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In this Update:
Fighting Crime: Hazleton Hearing Examines Trends & Prevention
On Monday, as Chairman of the Senate Majority Policy Committee, I joined Rep. Dane Watro, chairing a public hearing focused on crime trends, public safety and the challenges facing law enforcement across Pennsylvania. We heard directly from Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, local District Attorneys Sam Sanguedolce and Mike O’Pake, local police chiefs, Luzerne County Sheriff Genesis Arias, and community organizations. There was encouraging news: crime is declining in many areas, fentanyl cases and overdose deaths are down, property crime in our region, and specifically Hazleton, has decreased, and school violence has dropped significantly. We also heard that the Organized Retail Theft Unit, which was created by a law I wrote, has topped more than 100 investigations in its first full year. But there is still a lot of work to do.
We discussed the need to support law enforcement, address blight and other root causes of crime, combat fentanyl and human trafficking, protect victims, and ensure our criminal justice system holds dangerous offenders accountable. We also discussed the urgent need for the PA House to immediately pass Senate Bill 1400, which sets sentencing guidelines for felony murder after the PA Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life sentences for this crime are unconstitutional. You can learn more about this issue here. I look forward to continuing to work together to make Hazleton and communities across Pennsylvania safer places to live, work and raise a family. Read more about the hearing here. Measure Cracking Down on “CDL Mills” Becomes Law
After the terrible accident which cost State Trooper Mike Pahira his life on I-81 near Minersville in July, many local people have been asking me to strengthen our laws regarding unqualified truck drivers. Legislation to eliminate unauthorized commercial driver’s license (CDL) schools in Pennsylvania is now law, significantly boosting penalties for these “CDL mills.” Act 50 of 2026 increases the maximum civil penalty for operating an unauthorized CDL school from $2,500 to $25,000, giving the state Department of Education a stronger enforcement tool to stop illegal operations and discourage violations. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 1295 and Senate Bill 1296 to reinforce tractor trailer safety in the commonwealth. The legislative package reflects new federal regulations and federal legislation to strengthen commercial vehicle operations following allegations of unqualified truck drivers in the country illegally. Read more about improving commercial vehicle safety here. Argall Report: Revitalization Efforts in Downtown Lehighton
This month’s Argall Report highlights ongoing revitalization efforts in Downtown Lehighton. Recently, Rep. Doyle Heffley and I toured several businesses that received support through the borough’s Façade Grant Program, which was made possible by a $250,000 state grant that we secured for the borough. Fourteen façade improvement projects along First Street and Stanley Hoffman Boulevard received funding. Upgrades included fresh paint, new windows, updated siding, new awnings, and more. At a time when we are encouraging visitors to Carbon County to explore Jim Thorpe and the county’s other towns, these grants made a big difference! The transformation is remarkable—especially when you compare the buildings’ before-and-after photos. Breathing new life into a community in this way brings new energy to the area for residents and visitors. Watch the Argall Report here. Reflecting on the 2026-27 PA State Budget
Notes like these from across our district following the passage of this year’s state budget have thanked me for my recent “yes” vote on the state budget in what is usually our most important vote of the year.
While it wasn’t the perfect product (in Harrisburg, there is no such thing!), I was pleased to support a budget that holds the line on taxes and makes meaningful investments to improve aging school buildings, additional support for childcare, and much more!
Similar notes were received from the NAMES of other school districts. Thank you to everyone from across Carbon, Schuylkill, and southern Luzerne counties who contacted me, advocating for these important issues. Around the District
I was recently invited to speak to a very-motivated group of cosmetology students at Empire Beauty School near Pottsville. While there, I was presented with an honorary PHD (Professional Hair Designer) for the successful passage of my Senate Bill 331, which enters Pennsylvania into the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, an interstate agreement that cuts through red tape and makes it easier for licensed cosmetologists to practice across state lines. The bill was signed into law in July. Just don’t ask me for a haircut or a new style, the results might not be very good! The new degree is purely honorary—but much appreciated!
Seth Hubler, my communications director, recently attended a ribbon cutting for the new ADA-accessible canoe and kayak launch at Locust Lake State Park, sponsored by the PA Parks & Forests Foundation. This new ramp, made possible through a grant from DCNR and private donations, will allow even more visitors to safely enjoy the beauty of Locust Lake and everything the park has to offer.
And while on site, Seth captured a picture of not one, but two bald eagles keeping watch over the lake. What a sight — and a great reminder of our ongoing environmental improvements right here in our backyard.
I recently attended the Penn State Schuylkill Advisory Board’s Annual Welcome Back Picnic. Chancellor Rob Bohrer shared updates on several projects underway on campus and some VERY encouraging enrollment numbers for the upcoming fall semester.
Thank you to the 30+ people who joined Rep. Jamie Barton and me at the latest in a series of town hall meetings in South Manheim Township. We answered a wide range of questions, including voter ID and election reform, school district property taxes and consolidation, the ongoing Lake Wynonah Dam repairs, the Temple Dental Education Center & Clinic in downtown Tamaqua, and much more. We also discussed the recent state grant awarded to the Plum Creek Authority, which Rep. Barton and I were pleased to help secure for the authority.
Congratulations to Gavin Ballay—Schuylkill County’s newest Eagle Scout! Gavin is a member of Troop 662, Valley View in western Schuylkill County. For his service project, he constructed a firepit and gathering area surrounded by a retaining wall and landscaping at the Mountainside Community Center in Valley View. I congratulated him at his court of honor on Sunday night, along with Rep. JoAnne Stehr and Schuylkill County Commissioners Boots Hetherington and Gary Hess.
I was recently invited to attend the 100th Anniversary of Forget-Me-Not Florist with owner Kenny Fetherolf and his team in North Manheim Township. Since opening its doors in 1926, Forget-Me-Not Florist has been a part of countless special moments for families throughout our community. Reaching 100 years in business is a testament to the dedication and hard work of this team. Focusing on Our Local Communities: Meet Pottsville’s Andy Wollyung
Welcome to the latest edition of “Focusing on Our Local Communities,” where we interview, on a bipartisan basis, a key local leader in one of the 102 municipalities that I represent in Carbon, Schuylkill, and southern Luzerne counties. This week, we focus on Pottsville City Councilman Andy Wollyung. A Democrat, Wollyung grew up in Kingston, NY before moving to Pottsville in his early 20s to work for his family’s long-standing business, Rosenberger Plumbing and Heating, which has served the region for more than 80 years. He later transitioned into vocational education, earning a degree in vocational sciences from Temple University and teaching at the Schuylkill Technology Center and Upper Bucks Technical School. Most recently, Wollyung joined Johnson College as an instructor in its HVAC program. Wollyung’s background in the trades is something he felt would be valuable on council. “I wanted to get involved to help make a difference. And having those good relationships with so many of our customers in the area, I thought I could do that,” said Wollyung. “And I think it’s rare to have someone with my background in infrastructure and construction on council. Usually, those people sit on boards or on authorities. So, I’m excited to be here on council to help spearhead projects kind of behind the scenes that can make a difference in those areas.” Beyond his council duties, Wollyung is active in a variety of community organizations and initiatives. He is a member of the Yorkville Hose Fire Department, the Pottsville Lions Club, and serves as an advisor for SkillsUSA. One of his true passions is feeding people; he operates a food truck called Mr. Yum Yum, which he often uses to support local sports teams, community groups, and individuals facing difficult circumstances. He has also helped organize the Great Pottsville Cleanup, scheduled for Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16. “I love to feed people, and I love to help out the community through the love of food,” added Wollyung. “And with the cleanup, we’re bringing back something that started back in the 1970’s, where the Pottsville community would get together and clean up the city. The fire departments would come out and wash the streets, and everyone would get together and pitch in. And we have got a great response from people who are coming out to volunteer this weekend. And it’s just not our downtown that we’re cleaning up. Every ward will have a cleanup crew, and all our parks will get cleaned up as well. We have a ton of our community organizations and businesses also set to partner with us. A clean and welcoming city strengthens community pride and supports our local businesses and that’s what this effort is all about.” Wollyung is also proud of the infrastructure improvements currently underway in Pottsville. “We have a big storm water separation project that is underway right now. During heavy rains we get flooding in our downtown that causes some major problems, especially at the fire company and the library,” said Wollyung. “So, right now they’re digging at Center and Market Street to do the work that will get us some water pressure relief in those impacted areas. We’re going to continue to work hard to acquire as much grant funding as we can to get projects done in the city.” Quote of the Week
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt |
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