Legislative Roundup: Lt. Gov. highlights investments in NEPA

Yahoo

05-05-2025

May 4—WILKES-BARRE — Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and representatives from the state Department of Community and Economic Development this week visited Berwick and Lewisburg to tout investments from the Shapiro-Davis Administration to revitalize the communities' downtowns and support local small businesses through the new Main Street Matters program.
"I'm thrilled that the Coblentz Corner Project — which is receiving nearly $700,000 in state funding — isn't just about rehabbing an old building," Davis said. "It's about investing in the young people of Berwick and Northeastern Pennsylvania. Gov. Josh Shapiro and I want every Pennsylvania community to be a place where businesses can grow and young people can thrive."
Earlier this month, the Shapiro-Davis Administration awarded $20 million in grants through the Main Street Matters program, administered by DCED.
In Columbia County, Community Strategies Group is receiving a $678,062 Main Street Matters grant for the Coblentz Corner Project, which will rehab a blighted building in the heart of the new Berwick Arts District into a teen center and entrepreneurial academy.
"Coblentz Corner simultaneously culminates more than 15 years of collaborative, incremental momentum in Berwick and serves as a catalyst for the Downtown's next 15 years," said Rich Kisner, executive director of Community Strategies Group. "Funding these types of projects in rural communities like Berwick is very challenging, but Main Street Matters is the kind of program that can change the entire scope of what's possible."
In 2024, FHLBank named downtown Berwick as a Blueprint Community — a revitalization and leadership initiative that serves as a catalyst for creating sustainable communities in the region. Davis previously served as a Blueprint Community team member in his hometown of McKeesport.
Also in Columbia County, Bloomsburg is receiving two Main Street Matters grants:
—$50,955 to revitalize Market Street Square.
—$50,000 for road diet planning for State Route 11/Main Street.
Lewisburg, which DCED designated as a Keystone Communities Main Street in 2024, is receiving two Main Street Matters grants:
—$75,000 for a business improvement grant program.
—$100,000 for way-finding signage.
Through Main Street Matters, the Shapiro-Davis Administration is investing $20 million to revitalize downtown areas, help businesses grow and improve community infrastructure. These funds build on the success of the Keystone Communities Program, which has helped cities and towns across Pennsylvania repair historic buildings, improve pedestrian safety and provide direct support to small businesses.
Main Street Matters received more than 200 applications requesting more than $43 million, underscoring the demand for strategic investments in Main Streets across Pennsylvania. The Shapiro-Davis 2025-26 budget proposal includes another $20 million for the initiative.
FBI releases annual Internet Crime Report
The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) released its latest annual report.
The 2024 Internet Crime Report combines information from 859,532 complaints of suspected internet crime and details reported losses exceeding $16 billion — a 33% increase in losses from 2023.
Nationwide, the top three cyber-crimes, by number of complaints, reported in 2024 were: phishing/spoofing, extortion and personal data breaches.
The top three crime types reported by victims of fraud loss were: investment scams, business email compromise and tech support scams.
Cryptocurrency fraud continued to be a devastating crime. In 2024, the IC3 received over 149,000 complaints with $9.3 billion in total losses, representing a 66% increase from 2023.
For individuals over the age of 60, the IC3 received over 147,000 complaints spanning across all cyber scams, with losses totaling $4.8 billion. This is a 46% increase in complaints from 2023 and a 43% increase in losses from 2023. The average loss was $83,000.
Pennsylvania was in the top 10 states by number of complaints to IC3 as well as the top 10 states by losses. In reported complaints per state, Pennsylvania was 5th overall with over 27,000 reports. In reported losses, Pennsylvania was 8th overall, with losses of over $400 million.
"Since our founding, the FBI has vigorously pursued complex financial crimes," said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. "While the methods have evolved, the motives remain the same — criminals seeking to exploit others for profit. Today, fraudsters are using advanced digital tools to scale their schemes and target victims around the globe. Whether you're an individual consumer or a large corporation, the threat is real — and growing. That's why we urge everyone to stay vigilant online, and report suspected internet crimes to the FBI at ic3.gov. Your reports are vital — they help us disrupt criminal networks, share intelligence with our partners, and safeguard our communities."
To promote public awareness, the IC3 produces the annual report to aggregate and highlight the data provided by the public. The quality of the data is a direct reflection of the information the public provides through the IC3 website.
The IC3 standardizes the data by categorizing each complaint and analyzes the data to identify and forecast trends in internet crime. The annual report helps the FBI develop effective relationships with industry partners and share information for investigative and intelligence purposes for law enforcement and public awareness.
PSP, Shapiro honor fallen troopers
Gov. Josh Shapiro this week joined the Pennsylvania State Police to honor the sacrifice of all department members who lost their lives in the line of duty.
The memorial service at Department Headquarters commemorated the 120th anniversary of the establishment of the Pennsylvania State Police.
"Our fallen troopers make the ultimate sacrifice for Pennsylvania — and it's important that we take days like today to gather and honor their life in service — and to reaffirm that we never, ever forget," Shapiro said. "The men and women of the Pennsylvania State Police go to work every single day to protect and serve our communities. Policing is a noble profession, and we need to continue to have the backs of our police. That's why my Administration is working to make historic investments in our State Police. I am committed to ensuring our troopers and their families have the help and support they deserve all across our Commonwealth."
"For 120 years, the women and men of Pennsylvania State Police have dedicated their lives to serving our Commonwealth," said Colonel Christopher Paris, Commissioner of the PSP. "Today, we remember those who gave their lives. Our Memorial Wall bears witness to their unfaltering courage and unwavering integrity. May their legacies never fade, and may we forever strive to be worthy of their sacrifices."
The service included a reading of the 104 names on the Pennsylvania State Police Memorial Wall, a moment of silence, the PSP Ceremonial Unit and a rifle salute.
The Pennsylvania State Police was created by legislation signed into law by Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker on May 2, 1905, becoming the first uniformed police organization of its kind in the United States.
Starting with just 228 men, the department has grown to an authorized complement of 4,841 enlisted women and men supported by more than 1,850 civilian employees. It is the 10th-largest police agency in the United States.
Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.