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Pennsylvania Mushroom Farms Combat Scuttle Fly Infestation with Innovative Netting Technology

Pennsylvania Mushroom Farms Combat Scuttle Fly Infestation with Innovative Netting Technology

Pennsylvania Mushroom Farms Combat Scuttle Fly Infestation with Innovative Netting Technology
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CHS Graduate Katie Cink Honored with Highest FFA Award for Agricultural Leadership

CHS Graduate Katie Cink Honored with Highest FFA Award for Agricultural Leadership

Katie Cink, a 2023 graduate of Cleveland High School, is set to receive the American FFA Degree, the highest and most prestigious award offered by the Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization. This honor recognizes her dedication to supervised agricultural projects, strong leadership, and extensive community service throughout her FFA career. Fewer than one percent of all FFA members achieve this award. Cink's journey into agriculture was inspired by her high school agricultural education program and her former teacher, Kelly (Susa) Stanek. She will receive the award at the National FFA convention and expo in Indianapolis, scheduled for October 21-24. Cink is currently a senior at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls, majoring in Agricultural Education with a minor in Animal Science, and aims to become an educator in agricultural advocacy and leadership. She has also served as a facilitator at youth conferences, including the National FFA Washington Leadership Conference, focusing on developing le...
ReutersReuters
Republican senator faults Trump vaccine policy for US measles deaths as panel weighs health nominees

Republican senator faults Trump vaccine policy for US measles deaths as panel weighs health nominees

By Ahmed Aboulenein WASHINGTON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - The Republican chairman of the U.S.
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Rep. Lloyd Smucker Supports Bipartisan Bill on Data Center Energy Costs

Rep. Lloyd Smucker Supports Bipartisan Bill on Data Center Energy Costs

Rep. Lloyd Smucker, representing Pennsylvania's 11th district, has publicly supported and voted for the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act, H.R. 9340. This legislation, which passed the House with a vote of 417-3, aims to prevent families and small businesses from bearing the infrastructure costs associated with new data center development. The bill mandates that state utility commissions consider standards for data centers consuming over 100 megawatts of power. These standards would require data centers to cover the incremental costs for necessary upgrades to generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure. Rep. Smucker emphasized that data centers should 'pay their own way' rather than shifting these significant energy costs onto existing ratepayers. This move comes as part of broader efforts to address fiscal challenges, with Smucker also highlighting the nation's unsustainable fiscal trajectory and over $40 trillion in debt.
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Congresswoman Matsui Sponsors Bill to Bolster 988 Lifeline with $100 Million

Congresswoman Matsui Sponsors Bill to Bolster 988 Lifeline with $100 Million

Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-California) has sponsored the 988 Implementation Act, a bill proposing to allocate $100 million in local grants to enhance the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This bipartisan legislative effort, also supported by Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania), aims to strengthen crisis services beyond initial phone calls, texts, and chats. Since its launch in 2022, the 988 lifeline has handled over 26 million contacts. The proposed funding would support communities in building comprehensive crisis care continuums, including increasing the mental health workforce, improving access to care, and removing insurance barriers. Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), emphasized that the goal is to provide a full spectrum of care, including mobile crisis response teams that can offer intensive mental health support and de-escalation in the community, available 24/7. The bill's introduction coincides with National Suicide...
USA TodayUSA Today
Gas prices debate continues in Congress. Can Washington lower costs?

Gas prices debate continues in Congress. Can Washington lower costs?

Lawmakers in Washington are trading blame for high gas prices with Trump administration officials. Here's what Washington can do to lower pump prices.
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Duquesne Light and DOE Highlight Grid Modernization Projects in Western Pennsylvania

Duquesne Light and DOE Highlight Grid Modernization Projects in Western Pennsylvania

Duquesne Light Co., in collaboration with officials from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), showcased ongoing grid modernization projects in Allegheny and Beaver counties, Pennsylvania. These initiatives are supported by a $19.7 million grant awarded by the DOE in 2023, which Duquesne Light Co. matched with an equal investment over a five-year period. The funding is part of the federal Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships Program, aimed at enhancing grid flexibility and protecting the power system from extreme weather events. A key component of the modernization effort involves the installation of dynamic line rating sensors on seven of Duquesne Light Co.'s transmission lines. Developed by LineVision, these sensors provide real-time capacity insights and monitoring, with earlier deployments indicating a potential 25% increase in transmission line capacity. Additionally, Duquesne Light Co. is partnering with Itron to deploy tens of thousands of smart meters across its service territory, which will ...
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Senator John Fetterman Faces Criticism Over Job Performance and Alienation from Democratic Party

Senator John Fetterman Faces Criticism Over Job Performance and Alienation from Democratic Party

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman is facing significant public criticism and increasing alienation from the Democratic Party. This comes amid allegations from former staffers and reports, including one from The Wall Street Journal, suggesting he has shown little interest in core congressional duties. A social media account, purportedly run by former Fetterman staffers, has promised to release stories and screenshots to expose the Senator's conduct. Adam Jentleson, Fetterman's former chief of staff, corroborated these concerns, stating that Fetterman had to be 'begged' to perform basic job functions and expressed worries about his mental health. Jentleson, who resigned in 2024 citing mental health concerns, believes Fetterman is struggling and that Pennsylvanians deserve better representation if he cannot perform his duties. Fetterman has dismissed these allegations as 'lies, half-truths, innuendos, smears,' emphasizing his commitment to serving Pennsylvania. The criticism also stems from his strong suppo...
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States Reach Settlement with Trump Administration Over AmeriCorps Program Cuts

States Reach Settlement with Trump Administration Over AmeriCorps Program Cuts

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and 24 other state leaders have reached a settlement in a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding significant changes to AmeriCorps. The settlement mandates that AmeriCorps must provide at least 30 days' notice before making any substantial changes to its services or conducting mass layoffs, and must explain the legal authority for such actions. This agreement protects funding for AmeriCorps programs through fiscal year 2026. The lawsuit was initiated in April 2025 after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recalled hundreds of National Civilian Community Corps members, placed federal employees on administrative leave, and ordered AmeriCorps to terminate grants for over 1,000 community service programs, including several in Pennsylvania. Previously, a federal court had ordered the Trump administration to reinstate the terminated programs, and the Office of Budget Management agreed to release approximately $184 million in funds. The settlement ...
ReutersReuters
Pennsylvania reports two additional measles-associated deaths

Pennsylvania reports two additional measles-associated deaths

Sept 15 (Reuters) - The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Tuesday confirmed two more measles-associated deaths, both in unvaccinated individuals, bringing the state's total fatalities linked to the disease to four.
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House Democrats Introduce Bill to Prohibit Wage Garnishment for Medical Debt

House Democrats Introduce Bill to Prohibit Wage Garnishment for Medical Debt

Three House Democrats, including Representative Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-Va.), ranking member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, have introduced legislation aimed at prohibiting wage garnishment for medical debt nationwide. The "Protecting Workers’ Wages from Medical Debt Act" was co-sponsored by Representative Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Representative Greg Casar (D-Texas). The proposed bill seeks to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, explicitly stating that an employee's wages cannot be garnished for the payment of any medical debt. It would also prevent federal or state courts, officers, or agencies from enforcing orders that violate this prohibition. The legislation defines garnishment as any legal or equitable procedure requiring wage withholding for medical debt and medical debt as debt from healthcare services or facilities. The measure is intended to take effect six months after its enactment. Currently, federal law limits weekly garnishment to 25% of disposable earnings or ...
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Representative Houlahan Criticizes President Trump's Administration for Purging Election Security Personnel

Representative Houlahan Criticizes President Trump's Administration for Purging Election Security Personnel

Representative Chrissy Houlahan has publicly criticized President Trump's administration for allegedly purging over 33% of election security personnel from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Houlahan stated that while President Trump emphasizes the need for secure elections, his White House has simultaneously dismantled programs designed to protect voting rights. She asserted that she is actively working to ensure election administrators in Pennsylvania are equipped with the necessary resources to maintain free, fair, and secure elections. This statement highlights a significant concern among some lawmakers regarding the federal government's commitment to election security and the potential impact of personnel changes on the integrity of the electoral process.