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In this Update:
Put Down Your Phone While Driving: New Law Takes Effect June 5
On June 5, a new law will take effect banning the use of hand-held devices while driving, even while temporarily stopped due to traffic or a red light. This law is named after Paul Miller, who tragically lost his life in 2010 in an accident caused by a tractor trailer driver reaching for his phone while driving. According to PennDOT data, there were 9,950 crashes involving distracted drivers last year, resulting in more than 6,000 injuries and 49 fatalities. We approved this law with strong bipartisan support to prevent more tragedies and ensure our roads are safe for all. Local Students Become “Senators for a Day”
Students from high schools across this Senate district learned what it’s like to be a state senator or representative at my annual Senator for a Day student government seminar. The “senators” had the chance to craft and guide legislation through the legislative process, debating ideas like voter ID, drug testing for welfare recipients, bans on using handheld devices in motor vehicles, and more. During their discussions, they got to experience the realities of legislative policy – the good, the bad, and the truly ugly. Rep. Tim Twardzik, Rep. JoAnne Stehr, Schuylkill County Commissioners Boots Hetherington, Larry Padora, and Gary Hess and I were very impressed with their knowledge on current issues and ability to carefully review and discuss some of the most complex topics before us in Harrisburg. To everyone who helped make this event happen, especially our hosts at Penn State Schuylkill: thank you! Recognizing Hazleton Area Scouts and Volunteers
Kenneth Wenner and I were honored by the Minsi Trails Council during their annual Hazleton Friends of Scouting dinner. One of the very best things my parents ever did for me was sign me up for the Cubs at the age of eight. I have literally travelled the world as a scout and as a volunteer leader. From camping in my own back yard with my son to exploring New Mexico, Canada and Bavaria, scouting has given me and so many others the opportunity to expand our horizons. Ken has been a dedicated volunteer for Hazleton area Scouting since 1998, as both a committee member for Pack 650 and the Scoutmaster for Troop 650 in Freeland. He also guided his son Daniel along the long trail to Eagle Scout and created the first female Scout troop in Freeland.
Despite the constant responsibilities of his job as an attorney and as a new father, my Eagle Scout son AJ traveled from Virginia to present me with the award. I reminded AJ that since both young men and women are now eligible to become Eagle Scouts, I’d love to help his young daughter Amelia along this path in about 12-14 years – no pressure!! New Eagle Emma Bryfogle of Troop 5209, Palmerton, gave remarks at the dinner, demonstrating it truly is a new era for scouting. Thank you to Rep. Doyle Heffley and Hazleton Mayor Jeff Cusat for presenting me with official citations in recognition of the Distinguished Citizen Award. Local Anthracite Coal Operations Expanding
Rep. Dane Watro, Rep. Jamie Barton, and I visited American Anthracite mining sites in Hazle Township. In their newly expanded operations, they offer some of the highest paying jobs in the region, now employing more than 220 people. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the demand for Pennsylvania-produced anthracite coal dramatically increased, especially for steelmaking. Pennsylvania anthracite companies are no longer competing with unfairly subsidized Russian imports into the US and many other nations. Because of this increased demand, they are now remining some long-abandoned areas. When they have completed their mining efforts, they are required by state and federal law to restore the landscape. Beaver Meadows Honors Local Heroes, Dedicates New Community Hall
I was invited to attend the annual Memorial Day ceremony and parade in Beaver Meadows. Thank you to all who put together this moving tribute to our fallen heroes. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
After the ceremony concluded, the borough dedicated their new and improved Harmony Hall at Memorial Park. The new upgrades will support community events and celebrations for decades to come. Rep. Doyle Heffley and I were pleased to support this project by securing highly competitive state grant funding. Congrats to Johnny Cambra, State Champion Wrestler!
Congratulations to Johnny Cambra of Barnesville, who won TWO youth wrestling state championships in the age 10 and under 65-pound weight class this year. In back-to-back weekends, he won both the Keystone State Championship and the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling Youth State Championship. He also took first place at the Tulsa Nationals in Oklahoma. Rep. Jamie Barton and I visited Mahanoy Area Elementary School to congratulate him on this impressive season. I expect we’ll be seeing many more championship appearances from him in the coming years! St. Luke’s Center in Lehighton Supports Mental Health Patients
I was invited to visit the St. Luke’s Penn Foundation Mental Health Walk-In Center in Lehighton to learn more about their work. The center provides non-residential support to those dealing with a variety of mental health issues. Given the serious shortages of mental healthcare in rural areas of Pennsylvania, centers like this one are very important. Each month, they host free mental health information and resource meetings. Upcoming sessions include:
In recent years, we’ve invested millions of new dollars into mental health programs for students, to address the rising youth mental health crisis and keep our schools safe. When I chaired ten public roundtables across Pennsylvania on school safety, we heard from students, parents, and educators that we must do more to protect all our schools. I will continue to support these key efforts. Town Hall Meetings in Lansford, ShepptonIn the past few weeks, I’ve hosted three town hall meetings across the district. This week, I visited Sheppton and Lansford to meet with residents about the many issues now confronting our state and local governments.
Rep. Dane Watro and I discussed the need to fix more of our roads and bridges, preventing waste, fraud, and abuse in state welfare programs, and more at the Sheppton-Oneida Volunteer Fire Company.
Rep. Jamie Barton, Rep. Doyle Heffley, and I discussed the challenges addressing blighted and vacant buildings, local revitalization efforts in need of possible state funding, and more at the Lansford American Legion. Thank you to everyone who took the time to join us at these events, including Carbon County Commissioner Mike Sofranko and Carbon County Recorder of Deeds Donna Gentile. McAdoo Students Showcase STEM Projects
McAdoo Middle School recently hosted their annual VSPR STEM Day Celebration. Rep. Dane Watro and I had the chance to see many of the innovative projects developed by Hazleton Area School District students. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs are more important than ever in today’s economy. Programs like this one encourage our students to explore their interests in these important fields, making them more likely to pursue these in-demand careers. Thank you for inviting me to attend! Upcoming Events in Hazleton, Pine Grove, and BeyondVisit the Hazleton Art League’s 14th Annual Art Youth Expo on Friday and Saturday (May 30 and 31) at the Hayden Family Center for the Arts in downtown Hazleton. The expo recognizes local artists ages 13-30 and features many events and activities, including an art contest, live music, food, and more.
Rep. JoAnne Stehr and I are hosting a scam seminar on Thursday, June 12 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Pine Grove. With scammers becoming increasingly brazen and creative, we all need to be aware of how to protect ourselves from falling prey to these criminals. David Shallcross, the Director of the Senior Protection Unit of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, will lead the discussion. RSVPs are required for this event. Please call 570-773-0891 to reserve your spot today. We’ll be hosting more of these events soon in Schuylkill, Carbon, and Luzerne counties. See the full list here. Bill to Increase Firefighters in PA Receives Senate Support
Pennsylvania relies on volunteer firefighters, but their numbers are dropping – from 300,000 in the 1970s to fewer than 38,000 today. During a meeting Rep. Jamie Barton and I hosted last week with local volunteers, we heard about how serious this issue is in our area. To help ensure there are enough firefighters to respond to a crisis, the Senate passed a bill that would reform the process for people earning their firefighter certification. Senate Bill 90 would maintain the high standards to become a firefighter while making it less intimidating for men and women who are interested in serving their communities as volunteer firefighters. Currently, firefighter applicants must complete four training modules totaling 188 hours. They then must pass a cumulative test covering all four modules. The bill would allow them to be tested following each of the four modules. Senate Bill 90 heads to the House of Representatives for further consideration. PA Offers Free Motorcycle Training
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, a great time to sign up for a motorcycle safety course whether you’re a novice or experienced rider. Classes are free for Pennsylvanians who have a motorcycle learner’s permit or motorcycle license. Successful completion of a basic or intermediate course offered by the state waives the requirement to take a skills test at a PennDOT driver license center and automatically earns the permit holder their motorcycle license. Class schedules are coordinated by third-party training providers at locations across the commonwealth and posted online at least four weeks before the class begins. Learn more about Pennsylvania’s Motorcycle Safety Program. Beware of Counterfeit Weight Loss and Diabetes Drugs
If you purchase GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, which are typically used for weight loss and diabetes, anywhere other than a licensed pharmacy, you could be buying counterfeit products. As supplies have not kept pace with overwhelming consumer demand, a counterfeit market has emerged for these drugs. Using counterfeit products is dangerous. Attorney General Dave Sunday is urging consumers to report suspicious products by calling the Drugs Tip Line at 800-442-8006. Read more. |
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