivors of the attack at the Nova Music Festival.

To commemorate the first anniversary of the October 7^th attacks, Governor Shapiro led a delegation of business leaders, elected officials, and leaders from various faith communities through the exhibit, including Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis and Senator Bob Casey. Before the tour, Governor Shapiro, Lt. Gov. Davis, and Sen. Casey met with Sigal Manzuri and members of her family, whose two daughters, Norelle and Roya, attended the Nova Music Festival and were killed on October 7, 2023 — to hear their stories of strength and remembrance.

«One year ago, Hamas, a terrorist group, initiated this terrible war with horrific acts of violence — killing 1,200 people, sexually assaulting women, and taking more than 250 innocent hostages, including American citizens — about 100 of whom remain in captivity today,” said Governor Shapiro. “Lori and I are honoring their memories in part by leading a delegation of Governors from across the country, along with community, education, and interfaith leaders, to visit The Nova Exhibition at the Weitzman Museum. We are here to bear witness to the lives lost on that devastating day — a day that should have been filled with music and joy, as people were ambushed while dancing and singing with friends. As we mourn the loss of so many innocent lives over the past year, Lori and I continue to pray for the return of the hostages, for an end to war, for peace in the Middle East, and for strength for all those who courageously combat terror, as well as for tolerance and understanding. May their memories be a blessing.»

«I want to thank Governor Shapiro for his efforts in bringing this exhibit here. The victims of October 7th were real people with bright futures ahead of them, and they shouldn’t be defined by the tragic moments that took their lives,» said Lieutenant Governor Davis. «I also want to thank Sigal and her entire family for being here today and sharing their powerful story. As a parent, I can’t begin to imagine the pain you’re enduring, but you’ve turned that pain into purpose, ensuring that your daughters’ memories will live on. We all stand here today, recommitted to peace and to building a society where everyone has the right to live up to their God-given potential.»

«Thank you to the Weitzman Museum for the honor of being here on this day of remembrance, reflection, and recommitment. We must ensure we are doing everything possible to confront evil in the world – whether it’s the evil of terrorism or the darkness in the human heart – both of which were tragically on full display in the most horrific way on October 7, 2023,” said Senator Casey. “Whether it’s the evil of Hamas, other terrorist organizations in the Middle East, or the Iranian regime, we must confront and defeat that evil. I also want to thank the Governor and the First Lady for bringing us together today.»

After viewing the installation earlier this year, Governor Shapiro worked to bring the exhibition t the Weitzman Museum in honor of the one-year anniversary of the terror attack on Israel. Governor Shapiro visits the museum often and was sworn into office on a Bible from its collection.

The Moment the Music Stood Still exhibition features a replica of the festival’s grounds, including a camping area with tents and a DJ booth. Visitors encounter firsthand accounts of the attack through video testimonies and written narratives, helping to capture the impact of the events on survivors. The installation uses concert lighting and dimmed tones to create a space for reflection. Two scorched vehicles from the festival grounds are on display on the pedestrian plaza in front of the museum, offering a stark reminder of the devastation inflicted during the attack.

“These artifacts tell a powerful story of survival, loss, and resilience,” said Dr. Misha Galperin, outgoing President and CEO of The Weitzman Museum. “We are honored to host this important exhibition and ensure that the stories of those impacted by the massacre are shared with communities across Pennsylvania.”

Created and directed by Reut Feingold and organized by the producers of the Nova Music Festival, the exhibition garnered attention through sold-out installations in New York and Los Angeles. Its arrival in Philadelphia underscores Pennsylvania’s solidarity with Israel and the American Jewish community during this difficult time of remembrance.

Pennsylvania high court declines to decide mail-in ballot issues before election

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Associated Press

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07/10/2024

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has declined to step in and immediately decide issues related to mail-in ballots in the commonwealth with early voting already under way in the few weeks before the Nov. 5 election.

The commonwealth’s highest court on Saturday night rejected a request by voting rights and left-leaning groups to stop counties from throwing out mail-in ballots that lack a handwritten date or have an incorrect date on the return envelope, citing earlier rulings pointing to the risk of confusing voters so close to the election.

“This Court will neither impose nor countenance substantial alterations to existing laws and procedures during the pendency of an ongoing election,” the unsigned order said.

Chief Justice Debra Todd dissented, saying voters, election officials and courts needed clarity on the issue before Election Day.

«We ought to resolve this important constitutional question now, before ballots may be improperly rejected and voters disenfranchised,» Todd wrote.

Justice P. Kevin Brobson, however, said in a concurring opinion that the groups waited more than a year after an earlier high court ruling to bring their challenge, and it was “an all-too-common practice of litigants who postpone seeking judicial relief on election-related matters until the election is underway that creates uncertainty.”

Many voters have not understood the legal requirement to sign and date their mail-in ballots, leaving tens of thousands of ballots without accurate dates since Pennsylvania dramatically expanded mail-in voting in a 2019 law.

The lawsuit’s plaintiffs contend that multiple courts have found that a voter-written date is meaningless in determining whether the ballot arrived on time or whether the voter is eligible, so rejecting a ballot on that basis should be considered a violation of the state constitution. The parties won their case on the same claim in a statewide court earlier this year but it was thrown out by the state Supreme Court on a technicality before justices considered the merits.

Democrats, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, have sided with the plaintiffs, who include the Black Political Empowerment Project, POWER Interfaith, Make the Road Pennsylvania, OnePA Activists United, New PA Project Education Fund Pittsburgh United, League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania and Common Cause Pennsylvania.

Republicans say requiring the date is an election safeguard and accuse Democrats of trying to change election rules at the 11th hour.

The high court also rejected a challenge by Republican political organizations to county election officials letting voters remedy disqualifying mail-in ballot mistakes, which the GOP says state law doesn’t allow. The ruling noted that the petitioners came to the high court without first litigating the matter in the lower courts.

The court did agree on Saturday, however, to hear another GOP challenge to a lower court ruling requiring officials in one county to notify voters when their mail-in ballots are rejected, and allow them to vote provisionally on Election Day.

The Pennsylvania court, with five justices elected as Democrats and two as Republicans, is playing an increasingly important role in settling disputes in this election, much as it did in 2020’s presidential election.

Issues involving mail-in voting are hyper-partisan: Roughly three-fourths of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania tend to be cast by Democrats. Republicans and Democrats alike attribute the partisan gap to former President Donald Trump, who has baselessly claimed mail-in voting is rife with fraud.

PennDOT Driver license, photo centers closed for Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Región

Por

PR/CP

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07/10/2024

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that all driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg, will be closed Saturday, October 12, 2024, through Monday, October 14, 2024, in observance of Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications, and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website. Driver and vehicle online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include driver’s license, photo ID and vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver license or vehicle insurance restoration fee; driver license and photo ID duplicates; REAL ID pre-verification; and driver exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services.

A complete listing of PennDOT driver and photo license center closings in 2024 is available online. If you are planning to visit one of PennDOT’s On-Line Messenger Service Centers, please call ahead for hours of operation during holidays.

Remember, Pennsylvanians will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license/photo ID card, or another form of federally acceptable identification (such as a valid passport or military ID) for domestic air travel or to access federal facilities by the May 7, 2025, federal deadline. Visit our website for details on how to obtain a REAL ID.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.

Follow PennDOT on X and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.

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