Latest news with #L&I
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
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L&I assists thousands with unemployment compensation claims
Jun. 1—WILKES-BARRE — Now in its third year, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry's (L&I) UC Connect program continues to provide essential, in-person assistance to Pennsylvanians looking for help navigating the Unemployment Compensation (UC) system. Since its launch in May 2022, UC Connect has helped more than 106,000 Pennsylvanians resolve claims, navigate eligibility issues, and connect to community-based resources, helping more than 700 people in April 2025 alone. Offered at PA CareerLink locations statewide, UC Connect appointments are tailored to claimants who lack reliable internet, are unfamiliar with digital systems, or need language support. With sustained demand for in-person help, L&I has embedded UC Connect into its long-term customer service model. "As UC Connect enters its third year, it remains a necessary and effective tool for delivering unemployment services equitably," said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker. "In-person support ensures that no Pennsylvanian is left out of the system simply because they don't have access to broadband or need help understanding the process. L&I has expanded UC Connect's services and took the initiative statewide, and it's clear that our efforts are making a difference in delivering faster, better service for Pennsylvanians." After initially launched as a pilot program in 2022, UC Connect was made a permanent service through bipartisan investments in the 2023 — 24 budget, enabling L&I to hire more than 380 UC interviewers to expand service delivery across Pennsylvania. Unemployment Compensation system update The Department first eliminated a backlog of 40,000 claims from the pandemic era — each requiring case-by-case review — within seven months. The Department then shifted focus to scaling up staff, reducing wait times, and improving access for all Pennsylvanians. Key service highlights from April 2025 include: —Average call wait time was reduced to 18 minutes and 56 seconds. —5,321 live chat sessions were completed—an increase from the same time last year —44,077 new UC claims were filed —$157 million in UC benefits was paid to 99,518 individuals —86,616 helpline calls were answered —13,965 email inquiries were processed —709 individuals received in-person assistance through UC Connect Since the beginning of 2025, L&I has paid out $784 million in UC benefits to more than 483,000 individuals, responded to 361,258 helpline calls, and provided 3,112 UC Connect appointments. Risk-limiting audit of 2025 primary election begins The Department of State this week began Pennsylvania's statewide risk-limiting election audit (RLA) of the May 20 primary. "This is our sixth statewide risk-limiting audit since the 2022 general election," Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said. "RLAs are proven to be the highest standard of comprehensive election audits because the RLA process provides a statistically sound, scientific method for confirming, with a high degree of confidence, that the reported outcome of the audited election is accurate." Schmidt said 10 Department employees took turns rolling 10-sided dice to deliver the random 20-digit "seed number," which is used to determine which batches of ballots counties will audit over the next several days. A random-selection drawing on May 23, resulted in the selection of the contest for the Republican nomination for Judge of Commonwealth Court for this RLA. During the audit, county officials will hand-tally the randomly selected ballot batches, then compare those vote counts to the original machine counts for the selected race. Known as a "batch comparison" type of RLA, this pre-certification audit can confirm whether counties accurately tabulated paper ballots so that a full hand count would produce the same reported outcome. The RLA will be carried out in addition to the 2% statutorily required review that counties must perform after each primary and general election in Pennsylvania. For that review, county officials are required to conduct a statistical recount of a random sample of at least 2% of all ballots cast, or 2,000 ballots, whichever is fewer. Counties must complete the RLA by June 5, and they must certify all election results to Schmidt by June 9. Fetterman joins push to return stolen art to Holocaust survivors U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Braddock, is pushing legislation to help survivors of the Holocaust and their families reclaim tens of thousands of pieces of artwork stripped from them by the Nazis. The bill, sponsored by Fetterman and a bipartisan group of lawmakers, attempts to smooth the legal process for these survivors or their heirs as they petition the courts for return of the art, according to a news release. Though Congress passed a bill with the same aim nearly a decade ago, some museums, institutions and governments have stonewalled and battled families in their reclamation efforts, Fetterman's office said. "Some 80 years after the Holocaust, we have a moral responsibility to do right by the victims of these atrocities and their families," Fetterman said in a statement. The proposal extends the original Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act, which is set to expire at the end of 2026. Recognizing the difficulty of tracking down artwork stolen during the Holocaust, Congress in 2016 passed the act to give families six years to file a legal claim for a piece after they've located it. The new bill backed by Fetterman also seeks to make sure families' court claims get fair consideration on their merits rather than being dismissed over technicalities, the release stated. During the Holocaust, Nazi Germany seized hundreds of thousands of pieces of artwork from Jewish people. While the U.S. and other allied nations have tried to restore these valuables to their rightful owners, more than 100,000 pieces still have not been given back, according to Fetterman's office. Fetterman is co-sponsoring the bill introduced by U.S. Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut. DCNR: Free menstrual products available in 68 state parks Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn this week was joined by First Lady Lori Shapiro and members of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Next Generation Engagement to announce a new initiative that makes free menstrual products available in 68 state parks across Pennsylvania. The products are now stocked in park offices, visitor centers, and environmental educational centers at participating parks, offering a convenient and essential resource for visitors. Signage in English and Spanish helps park-goers locate where products are available. This effort is part of the Shapiro Administration's broader work to make public spaces across the Commonwealth more accessible and supportive for all. The announcement coincides with Menstrual Hygiene Day — highlighting the importance of addressing period poverty through public policy and access. "I've been so inspired by all the young women I've met who are making their voices heard and starting conversations on period poverty — talking so comfortably about something that, for so long, has been a taboo subject," said First Lady Shapiro. "Thanks to them speaking up, Pennsylvania has taken some major steps to ensure more women have access to basic hygiene supplies throughout the day. I want everyone to be able to enjoy their time outdoors, and DCNR's work to get free menstrual products in the bathrooms and visitor offices of our state parks is critical to making our outdoor spaces welcoming to everyone." "No one should have to cut an outdoor adventure short because of their period — DCNR has you covered," said Secretary Dunn. "We are committed to creating inclusive, welcoming outdoor spaces — and that means meeting people's basic needs without stigma or barriers." DCNR will evaluate the program's success and expand it to additional park locations in the future. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The World's Only Samsung Electronics Leveraged and Inverse Products Debut in Hong Kong Today
HONG KONG, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CSOP Asset Management Limited (CSOP), one of Asia's largest ETF issuers and a pioneer in leveraged and inverse products (L&I products), announces the launch of the CSOP Samsung Electronics Daily (2x) Leveraged Product (HKD counter: USD counter: and CSOP Samsung Electronics Daily (-2x) Inverse Product (HKD counter: USD counter: on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) on 28 May 2025. These groundbreaking products—the world's only L&I products tracking Samsung Electronics—are designed to empower investors with strategic tools to capitalize on short-term volatility and hedge risks in Korea's most iconic stock, now accessible in a time zone-aligned market, following the successful launch of Asia's first batch of nine single stock L&I products in Hong Kong in March 2025. Samsung Electronics (Samsung), a global tech titan, dominates as Korea's largest publicly traded company by market capitalization, and is consistently included in the world's top listed companies by market value with 5.16 million domestic shareholders[1]. Nevertheless, no L&I products for Samsung are available in the global market. However, Hong Kong's proximity to Korean trading hours (vs. U.S./Europe) and CSOP's expertise in L&I products solutions position these L&I products as a game-changer for tactical trading and hedging. In order to track the two times daily performance and two times inverse of the daily performance (before fees and expenses) of the common stock of Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, the two products deploy a swap-based synthetic replication strategy, with a listing price of about 7.8 HKD (1 USD) per unit, trading lot of 100, and management fee of 1.6% of the ETF's net asset value per year. For investors who are bullish on Samsung, leveraged product can help them gain greater exposure to Samsung, while inverse product can serve as a hedging tool during short-term volatility in Samsung's share price. For investors seeking tactical positioning during regional trading hours, instruments such as Samsung L&I products offer efficient exposure adjustment capabilities. L&I products offer several advantages, including no margin calls, zero collateral requirements, no financing costs, transparent pricing and capped maximum leverage. "We are pleased to announce the listing of CSOP Samsung Electronics Daily (2x) Leveraged Product and CSOP Samsung Electronics Daily (-2x) Inverse Product on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange." said, Ms. Ding Chen, CEO of CSOP Asset Management "As a leading ETF issuer in the APAC region with a 99% market share in leveraged and inverse products in Hong Kong[2], CSOP is committed to offering diversified investment options. The introduction of Samsung Electronics' only L&I products globally in Hong Kong offers chances to capitalize on short-term market fluctuations." As Korea's largest publicly traded company by market capitalization, Samsung dominates global markets through its four core divisions: 1) Semiconductors, 2) Display Panels, 3) Mobile Communications, and 4) Consumer Electronics[3]. The company holds world leadership positions across key sectors, serving as the largest manufacturer of OLED panels, televisions, smartphones, and DRAM memory chips[4]. Its semiconductor division ranks among Asia's top two producers, contributing to Samsung's consistent inclusion in the world's top 50 listed companies by market value[5]. About CSOP Asset ManagementFor over a decade, CSOP has successfully established itself as one of the leading ETF issuers in Hong Kong, with second largest AUM and demonstrated innovative product development. As of 31 March 2025, the total AUM of CSOP reached 23.5 billion USD by building a healthy ETF ecosystem and managing 56 ETPs and 3 mutual funds in Hong Kong and Singapore markets*. In 2025, 5 out of the top 10 most actively traded ETFs/ETPs in Hong Kong are managed by CSOP**. Asia's First batch of Single Stock Leveraged & Inverse Products on HKEX Product Name HKD counter USD counter CSOP NVIDIA Daily (2x) Leveraged Product CSOP NVIDIA Daily (-2x) Inverse Product CSOP Tesla Daily (2x) Leveraged Product CSOP Tesla Daily (-2x) Inverse Product CSOP Coinbase Daily (2x) Leveraged Product CSOP Coinbase Daily (-2x) Inverse Product CSOP MicroStrategy Daily (2x) Leveraged Product CSOP MicroStrategy Daily (-2x) Inverse Product CSOP Berkshire Daily (2x) Leveraged Product *Source: CSOP** Source: Bloomberg, from 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025 Disclaimer and Important Notices NONE OF THE SUB-FUNDS ("SUB-FUNDS") MENTIONED IN THIS DOCUMENT, CSOP LEVERAGED AND INVERSE SERIES AND CSOP ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED ("CSOP") ARE AFFILIATED WITH THE CORRESPONDING COMPANIES OF THE UNDERLYING SECURITIES OF THE SUB-FUNDS (THE "CORRESPONDING COMPANIES").The Corresponding Companies do not sponsor or endorse the offering of the Sub-Funds, nor are they involved with the Sub-Funds in any way. Investing in the Sub-Funds is not equivalent to investing in the Corresponding Companies. Investors have no ownership rights in the Corresponding Companies. Investors in the Sub-Funds will not have voting rights and will not be able to influence management of the Corresponding Companies but will be exposed to the performance of the relevant securities of the Corresponding Companies. The Sub-Funds are authorized by the Securities and Futures Commission ("SFC") in Hong Kong. Such authorization does not imply any official recommendation by the SFC. This document is for general information only and does not constitute any kind of advice in any way and shall not be considered as an offer or solicitation to deal in any investment products. If you wish to receive advice on investment, please consult your professional legal, tax and financial involves risks. Investors should refer to the Prospectus and the Product Key Facts Statement for further details, including product features and risk factors. This document is not applicable in jurisdictions where the distribution of this document is document is not legally binding. CSOP takes no responsibility for the contents of this document and expressly disclaim any liability for any loss arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this document. Any information or any part of this document should not be copied, reproduced, or distributed to any parties without the written consent of Sub-Funds are leveraged and inverse products. They are different from conventional exchange traded funds. Each of the Sub-Funds is concentrated in a single underlying stock. Given the non-diversified and leveraged and inverse nature, the Sub-Funds are subject to extreme price volatility and may become non-viable within a short period. The Sub-Funds only targets sophisticated trading-oriented investors who understand the potential consequences of seeking daily leveraged or inverse results. Under exceptional circumstances where the Sub-Funds become non-viable, CSOP may use its discretion to deviate from the investment strategy or take defensive measures, which may include liquidating swap positions and suspending trading of the Sub-Funds and CSOP will issue a notice to inform Sub-Funds are not intended for holding longer than one day as the performance of the Sub-Funds over a longer period may deviate from and be uncorrelated to the leveraged or inverse performance of the underlying stocks over the period. The Sub-Funds are designed to be used for short term trading or hedging purposes, and are not intended for long term investment. This document is prepared and issued by CSOP and has not been reviewed by the SFC in Hong Kong.[1] Source: Korea Securities Depository, as of the end of 2024. [2] Source: HKEX, CSOP Asset Management, as of 30 April 2025. [3] Source: Bloomberg and Korea Securities Depository, as of 10 February 2025. [4] Source: Wind, 2024. [5] Source: Global ranking. Samsung Website, as of 16 April 2025. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE CSOP Asset Management
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The World's Only Samsung Electronics Leveraged and Inverse Products Debut in Hong Kong Today
HONG KONG, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CSOP Asset Management Limited (CSOP), one of Asia's largest ETF issuers and a pioneer in leveraged and inverse products (L&I products), announces the launch of the CSOP Samsung Electronics Daily (2x) Leveraged Product (HKD counter: USD counter: and CSOP Samsung Electronics Daily (-2x) Inverse Product (HKD counter: USD counter: on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) on 28 May 2025. These groundbreaking products—the world's only L&I products tracking Samsung Electronics—are designed to empower investors with strategic tools to capitalize on short-term volatility and hedge risks in Korea's most iconic stock, now accessible in a time zone-aligned market, following the successful launch of Asia's first batch of nine single stock L&I products in Hong Kong in March 2025. Samsung Electronics (Samsung), a global tech titan, dominates as Korea's largest publicly traded company by market capitalization, and is consistently included in the world's top listed companies by market value with 5.16 million domestic shareholders[1]. Nevertheless, no L&I products for Samsung are available in the global market. However, Hong Kong's proximity to Korean trading hours (vs. U.S./Europe) and CSOP's expertise in L&I products solutions position these L&I products as a game-changer for tactical trading and hedging. In order to track the two times daily performance and two times inverse of the daily performance (before fees and expenses) of the common stock of Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, the two products deploy a swap-based synthetic replication strategy, with a listing price of about 7.8 HKD (1 USD) per unit, trading lot of 100, and management fee of 1.6% of the ETF's net asset value per year. For investors who are bullish on Samsung, leveraged product can help them gain greater exposure to Samsung, while inverse product can serve as a hedging tool during short-term volatility in Samsung's share price. For investors seeking tactical positioning during regional trading hours, instruments such as Samsung L&I products offer efficient exposure adjustment capabilities. L&I products offer several advantages, including no margin calls, zero collateral requirements, no financing costs, transparent pricing and capped maximum leverage. "We are pleased to announce the listing of CSOP Samsung Electronics Daily (2x) Leveraged Product and CSOP Samsung Electronics Daily (-2x) Inverse Product on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange." said, Ms. Ding Chen, CEO of CSOP Asset Management "As a leading ETF issuer in the APAC region with a 99% market share in leveraged and inverse products in Hong Kong[2], CSOP is committed to offering diversified investment options. The introduction of Samsung Electronics' only L&I products globally in Hong Kong offers chances to capitalize on short-term market fluctuations." As Korea's largest publicly traded company by market capitalization, Samsung dominates global markets through its four core divisions: 1) Semiconductors, 2) Display Panels, 3) Mobile Communications, and 4) Consumer Electronics[3]. The company holds world leadership positions across key sectors, serving as the largest manufacturer of OLED panels, televisions, smartphones, and DRAM memory chips[4]. Its semiconductor division ranks among Asia's top two producers, contributing to Samsung's consistent inclusion in the world's top 50 listed companies by market value[5]. About CSOP Asset ManagementFor over a decade, CSOP has successfully established itself as one of the leading ETF issuers in Hong Kong, with second largest AUM and demonstrated innovative product development. As of 31 March 2025, the total AUM of CSOP reached 23.5 billion USD by building a healthy ETF ecosystem and managing 56 ETPs and 3 mutual funds in Hong Kong and Singapore markets*. In 2025, 5 out of the top 10 most actively traded ETFs/ETPs in Hong Kong are managed by CSOP**. Asia's First batch of Single Stock Leveraged & Inverse Products on HKEX Product Name HKD counter USD counter CSOP NVIDIA Daily (2x) Leveraged Product CSOP NVIDIA Daily (-2x) Inverse Product CSOP Tesla Daily (2x) Leveraged Product CSOP Tesla Daily (-2x) Inverse Product CSOP Coinbase Daily (2x) Leveraged Product CSOP Coinbase Daily (-2x) Inverse Product CSOP MicroStrategy Daily (2x) Leveraged Product CSOP MicroStrategy Daily (-2x) Inverse Product CSOP Berkshire Daily (2x) Leveraged Product *Source: CSOP** Source: Bloomberg, from 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025 Disclaimer and Important Notices NONE OF THE SUB-FUNDS ("SUB-FUNDS") MENTIONED IN THIS DOCUMENT, CSOP LEVERAGED AND INVERSE SERIES AND CSOP ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED ("CSOP") ARE AFFILIATED WITH THE CORRESPONDING COMPANIES OF THE UNDERLYING SECURITIES OF THE SUB-FUNDS (THE "CORRESPONDING COMPANIES").The Corresponding Companies do not sponsor or endorse the offering of the Sub-Funds, nor are they involved with the Sub-Funds in any way. Investing in the Sub-Funds is not equivalent to investing in the Corresponding Companies. Investors have no ownership rights in the Corresponding Companies. Investors in the Sub-Funds will not have voting rights and will not be able to influence management of the Corresponding Companies but will be exposed to the performance of the relevant securities of the Corresponding Companies. The Sub-Funds are authorized by the Securities and Futures Commission ("SFC") in Hong Kong. Such authorization does not imply any official recommendation by the SFC. This document is for general information only and does not constitute any kind of advice in any way and shall not be considered as an offer or solicitation to deal in any investment products. If you wish to receive advice on investment, please consult your professional legal, tax and financial involves risks. Investors should refer to the Prospectus and the Product Key Facts Statement for further details, including product features and risk factors. This document is not applicable in jurisdictions where the distribution of this document is document is not legally binding. CSOP takes no responsibility for the contents of this document and expressly disclaim any liability for any loss arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this document. Any information or any part of this document should not be copied, reproduced, or distributed to any parties without the written consent of Sub-Funds are leveraged and inverse products. They are different from conventional exchange traded funds. Each of the Sub-Funds is concentrated in a single underlying stock. Given the non-diversified and leveraged and inverse nature, the Sub-Funds are subject to extreme price volatility and may become non-viable within a short period. The Sub-Funds only targets sophisticated trading-oriented investors who understand the potential consequences of seeking daily leveraged or inverse results. Under exceptional circumstances where the Sub-Funds become non-viable, CSOP may use its discretion to deviate from the investment strategy or take defensive measures, which may include liquidating swap positions and suspending trading of the Sub-Funds and CSOP will issue a notice to inform Sub-Funds are not intended for holding longer than one day as the performance of the Sub-Funds over a longer period may deviate from and be uncorrelated to the leveraged or inverse performance of the underlying stocks over the period. The Sub-Funds are designed to be used for short term trading or hedging purposes, and are not intended for long term investment. This document is prepared and issued by CSOP and has not been reviewed by the SFC in Hong Kong.[1] Source: Korea Securities Depository, as of the end of 2024. [2] Source: HKEX, CSOP Asset Management, as of 30 April 2025. [3] Source: Bloomberg and Korea Securities Depository, as of 10 February 2025. [4] Source: Wind, 2024. [5] Source: Global ranking. Samsung Website, as of 16 April 2025. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE CSOP Asset Management Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Report: Pennsylvania unemployment increased during April
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) released its preliminary employment situation report for April 2025, showing an increase in the Commonwealth's unemployment. Pennsylvania's unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point over the month, bringing it to 3.9% in April. The report noted that the rate did remain below the U.S. unemployment rate, which was unchanged from its 4.2%. The Commonwealth's unemployment rate was three-tenths of a percentage point above the April 2024 level of 3.6%, mirroring the U.S. rate increase from last April. The Pennsylvanian civilian labor force was noted to be up 6,000 over the month to 6,548,000 in April. 'Pennsylvania's total nonfarm jobs were up 8,500 over the month to 6,223,800 in April, the 12th consecutive record high,' L&I noted in its release. 'Jobs increased from March in six of the 11 industry supersectors. The largest movement was in education & health services, which added 5,000 jobs over the month. Education & health services, leisure & hospitality, and other services rose to record high levels in April.' For more information on the preliminary employment situation report, visit L&I's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rite Aid layoffs: State to host online meeting to support affected employees
May 12—WILKES-BARRE — On Wednesday , May 14 , the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) will host a virtual Rapid Response Information Meeting (RRIM) for employees affected by the recently announced Rite Aid layoffs which affected hundreds of workers in Pennsylvania. The session will provide important information to help impacted workers during this career transition, like PA CareerLink services, Unemployment Compensation guidance, health insurance enrollment and additional local and state resources. The meeting will take place online from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and registration is required. Impacted workers can sign up online. "Suddenly losing employment and having to determine your next move can feel overwhelming and intimidating," said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker. "But L&I is here to help during this challenging time. Our Rapid Response team is working to ensure those impacted by Rite Aid's layoffs have access to the resources and support they need to help them transition to meaningful employment opportunities that offer family-sustaining wages." L&I encourages workers to reach out to their local PA CareerLink for more information and services. Topper: Flawed process created flawed legal marijuana bill Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Jesse Topper, R-Bedford/Fulton, this week said the flawed process leading to House Bill 1200 — legislation legalizing marijuana for recreational use in Pennsylvania — resulted in a flawed bill that demanded opposition. The legislation passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Wednesday on a party-line vote of 102-101. "The bill to legalize marijuana in Pennsylvania was introduced at the end of the day Sunday and then rushed through a committee vote on Monday afternoon — a move that stifled debate and potential amendments," Topper said. "That flawed process led to a seriously flawed piece of legislation that creates an unnecessary government monopoly over the sale of marijuana, contains significant constitutional concerns, and fails to deliver on promised state revenue by cannibalizing the sales of legalized marijuana into new programs and state giveaways." Topper said House Bill 1200 massively expands government by creating a government monopoly over the sale of marijuana by vesting sale and regulatory authority with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, which estimated $260 million in costs to ramp up sales of marijuana. In addition, during the amendment process, Democrats unanimously rejected a Republican proposal that would have allowed municipalities to opt-out of having marijuana sales take place within their borders. "If Democrats were serious about getting this legislation done, the process they used would have reflected that," Rep. Topper said. "Unfortunately, this product was too rushed, too deeply flawed, and too far-ranging to garner any support from the House Republican Caucus." House Bill 1200 now heads to the Pennsylvania Senate. Structured literacy, PASS scholarship bills advanced The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver, R-Northumberland, this week advanced legislation to implement evidence-based reading instruction and establish the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) Scholarship Program — both of which aim to provide students with resources for learning and advancing in and out of the classroom. "Structured literacy is a top priority for me as Chair of the Education Committee, as we have students in all grades that are not able to read at grade level," Culver said. "Methods used in recent years for teaching letters, words, and reading comprehension are doing a disservice to an entire generation, and research backs the need for change." —Senate Bill 700 — requires schools to implement evidence-based reading instruction, conduct reading screenings for K — 3 students and provides grant funding to support literacy development. "Under-performing schools are also doing our students a disservice," Culver said. "PASS Scholarships allow parents and students to determine the best learning environment for them." —Senate Bill 10 — uses state testing performance metrics to identify the bottom 15% of schools, in order for parents to qualify for PASS scholarships that could be used to attend an alternative school. The committee also approved the following additional legislation: —Senate Bill 114 — expands the availability of long-term care training programs and nurse aide certification opportunities to address workforce shortages. —Senate Bill 127 — requires schools to provide instruction on the Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations, and post related resources online. —Senate Bill 227 — applies the Right-to-Know Law to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, increasing transparency in school governance. Senate Bill 246 — requires notification to parents and school staff when a weapon is found on school property to promote communication and safety. Senate Bill 310 — establishes a requirement for students to complete the FAFSA or an opt-out form as a condition for public high school graduation, supporting college and career readiness. For information, visit Pugh to hold concealed carry event Rep. Brenda Pugh, R-Dallas Township, this week announced she will host a Concealed Carry Seminar on Thursday , May 15 . The event will be held at the Luzerne Volunteer Fire Department, 66 Tener St., Luzerne, from 6 to 8 p.m. "Many people have questions about Pennsylvania's concealed carry laws and the Castle Doctrine," Pugh said. "I'm hopeful this event will help provide answers and clarity about firearm owner rights." The seminar, led by Sam Sanguedolce, Luzerne County district attorney, will provide information on state laws and a time to ask questions. No concealed carry permits will be offered. Reservations are required by calling 570-283-1001 or visiting Walsh to host seminar on financial exploitation of seniors Rep. Jamie Walsh, R-Ross Township, invites residents of the 117th District to a free seminar on the financial exploitation of seniors at noon Friday, May 16, at the Meadows Manor Community Room, 200 Lake St., Dallas. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m., with a complimentary lunch provided at 11:30 a.m. David Shallcross, director of senior protection at the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, will lead a presentation on spotting and preventing financial exploitation among older adults. "Fraudsters and scammers are constantly changing their tactics to prey upon unsuspecting victims," Walsh said. "Awareness is our best defense against financial exploitation. I am happy to offer this free seminar to help my constituents learn the red flags and protect themselves and their loved ones from falling victim to financial fraud schemes." Registration is required. Call Walsh's Dallas office at 570-675-6000 for information or to reserve a seat. House approves bill to increase pension payments for disabled veterans The state House of Representatives has approved legislation that would increase pension payments for veterans who are blind and for veterans who have lost limbs or are paralyzed due to their military service, according to Rep. Dane Watro, R-Hazleton, one of the bill's prime sponsors. "It's been 26 years since these pension payments made by our Commonwealth were adjusted, and it's long past due we make this change to support our disabled veterans," Watro said. House Bill 1144 seeks to raise the pension amount from $150 per month to $200 per month for both the Blind Veterans Pension Program and the Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans Pension Program offered through the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. "This $50 increase per month is the first step in right-sizing these programs for the deserving veterans who have served and sacrificed for our country," Watro said. "I hope the Senate acts quickly on this important legislation." Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
