PA News

Governor Wolf Launches Tour to Make College More Affordable

Governor Wolf Launches Tour to Make College More Affordable

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Governor Tom Wolf visited Lock Haven University Wednesday to launch a tour of the 14 state-owned universities and discuss his proposal to help thousands of low- and middle-class students afford their dream of a college education. FULL ARTICLE
by · February 13, 2020 · Local News, News, PA News
BREAKING NEWS: Governor Wolf Vetoes Bill Seeking to Stop Closure of Polk Center

BREAKING NEWS: Governor Wolf Vetoes Bill Seeking to Stop Closure of Polk Center

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Governor Tom Wolf vetoed a bill on Wednesday that would have placed a moratorium on the planned closures of Polk and White Haven State Centers. FULL ARTICLE
by · February 12, 2020 · Local News, News, PA News
Gov. Wolf Announces More Support for Victims of Sexual Assault

Gov. Wolf Announces More Support for Victims of Sexual Assault

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Governor Tom Wolf announced that the Office of Victims’ Services in the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) is now accepting sexual assault counseling claims for victims of sexual abuse. FULL ARTICLE
by · February 12, 2020 · Local News, News, PA News
AG Shapiro Sues JUUL for Targeting PA Youth, Deceiving Consumers About Safety of E-Cigarettes

AG Shapiro Sues JUUL for Targeting PA Youth, Deceiving Consumers About Safety of E-Cigarettes

HARRISBURG, Pa. ― Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced on Monday his office is filing a lawsuit against JUUL Labs for violating Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection law and jeopardizing the health of Pennsylvanians, in particular the young people JUUL targeted with their products. FULL ARTICLE
by · February 11, 2020 · Local News, News, PA News
Department of Health Provides Ways to Keep Your Heart Healthy

Department of Health Provides Ways to Keep Your Heart Healthy

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine urged all residents, especially women, to take steps to keep their heart healthy. FULL ARTICLE
by · February 8, 2020 · Local News, News, PA News
DCNR Bans Tobacco Use at State Park Playgrounds

DCNR Bans Tobacco Use at State Park Playgrounds

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine have announced a ban on all forms of tobacco, vaping, and e-cigarettes at playgrounds in all state parks. “Directly in line with our parks’ mission of promoting healthy lifestyles, their playgrounds join the growing number of county, borough and township park facilities that embrace the ‘Young Lungs at Play’ program and now forbid tobacco use,” Dunn said on Friday. “Our children should be guaranteed the right to play in clean air and healthy areas that are free of secondhand smoke.” As part of the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s “Young Lungs at Play” program, all forms of tobacco, vaping, and e-cigarettes no longer will be permitted within 30 feet of state park playground facilities. “Adding our beloved and beautiful state park playgrounds to our ‘Young Lungs at Play’ program is another collaborative effort by the Wolf Administration to protect the health of Pennsylvanians,” Dr. Levine said. “We are proud to work with DCNR on this effort to reduce the exposure to secondhand smoke for children. The department is committed to promoting healthy behaviors, and that starts with our children and protecting them from potentially harmful exposures, such as secondhand smoke.” The state park playground ban eliminates children’s exposure to secondhand smoke at 135 locations in the state’s 121 parks. Notification signs will be installed by Memorial Day, May 25, 2020. The United States Surgeon General estimates secondhand smoke exposure contributes to approximately 41,000 deaths among non-smoking adults, and 400 deaths in infants each year. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for respiratory infections, middle ear disease, severe asthma and slowed lung growth. In a related move, responding to visitor requests and support, DCNR in prior years has implemented smoking controls at 44 of its 54 swimming beaches at state parks throughout the state. Smoking is not permitted at state park pools. The Young Lungs at Play initiative is funded through the Department of Health and American Lung Association. Since June 2010, more than of 579 municipalities, including five counties, have joined Young Lungs at Play in Pennsylvania. These locations include parks, athletic fields, playgrounds, trails and even city streets and sidewalks to help protect children and the environment. In addition, 99 school districts, and 453 organizations have joined Young Lungs at Play and created tobacco free spaces. In 2019, the Department of Health’s Tobacco and Cancer Programs partnered with DCNR to roll-out a cancer-prevention sunscreen initiative at Pennsylvania state parks. The Young Lungs at Play program complements the Sunscreen in the State Park Initiative the Division of Cancer Control and Prevention started with DCNR in 2017. Both the Sunscreen initiative and Young Lungs at Play program support the Pennsylvania Cancer Control Plan by preventing lung and skin cancers. In 2016, over 10,000 Pennsylvanians were diagnosed with lung cancer and over 3,600 Pennsylvanians were diagnosed with skin cancer.
by · February 8, 2020 · Local News, News, PA News, Uncategorized
$2.5 Million Meth Ring Busted, 32 Arrested in Operation Ice Breaker

$2.5 Million Meth Ring Busted, 32 Arrested in Operation Ice Breaker

ALTOONA, Pa. ― Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced the arrest of 32 individuals for the sale and distribution of methamphetamine in Blair County. FULL ARTICLE
by · February 7, 2020 · Local News, News, PA News
DePasquale Pushes for Increased Funding for Dog Law Enforcement

DePasquale Pushes for Increased Funding for Dog Law Enforcement

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today issued a special report showing the state’s Dog Law Enforcement Bureau has been deprived of the resources it needs to keep dogs safe. FULL ARTICLE
by · February 7, 2020 · Local News, News, PA News
DCNR Announces Funding Availability for Snowmobile, ATV Projects Throughout Pennsylvania

DCNR Announces Funding Availability for Snowmobile, ATV Projects Throughout Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced applications will be accepted through Tuesday, March 31, 2020, in a department grant program benefitting snowmobile- and ATV-related projects throughout Pennsylvania. FULL ARTICLE
by · February 7, 2020 · Local News, News, PA News
Gov. Wolf Aims to Help College Students Learn and Stay in Pennsylvania

Gov. Wolf Aims to Help College Students Learn and Stay in Pennsylvania

CARLISLE, Pa. - Governor Tom Wolf met with high school students and parents concerned about the rising cost of higher education and the student debt crisis. FULL ARTICLE
by · February 6, 2020 · Local News, News, PA News