Latest news with #PennsylvaniaCapital-Star
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State House advances bill to increase minimum wage in Pennsylvania
The exterior of the Pennsylvania state Capitol. (Photo by Amanda Mustard for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star). The state House is inching closer to passing a bill to raise the minimum wage in Pennsylvania, an outcome long sought by Democrats and opposed by Republicans. House Bill 1549 would increase it to $15 per hour for most Pennsylvanians, though in some smaller counties, it would only raise it to $12. The proposal would also raise the minimum wage for tipped workers. 'We are falling far, far, far behind,' Rep. Jason Dawkins (D-Philadelphia), the bill's sponsor said when it was debated in committee last week. 'Given our economic uncertainty, I think it's our duty as elected members to give [to] families across this commonwealth who have struggled to afford basic necessities.' The commonwealth's current minimum wage matches the federal rate at $7.25. It has not increased since 2008, and remains lower than those in surrounding states – New York, Ohio, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. The timeline laid out in the bill for the proposed minimum wage, as well as the ultimate figure, would vary county by county. For employers in Philadelphia County, the minimum wage would be $15 on January 1, 2026. Elsewhere, the minimum wage would increase gradually, reaching $15 or $12 on January 1, 2028. The difference is based on population. Counties with under 210,000 people, with the exception of Centre, Pike and Monroe Counties, will only see their minimum wage rise to $12. Beginning in 2029, the minimum wage would increase annually, based on federal cost of living statistics. On the floor Tuesday, Rep. Seth Grove (R-York), criticized the bill, calling its county-based tier system a 'dumb idea.' 'I look at York right next to Adams County. We're gonna have two different rates for those two now,' Grove said. 'How do businesses operate under such draconian policies? How is anyone supposed to figure this out?' Democrats, however, have long pushed for an increase to Pennsylvania's minimum wage, with most Republicans opposing it. Gov. Josh Shapiro, however, has long endorsed a minimum wage hike. On Monday, he posted on social media that the current minimum wage is 'too damn low.' 'It's time to put more money back in Pennsylvanian's pockets and raise the minimum wage,' he wrote. The bill would also raise the minimum wage for tipped workers from the current $2.83 per hour to 60% of the minimum wage. That would be $9 where the minimum wage is $15 and $7.20 where it's $12. House Bill 1549 must still be voted on one more time on the state House floor before it can pass. It will also have to earn support in the Republican-controlled Senate. Across the country, some Republicans are calling for a hike in minimum wage. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced a bipartisan bill in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday that would raise the minimum wage everywhere in the U.S. to $15. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Home repair program in Pa. would continue investment in essential renovations
A street in Shamokin in Northumberland County. The county got more than $1 million for residential improvements like plumbing and weatherization through the Whole Home Repair Program, which has since run out of its American Rescue Plan funding. State lawmakers are proposing a similar successor funded at $50 million per year. (Emily Previti/Pennsylvania Capital-Star) A home repair program that Pennsylvanians really seem to need, based on the response, could continue if state officials can agree on how to run it. A bipartisan group of state legislators announced – just before budget talks officially start in Harrisburg – they'll co-sponsor forthcoming legislation creating the PA Home Preservation Program. Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed budget allocates $50 million for the program. It took mere months to spend four times that amount through the similarly-focused Whole Home Repair Program. The WHRP diverted $125 million to financing weatherization, plumbing and other essential improvements to thousands of residential units across the state starting last September, according to the state Department of Community and Economic Development. And more 18,000 applicants, combined, were left on waitlists kept by pass-through agencies, according to the planned bill's co-sponsorship memo. Lawmakers used a one-time federal infusion from the American Rescue Plan to create the WHRP. Program requirements limited homeowners to those making no more than 80 percent of median area household income. Landlords couldn't own more than five properties and 15 affordable units across all properties. And it capped project costs at $50,000 per unit. State officials view the WHRP as a pilot for the proposed PA Home Preservation program that's intended to be more permanent. 'It is not easy to sort of do all this coordination, build out relationships with contractors, … [and] sub-grantees,' said DCED Secretary Rick Siger during the agency's budget hearing earlier this year. 'But we have a path now…informed by, frankly, just learning a bunch of stuff as we ran Whole Home Repair.' The new initiative likely would have income limits for homeowner recipients and prioritize senior citizens, according to prime sponsor Rep. Lindsay Powell, D-Pittsburgh. Other than that, few details have been hashed out, Powell said Friday. But one would be an effort to keep program guidelines as consistent as possible, she said. She cited constantly changing expectations and reporting requirements as a major challenge during her time on Pittsburgh's Urban Redevelopment Authority Board. Siger, Powell and others have pointed to the age of Pennsylvania's housing stock as another reason to invest in renovation and rehabilitation, with nearly 60 percent of homes statewide dating back to before 1970.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Intro to audio: Another step toward making it easier for you to get the news
The on-air light goes on this week for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. (Tim Lambert/Pennsylvania Capital-Star) Greetings! I'm Emily Previti, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star's first audio reporter, writing to introduce myself. Sometimes, I overthink. But after learning about this position, it was apparent relatively quickly – even to me – that this opportunity was a no-brainer: I could harness my experience to help fill a void in Pennsylvania's media landscape with deeply reported, state policy-focused audio journalism. It's a powerful medium I've long been passionate about for its unparalleled convenience, intimate engagement with audiences and ability to help people understand complex issues while they're commuting, exercising or scrubbing their bathroom. Initially, you'll be able to catch our audio content on the Pennsylvania Capital-Star's website and other content channels. We're also working to establish partnerships with radio stations throughout Pennsylvania. Ultimately, our goal is to produce our own podcast as well. You can expect news as well as deep dives and investigations that you won't hear – or read – elsewhere. Tim Lambert, editor in chief, and I worked together for several years in public media. And when you're expanding into new territory and launching initiatives, having established trust and history as colleagues out of the gate is a huge advantage. I also have a track record of finding stories that have been overlooked despite being highly relevant and telling them in an impactful, distinctive way. Most recently, I co-created and hosted the longform podcast Obscured through Kouvenda Media. The pilot series focused on survivors of traumatic police encounters and the support – or lack thereof – available to them. Before that, I spent several years as a senior reporter for WITF-FM and the statewide Keystone Crossroads collaboration, where I covered everything from refugee resettlement to housing discrimination to Pennsylvania's redistricting battles to voting rights and election administration. I also created and produced The Context, a daily newsletter, and led investigations into Pennsylvania's public defense system and other issues affecting communities across the commonwealth that earned awards on the state, regional and national levels. I came to Pennsylvania, originally, to cover Harrisburg's debt crisis beat at PennLive after working as a watchdog reporter for The Press of Atlantic City investigating the casino industry and state and local government corruption. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Throughout, my professional goals have been relatively straightforward, even as navigating the industry and the reporting process itself have proven complicated and challenging at times. I aim to tell nuanced, engaging stories that expose root causes of persistent problems and help people understand how policies actually affect them. And to add value to the media landscape with contextual, conversational stories that explore important angles otherwise glossed over or missed entirely with reporting that synthesizes history, data, personal narratives, accountability, policy analysis and potential solutions and alternate approaches. I also believe in meeting audiences where they are, as do the Pennsylvania Capital-Star and States Newsroom. Some of you prefer to read your news, others want to listen during your commute. Still others want quick updates on social media. Recognizing that, the Capital-Star is experimenting with bringing stories to life in different ways. I'm thrilled to be part of the expansion. The focus here on connecting people to the power that affects them resonates strongly with me as well. I feel fortunate to be part of an organization committed to delivering fact-based, nuanced, transparent coverage with its audience top-of-mind. Thanks for welcoming me to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star team. I am truly excited to be here and can't wait to share stories with you. You can reach me at epreviti@ with tips or if you want to share how policy decisions are affecting your community. I'd love to hear from you. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Remember homeless Pennsylvania veterans this Memorial Day
The Fallen Soldier Memorial is located at the University of Montana in Missoula. (Tim Lambert/Pennsylvania Capital-Star) When I began teaching courses on homelessness and poverty at Gettysburg College more than 20 years ago, I regularly noted to my students that I often found common cause with a wide range of people from across the political spectrum when it came to seeking solutions and providing services for homeless veterans. While some people certainly still make the right noises in this regard, the current obsession with wiping the slate of the federal government clean and starting from scratch now is putting many veterans at-risk. Homelessness is a tragedy that affects far too many Americans, and the reality is that'[h]omelessness remains more common among veterans compared to non-veterans.' Veterans are especially vulnerable to a number of risk factors related to homelessness, including substance abuse, PTSD, mental health issues, low income, and economic instability. Unfortunately, veterans who fall into homelessness are also particularly prone to remaining unhoused, as research indicates that, '98% of homeless veterans have a chronic pattern of homelessness.' As the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs notes in this regard: 'For some, taking off the uniform and acclimating to a non-military life comes with social challenges and can ultimately lead to hard times, such as being homeless. U.S. military veterans are estimated to make up a large portion – 11 percent – of homeless adults.' Although PTSD and related disorders certainly loom large amongst the risk factors for veteran homelessness, it is important to keep in mind that the number one reason for homelessness in America today is actually the lack of affordable housing. As reported in the Independent in its recent coverage of Elon Musk's baseless claim that 'the word 'homeless' is a 'lie' and 'a propaganda word,'' the reality in the United States today is that '[t]he primary driver of homelessness, particularly among families, is a lack of stable affordable housing, with evictions, overcrowded housing, domestic violence and job losses sending homeless families into shelters and onto the streets.' Currently, the curtailing of rental assistance seems poised to tip tens of thousands more Americans out of housing. Experts suggest that many of us are more vulnerable to such risks than we'd like to imagine, and veterans are especially so. Given this reality, it is particularly alarming that under the Trump Administration, the VA recently 'has ended a new mortgage-rescue program that so far has helped about 20,000 veterans avoid foreclosure and keep their homes.' As did the Obama Administration before him, Trump has claimed that he will end veteran homelessness. It is only fair to note that the Obama Administration had some successes in striving towards that goal. In this current environment, however, it is difficult to reconcile Trump's rhetoric in this regard with sweeping executive actions demolishing some of the key federal players in this effort. To cite one staggering recent example, '[t]he US Interagency Council on Homelessness, which helps coordinate federal housing aid to cities, was targeted for elimination by a Trump executive order in March.' Moreover, according to the New York Times, the president seeks to end permanent supportive housing for an estimated 300,000 people considered chronically homeless. Many are veterans. Veterans are more vulnerable than the general population to the sweeping demolishment of the federal government. This is not simply because the 'Department of Veterans Affairs is planning to cut 83,000 jobs, slashing employment by over 17% at the federal agency that provides health care for millions of veterans' It is also in part because 'nearly 30% of federal workers are veterans, half of whom are disabled. This means that veterans, who make up 6.1% of the U.S. population, are disproportionately affected by federal worker cuts.' Because the vast bulk of the VA workforce provides veteran healthcare, 'cuts to VA workers mean cuts to health care.' Since veterans as a group rely so heavily on Medicaid, cuts to that program disproportionately disadvantage veterans. Furthermore, because '[w]orking-age veterans face an elevated risk of experiencing food insecurity compared to their nonveteran peers,' cuts to food assistance programs also hit veterans harder than other groups. The news is not all bad, and in our own region in Pennsylvania, efforts to help house homeless Vets have been laudable and even inspiring. For example, a tiny home project for veterans experiencing homelessness opened last year in Harrisburg. In addition, the commonwealth offers VETConnect Services, and there are a number of local private organizations dedicated to helping veterans at risk of homelessness. This includes a dedicated veteran aspect of the 211 program, which allows those in need of services to dial 211 to find help. In the end, though, only on the national level can we find the resources to coordinate efforts and to tackle challenges on this scale. In any case, it is only reasonable to expect the federal government that recruited and ordered these veterans into harm's way to take the lead in seeking to offer them whatever services they need. I am a Pennsylvania Quaker, a member of the pacifist religious organization that founded this Commonwealth. Quakers do not embrace military service, to be sure, but we do embrace ideals of honor, service, and integrity, and we believe strongly in honoring social contracts. If someone feels moved by their conscience to perform military service and is true to their ideals, I do not condemn that person. Indeed, many such folks number amongst my closest friends, and even some of my family members. I believe that those who serve this country selflessly in any capacity deserve recognition and support for doing so, and not merely in terms of lip service. If a veteran's military experience results in the need for special accommodations, medical care, drug or alcohol rehabilitation, housing assistance, or similar services, I think that we should take special care to meet such needs. My own father, a proud veteran of the U.S. Army, died homeless in 1988. He was a chronic alcoholic and estranged from his family, so I am sure that there are those out there who will claim that he brought his fate upon himself. I have always maintained, however, that we can do better as a nation, and that civilized people care for the most vulnerable amongst the population without regard to blame or shame. I have spent much of my adult life trying my best to live this truth, through regular active service in my community, through educational opportunities for my students, and through leadership roles on boards and within service organizations. Veterans Day was established to remember those who have fallen in defense of this country. Let us also remember on that day those who have served with honor but have fallen on hard times. Christopher Fee has taught service-learning courses on homelessness, poverty, affordable housing, and rural education for over twenty years. Fee is Graeff Professor of English at Gettysburg College and a Member of the Eisenhower Institute College Advisory Board. Fee is a Member of Menallen Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Fee is also Co-Clerk of the American Friends Service Committee Northeast Region.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bill requiring AEDs at schools and school sporting events passes Pa. House committee
The exterior of the Pennsylvania state Capitol. (Photo by Amanda Mustard for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star). A bill that would require automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to be present at school and school sporting events passed the House Education Committee with bipartisan support Wednesday. State Rep. Tim Brennan (D-Bucks), who sponsored House Bill 191, said the legislature owes it to our kids 'to be prepared to save their lives when something happens on their playing fields.' 'This serves a purpose,' Brennan said. 'This is a valuable life saving tool that we should have in our schools.' Brennan said that over 20 states already have similar laws in place and said statistics prove the effectiveness of AEDs in the event of a cardiac arrest. He said 90% of cardiac arrests are fatal when they occur outside of a hospital, but if an AED is used within a minute, survival rate can jump up to 90%. This proposal amending the school code also requires one individual certified in CPR present, as well. Brennan also referenced the cardiac arrest of then-24 year old Damar Hamlin, an Allegheny County native and player for the Buffalo Bills, in 2023 who was saved by CPR and the use of an AED on the field during an NFL game on Monday Night Football. State Rep. Tarah Probst (D-Monroe), cited the death of Greg Moyer, a high school student who died in 2000 from sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 15, during a basketball game at East Stroudsburg North High School. She said it can take a long time for an ambulance to arrive in rural areas. Moyer's family has been advocating for AEDs in schools and school sporting events. AEDs were also at the center of another bill earlier this week. House Bill 193, which will require AEDs in every state building, passed the full House on Monday. Cursive mandate passes unanimously The committee also unanimously voted to advance a proposal to require cursive handwriting to be taught in schools, at the appropriate grade level. 'In our digital world, cursive has fallen by the wayside, but there are many reasons for students to, at least, get the basic grasp of cursive writing,' State Rep. Dane Watro (R-Schuylkill), sponsor of House Bill 17 said Wednesday. 'In addition, students need cursive to read historical documents. A growing cursive illiteracy poses a threat to accessing and comprehending key historical sources, such as the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.' A co-sponsorship memo mentions that at least 24 states have laws on the books requiring cursive to be taught. Both chairs of the committee also offered words of support before the vote was held. 'Obviously there are both cognitive and developmental skills I think that are learned through cursive but more importantly, I think it's important that we understand the foundations of our historical and our founding documents, which this bill would obviously do,' House Education Minority Chairperson Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) said. State Rep. Peter Schweyer (D-Lehigh), who is the chairperson of the committee, referenced knowing cursive from his 12 years of Catholic school education and said he looked at it from a slightly different perspective, while detailing a personal experience before voting to approve the bill. 'I have an 18-year-old who, a couple years ago, got her first bank account, and watching her try to endorse her first paycheck was quite the interesting experience on a human level,' Schweyer said. 'I just think that a part of education is actually teaching human skills, not knowledge for the sake of knowledge, but actually preparing people for real life. And this is perfectly reasonable and a smart way to go about it.'
