Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph preaches power of reading at Pennsylvania State Capitol
(WHTM) — Sheryl Lee Ralph attracted a crowd at the Capitol Wednesday. She's an actress from the popular sitcom Abbott Elementary, which you can see on abc27.
The fictional Abbott Elementary is set in Philadelphia and is a huge hit, but what is not fictional is that Sheryl Lee Ralph is married to State Senator Vincent Hughes, a Philadelphia Democrat. The two appeared at a rally today, preaching the power of reading.
'We are not going back by reading,' said Sen. Hughes.
Senator Hughes is the Appropriations Chairman, and he called for more funding to expand a literacy program. He insists reading levels are way too low, and that crushes the chance of future success.
Ralph turned and addressed the students assembled on the Capitol steps and told them that they can be anything they want to be if they work hard in school, then turned back to the cameras with a message for parents. She graduated from both high school and college in three years.
'We, as good citizens of our communities, cannot let our children be poor students,' said Ralph. 'We cannot let it be acceptable that our children cannot read. If we're gonna be great, our children must be greater.'
Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices
Ralph then spent time reading with the kids and passed out books provided by Scholastic. The program got some money last year, and they were calling for more in the upcoming budget.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mullin fires back at Newsom over National Guard in Los Angeles: ‘Words are cheap'
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) on Sunday fired back at comments from California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) over the deployment of the National Guard to the Los Angeles area. 'The federal government is moving to take over the California National Guard and deploy 2,000 soldiers. That move is purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions,' Newsom said in a Saturday statement. 'LA authorities are able to access law enforcement assistance at a moment's notice. We are in close coordination with the city and county, and there is currently no unmet need,' he added. During an interview on CNN's 'State of the Union,' the network's Dana Bash noted Newsom's comments. 'Governor Newsom says that the National Guard, at least sending them, is purposely inflaming and will only escalate tensions there,' Bash said. 'Well, words are cheap, especially when you got video,' Mullin responded. 'And so you asked me, did it look like it was under — or I'll ask you, did it look like it was under control?' 'It doesn't. It is absolutely not in control. You saw rioters throwing rocks, throwing fireworks, being extremely aggressive towards not just federal agents, but even the county and the local [police department] that was there. So does it look like it's under control? Absolutely not,' he added. Trump called for the deployment of 2,000 National Guard members to the Los Angeles area on Saturday amid protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said previously the action was due to 'violent mobs' recently attacking 'Federal Law Enforcement Agents carrying out basic deportation operations.' 'These operations are essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States. In the wake of this violence, California's feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens. That is why President Trump has signed a Presidential Memorandum deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen to address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester,' Leavitt said. The Hill has reached out to the White House and Newsom's office for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Former Republican congressman turned Democrat announces bid for Florida governor
Florida has not elected a Democratic governor in the 21st century, but there have been some close calls. Could a former Republican turned Democrat have a shot? Former Rep. David Jolly, who hopes to turn the Democrats' dreary luck around, joins "The Takeout" to discuss his run for governor.
USA Today
34 minutes ago
- USA Today
Incendiary: President Trump's deployment of Guard troops in LA draws ire
Incendiary: President Trump's deployment of Guard troops in LA draws ire President Donald Trump's order gives 2,000 soldiers the authority to protect federal property like office buildings but no power to arrest civilians. Show Caption Hide Caption Trump orders troops to LA as agents, protesters clash over immigration President Trump ordered 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles to combat violent protesters opposed to immigration enforcement. WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's order to deploy California National Guard troops – over the objection of the state's governor – to deal with protests over immigration raids is mostly political theater, according to government officials. But it is an act that runs the risk of tilting the nation toward martial law, some say. 'Presidents set precedents and this one is escalatory, incendiary, and could come back to haunt all Americans,' Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, said June 8. Trump's order gives 2,000 soldiers the authority to protect federal property like office buildings but no power to arrest civilians, according to a spokesperson for U.S. Northern Command, which is directing the operation. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also has put an active-duty Marine unit on orders to prepare to deploy to California. The 300 members of the California National Guard who deployed Sunday to three sites in Los Angeles appeared to face little in the way of organized opposition, according to a Defense official who was not authorized to speak publicly. Their presence was a performative show of force, the official said, as their authority is clearly restricted. Most of the Guard soldiers are military police officers whose day jobs typically are in civilian law enforcement. They understand the need for restraint, the official said. If they see a protester vandalize federal property, a Social Security Administration office, for example, they can detain the suspect and turn them over to local police. Trump's order fell short of invoking the Insurrection Act, an 18th century law that gives the president authority to use the military to enforce federal law, suppress a rebellion or protect a group's civil rights if the state does not do so. It was last invoked in 1992 during by President George HW Bush at the request of California's governor in response to riots after police officers involved in the beating of Rodney King had been acquitted. Trump and Hegseth's unilateral action over Newsom's objection sets dangerous precedent, Reed said in a statement. 'It is crucial that decisions of this magnitude are made with transparency, restraint, and respect for constitutional balance,' Reed said. 'The President and Defense Secretary should immediately stand down these troops and Congress should reject this dangerous overreaction.'
