Recent News
E-news Updates – June 6, 2026
In this Update: Armstrong Terminal Site Dedication Video: Interview on the State Budget & Key Issues Pennsylvania Sheriff Associationโs Visit to the PA Capitol Punxsutawney Phil Comes to Harrisburg Targeted School Safety Grants State of the State โ Westmoreland County Senate Approves Bills to Make Housing More Attainable Across PA Task Force on Child Protection […] [Read More]
E-news Updates – May 30, 2026
In this Update: Century Farm Visit in Armstrong County Memorial Day Parade & Services Town Hall Meeting New Law Requires AEDs at School Sports Events Midwifery Modernization Law Supports Mothers and Babies Improving Stream Maintenance, Reducing Flood Hazards Hearing Examines Bill Ensuring Lead-Free Drinking Water in Schools Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Kicks Off in […] [Read More]
E-news Updates – May 22, 2026
In this Update: Honoring Those Who Gave All 100th Anniversary Celebration Boy Scout Troop 245 โ Eagle Scout Awards High School Student Job Shadow Future Farmers of America Banquet Senate Acts to Tighten Safety Standards for Operating Big Rigs New Medical and Health Professional Loans Support Graduate Students Local Groups Can Apply for Watershed Restoration […] [Read More]
E-news Updates – May 16, 2026
In this Update: IUP College of Osteopathic Medicine Armstrong County Annual Convention of Township Officers Support for Local Infrastructure Projects Kittanning Firemenโs Band Representing Pennsylvania Indiana County Association of Township Officials Cutting Costs for PA Families by Ending Outdated Emissions Testing Ending State Funding for Gender Transition of Children Committee Acts to Bolster Support of […] [Read More]
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๐๐๐ง๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐จ ๐
๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ซ
Legislation to give investigators and prosecutors new tools to fight human trafficking in #Pennsylvania was overwhelmingly passed by the Senate today. My thanks to the prime sponsor of the bill, @senatorcrisdush , for his work on this important measure.
Senate Bill 45 will help local #lawenforcement agencies and the state attorney general investigate and prosecute #humantrafficking by increasing penalties for several related crimes, including promoting prostitution, promoting prostitution of a minor, exploiting prostitutes and patronizing prostitutes.
Fines paid by those convicted of patronizing prostitutes will be split between the stateโs Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children Fund and the Prevention of Human Trafficking Account established in Pennsylvaniaโs General Fund.
The bill also consolidates crimes related to human trafficking within the Crimes Code, giving the attorney general concurrent jurisdiction so these crimes, which are frequently the basis for large-scale human trafficking organizations, can be prosecuted more effectively.
Senate Bill 45, which is supported by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday and numerous anti-human trafficking organizations, now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
If you believe you may have information about a trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.
๐๐ข๐๐๐จ: ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ญ & ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ
I sat down with Dennis Owens from abc27 News this week to talk about the 2026-27 state budget and key issues impacting #Pennsylvania.
Our main concern is that the Governorโs proposed #budget simply spends too much money, and so for us containing the growth of spending at the state #government level is a critical piece of the conversation.
Tune in this weekend to โThis Week in PAโ to see more of our conversation.
๐๐๐ง๐ง๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ข๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ฌโ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐ฅ
I was pleased to welcome Pennsylvania Sheriffs Association and their team members from around the Commonwealth to the Capitol this week. The group visited Harrisburg as part of the โ3rd Annual Day on the Hillโ to meet with legislators for discussions on community #safety initiatives and legislative priorities. It was great to meet with Indiana County Sheriff, Bob Fyock, who was here for the day.
My thanks to all #Pennsylvania Sheriff offices for the work they do in helping to protect our #communities!
๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ฑ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ฐ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๏ธ
Itโs June, and everyoneโs asking the same question:
When will the state budget be finished?
Lucky for me, @punxsyphil wandered into my office today & I asked for his expert prognostication.
๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐
๐๐ซ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ โ ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ฒ
It was a pleasure to visit the picturesque farm of Roger and Sandy Kromer. The Kromerโs family farm was recognized by the PA Dept. of Agriculture as a Century Farm in August 2023.
The Kromer farm was established in 1923 by Sandy Kromerโs grandparents and operates as a Black Angus beef farm. A granary and wooden corn crib from the original farm are still in use. Roger, Jr. and Danielle Kromer are raising their children on the farm.
The Century Farm designation can be earned by any farm that has been owned by the same family for one hundred consecutive years, consists of at least ten acres of the original holding or grosses more than one thousand dollars annually from the sale of farm products and has a family member residing on the farm on a permanent basis. Century Farms represent durability and love of the land that this Commonwealth was built upon, and the recognition is an honor that provides distinction for lands with legacies.
Armstrong County is home to 60 Century and five Bicentennial Farms!
๐๐๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
I was honored to be invited to Ford Cliff Volunteer Fire Companyโs 100th Anniversary Celebration. This remarkable milestone is a testament to a century of dedication, courage, and selfless service to the community.
Thank you to the incredible volunteers and the supportive community whose commitment has made this legacy possible. It was great to spend time with some old friends and see some new faces!
๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐ง๐
Congratulations to @iupedu for obtaining โcandidateโ status from the American Osteopathic Associationโs Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation. The first IUP College of Osteopathic Medical students will be on campus for the fall 2027 semester!
By recently receiving pre-accreditation, IUP is now:
๐ฉบ The first public university in PA with a College of Osteopathic Medicine program
๐ฉบ Has clinical agreements with over 30 different facilities across PA
๐ฉบ Able to take applications and currently has over 100 applicants
This program is a commonwealth-defining opportunity and great news for our region. The creation of the #medicalcollege is bigger than IUP and Indiana County, serving as a catalyst for change which will have a tremendous and positive impact on #ruralhealthcare not only locally, but for #Pennsylvania and beyond.
Congratulations to Senator Doug Mastriano who has been nominated to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Slovak Republic.
Doug has been a tireless advocate for his constituents and steadfast member of our Senate Republican Caucus. His dedication to our Commonwealth, along with his prior military service, will undoubtedly strengthen his contributions to foreign policy.
