PITTSBURGH, Sept. 21 – As Pennsylvania’s four state-related universities continue operating without state assistance they regularly receive through the state budget to keep in-state tuition affordable for more than 70,000 students, Democratic officials today joined students from the University of Pittsburgh in Schenley Park for a news conference discussing the consequences of delaying the state funding. The House last met in July, when Republican leaders and a handful of extremist members stymied legislation providing funding to Pitt, Penn State, and Temple universities, forcing the schools to begin the semester without assistance from the state. Lincoln University’s appropriation passed the House but remains stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate. This funding is appropriated annually through the state budget process. “As a graduate from their law school, I’m lucky to know firsthand that the University of Pittsburgh is a prestigious institution offering world class opportunities and resources to prepare our future leaders for successful careers in myriad fields. For dozens of years, their unparalleled programming has been made possible with help from state funding. Unfortunately, Republican leaders in the legislature are now holding this money hostage, using college students as pawns to advance unpopular culture war positions that many of their own constituents disagree with,” said state Rep. Emily Read more
“Fifteen years ago, this commonwealth took an enormous step forward in ensuring that our workers are not forced to breathe in toxic smoke – it’s time to finish the job,” Frankel, D-Allegheny, said. Read more
As an emergency medicine resident in the early 2000s, I cared for a patient in her early 60s with back pain. Prior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), approximately 16%opens in a new tab or window of emergency department patients were uninsured. Often their issues were of low acuity, again because they had no other place to see a physician. I assumed that to be the case with this patient, that I would treat her presumably musculoskeletal back pain, and discharge her. However, while treating her, I noticed she struggled to walk and clutched her gown across her chest. It was the clutching that really struck me as unusual. Read more
“While sexually violent predators must register under Megan’s Law, they may live where they choose, potentially putting children at risk,” Venkat said. “My legislation would change that and align Pennsylvania with a number of other states that enacted more robust residential restrictions, bolstering community safety and security, especially for our children.” Read more
“With this grant, we may begin to address environmental issues on a local level and address other issues impacting O’Hara Township and Fox Chapel Borough,” Steele said. “As a commonwealth, we must work together to protect our environment, starting right here in our community.” Read more
“To ensure the safety of residents, I’ve asked the Department of Environmental Protection to thoroughly review the demolition and monitor the area,” Steele said. “In the wake of the first demolition, my office received calls from numerous residents with concerns about health risks from the dust blanketing certain areas. To ensure the safety of residents, water trucks will spray down dust in the area.” Read more
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 13 – State Rep. Abigail Salisbury, D-Allegheny, announced today that a $10,000 Municipal Assistance Program grant was awarded to the borough of Churchill. The funds will be utilized to update the borough’s zoning ordinances and pave the way for vacant industrial properties to be converted into new homes for local businesses, organizations and more. “These buildings sit around without purpose day after day and are a missed economic and human service opportunity for the Churchill community,” Salisbury said. “This grant will not only help provide a cosmetic facelift for such properties, but new ventures will be able to move into these spaces and serve neighbors in a variety of impactful methods.” Salisbury has introduced two pieces of legislation that seek to assist communities statewide in a similar vein. The first ( H.B. 1163 ) would update current property law and allow communities to make blighted or abandoned properties subject to potential acquisition by land banks. Another ( H.B. 1216 ) would create a Municipal Grant Assistance Program within the Department of Community and Economic Development . The program would provide municipalities with grant writing training and allow for professional grant writers to connect with municipalities to provide their services. Both bills have passed the House and are in the Senate for consideration. The commonwealth in its entirety received nearly $500,000 in MAP Read more
Affordable and high-quality health care for seniors and individuals with disabilities remains a big concern in Pennsylvania. Read more
“With gun violence increasing all across the country and this shooting so close to home, we must continuously work to prevent gun violence, address the housing crisis and the effects of gentrification, and allocate mental health resources, so that we may never endure such trauma in our neighborhood, or in our country, ever again,” Mayes said. “Redlining, which creates barriers for people of color to own a home, and gentrification are intertwined in Pittsburgh’s housing crisis. We must address these systemic issues as we continue to support our neighbors in Garfield. That way we may repair the damage caused by this shooting and prevent gun violence.” Read more
“Addressing severe maternal morbidity also addresses issues for Black maternal health as severe maternal morbidity rates increased by 51% for Black, non-Hispanic patients in Pennsylvania,” Mayes said. “As Black women are 3.5 times more likely to die during pregnancy-related complications and more than 10% of Black people report discrimination in health care, we must work to address severe maternal morbidity and more to ensure health care is equitable for all Pennsylvanians.” Read more
“Thanks to this grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the City of Pittsburgh will improve infrastructure for motorists and pedestrians who utilize the Bloomfield Bridge, which connects Bloomfield and Polish Hill,” Mayes said. “Through this project at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and the Bloomfield Bridge, we may ensure safe transportation is accessible for all residents.” Read more
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 17 – New grant funding of $155,000 will broaden apprenticeship opportunities for women, people of color and other underrepresented workers in the building and construction trades, members of the Allegheny County Democratic Delegation to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives announced today. Read more
“Some folks will act like environmental research is bad for business and bad for Pennsylvania’s economy. But, no – it’s pollution that’s bad for business. It’s poor health outcomes that are bad for business,” Frankel said. “Let’s get every ounce of information that we can and use it to protect our constituents.” Read more
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 16 – State Rep. Abigail Salisbury, D-Allegheny, announced today that federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program grants, totaling $61,632, were awarded to several schools in Pennsylvania’s 34th Legislative District. District schools receiving FFVP grants are: Propel Braddock Hills Elementary ~ $22,176. Kelly Primary ~ $17,208. Turner Intermediate School ~ $22,248. “Students having access to fresh fruits and vegetables every day provides a source of vital nutrients to helps them succeed at a high academic level and promote overall health,” Salisbury said. “These funds are an investment in their future and the future of our communities.” In total, Allegheny County received nearly $900,000 in FFVP grants, which prioritize schools with the highest percentage of children eligible for free and reduced-price meals. A complete list of grant awardees by county is available here . Read more
Federal grants supplement universal free school breakfast Read more
WILKINSBURG, Aug. 15 – State Rep. Abigail Salisbury, D-Allegheny, announced today that two Green Light-Go grants, totaling $486,738, were awarded to the borough of Wilkinsburg. A grant of $212,425 will be used to update traffic signal equipment at the intersection of East Swissvale Avenue and North Avenue, while another $274,313 in grant funds will fund the update of traffic signal equipment at the intersection of East Swissvale Avenue and Glenn Avenue/Park Avenue. “I’m grateful that this money will be utilized to keep motorists and pedestrians alike safe during their daily commutes,” Salisbury said. “Not to mention that these dollars are essential to ensuring the smooth and steady flow of people and commerce throughout the community.” Green Light-Go grants are provided as reimbursement to municipalities for updates to improve the efficiency and operation of existing traffic signals. For a full list of grant recipients by county, click here . Read more
Venkat will introduce legislation to disclose the use of AI algorithms in health care claim evaluations, define such algorithms to subject them to current laws and regulations related to clinical evidence, and require specialized health care professionals that review claims and rely upon initial AI algorithms to document their review of the records and data prior to their individualized documented decision to deny a claim. Read more
“In the Town of McCandless, more than $1.6 million will make our roads safer for the residents and all those driving through the town,” Venkat said. “These grants will assist with improving signal equipment along the town’s roads.” Read more
PennDOT’s Green Light-Go Program awarded 23 grants to Allegheny County, which included funding to the following:• Pittsburgh – $430,000.13 for new traffic signal controllers throughout the city.• Pittsburgh – $954,552.43 for updated signal equipment at Penn Avenue and Highland Avenue; South Aiken Avenue and Ellsworth Avenue; and Bayard Street and Neville Street.• McCandless – $350,532 for updated signal equipment at Peebles Road and McIntyre Square.• Monroeville – $308,000 for updated signal equipment at Monroeville Boulevard and Northern Pike (SR 2081)/Municipal Center.• Mt. Lebanon – $490,080 for various signal upgrades throughout the municipality. Read more
“Expanding diversity within the supply chain not only improves economic possibilities, but it also has the ability to enhance the quality of life within our communities,” said Rep. Aerion Abney, who represents a portion of Allegheny County and hosted the hearing. “If we embrace diversity in the supply chain, what we are really embracing is a stronger supply chain less susceptible to disruptions and a more secure economic future.” Read more
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