Latest news with #MarkHiggins
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Centre officials respond to being on DHS sanctuary jurisdiction list
CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) included Centre County and State College in a list of places violating federal law, but even after the list was taken down, it has officials wondering why they were on it in the first place. The DHS issued a list last week detailing several locations in Pennsylvania that were 'deliberately obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws and endangering American citizens.' But, going to the list now brings up a page not found notification. Centre County's commissioners have not forgotten they were on that list and wonder what got them on it to begin with. Centre County officials respond to delay on Rockview, Quehanna closure decision 'We haven't heard from the federal government in terms of why we were put on the list,' Commissioner Amber Concepcion said. 'There were a wide variety of jurisdictions that also don't know why they were put on the list.' According to the DHS, every place on the list will receive 'formal notification of its non-compliance,' but the commissioners say they have not gotten any such communication. The DHS described the jurisdictions on the list as protecting 'dangerous criminal illegal aliens from facing consequences,' and putting law enforcement in danger. Commissioners do not believe this describes the county or State College. 'To the best of our knowledge, we're complying with all the relevant federal laws based on what counties do,' Commissioner Chair Mark Higgins said. Commissioners say they have been in contact with elected officials, and while they have been 'helpful,' how the two locations ended up on the list is still a mystery to them. The DHS has not said when or if the list will be going back up. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Centre County officials give more funding to local nursing home
BELLEFONTE, Pa. (WTAJ) — Centre County officials are donating $600,000 to a local nursing home, despite the facility not operating at a deficit. This is not the first time the commissioners donated to Centre Care. Earlier in 2025, the board gave a $900,000 grant to the facility. This new funding for the nursing home is from officials buying a 13,483 acre parcel of land from Centre Care. Centre Care says they are not operating at a deficit, but keeping over 150 Medicaid beds in use comes with a cost. New partnership in Centre County gives support for sexual assault victims 'We lose approximately $115 per bed per day on Medicaid residents and 70% at least of our population being Medicaid, that adds up real fast,' Chair of Centre Care's Board Betsy Boyer said., Commissioner Chair Mark Higgins describes this $600,000 check as a 'gentleman's agreement,' with Centre Care being given the chance to buy back the land in the next year or so if 'things go even better for them financially than planned.' In the meantime, he says the county has no plans to do anything with the newly purchased land. Commissioner Steve Dershem says he has seen other counties struggling to meet the demand for Medicaid beds and does not want Centre County to fall into that group. 'I don't see any time in the future that our area is going to be lowering its population of seniors and other folks that need those services,' Dershem said. The money comes from the American Rescue Plan Act or ARPA fund. After these large donations, that fund is now dried up. However, the board sees this as a worthy investment. Commissioner Amber Concepcion called the funding 'crucial' to maintaining Centre Care as the 'healthy, thriving' organization it is now. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Centre County officials look at response to weather emergency, food bank offering resources
CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) – The impacts of last week's storms are still being felt with local leaders examining ways to better prepare for the next weather emergency, and the State College Food Bank offering free food to recover what residents may have lost. The storm put a strain on some Centre County services, with the 911 office receiving roughly 1,500 calls in an hour. Commissioners are now asking what can be done to help alleviate issues in the future. 'Now that we've had 1,500 calls in a single hour, what do we need to do to make our infrastructure and software a little more robust?' Commissioner Chair Mark Higgins said. SNAP recipients: Lose groceries due to severe weather? Here's how you might qualify for replacement benefits He says they want to make improvements where they can in the county's infrastructure, and hope that Pennsylvania's government is following suit. 'We'd hope the state legislature will step up and talk about how it's probably not acceptable to have 10,000-20,000 people in Pittsburgh without power an entire week later,' Higgins said. For Centre County residents who had to throw out food due to outages, State College Food Bank is still offering a solution. 'If someone's in the community who's not a registered client of ours, they're eligible for a one-time emergency distribution. All they need to do is live in Centre County and give us a call,' Executive Director Allayn Beck said. The food bank's number is 814-234-2310. For any SNAP benefits recipients, Beck says if you report a food loss due to outages by Friday, May 9, you will get extra SNAP dollars to spend on replacing that food. The Centre County Assistance Office's number is 814-863-6571. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. Beck wants the community to know the food bank is available to anyone in need. 'If we're able to help provide food and lessen maybe a little bit of the burden that's going on in people's homes and lives because of the storm, we're happy to help,' Beck said. 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 WTAJ -
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Centre County commissioners approve two grants for community center restoration
CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A Centre County community center is getting much-needed funding for upgrades following a Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday. County commissioners approved two Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) agreements for the Gregg Township Community Center Restoration Project. The building, located at the Old Gregg School, needs new flooring, windows, basketball court upgrades, and several other improvements. 'We sent that I think a couple hundred thousand dollars that way, which is pretty much a year's worth of Community Development Block Grant funding for Center County. It's great to hear that. The second phase is about to kick off and hopefully keep that building in public use for many years to come,' Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins said. The project will receive nearly $300,000 in total. The Old Gregg School Community and Recreation Center is a non-profit venue that offers community services and activities for everyone. The school has served as a community and recreation center since 2007. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Under the baobab: Black History Month events continue in Centre County
Black history is American history. The Centre County Board of Commissioners — Mark Higgins, Amber Concepcion and Steve Dershem — issued a proclamation naming February as Black History Month. Accepting for the community was Leslie Laing, Carmen Wong, Kesla Elmore, Gary Abdullah and Terry Watson. In other Black History Month events, Marta Plumhoff, the food system coordinator for the Penn State Student Farm, hosted the documentary film 'Farming While Black,' produced by Mark and Liz Decena, which featured Soul Fire Farm, Black Dirt Farm Collective and Rise and Root Farm. I will be reading from my writing at The Print Factory bookstore in Bellefonte on Friday, Feb. 28 from 5-6:30 p.m. Before that, a tour of 'Defining the New Negro; Voices of the Harlem Renaissance a Century Later' will meet outside the Paterno Family Humanities reading room, second floor central Pattee Library, on Thursday, Feb. 27 from 11-11:30 a.m. It will be followed by an open house of the Charles Blockson Collection of African American and African Diaspora materials. Watson, director of CCU; Laing, NAACP officer; Chiluvya Zulu, State College DEI officer; and Jacqueline Watkins convened 'Strategies for Justice Symposium' at 3 Dots last week. Shawn Kennedy, retired Chicago police officer, Elinor McNeel from Los Angeles and others joined via Zoom. The group discussed innovative ways to expand the efforts of the organization. The Democratic Party also held their petition signing event at the Ramada Inn. About 100 supporters attended to hear remarks from candidates and party officials. Rayna Williams, conference chair, and Alana Nesmith, president of the Multicultural Undergraduate Law Association, held a Diversity in Law Conference at the Nittany Lion Inn. MULA's prelaw faculty advisor, Kathy Garren, conducted a personal statement workshop. Several law school admissions officers were available to advise on their schools' criteria for entrance. The first annual Juneteenth Sneaker Ball, which benefits the 1865 Freedom Legacy Scholarship, will be held at the Graduate Hotel on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 7-10 p.m. An unforgettable night of dinner, dancing and community is planned. Friday, former PSU visiting professor Ronnie Burrage and his group performed at 101 Heister St. The same night, top-ranked Penn State wrestling team closed out its home regular season against American at Rec Hall, hoping to finish the season with a 71-match win streak, the second longest in the history of NCAA Division I. Our men's basketball team broke a seven-game losing streak with a 89-72 victory over Nebraska at the BJC. Coming up, world renowned saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin will perform at Eisenhower Auditorium on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The School of Theatre's production of 'How to Succeed in Business ...' directed by Christopher Campbell will open on Feb. 25 and runs until March 7. Acclaimed PSU professor Steve Broadnax directed 'A Raisin in The Sun' at the People's Light and Theatre Company. The play opened Feb. 19 and will close on March 30. Playwright Lorraine Hansberry was the first African American woman to have a play on Broadway. In 1997 it was the first play written by an African American to appear on the mainstage at Penn State. The production featured theatrical legend Frances Foster, Mitch Little, Carla Hargrove, Cynthia Henderson, Anthony Irons, Ephraim Lopez Walter Pagan and Carlton Currington. Finally, the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon is happening this weekend at the BJC. What started as a dance marathon with only 78 dancers back in 1973 has blossomed into the world's largest student-run philanthropy. This year an estimated 16,500 students will be taking part in a 46-hourlong, no-sitting, no-standing dance marathon to raise awareness and funds for children and families impacted by childhood cancer. In addition to participants there will be thousands of observers at the BJC and countless viewers of the Bellisario College student produced simulcast. Last year a record breaking $16.9 million dollars was raised ... for the kids. Charles Dumas is a lifetime political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Party's nominee for U.S. Congress in 2012. He lives with his partner and wife of 50 years in State College.
