HARRISBURG ─ The January edition of the local TV program hosted by Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) looks at two important health care initiatives and a new cellphone policy for Pennsylvania public schools, including Temple University’s School of Dentistry’s first-ever rural dental education center and clinic in Tamaqua.
The clinic and its nearby downtown Tamaqua student apartments, to open in September 2026, were reviewed by Argall and Rep. Jamie Barton (R-124) at the recent 2025 Pennsylvania Oral Health Summit. The 24-chair education center and clinic will be located at the site of a former Rite Aid on Route 309.
“This project will serve as a historic step in addressing Pennsylvania’s growing shortage of dental professionals ─ especially in rural areas,” Argall said. “The facility will host 20 dental students who will complete their final two years of training in downtown Tamaqua, living in nearby apartments and providing critical dental services for residents of Schuylkill, Carbon and Luzerne counties.”
The second health care initiative is bipartisan legislation sponsored by Argall to allow high school juniors and seniors to earn graduation credits by working or volunteering in licensed care settings that provide 24-hour care for the elderly. The Senate Education Committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 116 during their most recent meeting.
“Too many families, including my own, have faced the difficult decision of moving a parent or grandparent into a long-term care center,” Argall said. “The professionals who provide their care are facing increasing challenges because of workforce shortages. This bill introduces students to careers in long-term care as they prepare to enter the workforce.”
During the same meeting, the Senate Education Committee also approved Senate Bill 1014 ─ the “bell-to-bell phone-free schools” bill ─ by a unanimous, bipartisan vote. Pennsylvania is now one step closer to making every public school a phone-free zone during the school day, with sensible exceptions for medical needs, ESL translation or teacher-approved instruction.
This edition of the Argall Report will air on:
- Blue Ridge Communications (Channel 13) every Monday at 10 a.m. and every Wednesday at 10:30 p.m.
- Service Electric Cablevision: Hazleton, Mahanoy City; Shenandoah ─ on Hazleton’s WYLN TV 35 Channel 507 and MetroCast Communications Channel 10. Please check local listings for airtimes.
- Berks Community Television (Comcast – Channel 15 and Service Electric ─ Channel 19). Please check local listings for airtimes.
The Argall Report is also available online at www.senatorargall.com/argallreport.
CONTACT: Seth Hubler