Thursday - November 21, 2024
*Pennsylvania Editor Tipoffs Newsletter for Tuesday November 19, 2024 ( 20 items )  

BLS - Northeast Region Issues Report Entitled 'Consumer Expenditures in the New York Metropolitan Area - 2022-23'
NEW YORK, Nov. 19 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Northeast Regional Information Office issued a report on Nov. 18, 2024, entitled "Consumer Expenditures in the New York Metropolitan Area - 2022-23": * * * Households in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA, metropolitan area spent an average of $90,291 per year in 2022-23, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner William J. Sibley noted that food, housing, and transp  more

Casey Secures $245 Million to Clean Up Abandoned Mine Lands
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- Sen. Robert Casey Jr., D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release: With this round of funding, PA has received more than $735 million to clean up abandoned mine lands One third of the Nation's abandoned mine land is in Pennsylvania, impacting as many as 1.4 million residents in 43 of PA's 67 counties Funding to clean up abandoned mine land comes from Casey-backed infrastructure law Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) secured $245,082,772 to clean up abandoned mine lands ac  more

EPA Releases Public Communication From Nebraska Farm Bureau
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released the following public communication dated Nov. 12, 2024, from the Nebraska Farm Bureau, Lincoln: * * * To: Mr. Eric W. Bohnenblust, Ph.D, Chief Minor Use and Emergency Response Branch (MUERB) USEPA Office of Pesticide Programs 7505T 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20460-0001 RE: Application for Emergency Exemption: Metamitron (EPA-HQ-OPP-2024-0463) * * * The Nebraska Farm Bureau appreciates the opport  more

Foreign Military Sales-Army Case Execution System Reaches Development Milestone
REDSTONE ARSENAL, Alabama, Nov. 18 -- The U.S. Army Security Assistance Command issued the following news: By Sarah Zaler NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. - Development of a modernized Army Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case implementation, execution and closure program is underway after receiving authorization to execute Sept. 20. The new cloud-based solution will improve end-to-end case execution and management processes, enhance end-user functionality and increase transparency and reporting capabilities  more

International Women's Media Foundation Issues Report Entitled 'Journalists Under Fire: U.S. Media Report Daily Threats, Harassment and Attacks at Home'
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The International Women's Media Foundation issued a 40-page report in October 2024 entitled "Journalists Under Fire: U.S. Media Report Daily Threats, Harassment and Attacks at Home." The report was written by Yemile Bucay. Here are excerpts: * * * Contents Introduction ... 3 A Word from Our Executive Director ... 5 Data, Demographics, and Methodology ... 6 National Trends ... 9 State-Level Observations and Highlights ... 12 Conclusion ... 12 Protests and Rallies   more

National Council on Disability Issues Report Entitled 'Implicit and Explicit Exclusion of People With Disabilities in Clinical Trials'
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The National Council on Disability issued an 83-page report on Aug. 14, 2024, entitled "Implicit and Explicit Exclusion of People with Disabilities in Clinical Trials." Here are excerpts: * * * Letter of Transmittal August 14, 2024 President Joseph R. Biden Jr. The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President, People with disabilities (PWDs) face persistent discrimination and are purposely excluded from clinical trials researc  more

Natural Resources Conservation Service: USDA Appoints 27 New Members for Task Force on Agricultural Air Quality Research
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service issued the following news on Nov. 18, 2024: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the selection of 27 new members to its Task Force on Agricultural Air Quality Research. The Task Force examines the intersection of agricultural production and air quality, and advises the secretary on scientifically sound, cost-effective, federally supported agricultural solutions that can help i  more

Pa. A.G. Henry Calls on the FCC to Strengthen Vetting Process to Block Robocallers
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Nov. 19 -- Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry issued the following news on Nov. 18, 2024: Attorney General Michelle Henry joined a bipartisan coalition of 46 Attorneys General in calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to improve their Robocall Mitigation Database and close what has effectively been an unmonitored loophole that bad actors exploit to contact Pennsylvanians with unwanted phone calls and text messages. "Every day, Pennsylvanians  more

Pa. Auditor General DeFoor Releases Audits of Municipal Pension Plans in 15 Counties
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Nov. 19 -- Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy DeFoor issued the following news release on Nov. 18, 2024: Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor today announced the release of audits of 50 municipal and police pension plans in Allegheny, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Chester, Clearfield, Crawford, Cumberland, Erie, Franklin, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Union, Warren and York counties. "Our audits make sur  more

Pa. U.S. Attorney: Seven Defendants Charged In Health Care Fraud And Kickback Scheme Involving 'Foot Baths'
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Nov. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania issued the following news release: The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that the following individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and multiple counts of health care fraud: * Frank Suess (a.k.a., Franz P. Suess), age 78, of Wellington, Florida; * Luis Salgado, age 50, of Nape  more

Pa. U.S. Attorney: Three New York Residents Sentenced for Fraud and Money Laundering Using Funds From Elderly Lottery Scam Victims
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Nov. 19 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania issued the following news release: The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Caron Pitter, age 48, Rohan Lyttle, age 49, and Charlene Marshall, age 44, were sentenced to prison and ordered to pay restitution for their roles in a Jamaican lottery scam targeting elderly U.S. victims. Rohan Lyttle received a sentence of 97 months, Caron Pitte  more

Paragon Health Institute Issues Report Entitled 'Great Obamacare Enrollment Fraud'
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The Paragon Health Institute issued a 34-page report in June 2024 entitled "Great Obamacare Enrollment Fraud." The report was written by Brian Blase and Drew Gonshorowski. Here are excerpts: * * * ABOUT THE AUTHORS Brian C. Blase, PhD, is the president of Paragon Health Institute. He is also a visiting fellow at the Foundation of Government Accountability. From 2017 through 2019, he was a special assistant to the president for economic policy at the White House's Nati  more

PennFuture Issues Report Entitled 'Economic Policy Is Environmental Policy - Prioritizing Environmental Progress in Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development'
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture) issued a 40-page report in June 2024 entitled "Economic Policy Is Environmental Policy - Prioritizing Environmental Progress in Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development." The report was written by Donna Kohut, Policy Manager for Sustainable Economics. Here are excerpts: * * * Acknowledgements Much gratitude to the PennFuture staff who lent support to this project including Patrick McDonnell, Pr  more

PUC Commissioner Kathryn L. Zerfuss Appointed to EPA's Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Advisory Committee
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Nov. 19 -- The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission issued the following news release on Nov. 18, 2024: The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced that Commissioner Kathryn L. Zerfuss has been appointed by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan as a new member to the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC). The FRRCC provides independent policy advice and recommendations to the EP  more

Rep. Brendan Boyle Testifies Before Philadelphia City Council on Semiquincentennial Preparations
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on Nov. 18, 2024: PHILADELPHIA, PA - Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) testified at a field hearing hosted by the Philadelphia City Council to discuss preparations for the upcoming Semiquincentennial in 2026. "Today's hearing is about more than the next twenty-four months," said Congressman Boyle. "It's about the next twenty-four years and making investments in our city that will bear fruit   more

Rep. Deluzio Celebrates Over $8,000 in Federal Funds for Breeze Ridge Farm in Beaver County
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio celebrates a $8,303 federal grant to support operations at Breeze Ridge Farm, a family-owned dairy farm in Marion Township, PA. This U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant will go toward the purchase of a new energy-efficient ventilation system to keep the barn cool for the Beaver County farm's 125 dairy cows. "Family farms face major challenges today, but we kno  more

Rep. Scanlon Joins Democratic Women Caucus in Denouncing Surge in Hateful Online Rhetoric Targeting Women & Girls
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following statement on Nov. 18, 2024: * * * Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today joined her colleagues in the Democratic Women's Caucus (DWC) in releasing a statement denouncing the surge in online abuse directed at women, including the proliferation of the degrading phrase, "your body, my choice." Find the full list of DWC members signed onto the statement here. "As members of the Democratic Women's Caucus, we a  more

Senate Judiciary Committee Sets Nov. 21 Executive Business Meeting
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The Senate Judiciary Committee issued the following information for an executive business meeting at 10 a.m. on Nov. 21, 2024, at G50 Dirksen Senate Office Building: AGENDA I. Nominees * Anthony J. Brindisi, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of New York * Elizabeth C. Coombe, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of New York * Sarah Morgan Davenport, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Mexico *   more

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Issues Report Entitled 'Recovery Plan for Four Species of Freshwater Mussels'
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a 20-page report in September 2024 entitled "Recovery Plan for Four Species of Freshwater Mussels." The report was prepared by Angela Boyer, Keith Lott, Sara Schmuecker, Nick Utrup and Laura Ragan. Here are excerpts: * * * ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Angela Boyer and Keith Lott (USFWS Ohio Field Office), Sara Schmuecker (USFWS Illinois-Iowa Field Office), Nick Utrup (USFWS Minnesota-Wisconsin Field Office), Laura Ragan (USFWS Midwest Regi  more

Volpe Transportation Center Strengthening Transit Systems Through a Resilience Planning Framework
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Nov. 19 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center issued the following news: Whether communities are large or small, urban or rural, the American public depends on public transportation to access jobs, schools, healthcare, and other critical services. Weather events and natural hazards are threatening public transit agencies and the transit systems they manage at increased frequencies and intensities. Since 2012, FTA   more