๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ณ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ง๐๐ฐ ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ข๐จ๐งโ๐ฌ ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ?
A recent documentary, the Secrets Beneath Hazleton, explored the mines beneath Hazleton and brought renewed attention to the regionโs anthracite coal heritage (watch the documentary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCo-F18vA-A&vl=en). Now, Mayor Jeff Cusat, Hazleton City Council, and the nonprofit Underground Miners are taking an initial step in exploring a possible new effort to honor that history and breathe new life into an old mining site.
Hazleton City Council recently voted to purchase a long-vacant property as part of a proposal that couldโif private sector funding can be obtainedโeventually include a museum, restaurant, and brewpub.
Several well known businesses in Jim Thorpe, as well as the Pioneer Tunnel in Ashland, Eckley Minersโ Village, and the No. 9 Mine in Lansford currently host thousands of visitors to our area. The new Hazleton proposal is exploring the possibility of adding another destination to the regionโs mining history and tourism businesses.
The proposalโs next steps will depend are upon strong partnerships with city government, nonprofit organizations, and private businesses. Stay tuned!
Mentored hunting programs from Pennsylvania Game Commission give new hunters ages 12 and up the opportunity to participate in managed deer hunts while accompanied by an experienced hunter. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3UI85OY
๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ ๐
๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ
Rep. Jamie Barton and I were recently invited to meet with the South Manheim Township Board of Supervisors and road crew to review their plans to purchase a new wheeled excavator for road and infrastructure projects around the township. Rep. Barton and I were pleased to secure a competitive $315,250 state grant to help with this purchase.
Rep. Tim Twardzik, Rep. Barton, and I were also asked to meet with the Plum Creek Municipal Authority to discuss plans to upgrade a water main between Running Deer Drive and Stag Drive, serving South Manheim and Wayne Townships. Rep. Twardzik, Rep. Barton, and I were pleased to help secure a $400,000 state grant for this infrastructure improvement.
Both investments will help local communities address essential infrastructure needs and continue providing important services to residents.
PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity is offering an extra $50 to families who claim their childโs Keystone Scholars $100 scholarship in November and open a linked PA 529 account. A great way to jumpstart future education savings. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4pe5uWM
I was recently invited to participate in the Legislative Leaders Roundtable at the 2026 Legislation Education & Advocacy Day (LEAD) in Wilkes-Barre, hosted by several local Chambers of Commerceโincluding the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce & Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce.
During the panel, we discussed workforce development and education efforts across Luzerne County, including our recent efforts to preserve Penn State Hazleton and to expand Luzerne County Community College in the Hazleton region. We also discussed infrastructure and transportation upgrades, expanded childcare and early childhood education investments, and more.
I was joined by Senator Lisa Baker, Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, Rep. Alec Ryncavage, and Rep. Kyle Donohue.
๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ: ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฉ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ฌ
This monthโs Argall Report highlights a recent Senate Majority Policy hearing focused on electricity costs for Pennsylvanians.
During the hearing, we discussed the important role coal refuse plants play in our region and across the state. These plants have eliminated more than 50% of Pennsylvaniaโs waste coal piles.
Jaret Gibbons, executive director of the Appalachian Region Independent Power Producers Association (ARIPPA), explained the unique benefits of coal refuse-to-energy plants. These facilities use waste coal left behind by historic mining operations to generate electricity while reclaiming abandoned mine lands. He noted that Pennsylvaniaโs 10 coal refuse plants have removed half of the stateโs coal refuse, improved 1,200 miles of impaired streams, and restored 8,000 acres of mining-affected land. Without these plants, remediating this land could cost taxpayers an estimated $9.3 billion.
Alexander Brush, general manager of Gilberton Power Company and Schuylkill Energy Resources Inc., highlighted the impact of three coal refuse plants in Schuylkill County. Together, these facilities generate enough electricity to serve roughly 500,000 peopleโwhile restoring land and water damaged by historic coal mining and supporting more than 100 family-sustaining jobs.
๐ Watch the full Argall Report by clicking the link in the comments.
๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฆ๐ ๐-๐๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐
๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐๐ฅ ๐. ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ. ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐จ๐ซ
Legislation I sponsored with Rep. Tim Twardzik to designate the interchange of Interstate 81 with State Route 4007, Exit 119, on the border of Cass and Butler Townships in Schuylkill County as the PSP Trooper Michael E. Pahira Jr. Memorial Interchange has been signed by the Governor.
Trooper Pahira tragically passed away on July 1 after being struck by a tractor-trailer while conducting a commercial vehicle safety inspection along Interstate 81 in Cass Township. He joined the Pennsylvania State Police in 2007 and most recently served as a motor carrier enforcement inspector with Troop L, Frackville.
Trooper Pahira represented the very best of our commonwealth, dedicating nearly 20 years of his life to serving his community and the people of Pennsylvania.
๐๐๐ง๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐จ๐ "๐๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ "
During a hearing of the Senate Education Committee on the growing trend of three-year, I highlighted the importance of experiential learning โ or, as my German Scout friends liked to say, โlearning by doing.โ
Thereโs no substitute for putting classroom knowledge into practice. During the hearing, I shared a prime example at the Temple Dental Education Center & Clinic in Tamaqua, where dental students are gaining firsthand experience working with patients and addressing real-world dental needs.
As we consider the possibility of shortening the traditional four-year bachelorโs degree, we must ensure that valuable hands-on learning opportunities, internships, and real-world experience remain an essential part of a college education.
We must ensure students graduate with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience they need to succeed.
